bably now be making arrangements to attend public worship more often: see whether you cannot make this an opportunity of so arranging your hours as to allow of your making attendance at daily worship a permanent practice.

Be careful to remember that prayer is not mere meditation. When we pray, we draw near into the presence of GOD. GOD has promised to give us whatever we ask in the name of CHRIST. Time then is never lost in prayer. Prayer is the best help to our business, the greatest solace in our recreation, the work of heaven per

formed on earth.

During your time of preparation, be as punctual as you can in the observance of stated hours of prayer, and let the habit now formed remain with you if possible as long as you live.

Sect. 2. Special objects of prayer.

It is a good plan to select from time to time certain objects of desire for especial commemoration in prayer,—some virtue in which you desire to make progress,some work which you desire to effect,the victory over some leading temptation.

In Confirmation you are coming to seek the seven gifts of the HOLY GHOST: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, godliness, holy fear. These will be fitting objects for especial prayer at this season. Being seven, they can be arranged for a week. If you have several weeks before your Confirmation, you may go through these prayers several times. If so, it would be well to use the first prayer on Monday. The crowning virtue of wisdom will thus be reserved for the Sunday, the crowning day of joy.

.

The seven deadly sins will also be appropriate objects of deprecation: pride, covetousness, lust, gluttony, anger, envy, sloth.

The seven first Beatitudes will also fur

nish

you

with characters of life to be aimed after and prayed for.

Sect. 3. A week of prayers.

Two prayers are given for each day. One of them is for obtaining the fulness of the gifts of the SPIRIT. The other is for advancing in Christian character according to the features which are specified in the Beatitudes.

MONDAY.

"The Spirit of holy fear" teaches us to despise ourselves and to shrink from all that belongs to this evil world. It therefore tends to form in us the character of "the poor in spirit."

1. For holy fear.

O LORD, Who never failest those whom Thou dost bring up in Thy fear and love, deliver me, I pray Thee, out of the hand of mine enemies, that in this world I may fear one thing only, the fearing aught more than Thee, and hereafter may be received into Thine everlasting refuge, where the souls of the faithful are kept free from all evil, and all fear, in the perfect love of Thy SON JESUS CHRIST our only SAVIOUR and Redeemer. Amen.

2. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

O LORD JESUS, Who wast born in the poverty of the stable, and didst die in the poverty of the Cross, make me to be poor of spirit, desiring nothing if Thou givest it not, and ready to part with all if Thy service need it.

Thou Who didst take upon Thee the form of a servant, make me always to take the lowest place, and to serve Thee in all brethren.

my

Thou Who didst withdraw Thyself from this world's glory, make me to shrink from praise, or wealth, or power.

Thou Who didst allow Thine enemies to entreat Thee ill, when Thou mightest have called forth twelve legions of Angels, make me thankful for unmerited reproach and unforeseen privation.

Thou Who wast dead and art alive again, make me faithful unto death, that I may receive a crown of life.

Amen.

TUESDAY.

"The Spirit of godliness" teaches us to deplore our little progress in the things of GOD. It leads us to the blessed character

of" those that mourn."

1. For godliness.

O Heavenly FATHER, the author of all godliness, give me, I beseech Thee, the spirit to love Thee more than all, that I who cannot attain Thee without Thy help, may

by Thee be enabled to press forward to the participation of Thy glory, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, for in Him Thou hast called me to abide in Thy perfection, which He has declared to us Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the HOLY GHOST, one GOD, world without end. Amen.

2. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

O LORD JESU, Who didst bless Rachel mourning for her children, teach me in mourning to find comfort, since it brings me nigh to Thee.

Thou Who didst weep with Mary and her sister Martha, teach me to mourn with those who mourn, that I may exercise Thy compassion.

Thou Who didst weep over Jerusalem, teach me to mourn my own unreadiness to come to Thee.

Thou Who didst mourn for sins not Thine own in Agony with Satan, teach me in all mourning to struggle earnestly against my own sins.

Thou Who didst sink down beneath the weight of the Cross, teach me whensoever