Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/824

 men, and  thereby  assure  them  of  his  love. Consider how his  soul,  merged  in  a sea  of  bitter  sadness,  is about  leaving  his  exhausted,  bleeding  body. What does thy  heart  feel  at  such  a sight? Does it  not  feel itself moved  by  love  and  compassion  for  thy  dear Spouse — thy  loving  Brother,  who  is  dying  for  love of thee? Wilt thou  be  harder  than  the  rocks,  which, at the  death  of  their  Creator,  burst  asunder,  as  it were,  for  pity? Look again,  for  the  last  time,  O my soul,  upon  thy  Redeemer,  alive  upon  his  bed  of  torment, upon  his  throne  of  ignominy,  and  reflect  that this God  of  infinite  majesty  is  dying  for  thee,  a monster of  ingratitude,  so  guilty,  so  wicked. Yes, a God dies for  thee  — dies  for  the  love  of  thee. Arouse thyself, and  come  with  confidence  and  love  to  the throne of  his  goodness,  and  sec,  in  thy  dying  Saviour, what thy  sins  have  done. Consider what  thou  hast cost Jesus,  and  what  thou  owest  him. Thou hast cost the  life  of  a God! Thou owest  thy  whole  self to a God  who  has  so  loved  thee  as  to  lay  down  his life for  thee. Ah! consecrate thyself  speedily  to  the service and  love  of  thy  dying  Lord. Tell him  and declare to  him,  that  thou  never  again  wilt  offend  so loving  a Father,  so  good  a God.

O Saviour of  men,  to  what  extremes  has  thy  love brought thee! Oh, excess  of  the  divine  mercy! Oh, infinite greatness  of  the  love  of  God! And what shall I do,  O Saviour,  to  correspond  with  so  much, such excessive  love? I thank thee  with  my  whole soul for  having  willed  to  die  for  me,  and  save  me from  the  eternal  pains  of  hell. I thank thy  loving heart for  having  loved  me  so  tenderly,  and  having shed so  much  blood  to  blot  out  my  sins,  and  merit heaven for  me. I am sorry  for  having  loved  thee  so little,  my  Saviour,  up  to  this,  for  having  corresponded so little,  nay,  returned  injuries  for  thy  goodness. I wish and  resolve  to  love  thee  with  my  whole  heart.