Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/238



" Rise,  thou  that  sleepest,  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  will enlighten  thee." (Ephes. v.  14.)

I. When  Christ  raised  His  body  from  the  dead,  He decorated  it  with  all  the  attributes  of  glory. Lacerated and deformed  before,  it  now  becomes  beautiful  and  lovely. Reflect on  the  difference  which  exists  between  a body  that  is  dead,  pale,  wan,  and  motionless,  and  the same body  when  it  is  invested  with  the  attributes  of glory. The same  difference  exists  between  a  soul  in  sin, and in  the  state  of  grace. The same  difference,  with  due proportion, is  to  be  found  between  a  fervent  and  a  tepid soul. In the  state  of  tepidity  the  soul  slumbers,  as  it were;  it  is  void  of  all  heroical  motion;  it  is  insensible  in regard  to  spiritual  things;  it  is  filled  with  idle  fancies and vain  trifles;  and  pursue  shadows  instead  of  real  and substantial good. It conceives  itself  to  be  in  a  good state, whilst  in  reality  it  may  be  addressed  as  God  addressed the  Bishop  of  Laodicea  in  the  Apocalypse  of  St. John,  "  Thou  art  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and blind,  and  naked." (Apoc. iii.  17.)

II. Our Saviour  is  ready  to  raise  us  from  the  state  of tepidity  and  sin,  if  we  consent  on  our  part,  and  therefore He says  of  Himself,  "  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the life." (John xi.  25.)  He  is  the  cause  and  author  of  both, as well  in  regard  to  the  soul  as  the  body. What a  bene-