pastures of Thy Fold, and beside the living Waters of Thy Kingdom. Open the door to me, place me within its holy restraint, and O never suffer me to stray again. May I never hearken to the stranger's voice, but evermore be guided by Thine Eye: let me see Thy Countenance, let me hear Thy Voice; for sweet is Thy Voice, and gracious is Thy Countenance, yea, Thou art altogether Lovely.

Our FATHER, &c.
Alleluia!

O Blessed JESUS, Who before Thou didst go up on high, didst teach Thy disciples upon the mountain of Galilee, evermore teach us Thy servants.

O Blessed JESUS, Who didst lead Thy disciples unto Bethany that they might behold Thy glorious Ascension, evermore lead us Thy servants that we may behold Thy glorious mysteries.

O Blessed JESUS, Who shalt come again with great power and glory to judge the quick and the dead, give us grace joyfully to look for that Thy coming again.

O Blessed JESUs, grant us confidence before Thee at Thy coming, that we may behold Thy face with joy, and be placed on Thy right Hand for ever.

Ó Blessed JESUS, grant us to be partakers

in Thy Cross, that we may have part in Thy heavenly Glory.

O Blessed JESUS, grant us to have part in the communion of Thy Saints, that we with them may obtain everlasting life, and be with Thee always for ever and ever.

GOD is gone up with a merry noise. Alleluia.

Wheresoever Thou art, O LORD, there would Thy servant be.

And the LORD with the sound of the trump. Alleluia.

My heart is ready, O LORD, my heart is ready: I will sing and give praise with the best member that I have.

Rejoice, thou heaven, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets.

Alleluia, for the LORD GOD Omnipotent reigneth.

Praise our GOD, all ye His servants: Ye that fear Him, both small and great. Praise our GOD, all ye His servants: For He is LORD of Lords, and KING of Kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Praise our GOD, all ye His servants: For GOD hath put into their hearts to fulfil His will.

I heard a voice of much people in Heaven, saying, Alleluia! Salvation and glory, and

honour and power unto the LORD our GOD. Amen: Alleluia.

PSALM VIII. Domine, Dominus noster.

O LORD our Governor, how excellent is Thy Name in all the world: Thou that hast set Thy glory above the heavens !

Out of the mouths of very babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength, because of Thine enemies that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

For I will consider Thy heavens, even the works of Thy fingers: the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained.

What is man, that Thou art mindful of him and the son of man, that Thou visitest him ?

:

Thou madest him lower than the angels: to crown him with glory and worship.

Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of Thy Hands: and Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet; All sheep and oxen: yea, and the beasts of the field;

The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.

O LORD our Governor: how excellent is Thy Name in all the world.

Glory be to the FATHER, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

MONDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF THE ASCENSION.

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the Mother of JESUS, and with His brethren."

In that "large upper room," where the Holy Eucharist had been first offered and partaken of, we may now suppose this company of the Apostles and brethren, with the Blessed Mother to be assembled. Here for ten days they retired for fervent prayer, in order to prepare themselves for the coming of the HOLY GHOST. Here, remembering how GOD's promises are fulfilled, in answer to prayer, they called to mind the words, "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly FATHER give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask Him."

Thus they prepared themselves for the great Gift from Heaven; and shall we not imitate them? Yes, verily, as we endeavoured to prepare ourselves before Easter to receive the SON, so will we endeavour before Pentecost to prepare ourselves to receive the HOLY GHOST. For how could

E

we expect such a Guest to enter the house of our soul, unless that house had been fitted to entertain Him?

Prepare, then, my soul, to receive thy GOD!

66

But how shalt thou do this? Thou who art naturally wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," and of thyself canst do nothing? Yet arise, and call upon thy GOD; and if the house of thy soul be narrow, He will enlarge it; if it be in ruins, He will repair it.

And from this company in the " upper room," which presents to me the example of the highest saints, I will learn how I ought fervently to pray at this season.

I see them then, as they there kneel before the throne of grace, "all with one accord in prayer;" praying and asking the same thing, all united in love, with one heart and will, and exercising that fellowship in prayer to which the promise belongs: "If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My FATHER which is in Heaven."

Again, as I look in on this blessed company, and see their continuance in prayer, I learn that "men ought always to pray and not to faint." They knew not what day might bring the expected Comforter, and