men, and thereby assure them of his love. Consider how his soul, merged in a sea of bitter sadness, is about leaving his exhausted, bleeding body. What does thy heart feel at such a sight? Does it not feel itself moved by love and compassion for thy dear Spouse — thy loving Brother, who is dying for love of thee? Wilt thou be harder than the rocks, which, at the death of their Creator, burst asunder, as it were, for pity? Look again, for the last time, O my soul, upon thy Redeemer, alive upon his bed of torment, upon his throne of ignominy, and reflect that this God of infinite majesty is dying for thee, a monster of ingratitude, so guilty, so wicked. Yes, a God dies for thee — dies for the love of thee. Arouse thyself, and come with confidence and love to the throne of his goodness, and sec, in thy dying Saviour, what thy sins have done. Consider what thou hast cost Jesus, and what thou owest him. Thou hast cost the life of a God! Thou owest thy whole self to a God who has so loved thee as to lay down his life for thee. Ah! consecrate thyself speedily to the service and love of thy dying Lord. Tell him and declare to him, that thou never again wilt offend so loving a Father, so good a God.
O Saviour of men, to what extremes has thy love brought thee! Oh, excess of the divine mercy! Oh, infinite greatness of the love of God! And what shall I do, O Saviour, to correspond with so much, such excessive love? I thank thee with my whole soul for having willed to die for me, and save me from the eternal pains of hell. I thank thy loving heart for having loved me so tenderly, and having shed so much blood to blot out my sins, and merit heaven for me. I am sorry for having loved thee so little, my Saviour, up to this, for having corresponded so little, nay, returned injuries for thy goodness. I wish and resolve to love thee with my whole heart.
