Page:MyPrayerBookHappinessInGoodness.djvu/25

 of great  price  which  each  must  seek  long  and diligently for  himself,  and  finds  and  heaps  up more  and  more,  that  he  may  give  to  others,  of  his abundance abundantly,  the  fire  of  divine  love, which kindles  and  enlightens  the  hearts  of  others the more  brightly  it  burns  in  our  own. 'Now this I  pray,'  says  St.  Paul,  'that  your  charity  may abound more  and  more  in  all  knowledge  and  discernment, so  that  you  may  approve  the  things which are  excellent;'  for  to  love  God  is  an  art  — the one  work  of  our  lives. It is  only  God's  Holy Spirit 'who  diffuses  the  charity  of  Christ  in  our hearts,' who  can  teach  us  and  train  us. Da nobis in  eodem  Spiritu  recta  sapere  — '  Grant  us  by  that same Spirit  to  have  a  refined  taste  and  relish  for what is  right.'  This  is  our  direct  work,  to  perfect ourselves in  the  love  of  God;  the  rest  will  follow."

Baxter, in  his  "Meditations,"  commenting  on the  words,  "You  are  the  light  of  the  world"  (Matt. v.  14)  says:

"It is  a  property  of  light  to  warm  and  enlighten. Examine  yourself  how  you  perform  your  duty,  and seize  every  opportunity  of  being  beneficial  to  your neighbors,  particularly  by  '  letting  the  light  of  your example  shine  before  them.'  All  instruction  is cold,  unless  it  be  accompanied  and  enforced  by example.

"Christ 'was  the  true  light,  which  enlighteneth every  man,  that  cometh  into  this  world'  (John  i.  9). He  communicated  a  divine  system  of  doctrine  to mankind,  illustrated  and, enforced  it  by  His  ex-