Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/450

 accompanied with  three  conditions,  which  are  requisite to every  good  prayer. 1. They  were  humble,  for  "they stood  afar  off." 2. They  prayed  with  unanimity  and fervor, "  they  lifted  up  their  voice." Earnest and  fervent prayer is  pleasing  to  God;  hence  holy  David  says: "when I  cried  to  Him,  He  heard  me." (Ps. xxi.  18.)  3. They did  not  pray  that  he  would  restore  them  to  health, but that  "He  would  have  mercy  on  them,"  thus  with resignation leaving  the  whole  affair  in  the  hands  of  God. Imitate them  in  your  prayers.

II. " When  He  saw  them,  He  said,  Go  show  yourselves to  the  priests." Christ might  have  cured  them  in  an instant,  but  He  wished  to  try  their  obedience  and  to  impress on  His  followers  a  respect  for  the  priesthood,  and the observances  of  the  law. He wished  moreover  to teach  us,  that- we  ought  to  repair  to  the  priests  and  unfold ourselves  to  them,  as  often  as  we  are  struck  with  the leprosy of  sin. Do not  dare  to  pass  a  night  in  this  state of spiritual  leprosy,  for  what  would  be  the  consequence, if during  that  night,  God  called  your  soul  to  appear before Him? Your leprosy  would  attach  to  you  for  all eternity.

III. "It came  to  pass,  as  they  went,  they  were  made clean." Ponder their  prompt  obedience,  and  its  fruit. So it  often  happens  to  those  who  are  laboring  under some temptation;  while  they  are  going  to  manifest  themselves to  their  ghostly  Father,  they  are  freed  and  the enemy has  fled. So also,  many,  who  are  preparing  for confession, are  justified  beforehand  by  Almighty  God, who gives  them  perfect  contrition. "I said,"  cries  out the prophet,  "  I  will  confess  against  myself  my  injustice to  the  Lord,  and  Thou  hast  forgiven  the  wickedness  of my  sin." (Ps. xxxi.  5.)