Ill temper controlled, in order not to pain others.
After failures, to begin again.
In temptations, to withstand them.
ORDER AND METHOD.
In my occupation, each at its appointed hour.
In my recreation.
In all material things, for my benefit.
Shunning scruples and constraint as much as caprice and folly.
NOURISHMENT.
Pious thoughts, read, meditated upon, and sometimes written.
Books that elevate and excite love for all that is good and lovely.
Conversations that refresh, rejoice, and cheer; walks that expand the mind, as well as strengthen the body.
XIII.
THE POWER OF AN ACT OF LOVE TOWARDS G.o.d
Have you ever reflected upon this?
Let us consider the exact words that describe it.
"_I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, because Thou art so good, so infinitely good!_"
Try and repeat these words slowly, so that each may penetrate deep into your heart.
Do you not feel moved, as if your whole being in these words went forth to G.o.d, offering to Him life itself?
Do you not feel, in making this Act of Love, you give far more than if you gave your wealth, influence, or time; nay, rather does not this very act seem to bring you riches, strength, opportunities, all that you possess?
Picture to yourself, standing before you, a child--a child perhaps who may have injured you deeply, and yet whose sincerity at this moment you cannot doubt, who is actuated neither by fear nor self-seeking, but simply by a penitent heart, and who comes to say to you words of love, such as those above, do you feel no emotion, no feeling of pity?
I defy you to be without some emotion, not to feel your arms extending, perhaps in spite of you, to embrace this poor child, and not to answer, "_I also love thee_."
I have yet another test to put to you, poor, desolate, guilty, hopeless as you are, seeing only within and around you, _fears_, _terror_, and--ay, let me say it--_d.a.m.nation_.
I defy you to kneel and say these words (laying a greater stress on them because of the repugnance you feel): "_My G.o.d! I love Thee with all my heart, with all my strength, with all my soul, above everything, because Thou art so good, so infinitely good!_" and then not to feel that JESUS is moved with compa.s.sion, and not to hear His Voice, saying to you, "My child, I love thee also!"
O JESUS, how can we find words in which to express the tenderness awakened in Thine Heart, by a word of love from one of Thy little ones! That Heart, so tender, gentle, sensitive, and loving!
A sentence of Faber"s may sound unnatural to us, so little spiritually minded: he says, "G.o.d sometimes draws us to Him, and fills us with love for Him, not that He may love us, _that_ He always does, but in order to make us _feel_ how He loves us!"
An Act of Love demands but a few moments. The whole of the day, even in the midst of labor, we can multiply it infinitely, and what wonders are wrought by each Act!
JESUS Himself is glorified, and He sheds abundant grace upon the earth.
Our Guardian Angel, beholding us, listens, draws nearer, and makes us feel we have done right.
The Angels above experience a sudden joy, and look upon us tenderly.
Evil spirits feel their power diminished, and there is a moment of rest from the temptation that surrounds us.
The choir of saints above renew their songs of praise.
Each soul on earth feels the peace Divine.
Ah! which of us each day would not renew these Acts of Love to G.o.d!
Ah! all who read these lines, pause for one moment, and from the bottom of your heart exclaim, "My G.o.d, I love Thee! My G.o.d, I love Thee!"
XIV.
BE SERIOUS
A statesman retiring from public life occupied himself in his latter days with serious thoughts.
The friends who came to visit him, reproached him with being melancholy.
"No," he replied; "I am only _serious_. All around me is serious, and I feel the need that heart and mind should be in unison with my surroundings."
"For," he added, with such solemnity as to impress all present, "G.o.d is _serious_ as He watches us. JESUS is _serious_ when He intercedes for us.
The HOLY SPIRIT is _serious_ when He guides us. Satan is _serious_ when he tempts us. The wicked in h.e.l.l are _serious_ now, because they neglected to be so when on earth; all is _serious_ in that world whither we are wending."
Oh, my friends! believe me, it is all true; let us at least at times be _serious_ in our thoughts and in our actions.
XV.
CONSOLATION
You distress yourself sometimes, poor thing! because amongst those who surround you, there are one or two who worry and annoy you. They do not like you, find fault with everything you do, they meet you with a severe countenance and austere manner, you think they do you harm, you look upon them as obstacles to your doing good.
Your life pa.s.ses away saddened and faded, and gradually you become disheartened. Courage! instead of vexing yourself, thank G.o.d; these very persons are the means of preserving you from humiliating faults, perhaps even greater sins.
It is like the blister the doctor applies, to draw out the inflammation that would kill.