And wherefore has He done this? That we should live no longer to the world, but to that Lord alone that willed to die for us. " He died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him Which died for them." (2 Cor. v. 15.) He has done this, that by the love which He has shown for us, He may gain every affection of our hearts. " To this end Christ both died and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living." (Rom. xiv. 9.) Hence the saints, considering the death of Jesus Christ, have thought that it was little to do, to give life and all things for the love of a God so loving. How many nobles and princes have left parents, riches, country, and even kingdoms, to seclude themselves in the cloister, and to live for the love of Jesus Christ alone I How many martyrs have sacrificed their lives! How many virgins, renouncing splendid nuptials, have gone rejoicing to death, so to render some recompence of affection to the God who died for their sakes! And you, my brother! what have you done yet for the love of Jesus Christ? As He died for the saints, so He died even for you. What, at least, do you think of doing with the remainder of your life, which God grants to you, that you may love Him? Henceforth, look intently at and often upon, your crucified Lord; and beholding Him, recall the love that He had borne for you, and say to yourself, Then, hast Thou my God died for me? Do this at least often, still so doing, that you may be unable to do less than to feel yourself sweetly constrained to love a God Who has so greatly loved you.
Affections and Prayers.
O my Redeemer, it is true that I have not loved Thee, because I have not considered Thy love to me. Ah, my Jesus, I have been very ungrateful; Thou hast given Thy life for a death the most bitter of all, and I have been so forgetful, that I have not willingly thought about it. Pardon me, and I promise that henceforth, my crucified Love, Thou shalt be the one object of my thoughts, and of all my affections. Also, when the devil and the world shall offer me some forbidden fruit, recall Thyself to me, my loved Saviour the pains which
