ing rich He became poor for your sake." (2 Cor. viii. 9.) He was almost deprived of the necessaries of life, and among those things which he used he always chose the meanest and the worst. His dwelling was a stable, a manger was His bed, a poor virgin was His mother, and His reputed father was a needy carpenter. Reverence and imitate His example, "that through His poverty ye may be rich." (2 Cor. viii. 9.)
4. His practice of obedience was most perfect. " He humbled Himself, becoming obedient, unto death. " (Phil. ii. 8.) His birth at Bethlehem was an actual exercise of obedience to the imperial edict of Caesar. He was obedient to the laws of circumcision and presentation, although He was not bound by them, and in " all things was subject to His parents." (Luke ii. 51.)
5. His patience was divinely heroic. Although by the right of His divine nature He was impassible, and by His innocence undeserving of punishment; He suffered, however, in His tenderest years all the inconveniences of cold, hunger, infirmity, and want; the pains of circumcision, the hardships of travelling, and the miseries of banishment. Since He was born with the use of reason, He was infinitely more sensible of these hardships than other children are.
6. His love of God, and charity towards His neighbor, were infinite. He directed all His sufferings to the glory of the former and the advantage of the latter. His tears and blood were shed, at His circumcision, to atone for our sins. He assumed to Himself our infirmities and miseries, not by constraint, but by His own choice, to satisfy for them, and to give us examples of every virtue. Return Him, therefore, love for love. Learn to contemn the world, to be humble and obedient. Suffer want and hardships with patience; and in fine, in all these seek the
