after, besides the sad experience of future sufferings when my life and you are at an end. I will henceforward banish you my thoughts, and employ my invaluable time in the contemplation and search of pleasures that are confessed on all hands to be satisfactory, true, and lasting, even the joys of that eternal kingdom which never fades away. Since, then, my soul, this world, in its fairest pretences to what is valuable, is thus false and contemptible, what do I here? Why am I thus busily grovelling here below in dust and ashes? Why did I ever let it possess the least portion of my heart, or take up a single thought in that breast, which was, I am sure, at first designed for a more noble guest, and made to be

the temple of the Holy Ghost? Haste, then, O my soul! and be gone from this trash, these husks that are below, and fly away to thy "Father's house, where there are many glorious mansions," worthy of thy contemplations.

THE PRAYER.

GRANT, therefore, O God my Saviour, that I may never imitate the busy world in hunting after shadows, and for their sakes lose the dear treasures of eternity. Suffer me, O Lord! to beg my bread here, to be the scorn of all men, and undergo the sharpest effects of a life of want and misery, so I may at last be sure to enter into the fulness of joy, the rivers of plea

sures at thy right hand for evermore. Let me grasp and aspire after higher things than this contemptible place could ever yet afford. Grant, I beseech thee, that I may find that peace and contentment out of the noise of the disturbing world, which I have in vain sought after in its transient pleasures and enjoyments. And since thou hast fully assured me, O blessed Spirit! that it is a sad exchange" to gain the whole world, and lose my own soul," let thy sacred influences assist and direct me how I may rather lose the whole world, and save that immortal soul. Help me, O God! to get an absolute conquest over all the temptations of things temporal that are seen, lest they should cool the fervour of my

zeal in the pursuit after better things not seen, that are eternal. Thus, through thy grace, O God! shall I escape all the snares and allurements here below, that I may imitate him who has said, that his "followers are not of this world," even my dear Redeemer; to whom, with the Father and Holy Spirit, be ever ascribed all power and glory. Amen.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

THOU art invited, 0 my soul! to a royal banquet; put on thy best apparel, then, for the King, that bids thee, will take great notice of thy dress. It is the marriage-supper of

the great King; let us then get on the wedding-garment, that we may go out to meet the bridegroom of my soul. Take care that thou appear like a guest, lest the Lord of the feast should look upon thee as an intruder. But come away, all things are ready; fly to meet thy Bridegroom, thy beloved, who not only invites thee with all the soft expressions of his love, but is so earnest for thy company, that he bids his messengers compel them to come in."

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Surely thou dost not stand doubtful whether thou shalt go or not, nor make excuses to put it off till another time! Art thou sure thou shalt be again invited? And after thou hast rejected this solemn invitation, and refused thy company to the great