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 covered over  by  God's  grace,  its  contents  will  be spoiled  and  our  charity  all  in  vain. No matter  how precious or  how  common  the  contents,  no  matter how plain  or  how  beautiful  the  vessel,  unless  it  be covered  securely  it  is  sure  to  be  defiled. Securely, did I  say,  aye  and  constantly,  for  so  insistent  and all-pervading is  the  death  around  us  that  there  is need  on  our  part  of  a  holy  watchfulness. Our eyes, our ears,  our  tongue,  all  our  external  and  internal senses are  so  many  openings  to  the  heart  and  soul, and must  be  closely  and  continually  guarded  if  we 'hope  to  keep  ourselves  unspotted  from  this  world. Not that  our  hearts  should  be  as  vessels  void  and empty, but  there  should  be  a  steadfast  shutting  in of  virtue  and  of  truth  and  as  resolute  a  shutting  out of error  and  of  sin. " Thy  Kingdom  Come  "  should be our  so  prevailing  sentiment  that  no  room  would  be left  for  any  less  noble  thought. Such is  the  cloth which must  cover  our  hearts  and  be  bound  upon them, sealed,  as  it  were,  with  the  seal  of  perseverance— an  unremittingly  watchful  cooperation  with the grace  of  God. " And  what  I  say  to  you,"  says Christ, "  I  say  to  all;  watch."

Watch and  pray. Brethren, if  even  the  Apostles  had to be  reminded  of  the  necessity  of  prayer  in  repelling temptation, how  much  more  we,  poor  laggard  followers of  Christ! And reminded  we  are  on  almost every Gospel  page. Our Lord's  example,  His  nightlong vigils  on  the  mountain  side,  is  supplemented  by His  teaching:  "  Pray  ye  always  and  faint  not." Note the word  "  always." It is  frequently  explained  away