Page:MeditationsOnTheMysteriesOfOurHolyV1.djvu/301

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my infinite benefactor, upon whom depends all my good, both temporal and eternal. And this reason only shall suffice to move me to love a law given by such a Father, and to be infinitely sorry for having broken it

v. The fifth motive is, that the lawmaker Himself, becoming man, put it in the midst of His heart, and came to fulfil it entirely, without omitting any jot or tittle, to move me, by His example, to its perfect accomplishment

vi. The sixth is, the fidelity of the law to those that observe it; and the experience that I myself have of the great good I shall get by observing it, feeling great peace and serenity of conscience, and great alacrity and confidence in Almighty God. And, on the other hand, of the great evil that befalls me when I break it, having my heart broken with sins, excessive fears, remorse of conscience, and many other miseries.

vii. And, finally, because at the hour of death nothing will more torment me than to have broken the law of Almighty God, nor anything more content me than to have observed it; since upon this depends my damnation or salvation. Upon this I will conclude, as Ecclesiastes [1] concluded his book, saying, " Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is all man;" that is to say, in this consists the whole being of man, and the accomplishment of the obligations of the whole man; and whosoever fails in this fails in the integrity and perfection of a man, and acts like a beast.

  1. Eccles. xii. 13.