(Ecclus. vii. 26.) He who keeps before his eyes the eternal truths, death, judgment, eternity, will not fall into sin. God enlightens us by meditations, " They had an eye unto Him, and were lightened." (Ps. xxxiv. 5.) In meditation, He speaks to us and causes us to understand what we ought to fly from, and what we ought to do. " I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." (Hos. ii. 14.) Meditation, then, is that blessed furnace in which is enkindled Divine love. "While I was thus musing, the fire kindled." (Ps. xxxix. 4.) Moreover, as it has been often shown, to be preserved in the grace of God, it is absolutely necessary to " continue instant in prayer," and to ask for the graces which we need. He who does not use mental prayer, hardly prays, and he who does not pray, will certainly be lost.
We ought therefore to use the means of working out our salvation, and of leading a well-regulated life. In the morning, on rising, make the Christian acts of thanksgiving, love, offering, and good resolution with prayer to our Blessed Lord, that He would preserve us for that day from sin. After meditation, go to Holy Communion. Practise some spiritual reading during the day, and in the evening make an examination of conscience. Ask of God always the gift of holy perseverance, and especially in the time of temptations, invoking then more frequently the holy Name of Jesus as long as the temptation lasts. So doing you will certainly be saved, and if you do it not, you will as certainly be lost.
Affections and Prayers.
My dear Redeemer, I thank Thee for the lights which Thou hast given to me, and the means which enable to work out my salvation, and I promise Thee that I will firmly follow them. Give me Thy help, that I may be faithful; I see that Thou wiliest to save me, and I desire to be saved, principally to please Thy heart Thou Who hast so greatly desired my salvation. I do not wish, no, my God, to resist any more the love Thou bearest for me: which made Thee bear with me with so great long suffering whilst I had offended Thee. Thou callest me to
