Page:The Way Of Salvation- Meditations For Every Day Of The Year (IA TheWayOfSalvation1836).pdf/89

 III. What is man, exclaims holy Job, that thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost thou set thy heart upon him? vii. 17. What good, O Lord, hast thou ever derived from me? and what canst thou expect from me, that thou lovest me so much, and comest so near to me? Hast thou then forgotten all the injuries and treasons which I have committed against thee? But since thou hast so much loved me, I, a miserable worm, must also love thee, my Creator and my Redeemer. Yes, I do love thee, my God, I love thee with my whole heart, I love thee more than myself; and because I love thee, I will do every thing to please thee. Thou knowest that nothing is so grievous to me as the remembrance of my having so often despised thy love. I hope for the future to be able to compensate by my love for the frequent displeasure which I have given thee. Help me for the sake of that precious blood which thou hast shed for me. Help me also, O holy Mary, for the love of your Son who died for me.

I. OH! what joy will he experience who, departing out of this life in the grace of God, shall, on being presented before Jesus Christ, behold him with a benignant countenance, be lovingly received by him, and hear from him those delightful words: Well done, thou good and faithful servant: became thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. St. Matt. xxv. 23. But, O Jesus, if I were now to be summoned to judgment before thee, how