Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/134

 II. Consider the  sufferings  of  the  Holy  Family  on  the. road. Remark their  religious  demeanor,  their  pious  discourses, and  their  interior  recollection  with  God,  and with what  holy  resignation  they  surmount  the  difficulties of  a  long  and  tedious  journey,  of  about  two  hundred and  seventy  miles. These sufferings  were  increased by their  poverty  and  forlorn  situation. Compassionate them, and  be  ashamed  of  your  own  delicacy  and  unwillingness to  suffer  the  least  inconvenience  for  the  sake  of Christ.

III. They resided,  unknown,  in  Egypt  for  seven  or eight  years. Reflect on  the  life  which  they  led  during that time. They performed  all  their  religious  duties toward God  as  far  as  their  banishment  in  a  heathenish country would  permit  them. They observed  perfect charity and  union  among  themselves. During the whole time  they  were  extremely  poor,  and  maintained themselves and  the  divine  Infant  by  the  labor  of  their hands. They bore  in  silent  patience  the  evils  of  banishment and  the  ill-usage  of  the  Egyptians. Compare your conduct  in  adversity  with  theirs;  blush  at  your weakness, and  fortify  your  mind  by  their  example against the  entailed  and  unavoidable  miseries  of  life!

I. "  Then  Herod,  perceiving  that  he  was  deluded  by  the Wise  Men,  was  exceedingly  angry,  and  sending,  killed all  the  male  children  that  were  in  Bethlehem." (Matt, ii. 16.)  Reflect  on  the  barbarous  cruelty  of  this  wicked prince, and  mark  into  what  enormities  ambition  plunges the man  who  blindly  pursues  it. Form a  steady  detestation of  this  vice. But let  the  wicked  rage  and  devise