TRACTS FOR FEMALE PENITENTS.

V.

The Opening of the Book.

Let the penitent recall to mind what before was stated, that in the last judgment the Book would be opened, out of which every human being would be judged, for every thought, word, and deed. To assist her in preparing herself for this most awful event which is coming upon her, let her compose her mind with great quietness, and then let her guide read to her these words following.

You remember how it was said, that after death we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, to give account of our own works; and that then the Book will be opened, out of which every sinner will be judged, and every sin condemned. Most awful hour! Imagine the great white throne set, and One sitting on it of unspeakable majesty and infinite power,

all mankind assembled before Him, all the Holy Angels gathered around His throne: then imagine thyself called out singly, alone, called out before the whole world, and thy everlasting destiny depending on that last sentence.

The very Book out of which thou wilt be judged at that awful hour is open to thee now. It is the Bible. God the Holy Ghost Himself moved holy men to write the words, and our Lord Jesus Christ said to us, "the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day," (St. John xii. 43.) If therefore thou wouldest seek to know what judgment will be passed upon thy deeds, in that great day of account, open the Bible. Judge thyself out of it. There we are told what is sin, and what is sin's punishment. There every sin is marked, as plain as if it were now written on the wall of this room by the hand of God, as if a sunbeam shone upon it, to make it clear as the brightest noonday. God now speaks in that Book; the same God Whose voice will be heard in your ears, when you arise from the dead. It is truly said, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it." What must they be, who will neither hear it nor keep it? Be not thou unwise. Lift up thine heart in earnest prayer for grace to

hear and understand what God now saith to thy soul. Close not thine eyes to the awful truth; how terrible will it be to open them for the first time in that hour when they can be closed no longer, when every secret thing, whether we will or no, must be made manifest! "Kneel down then, and pray earnestly for grace and light, and a lowly heart, that whilst Almighty God speaketh, thou mayest have an ear to hear, and a heart to understand, and that thou mayest be converted unto Him, and He may heal thee."

Here let the penitent kneel devoutly and offer up the following prayer, believing that if she pray earnestly, through the great Saviour of sinners, God will most surely hear and answer her. "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (St. Matt. xxi. 22.)

GRACIOUS God, all merciful, have pity on

Thy sinful creature. Open the eyes of my understanding, that I may see the darkness of the ways in which I have walked, and the awful danger in which I have been, by my own fault, my own most shameful and grievous fault, O God. Take away from me all coldness and hardness of heart; give me a great seriousness of spirit give me a deeper heart and more

thoughts of fear; Thou, O Lord, art the light of the world, Thou givest light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death: pour over the darkness of my soul the bright and blessed light of truth and spiritual wisdom, that I may see clearly all my sin, and may know all Thy dreadful threatenings, and Thy wrath which is to come. I know, O God Almighty, that in me there is no good thing, no knowledge, no sense of Thee, no truth, for I am fallen, and the shadows of the darkness of death are come about me. Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon me, and fill my soul with the pure, clear knowledge of Thy most holy will, and guide my feet into the ways of peace and truth, now and ever

more.

GIVE me, O blessed Lord God, a meek and

lowly spirit, that I may learn with all humility as a child learneth. Give me a childlike heart, and may Thy gracious promise be fulfilled in me, that Thou mayest put Thy laws into my heart, and write them in my mind, and that I may be Thy servant, and Thou mayest be my God; for the sake of Him Who died for me, to save me, Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Then let the guide of the penitent offer for her the prayer following.

0 GOD, who hast promised in Thy holy

word, that Thou wilt not cast out any one

that draweth near to Thee through Thy blessed Son; hear the prayer which Thy fallen and sinful child has now offered unto Thy divine majesty. Hear her, O Lord, and have mercy, and may the grace of Thy Holy Spirit pierce and soften the hardness of her heart, that she may know the truth, and in great fear and trembling may humble herself before Thee, dreading Thy wrath and indignation, and may learn Thy will, and walk in Thy ways. Be Thou with her, O Lord, and let Thy loving Spirit guide her into the ways of righteousness. Give unto her a willing and tender heart, an obedient and gentle spirit. Take away from her all pride and selfwill; all high thoughts which lift themselves up against Thee; that she may have grace to refrain her soul, and keep it low; that her soul may be even as a weaned child; that as Thou revealest Thy truth unto babes and givest wisdom unto the simple, she may be fitted to inherit Thy promises, and be received to Thy great mercy. O