In tending me, they made me feel that their ways and aims were not of this world; and I still retain the impression which that sight of living goodness made upon me.” It will be so, my Sisters in Christ, if while you diligently tend these patients in pursuance of the vocation which you have undertaken, you at the same time diligently cultivate the interior life of piety in your own hearts. And in order to that diligent cultivation, I shall prescribe to you to-day three spiritual exercises, comprehending, as I believe, the sum and substance of Personal Religion. I believe that the diligent practice of all three will enable any one, by God’s good blessing, to cast a healing shadow, to throw all around him a decided influence for good; and that even one of them devoutly observed, and wrought into the texture of the mind, will be the means of great advance. But though I speak of them in these terms, and promise these effects from them, you must not suppose that I am going to give other than the plainest and most commonplace advice. I have no specific for the conduct of a spiritual life but such as has been given you over and over again; and if I had, you would rightly regard it with suspicion. For the way of Christ’s Saints, blessed be His Name, is a well-trodden way; and the advice for His Church, when she would seek Him, is, “Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock.” * * * * * I. The first practice we recommend for securing a holy influence upon others is the Practice of God’s Presence,—that the mind should be momentarily collected in hours of business, as well as in hours of devotion—the oftener the better—and placed with a holy ejaculation, or a devout aspiration, or an expression of confidence or love, under His Eye. I should not know how better to define this exercise than by calling it a momentary glance at Christ, away even from those occupations which are the task-work He has set us. A momentary glance. Do not think it necessary always mentally to repeat some set ejaculation; that might be a distraction, and create absence of mind, when all your faculties are needed for what you are engaged in; but look away to Him for the instant, and then back again, nothing doubting but that He can interpret for you the need of your heart.