thee with His never-failing grace, whereby thou mayest live everlastingly. Amen. Remember the midnight call, O my soul, and let that awful Voice ever sound in thine ears, reminding thee that thou must seek to be ready, since thou knowest neither the day nor the hour when the summons will come. When sickness touches thee, imagine it to be the sound of His Voice, in order that thou mayest prepare thyself, for how canst thou tell how thy sickness will end? When thou goest to the holy Altar, to feed upon the Bread of Life, hear then that Voice, saying, "Behold, He cometh, go forth to meet Him," with becoming reverence and preparation.

O what contentments will they find who have prepared themselves in time! O what joyfulness to see themselves with Him whom they have so greatly loved! O what sweetness and what comfort will they receive who see their heavenly Bridegroom face to face, and receiving His kiss of acceptance, sit down to eat with Him at His Table, and to drink of the river of His delights! How resplendent will the lamp of their souls be with the Light of His Glory! how ardent with the fire of His Love! how rich and joyful with the oil of divine consolation! how secure for ever in the mansions of GOD! O happy labours, which

lead to so precious a repose! O joyful and blessed entrance, when "the door is shut," and we can never go back to earth's sins, and sorrows, and trials; never more tremble lest we stand without, not being admitted! Grant me, O my GOD, grace to find that entrance, to go out no more, but dwell for ever before Thy Face, praising and blessing Thee with all Thy glorified Saints. Open wide the gates of my heart, that I may receive Thee, and do Thou open to me the gates of Heaven, that I may enter in, and there abide, and rejoice with the Heavenly Bridegroom for ever and ever. Amen.

O LORD our GOD, Who year by year dost set before us the Coming of Thy only SON JESUS CHRIST; Grant us to make ready for His Last Coming to judge the world, that we may go forth with joy in that awful day, and meet Him, trusting not in our own merits, but in Thy mercy; and being delivered from death and sin, and all the miseries of this world, may dwell with Him, together with Thee and the HOLY GHOST, Who liveth and reigneth, ever One GOD, world without end. Amen.

LORD, have mercy.
CHRIST, have mercy.
LORD, have mercy.

From all sin and evil;

From Thy wrath and indignation;
From a careless spirit of neglect;
From the deadly sleep of sin;
From all dangers that threaten us;
From plague, famine, and war;
From sudden and unlooked-for death
From the snares of the devil;

From anger, hatred, and every evil will;

From everlasting death;

By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation;

By Thy Second Coming as Judge;

O LORD, deliver us.

Show forth upon us, O LORD, in Thy mercy, Thy unspeakable loving-kindness; loose us from all our sins; and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them. Amen.

Our FATHER, &c.

O Thou, Who Thine own FATHER'S Breast Forsaking, Word Sublime!

Didst come to aid a world distressed,

In Thy appointed time:

Our hearts enlighten with Thy ray,
And kindle with Thy love;

That, dead to earthly things, we may
Live but to things above.

So when before the Judgment-seat
The sinner hears his doom,
And when a Voice divinely sweet
Shall call the righteous home;

Safe from the black and fiery flood,
That sweeps the dread abyss,
May we behold the Face of God,
In everlasting bliss.

Now to the FATHER, with the SON,

And SPIRIT evermore,

Be glory while the ages run,

As in all time before.

PSALM CXIX. In æternum, Domine.

O LORD, Thy word: endureth for ever in Heaven.

Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another: Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.

They continue this day according to Thine ordinance : for all things serve Thee. If my delight had not been in Thy law I should have perished in my trouble.

I will never forget Thy commandments : for with them Thou hast quickened me.

I am Thine, O save me : for I have sought Thy commandments.

The ungodly laid wait for me to destroy me but I will consider Thy testimonies.

:

I see that all things come to an end : but Thy commandment is exceeding broad. Glory be to the FATHER, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c.

66

CHRISTMAS EVE.

"Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy." -S. Luke ii. 10.

On this day the Church's watch-word is Rejoice." Her cries of sorrow give place to Alleluias. She puts on the " garment of praise," and anoints herself with the "oil of gladness," that she may join her voice with that of Angels, and welcome Her SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST the LORD." In Heaven there is great joy. "All the Angels of Gon adore Him as a Child, Whom they had worshipped as GOD. All look with high reverence upon this blessed Babe, saying, "Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."

And there is joy in earth. For the "Deliverer" is come. The "Hope and Glory of all lands." He comes to save mankind, to redeem the world.

O happy tidings! Peace with GOD, and with Angels: Peace to each one with him