Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/72

 be visited by Him. “And when she had heard, she was troubled at his saying” (Luke i. 29), that is, at her own praises uttered by the angel, as whosoever that is truly humble will be; for he believes that praise belongs to God and not to himself. “She thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be,” prudently examining everything, lest she might be deceived. O, that the first woman had been so prudent and so humble, and had so carefully weighed the words of the fallen angel.

III. How different are your proceedings! On every occasion you seek your own praises and applaud yourself when you hear them spoken by others ; and not satisfied to be commended by others you do it yourself. When you hear those things which are pleasing, you do not imitate the Virgin, and examine “ what manner of salutation this should be,” but immediately embrace it with your whole heart. Your first duty is to examine every affair with prudence before you undertake it, and following the advice of the wise man, “let your eyelids go before your steps.” (Prov. iv. 25.)

I. “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son.” (Luke i. 30.) Reflect how the angel dispels all fear from the mind of the Virgin, and observe that it is the character of a good spirit to bring peace and security to the soul. “Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found grace with God ;” for true joy and security are only to be found in the grace of God, and not in worldly gratifications and pleasures, in which we have too often sought them. This grace the Virgin possessed