Meditation and Prayer. "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation I restore him fourfold." T was in this very practical way that Zacchæus testified to the Saviour the great change which had taken place in himself. He was prepared to receive Jesus into his house with joy and to sit down to meat with Him. God is love, and love is a very practical thing. If, therefore, we have become partakers of the Divine nature, we shall show it in a practical manner. St. Paul says, "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." St. James says, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled: notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?" And St. John says, "Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” How is it with myself in this matter? I shall give my alms as a matter of course when I communicate, but is the offering which I make for the sick and poor, the evidence of a heart surrendered to the Lord? And to other pious and charitable purposes, are my gifts such as they ought to be? "To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." And "God loveth a cheerful giver." LORD GOD, my Heavenly Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast shed abroad Thy love in my heart by the Holy Ghost which Thou hast given me. Enable me to show that I am thus a partaker of the Divine nature, and that I am truly thankful for Thine inestimable gift, by my words and deeds of charity to my fellow-men. Give me more of the spirit of my Lord and Master. Make me to do all the good I can with the means which Thou hast given me for the blessing of others. I present unto Thee the gifts of my praise, and the offerings of my self-denial; this I truly desire to do yet more and more. Yea, my God, I present unto Thee my body-all that I am-a living sacrifice, which is my reasonable service. O that my sacrifice may be holy, acceptable unto Thee, through Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen. 66 I ST. JOHN i. 7. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth (is cleansing) us from all sin." Feve to Thy bleeding side; OR ever here my rest shall be, This all my hope and all my plea, My dying Saviour and my God, Prayer of a Person in Doubt. It LESSED Lord, I have partaken of the memorials of Thy love, but I ask myself-how were they received? may be unworthily; and I know I have not kept my resolutions; I have not been faithful. I dread approaching Thy Table again lest I should again break my resolutions, and thus increase my condemnation. Yet, gracious Saviour, Thou hast invited me to come. Thy Minister has invited me, and all doubting souls, to draw near with faith. I have been exhorted to take this holy Sacrament to my comfort, to take the Sacrament in full assurance that, in spite of my shortcomings, Thou wilt accept the feeblest effort to approach Thee. Thou rememberest that we are but dust. If Thou shouldst be "extreme to mark what is done amiss," who may abide it? They that are whole, Thou hast taught us, need not a physician. Even in devotional exercises we require pardon and cleansing. Whatever has been amiss in my communions, and in all my conduct, I pray Thou wilt forgive. Pardon, O God, the coldness of my heart, the weakness of will with which I have approached Thy Table. Suffer not the consciousness of past shortcomings, or the fear of their recurrence in the future, to prevail over me. Let not temptations keep me away from Thy gracious ordinance. Merciful Saviour, let me hear the "comfortable words " which Thou speakest to all who truly turn to Thee. I desire to come with my heart turned towards Thee, and not in a spirit of formalism; this Thou knowest. Banish my doubts and fears. Bless my endeavours to draw nearer to Thee. Give me, O Lord, the courage to come to Thy Table; and may it be in future with a heart better prepared than hitherto, and may the blessing received be each time greater than the last. Lord, the preparation of the heart, as well as the answer of the lips, is with Thee; I pray, therefore, that in my work of self-examination Thy Spirit may be with me. Search my heart; if there be any way of wickedness in me, reveal it, O Lord, that I may be cleansed from my secret faults, and made to repent truly of sins past. I would now cast myself wholly on Thy mercy, praying that I may be able to approach Thy Table in a spirit of confidence. Deepen my sense of sin, but |