Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/63

 truth ;" you  cannot  perish,  because  He  is  "  the  life."  "  He is  the  way  in  example,"  writes  St.  Bernard,  "the  truth in promise,  and  the  life  in  reward."  Finally,  Christ commands  nothing,  which  He  has  not  first  performed Himself.  He  may  justly  say,  as  Gideon  did,  "  What ye shall  see  me  do,  do  ye  the  same."   (Judges  vii.  17.)

III. How foolishly  you  have  acted,when  in  your  conduct you followed  any  other  rule  than  that  of  the  life  of Christ. Every other  rule  is  incorrect  and  vicious. " The wisdom  of  this  world  (according  to  which  every  sinner acts  when  he  sins),  is  foolishness  with  God." (1 Cor.  iii. 19.)  Ask  pardon  for  your  past  folly,  and  beg  our  Lord to admit  you  among  the  number  of  His  followers.

I. The  followers  of  Christ  may  be  divided  into  three classes. Some are  Christians  in  name  only ;  they  confess Him in  words  only,  "but  in  their  deeds  they  deny  him." (Titus i.  16.)  They  take  no  pains  in  avoiding  sin,  and their actions  crucify  (in  as  much  as  they  can),  their  Redeemer afresh. They are,  infact,  only  nominal  Christians, for they  do  not  follow  Christ,  but  His  enemy  the  devil. Reflect how  often  you  have  ranked  in  this  class. Repent and amend.

II. Others follow  Christ,  but  (like  St.  Peter,  when his  master  was  taken)  at  a  great  distance. This was probably the  cause  of  Peter's  fall  and  denial  of  our Lord. Persons of  this  second  class  follow  Christ,  but coldly. They purpose  indeed  to  keep  the  commandments, but  care  not  to  aim  at  higher  perfection,  and therefore often  fail  even  in  the  observance  of  these. When they  are  addressed  in  these  words — "  If  thou  wilt