January 9

Second Week in Advent.—Monday

O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalms 119:97-99.

MEDITATION is the way to a profitable knowledge. We must look to meditation for our comfort to calm us in the turmoil of the world, to support us in sorrow. For this world in which we live, and these times very especially, are restless and noisy and disturbed, very unlike to heaven, and unless we are careful, such as will unfit us for heaven; and yet in the midst of this very evil world by holy meditation saints are being ripened day by day for God's paradise.

There are in this loud stunning tide

Of human care and crime,

With whom the melodies abide

Of th' everlasting chime;

Who carry music in their heart

Through dusky lane and wrangling mart,

Plying their daily task with busier feet,

Because their secret souls a holy strain repeat.

Rise, O my soul, with thy desires to heaven,

And with divinest contemplation use

Thy time, where Time's eternity is given,

And let vain thoughts no more thy thoughts abuse;

But down in darkness let them lie,

So live thy better, let thy worse thoughts die.

To Thee, O Jesu, I direct my eye,

To Thee my hands, to Thee my humble knees,

To Thee my heart shall offer sacrifice,

To Thee my thoughts, Who my thoughts only sees;

To Thee myself and all I give;

To Thee I die, to Thee I only live.