O BLESSED Jesu, my hope and refuge! give me entire absolution from all my sins, wash me in Thy Blood, and grant me grace to mortify all evil passions and affections. Thou hast commanded us to love Thee; grant what Thou requirest, and command what Thou wilt, and enable me to love Thee with all my heart, and soul, and strength. Amen.

O HOLY, merciful, loving Redeemer, my health and salvation, my strength and my God! have mercy, have mercy upon me, for I am poor and destitute. Help me, infirm and sick. Be propitious to a vile sinner, plead for me, and by Thy merits satisfy for me, for I have none of my own; heal, teach and direct me in all things; conform me to Thy will, and make me what Thou wouldest have me to be. Amen.

Exhortation to Holy Communion.

COME to this holy Sacrament, O devout soul! Come often, that you may receive life and grace. Come,

1. As a sick man to his Physician.

2. As an unfaithful servant to his Lord and Master; promising amendment, and begging pardon and reconciliation.

3. As a prodigal child to his tender and compassionate Father, to be received and revived by His bounty.

4. As a friend to a Friend, who thus lovingly invites him, "Come, My friend, I will refresh and renew you. Come with confidence, and sit down at My Table."

5. As a rebellious sinner to his merciful Redeemer, resolving to honour Him, love Him, and serve Him better for the future.

6. As a wounded and wearied hart thirsting for the water-brooks, desiring Jesus the Fountain of life and love.

7. Imagine yourself seated at the Table with thy blessed Saviour in His last Supper; and that thou receivest from His sacred and blessed hands His precious Body and Blood, which He gives thee, saying, "Take, eat, this is My Body and Blood, which I here give thee; remember this My love and liberality, and peace; I am with thee, be not afraid."

in

go

you

"Come to Me, your Saviour and Physician. Have you sinned? I will pardon you. Are sick and wounded? I will comfort and cure you. Are you troubled and tempted? I will help and deliver you. Are you weary and ready to faint under your burden? I will nourish and strengthen you. Are you cold, dark, and desolate? I will enflame, enlighten, and revive you."

A Prayer.

THE whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick, and such am I, a diseased, sinsick soul; and as sick, I now go to my Physician; as a sinner, to the Redeemer of fallen man n; as miserable, to the Father of mercy; as unclean, to the Fountain of purity; as poor and needy, to the Lord of all bounty; as blind and ignorant, to the Brightness and Splendour of spirits; as infirm and weak, to the Strength of Israel. And that it may please Thee to enlighten my darkness, to heal my infirmities, to enrich my poverty, to strengthen my weakness, to wash away all my uncleanness, and by the Communion of Thy precious Body

and Blood, to cleanse me from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, that I may perfect holiness in Thy fear, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From Instructions, Prayers, and Holy Aspirations for Afflicted Christians, (Masters,) by the author.

SECTION II.

GOD'S MERCY AND COMPASSION BOUNDLESS, SO THAT
NONE SHOULD DESPAIR.

No degree of sadness, no bitterness of trouble, no number of failings, no enormity of sins, should drive you to despair or too great fear. However much you have sinned, the mercy of God infinitely exceeds your sins: however weak and infirm you may be, His goodness is ever ready to help you. God is as willing as He is able to heal and deliver, if you will truly turn to Him, humbly and devoutly call upon Him, and trust in Him. Although we are great sinners, and most imperfect men, why should we not turn in firm and humble faith to God, Who is an abyss of inexhaustible pity, Whose nature is goodness, and Whose property it is always to have mercy