actions directed to him? Ah , how little do I do that may be called truly done for God! What does all the business of this world avail me , if I forget the only affair for which I am come into it?
(Make here a firm resolution of seeking God alone, and of depriving him of nothing which he has a right to.)
“Thou art my Lord and my God ” ( John xx. ).
“He requires you entirely, who hath made you entirely ” ( St. Austin ).
THIRD DAY: CONTEMPT OF THE WORLD.
1. From the moment we are attached to the world we cease, in some measure, to be Christians. This profane world, so passionately fond of grandeur, of pleasure, of every thing that can flatter self-love, is the capital enemy of Jesus Christ; their maxims, their commandments, their interests are quite opposite; they cannot be obeyed at once; we must break off with one or the other.
2. We cannot take part with the world without a breach of the promise we made at our baptism. When we renounced Satan and his pomps, we bound ourselves by solemn oaths to trample under foot whatever is greatest in the esteem of worldlings. What perfidy! What sacrilege! to prefer the goods of the earth to those of heaven, and to become idolators of vanity.
3. The world has nothing worthy of an immortal soul; it has not even wherewithal to requite even its most devoted servants. Its treasures, its amusements, its honours, may indeed occupy and disturb the heart of man, but they can never satisfy ii. They are, in reality, but false gods, vain shadows, and illusions; or, to speak more properly, real evils. They make a man wicked --they can never make him happy. The most brilliant fortune is not only frail and dangerous, but is often a source of the most painful uneasiness. There are sighs and sufferings upon the Throne, as well as in chains and dungeons.
[ Beg of God to destroy in you the 'spirit of the world', and to give you strength to despise its allurements.]
“ The figure of the world passeth away" ( 1 Cor. vii. ).
“ Woe to those who adhere to what is transitory; because with those things they themselves must pass away."
FOURTH DAY: UPON DEATH.
1. A Christian who does not lead the life of a Christian, has great reason to be afraid of death. What a dreadful account must he give, after a worldly and sensual life. What bitter regret to have lost the opportunities of saving himself, and to die an enemy of God. O, dismal death! O, dreadful moment! which concludes the pleasures of time, to begin the pains of eternity.
2. What would we wish to have done at the hour of death! Let us do at presentwhat we would then be glad to have done. There is no time to lose: every moment may be the last of our lives. The longer we have lived, the nearer we approach to the grave. Our death is not less distant the more it has been put off.
