thy glory, and the figure of thy substance ( Heb . i. 3), I praise thee, I bless thee, I adore thee, and rejoice in all that glory, that felicity, which is essential to thyself, and which the ingratitude of thy creatures can never lessen. Why cannot I extol thy goodness with lips purified as were those of thy prophet? Why cannot I, O Jesus, residing in my heart, bum with the ardours which consumed the heavenly spirits who first sung the praises of thy hidden majesty? More ardent, though infinitely less favoured than I am, they proclaimed with joy the blessings thou wert come to scatter on earth. Oh, that I had the hearts, the voices of men and angels, to thank thee for those with which thy coming this day has enriched me! O King of peace, reign in my soul, and let thy dominion be absolute over all its powers, affections, desires, and movements. Let my perverse inclinations become submissive to the orders of thy amiable providence, that I may have no will but thine, no pursuit but that of pleasing thee, and no desire but that of enjoying thee eternally.
AT THE GOSPEL.
O ETERNAL Truth, how happy are those who listen to thy divine inspirations, who hide thy words in their hearts that they may never sin against thee! {Psalm cxviii. 11.) Oh, that my ways may be henceforth directed to keep thy justifications ! {Psalm cxviii. 5.) Oh, that I may this day learn from thy own lips, that true life consists in knowing and loving thee alone! Eternal wisdom, proceeding out of the mouth of the Most High, my heart is at this moment thy throne and thy possession; teach me to practise the virtues of humility, charity, and obedience. But, alas! divine Jesus, I deserve not thy
