63. At Whitsuntide the devout Christian contemplates the pouring out of the Holy Ghost

EXHORTATION.

"If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"—Luke xiii. 13. The merciful love of God has not only provided good things for us from the beginning of the world, and Jesus purchased us with his holy blood, but the Holy Ghost, the most holy, necessary and precious gift, is ready to guide, sanctify, and govern us in this vale of tears. 1. The Holy Ghost is the most glorious of all gifts! What more and greater could God do for us, than to communicate unto us his Spirit as our guide and instructor? 2. The Holy Ghost is also the most necessary of gifts. We can live happy in the world without riches, without great honor or possessions, but without the Holy Ghost we can never be truly happy, here or in eternity. 3. He is also the chief of gifts. He is the pledge of our inheritance, the badge of our childhood, assuring us that we are children of God, and heirs of eternal life. 4. This glorious, needful, and happy gift God

THE POURING OUT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

offers to all who seek it. This promise is not made of bodily and earthly things, because they are not always advantageous to us; but the gift of the Holy Spirit God will deny to no one. 5. The devout Christian must purify his heart of the love of the world and of sin, so that the good and true spirit may take up his abode within him. I will pour water upon the thirsty, and streams upon those who are dry; I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, so that they grow as grass, and as the willows by the water's side. This gracious promise, dearest Jesus, thou hast fulfilled at holy Whitsuntide, when thou didst pour out thy holy spirit upon thy apostles, fitting them to proclaim unto all people the forgiveness of sins in thy blood and salvation. O most precious holy Ghost! pour thyself out upon me richly. Thou wert revealed in flames of fire to thy apostles; light me to eternal life, illuminate my understanding to know Jesus Christ, sanctify my will to wish and desire nothing but what is well pleasing in thy sight. By thee, O spirit of power, the apostles were endowed with power from on high; strengthen my faith, give me courage and strength to walk in thy ways, to overcome the world, to withstand sin, and to live as a true child of God. Thou spirit of grace and of prayer! Seal in my heart the comfort and the joy that I stand in the grace of God. Pray in me and with me, and teach me to pray with fervor. Rest upon me, thou spirit of wisdom! let me know and do what is pleasing unto God. Rest upon me, spirit of the understanding! let me walk in the truth; keep my heart in the one thing needful, to fear thy name. Rest upon me, spirit of the fruit of the Lord! implant thy holy fruit in my heart, let me never sin wittingly or willingly.

Rest upon me, spirit of love! pluck out of my heart all wrath, obstinacy, envy, malice, and revenge. Be my comforter in crosses and troubles, when the waters beat over my head, and the waves meet above me. Be my strength when I am weak, help me to subdue the lusts of the flesh: let me grow in faith, truth, humility, hope and patience. Be my guide, lead me in an even path; let me not act against the commandment of God. Be my teacher, guide me into all truth, and magnify Jesus in me. O thou purest of waters! Cleanse me; grant that I may grow in all good things, and bear much fruit.

Help me by thy power to call Jesus my Lord, of a truth, my redeemer, my beatifier, the cause of my salvation. Behold, thou light of my soul!

with how many temptations I am surrounded;

THE POURING OUT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

for many tempters are abroad; therefore let me not swerve from thee; show me the way in which I shall walk, for I long after thee. When

I undertake to lead myself, I go astray. But when thou leadest me, I walk in the way of thy commandments. If I have offended thee heretofore, most precious Holy Ghost, I heartily repent it. Behold, my heart is open unto thee.

O enter into it with the rich gifts of thy good ness, fill it with every Christian virtue, fortify me, ground, and preserve the good works thou hast commenced within me. Get me a pure heart, expunge all impurities, evil passions, and dominion of sin. Remain with me in trouble and in death; cry out within me, "Abba, dear

Father!" give me a glimpse of glory, and a foretaste of eternal happiness, of the crown prepared for me after the victory. Holy Ghost, thou vigor of the pious, enter into my poor feeble heart, let me be thy temple, purify the tabernacle of my heart, cast out all that can shut me out from heaven. Adorn me with thy gifts, make me new, pure and lovely, let me have true love, and stand in thy favor. Give me courage to overcome flesh and blood, teach me to appear before God, and to pray in spirit and in truth.

Amen.

1. O precious Whitsuntide, when Jesus' love dispenses, With lavish hand, the gifts so grateful to my senses; And also, Jesus, give thy spirit pure and just,

To lift my flagging soul to heaven from the dust.

2. I wander far astray whenever the firm guidance

Of thy good spirit fails; a dreary prospect widens

Before my aching sight, and I am all forlorn.

O cast thy light upon my path, thou endless morn!

3. I grope in darkness thick, bereft of the instruction Of him the Holy Ghost; my heart, in cold obstruction, Feels not the warmth of grace, but through his beaming ray, Yet all is clear and bright when he points out the way. 4. Myself in my distress can find no consolation,

I need assistance most, when most in tribulation;

Therefore stand by me with thy consolation strong,

Make me assured that I to Jesus' flock belong.

5. And when my pilgrim staff on my last bed is broken, Thou of a happier road, wilt give me then a token;

Through Jesus' blood I then shall up to heaven fare, And rest transfigured in the arms of Jesus there.

THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY.