He says, in the Apocalypse, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man shall hear my voice and open to me the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him,, and he with me." (Apoc. iii. 20.) Consider the greatness of the favor; reflect who you are, and who He is.
II. Consider what is said in the gospel of this day : " Prepare ye the ways of the Lord, make straight His paths." (Luke iii. 4.) You must prepare your heart to entertain so great a guest. Your guest is content even with what is mean, provided it be pure; hence he would take flesh in the purest womb of the Virgin, be laid in a new sepulchre, and wrapt in a clean winding-sheet. He is highly pleased with humility, and as much offended with pride and self-conceit. If there be a "valley" of imperfection in your soul you must fill it up, as is said in the gospel of to-day, if there be a " hill" of pride you must level it. Meet your guest, then, with acts of adoration and humility, and say, from the bottom of your soul, " Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof." (Luke vii. 6.)
III. With what pomp, kindness and hearty welcome the Saints in the Scripture received their guests! Abraham, the three angels (Gen. xviii. 3); the Sunamite woman, the prophet Eliseus (4. King. iv. 8); Martha, Christ Himself. (Luke x. 38.) Imitate their holy example, and present your whole heart undivided to your guest. This is all that He requires. " My Son," He says, " give me thy heart." (Prov. xxiii. 26.) He will not receive this heart, if it be either divided by self-love or a prey to inordinate affection or undue propensities.
