themselves. For these transfix the heart, the very soul, of Jesus, with the most intense pangs of agony. The thoughts of vanity, of self-conceit, of pride, of impurity, which have so often been formed and encouraged in thy mind, were the cruel tormentors of the head of thy Jesus. Ah! my heart, weep for grief, and pour out a torrent of tears for thy sins; weep also with compassion and love for thy Saviour, who has paid so dearly for thy misdeeds. But, O! never return to those abominable thoughts, which are so many additional thorns in Jesus' crown, and pierce anew his loving heart.
FIFTH REFLECTION.
Jesus takes up his Cross and goes to Calvary.
The unjust sentence of death is scarcely pronounced by the wicked judge against our innocent Saviour, when his enemies show the utmost eagerness to carry it into execution. Having put together in a short time a large and heavy cross, they presented it to the suffering and almost expiring Jesus as the instrument of his ignominious passion. Meditate, my soul, with what thoughts our Saviour looks on, and with what feelings he embraces this painful gibbet. Enter into the heart of Jesus, and see what thanks he offers his divine Father for having prepared for him a throne upon which, satiated with ignominies, he can extinguish the ardent thirst he has of suffering and dying for men. Observe with what love, with what zeal, he stretches forth his hands to embrace his beloved cross; he presses it, he kisses it, places it on his bleeding shoulders, that thereby he may convince us of the exquisite perfection of his love for us. What dost thou say, my soul, at the sight of a love so strong, so generous? Thou vexest thyself at the slightest inconvenience. Thou shrinkest from, and
