Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/327

 Christian; for,  all  Christians,  St.  Peter  writes:  "you  are a  royal  priesthood." (i Pet.  29.)

II. Consider more  in  particular  the  admirable  virtues of this  holy  precursor. His austerity  of  life  was  eminently great,  for  the  Evangelist  remarked  of  him, "  John had  his  garment  of  camel's  hair,  and  a  leathern  girdle about  his  loins,  and  his  food  was  locusts  and  wild  honey." (Matt. in.  4.)  His  lodging,  without  doubt,  was  consistent with  his  apparel. His bed  must  have  been  the  bare ground, and  a  cave  must  have  been  his  only  defence against the  heat  of  summer  and  the  cold  of  winter. Reflect how  far  inferior  you  are  to  this  great  preacher; you who  are  not  content  with  those  conveniences  which your condition  and  state  of  life  afford  you.

III. This austerity  of  life  was  accompanied  with  the continued contemplation  of  heavenly  things,  in  which  he spent  his  life  until  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age. Admire his constancy  in  so  long  a  warfare;  for  during  the  whole of that  time  he  must  have  had  frequent  conflicts  with the enemy  of  man's  salvation. Ponder his  incomparable innocence of  life;  for  he  did  not  commit  the  least  venial sin, as  most  divines  are  of  opinion. And at  the  same  time that you  admire,  imitate,  as  nearly  as  possible,  this  excellent model  of  all  virtue.

I. Penance  was  the  constant  subject  of  the  Baptist's preaching  and  discourses. "Do penance,"  he  cried  out, " for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand." (Matt. iii.  2.) He exhorts  his  auditory  to  penance  by  proposing  to  them the hopes  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  then  the  fear  of