8. After these words, our LORD lifted up His Eyes to heaven, and prayed for His disciples; and for the Unity of His Church.

S. John xvii.

Reflections.

ON THE WORD OF GOD.

"He that is of GOD, heareth GOD's words." These words pronounced by the Mouth of the LORD, are enough to awaken the attention of the most slothful to the Divine Word; and to engage the righteous to a serious examination as to the use they have made of this Word, so holy and so awful as it is. What earnestness hast thou yet felt to understand His Divine Word? How often thou hast preferred thy repose, thy vain and useless occupations to it, and thy parties of pleasure! Hast thou searched it, esteemed it, respected it as it deserves? and what fruit hast thou gathered from it? This is a subject for serious examination. Remember that He gives the crown only to those who persevere; and that those whom He here exempts from death, are not those who hear His Word, but those who keep it, and in whom it brings forth fruit even until death. Be of a devoted heart; content not thyself with a single effort; maintain a continual striving; walk, and faint not; for that Divine Word will support thee if thou lovest it.

R

Meditation.

I desire, O my GOD, henceforward to make all my delight in Thy Divine Word, and thus obtain the life of Grace and the life of Glory, which Thou dost promise. Like the Prophets, I will listen attentively to all that my LORD and my GOD shall say to me, either by His Spirit or by His Ministers. So soon as my ears shall receive Thy Divine Word, I will strive to engrave all its expressions on my memory, that I may never more forget them, I will fix my mind upon them, and make them the subject of my most serious reflections. May my heart be touched by them, and love them as its chief treasures, that I may keep and practise them with fidelity and perseverance, and obey them without delay. I desire, O LORD, to practise Thy Word, whatever sacrifice, humiliation, or labour it may impose upon me.

Prayers.

See the Collect for Second Sunday in Advent.

I adore Thee, I praise and glorify Thee, O LORD JESUS CHRIST; I bless, and give thanks to Thee, O SON of the living GOD, Who, when about to depart from this world, didst exhort and console Thy chosen disciples with words of ineffable consolation, and commend them to Thy FATHER with most fervent prayer, thereby clearly showing to them, and to us,

who should believe through them, the greatness of Thy love. Grant, O LORD, that Thy Word may be precious to my heart, and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. O that this same burning exhortation may sink down into my heart, and wholly transform it with Thy love. Direct me, O LORD my GOD, that I may ever abide in the Unity of Thy holy Church, and that Thy holy will may be done at all times in me and by me.

Amen.

See "Prayer for Unity" in the "Accession Service."

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The Passion.

AN HOROLOGY OF THE PASSION.

FOR the comfort of those who are called to the high privilege of sharing their Saviour's cup of agony, and pass their sleepless nights in weariness and pain, the time, about which the several awful scenes of the Passion may have transpired, is here given. Although it is, perhaps, impossible to fix the exact period of each sad event, yet sufficient accuracy may be attained to satisfy the devout sufferers who might wish, in the still watches of the night, to follow their LORD hour by hour, and step by step, through His mysterious and awful Passion.

This horology may also serve to fill up devoutly and profitably the long and weary hours of those who watch by the sick beds of beloved friends. We take this opportunity of recommending a beautiful little book, called "Sacred Dial of Scripture and Prayer," published by Mr. Parker, Oxford.

Thursday Evening.

At 6 P.M. Our gracious Redeemer ate the Passover with His disciples.

7 P.M.

Our most humble Saviour, JESUS CHRIST,

true God and Man, on His Knees did wash the feet of His disciples; and shall not I cast away all pride, and imitate the Example of my LORD, willingly performing the humblest offices for the good of my neighbour?

8 P.M. Our holy Redeemer, from ineffable love to man, instituted the Holy Eucharist. O what love shall I render to Him, for His great love to me? What desire for, what reverence to this Holy Sacrament ought I not to have?

9 P.M. Our Redeemer, JESUS CHRIST, gave His last instructions to His faithful followers, recommending unto them mutual charity. O my soul, by our love one toward another, we are known as the true children of GOD.

10 to 12 P.M. Our Blessed Saviour entered the Garden, and, seized with overwhelming sadness, prayed earnestly to His FATHER, and, in resignation to His will, did sweat great drops of blood from His sacred Body.

O, let us fly to GOD by prayer, when we are in any affliction or danger; and let us never rest in the creature, but cast ourselves into the Hands of our Creator.

About Midnight. Our loving Redeemer went forth to meet His enemies, voluntarily offering Himself to death, and refusing not the kiss of the traitor Judas; and shall I, O my GOD, dare to betray Thee by my sins for some base creature or vain pleasure ? Better would it be for me to endure all the torments of this life, yea, even to die, and so to suffer with my Saviour.