the good, and take care that others may profit by your company and conversation.
III. Consider the inspired words of Scripture: " The ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom, the Gethite, three months; and the Lord blessed Obededom and all his household. (2 Kings vi. 11.) How much more may we suppose did He bless the house of Zachary, in which the living ark of the Lord and the mother of God dwelt so long. The same blessings will be received by you when He visits you in the holy sacrament if you give Him a proper reception.
FRIDAY.
Nativity of John the Baptist.— I.
I. The parents of the Baptist were pronounced by the Evangelist to be "both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame." (Luke i. 6.) Here strengthen your faith on the important dogma that it is possible to observe all the commandments of God ; for Zachary and Elizabeth observed them. It is possible, too, to observe the counsels; for they walked in all the justifications of the Lord without blame. Aim at the perfection of your calling, and be just in the sight of God and blameless in your conversation with men.
II. God honored the birth of His precursor. 1. By sending the same angel to announce his birth that was employed in announcing the birth of His own Son. 2. The manner in which his birth was announced was more solemn than that by which the Redeemer was made known ; for his birth was announced to the high priest in the temple at the time of public sacrifice, when all the people were filled with wonder and expectation. 3. The
