Examine your heart at the sight of the crucifix; and if you feel a hatred for any person, take sentiments of charity from the wounds of Jesus.
"He that hates his brother is a murderer." 1 _John_, iii. 15.
"You a Christian, and yet desire to be revenged! But Christ hath not yet taken vengeance." _St. Augustine._
_Twenty-ninth Day_.--Imitation of Christ.
1. The Son of God, when he united his divinity to our human nature, became the model of Christians. He is the head of the predestined; we are therefore bound to resemble him.
2. The manners of the world are carefully studied; but the life of Jesus Christ is hardly thought upon. Courtiers form themselves upon their prince; philosophers have been imitated even in their faults. Did we ever seriously strive to imitate Jesus? Have we taken any pains to follow his example, or to copy after the virtues of his holy life?
3. What shall we say for ourselves at the awful tribunal of Divine Justice, when we shall be compared to our model; when the life of Jesus shall be opposed to our life; his humility to our pride; his wounds to our delicacy; his sweetness to our anger and impatience, &c.? Ah! what a monster is a Christian without Christianity! baptized, and a slave of the devil! under the banners of the cross, yet a follower of the flesh and the world! We must then renounce our baptism, or conform to the life of our Saviour.
See whether you bear any resemblance to the Son of God, and whether you may be truly considered as a disciple of a crucified Jesus.
"Master, I will follow thee wheresoever thou goest." _Matthew_ viii.
"Without cause am I a Christian, if I follow not Christ." _St. Bernard._
_Thirtieth Day_.--On Fervour in the Service of God.
1. Let us have as much zeal for God as he has for us. He acts exteriorly, but for the perfection of our souls. All the desires of his heart, all the cares of his providence, all the tenderness of his mercy, are referred to this. O what a subject of confusion for tepid souls!
2. Were we to judge of God by our own indifference, it might be said that he does not deserve our services, and that his rewards are very trifling. What idea can be had of a master whose servants attend him carelessly, and without the smallest affection? We dishonour God, we cry down his services, as often as we perform negligently what he requires of us. Wo be to the man who does the work of God without attention!