To me the gospel has been preached; I stand in its doctrine and fellowship; I believe all that has been revealed to me; no shadow of doubt ever crosses my mind; is it possible, then, that I can have believed in vain?

Even so I fear it may be, if I do not carry the effect of my knowledge into daily life, and practically apply all that my blessed Saviour has done and suffered for me, to the purifying and exalting my soul to the measure of the stature of the fulness of CHRIST.

I know and believe that JESUS CHRIST, the only Son of GOD, left the throne of His Father, came down from heaven, took upon Him the form of a servant, clothed Himself with our weak and perishing flesh, and suffered all the pain and unrest of our nature. How can I, when I consider this, and think of the holiness and dignity conferred upon our nature by the Son of GoD deigning to become a partaker of it, defile this body, weak and corrupt as it is, by making it the habitation of unholy thoughts, unbecoming words, gestures, and actions, unrestrained by the remembrance of the blessed Saviour, Whose perfect pattern of holy humanity I ought to endeavour to follow?

I know that CHRIST was obedient to His parents if I have believed not in vain, let me live in humble subjection to my superiors, both spiritual and temporal. I know that CHRIST was tempted: if I believe not this in vain, let me resist the devil, and be strong and very courageous in fighting against the temptations which daily beset my path.

I know that CHRIST died for my sins. O that I may not believe this in vain. O that it may make me hate my sins, which were no less the occasion of His death than the traitor Judas, so that I quite forsake them, and utterly abolishing the whole body of sin, may walk simply and earnestly, desiring to be led by Him, my merciful Master, through the pains and perils of this life, no matter by how rough a path, so that I finally attain eternal rest in His glorious kingdom.

I know that CHRIST was buried. Bury my whole human nature with Thee, O gracious Saviour, that I may rise without sin and spot, purified by Thee, and ready to mount above this world, living with Thee, blessed LORD, in spirit, until the time when Thou wilt take me wholly unto Thyself.

Canst thou, O my soul, hope that thy belief is a fruitful, practical belief? Oh! not as it ought to be thou canst not love thy Saviour in any degree as thou oughtest: thou canst not know all the love He has to thee; it is more than thou art able to express all that thou canst do is to watch thyself, that thou keep thy body, once made in the image of GOD, and renewed in CHRIST JESUS, holy and undefiled. Bear constantly in remembrance, that the flesh which thy Saviour has sanctified by taking upon Him, must be accounted by thee as no unholy thing; and so keep away from thee all things that offend, or are likely to lead to offence.

Remember thy sins; put them far from thee; they crucified the Lord of Life: abhor them; cast them out; trample them under foot; and prostrate thyself before thy gracious Saviour, beseeching Him to vouchsafe unto thee His grace to follow Him in His blessed steps, to fill thy heart with firmer faith, deeper love, truer devotion to His service, and to grant that when thou shalt have finished thy course, thou mayest not have believed in vain.

O GOD, Who declarest Thy almighty power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity; mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasures; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

Monday

AFTER ELEVENTH SUNDAY.

B

BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM.
1 Cor. xv. 10.

E with me, O GOD, I humbly beseech

Thee, in this my meditation; feed my understanding with the knowledge of Thy truth; strengthen my will with Thy grace; and feast my whole soul with everlasting hopes.

I am indeed encompassed with mercy on every side; the Everlasting Arms are thrown round me, and God has vouchsafed to be my Guide. Through His mercy I was born in a happy country, -a Christian, not a heathen land, governed by mild laws. I have been endued with a healthy body, sound limbs, perfect senses, with gifts of nature and of fortune. I have been brought unto God, and had the gift of His grace bestowed upon me in