Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/201

 grace. They do  not  say,  "  What  is  that  to  us?  look  thou to  it,"  but  charitably  try  to  relieve  and  comfort  him. They are  tender  and  compassionate  to  all,  and  they  can say of  themselves  with  the  Apostle,  "  I  became  all  things to  all  men,  that  I  might  save  all." (i Cor.  ix.  22.)  These are objects  of  your  imitation.

III. Judas "  departed,  and  went  and  hanged  himself with  a  halter." (Matt, xxvii.  5.)  Observe  how  one  sin is the  punishment  of  another,  despair  of  treachery. God often permits  a  sinner  to  fall  a  second  time,  in  punishment of  his  first  offence,  as  a  caution  to  avoid  all  sin. Mark, also,  the  subtlety  of  the  devil,  who  first  provokes to sin;  and  then,  having  succeeded  in  gaining  his  object, takes  away  all  prospect  of  pardon.. Observe, also, the mad  and  desperate  resolutions  of  a  troubled  conscience. The Wise  Man  had  reason  to  say,  "  A  troubled conscience  always  forecasteth  grievous  things." (Wis. xvii. 10.)  From  the  ruin  of  an  Apostle,  learn  not  to trust  your  own  virtue;  "  wherefore,  let  him  who  thinketh himself  to  stand,  take  heed  lest  he  fall." (1 Cor.  x.  12.)

" I  have  sinned;  what  shall  I  do  to  thee,  O  keeper  of  men?" (Job vii. 20.)

I. "  When  a  strong  man  armed  keepeth  his  court,  those things  which  he  possesseth  are  in  peace." (Luke xi.  21.) Conceive your  soul  to  be  this  court,  which  Christ  our Lord, who  is  both  strong  and  armed,  desires  to  guard,  in order  that  her  possessions  may  be  in  peace. No being is more  powerful  than  this  champion  of  ours:  "the  Lord is  strong  and  mighty,  the  Lord  is  mighty  in  battle." (Ps. xxiii. 8.)    No  keeper  can  be  more  vigilant  than  He  is.