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By Thy Holy Infancy, Thy Youth, and Baptism;

By Thy Fasting, Hunger, and Weariness;

By Thy miracles, whereby, though Thou wast very Man, yet Thou wast recognised as very GOD;

By Thy Scourgings, Spittings, and Blows, which for us Thou didst receive;

By Thy Cross, and the Death which on that Cross Thou didst suffer, that Thou mightest redeem us from death;

Have mercy upon me, JESU.

I confess before Thee, O LORD, mine iniquities, and how I have fallen back from Thee to empty and hurtful things. But to whom shall I go, but to Thee, Who art the Restorer and Redeemer of sinners? Look, O LORD, upon me, and deliver me. Plead Thou my cause with them that strive with me; and fight Thou against them that fight against me. O Helper of the poor, Defender of the fatherless, sustain my endeavours, strengthen my resolutions, and grant me to amend my ways; and by true penitence and confession, to purge, correct, and cast off mine iniquities; that by the gift of Thy most indulgent Love, I may be able, after the death of the flesh, to come to Thee, my most Loving LORD, and with all

Thy saints, to sing Thy unspeakable glory, in everlasting happiness, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our FATHER, &c.

PSALM CII. 23; CIII. 8.

He brought down my strength in my journey and shortened my days.

The LORD is full of compassion and mercy long-suffering and of great good

ness.

He will not always be chiding: neither keepeth He His anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our wicked

ness.

Glory be to the FATHER, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.

THURSDAYS BETWEEN SEPTUA-
GESIMA AND LENT.

AN EXERCISE FOR THE MORTIFICATION OF CURIOSITY.

"O turn away mine eyes: lest they behold vanity."-Psalm cxix. 37.

O LORD JESU CHRIST! in Whom are hidden all the treasures of Wisdom and

Knowledge, O that I knew Thee,—that I knew myself; O that I knew Thy Will! For that knowledge alone sufficeth me, by which I may be for ever wise unto salvation, and know Thee, see Thee, and in Thee possess all things; and this the more, and the more perfectly, the less a vain curiosity shall have here distracted me amid diverse things. One thing is needful; and this is life eternal; to know Thee Alone.

Are these things true? Do I believe them with a living faith? Do I live, think, speak, and act before Thee as if I believed them? And do I hope in Thee, O my only Hope? And do I love Thee, O Infinite Goodness, here most intimately present with me?

LORD, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief. In Thee alone do I hope, and I know I shall not be confounded. Vanity of vanities; yea, all things are vanity; and as from love to Thee, I grieve above all things that I have offended Thee, so with my whole heart do I love Thee above all things. And what is there that can yet separate me from Thee? O JESUS! O my Life! O most endearing Charity! O GOD of my heart, and my All! Why, then, O my soul, should I seek to pry into things too deep and too mighty for me? Why should

turn mine eyes unto vanity, and not ra

ther unto Thee, O JESU, in Whom alone is our salvation? But, alas! the uncultured soil of my heart, through our neglect, brings forth only thorns and briers; my soul, finding no rest in itself, is forced to wander forth abroad; slothful to look into itself, carelessness of self makes it curious as to all besides. And yet all wisdom, knowledge, experience, is vain which profiteth not for eternity. What is it all then but vexation of the spirit, which cannot be satisfied, nor rest in any creature but in Thee Alone, in Whom are all things? O happy soul! to whom Thou Alone art all things, who in Thee seeth all things, and from Thee receiveth, and to Thee directeth all things, O GOD of my heart and my All!

Our FATHER, &c.

PSALM CXXXI. Domine, non est.

LORD, I am not high-minded : I have no proud looks.

I do not exercise myself in great matters: which are too high for me.

But I refrain my soul and keep it low, like as a child that is weaned from his mother yea, my soul is even as a weaned child.

O Israel, trust in the LORD: from this time forth for evermore.

Glory be to the FATHER, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.

FRIDAYS BETWEEN SEPTUAGESIMA AND LENT.

A PRAYER TO CHRIST, WITH REMEMBRANCE OF HIS BENEFITS.

"Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was Incarnate by the HOLY GHOST of the Virgin Mary, and was made man."

O Thou, Who wast born of a Virgin Mother, and wrapped in swaddling clothes: wrap Thou my soul in the robes of Thy Mercy.

O Thou, Who wast worshipped in the manger make me faithfully to worship Thee, now sitting in Heaven.

O Thou, Who didst suffer Thy Flesh to be circumcised: circumcise my heart from all sin.

O Thou, Who wast subject unto Thy parents in Thy Childhood: make me subject

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