January 17

Third Week in Advent.—Tuesday

That ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins. Matthew 9:6.

THE Blood of Jesus may be applied to our souls: 1st, By holy Baptism, wherein babies are forgiven original sin; and whereas they have been born "children of wrath," they are hereby made the children of grace by the same sacrament wherein grown-up people, coming with repentance and faith, are forgiven original sin, and all the sins that they have actually committed. 2nd, By absolution, in which those who have sinned after baptism can be restored to a state of grace. 3rd, By holy Communion, in which the pardon already obtained may be sealed as our souls are washed by the precious Blood. 4th, By prayer, as we see from the words which we are taught to say by the Lord Himself in His prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." Sins and trespasses are as real now as they were eighteen hundred years ago, but, thanks be to God, the remedies are also as real now: there is still "a Fountain open for sin and for uncleanness."

O blest memorial of our dying Lord, Who Living Bread to men doth here afford! O may our souls for ever feed on Thee, And Thou, O Christ, for ever precious be!

Fountain of goodness, Jesu, Lord and God, Cleanse us, unclean, with Thy most cleansing Blood, Increase our faith and love, that we may know The hope and peace which from Thy presence flow.

O Christ, Whom now beneath a veil we see, May what we thirst for soon our portion be, To gaze on Thee unveiled, and see Thy Face, The vision of Thy Glory and Thy Grace!

B