glory with a single and sincere intention, and desire nothing beside Thee. Allay in me wholly the thirst of fleshly lusts, and all the feverishness of this world's pleasures, and quicken me by Thy grace, that I may never grow cold, weary, or faint in Thy service; but being renewed in the spirit of my mind, I may be daily more and more kindled to love, serve, and praise Thee, my All in all. Amen.

X. THE CONSUMMATION.

Gospel Harmony.

S. Matt. xxvii. 50-52; S. Mark xv. 35, 36; S. Luke xxiii. 45, 46; S. John xix. 30.

IT IS

When JESUS, therefore, had received the vinegar, He said, FINISHED; and when He had cried again with a loud voice, He said FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT. And having said thus, He bowed His Head and gave

up the Ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.

Reflections.1

"IT IS FINISHED," all My work; all that the Law and the Prophets had foretold of Me-all that had been written all the work of man's redemption-all that I had to do in this world-all punishment and torture is ended; all warfare is accomplished-all toil

1 See also Williams, p. 358-376.

and pain is ended. among men for My FATHER'S glory, for the good of the faithful, is now ended: the obedience due to My FATHER, is completed-the fulness of the most bitter Passion is consummated. The remedy of our salvation is found; all the effects of Adam's tasting the forbidden fruit, (the cause of our perdition) are done away, by this tree, on which all is finished. May I, in the hour of death, be able to say the same-Lo, I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do, and now I come to Thee, my LORD and Master, JESUS CHRIST. May I have grace to see Thee, face to face, and to see the end of all perfection.

The time that I had to pass

He bowed His Head, and gave up the Ghost; teaching us to die with Him; and die to the world and sin, if we would live with Him in eternal life. Into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit; teaching us what to do in the hour of temptation, and in the agonies of death; to put our help and trust in GOD, to call upon Him, and commend our spirits to Him. What is my hope? truly in the LORD, and in His Death, which is my merit, my refuge, salvation, life and resurrection.

Meditation.

O good Shepherd! the hour is come when Thou didst give Thy Life for the sheep, and commend Thy Spirit into the hands of Thy FATHER. Pardon me, O my God, all the sins that I have committed: after having done, suffered, and prayed so much for me during Thy sojourn upon earth, wilt Thou refuse the

pardon which I ask? I confess, O LORD, at the foot of Thy cross, that, as an unnatural child, I have sinned against Thee, O FATHER, full of goodness! As an unfaithful servant I have ill served Thee, the best of all Masters! As a lukewarm and slothful friend I have forsaken Thee, O true Life of my soul!

Thou, O JESUS, my hope and my Saviour, dost give up the Ghost. Thou goest with the thief to give him the Paradise which Thou hast promised him. Thou goest, O Divine Consoler, to break the gates of hell, and to liberate the souls that were bound. Destroy by Thy death, the fear of ours, that it become sweet to us, since it is through it that we come to Thee. Open the way that until now has been closed. Regard the desire I have to see. Thee all glorious, immortal, impassible, shining with light and with majesty. In rising again, Thou givest life to my soul, it shall revive with Thee, to possess Thee, and to be possessed of Thee, to lose itself, and to be transformed in Thee, O JESUS, my Sovereign Good.

Prayer.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, I adore and praise Thee, I glorify Thee, I bless and give thanks unto Thee, O SON of the Living GOD, for Thy great love in tasting death for us. In laying down Thy Life for Thy sheep, Thou didst show Thyself to be the Good Shepherd Thou didst die, O only-begotten SON of GOD! Thou didst die, O my Saviour! that I might live for ever. O what hope! what assurance is laid up for me in Thy Death, and in the shedding of Thy Blood! I

glorify and give thanks to Thee, O my Saviour! with my whole soul. Grant that I may entirely die to all

sin, and evil desires, and think of, and know Thee only; so that being adorned with Thy grace, clothed with Thy merits, and filled with holy charity, I may, at the close of my life come to Thee.

O Blessed JESU, by Thy bitter passion and death, grant to the living pardon and grace, and to the faithful departed eternal rest and peace with Thee. Amen.

XI. THE SPECTATORS AT THE CROSS.

Gospel Harmony.

S. Matt. xxvii. 54-56; S. Mark xv. 39-41; S. Luke xxiii.

46-49.

Now when the Centurion, and they that were with him, watching JESUS, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, and he glorified GOD, saying, Truly this Man was the SON of GOD. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned.

And all His acquaintance, and the

women, stood afar off, beholding these things, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children, who followed JEsUs from Galilee, ministering unto Him; and many other women who came up with Him unto Jerusalem.

Meditation.1

Truly this was a Righteous Man! O hearts of Jews, harder than the rocks! The judge declares, the

1 For Reflections, see Williams.

servant believes, the traitor condemns his guilt by his death, the elements flee, the earth quakes, the graves are opened, but the hardness of the Jews remains unmoved though the whole world is shaken. Think, thou ransomed man, Who and What He is, Who hung on the Cross for Thee, Whose Death heaven and earth mourns, Whose Death quickens the dead, and Whom all creation confesses as its LORD. The sun is darkened, and the whole earth is moved, but wretched man, for whom alone CHRIST suffered, sympathizes not. CHRIST was lifted up on high to be seen by all. He cried with a loud Voice to be heard by all; he that is not moved at this Voice is heavier than earth, harder than rocks, more unclean than sepulchres.

Prayer.

O LORD JESUS, the King of Glory, the Creator and Preserver of heaven and earth, at Whose Death the sun hid his light, the veil of the Temple was rent, the earth trembled, the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the bodies of the saints started into life. Let not the light of Thy Grace ever forsake me, O Sun of Righteousness, my GOD! but may it continually enlighten the deepest recesses of my heart, so that the veil of hypocrisy may be entirely drawn from it, and I may serve Thee cheerfully and unreservedly. Make my soul tremble with deep and saving penitence, and break my stony heart, so that being thoroughly renewed in the inner man, I may lightly esteem all perishing things, and love those which are heavenly, with my whole heart. Amen.