Prayer.

MERCIFUL, gracious, and loving Saviour, One with the Father, who searchest the heart, and triest the reins; I approach Thee to ask of Thee the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, that I may suitably prepare to meet Thee in Thine own appointed ordinance. Is it so, indeed, that Thou hast reserved a place for me at the Table at which Thy saints are wont to gather in remembrance of Thee? Then, gracious Lord, let nothing keep me willingly away: not my sins, for Thou art my Saviour, and I need pardoning mercy; not my anxieties, for I need Thy refreshment and rest; not my unworthiness, for Thy invitation is a command Help me to draw nigh with faith, and take this Holy Sacrament to my comfort. May Thy Holy Spirit work in me true repentance, and give me a true sense of the high privilege of being numbered with Thy Saints, that I may never disgrace my holy calling by any

allowed inconsistency. May He shed abroad Thy love in my heart, and so renew my strength, that I may run and not be weary, and walk and not faint. Yea, and if it be Thy will, may I even mount as on eagle's wings, to the full enjoyment of communion. with Thee, and Thy blessed Saints.

But chiefly would I seek to meet Thee, that by Thy all-sufficient grace and Thy perfecting strength I may cheerfully pursue the path of duty; patiently bear whatever cross I have to take up in following Thee, thankfully remember Thy death, and with earnest desire look forward to Thy coming. Thou hast graciously said, "Surely I come quickly." "Amen." For the truth's sake, for the Church's sake, for the world's sake, for Thine own honour and glory, "Even so come, Lord Jesus."

Meditation.

JOHN XIII. 8, 10.

no part with me.

JESUS saith "If I wash thee not, thou hast He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit."

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OLY, holy, holy is the LORD."

my soul, remember this, and rejoice before Him with reverence. He has declared, "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me." As He is holy, so the High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, is the Holy One of God; and to all Christians, priests with Him, is this word sent: "Be ye holy; for I am holy."

It is fit that I should keep in mind what was taught under the Law as to the cleansing of Aaron and his sons, in that God commanded, "When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not." By His wondrous

favour I am called to be one of the "holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ;" therefore how great should be my care to be "holy in all manner of conversation"!

By nature corrupt and weak, "in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." Great and constant is my need of cleansing. My members, my senses, my mind, my heart,—all must be kept pure to minister to Him Whose I am and Whom I serve. These things I know. Yet I have not kept sufficient guard over my thoughts, words, and actions. I have been sinfully careless, forgetting at many times and in divers cases that the temple of God is holy, that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and that nothing unhallowed can be seen by Him in the outer or inner courts of my being without His displeasure.

No waters of earth, no tears, can take away the least impurity from my soul; but, blessed be God, He has provided and He accepts a perfect cleansing, alway ready, alway sure, as effectual to-day as when first the Spirit

testified "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." Bethink thee, O my soul, of thy shortcomings and of His fulness; of thy defects and wants, and of His abounding gifts: humble thyself, yet lift up thyself to Him who has said, "My grace is sufficient for thee." I dare to say, because He has given me warrant in His word so to do, I believe in Him, therefore He has washed me from my sins in His own blood. Therefore I need not again to be justified, washed altogether a second time from head to foot. Yet, pilgrim as I am, it is required that I wash daily the dust and soil of the world and the flesh from my feet, and "I will wash my hands in innocency."

How wonderful was the humility, how great the love, our Lord and Master showed when He washed the feet of His disciples ! How rich also was the assurance He thereby gave that He would give and forgive all things! Thus I learn of Him, in Him is my trust; and now, preparing for His holy Table, I will meditate on these things, for the deepening,