Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/480

 from heavenly  things  to  those  of  this  world,  do  certainly fall among  thieves. Ponder how  like  this  world  is  to Jericho;  that  is,  to  the  moon. Nothing on  earth  is  certain or  constant,  but  always  varying  and  decaying. How dangerous  it  is  to  travel  in  a  road,  in  which  we know  that  thieves  are  lurking. Such is  our  journey through life,  "  because  your  adversary,  the  Devil,  as  a roaring  lion,  goeth  about,  seeking  whom  to  devour." (i Pet.  v.  8.)

II. Consider how  the  Devil  treats  those  who  surrender themselves to  him,  for  he  can  injure  no  one  who  does not consent  to  be  injured. He robs  them  of  the  ornaments of  grace,  he  inflicts  on  them  the  desperate  wounds of vicious  habits,  and  leaves  them  half  dead. When the soul of  man  is  dead  by  sin,  he  cannot  be  said  to  be  more than half  alive,  though  he  may  enjoy  perfect  corporal health. Examine if  you  be  in  this  state,  and  grieve  that you have  fallen  into  it  so  often. Take care  that  you never fall  again  into  the  hands  of  so  cruel  a  tyrant.

III. Consider the  great  mercy  of  our  Saviour,  who  approaches the  sinner  by  His  holy  inspirations,  particularly in the  sacrament  of  the  Eucharist,  in  order  to  bind  up  his wounds and  cure  the  infirmities  of  his  soul. " The  Lord shall  bind  up  the  wound  of  His  people,  and  shall  heal  the stroke  of  their  wound." (Is. xxx.  26.)  Who  would  not place confidence  in  such  a  physician? He pours  wine  and oil into  the  wound,  to  teach  us  how  we  ought  to  cure our neighbors,  when  they  are  wounded  by  sin. We must temper severity  with  mildness,  so  that  in  our  corrections " there  may  be  love  without  remissness,  and  vigor  without harshness."