10

the fall of his enemies. other: lest thou repent and Eci 16, 1-5 Rejoice not in ungodly thou entreat for the same.— children, if they be multi-As long as thou livest, and plied neither be delighted hast breath in thee, let no in them, if the fear of God man change thee.-For it is be not with them.· Trust better that thy children not to their life, and respect should ask of thee, than that not their labours.-For bet- thou look toward the hands ter is one that feareth God of thy children. than a thousand ungodly The children of sinners Eci 41, 8children. And it is better to become children of abominadie without children than to tions, and they that converse leave ungodly children.-By near the houses of the unone that is wise a country godly. The inheritance of shall be inhabited, the tribe the children of sinners shall of the ungodly shall become perish, and with their posdesolate. terity shall be a perpetual Eci 33, 20- Give not to son or wife, reproach.-The children will brother or friend, power over complain of an ungodly thee while thou livest, and father, because for his sake give not thy estate to an- they are in reproach,

22

Ma1,8,

14

Mt 8, 2122

Mt 12, 4750

35.-LOVE OF GOD TO BE PREFERRED TO LOVE OF
PARENTS OR CHILDREN.

If you offer the blind for ing Thee.-But He answersacrifice, is it not evil? and ing him that told Him, said: if you offer the lame and the Who is My Mother, and who sick, is it not evil? Offer it are My brethren? And to thy prince, if he will be stretching forth His hands pleased with it, or if he will towards His disciples, He regard thy face, saith the said: Behold My Mother and Lord of Hosts. Cursed is My brethren. For whoso-the deceitful man, that hath ever shall do the will of My in his flock a male, and mak- Father that is in Heaven, he ing a vow offereth in sacrifice is My brother, and sister, and that which is feeble to the Mother.

49

Lord: for I am a great King, His Mother said to Him: Lu 2, 48-
saith the Lord of Hosts, and Son, why hast Thou done so
My Name is dreadful among to us? behold, Thy father
the Gentiles.
and I have sought Thee sor-

Another of His disciples rowing. And He said to
said to Him: Lord, suffer them: How is it that you
me first to go and bury my sought Me? Did you not
father. But Jesus said to know that I must be about
him Follow Me, and let the My Father's business ?
dead bury their dead.
To Levi also Moses said:
One said unto Him: Be-Thy perfection and thy doc-
hold, Thy Mother and Thy trine be to thy holy man
brethren stand without, seek- whom thou hast proved in

Dt 33, 9

Ps 44, 11

the temptation, and judged Go forth out of thy coun-
at the waters of contradic-try, and from thy kindred,
tion:-Who hath said to his and out of thy father's
father and to his mother: house, and come into the
I do not know you; and to land which I shall show thee:
his brethren: I know you and I will make of thee a
not: and their own children great nation, and I will bless
they have not known. These thee, and magnify thy name,
have kept Thy word and ob- and thou shalt be blessed.
served Thy covenant.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear, and forget thy people and thy father's house.

Ge 12, 1-2 The Lord said to Abram :

31

If any man come to Me, Lu 14, 26 and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

36. WE SHOULD CHOOSE OUR STATE OF LIFE

SERIOUSLY, AND LIVE UP TO IT.

that leaveth his place.

30

Eci 37, 30- My son, prove thy soul in from her nest, so is a man thy life and if it be wicked, give it no power:- - For all Which of you having a Lu 14, 28things are not expedient for mind to build a tower doth all, and every kind pleaseth not first sit down and reckon not every soul. the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it? - Lest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to fin

1 C 7, 20

Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.

Eci 11, 21- Be steadfast in thy coven

22

Ap 3, 11

Fv 27, 8

[s 60, 2122

ant, and be conversant there-ish it, all that see begin to
in, and grow old in the work mock him, - Saying: This
of thy commandments.- man began to build, and was
Abide not in the works of not able to finish.

sinners. But trust in God, This is my rest for ever Ps 131,14
and stay in thy place. and ever: here will I dwell,
Behold, I come quickly: for I have chosen it.

hold fast that which thou Simon Peter answered Jn 6, 69
hast, that no man take thy Him: Lord, to whom shall
we go? Thou hast the words

crown.

As a bird that wandereth of Eternal Life.

37.-PRAISES OF RELIGION AND OF THOSE WHO

PRACTISE IT.

Thy people shall be all sand, and a little one a most just, they shall inherit the strong nation: I the Lord land for ever, the branch will suddenly do this thing of My planting, the work of in its time.

My hand to glorify Me.-The This is the generation of Ps 23, 6 least shall become a thou- them that seek Him. of them

Eci 3, 1

Is 61, 9

Je 31, 7

Is 12, 1

Ep 1, 3

that seek the Face of the Lord, for Thou wast angry
God of Jacob.
with me: Thy wrath is turned
The sons of wisdom are away, and Thou hast com-
the Church of the just and forted me.
their generation obedience Hell shall not confess to Is 38, 18-
Thee.-The living, the living,

and love.

All that shall see them he shall give praise to thee shall know them, that these as I do this day.

19

are the seed which the Lord They lifted up their voice Ac 4, 24
hath blessed.
to God with one accord, and

Rejoice ye in the joy of said: Lord, Thou art He that
Jacob, and neigh before the didst make Heaven and
head of the Gentiles: shout earth, the sea and all things
ye, and sing, and say: Save, that are in them.

O Lord, Thy people, the rem- Give praise to our God, all Ap 19, 5
nant of Israel.
ye His servants: and you

Thou shalt say in that day: that fear Him, little and
I will give thanks to Thee, O great.

38.-BLESSING OF A DIVINE VOCATION.

Blessed be the God and tles and Prophets, Jesus
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself being the
Christ, Who hath blessed us chief Corner-stone.

10

with spiritual blessings in You are a chosen genera- 1 Pt 2,9heavenly places, in Christ. tion, a kingly priesthood, a Ep 2, 10-13 We are His workmanship: holy nation, a purchased -For which cause be mind- people: that you may deful that you being heretofore clare His virtues, Who hath Gentiles in the flesh who called you out of darkness are called uncircumcision by into His marvellous light.— that which is called circum- Who in time past were not cision in the flesh made by a people: but are now the hands,-That you were at people of God. Who had that time without Christ, be- not obtained mercy: but now ing aliens from the conver- have obtained mercy.

sation of Israel, and strang- God is faithful: by Whom 1 C 1,9 ers to the testament, having you are called unto the fel

no hope of the promise, and lowship of His Son, Jesus

without God in this world.-Christ our Lord.

But now in Christ Jesus, Give thanks to God the CI 1,12-13
you, who sometime were afar Father, Who hath made us
off, are made nigh by the worthy to be partakers of
Blood of Christ.
the lot of the saints in light:
more-Who hath delivered us
strangers and foreigners: from the power of darkness,
but you are fellow-citizens and hath translated us into
with the saints, and the do- the Kingdom of the Son of
mestics of God:-Built upon His love.

Ep 2, 19-20 Now you are no

the foundation of the Apos- If you will hear My voice, Ex 19, 5

Dt 32, 9

Ps 15, 5-6

and keep My covenant, you the way of a city for their
shall be My peculiar pos- habitation.
session above all people: for
all the earth is Mine.

The Lord's portion is His people: Jacob the lot of His inheritance.

He found him in a desert Dt 32, 10 land, in a place of horror and of vast wilderness: He led him about, and taught him: and He kept him as The Lord is the portion of the apple of His Eye. my inheritance and of my cup: He gave them the lands of it is Thou that wilt restore the Gentiles, and they posmy inheritance to me.-The sessed the labours of the peolines are fallen unto me in ple:-That they might obgoodly places, for my inherit- serve His justifications, and ance is goodly to me. seek after His law.

Ps 104, 44-45

Ps 106, 1-4 Give glory to the Lord, for I gave you a land in Js 24, 13 He is good, for His mercy which you had not laboured, endureth for ever.- Let and cities to dwell in which them say so that have been you built not, vineyards and redeemed by the Lord, whom olive-yards which you plantHe hath gathered from the ed not.

Mt 16, 24

Ja 1, 26

Ps 83, 5

Ep 4, 1-2

hand of the enemy, and In this is the saying true: Jn4,37-38
gathered out of the coun- that it is one man that sow-
tries: From the rising and eth, and it is another that
from the setting of the sun, reapeth.-I have sent you to
from the north and from the reap that in which you did
sea. They wandered in a not labour: others have la-
wilderness, in a place with-boured, and you have entered
out water: they found not into their labours.

39.-OFFICES AND DUTIES OF A RELIGIOUS LIFE
TO BE HIGHLY ESTEEMED.

If any man will come after ever and ever.

Me, let him deny himself, and Blessed are Thy men, and 3 K10, 8
take up his cross and follow blessed are Thy servants,
who stand before Thee al-

Me.

If any man think himself ways, and hear Thy wis-
to be religious, not bridling dom.
his tongue, but deceiving his Better is one day in Thy Ps 83, 11
own heart, this man's reli- Courts above thousands: I
gion is vain.
have chosen to be an abject
Blessed are they that in the House of my God, ra-
dwell in Thy House, O Lord: ther than to dwell in the
they shall praise Thee for tabernacles of sinners.

40.-MEN SHOULD LIVE WORTHILY OF THEIR
VOCATION.

I a prisoner in the Lord worthy of the vocation in
beseech you that you walk which you are called. With

all humility and mildness, have appointed you, that with patience, supporting you should go, and should one another in charity. bring forth fruit and your Eci 39, 17- Hear me, ye divine off- fruit should remain.

19

Jn 15, 16

Je 2, 2, 5

Je 2, 21

La 1,6

La 4, 1-2

La 4, 5

spring, and bud forth as the Remember thy father and Eci 23, 18
rose planted by the brooks of thy mother, for thou sittest
waters. -Give ye a sweet in the midst of great men.
odour as frankincense. Look unto the rock whence Is 51, 1-2
Send forth flowers as the you are hewn, and to the
lily, and yield a smell, and hole of the pit from which
bring forth leaves in grace, you are dug out.--Look unto
and praise with canticles, Abraham your father, and to
and bless the Lord in His Sara that bore you: for I
works.
called him alone, and blessed
I have chosen you: and him, and multiplied him.

41.-DEGENERACY OF THESE LATTER DAYS.

were

I have remembered thee, cately have died in the
pitying thy youth, and the streets: they that
love of thy espousals, when brought up in scarlet have
thou followedst Me in the embraced the dung.

desert, in a land that is not What is the meaning that Je 11, 15
sown. What iniquity have My beloved hath wrought
your fathers found in Me? much wickedness in My
I planted thee a chosen House? Shall the Holy
vineyard, all true seed: how Flesh take away from thee
then art thou turned unto thy crimes, in which thou
Me into that which is good hast boasted?

for nothing,

strange vine- I have seen a horrible thing Os 6, 10 in the House of Israel: the

of Ephraim

yard ?
From the daughter of Sion fornications
all her beauty is departed: there: Israel is defiled.
her princes are become like Shall not that which by Ro 2, 27-
rams that find no pastures: nature is uncircumcision, if
and they are gone away with- it fulfil the law, judge thee
out strength before the face who by the letter and cir-
of the pursuer.
cumcision art a transgressor

How is the gold become of the law?-For it is not
dim, the finest colour is he is a Jew that is so out-
changed, the stones of the wardly: nor is that circum-
Sanctuary are scattered in cision which is outward in
the top of every street?- the flesh.-But he is a Jew
The noble ons of Sion, and that is one inwardly; and
they that were clothed with the circumcision is that of
the best gold, how are they the heart, in the spirit, not
esteemed as earthen vessels, in the letter: whose praise is
the work of the potter's not of men, but of God.
hands?

29

Be watchful and strengthen Ap 3, 2-3 They that were fed deli- the things that remain, which