Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/99

 Imitate their  conduct,  and  you  will  be  visited  by  divine grace.

III. Consider more  particularly  the  necessity  of  practising humility. Satan and  his  associates  had  fallen from heaven,  in  consequence  of  their  pride:  and  pride was the  cause  of  the  apostasy  of  our  first  parents,  and  of all  the  consequences  of  original  sin. Since that  period it has  been  the  ruling  passion  of  mankind. No vice  is more  opposite  to  the  end  of  our  creation. To destroy this passion,  then,  was  one  of  the  most  important  objects  of  Christ's  Incarnation. Hence, on  every  occasion he gives  us  perfect  examples  of  the  opposite  virtue. He is born  of  a  poor  virgin,  in  a  wretched  stable;  He  is abandoned  by  those  whom  He  came  to  save;  and  His first visitors  were  poor,  humble  shepherds. In a  word, His whole  life  was  one  grand  and  divine  act  of  humility. Conceive, then,  the  importance  of  this  virtue:  and  learn from Christ  to  practise  it. Be convinced,  that  without it all  is  lost,  and  that  it  is  the  best  test  of  real  piety,  devotion, and  religion.

I. Consider  the  words  of  the  angel:  "Fear  not:  for, behold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings — for  this  day  is  born to  you  a  Saviour." (Luke ii.  10,  11.)  The  joys  of  the world are  either  vain  or  base,  or  worse. The only  true and solid  satisfaction  for  a  Christian  is  to  be  found in God,  and  in  things  belonging  to  our  salvation:  and this joy,  as  Christ  Himself  says,  "  no  man  shall  take  from you." (John xvi.  20.)  Reflect,  how  many  reasons  you have to  rejoice  at  the  birth  of  this  Saviour,  "  who  shall save  His  people  from  their  sins"  (Matt.  i.  21),  that  is,