the wants of animal nature.

These hear and under

stand what the Holy Spirit speaketh in their heart, exhorting them to withdraw their affection from things on earth, and "set it on things above;" to abandon this fallen world, and day and night aspire after reunion with God.

I BLESS thee, O heavenly Father, the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, that thou hast vouchsafed to remember so poor and helpless a creature! O Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, I give thee most humble and ardent thanks, that, unworthy as I am of all comfort, thou hast been pleased to visit my benighted soul with the enlivening beams of heavenly light! Blessing, and praise, and glory, be unto thee, and thy only begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, for ever and ever!

O Lord my God, who hast mercifully numbered me among the objects of thy redeeming love, thou art my glory and my joy, my hope and refuge in the day of my distress. But my love is yet feeble, and my holy resolutions imperfect: do thou, therefore, visit me continually, and instruct me out of thy law; deliver me from malignant passions and sensual desires, that being healed and purified, I may love

with more ardor, suffer with more patience, and persevere with more constancy.

CHRIST.

Love is, indeed, a transcendent excellence, an essential and sovereign good; it makes the heavy burden light, and the rugged path smooth; it bears all things without feeling their weight, and from every adversity takes away the sting.

Divine love is noble and generous, prompting to difficult attempts, and kindling desire for greater perfection: it continually looks up to heaven, and pants after its original and native freedom; and, lest its intellectual eye should be darkened by earthly objects, and its will captivated by earthly good, or subdued by earthly evil, sighs for deliverance from this fallen world.

Love surpasseth all sweetness, strength, height, depth, and breadth; nothing is more pleasing, nothing more full, nothing more excellent in heaven or in earth; for "Love is born of God ;" and it cannot find rest in created things, but resteth only in him from whom it is derived.

Love is rapid in its motion as the bolt of heaven; it acts with ardor, alacrity, and freedom, and no created power is able to obstruct its course. It giveth all for all, and possesseth all in all; for it possesseth the Supreme Good, from whom, as from its fountain, all good eternally proceeds. It respecteth no gifts, but transcending all imparted excellence, turneth wholly to the Giver of every perfect gift.

Love knows no limits, feels no burden, considers no labor it desires to do more than, in its present

state, it finds itself able to effect; yet it is never restrained by apparent impossibility, but conceives that all things are possible, and that all are lawful; it, therefore, attempts every labor, however difficult, and accomplishes many, under which the soul that loves not, faints and falls prostrate.

Love is watchful, and though it slumbereth, doth not sleep; it is often fatigued, but never exhausted; straitened, but not enslaved ; alarmed by danger, but not confounded; and, like a vigorous and active flame, ever bursting upwards, securely passeth through all opposition.

He that loveth, feels the force of this exclamation: My God! my Love! Thou art wholly mine, and I am wholly thine !" and when this is the voice of love, it reacheth unto heaven.

DISCIPLE.

Expand my heart with love, that I may feel its transforming power, and may even be dissolved in its holy fire! Let me be possessed by thy love, and ravished from myself! Let the lover's song be mine, "I will follow my beloved on high !" Let my soul rejoice exceedingly, and lose itself in thy praise! Let me love thee more than myself; let me love myself only for thy sake; and in thee love all others, as that perfect law requireth, which is a ray of the infinite love that shines in thee !

CHRIST.

Love delights in the communication of good; and, with a swiftness equal to thought, diffuses its blessings with impartiality and ardor. It is courageous

and patient, faithful and prudent, long-suffering and

generous.

Love is circumspect, humble, and equitable; not soft, effeminate, sickly and vain, but sober, chaste, constant, persevering, peaceful and free from the influence of sensible objects. It is submissive and obedient to all, mean and contemptible in its own esteem, devout and thankful to God, and resigned even when his consolations are suspended, being faithfully dependent upon his mercy; for, in this fallen life, love is not exempt from pain.

He, therefore, that is not prepared to suffer all things, and, renouncing his own will, to adhere invariably to the will of his beloved, is unworthy of the name of lover. It is essential to that exalted character, to endure the severest labors and the bitterest afflictions, and to let nothing in created nature turn him aside from the supreme and infinite good.

THOU art yet far distant, my son, from the fortitude and purity of love; for thou art always seeking consolation with avidity; and the least opposition to thy inordinate desires, hath power to make thee relinquish thy most holy purposes. But he that has

the fortitude of love, stands firm in the midst of temptations: and utterly disbelieves and despises the flattering insinuations of the enemy; he knows that I love him; and, whether in prosperity or adversity, makes me his supreme delight. And he that loves with purity, considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver; he values the affection more than the tokens of it; esteems his beloved infinitely beyond the benefits he confers; and, with a noble generosity divesting his mind of all desire of personal advantage, reposes himself not upon my gifts, but upon me.

Think not that all is lost, when thy heart is not elevated with that sensible fervor which thou art always coveting. These raptures are allowed thee as sweet foretastes of heavenly bliss, but thou art yet too carnal to be capable of their constant enjoyment. Seek then growth in grace, rather than flights of ecstasy. Thy principal concern and business is, to struggle against the motions of fallen nature, and the suggestions of fallen spirits; and if thou dost this with faithful perseverance, thou wilt give true proof of that christian fortitude which will be distinguished by the crown of victory.

Let not strange temptations, that possess thee against thy will, disturb the quiet of thy soul. Maintain only an unchangeable resolution of obedience, and an upright intention towards God, and all will be well. Consider not thyself abandoned to the illusions of evil spirits, when, being suddenly elevated into holy ecstasy, thou as suddenly fallest into thy accustomed insensibility and dissipation of mind: if