Twenty-second Day. Of the depth of God's inercy

I. How greao k the loving kindness of the Lord oar God, and his compassion unto such rs turn unto him in holineBs!'" Eeclesiasticus xvii. 39. Why do we delay to cast ourselves into the depth of this ahyss? The more we lose ourselves therein in faith and love, the safer we are. Let us give ourselves up to God without reserve or apprehension of dansjer. He will love us, and make us to love him; and that love increasing daily, shall produce in us all the other virtues. He alone shall fill our heart, which the world has agitated and intoxicated, but could never fill. He will take nothing from us but what makes us unhappy. He will only make us despise the world, which perhaps we do already. He will alter little in our actions, and only correct the motive of them, by making them all be referred to himself. Then the most ordinary and seemingly indifferent actions shall become exercises of virtue and sources

Tiventy -second Bay, 71 of consolation. We shall clieerfully behold death approach, as the beginning of life immortal; and as St. Paul saith, " we shall not be unclothed, but clothed "upon, and mortality shall be swallowed up of life.' 2 Cor, v. 4. We shall then discover the depth of God's mercy which he has exercised towards us.

II. Consider in the presence of God the effects of that infinite mercy which you have already experienced, the lights which Christ has given you, the good thoughts he has inspired you with, the sins he has pardoned, the dangers he has preserved you from, and the extraordinary assistance he has afforded you. Endeavour to keep up your love towards him by these precious marks of his goodness: add to these, the remembrance of the crosses lie has dispensed for your saactitication; for those also are the riches of his mercy which you ought to consider as signal testimonies of his love. Let a sense of past favours inspire you with a trust in him for future. Learn from these, that he has loved you too much not to love you still. Distrust liim not, hut distrust yourself. Rememher that, as his apostle gpeaks, '» He is the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation.*' 2 Cor. i. 3. He sometimes separates these two: his consdailorts are withdrawn, but his mercies still continue. He takes av.ay what is sweet and sensible in grace, because it is necessary that you should he humbled and punished Sttiight consolation Such chastisement vr depth of divine fi»r «lsf is i having 'wV'crc. still a n mci i-cy.

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