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my strength is: and that there is no unrighteousness in Him.

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

TUESDAY IN ADVENT.

"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning."-S. Luke xii. 35.

That fervent love which moves the soul to a closer union with her Beloved, her GOD and Redeemer, sends her to Him for this end in meditation, in the converse of prayer, and in the blessed Sacrament of His love, that she may be made one with Him, may live with Him, and be enriched with His gifts and graces. Not all these means, however, not even the Sacramental union of the loving soul with her Spouse and LORD, is enough to satiate her love. In this Holy Sacrament she has indeed her strength and support, but she sees Him only by faith, and under a veil. The frequency, therefore, of this Communion, if it is rightly received, increases her longing for a more perfect union with her GOD, that she

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may see Him face to face, and His glory.

may behold

And what can be more natural than for a loving bride to desire the day of espousal ? "The SPIRIT and the Bride say, Come!" The whole Church says, "Come!" And each faithful soul, animated by the HOLY SPIRIT, says, "Come!"

But in expectation of this coming, we must be on the alert, with our "loins girded," and our "lights burning." Let me bind around me, then, the girdle of chastity and temperance. Let my will, and mind, and affections be filled with the True Light. Let me "watch "" by the heart, by faith, by love, by good works. But alas! even if the spirit be willing, the flesh is weak. And I have too often fallen from this vigilance by my own heaviness and sloth. O that I had been more faithful to my watch, and had not slumbered, as I have done, over my Christian duties! How many evil habits might I have been delivered from! How many virtues and graces might I have obtained!

But my soul has slept, and the enemies of my peace have been watchful, and have gained an advantage over me. But, LORD, Thou hast made me sensible of my loss; my heart waketh; my soul is athirst for Thee, O when wilt Thou come unto me? When

wilt Thou deliver me from carelessness and indifference? When shall I be fully on the watch?

Make me, LORD, to expect Thy coming with vigilance and attention, that I may receive Thee with joy, and not be taken unawares !

Thou that sittest upon the Cherubim, stir up Thy strength, and come and help me. LORD, have mercy.

CHRIST, have mercy.

LORD, have mercy.

GOD, Who hast pity on all men, and puttest away the sins of all those who truly repent;

Have mercy on us.

Who wouldest have mercy and not sacrifice;

Have mercy on us.

Who, when we repent, rememberest our sins no more;

Have mercy on us.

GOD, most merciful and patient, tender, and full of loving-kindness, notwithstanding all our sins,

Have mercy on us.

By Thy first Coming in lowliness;

By Thy Second Coming to judge the

world;

Have mercy on us.

LAMB of GOD, That takest away the sins of the world;

Have mercy on us.

Stir up, O LORD, our hearts to prepare the way of Thy Only-Begotten; that we may be found worthy to serve Thee with purified hearts, through His Coming, Who, with Thee and the HOLY GHOST liveth and reigneth, One GOD.

Remember Thy tender mercies, O LORD, and Thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old; and stretch forth Thy Right Hand to Thy creature, striving to come to Thee. Help Thou the weakness of him that can do nothing without Thee; Draw him unto Thee, for Thou knowest that he cannot come, unless Thou, FATHER, draw him with Thy love and HOLY SPIRIT. Make me, Thy servant, willing to please Thee. Give me those holy gifts, by which alone I can be acceptable to Thee. Claim me wholly for Thine own, who owe Thee all that I am. Let the brightness of Thy Presence drive away from me the evil spirits of darkness. Tear asunder my chains, and lead me into Thy light and liberty, that my soul may magnify Thy Name, and that I may tell forth the praises of Thy redeeming mercy; through JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOUR. Amen.

Our FATHER, &c.

PSALM LXXVI. Notus in Judæa.

In Jewry is GOD known: His Name is great in Israel.

At Salem is His tabernacle and His dwelling in Sion.

There brake He the arrows of the bow: the shield, the sword, and the battle.

Thou art of more honour and might : than the hills of the robbers.

The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.

At Thy rebuke, O GOD of Jacob: both the chariot and horse are fallen.

Thou, even Thou art to be feared and who may stand in Thy sight when Thou art angry?

Thou didst cause Thy judgment to be heard from heaven: the earth trembled, and was still.

. When GOD arose to judgment, and to help all the meek upon earth.

The fierceness of men shall turn to Thy praise and the fierceness of them shalt Thou refrain.

Promise unto the LORD your GOD, and keep it, all ye that are round about Him: bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared.

He shall refrain the spirit of princes:

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