sin. Fly from all his works, the works of darkness: let him henceforth find nothing in thee that he may claim for his own, and by means of which he may also lay claim to thee. Despise his vain pomps, the false appearance of worldly grandeur, the prodigality, vanity, and sinful amusements by which he allures poor worldlings into his net : and if at any time thou art invited to take part in these fooleries, repeat to thyself those words of St. Augustin. What hast thou to do with the pomps of the devil, which thou hast renounced?

Consider, fifthly, that at baptism each of us, according to the ancient ce remony of the Catholic Church, was cloathed with a white garment; which the minister of Christ gave us with these words: Receive this white gar ment, which thou shalt carry without spot or stain before the judgment-seat of Christ. Happy souls, that comply with this obligation! What a comfort will it be to them in life! what a joy and satisfaction in death! to have kept this robe of innocence undefiled! But, O baptismal innocence, where shall we find thee in this unhappy age? O!

blindness and stupidity of the children of Adam, that, part so easily with so inestimable a treasure. Alas! my poor soul, has it not been thy misfortune? O make haste then to wash away, with penitential tears, those dreadful stains of sin, which must otherwise become the eternal fuel of hell's merciless flames.

C

On the Vanity of the World.

Onsider, first, those words of the wisest of men, Eccles i. Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity: and reflect how truly vain are all those things which deluded worldlings pursue with so much eagerness: honours riches, and worldly pleasures, are all but painted bubbles, which look at a distance as if they were something, but have nothing of real substance in them; and, instead of a solid content and joy, bring nothing with them but a trifling momentary satisfaction, followed by cares, uneasiness, apprehensions, and remorse. Ah! bubbles indeed, which their admirers no sooner offer to grasp at, but they dissolve into

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air, and leave their hands empty! O! how justly were all worldly enjoyments compared by the Royal Prophet to a dream? Dormierunt somnum suum. & nihil invenerunt omnes viri divitiarum in manibus suis, Psalm lxxv. They have slept out their short sleep, and when they awoke they found nothing in their hands of all those things, which in their dream they seemed to possess. Oye sons of men how long will you be in love with vanity, and run after lies? Psalm iv.

Consider, secondly, that saying of St. Augustin, L. i. Confes. c. I. Thou host mode us, O Lord, for thyself: and our hearts cannot rest till they rest in thee: and reflect, that our great Creator has given us a noble soul, made to his own image, and like him spiritual and immortal; which therefore can never find its happiness in earthly and fading things. No, my soul, thou hast an understanding and a will capable of contemplating the sovereign beauty and sovereign truth, and of enjoying the one supreme infinite Good; and whatever is less than him, is not worthy of thee. Ah! resolve then no longer

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to fatigue thyself, and waste away thy spirits in running like a child after butterflies but since thou canst not be without seeking for happiness, seek it in the name of God where it is to be found, viz. in the way of virtue and devotion, and not in the by-paths which lead to endless misery.

Consider, thirdly, the shortness of all worldly enjoyments. The days of man are very short: the longest life is less than a moment, when compared with eternity. A thousand years, in the sight of God, the very truth, are but as yesterday that is past and gone, Ps. lxxxix Alas! does not daily experience convince us, that we are here today, and gone to morrow; and no sooner out of sight, but also out of mind? For as soon as we are in the grave, those that we leave behind think no more of us: All flesh is grass, says the prophet Isaiah, chap. x, and all the glory of it but like that of the flower of the field, which flourishes in the morning, and fades in the evening. O how truly is our life compared by St. James, chap iv. to a vapour or a thin smoke, which is dispersed by the

first puff of wind, and no more seen? How justly is it compared by Solomon, (Wisdom, chap. v.) to a shadow, or to the flight of a bird upon the wing, or an arrow shot from the bow, which leaves no mark of its passage behind? Ah! how vain then it is to fix our hearts upon what we must so shortly leave behind us.

Consider, fourthly, what is now become of all the great ones of this world, those mighty monarchs, gallant generals, wise statesmen, celebrated beauties, &c. which made so conspicuous a figure an hundred years ago? Alas! they are all long since gone; and now few or none ever think of them, or scarce know whether any such persons ever existed: just so it will be with us a few years hence. Ah! worldlings, give ear for one mo ment to those who are gone before you; and who, from their silent monuments, where the remainder of their dust lies mingled with the common earth, call upon you in the words of the wise man: Memento judicii mei ; sic enim erit tuam mihi heri; tibi Bodie, Eccl. xxxviii. "Remember what