grace. They do not say, " What is that to us? look thou to it," but charitably try to relieve and comfort him. They are tender and compassionate to all, and they can say of themselves with the Apostle, " I became all things to all men, that I might save all." (i Cor. ix. 22.) These are objects of your imitation.
III. Judas " departed, and went and hanged himself with a halter." (Matt, xxvii. 5.) Observe how one sin is the punishment of another, despair of treachery. God often permits a sinner to fall a second time, in punishment of his first offence, as a caution to avoid all sin. Mark, also, the subtlety of the devil, who first provokes to sin; and then, having succeeded in gaining his object, takes away all prospect of pardon.. Observe, also, the mad and desperate resolutions of a troubled conscience. The Wise Man had reason to say, " A troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things." (Wis. xvii. 10.) From the ruin of an Apostle, learn not to trust your own virtue; " wherefore, let him who thinketh himself to stand, take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. x. 12.)
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.
Christ the Guardian of your Soul.
" I have sinned; what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men?" (Job vii. 20.)
I. " When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things which he possesseth are in peace." (Luke xi. 21.) Conceive your soul to be this court, which Christ our Lord, who is both strong and armed, desires to guard, in order that her possessions may be in peace. No being is more powerful than this champion of ours: "the Lord is strong and mighty, the Lord is mighty in battle." (Ps. xxiii. 8.) No keeper can be more vigilant than He is.
