new out of God's treasure-house,-things old also, please God. "My son, give Me thy heart," He saith, and accepteth blessing it. "Give Me thy son," He saith also; and accepts and hides our darling; but one day gives him back to us. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen." A Prayer for Angelic Fellowship. GOD only Great, to Whom the thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of Thine angels are neither many nor few, but make up the sum of Thy numbering; and being Thine unflawed work, Thine unfallen creation, abide before Thee in light unclouded and rapture of perpetual adoration, ministering to Christ's flock not by constraint but willingly, and working Thy work while it is day, for there is no night there: Give us grace, though not as yet in dignity, beauty, perfection, yet already in love and service of our brethren to follow along the angelic track, while on wings of desire we also soar heavenwards, and sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and because Thou pitiest Thine own children, knowing whereof we are made, give Thine angels charge concerning us to keep us in all our ways; so they, while they care for us along our happy homeward course, may glorify Thee for us; and we, while we receive their allotted succour (though now we discern them not), may glorify Thee for them; until that day when as children of the Resurrection, being made equal unto the angels, we with them may render praise to Thee for every ministry of love and for all perfections: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Memorial for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. Psalms cxxxix-cxliii. The vexation and rescue of Lot, Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.2 St. Peter ii. 6, 7. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man. Who imagine mischief in their hearts and stir up strife all the day long. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adder's poison is under their lips. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly: preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings. Jacob's vision of the Ladder. Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. -Genesis xxviii. 16, 17. The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords: yea, and set traps in my way. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord. O Lord God, Thou strength of my health: Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord : let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud. Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them: that compass me about. Let hot burning coals fall upon them let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again. : O Lord, Thou hast searched me out, and known me: Thou knowest my downsitting, and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thoughts long before. Thou art about my path, and about my bed and spiest out all my ways. For lo, there is not a word in my tongue : but Thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether. Thou hast fashioned me behind and before and laid Thine hand upon me. : Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go then from Thy Spirit : or whither shall I go then from Thy presence? If I climb up into heaven, Thou art there: if I go down to hell, Thou art there also. A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth : evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.— Let their judges be overthrown in stony places: that they may hear my words, for they are sweet. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire : hearken unto me for Thy truth and righteousness' sake. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant : for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the Lord.-Judges ii. 4, 5. The birth of Sampson.- I have been a Nazarite unto For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground: he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate. Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all Thy works: yea, I exercise myself in the works of Thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto Thee my soul gaspeth unto Thee as a thirsty land. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. O let me hear Thy lovingkindness betimes in the morning, for in Thee is my trust shew Thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto Thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : for I flee unto Thee to hide me. For my reins are Thine : Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. |