Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/288

 the same  she  passes  to  them. Lift up,  therefore,  these gates on  high:  raise  them  to  such  subjects  only  as  are heavenly and  eternal,  and  then  the  King  of  glory  will enter, and  make  you  a  partaker  of  His  majesty  and greatness.

I. Forty  days  having  elapsed  since  the  resurrection  of Christ,  during  which  time  He  has  comforted,  instructed, and confirmed  His  Apostles,  He  "  at  length  appeared to  the  eleven  as  they  were  at  table." (Mark xvi.  14.) He led  them  to  Mount  Olivet,  in  order  that  He  might commence His  triumph,  where  His  passion  had  begun. Observe with  what  tenderness  and  love  He  does  all  this; and learn  that  no  other  path  than  the  path  of  suffering leads to  glory,

II. Christ said  to  them,  "  But  stay  you  in  the  City,  till you  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high." (Luke xxiv. 49.)  If  the  Redeemer  did  not  wish  His  Apostles  to  be too  forward  in  preaching  and  in  doing  works  for  the universal good  of  mankind,  but  wished  them  first  to  receive power  from  on  high,  how  proper  is  it  that  those who have  not  been  trained  up  in  Christ's  school  as  they were, should  first  prepare  themselves  in  private,  by prayer  and  the  practice  of  virtue,  for  the  works  of  the ministry, and  for  appearing  before  their  neighbors. Every feeling  of  zeal  is  not  to  be  trusted. True zeal  is the  last  consequence  of  the  pure  love  of  God,  and  embraces within  itself  the  emanations  of  every  virtue. Unless your zeal  be  of  this  character,  it  is  a  dangerous  principle of  action.