Page:ThePathToHeaven.pdf/783

 “ He that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law ” ( Rom . xiii.).

“ By charity alone the children of God are distinguished from the children of Satan” ( St. Austin ).

1. So essential is charity to the Christian religion, that we are obliged to love even our enemies : Christ hath given the commandment, and set the example. God orders it, and shall we find it hard to obey ? A God forgives his very executioners, and shall we refuse to pardon a brother ?

2. “ He that will not forgive shall n « t be forgiven. ” God will not pardon us but on the condition that we pardon others. It we seek revenge, we call down God's anger upon us. We must either love our enemies, or hate ourselves.

3. It would seem that two Christians, who hate each other, are not really professors of the same religion ; for how can they approach the same altar - eat the same food - seek the same heaven - and hope to be together eternally ? Mutual hatred is allowed but to the devils, it belongs to them alone. There is not a more formal sign of reprobation than that of refusing to pardon an enemy ;: and a soul in such a disposition may be looked on as in danger of hell.

[ Examine your heart before the crucifix ; and if you feel a hatred for any person, take sentiments of charity from the wounds of Jesus. ]

“ He that hates his brother is a murderer” ( 1 John iii . 15).

" You a Christian, and yet desire to be revenged ; but Christ hath not yet taken vengeance ” ( St. Austin ).

1. The Son of God, when he united his divinity to our human mature, became the model for Christians. He is the head of the faithful.

2. The manners of the world are carefully studied ; but the life of Jesus Christ is hardly thought upon, Courtiers form themselves upon their prince - philosophers have been imitated, even in their faults. Did we ever seriously strive to imitate Jesus ? Have we taken any pains to follow his example, or to copy after the virtues of his holy life ?

3. What shall we say for ourselves at the awful tribunal of divine justice, when we shall be compared to our model ? when the life of Jesus shall be opposed to our life ? his humility to our pride ? his wounds to our delicacy ; his sweetness to our anger and impatience, &c.? Ah ! what a monster is a Christian without Christianity ! Baptised, and a slave of the devil ! under the banners of the cross, yet a follower of the flesh of the world ! We must, then, renounce our baptism, or conform to the life of our Saviour.

[See whether you bear any resemblance to the Son of God, and whether you may be truly considered as a disciple of a crucified Jesus.]