the Father and Holy Ghost, ever one God. Amen.

OD the Father bless me with a perpetual

GOD

blessing the only-begotten Son vouchsafe to bless and succour me: the grace of the

Holy Ghost illuminate my mind and heart. Amen.

TUESDAY.

AN OFFICE FOR THE OBTAINING OF THE SPECIAL GRACE OF PURITY.

Questions for Self-examination.

1. HAs thy past life, especially the season of discipline and education, been a suitable preparation for this pure and holy calling?

2. Hast thou kept thy body as a temple of the Holy Ghost, and dost thou purpose, with God's help, so to do?

3. Hast thou been careful not to please thy fancy with loose and wanton imaginations, nor to entertain them till they have become unruly lusts ?

4. Hast thou refrained from any sinful solicitations and temptations of others to commit uncleanness with thee, by the wantonness of the eyes, hands, and tongue ?

5. Hast thou freed thyself from the yoke of every sin of impurity, intemperance, love of frivolous gaiety, love of dress, love of money,

QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION.

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or any other love whose nature is to drive the love of the Father out of the soul?

6. Hast thou used all the means in thy power to purify thy soul from the lust of the flesh, and of the eye: as fervent prayer, religious fasting, and self-discipline in general?

7. Dost thou strive to keep a guard and check upon all thy passions, as anger, resentment, envy, lust, covetousness, gluttony, and

such like ?

8. Art thou wholly unwilling to see, hear, read, or talk of, anything that is unseemly?

MEDITATIONS.

EZEK. xxxiv. 18. "Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?" "The pastors drink most clear water," saith St. Gregory, "when with a sound understanding they drink of the streams of truth; but to foul with their feet the same water, is to pollute the studies of holy meditation by a sinful life. And so the flock drink that which

they have fouled; take their notions of the requirements of the Gospel from their lax example, rather than from the strict letter of the law; and so both pastor and flock perish, but the souls of all will be required of the pastor."

Psa. cxix. 9. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? Even by ruling himself after Thy word." The child of God keeps himself clean and pure by squaring all his intentions and actions by that infallible rule of righteousness which God has prescribed. He that faithfully studies the holy word of God need never to be at a loss to discover what he should do, or what he should design.

Psa. xxiv. 3, 4. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall rise up in His holy place? Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart: that hath not lift up his mind to vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour." He that is counted worthy to stand and minister in the holy place is full of simplicity; without all stain of dishonesty or covetousness in his dealings; pure in heart, as one called to see God more intimately and frequently than his fellows; superior to the

vanities of this naughty world; and lastly, careful to guide his words with sincerity and discretion. His holiness, therefore, is in deed, in desire, in thought, and in speech.

Psa. iv. 3. "Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to Himself the man that is godly." He hath selected from among the children of men certain vessels of honour devoted to His service; and should I be so happy as to be one of these, holy and separate from the vanities of the world, I could not doubt but "when I call upon the Lord He will hear me."

THE BEATITUDE.

MATT. V. 8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." 'And," saith St. Austin, "if none but these shall see God, surely none but these shall enjoy His presence. And yet without Him, what could I do? Cor mundum crea in me, Deus!"

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