the merits of His Passion, now and ever deliver me and all Thy faithful people. Amen. O God, give me grace to wean my flesh from unbecoming delights, and to mortify my senses with a prudent restraint, that, carried on the wings of fasting and alms, my prayers may mount up more swiftly to Heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. OUR FATHER, &c.* While you Here, rising from your knees, prepare for bed. undress, reflect, that a day is coming, when you will be as wholly unstripped of the world, as you are now of your clothes. As you look upon your bed, think of your grave, which Christ has sanctified to be a bed of hope for you, if you love Him; and say reverently, before you enter it : These bedclothes are as the mould of earth which shall, one day, cover me; these sheets, as my shroud; my sleep, as death; my waking, as the resurrection. Lord, let me not sleep as do others, but let me watch and be sober. For God has not appointed me to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for me, that whether I wake or sleep, I should live togethet with Him. Vouchsafe me, O Lord, a quiet night Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. And banish all illusions of the night. O Light of the children of light! Bright day which has no evening! The world is bathed in the * Other Prayers, to be added in this place, may be found at pp. 232-256. darkness of night. This day is quite finished, wherein I see, as in a map, how my life shall end. O God! what blessings do I see in it, on Thy part; what ingratitude on mine! Preserve me in what is Thine; and wash away, with the precious Blood of Thy Son, what is mine. Shelter me under the wings of Thy protection, from so many shadows, apparitions, and snares of the Father of Darkness; and grant that, though sleep may close my eyes, yet my heart may never be shut to Thy love in Jesus Christ, my only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. Add in conclusion, (and say also, whenever you awake in the night:) O Saviour of the world, Who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us, save us, and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord. Amen. The Peace of God be with me! Pause; rise; go to bed, and fall asleep on some good thought. You will do well to remember these three constant subjects in mental prayer : Faith;-Love-Perseverance. TWO ADDITIONAL ACTS OF DEVOTION, FOR EACH DAY IN Passion Week, Commencing on the Fifth Sunday in Lent. ACT FOR THE THIRD HOUR. To be said between 9 and 10 o'clock. First bow the head, and say, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Behold, the Passion of Our Lord draws nigh. O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for my own sins, and for the sufferings of my Saviour! Shall I not weep for Him Who both wept and bled for me; yea, wept out every drop of His most Precious Blood, to deliver me from weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever? Then, kneeling down, and adoring, say, Glory be to Thee, O Lord. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory, Heavenly King, God, the Father Almighty. Amen. I yield Thee hearty thanks, most merciful God, for that, at this hour of the day, the Holy Ghost descended upon the Holy Apostles, and Disciples of Jesus Christ, Thy Son; and by His celestial influences replenished them with extraordinary gifts and graces, for the spread of His Blessed Gospel, and the plantation of His Church throughout the world. Vouchsafe, Holy God, vouchsafe unto me also, Thine unworthy servant, the guidance of the same Spirit, that by His illumination and sanctification I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ. I bless Thee for this holy season of discipline, and for this holy hour, in which my Blessed Master and Redeemer underwent the bitter sentence of death, whilst Barabbas, a thief, a rebel, and a murderer, was acquitted. O blessed hour! in which, for me, my dear Redeemer exposed His tender Breasts and precious Back to be rased, and rent, and torn with forked whips, by cruel bloodthirsty soldiers, until His blessed innocent Body was all covered with gore and blood! And I, vile wretch, am as guilty as Barabbas, in many respects; and justly obnoxious to the dreadful sentence of condemnation to death eternal; but, by the infinite merits and mysteries of Thy condemnation. O Blessed Jesu, deliver me! Amen. O Gracious Saviour, I humbly beg that I may so wash my polluted soul with the penitent tears of holy compunction, through faith in Thy Blood; and so chastise and keep under that body of sin which is, and too much reigneth, in my members, that, being delivered from the guilt and tyranny of sin in this life, I may escape those fresh whips and scourgings of the spirits of vengeance which are the portion of the disobedient and impenitent in the life to come. Grant me this, I earnestly beseech thee, for Thy Cross and Passion's sake. Amen. Here, standing up, say, Save me O Lord, for Thy Name's sake, and avenge me in Thy strength. And, for the glory of Thy name, deliver me O LORD, and be merciful unto my sins for Thy Name's sake. Let them that know Thy Name put their trust in Thee; for Thou, LORD, hast never failed them that seek Thee. An offering of a free heart will I give Thee, and praise Thy Name, O LORD, because it is so comfortable. Blessed be the Name of the LORD, from this time forth for ever more. Then add, If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins. Help me, O Lord, my Saviour; and blot out all mine iniquities. Kneeling down, conclude thus: O Lord, I beseech Thee enter not into judgment with Thy servant, seeing that in Thy sight no flesh living can be justified; but mercifully hear my prayers and supplications-those especially which |