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 by thy  death  both  to  thee and to  thy  Father. Can it be  thought  that  any  other love is,  or  has  been,  or  will be like  this? Scarcely for  a just  man  will  one  die;  but in dying  for  our  sins  thou  hast suffered for  the  unjust. It is thou  who  earnest  to  justify sinners freely,  to  make  slaves thy brethren,  captives  thy co-heirs, exiles  kings. Is there, O Jesus,  one  that  is  not heated by  thy  love,  which  gives heat and  light  to  all  things? For its  going  out  is  from  the end of  heaven,  and  there  is no  one  that  can  hide  himself from its  heat. The very  publicans too  and  sinners  thou rejectest not,  but  receivest them, and  eatest  with  them. And to  thy  very  enemies,  who seek to  inflict  upon  thee  injuries, insults,  and  death  itself, thou  strivest  to  do  good.

Oh, strange  are  the  wonders which thou  hast  done  upon earth!

But thou  wouldst wish, perhaps,  to  have  all this comprised  in  a single lesson. Behold, Mount  Calvary is  the  school  of  all  virtue and perfection,  but  the  chair of the  teacher  is  the  Cross itself. This have  I ascended, and, as  it  were,  with  outstretched arms  have  invited all men  to  me,  saying,  “ Come to me  all  you  that  labour  and are burdened,  and  I will  refresh you: ” when  lifted  up from  the  earth,  I drew  all things to  myself by  the  irresistible power  of  my  doctrine, that is,  by  my  example  and by my  love.

See the  greatness  of  my Apostle’s  proficiency  in  this school, who  professed  that  he knew  nothing  but  Jesus,  and him crucified. This too  is  the reason why  he  bore  my  marks in his  body,  and  confidently exhorted others: Be  ye  followers of  me,  as  I also  am of  Christ. Therefore, go  thou up also  to  the  mountain  of myrrh  and  to  the  hill  of  frankincense. But alas! how few care to  ascend  thither  with me! I find more  to  share my Table  than  my  Cross. Oh, how many  thousands  had  I once  satisfied  with  bread! how many  sick  had  I healed! how many  blind  and  lame  had I cured! but where  were  they when I went  to  the  mountain carrying my  Cross? Who was there then  that  would  plead my cause? True it  is  that I have trodden  the  wine-press alone,  and  of  the  Gentiles there  was  not  a man with me. Alone I bore  your infirmities, all  my  acquaintance fled  from  me, I was  for-