Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/634

 Me, because  I am  meek  and  humble  of  heart,  and  you  shall find rest  for  your  souls. For My  yoke  is  sweet,  and  My  burden is light.”

Test of  Divine  Doctrine.  He  whose  heart  is  bent  upon  serving God, doing  His  will  and  practising  the  moral  precepts  of  our  Lord, will soon  recognise  and  feel  within  his  mind  and  heart  that  the doctrine proposed  by  our  Lord  is  and  must  be  divine. The true  faith comes to  those  of  good  will. Virtue protects,  increases  and  strengthens faith; whereas  vice  weakens  it,  and  produces  an  aversion  to  its  grand teachings, which  leads  the  sinner  ultimately  into  unbelief.

True light.  The  light  of  life  is  the  faith  taught  by  Jesus  Christ. Without this  faith  nobody  can  be  saved. True enlightenment,  certainty and conviction  can  only  come  by  faith. Darkness, uncertainty,  and  the want of  all  comfort  follow  unbelief.

Self denial  is  necessary  for  every  Christian,  for  without  self-denial there can  exist  no  virtue. Our Lord  Jesus  Himself  went  before  us  to show'  us  the  way,  and  His  whole  Life  on  earth  was  one  great  act  of self-renunciation  and  self-denial.

The poverty  of  our  Lord  was  very  great. He was  born  in  a stable, and possessed  no  dwelling-place  of  His  own  all  the  time  He  dwelt  on earth;  and  He  often  spent  the  night  praying  in  the  open  air. He wandered about  as  a stranger,  living  on  alms. His only  death-bed was the  Cross  (on  which,  in  very  truth,  He  had  not  where  to  lay  His Head),  and  His  Body  was  buried  in  another  man’s  sepulchre. The words: “Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit”  apply  to  all  true  followers  of Jesus  Christ.

The love  of  God  above  all  things.  Because  Jesus  is  God  and  has loved us  even  unto  death,  we,  on  our  side,  must  love  Him  above  all things — more  than  father  or  mother,  more  than  our  own  lives. He who loves  this  life  more  than  God,  and  who,  if  the  choice  is  given  to him,  forsakes  God  rather  than  lose  his  life,  is  sure  to  lose  his  life  in eternity. But he  who  esteems  this  life  as  little  compared  with  eternal life and  will  give  it  for  Christ’s  sake,  will  certainly  gain  everlasting life. The Church  teaches  that  the  holy  martyrs  pass  straight  to  heaven, without tasting  of  Purgatory. “If those  who  prefer  this  earthly  life (the most  precious  of  natural  gifts)  to  the  service  of  God,  forfeit  all claim to  eternal  life,  how  much  more  do  those  endanger  their  salvation who  refuse  to  mortify  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  and  give  up  faith, love, and  the  service  of  God  for  the  basest  pleasures  and  possessions of this  world!”  (St.  Chrysostom.)

Temperance and  fortitude.  He  who  washes  to  win  heaven  must steadfastly restrain  his  evil  inclinations  and  passions,  fight  against  all