ΑΝ February 2. ND when the Days of her Purification, according to the Law of Mofes, were accomplished, they brought him to Jerufalem, to prefent him to the Lord. (As it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every Male that openeth the Womb shall be called Holy to the Lord). Luke ii. 22, 23. (33) Purification of the B.V. Jefus fubmits to the Law to redeem thofe who were opprefs'd with it. --- Would to God that Parents would prefent their Children to the Lord, with a Piety and Faith, pure and difengaged from the Earth, in Imitation of the bleffed Virgin. O Jefus, Redeemer of the World! grant that I may be redeemed by thy Blood from its Slavery, and belong entirely to God; and offer up to thy Service, by thy Grace, my Body, Soul, and Spirit, a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable in thy Sight. Father, Lord of Earth and Heaven, Spare, or take, what thou haft given: Sole Difpofer of thine own, Let thy fovereign Will be done. When thou didst our Ifaac give, Him we trembled to receive, Him we call'd not ours but thine, GREET ye one another with a Kifs of Love, Peace be with you all that are in Chrift Jefus. Amen. 1 Pet. v. 14. Union, Peace, and Love, are the Seal of the Apoftolic Epiftles, and the Kifs is the Symbol of thefe Virtues. This Kifs is holy, when the Principle from which it comes is a pure loving Heart devoted to God: It is deteftable when it proceeds from an impure Soul, abandoned to the World and Sin. --- Let this Prayer, O my Saviour! of thy Apostle, be always in our Hearts, and let this Defire, and this Amen, draw down upon thy Church the Grace and the Peace, which thou haft purchased for her with thy moft precious and invaluable Blood. Prince of universal Peace! Bid our Jars and Difcords ceafe, O that now, with Pardon bleft, We each might each embrace, And feed upon thy Grace, GRACE and Peace be multiplied unto you, thro' the Knowledge of God, and of Jefus our Lord, 2 Pet. i. 2. How little Satisfaction does all Manner of Learning give to one who relishes the Knowledge of God and of Jefus Chrift: Other Knowledge often puffs and dries up the Heart, and difturbs it with a thousand Inquietudes. The Knowledge of God and of Jefus Chrift, is a Source of Humility and Peace. The Grace, and Peace of GoD, And by his perfect Grace reftor'd, ACcording as his divine Power hath given unto us all Things that pertain unto Life and Godliness, thro' the Knowledge of Him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue, 2 Pet. i. 3. -- Faith is the firft Grace, and the Fountain of all others. All Things that pertain unto Life and Godliness are the Gift of God. The glorious Life of Jefus Chrift is the Origin of our Call to Glory thro' Faith. What is he not able to perform in our Heart, who, in order to draw us to God, employs the fovereign, efficacious Power, which he received from his Father in his Resurrection? Thou feeft our Weakness, Lord, Let us, in Life and Death, Thy ftedfaft Truth declare, W Hereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises; that by thefe you might be Partakers of the divine Nature, having escaped the Corruption that is in the World thro' Luft. 2 Pet. i. 4. The Grace of JESUS CHRIST is truly precious, being purchased at the Price of his Blood: It is truly great, working in us, after fuch a Manner, as is proportioned to our Weakness, and to the Majefty of God: It is a Grace promised in the Old Teftament, and given in the New: A Grace, which makes us love God, which caufes us to accomplish his Law, by engraving it on the Heart, which changes the Heart, heals it and frees it from the Love of the World, and from a fond Affection for the Creatures; and which Renews in it the Image of God, unites it to him, and makes it partake of the Holiness of his Being in JESUS CHRIST. Love'divine, all Love excelling, All thy faithful Mercies crown : Jefus, thou art all Compaffion, Pure unbounded Love thou art, |