frighten you and prevent your fulfilling the obligations which the Christian religion imposes. ]
“ I do not blush at the Gospel” ( Rom. i. ).
“ Why should you fear, or be ashamed , when armed with the sign of the cross ?” ( St. Austin.)
FIFTEENTH DAY : DIFFIDENCE IN OURSELVES.
1. We have nothing to fear so much as ourselves. Our own weakness is more alarming than the united powers of hell. A thought, a word, a single look, is enough to overcome us. Angels hath rebelled ; Adam hath 'fallen ; Solomon hath bowed have to idols ; Peter hath denied his Master. When cedars yielded , how all osiers stand ?
2. Our own heart is our most dangerous enemy. Our senses and our passions are always conspiring against us ; we are vanquished almost without a struggle. Let us then never be so weak or foolish as to trust to ourselves. Many whom torments could not shake have wretchedly perished in a slight temptation ; they were victorious over tyrants, but vanquished by concupiscence.
3. There is no man , of how exemplary soever a conduct, that should not tremble at the justice of God, because he cannot be certain whether he be worthy of love or hatred. To the all seeing eye of infinite perfection the very angels themselves shall not appear without blemish. Sanctity may be lost in a single moment, the saint may be transformed into an odious reprobate. We should all, therefore, cry out, with St. Philip Neri, "Watch me, O Lord! this day ; for, abandoned to myself, I shall surely betray thee."
[ Beware of the occasions of sin ; the most dangerous are often what cupiscence. you are least afraid of. ]
“ Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. iv. ).
" Though you be in a place of safety, do not on that account think yourself secure” ( St. Bernard ).
SIXTEENTH DAY : USE OF DIVINE GRACE.
1. Whatever grace we have was dearly purchased. Our Saviour gave his blood for it. Wherefore to reject a pious thought,to resist a holy inspiration, is, in fact , to trample on the merits of Christ, and to frustrate, as much as we can, the ends he proposed to himself in dying for us.
2. We are accountable to God , not only for the graces we have received , but also for those he intended to confer on us, provided we ourselves had not put an obstacle to them. His sun shines, but we shut our windows against it. Are we the less in debted to him for its light ? No; for we may, if we please, make use of it.
3. Many years, perhaps, has God been inviting us in vain ; soliciting, reprehending, and threatening us to no manner of purpose. But let us remember that he is a creditor who will not thus be put off, and that the longer our debt is unpaid the more strictly will he require the interest. There is possibly a measure of sins which may force him, at last, to abandon us.
