and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of His goodness." (Wisdom, ii. 26.) He frequently reproved the Scribes and Pharisees, because their conduct was so opposite to his own. "Wo to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within you are full of extortion and uncleanness." (Matt, xxiii. 25.) Let your conduct be modelled after that of Christ, and avoid the example of these hypocritical Jews.
III. " They shall see God." Such is the reward of the clean of heart. O what a happiness will it be to see God! Labor, therefore, to obtain this purity of heart. The greater it is, the more perfect will be your vision of God, and your essential happiness. Even in this life the knowledge of God, and of Divine things increases in proportion to the purity of our hearts. On the contrary, "Wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body that is subject to sin," (Wis. i. 4), and " the holy spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful."
WEDNESDAY.
The Seventh Beatitude.
I. " Blessed are the peace-makers." (Matt. v. 8.) The character of a Christian requires, that he make, in the first place, domestic peace, that is, that he subject the flesh to the spirit, and the sensual appetite to reason. He is bound to keep peace also with others, to give no one occasion for complaining against him, and to excite no angry thoughts in others. He is obliged, besides, to do what he can to reconcile those who are at variance with one another. But the most perfect act of this virtue is to reconcile sinners to their offended Creator.
