dian's first concern, therefore, is to awake his charge from sin. You remember how St. Peter, bound with two chains, was kept in prison to be executed on the morrow, and how his angel guardian came in a flood of light, and woke him up, and knocked away his fetters, and set him free. Peter is there a figure of a sinner chained to his sin by long habit and presumption of God's mercy, and entirely oblivious of his doom. Then comes his angel guardian, rousing him, giving him light to see his folly, and strength to shake off his lethargy, and lo! there is joy in heaven over one more sinner doing penance. The angel's next anxiety is to keep his ward away from all the persons, places, and things, that might effect relapse. We read that Lot, a just man, lived amid the wickedness of Sodom and that his angel came and bade him flee and not dare look back, for so alone could he escape the fire and brimstone soon to shower on that fated city. Lot hesitated to obey, and then the angel seized him and forced him out the walls. Oh how many times God's angel has to warn the penitent; to force him by disease or poverty away from the occasions and companions of his former sinful life! And when the penitent, disobeying, still looks back, how often is the sweetness of escape turned to salty bitterness! Thirdly, the angel labors to have his convert persevere. The prophet Elias on his way to Mount Horeb to see and speak with God, was overcome with weariness, and turning aside fell fast asleep, but an angel roused him up and giving him to eat said: " Get thee on, a long way is still
