Hadst thou not told us of the kingdom of heaven, and bidden us lay up our treasure there:

Hadst thou not terrified us by the threats of thy wrath, and made known to us the severity of thy justice:

Hadst thou not encouraged us to obey thy commands, by proposing to us the consolations of a pious life.

What hast thou not promised, gracious Lord! to the meek and poor in spirit?

What hast thou not promised to them who weep here below; to them that hunger and thirst after justice?

How many joys has thy bounty prepared for the merciful and the peace-maker?

How many blessings for the clean of heart, and those who patiently bear their crosses?

O thou all-seeing Wisdom of the eternal Father, and sovereign king of men and angels,

Who didst leave thy glorious throne to come down to our earth and familiarly teach us the oracles of heaven!

Imprint these sacred lessons deeply on our minds and hearts, and suffer not our passions at any time to overcome us.

Grant that we may ever study thee, our heavenly master, and continually admire the beauty of thy law;

A law that so clearly makes known our end, and furnishes so many powerful means to attain it;

A law that so effectually cures our infirmities, and provides for all our wants;

A law so exactly conformable to true reason, and so eminently perfective of the nature of man;

In a word, a blessed law, that conduces to our happiness even in this life, and leads us hereafter to endless felicity. Glory be to the Father, &c.

Psalm XLV.

NEVER shall we cease to exalt thy goodness, O divine Saviour! for thou never ceasest to confer upon us new blessings.

Thy generous charity was not satisfied to have only spoken to us the words of life:

It was not enough for thy excessive love, to have merely told us our duty;

Thou must urge and provoke our obedience by the sweet encouragement of thy example.

If thou forbiddest thy followers to seek too ardently the things of this world, thou hast not whereon to lay thy sacred head.

If thou commandest the rich to give alms with cheerfulness, thou bestowest on the poorest individual even thy precious self.

If thou biddest us not to fear them that kill the body, thou yieldest up thy own to the death of the cross.

If thou requirest us to love our fiercest enemies, thou prayest for thy very executioners.

Thou hast no need of the outward forms and discipline of religion;

Yet thou vouchsafest to observe the Jewish festivals, and to assist at the public offices of the temple;

To watch, and pray, and fast so assiduously, that thy practice embraces a much higher perfection than is enjoined by thy precepts.

Such was the fervent and penitential life our merciful Lord exhibited, to point out to us the way to heaven.

Shall we not then, O my soul! rejoicingly follow this path our Saviour has traced out for us?

Which, although spread over with thorns, conducted him securely to the glory of heaven?

Shall we not confidently rely on so benevolent a leader, who promises, if we grow weak or discouraged, to strengthen and animate us in our journey?

O dearest Lord! cast thy merciful eyes upon us, and pity the frailties of our imperfect

nature.

Stretch forth thy hand, and fortify us by thy grace, that nothing may retard our progress towards thee.

That in this dangerous labyrinth of the world, and in the whole course of our pilgrimage here,

Thy heavenly maxims may direct us, and thy holy life be our guide at every step. Glory be to the Father, &c.

Psalm XLVI.

MAY all generations sing the praises of our God, and adore the wisdom of his providence. From the beginning of time his mercy made known to man the law by which he was to be governed.

At first he created Adam with all necessary knowledge, and then appointed the patriarchs to transmit the same to their families.

Afterwards he charged the angels with the declaration of his commands, and often inspired the prophets that they might be the messengers of his will.

When he had done all this, and found it not enough to guide untoward man to his true end,

What means did he invent to save the perishing world? O wonderful exhibition of divine goodness!

He sent even his own beloved Son, to dwell among us and teach us the art of saving our souls;

That sacred art of forming them to virtue, and fitting them for a blissful union with himself.

But, O Lord of incomprehensible mercy, whose words are sweeter than honey and the honey-comb!

We are not happy enough to behold thy adorable person, nor are our ears worthy to hear thy sweet voice.