Page:The Wild Goose.djvu/52

 can fail to admire the force of the famous aspiration of St. Augustine —"Oh, Lord! Thou hast made us for thyself, and the heart of man cannot rest till it rest in thee." The end of a Christian is to bear a resemblance in meekness and humility to Jesus Christ crucified; and for this end we must labor and toil and endure many things which, however, are all summed up in the words—renunciation of self-will.

Entering our new homes in Australia, one of the earliest admonitions will be to beware of the abuse of God's graces and blessings in which are comprehended all those copious means afforded us by God of attaining sanctity and perfection: external, such as reading exhortations, corrections and good examples; internal, such as good thoughts, inspirations and desires. All these are the most precious treasures and gifts from God in heaven.

We will be reminded that men degraded by vice are said to efface in themselves the image of God to which the were created. As for us, we know that our souls are endowed with three most noble faculties, and we will not fall into the error of some who do not use the superior powers of their minds at all, or use them badly. We will charge our memory never to forget the consoling thought of the holy presence of God;— our intellect to discern real good; and our will to execute our duty. Alas! for the base souls that grovel upon earth. How can their neglected and uncultivated understandings demonstrate to the what is solidly and lastingly good, or the sweetness of the pure pleasure of conversing with the Creator, with angles and with His saints, in fervent prayer.

The predominant inclinations forms particular characters, and produces in each individual a second nature, as we may say, in addition to what is possessed in common by all mankind: we should root out of it all that is vitiated with whatever clogs the soul and throws the most frequent impediments in the way of virtue. "Am I distressed at the refusal of a request?" If so, then my ruling passion is independence," and so on. It is usual to strike the fear of God into the wicked, but to whisper filial confidence in God into the ears and hearts of those who have commenced to aim at perfection — as the good friends have happily done who will read these lines.  Let us not be disheartened when we find, contrary to our intentions, we have done wrong, we have have in the Good God powerful means to repair our losses and a forgiving father.  Yes! my friends! confidence in God is never as perfectly practised and exercised as when we are in great dangers and great afflictions.  Let us reanimate our constancy, and persevere.  A strong resolution should be formed never to be discouraged at our want of success; but steadily to continue to fight against our passions, being persuaded that the grace of God will not be wanting to us if we do what lies in our power.

There is another thing to be particularly attended to, which we all have deeply at heart, and my readers will agree with me when I disclose to them that it is the watchfulness that is required to note down and endeavour to dry up the sources of our daily faults. My friends, believe me, to retrench faults is to advance. Everyone will finds an interest in observing that, for the most part, the occasions of daily faults are some of the six following:- first, forgetfulness of God, and the Christian who is not attentive to the presence of God soon grows dissipated, and tepid; second, either a want of intention in performing our actions, or else a mixed intention, vitiated with self-love, and then follow actions either dead, void of merit, or perhaps vicious; third, the neglect of regular established discipline, and to this may be traced careless preparation for morning and evening prayer, omission or shortening of that or other prescribed duty, disgust of good, aversion to painful duties; but let us be persuaded, my friends, that no mortification is more precious than that which subjects to exact order; fourth, a culpable langour of mind, and indifference about our progress; the fifth source of our daily