IMAGE THE SEVENTH. BE CAREFUL OF THINE ACTIONS AND REGULATE THEM AS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, TO THE GLORY OF HIS GREAT NAME. Consider what things thou hast to do during this day, and at this very hour (A); and in like manner as if thou wert inning in a race, direct all thy works (B) and all thy steps to the goal, that is to say, to the glory of God, with a burning heart (C). And be assured of this, that without the Grace of God thou art utterly helpless, and canst do nothing (D). Pray therefore for this Grace, and do all thy works as in weight, number, and measure (E), and not otherwise than if Death were following close behind thee (F), and an Angel (G) and an evil spirit (H) were watchfully observing thee by the way, and all thy actions. Moreover do all thy works in such a manner (I) as if thy grave were already being dug for thee (K). Nor this only, but perform all thy actions after the example of Christ and His Saints (L), that they may be such as the Angels (M) may bear and offer before God. But above all things consider always and remember this, that God (N), with all the company of Heaven, is at all times beholding thee. H Exercise ON THE CONSIDERATION OF THINGS TO BE DONE. FOR the place of thy meditation consider thyself in the presence of God, amidst the company of Heaven, to set in order thy life and way for eternity. In what per sists. God to be carefully POINT THE FIRST. CONSIDER Well, that perfection may, yea rather ought, to be gathered from the perfection of single actions, so that he may rightly fection con- be called a perfect man, whose actions are performed with exactness and perfection. See therefore that this be thy endeavour to perfect thine actions day by day, and as we are warned in Deuteronomy, "that which is altogether just shalt thou followa" For from thy works oughtest thou to perceive thy own proficiency. These are as the fruits that denote the increase of virtue within. For neither Talents of is it enough simply to do well, that is, to render some fruit, but we must labour that the seed of God's grace may bring laid out. forth thirty, sixty, and an hundred-fold; that His talents may yield the very greatest usury to the greatest glory of the Divine Majesty, and our own advantage. Think what unworthiness it must be deemed, when thou mightest gather an hundred-fold from the field of thine heart, which God has watered so often with the showers of His grace and of His blood, to yield but a scanty and poor return, that is, to perform thy prayers and thy actions in an imperfect manner. St. Bernard is said to have seen angels, at matins, writing down the prayers of the brotherhood, some in gold, some' in silver, some in water, and passing by others altogether. Consider therefore thy works, and how they may be worthy to be written by angels, and run over in thy thoughts the doings of the whole day. Fruit hundred an fold should be gather ed. POINT THE SECOND. CONSIDER Well, that in every action three things are to be considered; first of all, God; secondly, thyself; thirdly, the thing in hand. First, a Deut. xvi. 20. O man, take end! God. I say, consider God as the end; and to depart and draw back from Whose will would be sin in thee. Therefore, before all heed to thine things, must it be seen, what is the end which He hath ordained in all things, and to the actions of all, and thither, as to some mark, must eye, and foot, and every deed be directed. Secondly, Trust to be remember that God is present with thee, and ever ready to placed in fulfil the desires of them that fear Him. But that thus it may be, and that He may be the first cause and beginning of all thy movements, thou must needs be united and joined to Him; and must attempt nothing except according to His will; else thou canst do nothing to good purpose, for though He may not indeed withhold from thee His concurrence, yet He will His co-operation. Is it not this that the Psalmist teacheth, saying, "Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain b?" Surely he strives in vain to build a tower, who hath not the means wherewith to finish it. Implore therefore His help very humbly, that thou mayst know His purpose, and what He would have thee to pursue, and mayst be enabled to direct thy counsels towards the same. Our cares to In the next place put all thy trust in Him, and lay aside care- be cast on fulness, after the counsel of the Apostle, who saith, “Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer let your requests be made known unto Godd:" as again, another Apostle, "Casting all your care upon Hime." For disquietude hinders God's grace, and our own diligence; and while it lasts, it is a very hard matter, as in a storm, to hold on a straight course; if therefore any such arise, be instant in prayer together with Christ the Lord in the garden, till calm and peace return. Lastly, as I said before, thou must keep watch on thyself, and that because of thyself thou canst do vance. nothing, but dost altogether depend upon God, as much as the sun's rays do upon the sun, the hammer on the workman, the pen upon the writer. So that the Scripture saith not without reason, God worketh all in all. And we are by faith fully assured that in order to salvation none can work at all to any good purpose without God's grace. God. Distrust thywouldst ad self, if thou POINT THE THIRD. presence of God. CONSIDER Well, in what manner the matter before thee is to be done, or how thou mayst be able to perform thine actions with per- The fection, and how certain thou wouldst be to do so, if thou wert always beholding God present as the Judge and Umpire of the combat thou art waging. Secondly, consider the enemy, who keeps watching thee b Psalm cxxvii. 1. c Luke xiv. 28. e 1 Peter v. 7. A quiet spirit tained. in order that he may accuse thee, and thine Angel watching thee in order to note down thy good deeds, which the Lord shall crown hereafter. Thirdly, take heed that thou do thy works in weight and number and measure, that so thou mayst be like unto God. Fourthly, know also that it much conduces to perfection, very often to set the example of Christ and of holy men before thee. Fifthly, to be diligent in maintaining freedom and quietness of spirit; for let a man once lose to be main- that, and he is straightway as one who is out of the orbit of his course, and as a branch which is out of the Vine, and which yet can never be able to bear fruit, except it abide in the Vine. Sixthly, consider well that all things ought to be done as though it were thy last hour, and nothing remained for thee to do in this life, but this one thing thou hast in hand, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. And I would have thee not to consider, or much regard the trouble of this exact mode of doing things; for with this truth thou oughtest to be thoroughly imbued, that the best method of living is that which is to be chosen, and that it is the most certain of all certainties, makes all that by a little practice it will become pleasant. Lastly, consider, what thou must do after the action; for many (which the be done after Holy Spirit particularly warns us to avoid) spoil it in the end, because, after an action is well performed, they somehow attribute the action to themselves and not to God, as the Author of it. This fault be very diligent to avoid, and consider thyself an instrument in the hand of God, or as it were a lantern which He hath put light in, and which light will indeed be shining through thee, yet shining but dimly and faintly on account of thy fault and deficiency. Moreover, carefully observe thy short-comings, that hereafter thou mayst providently avoid the same. Observe that custom things easy. What must an action. Holy Exercise, IN WHICH A PERSON OFFERS UP HIS ACTIONS TO GOD. Let me speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashesɛ, and even as nothing before Thee. Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereofh? Who soweth a field, and gathereth not the harvest of the same? Lo, I am Thy vineyard, O Lord my God, desiring to yield fruit in its season : I am that field and earth which drinketh in the rain, that cometh oft upon it1, often shone upon by the sun of Thy Grace, often watered with Blood, often chastened and cleansed with the hoe of inward warnings; that Thou mightest f Wisdom xi. 20. Gen. xviii. 27. i Heb. vi. 7. cap Holy purpose. self. perceive fruit of me, the calves of my lips, the fruit of my hands. Receive therefore from Thy servant, the son of thine handmaid: receive, O most merciful Father, the savoury meat which,-taught by my mistress and mother the Church, that pure virgin, to whom as in a type Thou hast commended us all from the Cross, as to a mother,-I offer unto Thee, meat such as she knoweth Thou lovest. She hath clothed me with Thy grace, very goodly raiment, that my soul may be accepted before Thee, and its smell be as the smell of a plenteous field, which Thou hast blessed with the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth. For I will suffer nothing to exhale here from the foul sink of my self-love, but in pure and sincere love of so beneficent a Creator, and most bounteous Redeemer, and dearest Spouse of my soul, do I purpose to do all things that I may please Thee. With me now it is a little thing to be judged by men, or of man's day'. For it is not man's day I long for, Thou knowest; but mine eyes are toward Thee, O Thou that dwellest on high. Thou markest all my steps, I know it; the enemy also watcheth them that he may accuse me; mine Angel watcheth them that he may adorn me with Thy glory. I know, O God, I can do nothing, yea, can not so much as will any thing, apart Distrust of from Thee: for without Thee the enemy would hold will my tive, would make me to will mine own pleasure, and thence would weave a chain for me. Therefore will I walk before Thee this day as if it were my last: so will I run, that I may receive the prize, which is Thyself, O my God, the God of my heart, and my All. O how breaketh out my soul for the very fervent desire that it hath alway unto Thy judgments! But most of all hath it longed after Thee in the night of desolation, that in the morning it may wake up unto Thee, and embrace Thee; and daily will I begin, as it were, leaving those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before". But that so I may be able to do, early in the morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land, in the morning unto Thee will I pray; my voice shalt Thou hear betimes in the morning, O Lord, and Thou shalt shew the light of Thy countenance upon me. Thou shalt arise, O Sun of righteousness, in mine heart? say? Thou, the Eternal Word, again as it were made flesh, of Thy infinite condescension at the invocation of Thy priests, shalt to the Comdwell in me; and I shall behold Thy glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and of love beyond all love. But when Thou shalt arise in me, shall not the darkness of my sins be scattered, and wilt Thou not make peace in my borders, and fill me with What do I Application munion. |