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have Thee as a seal upon my heart. Ere ever I cried to Thee, Thou, most Merciful, hadst called and sought me, that I might find Thee, and finding love Thee. Even so I sought and found Thee, Lord, and desire to love Thee. Increase my desire, and grant me what I ask. Bestow Thyself upon me, my God. Yield Thee unto me; see, I love Thee, but too little; strengthen my love; let love to Thee alone inflame my heart, and let the thought of Thee be all my joy. When my spirit aspires to Thee, and meditates on Thine unspeakable goodness, the burden of the flesh becomes less heavy, the tumult of thought is stilled, the weight of mortality is less oppressive. Then fain would my soul find wings, that she might rise in tireless flight ever upwards to Thy glorious throne, and there be filled with the refreshing solace that belongs to the citizens of heaven. Let my soul thus ever seek Thee, and never grow weary of seeking; for he who seeketh Thee not is miserable, and he who refuses to live to Thee is dead. Therefore, O Thou full of compassion, do I commit and commend myself unto Thee, in Whom I am, and live, and know. May my soul be occupied with Thee only. Be Thou the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts beneath the shadow of Thy wings; let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in Thee, O God. Thou bounteous Giver of all good gifts, give to him who is weary refreshing food; gather our distracted thoughts and powers into harmony again; and set the prisoner free. See, he stands at thy door and knocks; be it opened to him, that he may enter with a free step, and be quickened by Thee. For Thou art the Well-spring of Life, the Light of eternal Brightness, wherein the just live who love Thee. Be it unto me according to Thy word! Amen.-St. Augustine, A. D. 350.

SPIRITUAL LIFE.

The more a man is devoted to internal exercises, and advanced in singleness and simplicity of heart, the more sublime and diffusive will be his knowledge. A spirit pure, simple,

and constant, is not like Martha disturbed and troubled with the multiplicity of its employments, however great; because, being inwardly at rest, it seeketh not its own glory in what it does, but "doeth all to the glory of God;" for there is no other cause of perplexity and disquiet, but an unsubdued will and unmortified affections. A holy and spiritual mind, by reducing them to the rule and standard of his own mind, becomes the master of all his outward acts; he does not suffer himself to be led by them to the indulgence of inordinate affections that terminate in self, but subjects them to the unalterable judgment of an illuminated and sanctified spirit.

No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself; but in this we must be continually engaged, if we would be strengthened in the inner man, and make real progress. towards perfection. Indeed, the highest perfection we can attain in the present state is alloyed with much imperfection, and our best knowledge is obscured by the shades of ignorance; we "see through a glass darkly;" an humble knowledge of thyself therefore, is a more certain way of leading thee to God than the most profound investigations of science. Science, however, or a proper knowledge of the things that belong to the present life, is so far from being blamable, considered in itself, that it is good and ordained of God; but purity of conscience, and holiness of life, must ever be preferred before it; and because men are more solicitous to learn much than to live well, they fall into error, and receive little or no benefit from their studies. But if the same diligence was exerted to eradicate vice and implant virtue, as is applied to the discussion of unprofitable questions and the "vain strife of words," so much daring wickedness would not be found among the common ranks of men, nor so much licentiousness disgrace those who are eminent for knowledge. Assuredly in the approaching day of universal judgment it will not be inquired what we have read, but what we have done; not how eloquently we have spoken, but how holily we have lived.

He is truly good who hath great charity; he is truly great.

who is little in his own estimation, and rates as nothing, the summit of earthly honor; he is truly wise who "counts all earthly things but as dross, that he may win Christ;" and he is truly learned who hath learned to abandon his own will, and do the will of God.-Thomas A'Kempis, A. D. 1380.

FOR KINDNESS AND GENTLENESS IN DAILY LIFE.

Oh Thou gracious, gentle, and condescending God, Thou God of Peace, Father of mercy, God of all comfort: see, I lament before Thee the evil of my heart; I acknowledge that I am too much disposed to anger, jealousy, and revenge, to ambition and pride, which often give rise to discord and bitter feelings between me and others. Too often have I thus offended and grieved both Thee, O long-suffering Father, and my fellow-men. Oh forgive me this sin, and suffer me to partake of the blessing which Thou hast promised to the peacemakers, who shall be called the children of God.

Bestow on me, O Lord, a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance; a mild, loving, patient heart; kindly looks and gestures; pleasant, cordial speech and manners in the intercourse of daily life; that I may give offense to none, nor mar the peace of my neighbors; but as much as in me lies live in charity with all men. Oh, how excellent a gift is peace! how earnestly and repeatedly did our Saviour entreat His heavenly Father, that we might be one, even as He and the Father are one!

Therefore, O, Thou Supreme Love, unite our hearts in love to Thee. Soften, expand, enkindle all hard and narrow hearts. Enlighten them, that they may learn quickly to forgive and forget all offenses, even as Thou, in Thy great kindness, art ready to forgive and forget, and dost soon lay aside Thy just anger. Let us prize peace more highly than the gratification of our own jealousy or grudges; let us be ready to give way and yield if so we may retain and guard this precious treasure; for woe unto the country and nation, woe to the family or the individ

ual who loses God's gift of peace! O God, resist the adversary who is the source of all discord, that he may not sow the evil seed of anger and disunion among us. Check all disturbers of peace. Scatter the people who delight in war, and bring to naught the counsels that would raise strife, and are pregnant with calamity. Let us seek peace and ensue it, O Thou King of Peace! and may that peace which passeth understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.-F. Arndt, A. D. 1470.

MARTIN LUTHER.

CHRISTIAN WISDOM AND MODERATION.

Christian wisdom does not consist in seeking the company of those who are accounted wise and skillful; and to make mention and talk of them; but to be occupied among the unwise, and those that lack understanding, that they may forsake sin and foolishness, and embrace righteousness and sound understanding. Therefore it appeareth that Christian wisdom. doth not consist in lofty looks, and seeing ourselves in things high and wise, as in a glass, but that we look to those things which are below, and mark that which is humble. He that knoweth these things, let him give thanks to God; for by this knowledge he is able to prepare and apply himself to everything that shall take place in the world. But ye shall find many, yea, even among those that preach the gospel, who are not thus far enlightened.

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The apostle now declareth, in a few words, how the believers ought to behave themselves toward men; saying, Let your moderation be known unto all men. That is, be joyful toward God, always rejoicing in him; but towards men, be of a patient mind, and so conduct yourselves that ye be ready to

suffer all things, and yield in everything, as much as possible, without transgressing the commands of God.

We must endeavor to please all men in that which is good; we must interpret aright the sayings of others, and accept the part which is good; that men may see that we are of those who would not disagree with any man for any cause whatever; who are rich with the rich, and poor with the poor, rejoicing with those that rejoice, and weeping with those that weep; in short, that we are all things to all men, that they may acknowledge that we are grievous to none, but agreeable, of a patient mind, and obedient in all things. We must be ready to permit, to take in good part, to obey, to give place, to do, to omit, to suffer all things for the benefit of our neighbor; even though we suffer hindrance, loss of substance, name, and body thereby.

Paul said, "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." We here see the patient and pliant mind, rightly observing those things which are here commanded. The apostle did sometimes eat and drink and do all things as a Jew; sometimes with the Gentiles, he did all things as free from the law; for only faith in God, and love toward our neighbor, are necessarily required; all other things are free; and we may freely observe them for one man's sake, and omit them for the sake of another.

We read in Matthew and Mark, that Christ suffered his disciples to break the Sabbath, and he himself did also break it, when the case so required; when it was otherwise he kept it, for which he gave this reason: "The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath." Which is as much as to say, the Sabbath is free, that thou mayest break it for one man's sake and convenience, and for the sake and convenience of another thou mayest keep it.

MARTIN LUTHER'S TABLE TALK.

—A man must needs be plunged in bitter affliction when in his heart he means good, and yet is not regarded. I can never get rid of these cogitations, wishing I had never begun

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