Thou didst suffer

Christ chose

Thou didst choose hard things look for glory? and His own,

for Himself

and shall I seek to have all soft and easy? hunger, shall I desire to pamper the belly? shame and reproach, shall I be so mad as to Thou in all things didst choose things hard and vile and rugged, what thou choose? and so too did all Thy Saints, but I, led not by Thy Spirit, but

dost

by the spirit of the flesh and of the world, must study forsooth mine own advantage! didst not Thou know, O sweetest Jesu, to refuse the evil and choose the good? if there be evil in the Cross and in affliction, wouldst Thou have chosen them? Wouldst Thou have pledged the cup of suffering unto Thy Mother, and Thy loving Saints, who wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, through the desert of this life, that they might come unto the true land of promise? but I, how do I wish to find another way, than Thou, Eternal Wisdom, hast chosen? Doth Thy counsel, O my God, please me not ? did it behove Thee to suffer and so to enter into Thy glory? on what terms then shall I enter thereinto, except by the King's high road of the holy Cross? Wheresoever I go, wheresoever I flee, escape the Cross I cannot any way, compassed as I am The need of with a thousand ills; but this alone I do, things which would resignation. be sweet, if I received them kindly from Thine hand, (for Thou hast said, I am with him in trouble,) now from my self-will and rebellious heart become sharp and unbearable.

What wilt Thou make of me, O good Jesu? is it not certain, that except I suffer with Thee, neither can I reign with Thee? why then do I hate and turn away from those who weave my crown, who either unawares, or to their own great damage, damage so great as to be pitied even in an enemy, work it for me? Lo, they offer me medicine for my sins, and arms to repel mine enemies withal; but I, good Jesu, will not receive them, but, like a madman, love those who cherish mine enemies, and turn away from those who war against them; nor am ashamed, alas, in words to call myself a Christian, and as it were in deeds deny it. O most loving Jesu, canst Thou bear such an one in Thy service, who shrinks from Thy Cross, as from an evil spirit ? who loves not those that persecute him, nor prays for them, nor does them good, but like an heathen and a publican, loves those only that love him, and hates those that hate him, as even the very wild beasts will do: and though Thou dost command us to love our enemies, and settest such mighty rewards before us, alas! with many, behold, one peaceable word, or some cheap compliance from a neighbour, is of more avail than all Thy will: for the sake of those they will forgive him, for the sake of this they will not pardon so much as a little word.

Lo, I confess mine offences unto Thee, and most humbly, by Thy pains, and weariness, and sorrows, and wounds unnumbered, and reproaches, I implore Thy grace, that I may learn to love mine enemies, to welcome adver

sities as sent by Thee, through many tribulations sent by Thy providence at length to be saved, and to stand amongst Thy friends, Martyrs most valiant, renowned for so many sufferings, amongst Confessors, and Virgins also enOblation of nobled by Thy Cross, and enjoy Thee to all eternity. I resign self. me to Thy Providence, dispose of Thy creature. Do with this nothing, what Thou pleasest, O my Lord, the God of my heart; for what do I know what is best for me? Thou art the Physician of my soul, Thou knowest what is best for me: Thou, my Guide, knowest which way Thou art leading me; Thou, O my Father, wilt not I know cast off, or despise, or forsake me; neither by Thy grace will I Thee: with Thee, good Jesu, I desire to die, and to conquer, and to cleave unto Thee to all eternity. Amen.

A METHOD OF EXERCISING PATIENCE UNDER OUR OWN EVILS.

SEE adversities beforehand; every morning, when thou examinest thyself, yea rather every hour, to provide for adversities which might happen unto thee, and to prepare thy mind against them.

Behold God

Crucified.

Secondly, when an occasion for exercising patience offers, to raise thine eyes to heaven unto God, and to give thanks, and placing thyself in present and thought before Christ crucified, to embrace Him. Refrain thereembrace the fore from words, and let anger die within thee, neither afterwards relate to any one, nor make greater than it is an injury thy neighbour has done thee; for that were to aggravate it, and to stir thyself up through the subtilty of the devil unto revenge; but as being truly humble, thou oughtest to extenuate his fault, as really no injury, being done to one who has been the enemy of God and so often injurious to Him.

kind offices.

Thirdly, if thou feelest aught of bitterness, anticipate thy neighbour, by some third person, at least, if thou canst not otherwise; first, Anticipate thy neigh humbling thyself unto him, though the fault is his; secondly, by bour by doing him some benefit; thirdly, at all events, pray for him. Some there be, who shun all sight and converse of their neighbour out of their aversion and hatred towards him. Wilt not Thou, out of their own mouth and deed, judge them, O Lord? Alas! I fear that they shall never see Thy face in joy! Some refuse to be the first to humble themselves, as though it were a degradation; when the Lord humbled Himself, and He who did no sin offered Himself to be numbered with the transgressors. What? do you wish to be thought incapable of doing wrong, and more than man? Beware lest thou fall as the apostate Angel, and like one of the princes.

In Commu

Fourthly, offer thyself daily in Holy Offices unto all tribulations, nion resign to receive them from whomsoever and whensoever they come as thyself unto from His hand, and when received refer them day by day unto Him, and pray for them that persecute thee.

God.

Ejaculations.

that I may be

“Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it ?" Amos iii. 6. "I am Christ's wheat, may I be so ground by wild beasts' teeth found at last pure bread." St. Ignatius, Martyr.

"It is good for me that I have been in trouble, that I may learn Thy statutes.” Psalm cxix. 71.

66

I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled." Psalm cxix. 75.

"Thou hast been my succour; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." Psalm xxvii. 11.

IMAGE THE NINTH.

DEATH APPROACHES, LIFE FLIES: O PILGRIM, WHY DOST THOU LOITER?

Consider the Time of thy life (A) how uncertain it is, how short, and swift. This is represented by the person of an Aged man; because at every moment time is being renewed, grows aged, glides away, and dies. Make use of it therefore, as soon about to pass away. The hour-glass (B) denotes its rapid flight, and on this hour and thread of life Eternity depends, into which Death is hurrying men while they think not of it. The emblem which describes eternity among the ancients is the serpent forming a circle; for it hath neither beginning nor end; and this is hanging on the thread of our frail life. And this life in the meanwhile is flying away like the smoke (C), the bubble, the arrow, the ship, the river, the bird, the stag, and the vernal flower. We are cut down like the grass (D), and are extinguished like the candle (E) by the least breath of wind. We must watch therefore, He who is wise will give

for the axe (F) is laid at the root of the Tree. heed to these things and live; and will do every thing at each hour, as if it were the last, as the Angel admonishes him to do (G). And with good cause indeed, for it is to be followed by a blessed or a miserable Eternity (H): which is denoted by the palm-branch and the flaming sword on the circle.