Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/315

 do not  love  our  brethren. Even martyrdom  itself will not  avail  us  without  charity.

2. “ This  is  my  commandment,”  said  Jesus,  “ that you love  one  another  as  I have  loved  you.”  Had mankind nothing  else  than  Christ’s  love  to  endear them to  each  other,  they  are  objects  of  esteem  for that very  reason. Since our  Saviour  has  loved  them, shall we  refuse  to  do  so? •

3. Do  we  love  all  men  as  Christ  has  loved  them? Do we  thirst  for  their  salvation  as  he  did? Do we unto  them  as  we  would  have  them  do  unto  us?

[Excite yourself to  love  those  whom  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has loved so  tenderly;  firmly  purpose  to  promote  their  salvation,  and never to  do  what  may  offend  against  charity.]

“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  not  be  forgiven.” God will  not  pardon  us,  but  on  the  condition  that we pardon  others. If we  seek  revenge,  we  call  down God’s anger  upon  us. We must  either  love  our enemies, or  bate  ourselves.

3. It  should  seem  that  two  Christians  who  hate each other  are  not  really  professors  of  the  same religion: for how  can  they  approach  the  altar — eat the same  spiritual  food — seek  the  same  heaven — and hop3 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