behold the face of your FATHER Which is in heaven. Alleluia!

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted. Alleluia!

I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of GOD, and for the testimony which they held; and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O LORD, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them that they should rest for a little season. Alleluia!

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou perfected praise. Alleluia !

"These are they which follow the LAMB whithersoever He goeth; these were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the LAMB."

All our festivals are in some way in honour of our LORD; for everything which the Church has, or does, or is, is in some way in honour of Him, our LORD. It is the province of faith to discover Him in everything; His Might in human weakness; His Truth in human frailty; His Holiness

imparted to them whom He has made His. And this is especially visible on this, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. On other

days, the Church thanks GOD for those who have fought the gcod fight, have rested from their labours, and whose works do follow them; this day she praises GOD for those who had no works, who were withdrawn before the burden and heat of the day, and the perils of that fight, and yet are made equal unto them that had borne it; nay, were the first-fruits unto GOD and unto the LAMB, the first and nearest of His train. And thus would the Church teach "him that glorieth, to glory in the LORD," Who anticipated His Passion to make them partakers of it; gave them the works, which by reason of their tender age they could not perform; and making martyrdom His choicest gift, the very sharing of His cup, the being baptized with His Baptism, bestowed it first on these Innocents; bestowed it freely on all who were nearest the spot and time of His Birth, bestowed it on those, who while yet in the flesh knew not what He bestowed upon them, or Him Who bestowed it, or themselves who received it; like herein to us, who understand so little the mysterious dignity conferred upon our nature, so little of the true nature of His gifts, or of Him Who giveth them.

O LORD GOD, in Thy abounding, neverfailing mercy, grant to us, Thy weak and earth-bound servants, who now see but through a glass darkly, that the day may come when we shall see Thee face to face, and know Thee as Thou art.

These Innocents, the earliest in His noble Army of Martyrs, CHRIST crowned without their deserts, that we might the better learn how He gives all that He crowns in those who follow in that glorious train. Therefore one main lesson of this day's festival is the greatness of the gift, the littleness and unconsciousness of those to whom it was given. For even when men have learnt to renounce, as they hope, their own merits and their own works, and would be nothing of themselves, but for all depend upon CHRIST; still self is apt to creep in, yea, all the more sometimes, because people think they so entirely renounce all trust in their good works, that in fact they rely on that, their renunciation, rather than on CHRIST, His Cross and His teaching that we take up that Cross and follow Him.

Sometimes we may think much of our own clear faith, our knowledge of Gospel truth, our confession and reliance upon our Redeemer, even when we think little of our own tarnished works and unprofitable services; and we are apt at the same time to

think little of childlike faith, of the purity of infant Baptism, of the blessedness of being undefiled from actual sin; of children's confidingness, their speechless trust and thanksgiving, their meek repose, their freshness from their Maker's Hands; and thus we do come to think much of what is in some sense our own, and little of that in which there is nothing of man, but which is purely GOD's gift.

But far different is GOD's sight from man's. This day earth saw only Rachel weeping for her children, and could not be comforted; but Heaven saw the blessed and joyous band, following the LAMB whithersoever He goeth; on earth slaughtered babes, in heaven an army of martyrs; on earth the objects of pity and grief, in heaven the foremost of that band which had learned the new song and sang it before the Throne; on earth as we deem knowing nothing, in heaven knowing all that is worth knowing,—that new song which none save virgin souls may sing.

O most glorious King of Martyrs, JESUS CHRIST, Who on this day didst conquer and triumph in these, the babes and sucklings of Thy redeemed; have compassion on my weakness, and aid me with Thy grace, conquering in like wise sin and Satan in my heart. Suffer not wickedness to reign

over me, or deceit to beguile my soul, and rather let me die than live to displease Thee.

O Blessed SAVIOUR, Who hast set forth the healing virtue of Thy Cross, impart to us its saving merits; bring us nigh to Thee; look upon our afflictions; mortify and kill all vices in us; give pardon for the past; for the present, innocency of life, and for the future, constancy of faith even unto death. Give us the lowliness of infants; teach us to abase ourselves, that we be exalted of Thee; comfort us who mourn, place Thy blessed mark upon us, though it be that of suffering; so that Thou mayest know and own us in the Day of Judgment. Put a new song into our mouths, even a thanksgiving unto our GOD. Even so, come

LORD JESUS.

Amen.

O holiest JESUS, Child of a most pure Virgin, GOD Incarnate! O Life that never fadest! O Life by which I live, without which I die! O Life by which I rejoice, without which I mourn! O Life most sweet and precious, grant that I may be joined to Thee, and, soothed from earthly care by Thy boundless pity and love, may find my holy rest in Thee, Who art our perfect Peace. Amen.

Our FATHER, &c.