Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/520



The character  of  a Christian appears, not  from  his name, hut from  his  life. Glorious indeed is  the  profession of that  name; but  it  will  he of  no  avail  to  eternal  glory, unless there  he  holiness  of  life to correspond  with  a name  so holy.

The life  of  Christ, moreover, should  he  our  rule  to live  by. But now  there  are many who  take  the  name  of Christians, hut  are  little  careful to  lead  a life  worthy  of that  name; and  yet  they  presumptuously hope  that  they shall he  partakers  in  Christ's glory,  though  they  make  no effort  to  be  his  followers  in his  life  or  on  the  way. Oh, how many, who  in  name  only are Christians, are  deluded by this  hope, or  rather  preemption! who are  either  so indolent, or  so  ignorant, as not  to  know  that  a name  so holy  should  he  the  spur  to  a more  holy  life, and  that  we should  wish  rather  to  be, than to  be  called, Christians.

What is  to  he  done? Behold, our mirror  is  the  life of Christ. Look upon  it, O Christian! and compare with it  thy  own; and  because what is  straight  is  the  rule both of  itself  and  of  what  is crooked, observe  in  it  its  great beauty and  its  different  virtues, and  the  stains  and  vices in thy  own,  that  are, however, the easier  to  be  washed  out,  the more diligently  thou  consultest  thy  spotless  mirror.

Keep, then, thy  eyes  ever fixed upon  it,  and  meditate day and  night  upon  the  life of Christ,  that  thou  may  est learn the  faults  of  thy  own  life and the  virtues  of  Christs, and conceive  hatred  for  the one, and  love,  with  longing desire, to  imitate  it,  for  the other. For meditation  produces knowledge,  enlightens the understanding,  excites  the affection, and  inflames  the will. But of  that  which  is unknown  there  is  no  desire; what wonder,  then,  if  Christ has but  few  to  imitate  him?