I return unto Thee, O most great and glorious God, all praise and thanks for Thine infinite, inconceivable mercies to us the children of men. It is but just and reasonable that I should acknowledge Thee with the heartiest affection, and the greatest cheerfulness of spirit, who hast made us, and redeemed us, and sent Thy HOLY SPIRIT to sanctify us, and designed us to immortal glory. All the host of heaven is continually praising Thee. The thrones, the dominions, the principalities and powers, the Apostles, the prophets, the martyrs, and all the blessed, "rest not day nor night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Which was, and is, and is to come 1." Thou ever wast, and ever wilt be, the fulness of wisdom, power, bounty, holiness, and truth; and therefore it is not only my just duty, but my happiness to unite my heart with all that glorious company, and to bless Thee, O Father of mercies, who hast brought me forth out of nothing, and made me such an excellent creature, and sent Thy Son to seek and to save me when I was lost; and purchased me to Thyself by His Blood, and washed me in the laver of regeneration, adopted me for Thy child, instructed me in Thy holy Gospel, guided me hitherto by Thy faithful ministers, admitted me to the Communion of Saints, and fed me with the Body and Blood of my dearest Saviour. Blessed be that goodness which hath sent the HOLY SPIRIT SO often to visit me, to comfort, assist, and conduct me through the dangers of this world, and Which still continues its grace unto me, though I have not always given that reverence, attention, and obedience to Its heavenly motions that I ought.-Bp. Patrick.

JANUARY 3.

M. L. ISAIAH xli. MATT. ii. I E. L. ISAIAH xliii. ROM. ii. The changes which Christianity makes in the present state of things are all invisible.

In GOD " we live, and move, and have our being;" but how unseen, how unfelt is all this!

CHRIST is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning

1 Rev. iv. 8.

and end of all things. The whole creation subsists in Him and by Him nothing is in any order, nor any person in any favour with God but by this great Mediator. But how invisible, how unknown to all our senses is this state of things!

The Apostle tells us, that we Christians are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the general assembly of the first-born, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to JESUS the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel 2.

But our senses see or feel nothing of this state of glory; they only show us a society amongst vain and worldly men, labouring and contending for the poor enjoyments of a vain world.

We are temples of the HOLY GHOST, consecrated to GOD, members of CHRIST's mystical body, of His flesh and of His bones, receiving life, spirit, and motion from Him our head.

But our senses see no further than our parents and kindred according to the flesh, and fix our hearts to earthly friendships and relations.

Religion turns our whole life into a sacrifice to God, a state of probation, from whence "we must all appear before the judgement-seat of CHRIST, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad 3."

But our senses, the maxims of this life, and the spirit of the world, teach quite another turn of mind: to enjoy the good things of life as our portion, to seek after riches and honours, and to dread nothing so much as poverty, disgrace, and persecution. Well may this life be deemed a state of darkness, since it thus clouds and covers all the true appearances of things, and keeps our minds insensible and unaffected with matters of such infinite moment.

We must observe, that in Scripture, Christianity is constantly represented to us as a redemption from the slavery and corruption of our nature, and a raising us to a nearer enjoyment of the divine glory.

It knows of no misery, but the death and misery which

2 Heb. xii. 22-24.

3 2 Cor. v. 10.

sin has made; nor of any happiness, but the gifts and graces of the HOLY GHOST, which form us to a great likeness of GOD.-W. Law.

If ever you would learn to converse with God, or to have your conversation in heaven; if ever you would get a foretaste of the joys to come; if ever you would make religion your business; if ever you would conquer the lusts of the flesh; if ever you would extinguish vain and evil thoughts; if ever you would arrive to a sound mind, and that inward spiritual worship of GOD, without which, CHRIST says, none can please Him; if ever you would learn to conquer temptations; if ever you would have your souls become strong, lusty, and vigorous in the ways of GOD; this is the way, even this, Praying without ceasing.-Horneck.

JANUARY 4.

M. L. GEN. v. MATT. iii. E. L. GEN. vi. ROM. iii. Ask your soul, What dost thou think of? what dost thou love? what dost thou long for? with what intentions art thou going, through this coming year, to the Lord's Table ? Are the treasures of Christian wisdom and knowledge more in thine account than thousands of gold and silver? Dost thou heartily believe the holy gospel of CHRIST JESUS; and love Him and His religion in sincerity? Is all sin already bleeding to death in thee, and hadst thou rather die than willingly offend thy Saviour that died for thee? Art thou

going to hang all remaining affection to them upon His cross; that there they may be perfectly crucified, and never taken down till, by continued meditation on it, they be quite dead?-Bp. Patrick.

True devotion consists in having our hearts always devoted to GOD as the sole fountain of all happiness, and Who is ready to hear and help His otherwise helpless, miserable creatures.

It is to be attained,

1st, By earnest prayer. He that hungers after righteousness will certainly be filled.

2ndly, By possessing our hearts with a deep sense of our own misery, our wants, and danger: this is the grace of humility.

3rdly, By considering God's goodness, power, and readiness to help us: this is called faith in GOD.

Lastly, By convincing our hearts of the vanity of every thing else to afford us any real help or comfort. This is to be effected by self-denial.

Dying persons are generally more devout than others, because they then see their own misery, that nothing in this world can help them, and that God is their only refuge.-Bp. Wilson.

We must change our lives, if we desire to change our hearts. GOD will have no regard to the prayers of those who have none to his commands.

The SPIRIT OF GOD will not dwell in a divided heart. We cannot feel the pleasure of devotion, while the world is our delight. Not that all pleasures are criminal; but the closer union we have with the world, the less is our union with GOD. A Christian, therefore, who strives after devotion, should taste sensual pleasures very sparingly; should make necessity, not bodily delight, his rule.-Bp. Wilson.

1 Tim. ii. 1. "I exhort, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."

Acts xvii. 26. "For we are all of one blood." And Charity, that more excellent way, is a tender affection for the whole creation of GOD.

O GOD, almighty and merciful, let Thy fatherly kindness be upon all whom Thou hast made. Hear the prayers of all that call upon Thee; open the eyes of them that never pray for themselves; pity the sighs of such as are in misery; deal mercifully with them that are in darkness; and increase the number of the graces of such as fear and serve Thee daily.. Preserve this land from the misfortunes of war;-this Church from all dangerous errours; -this people from forgetting Thee, their Lord and benefactor. Be gracious to all those countries that are made desolate by the sword, famine, pestilence, or persecution. Bless all persons and places to which Thy providence has made me a debtor; all who have been instrumental to my good by their assistance, advice, or example; and make me in my turn useful to others. Let none of those that desire

my prayers, want Thy mercy; but defend, and comfort, and conduct them through, to their lives' end.

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In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of GoD in CHRIST JESUS, concerning you."

Cause us, O GOD, to profit by all the visitations of Thy grace and mercy.

"It becometh well the just to be thankful."

O Lord and Father, I am not worthy of the least of all Thy mercies, which Thou hast showed Thy servant, neither can I render due thanks and praise for them; but, O Lord, accept of this my sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

For all the known, and for all the unobserved favours, deliverances, visitations, opportunities of doing good, chastisements, and graces of Thy HOLY SPIRIT, Vouchsafed to me, I bless Thy good providence; beseeching Thee to pardon my ingratitude, that I have passed so many days and years without observing, and without acknowledging, Thy great goodness to Thy unworthy servant.

For when I soberly consider my dependence upon Thee, for my life, welfare, health of body, peace of mind, grace, comfort, and salvation, I ought to be very thankful.

Glory be to GoD my Creator; glory be to JESUS, my Redeemer; glory be to the HOLY GHOST, my Sanctifier, my Guide, and Comforter: all love, all glory, be to God most high. Amen.-Bp. Wilson.

Let us never ascribe any thing to ourselves, but all to the grace of GoD, and render to Him all the glory of His works.

Preserve me, O GOD, from the insensibility of those who receive Thy favours without being affected with them, and from the ingratitude of those who look upon them as a debt.-Bp. Wilson.

JANUARY 5,

M. L. GEN. vii. MATT. iv. | E. L. GEN. viii. Rom. iv. In order to dispose our hearts to devotion, the active life to be preferred to the contemplative.

To be doing good to mankind, disposes the soul most