I will follow Thee, O my Saviour, and ever abide with Thee. I would offer myself by Thee, with Thee, and in Thee, to the eternal FATHER, and put myself under the protection of His Justice, and under the shadow of Thy wings.

Thy well-beloved SON began His Life by a solemn protestation of obedience, and undertook nothing without Thy Paternal benediction. Suffer me, O LORD, to ask it of Thee, all unworthy as I am, that I may, from this moment, consecrate myself to Thy service all the rest of my life. Give me that mind, which led the blessed Simeon into the Temple, and caused him to know his Saviour. Create in me a pure heart, and a right spirit, which will lead me to Thee. I know how little I merit this grace, but I present before Thee, the Infinite merits of this Lamb without spot. Receive me, by Him, among the number of Thy servants, and extend to me the love which Thou hast for Him, and give me grace to persevere in Thy

service even unto death.

Is it possible, O LORD, that Thou couldst conceal what Thou wert, in the midst of Jerusalem? How is it that all creatures did not recognize Thee, and go before Thee with songs of joy and praise? The sea and Jordan flew before the children of Israel when Thou didst send them forth from the land of Egyptthe mountains and hills leaped for joy, and the rocks were turned into refreshing springs of water, because they felt Thy Presence in the midst of Thy people. The most insensible creatures were moved in the passage of the Ark of the Covenant, and yet all these marvels are only the figures of the truth enclosed in

Thy Humanity. Now THOU passest THYSELF in the midst of these people, and no one recognizes Thee, but blessed Simeon, and Anna the prophetess.

Eternal thanks be rendered to Thee, O my GOD, for the privileges Thou didst grant to the humble, and those who love Thee. When Thou spakest in the Temple, in the midst of the doctors, when Thou didst miracles in the sight of all Judea, they did not know Thee. Whilst here, as a Child, poor and helpless in the arms of Thy mother, Thou couldst not conceal Thyself from those who loved Thee; for they endured even their exile in this life from a desire to see Thee; and life was only desirable to them, from the hope of embracing Thee. O that I may thus desire, thus seek and find Thee, my only Hope and Consolation.

I behold Thee as an Infant, and feel Thy greatness -I see Thee poor, and I admire Thy riches-I behold Thee crucified, and am attracted by Thy love. But when my heart departs from Thy love, I recognize Thee no more; no, not even in the miracles Thou doest, nor in the Brightness of Thy Majesty. Unite me to Thee, O my GoD, turn mine eyes from vanity, and grant that they only may be fixed in the contemplation of Thy eternal truth. Convince this miserable heart that Thou art its only Salvation, and centre of repose. Grant that I may find no joy but in Thee, Who art my true Friend. Give me the knowledge of myself, that I may not be seduced by the false pleasures of this world, or by my own miseries, but that I seek after Thee. Come, O Divine Saviour! come into my sinful soul; break the bonds of its slavery, and give it the liberty of Thy children, that it may be

may

wholly Thine, and may follow, embrace and possess Thee, and sing with holy Simeon, this canticle of joy, LORD, now lettest Thou Thy servant, &c.

Prayers.

All praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O LORD JESUS, Who for our sakes didst vouchsafe to be subject to Thy parents; and to teach us humility, wast carried into the Temple to be redeemed with the offerings of the poor; and didst there graciously give Thyself to be embraced by holy Simeon, who desired to see Thee. Come, and mercifully give Thyself to me, now waiting for Thee with earnest desire. Take from me all vanity and arrogance; and root out by Thy purifying grace, whatever impurity Thou findest in me, and make my heart Thy Temple, by Thy indwelling, that I may embrace and hold Thee fast with the arms of faith and . love. Grant me ever to long for Thee, the Fountain of Light, Who art with the FATHER, that I may not depart out of this life, before I see thee, with the eyes of my soul, Who art the Desire, the Life and the Reward of them that seek Thee. Amen.

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CHAPTER IX.

OUR LORD'S FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

Gospel Narrative.

See Gospel for Innocents' Day, Chapter V.

Reflections.

THE Angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream, and warned him to flee with the young Child and His Mother into Egypt, to escape the fury of Herod. In the very commencement of our LORD's Life on earth, we see how He underwent all the alternations of prosperity and adversity, that we might learn how to bear the same alternations. Thus, at His Nativity, we see Him worshipped by the Shepherds; a few days after, we find Him enduring the pain of Circumcision, as if He were a sinner; after this came the Magi, and worshipped Him with great devotion as their King and GOD, even though He still remained in a mean cottage. Then He was presented in the Temple, and glorified by Simeon and Anna with songs of praise; and now He is warned by an Angel to flee into Egypt from the face of His persecutor. And many other like things shall we find in His holy Life, which we may turn to our instruction.

From these things we may learn neither to be elated with joys, nor depressed by troubles, for God sends us consolations to cherish hope, lest we be discouraged; and tribulations to keep us humble, that knowing our own misery, we may ever stand in awe of Him. We ought to have patience in all our afflictions, and not to expect from the LORD privileges, which He assigned not at this time to Himself or His parents. Consider

the goodness and love of JESUs, how soon He suffers persecution for us, and flies from the land of His Nativity; how graciously He yields to the fury and malice of him, whom He could have destroyed in a moment. O how profound is the Humility of the LORD! how wonderful His patience! For He, to Whom angels minister, flies before the face of His persecutor. Whilst He, as GOD, is the Refuge of all, yet, as Man, He escapes from wicked Herod. O, incomprehensible is the patience and humility of GOD Incarnate! He is unwilling to retaliate, or to injure His enemy, but rather avoids his snares by flight. O my soul, strive to follow this example of thy LORD and Master, by patiently bearing adversities and persecutions; and, whilst avoiding the malice of Thy enemies, pray for them, and, as far as possible, return them good for evil.

Meditations.

O strange condition of the King of all the world! He could not be born in a baser estate; yet even this He cannot enjoy with safety. There was no room for Him in Bethlehem; there will be no room for Him in