able sinners, Who sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death; vouchsafe to illuminate my darkened soul with the light of grace and truth, which lead to that everlasting light which is not liable to any eclipse in the least degree of diminution.

The great Captain of our Salvation, having, by His painful sufferings, and meritorious death, vanquished him who hath the power of death, the devil: having overcome both the first and second death, and shewed Himself alive to His Apostles, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of all things pertaining to the kingdom of God, having, in a word, perfected the great and mysterious work of our Redemption, for the which He invisibly descended from Heaven:

it was,

V.

At this hour He visibly ascended again into Heaven. Now then raise up thyself, O my soul, and let thy most ardent affection, through thy gazing eyes, be thither enwrapt, whither thy glorious Redeemer at this hour ascended.

Shall not the heart be there where the treasure is? All thy treasure, surely, all thy hopes of life and happiness, are treasured up in thy Blessed Saviour, who is gone into Heaven.

Grant, I beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as I do believe Thy only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the Heavens; so I also may in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

the pious soul with longings thereafter.

2. "My eyes long sore for Thy word; saying, O

when wilt Thou comfort me?" Which is expressed by the frequent elevation of the eyes, which are the windows of the heart, unto Heaven, waiting for consolation thence, where alone dwells true joy.

3. "For I am become like a bottle in the smoke: yet do I not forget Thy statutes." Contemptation is not to be unfruitful, nor yet forgetful of holy works commanded.

4. "How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou be avenged of them that persecute me?" The more short and uncertain our days be, the more vigorously should we resist, and more earnestly implore the Divine assistance against our ghostly adversaries.

5. "The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after Thy law." Whose temptations to assault and entrap the soul, are such as tend continually to the transgression of God's commandments.

be in our prayers unto God, for His help to resist them.

7." They had almost made an end of me upon earth : but I forsook not Thy commandments." And to continue constant in our obedience to the Divine precepts, though the oppositions do even destroy all our earthly interests.

8. "O quicken me after Thy loving-kindness, and so shall I keep the testimonies of Thy mouth." But such a holy obedience proceeds from the power of God's quickening Spirit, which is therefore constantly to be prayed for. Qui conservat legem, multiplicat orationem1.

Glory be to the Father,
&c.
As it was in the begin-
ning, &c.

The Prayer.

6. "All Thy commandments are true: they persecute me falsely: O be Thou my help." The more such suggestions oppose the truth, the more earnest we must

the practice of it in all the actions of my life; but of Thy loving kindness vouchsafe so to quicken all my holy desires and endeavours, that when the few days of this life take end, I may inherit that life which knows no end, through Jesus Christ, &c.

THE TWELFTH PART.

Ver. 1." O Lord, Thy word endureth for ever in Heaven. The counsels of God are immutable in Heaven, though they seem variable in their respective dispensations upon earth.

2. "Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another: Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth." God's revealed truth to His Church and people upon earth, is successively continued from one generation to another, whilst the world continues.

3. "They continue this day according to Thine ordinance; for all things serve Thee." There is a law imposed upon all men, and upon all things; who both by their obedience and disobedience thereunto, do serve the ends of God's ordinances and decrees.

4. "If my delight had

not been in Thy law, I should have perished in my trouble." Which law cheerfully obeyed, is a sure support in the worst of troubles.

5. "I will never forget Thy commandments; for with them Thou hast quickened me." He therefore forgets himself, who forgets God's commandments, which quicken the soul to life eternal.

6. "I am Thine, O save me: for I have sought Thy commandments." I am devoted Thy servant by solemn promise in my Baptism, and I am resolved to continue Thine: and therefore vouchsafe, as Thine, to preserve me to keep Thy holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of my life.

7. "The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me: but I will consider Thy testimonies." By devout meditations upon those truths God hath testified, we may be armed against all temptations.

8. "I see that all things come to an end; but Thy commandment is exceeding broad." We see, by daily experience, that all those worldly things and carnal

delights whereby we are tempted to sin, do quickly vanish but he that doeth the will of the Lord abideth for ever.

Glory be to the Father,
&c.
As it was in the begin-
ning, &c.

The Prayer.

I am Thine, O Lord, not only by creation, but also solemnly devoted Thine by regeneration in Baptism: and I am resolved to continue Thine: 0 save me from every transgression of Thy most holy laws, which all creatures in their several kinds do obey. Let not the secret underminings of the devil, or the open flattering felicities of the world, cozen and ensnare me; for these shall suddenly come to an end but obedience to Thy commandments is the way to life without end, through Jesus Christ, &c.

THE THIRTEENTH PART.

Ver. 1. "Lord, what love have I unto Thy law! all the day long is my study in it." He that truly loves God, loves also what He commands, and frequently meditates thereupon.

2. Thou, through Thy

ever

commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are with me." God's commandment extending to the love of our enemies, exceeds the utmost wisdom of the heathen who have not the knowledge of His laws.

3. "I have more understanding than my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my study." But he that will be truly wise, must not cursorily read the letter, but studiously consider, and dive into the spirit and life of the law.

4. "I am wiser than the aged because I keep Thy commandments." Wisdom is increased and perfected, by obedience to the dictates thereof.

5. "I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy word." He that will do what God commands, must refrain from all that He forbids: first cease to do evil, and then learn to do well.

6. "I have not shrunk from Thy judgments: for Thou teachest me." It is the secret teaching of God's Spirit in the heart, that keeps the feet firm from backsliding.

7. "O how sweet are Thy

words unto my throat! yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth." The fruits of a true faith, or a sincere obedience, is more sweet to the soul, than honey to the

mouth.

:

8. "Through Thy commandments I get understanding therefore I hate all evil ways." The right understanding of good and evil, discovers both the beauty of obedience, and the deformity of every sinful action.

The Prayer. Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, give me, I humbly beseech Thee, a wise and understanding heart, hating and refraining from every evil way; loving Thee, and Thy laws; and mine enemies also, in obedience thereunto: let me never shrink from Thy judgments, but stedfastly believe the truth of Thy revelations, and regularly obey the same; that I may reap the sweet fruits of holiness in eternal happiness, through Jesus Christ, &c.

THE FOURTEENTH PART.

Ver. 1. "Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths." God's word, as a lantern in

the night, directs us in our passage through the darkness of this life, to the light of life eternal.

2. "I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed to keep Thy righteous judgments." Therefore every truly wise man resolves stedfastly to follow and obey the directions of this holy word, according to his vow in Baptism.

3. "I am troubled above measure quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy word." But the flesh lusting against the spirit, disturbs such holy resolves and endeavours: but by the grace of God, the pious soul is quickened, and the spirit fortified against all such encounters; and this God hath promised in the same word. 4. Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please Thee, O Lord and teach me Thy judgments." For the which grace, it is our duty to pray, and that more willingly and cheerfully, and more frequently than at ordinary and accustomed times.

5. "My soul is alway in my hand; yet do I not forget Thy Law." The continual danger of the soul's safety, should engage us often to meditate upon divine truths.