a greater shame than if they were represented on all the theatres of the world.-Horneck. FEBRUARY 18. M. L. NUM. xxiv. LUKE i. begin ver. 39. Humility eludes and mocks the stratagems of the prince of darkness; and how God rewards and crowns it, the blessed Virgin hath told us. "He hath showed strength with His arm, He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts; He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and hath exalted the humble and meek." Indeed, we see how meadows and valleys are laden with fruit and corn, and enamelled with flowers, while the higher mountains remain barren and unfruitful. O Christians, did you but know what treasures lie hid in this exercise, you would be so far from counting it troublesome, that you would be ambitious of it. In this exercise consisteth the mystery of religion; the richest influences of heaven come down upon the soul, that looks upon herself as nothing; to her the Almighty reveals Himself, and here He is ready to build tabernacles. The sweetest communications of grace are vouchsafed to him, that is acquainted with this lowliness; into such a heart the joys of the HOLY GHOST flow with a spring-tide; and he that would understand the secrets of the Lord, this is the school where he may learn them; and if he become a great proficient here, he may promise himself a more than ordinary intercourse between God and his soul. The humble shepherds are honoured with the first news of CHRIST's nativity, while the lofty Pharisees at Jerusalem are kept ignorant of these glad tidings; and that which moved GOD to send Nathan the prophet to David, to tell him of His singular love and compassion towards him, was the voice of that great humble man, "I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own eyes.” -Horneck. Almighty and most righteous GOD, Who searchest the heart and triest the reins, and renderest to every one according to his doings, take pity upon me a guilty sinner, and suffer me not to presume on Thy mercy, whilst I retain an affection for any kind of sin. I know Thy clemency and compassion are infinite, and Thou art always ready to embrace a returning prodigal; and I cannot, therefore, doubt of Thy pardon, were I duly qualified for it: but my only danger is, lest my sins have made too great a separation betwixt Thee and Thy poor creature, for me to hope any longer for Thy favour. Wherefore, I humbly pray Thee, to discover me truly to myself; and if there be any wickedness yet remaining in me, purge it away, that I may be a fit object of Thy fatherly commiseration. Permit me not to encourage myself in a groundlesss reliance upon Thy favour, whilst, in the mean time, I am really unqualified for it. But teach me seriously and impartially to examine my heart and ways, before I venture to pass so easy a sentence upon myself. Let not Thy patience to me hitherto, work in me an expectation of future happiness upon any other terms than those of the Gospel; that so I may be induced to study how, most effectually, to make my calling and election sure; and to this end, may set myself conscientiously and universally to observe Thy commandments, all the days of my life. Help me to reform all that is amiss in me, and to make such a progress in holiness, as that I may safely depend upon Thy mercy and kindness to me here in this world, and may be for ever happy with Thee in the other, through the merits of JESUS CHRIST, my only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.-Spinckes. wwwwwwww FEBRUARY 19. M. L. NUM. xxvii. LUKE ii. I E. L. NUM. xxx. GAL. ii. If thou wilt touch JESUS, and grasp Him in thy hands, strive with all thy strength to have the SPIRIT for thy guide, and come to the Temple of GOD.-Origen. Too great earnestness and vehemency, and too greedy delight in bodily work and external doings, scattereth and loseth the tranquillity and calmness of the mind.-Leighton. Luke ii. "The same man was just and devout." Devotion signifies a life devoted to GOD. He, therefore, is a devout man who considers GOD in every thing; who serves GOD in every thing, and does every thing in the Gal. ii. 20. "Of the Son of GOD, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." This language teaches, that each individual owes as great a debt of gratitude to CHRIST, as if He had come for his sake alone; for He would not have grudged this His condescension though but for one, so that the measure of His love to each is as great as to the whole world. Truly the Sacrifice was offered for all mankind, and was sufficient to save all, but those who enjoy the blessing are the believing only. St. Chrysostom. "Lord, I believe! help Thou mine unbelief!" O most holy Lord of heaven and earth, the greatest and most desirable good, the only rest and satisfaction of our souls; Whom to know is the beginning of life; Whom to love purely is our perfection upon earth; Whom to possess in an unchangeable wisdom, charity, and purity, is heaven. itself; it was Thy great goodness to make us to know Thee, and love Thee, and be like unto Thee and a greater, to sue unto us, and entreat for our affections. But it is the greatest of all, a miracle of Thy love, that Thou hast sent such a person as Thy Son JESUS to beseech us, and to add mighty importunities to His entreaties; that we would do that which we ought to be desirous to be admitted to do, as the greatest happiness we are capable of.Bp. Patrick. www FEBRUARY 20. M. L. NUM. XXXI. LUKE iii. I E. L. NUM. xxxii. GAL. iii. Luke iii. 11. "He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none." That is, let him that hath plenty, and to spare, of the necessaries of life, let him give to him that wants. The proportion of charity appointed by God Himself to His own people, for the relief of the poor, was every year a thirtieth part of all their income, or a tenth every third year. This was the Jew's proportion. He that came short of this was a breaker of the Law, and without repentance and restitution, had no hopes of pardon. The Christian's proportion ought to be greater, as his hopes and reward will be greater. We should in all our charities direct our eye towards CHRIST and His members; it is this which heightens the smallest gifts. Men reward what is done on human motives; GOD, such as are done for His sake. He that for his good actions expects the applause of men, runs the hazard of losing the reward of GOD. The poor are, as it were, the receivers of the rights and dues belonging unto God; we must have a care of defrauding them.-Bp. Wilson. O Eternal GOD, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, Who madest the heaven and the earth, and all contained therein, by Thy Almighty word, and "before whom all nations are as nothing, less than nothing and vanity," how mean then and despicable should that little portion of this earth which we enjoy seem in our eyes, compared with Thy love and favour, who art the absolute Sovereign Lord of all, and canst make Thy servants as happy as Thou pleasest.-Bp. Patrick. Secure a good name to thyself by living virtuously and humbly; but let this good name be nursed abroad, and never brought home to look upon it. Let others use it for their own advantage; let them speak of it as they please; but do not thou use it at all, except as an instrument to do GOD glory, and thy neighbours more advantage.-Jeremy Taylor (Bp.) I. They who believe the Scriptures, must believe themselves to be sinners, that they have broken the laws of GOD their Maker, and are therefore obnoxious to His displeasure, and to all the curses and punishments both in this world and the next, which He hath there threatened against all that do so; for it is written, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them ","9 II. They who believe the Scriptures, must believe that "JESUS CHRIST, the Only-begotten of GOD, came into the world to save sinners '," such sinners as they are, and that He for that purpose, in their nature, suffered the punish 8 Isa. xl. 17. 9 Gal. iii. 10. 1 1 Tim. i. 15. E ments which GOD had threatened against them, by dying or offering up Himself as a sacrifice for their sins, and so was a propitiation for their sins, "and not for theirs only, but for the sins of the whole world 2." And redeemed them from the curse of the law, "being made a curse for them "." 66 III. They who believe the Scriptures, must likewise believe, that as JESUS CHRIST was thus delivered for their offences," He was raised again for their justification*," and for that end went up to heaven, now to appear in the presence of God for them "," that He is now there, their " Advocate with the Father 6, "the only Mediator between GOD and men":" and is therefore "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them "."—Bp. Beveridge. M. L. NUM. XXXV. FEBRUARY 21. LUKE iv. E. L. NUM. Xxxvi. GAL. iv. O that I may never forget to feed on CHRIST daily by faith and love, till He indeed live in me and I in Him ; and all the powers of my soul and body be employed by His counsels and not my own.-Bp. Patrick. Truth enters into the heart of man, when it is empty, and clean, and still but when the mind is shaken with passion as with a storm, you can never hear the voice of the charmer, though he charm never so wisely. Jeremy Taylor (Bp.) O my GoD, I desire the good of all mankind, that they may partake of the knowledge of the Lord, and enjoy the fruits of His death and resurrection: especially that all Christian people may walk worthy of the Lord, who hath called them to His heavenly kingdom. And particularly that all kings, princes, and governors may be as careful to observe His laws, as they are desirous others should observe theirs that they may remember the honour Thou hast done them in exalting them so high, to the end they 21 John ii. 2. 8 Heb. vii. 25. 3 Gal. iii. 13. |