Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/411

 must go  to  Jerusalem  and  suffer  many  things."  Follow His  example  on  this  occasion,  and  the  advice  of  the  Wise Man,  "In  the  day  of  good  things  be  not  unmindful  of evils."  (Ecclus.  xi.  27.)  Learn  besides,  that  it  is  not enough  to  acknowledge  Christ's  divinity,  but  that  it  is requisite  you  should  imitate  Him  in  His  passion.

II. St. Peter  hearing  this,  and  being  zealous  for  his Master, took  Christ  aside  and  said  to  Him,  "  Lord  be  it far  from  Thee,  this  shall  not  be  unto  Thee." (Matt. xvi. 23.)  This  was  an  effect  of  zeal,  but  the  zeal  was  indiscreet and  "  not  according  to  knowledge"  (Rom.  x.  2),  for Peter did  not  yet  understand,  how  glorious  Christ's ignominy  would  be. Examine whether  you  be  not  sometimes influenced  by  this  preposterous  zeal.

III. Christ immediately  reprehends  him,  "  Go  after  Me, Satan,  thou  art  a  scandal  unto  Me,  because  thou  dost  not relish  the  things  that  are  of  God,  but  the  things  that  are of  men." Reflect how  dangerous  it  is  to  embrace  the things that  are  of  men  only,  such  as  honors,  riches  and pleasures, and  not  the  things  of  God,  such  as  are  labors, sufferings, and  crosses. Examine whether  you  feel  a  relish in spiritual  things;  or  whether  you  at  least  attempt  to  feel it.

I. Christ  in  the  gospel  of  to-day  told  the  ten  lepers, " Go  show  yourselves  to  the  priests;  and  it  came  to  pass, as  they  went,  they  were  cleansed." (Luke xvii.  14.)  As