Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/316

 that of  refusing  to  pardon  an  enemy: and  a soul  in such  a disposition  may  be  looked  upon  as  marked  for 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  nature,  became  the  model  for  Christians. He is  the  head  of  the  predestined; we  are  therefore bound to  resemble  him.

2. The  manners  of  the  world  are  carefully  studied; but the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  is  hardly  thought  upon. Courtiers form  themselves  after  the  model  of  their prince, philosophers  have  been  imitated,  even  in  their faults. Hid 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? &amp;c. Ah! what a monster  is  a Christian  without  Christianity ! baptized, and  a slave to the  devil! under the  banners  of  the  Cross,  yet  a follower  of  the  flesh  and  of  the  world! We must,  then, renounce our  Baptism,  or  conform  to  the  life  of  the 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.]

“Master, I will follow  thee  wheresoever  thou  goest.” — St. Matt.

“ In vain am  I a Christian  if  I follow  not  Christ.”— Bernard.