Christian; for, all Christians, St. Peter writes: "you are a royal priesthood." (i Pet. 29.)
II. Consider more in particular the admirable virtues of this holy precursor. His austerity of life was eminently great, for the Evangelist remarked of him, " John had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey." (Matt. in. 4.) His lodging, without doubt, was consistent with his apparel. His bed must have been the bare ground, and a cave must have been his only defence against the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Reflect how far inferior you are to this great preacher; you who are not content with those conveniences which your condition and state of life afford you.
III. This austerity of life was accompanied with the continued contemplation of heavenly things, in which he spent his life until the thirtieth year of his age. Admire his constancy in so long a warfare; for during the whole of that time he must have had frequent conflicts with the enemy of man's salvation. Ponder his incomparable innocence of life; for he did not commit the least venial sin, as most divines are of opinion. And at the same time that you admire, imitate, as nearly as possible, this excellent model of all virtue.
TUESDAY.
Preaching of John the Baptist.— II.
I. Penance was the constant subject of the Baptist's preaching and discourses. "Do penance," he cried out, " for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. iii. 2.) He exhorts his auditory to penance by proposing to them the hopes of the kingdom of heaven, and then the fear of
