Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/436

 her arm."  (Prov.  xxi.  17.)  Spiritual  activity  is  a  certain mark  that  the  soul  is  cured  of  its  diseases.  Examine your  conscience,  and  judge  it  by  this  rule.

I. "  There  came  to  Him  a  certain  ruler,  whose  son  was sick  at  Capharnaum  and  prayed  Him  to  come  down  and heal  his  son,  for  he  was  at  the  point  of  death." (John iv. 46.)  Remark  how  advantageous  corporal  infirmities  are for they  force  us  to  have  recourse  to  God. Unless his son had  been  afflicted  with  sickness,  perhaps  the  ruler had never  been  brought  to  Christ. It is  related  of  Manasses,  "  that  after  he  was  in  distress  he  prayed  to  the Lord  his  God,  and  Manasses  knew  that  the  Lord  was God." (2 Par.  xxxiii.  12,  13.)  Do  not  fail,  therefore,  to consider  corporal  infirmities  as  blessings  of  God  and  incitements to  virtue. " Their  infirmities,"  says  the  Psalmist, "were  multiplied,  afterward  they  made  haste." (Ps. xv. 4.)

II. In answer  Christ  reprehends  those,  who  wish  to  see miracles from  motives  of  curiosity,  or  incredulity. He refused besides  to  go  to  the  house  of  the  ruler,  because we ought  not  to  prescribe  to  God  the  means  or  manner of assisting  us. He nevertheless  cures  this  young  man, although absent,  the  more  to  manifest  His  power  and strengthen our  faith  in  it. He is  the  Divine  Being, "who commands  the  saving  of  Jacob." (Ps. xliii.  5.) Learn hence  not  to  wish  for  miracles,  visions,  or  extraordinary favors  of  God,  but  to  commit  yourself  entirely to His  Divine  providence. Beseech Him,  if  you  be  not worthy to  receive  Him  under  your  roof  by  Holy  Com-