from His tiny breast: in Him behold the Sovereign Lord of this earth's mighty monarchy, who builds up and casts down thrones at His will. But behold this great God, whom love has abased to the humiliating state in which thou seest Him: wilt thou, after this, refuse, thou who art nothing, to humble thyself for the love of Him ?"

PASSAGES FROM THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF HOLY PERSONS.

Death of Mr. Robert Nelson.

"Robert Nelson, a pious layman, who had for his tutor Bishop Bull, and for his friend Archbishop Tillotson, the latter of whom died in his arms; but more generally esteemed as the author of some excellent books, of which the best known is the 'Companion for the Fasts and Festivals of the Church of England.'

"We are briefly informed by Chalmers, that he had for some time laboured under an asthma and dropsy in the breast; that the distemper grew to a great height; and that for the benefit of the air he retired to the house of his cousin, Mrs. Wolf, a widow, at Kensington. Mr. Cherry says, 'When Mr. Nelson was dying, he lay several hours speechless, perfectly composed, taking no nourishment, shewing no signs of life; but it was perceptible that he continued to breathe.' We may be assured, that in his sufferings he derived his consolations whence alone they can be drawn, viz. from a sense of pardon and redemption through the merits and mediation of Christ; and that he enjoyed in his last moments no small share of his Saviour's bequest, My peace I give unto you.' The

following passage in Nelson's excellent work, 'On the Nature and Wisdom of True Devotion,' so accurately describes the state of a Christian's mind in the near prospect of death and eternity, that one could almost suppose it was designed as a portrait of what he himself would desire to be in his last moments. To a devout man, who has made it the business of his life to serve God with all the strength and vigour of his soul, the reflection upon what is past does in no wise make death terrible to him; because in going out of life, he leaves nothing but what he has always contemned and despised, and carries with him what he judged worthy of his love and esteem.

"His body he parts with without regret, because he has maintained a perpetual war against it, and now sees it conclude by the entire defeat of his enemy; besides, he lays it down into the dust, with a full assurance that he shall receive it again glorious, spiritual, and incorruptible. His great study has been to sit loose to the world; and he never valued his riches, except as instruments of doing good; so that now they are about to vanish, he rather rejoices in the true judgment he made concerning them; and triumphs, that by the grace of God he was enabled to make so right a choice in a matter of such consequence."

Fifth Monday in Lent.

CONVERSE WITH JESUS.

PASSAGE FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE.

"AND it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."

REFLECTIONS.

"When Jesus is present, all is well, and nothing seems difficult; but when Jesus is absent, everything is hard.

"When Jesus speaks not inwardly to us, all other comfort is nothing worth; but if Jesus speaks but one word, we feel great consolation. Did not Mary Magdalene rise immediately from the place where she wept, when Martha said to her, 'The Master is come, and calleth for thee?'

'Happy hour! when Jesus calleth from tears to spiritual joy.

"How dry and hard art thou without Jesus! How foolish and vain, if thou desire anything out of Jesus!

"Is not this a greater loss than if thou shouldest lose the whole world?

“2. What can the world profit thee without Jesus? "To be without Jesus is a grievous hell; and to be with Jesus, a sweet paradise.

"If Jesus be with thee, no enemy shall be able to hurt thee.

"He that findeth Jesus findeth a good treasure, yea, a good above all good.

"And he that loseth Jesus loseth much indeed, yea, more than the whole world!

66 Most poor

is he who liveth without Jesus, and he is most rich who is well with Jesus.

“3. It is a matter of great skill to know how to hold converse with Jesus; and to know how to keep Jesus, a great point of wisdom.

"Be thou humble and peaceable, and Jesus will be with thee.

"Be devout and quiet, and Jesus will stay with thee. 66 Thou mayest soon drive away Jesus, and lose his favour, if thou wilt turn aside to outward things.

"And if thou shouldest drive Him from thee, and lose Him, unto whom wilt thou flee, and whom wilt thou seek for a friend?

“Without a friend thou canst not well live; and if Jesus be not above all a friend to thee, thou shalt be indeed sad and desolate.

"Thou actest therefore like an idiot, if thou trust or rejoice in any other.

"It is preferable to have all the world against us, rather than to have Jesus offended with us.

"Amongst all therefore that be dear unto us, let Jesus alone be specially beloved.

R

"4. Love all for Jesus, but Jesus for Himself. "Jesus Christ alone is singularly to be beloved; alone is found good and faithful above all friends.

"For Him, and in Him, let as well friends as foes be dear unto thee; and all these are to be prayed for, that they all may know and love Him.

"Never desire to be singularly commended or beloved, for that appertaineth only to God, who hath none like unto Himself. Neither do thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee, nor do Thou set thy heart on the love of any; but let Jesus be in thee, and in every good man."

PRAYER.

"Blessed Jesus, who hast triumphed over the powers of darkness, and conquered hell and the grave, who by Thy glorious resurrection hast made known the power of Thy divinity, and proved Thyself to be the true Messias; keep me stedfast in this faith, and grant that all the actions of my life may testify the reality and sincerity of my belief. Make me to rise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; that as I am buried with Thee by baptism, I may mortify all my corrupt lusts and affections, and no longer esteem the pomps and vanities of this wicked world; and by being conformed to the likeness of Thy resurrection, may put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. That I may place my affections entirely on things above, and spend the remaining part of my life to secure that happiness thou hast purchased for me; that by Thy strength I may fight against all my ghostly enemies, and by Thy power overcome them. Suffer not the thoughts of