thoughts; that so being led on each day by Thy good Spirit in the paths of righteousness, I may be deemed worthy to obey Thy commandments and to be ever mindful of Thy glorious presence, which searcheth all the deeds of men. Strengthen me that I may not be beguiled by the perishing delights of this world, but may long for the enjoyment of heavenly treasures. For Thou art blessed and praised of all Thy saints, for ever and ever. Amen. (63)

Or this.

LORD our God, Who oldest all things in the hollow of Thine hand, Who art long-suffering unto all, and repentest Thee of the evil; Call to remembrance Thy tender mercies and loving-kindness look favourably upon me, and give me grace during the remainder of this day to flee from the manifold wiles of the evil One: Preserve my life from his assaults by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, through the mercy and loving-kindness of Thine only-begotten Son our Lord, with Whom and with Thy holy, good, and life-giving Spirit Thou art praised, now, and for ever and ever, world without end. Amen. (64)

TUESDAY.

B didst appoint the Galilean fishermen, enduing

DLESSED be Thou, O Christ my God, Who

them with heavenly wisdom and sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and by them didst enfold the world within the Gospel net; Glory be to Thee, O Thou lover of mankind. Grant, Lord Jesus, unto me Thy servant, ready and firm consolation in the refreshment of my spirit. Depart not from my soul in tribulation. Be not far from me in times of trial, but always prevent me in all my ways. Draw near to me, draw near with Thy continual presence; and, as Thou wert ever present with Thy Apostles, so unite Thyself, all merciful, with me now yearning for Thine advent,

1

that being joined unto Thee I may laud and glorify Thine all-holy Spirit. Amen.

G

Or this.

(65)

YRACIOUS Lord, Who at the third hour of the day didst send down Thy Holy Spirit upon Thy Apostles; Take not Thy Comforter from me, but renew His gifts within me while I pray unto Thee. Create in me, O God, a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Amen. (66)

WEDNESDAY.

Who

mercy to reconcile us when we were enemies, finding out a remedy for us which mankind could never ask, even making an atonement for us by the death of Thy Son, sanctifying us by the blood of the everlasting covenant and Thy Divine and all-hallowing Spirit; Let Thy graces so perpetually assist and encourage my endeavours, conduct my will, and fortify my intentions, that I may persevere in that holy condition which Thou hast put me in by the grace of the covenant and the mercies of the Holy Jesus. O let me never fall into those sins and return to that vain conversation from which the eternal and merciful Saviour of the world hath redeemed me; but let me grow in grace, adding virtue to virtue, reducing my purposes to actions, and increasing my actions till they grow into habits, and my habits till they be confirmed, and still confirming them till they be consummate in a blessed and a holy perseverance. Purify me from all uncleanness, sanctify my spirit that I may be holy as Thou art, and let me never provoke Thy jealousy, nor presume upon Thy goodness, nor distrust Thy mercies, nor defer my repentance, nor rely upon vain confidences; but grant that I may, by a constant, sedulous, and timely endeavour, make my calling and election

sure, living to Thee and dying to Thee; that, having sowed to the Spirit, I may from Thy mercies reap in the Spirit bliss, and eternal sanctity, and everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, our hope, and our mighty and ever glorious Redeemer. Amen. (67)

Or this.

GOD, Who didst send Thy Holy Spirit from above to renew Thine image in our souls, mercifully grant that by the effectual working of His grace I may be preserved from all sin, and may glorify Thee both in my body and in my spirit, which are Thine; through the merits and mediation of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (68)

THURSDAY.

HOLY Paraclete, sweetest Consolation of the

time with Thy mighty power into the depths of my heart. Gladden there with Thy brightness every dark retreat, and enrich all with the dew of Thine abundance. Inspire my inward parts secretly with the warmth of holy fervour. Nourish my whole mind and body, and give me to drink of Thy pleasures as out of a river. Judge me, and teach me, for Thou art my God, to do Thy Will.

I believe that in whomsoever Thou dwellest, in him the Father and the Son abide together. Blessed is the man who shall be deemed worthy to have Thee to dwell with him, for by Thee the Father and the Son will make their abode with him. Come then, now come, most gracious Comforter of the mourning soul, Thou Helper in tribulations. Come, Healer of Sin. Come, Strength of the weak, Recovery of the falling. Come, Teacher of the humble, Destroyer of the proud. Come loving Father of the orphan, merciful Judge of the widow. Come, Hope of the poor, Restorer

of the faint. Come, Star of the mariner, Haven of the shipwrecked. Come, O Thou brightest Glory of all living, only Safety of the dying. Come, Most Holy Spirit. Come and pity me; and of Thy goodness, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, grant me salvation at the last, grant me perpetual joy. Amen. (69)

Or this.

THOU blessed Spirit, Lord, and Giver of Life, Who didst come down to sanctify and to teach, to guide and to comfort Thine elect; lead me, I beseech Thee, into all truths, and fill my heart with Thy manifold gifts of grace, Who with the Father and the Son together art worshipped and glorified, one God world without end. Amen.

FRIDAY.

(70)

LORD Jesu Christ, Who hast deigned to create me in Thine image, and to redeem me by Thy precious blood, Who hast formed me in my mother's womb, and brought me forth into the light of life, I beseech Thee of Thy most tender love that Thou wouldest also deign to enlighten me with Thy heavenly light, and that Thou wouldest show me the path of life, and lead me to the haven of eternal salvation. Lord of all pities, kindle within me the flame of Thy love, which may purify the dross of my sins, and always burn with desire of Thee. O Lord, most loving Saviour, soften my hard and stony heart. Grant to me contrition of heart, that before Thy mercy seat I may pour forth abundant tears for the guilt of my sins; Grant to me, Lord, penitence, and love like that of her who washed Thy feet with her tears. Grant to me the faith of the thief who confessed Thee when hanging upon the cross, and was deemed worthy to hear these words: "Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." Grant to me, Almighty God, in

the day when Thou shalt bid my soul to depart from the body, that I, too, may hear that loving assurance, and that the holy angels of God may carry my soul to the joys of Paradise. Let my prayer, O Lord, be lifted up unto Thee as incense in Thy sight. Hear, Lord, my voice when I cry unto Thee. Pity me, O Lord, and let my crying come unto Thee, O merciful God, ever abiding in one Trinity. Save me, O Saviour of the world, Who reignest for ever and ever. Amen. (71) Or this.

PIRIT of God, Very God, Who didst descend upon Christ at the river Jordan, and upon the Apostles in the upper chamber, and didst enlighten me in Baptism: I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee; purify me again, I beseech Thee, with Thy Divine fire, as Thou didst the Apostles with fiery tongues; have mercy upon me, a grievous sinner. Amen. (72)

SATURDAY.

LORD God, Fountain of life, Giver of all good things, Who givest to men the blessed hope of eternal life by our Lord Jesus Christ, and hast promised Thy Holy Spirit to them that ask Him; Be present with me in the study of Thy holy word; grant that I, being preserved from all evil by Thy power, and among the diversities of opinions and judgments in this world from all errors and false doctrines, and led into all truth by the conduct of Thy Holy Spirit, may for ever obey Thy heavenly calling; that I may not be only a hearer of the word of life, but a doer also of good works, keeping faith and a good conscience, living an unblameable life, usefully and charitably, religiously and prudently, before Thee my God and before all the world, that at the end of my mortal life I may enter into the light and life of God, to sing praises and eternal hymns to the glory of Thy