Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/495

 of their duty,  sent  them,  from  time  to  time,  patriarchs, prophets and  priests,  but  all  in  vain. He sent  them,  in the  last  place,  His  only  Son,  but  they  murdered  Him. With reason  then  does  He  exclaim  by  the  mouth  of  the Prophet: "  What  is  there,  that  I  ought  to  do  more  to  My  A vineyard,  that  I  have  not  done  to  it?" (Is. v.  4.)  With reason then  is  it  said,  "  He  will  bring  those  evil  men  to an  evil  end." (Matt. xxi.  41.)  Take  care  that  the  weight of this  sentence  do  not  fall  on  you  and  yield  fruit  corresponding to  your  tenure  in  the  vineyard  of  our  Lord.

I. In  regard  to  God,  this  vineyard is  the  soul  of  each individual, and  yours  in  particular. This vineyard  the Supreme Master  of  the  family  has  furnished  with  a  press and a  tower,  and  He  has  surrounded  it  with  a  hedge:  that is, He  has  done  every  thing  which  is  requisite  on  His part to  secure  your  soul's  salvation,  and  to  make  it  produce every  fruit  of  virtue. You are,  in  the  language  of the  Prophet,  "a  chosen  vineyard." (Jen ii.  21.)  And  of you  God  may  say, "  What  is  there,  that  I  ought  to  do more  to  My  vineyard,  that  I  have  not  done  to  it?" (Is. v. 4.)

II. God lets  out  this  vineyard  of  your  soul  to  yourself; for He  himself  is  the  absolute  proprietor  of  it. " All souls,"  He  says,  "are  mine"  (Ez.  xviii. 4),  and  "  I  am  the Lord,  and  there  is  none  else." (Is. xlv.  5.)  He  therefore wishes  that  you  should  cultivate  your  own  soul  like a good  husbandman,  and  render  it  fruitful  in  His  service; for "  who  planteth  a  vine  and  eateth  not  of  the  fruit