you reflect on such divine patience, meekness, and charity, without detesting your fretful, uncharitable conduct towards your fellow-creatures, your irritable and untractable temper? The silence of Jesus is a miracle of meekness: have you imitated it when undeservedly or even justly reproved? The first words of our divine Redeemer on the cross, are a prayer for his executioners: is it thus you return good for evil; or rather, are you not perhaps actually criminal in the eyes of God, by anger, contempt, coolness, or want of charity towards your neighbour? Such is the examination you should make at the foot of the cross; for certain it is that your crucified Lord is the model on which you will finally be judged. The day will come when a crucifix for the last time will be presented to you. To those who have endeavoured to avoid sin, which crucified their Lord, and to imitate the virtues which the cross teaches, the sight of that affecting object, in the last awful ceremony, will be a source of the greatest consolation and confidence. To some, it cannot be otherwise than an anticipated condemnation, it is in your power now to choose either: perhaps on the resolutions which you make in this very meditation, and the fruits of amendment you draw from it, depends your eternal salvation. Resolve, then, generously to make a friend of Him, who will one day be your judge, and henceforward never to look on a crucifix without thinking of your obligation to imitate the virtues of your crucified Lord. O my merciful Redeemer! prostrate in spirit at the foot of thy cross, I thank thee for all thou hast done and suffered for my salvation. I beg of thee, by the efficacy of thy precious blood, to soften the obduracy of my heart, and strengthen my will, that I may faithfully do all that thou requirest.
