by some, that call by that name everything they dislike. I should not be much concerned at the charge, but that I find Popery is made a thing too ancient and too innocent, and so mistaken. It hath indeed abused that primitive ceremony, and made it subservient to superstition; but the right use of it is not therefore unlawful. Those zealous and holy Christians in the first ages who frequently signed themselves with that sacred sign, intended it as a tacit invocation of the name of CHRIST; as an outward profession that they owned Him for their LORD and SAVIOUR; and as a signature to themselves that they were devoted to His service, and ready to die for His sake.

I might produce and plead their reasons and example; the custom of our Church, and its 30th Canon, but that I would persuade no man to a rite so indifferent. If any will reiterate it on themselves, where they give no offence, to the same purpose as it was intended, when they were made Christians, "in token that they will not be ashamed to profess the faith of CHRIST crucified," &c., I shall not condemn him: and I shall in no wise quarrel with them that omit

it. If we sincerely love our Divine Master, and are faithful and obedient to Him, it is no great matter what outward means and instruments we

use.

́But yet experience and the approbation of the best of men have recommended these I have now mentioned, as many ways useful and profitable. They and others of the like nature, and Church ceremonies, are said by Calvin, to "assist our infirmities, to increase our devotion, and to make religion more solemn and more venerable." Inst. book iv., chap. x., secs. 21 and 31.

So the great duties be secured, these are indifferent, and may vary according to circumstances; but yet they are not useless, nor totally to be rejected. Those outward rites and actions have an influence upon our hearts; they not only express our inward piety, but they increase it. "Though they proceed from the affections, they re-act upon them," (as S. Augustine saith); they augment that fervour which at first produced them."

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And so said a blessed martyr of our Church, that "the true inward worship of our GOD,

while we live in the body, needs external helps, and all little enough to keep it in any vigour."

These voluntary observations should not lead them to scruple or censoriousness that are pleased to use them; and should not be clamoured against by others indiscreetly and uncharitably; for in themselves they are handmaids to devotion and holy contrition. And they that know themselves are sensible that they want all possible helps to stir them up and relieve their dulness. When our understandings are convinced, we have not quite done; means must be used also to affect the fancy, and to engage the affections. And he had need be very sure of his strength that refuseth the assistance of all auxiliaries.

CHAPTER XXV.

A passionate Meditation on the Passion of our Blessed SAVIOUR.

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Y love is crucified," said that loving and

"M holy martyr Ignatius; declaring how

earnestly he wished to die for JESUS; and so, considering the passion of JESUS, I meditate with Him. "My love is crucified," my dearest SAVIOUR dies in most bitter pain; He hath been rudely bound and dragged from place to place; He hath been stripped, tied to a post, and whipped like a vile slave; He hath been buffeted and caned, and abused with all manner of contumelies; and now I see Him crowned with thorns, all over spittle and blood. I see Him stretched upon the cross, where His hands and His feet are nailed; His head hangs down. I read in His pale face and His weeping eyes the extremity of His pain, the anguish of His wounded soul. LORD art Thou He Whom my

soul loveth? art Thou my dearest JESUS! Were it my father, my brother, my friend, or my benefactor, that should suffer this undeservedly, how would I pity them! but should they suffer this upon my account, LORD I could not outlive such a sight! If nothing else, love would certainly wound my soul to death. But, behold, it is so. This crucified, this dying man is my Father, He gave me my being; He is my brother, He came down from heaven and took human flesh, that' He might have that relation to me; He is my friend, He lays down His life to save mine: He is my greatest benefactor; from Him I receive all I have: all the blessings, the good things I enjoy, I owe to His kindness.

But now my soul, suppose that from His cross thou shouldst hear Him thus expressing His love, and bespeaking thine. Christian, dearest Christian, for whom here I die; consider seriously, imprint it in thine heart, what in My mysteries thou readest of My suffering for thee; consider Who I am, what I endure, and to what end. I am the eternal Son of GOD Whom the angels adore: I became man to make thee partaker of the Divine nature; I am infinitely