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Thou hast increased the radiance more and more it was dayspring, and behold it is noonday.

O maintain it there, Thou light of the world: let it never decline towards evening;

Lest the night come upon us : and the gross darkness overwhelm us.

But be gracious to thy Church : let eye and body be full of thy light.

Frustrate the counsels of the vain that abuse thy light put to silence the lips which speak falsely.

Let not them prevail that know thy truth but to turn it into a lie : let not the minishers of thy glory triumph.

Nor let us consent to their iniquity: but make us jealous of thine honour.

O Lord, stir up my heart continually : make it watchful to the use of thy light.

Let it ever rejoice in its noonday: and dwell in thy presence for evermore.

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XVII.

A DEPRECATION OF THE ABUSE OF LIGHT.

GRANT me, Lord, to remember that this is my day and that I may not forget how soon the night cometh.

For even as the dayspring groweth unto noonday so from the cradle even unto this day,

Thou hast increased the light of mine understanding Thou hast enlarged the knowledge of my heart.

Shall it not therefore render unto Thee who hast given shall I not do thy service who hast ministered unto me.

Shall I turn the light of thy sun of righteousness into the light of the fires of Gehenna,

Shining before men in the hellish brilliancy of unbelief and not in the brightness of thy faith;

:

And putting thy precious gift of the service of heaven to the account of the accursed ministry of hell?

O make me watchful of the light that is within me: make me careful over its issue;

That it be ever brightening more and more towards noon and never fading towards night; Ever brought to thy light for replenishment: through entire devotion to thy service,

:

Who givest more unto him that hath and takest away from him that hath not.

Let it shine from my hill before men : let it be seen at hand and from afar.

In words of wisdom and truth: in deeds of holiness and love.

Let it be a guide to all whose paths are around

me let it turn their eyes unto its heavenly fountain,

That they linger not in the ways of error : but come straight unto Thee,

And that they may glorify thy holy name: and Thou mayest be justified of thy child.

O God, if I put not forth my light and my neighbour shall lose his way;

:

If I put out a false light and he shall fall into the pit;

If it burn weak and uncertain : and he shall see it but for perplexity;

Wilt Thou not remove my candlestick : shall not my light be quenched into darkness?

:

Have mercy on thy servant fill my heart with wholesome fear.

Amid the confidence of my love let me tremble at thy justice.

And amid the bounty of thy gifts : let me remember my stewardship of them towards others.

For Christ's sake Thou hast given them : in Christ's name let me ever receive them.

XVIII.

THE CHRISTIAN'S BLESSEDNESS.

BLESSED is the man that walketh in the

:

light of the Lord and dwelleth in the presence of the sun of righteousness.

He is not taken by the snare of the tempter: he falleth not into the pit of the destroyer of souls.

He falleth over no stumbling blocks he strayeth not out of the right way.

He hath no doubt or fear : he presseth on in, confidence toward the mark.

Thou wilt set his feet in large room, O Lord : Thou wilt bring him to the end of his race;

Thou wilt crown him with life and glory : and give him rest from his labours.

Thou wilt set him amidst thy chosen people: in the promised land of thine inheritance;

Where is neither morning nor evening: but all is one noon of everlasting light,

That admitteth of no shadow : and knoweth of no eclipse.

There He shall stand before thy throne for ever and rejoice in the glory of thy presence.

He shall behold thee face to face: He shall see thee even as thou art.

For the dark glass of mortal sight shall be no more the thick veil of flesh and blood shall be removed.

And he shall behold himself after thy likeness shall he not be satisfied with it?

XIX.

THE USE OF TIME.

How quickly doth the sun journey in the heavens and his shadow upon earth assigneth his hours unto man.

It passeth onward and onward and our days draw nigher and nigher to an end.

O the unsubstantial state of man: his life is measured by a shadow.

Who shall command like Joshua, and stay the course of the sun : who shall pray like Hezekiah, and turn back his shadow?

O Lord, thy will be done : assign the days of thy servant according to thy good pleasure. Make me watchful upon thy opportunities : and diligent to redeem the time.

Let every hour that cometh unto me : come with the gifts of thy grace.

And let every hour that goeth from me go with a good account of its stewardship.

So let them witness in my cause: on the day of thy appearing:

When the sun shall be removed from heaven: and his shadow shall assign the hours no

more.

Then thy faithful servants shall lift up their heads thy people shall sing unto Thee songs of joy.

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