Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/45

 —a raging fever burns in every vein—onward, onward, it rushes, until vitality is spent, and the body lies a blackened corpse, terrible even in death.

Yet temperance can be prescribed by no definite rule. The constitutions of men vary; and it is the duty of a man to study his own constitution. Whatever hurts the body, whatever inflames or disorders the mind, whether in meat, or drink, or apparel, is a breach of temperance, and ought to be avoided, as we value peace here and happiness hereafter.

HE love of our neighbour is a positive command; and this command is the existence, if we may use the expression, of that perfect charity of which our Lord Jesus Christ is the essence.

But charity indiscriminately exercised is intemperance. Temperate and well-regulated charity is from heaven. A word of kindness! a look of love! how good it is! How beautifully has the wise man illustrated it! Words of kindness are like apples of gold, set in frames of silver! But how much more beautiful is the living love—"God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself!" Do not lose sight of this divine charity; and remember the charity which assists in rescuing souls from destruction; the charity which withdraws souls from darkness to light; the charity which rescues souls from the doctrines of error, and