June 8

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.— MATT. xxvi, 41.

Watch! it is the Master calls thee;

Pray! it is His ear that hears;

Up! shake off thy chilly fears!

Mindful thou whate'er befalls thee

Leaves thee further on thy way.

Watch and pray!

When you say, "Lead us not into temptation," you must in good earnest mean to avoid in your daily con- duct those temptations which you have already suf- fered from. When you say, "Deliver us from evil," you must mean to struggle against that evil in your hearts which you are conscious of, and which you pray to be forgiven. . . . To watch and pray are surely in our power, and by these means we are cer- tain of getting strength. You feel your weakness; you fear to be overcome by temptation; then keep out of the way of it. This is watching. Avoid so- ciety which is likely to mislead you; flee from the very shadow of evil; you cannot be too careful; better be a little too strict than a little too easy—it is the safer side. Abstain from reading books which are dangerous to you. Turn from bad thoughts when they arise.

J. H. NEWMAN.