Judea. He is no sooner come to His Own than He must fly from them; that He may save them, He must avoid them. What a change is here! Israel, the firstborn of GOD, flies out of Egypt into the promised land of Judea; CHRIST, the First-born of all creatures, flies from Judea into Egypt. Egypt is become the sanctuary, Judea the inquisition-house of the Son of GOD. He Who is everywhere the same, makes all places alike to His people; He makes the fiery furnace a gallery of pleasures, the lion's den a house of defence, the whale's belly a lodging chamber, Egypt a harbour.

He flies Who was able to preserve Himself from danger! to teach us how lawfully we may fly from those dangers we cannot avoid otherwise. He Who came to die for us, fled for His Own preservation, and hath bid us to follow Him. "When they persecute you in one city, fly into another," &c. We have but the use of our lives, and we are bound to husband them to the best advantage of GOD and His Church.

O the wonderful dispensation of GOD, in concealing of Himself from men! Since He would take our nature He would be a perfect Child, suppressing the manifestation and exercise of that Godhead whereto that Infant nature was conjoined. Even so, O Saviour, the humility of Thine Infancy was answerable to that of Thy Birth. The more Thou hidest and abasest Thyself for us, the more should we magnify Thee, the more should we (abase) ourselves for Thee. Unto Thee, with the FATHER, and the HOLY GHOST, be all honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

O most Lovely Child! King of heaven and earth! how didst Thou labour for our salvation! One time Thou fliest into Egypt, and again we find Thee returning from it. What great privations, what arduous labours, what severe bodily afflictions, didst Thou constantly endure for our sakes! O that we could follow Thee into the quiet home of Nazareth, where Thou didst vouchsafe to dwell.

Before whom fliest Thou, O Saviour? Thou, Who art the Creator and Ruler of the World, and the SON of the living GOD? Where fliest Thou, Who art the Refuge of others, and in Whom the guilty find a sure Asylum against the punishment with which they are threatened? Thou didst make the world, and yet Thou livest in it as a stranger. Thou didst not wish to have any fixed dwelling in Thy Own domain. O my God, open the bowels of Thy compassion, and the riches of Thy Grace, to pardon me, and support the wanderings of my life. Thou hast created me for Thyself, and I can hope for no true peace without Thee. I see the changes of this life, and that all is in continual agitation. I see Thee, O my GOD, without any restingplace in this world, and I learn by Thy example, that Thou wouldst not have me set my heart upon the good things, which Thou hast given me-but that I should use them as means of attaining those eternal treasures which Thou hast prepared for me. Notwithstanding all these instructions and examples, my heart remains in blindness, and forgetfulness of heaven

-dissipated by a thousand different objects, or by a multiplicity of cares; and bound to the earth as though it were its rest. Remember, O Divine Saviour! for whom Thou hast undertaken this pilgrimage, and for whom Thou didst labour. Why wouldst Thou come to dwell in this exile, but to find a remedy for all my evils? I cannot be so wicked or miserable, but that Thy mercy is greater. Thou desirest more to show mercy in me, than I desire to obtain it. Give me, a poor exile, an ardent desire to know and love Thee and since Thou art All-powerful, take possession of my heart, and drive thence all Thy enemies. Establish there Thy love-plant there the tree of life, and pluck thence, even from the root, all sinful delights.

;

All my miseries call to Thee, O Divine Mercy, that Thou assuage them. All my desires aspire to Thee, O Boundless Good! that thou mayest fill them; all the spots of my soul are open to Thee that Thou mayest efface them; and grant, O my Saviour, that I may see and feel how void and unsatisfying all the pleasures of this life are out of Thee. How may I not hope in Thee, O GOD, when I see Thee love sinners so tenderly, as to come and dwell with them in this vale of tears? when I see Thee so anxious to do them good, that when they persecuted Thee, Thou didst not return into heaven amidst the glorious spirits who ever worship Thee, and who know what Thou art? Grant me, O Divine Master, to enter into the depths of Thy Divine merits. Thou now fliest from a single enemy, to fall one day into the hands of many, who will take away Thy Life.

Brapers.

All praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O LoRD JESUS, Who, whilst yet an Infant, didst vouchsafe to suffer persecution, and flee as an exile unto the land of Egypt. Grant, O merciful LORD, that amidst all the tempests of adversity, and the storms of persecution and calamity, I may fly to Thee, seek Thee, and call only upon Thee. Give me grace to bear patiently these, and all calamities, (and even death itself,) for Thy sake. Help me to despise the riches and honours of this world, and to fear none of its adversities or frowns; but may I cheerfully receive all things from Thine Hand, and bear all with a meek heart, and, with thanksgiving, cleave immoveably to Thee, my only Hope and Refuge. Amen.

Almighty and Everlasting GoD, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all dangers and necessities stretch forth Thy right Hand to help and defend us, through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen.

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CHAPTER X.

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

THE HOLY CHILD JESUS TARRIES BEHIND IN THE

TEMPLE.

Prophecy.

AND there shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD, and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD. Isa. xi. 1, 2.

Gospel Narrative.

S. Luke ii. 41-52.

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as

they returned, the CHILD JESUS tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. But they supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought Him