Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/420

 III. How grievous  the  offence  they  commit,  who scandalize the  little  ones  of  Christ! " It  were  better," says Christ,  "  that  a  millstone  were  hanging  about  his neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned  in  the  depth  of  the  sea." (Matt, xviii.  6.)  Beware,  therefore,  of  inducing  any  one to sin  by  your  example,  for  the  offended  majesty  of  God "will require  his  blood  at  thy  hand." (Ezech. iii.  18.)

I. "  No  man  can  serve  two  masters." (Matt. vi.  24.) God is  our  only  true  and  lawful  Lord;  "  I  am  the  Lord," He says  by  Isaias,  "  and  there  is  no  other." (xlv. 18.) " All  souls  are  Mine:  as  the  soul  of  the  father,  so  also,  the soul  of  the  son  is  Mine." (Ezech. xviii.  4.)  No  master has so  perfect  a  right  to  his  servant  as  God  has  to  you. You belong  to  Him  under  the  titles  of  creation,  preservation, and  redemption;  you  belong  to  Him  too  by  voluntary subjection  in  baptism. Rejoice that  your  Lord  and Master is  so  exalted  and  so  powerful,  for  as  St.  Ambrose remarks, "  It  is  an  honor  to  be  a  servant  to  an  exalted

II. Dominion over  a  thing  infers  the  right  of  disposing of that  thing,  as  the  proprietor  thinks  proper. Reflect how often  you  have  violated  this  right,  that  God  possesses over  you,  by  not  permitting  Him  to  dispose  of you  as  He  pleases. Worse than  this,  you  have  frequently stood in  open  rebellion  to  Him,  by  your  sins. Oh how often have  you  embraced  the  interests  of  the  Devil,  His