strengthen me. The law of sin lives in me, and resists Thy will; I believe by faith, what Thou teachest me, but when I desire to perform it, I find myself so weak, that I give way to the desires of the flesh. The world calls me, and I know clearly that all it can offer me is only vanity and deceit; but nevertheless, I follow it. Vanity allures me by a thousand false promises, and I believe her; voluptuousness solicits me by empoisoned snares, and I listen to it; my unruly inclinations press me, and I allow myself to follow them. On the other hand, Thou, O my LORD, invitest me by the attractions of Thy grace, and the pure light of Thy truth, and I refuse to obey Thee; I hear Thy Voice, and I come not to Thee; Thou drawest me, and I resist Thee; Thou encouragest me, and yet I faint and am slothful, and though I know my perils, I still dwell in the midst of them.

How deplorable is this state! and the extremity of my misery deserves compassion! I fear Thee, O my Saviour, and I fear myself; my vicious habits and Thy holy Law equally torment me; the things that Thou requirest of me, and those which I have loved until now, rend my heart, and notwithstanding, I can neither leave nor forsake them. O Prince of Peace! O Divine Deliverer! appease this intestine war, and deliver me from this torment; break these bonds, that all that is within me may be a sacrifice to Thee, and wholly Thine; since Thou hast given me grace to know my danger, grant that I may not lose the light which Thou givest me, and fall again into my first blindness, and for ever sleep in the abyss of sin, where I shall no more hear Thy Voice, nor see Thy light;

where we feel no more the deadly poison, which destroys the soul by separating it from Thee, O my GOD! Who art its true and only Life. Be Thou ever before the eyes of my soul, O faithful Mirror of all virtue! that I may learn, in Thee, to know and hate myself, and to imitate Thee.

Teach me, O Heavenly Master! the value of true obedience, which is so dear to Thee, and which Thou didst practise throughout Thy earthly Life, and which made Thee submit without resistance, not only to Thy parents, but still more to the unjust Judges who condemned Thee, and the robbers who crucified Thee. When they desired Thee to strip off Thy clothes, Thou didst it; when they demanded Thy Hands to bind, Thou gavest them; when they mocked and scourged Thee, Thou didst meekly submit; when they gave Thee gall and vinegar, Thou didst drink it; when they commanded Thee to extend Thy blessed Body on the Cross, Thou obeyedst, and Thou didst accomplish the will of Thy persecutors, as if Thy Eternal FATHER had spoken to Thee by their mouths. Let Thy virtues praise Thee, O LORD of Heaven and earth! Let all the Angels and Saints glorify Thee, and let all the powers of my soul bless Thee. O how am I overwhelmed with love and admiration at the sight of those truths so pure, which Thou teachest me? I cast myself at Thy feet, O the GOD of my soul! lead me by what way Thou pleasest, govern me as Thou wilt, and teach me to see Thee in all things, and in all persons who are set over me, as my Superior, my Conductor, my Master. Grant, O Saviour, that however unjust or wicked they may be who are over me, I may obey

them in, and for Thee only; for Thou art the Fountain of mercy, and disposest all things in love. Hear me now, O GOD of love, and receive the humble supplication which I offer before Thee. In considering the love which Thou hast showed unto me, I a miserable sinner now profess an entire obedience to Thee. Receive, O Divine Saviour, all the faculties and powers of my soul and body, and engage them in holy, unswerving obedience to Thee and Thy Law.

Prayers.

O LORD, we beseech Thee mercifully, &c.-Coll. for First Sunday after Epiphany.

All praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O LORD JESUS, Whom Thy mother sought with sorrow, and after three days found Thee, with great joy, sitting in the Temple amidst the Doctors, hearing and asking them questions. O do Thou so give and communicate Thyself to me, that I may never desire to be separated from Thee, and never be destitute of the consolation of Thy blessed friendship. Drive all sloth from my heart, expel all that is displeasing to Thee; grant me perfect devotion and ardent thirst of piety, which may so affect and fill my soul, that I may never be weary of worshipping Thee. Amen.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON of the living GOD! Who wast sought for by Thy sorrowing parents, and wast at length found in the Temple, grant to me a

miserable sinner, to long for Thee, to seek for Thee, to find Thee, and, finding, to love Thee, and in loving Thee, to forsake my sins. O Thou Who ever givest Thyself to them that ask Thee, Who art found of them that seek Thee, Who openest to them that knock, deny not, I pray Thee, to me, the least of Thy children, what Thou dost promise to all. And as Thou didst return to Nazareth at the will of Thy parents, and didst show a Pattern of obedience, by being subject to them, grant me grace to break my stubbornness and self-will, that I may ever be subject to Thee, and to all men for Thee. Amen.

CHAPTER XI.

THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST.

Gospel Narrative.

S. Matt. iii. 13-17. S. Mark i. 9-11. S. Luke iii. 21-23.

THEN Cometh JESUS from Nazareth of Galilee to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to Me? And JESUS answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. And JESUS, when He was baptized, went up

straightway out of the water, praying. And lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the SPIRIT of GOD descending in bodily shape like a dove, and lighting upon Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is (SS. Mark and Luke,) My Beloved SON in Whom I am well pleased. And JESUS Himself began to be about thirty years of age.

Reflections.

"He began to be about thirty years of age," — to show us that no one should become Priest or preacher, or preside in the Church of GOD, till he be of perfect and manly age. Many are set to govern in the Church who are unable to govern themselves.