found like that of Jesus Christ " conformed to the image of His Son." (Rom. viii. 29.) On the one hand, we must labour to avoid every occasion of sin; on the other, we must avail ourselves of the means necessary to obtain salvation. S. Bernard says, " The kingdom will not be given to the idle, but to those who are labouring willingly for the cause of God." Every one would wish to save himself without trouble. Great truth! S. Augustine says, that the devil so labours, and sleeps not, in the work of thy destruction, whilst thou art altogether careless in the matter of thy eternal weal or woe; " The enemy watches, and do you sleep?"
Affections and Prayers.
O my God, I thank Thee that at this time Thou allowest me to be at Thy feet and not in that hell which I have so often deserved. But what would avail me this life, which Thou art preserving to me, if I should continue to live deprived of Thy grace? Ah, may this never be my case! O my Chief Good, I have turned away from Thee. I have lost Thee this now grieves me with all my heart: I would rather have died. I have lost Thee, but Thy Prophet makes me believe that Thou art all Goodness, and to be found of the soul that seeks Thee. " The Lord is good .... to the soul that seeketh Him." (Lam. iii. 25.) If, O King of my soul, if I have fled from Thee in the time past, now I seek Thee, and none beside Thee. With my every affection I love Thee. Accept me, do not disdain to make Thyself beloved by that heart that once despised Thee. " Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee;" (Ps. cxliii. 10,) and that I may follow Thy entire will. Alas! my Jesus, save this soul, on behalf of which Thou hast poured out Thy Blood and Thy Life; and save me by giving me grace to love Thee, in this life and the next! I hope for this through Thy merits.
Third Point.
Salvation is the important, only, and irreparable " business." Eusebius says that " it is manifestly beyond every error to neglect the business of eternal salvation;" for there is no error like it in
