may help and strengthen me to hold out unto the end, that so I may be saved; to be faithful unto death, that I may receive a crown of life; nourish me, I pray thee, with all goodness, and of Thy great mercy keep me in the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

D. M.

Non potuisti una hora vigilare Mecum >

A MEDITATION FOR EVERY DAY

IN THE WEEK.

Monday's Meditation.

OF THE END FOR WHICH I WAS BORN.

MY GOD, who is not capable of any accession of glory or happiness by bringing me into this world, yet hath been pleased to bring me out of nothing and give me a being, that so He might make me the object of His love; and hath now placed me in a condition far above all His other creatures, except His Angels; and as all His other creatures are subservient to my use, so hath He also ordained those heavenly pieces of His creation to be ministering Spirits for my protection and advantage; and hath given me an understanding, will, and memory; a body, vigorous, active, fit for employment of several kinds. But surely as I did not make myself, nor give myself those endowments; so am I not to think that I am made for

myself, or to serve myself alone; No! I am told by Solomon, that God made all things for Himself; and if all things, then myself too, who enjoy no small share of His loving kindness; and therefore now I am not free, and at my own appointment and disposition in the world, but am obliged to perform the things for which I was sent into this habitation and upon my most serious recollection I am convinced, that for no other matter or cause or end, I was born or placed here, but only to serve God in this life, and by this service to gain heaven and salvation in the life to come. Moses tells me, that we were created, that we should be an holy people to serve our God; and for this end we were redeemed, (Luke i. 74, 75.) to serve God" in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life." Since then it is thus, that the end and final cause of my being in this world is to serve God, and thereby to work out my own salvation, whatsoever thing I do, or bestow my time in, which is either contrary, or impertinent, or not profitable to this end, though it were to gain kingdoms, it is but vanity and lost labour, and such as will turn in time to grief and repentance, if I change not my courses; because it is not the matter for which I came into this world, nor for which I shall be demanded an account, except it be to receive judgment and punishment for the same. Again, seeing my only

business and affair in this world is to serve my Maker, and save my own soul, and that all other creatures here are but to serve my use to that only end, I desire to be indifferent to all these creatures, as to riches or poverty, to health or sickness, to honour or contempt; and I will endeavour to desire so much or little of either of them as God sees best for me to the attainment of the said end, which is the serving of God, and the weal of my own soul. And now, O my soul, I must take thee off from all vain and sinful delights, and from all immoderate use of those that are most innocent; and fix my endeavours, and all my actions upon those things which may conduce to those ends, resolving to spend this day accordingly.

A SHORT EJACULATION FOR THIS DAY.

LORD, Since Thou hast made me a reasonable creature, let me not be more unreasonable than the beasts, who do all according to the rules Thou hast set them; grant that I may do nothing this day but what may advance Thy glory, and my own happiness. Amen. Tuesday's Meditation.

OF GOD'S LOVING KINDNESS TO MAN.

WHEN I consider the parts of my body, or the faculties of my soul, I am astonished at my own dull heart, that I should so ungratefully spend my days without considering the

manifold mercies of my God. How many poor creatures do I behold, whom nature hath rendered ridiculous by some deformities, in either misplacing, adding, or taking away some of their members; or else by palsies, breaking of bones or some other diseases or sad accidents, have been made utterly useless when they were made; whilst my God hath sent me into the world completely built, and hath ever since preserved me thus without any of those blemishes or sad inconveniences, which I see many, that are better than myself, labour under. And then, my reason is perfect and clear without any imperfection, serves me upon all occasions to contrive and manage all those affairs I am engaged in; whereas many are so stupid and ignorant, so sottish and foolish, that they little differ from the very beasts that tread upon the grass, and cannot in any services be useful either to themselves or others. But, besides all these and the other advantages I enjoy in common with all Christians, as, my being created in the likeness of nothing but Himself, to no other end but to be His honourable servant in this world, and His copartner in Kingly Glory for all eternity in the world to come; besides the redemption and preservation which I am entitled to; yet if I do not wretchedly oppose His various contrivances for my eternal good, I have many advantages in my education and in