The Prayer. O GOD the Son, Redeemer of the world, most merciful JESU! Who for us men didst assume Flesh in the most Pure Womb of the Virgin Mary, being "made in the likeness of men," and "found in fashion as a Man :" grant, we beseech Thee, that we may gratefully commemorate the Mystery of Thine Incarnation, and more and more increase in love for Thee, and for Thy Holy Mother: grant that our hearts may shine with such faith, and lowliness, and love as were found in her, when she heard the Annunciation of Thy Wondrous Incarnation, and humbly replied, "Behold the handmaid of the LORD:" adorn us, O Son of the Highest, with the spirit of reverence and holy fear, that we may always rejoice in Thy Presence, and evermore give Thee thanks and praise for all the great "benefits" Thou hast "done" unto us: Who livest and reignest with the FATHER, and the HOLY GHOST, One GOD, world without end. Amen. EVE OF S. MARK, EVANGELIST AND MARTYR. XVIII.-On striving for the Truth. ECCLUS. iv. 28.-" Strive for the truth unto death, and the LORD shall fight for thee." "THE wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion." The lion, it is said, either conquers or dies. So was he "faithful unto death" who as on this day attained the “ Crown of life." As an 'Evangelist He preached the Gospel faithfully by word and by writing as a Martyr he laid down his life in defence of the truths which he taught he forsook all, he bore his cross, he hated his life, and he was called and sent by the LORD, so he in every respect proved himself to be a True Disciple of the LORD JESUS. What a glorious thing it is to strive for the Truth! To wrestle, to battle, to fight for it, to agonize for it, as the word is in the original language. "What is Truth?" do we ask with Pilate of old? Alas! with all our divisions in religion we may well ask. Some say every man's own system, or his own private opinion matters of religion, is the Truth to him. But Truth is one. And systems or opinions are many, and opposite to each other, and conflicting, and therefore cannot be all equally true. There can be but one Truth, and that is the "Truth as it is in JESUS," for He alone is the "Way, the Truth, and the Life." But how is it that professing Christians, those who claim to believe in JESUS CHRIST our LORD, and to hold the "Truth as it is in” Him, differ as widely as possible in important doctrines affecting their belief? This is the saddest of sad truths and not easy to be accounted for or explained. Why cannot Christians worship together? Alas instead of striving for the Truth, they are more often found striving against each other! To us there need be no doubt as to what is the "Truth as it is in JESUS," for as members of the Church of CHRIST, the Truth is what is taught to and enjoined upon us by the undivided Church, which is the Body of CHRIST. That is indeed the Truth |