Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/86

 He says,  in  the  Apocalypse, "  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door and  knock,  if  any  man  shall  hear  my  voice  and  open  to me  the  door,  I  will  come  into  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,, and  he  with  me." (Apoc. iii.  20.)  Consider  the  greatness of the  favor;  reflect  who  you  are,  and  who  He  is.

II. Consider what  is  said  in  the  gospel  of  this  day : " Prepare  ye  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  make  straight  His paths." (Luke iii.  4.)  You  must  prepare  your  heart to entertain  so  great  a  guest. Your guest  is  content  even with what  is  mean,  provided  it  be  pure;  hence  he  would take flesh  in  the  purest  womb  of  the  Virgin,  be  laid  in  a new  sepulchre,  and  wrapt  in  a  clean  winding-sheet. He is highly  pleased  with  humility,  and  as  much  offended with pride  and  self-conceit. If there  be  a  "valley"  of  imperfection in  your  soul  you  must  fill  it  up,  as  is  said  in the  gospel  of  to-day,  if  there  be  a  "  hill"  of  pride  you  must level it. Meet your  guest,  then,  with  acts  of  adoration and humility,  and  say,  from  the  bottom  of  your  soul, " Lord  I  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldst  enter  under my  roof." (Luke vii.  6.)

III. With what  pomp,  kindness  and  hearty  welcome the Saints  in  the  Scripture  received  their  guests! Abraham, the three  angels  (Gen.  xviii.  3);  the  Sunamite woman, the  prophet  Eliseus  (4.  King.  iv.  8);  Martha, Christ Himself. (Luke x.  38.)  Imitate  their  holy  example, and  present  your  whole  heart  undivided  to  your guest. This is  all  that  He  requires. " My  Son,"  He  says, " give  me  thy  heart." (Prov. xxiii.  26.)  He  will  not  receive  this  heart,  if  it  be  either  divided  by  self-love  or  a prey  to  inordinate  affection  or  undue  propensities.