His Majesty, mightest look upon GOD manifest in the flesh; and looking, mightest acknowledge; and acknowledging, mightest love; and loving, mightest strive with all thy might to attain to His glory. He took upon Him thy flesh, to recall thee to spiritual things. He became partaker of thy changeableness, to make thee partaker of His unchangeableness. He lowered Himself to thy humiliation, to raise thee to His exaltation. He was born of a pure Virgin, to heal the corruption of thy sinful nature. Complain not, then, my soul, of thy fall, as if that were to excuse thy sins and failings. It is true indeed that thy human nature is dust and ashes; and thy Maker remembers whereof thou art made. But He Who made thee, hath re-made thee. Thy heavenly FATHER hath pitied thee; He hath "clothed thee with the garments of salvation," He hath "covered thee with the robe of righteousness." By being "baptized into CHRIST," thou hast "put on CHRIST." In His condescension He has stooped so low to thee, that He willeth thee to be clothed with Himself. He is made unto thee "Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption." Nay, so closely hath He united Himself to thee, that in the unity of the Church He hath willed that thou shouldest be of His own Flesh. For 06 we are members of His Body, of His Flesh, and of His Bones." And He Who is the Eternal SON by nature, hath obtained for us that we should be sons of GOD, and brothers of CHRIST, by grace. But when thou considerest to what and how great good thou by His grace hast been advanced, meditate too what and how great goods by thine own fault thou hast lost, and into what evils, weighed down by sins, thou hast sunk. Think over these with mourning; mourn over them by renouncing them; renounce them by condemning them; and condemn them by changing thy life for the better. Strive with thyself in thy mind that henceforth not even for a moment, in heart, tongue, or act, thou yield assent to vanity. Be there a daily, ceaseless strife within, that thou keep no truce whatever with thy sins. Spare not thyself, treat not thyself gently, but strictly examine thyself to bring to light the secrets of thy heart, and whatsoever thou findest in thee worthy of blame, pierce through, uproot, cast forth, and bring to nought. Thus, even thus, return, my wandering soul, to thy GOD. For if thou turn away from sin by amendment of life, He will turn aside from thee His vengeance. But if thou forgettest thy sin, and repentest not, He will remember it against thee. L Miserable man! when I consider the multitude of my grievous offences, I tremble at the dreadful Day of judgment. But trusting in the multitude of Thy compassion, like David, I say to Thee, Have mercy upon me, O GOD, after Thy great Goodness. Surrounding myself with the robes of shame, instead of the garment of light, woe is me, my soul! let me lament, O SAVIOUR, my ruin, and call to Thee with faith: despise me not, O GOD, but call me back. Them, O LORD, that were at first exiled from Paradise, through the eating of the fruit, bring in again through Thy Cross and Passion, my GOD and SAVIOUR. By it strengthen us, to accomplish with fitting purity, the coming Fast, and to adore the Divine Resurrection, the Pascha of salvation. Our FATHER, &c. LORD, have mercy. LORD, have mercy. That I may learn in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content; Grant this, O LORD. That I may know both how to be abased, and how to abound; Grant this, O LORD. That I may do all things through CHRIST Which strengtheneth me; Grant this, O LORD. That I may set my affections on things above, not on things on the earth; Grant this, O LORD. That I may mortify my members, and that no corrupt communication may proceed out of my mouth; Grant this, O Lord. That I may put off the old man, and put on the new; Grant this, O Lord. That I may be kind and humble, meek and long-suffering; Grant this, O LORD. That I may have fervent charity, which is the bond of perfectness; Grant this, O LORD. That the peace of GOD may rule in my heart; Grant this, O LORD. That the Word of CHRIST may dwell in me richly in all wisdom; Grant this, O Lord. That I may do all things in the Name of JESUS, giving thanks to GOD and the FATHER by Him; Grant this, O LORD. That I may walk in the SPIRIT; And that I may glory only in the Cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world; Grant this, O LORD. Thanks be to GOD, which giveth us the victory, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Glory be to the FATHER, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. PSALM III. Domine, quid multiplicati ? LORD, how are they increased that trouble me many are they that rise against me. Many one there be that say of my soul: There is no help for him in his GOD. But Thou, O LORD, art my defender : Thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. I did call upon the LORD with my voice: and He heard me out of His holy hill. I laid me down and slept, and rose up again for the LORD sustained me. : I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about. Up, LORD, and help me, O my GOD : for Thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: and Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Glory be to the FATHER, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. |