CHAPTER IV.
Rosaries and Exercises,
In Verse,
ON THE LIFE AND PASSION OF CHRIST.
ADMONITION ON THE END AND USE OF THE FOLLOWING ROSARY.
The character of a Christian appears, not from his name, hut from his life. Glorious indeed is the profession of that name; but it will he of no avail to eternal glory, unless there he holiness of life to correspond with a name so holy.
The life of Christ, moreover, should he our rule to live by. But now there are many who take the name of Christians, hut are little careful to lead a life worthy of that name; and yet they presumptuously hope that they shall he partakers in Christ's glory, though they make no effort to be his followers in his life or on the way. Oh, how many, who in name only are Christians, are deluded by this hope, or rather preemption! who are either so indolent, or so ignorant, as not to know that a name so holy should he the spur to a more holy life, and that we should wish rather to be, than to be called, Christians.
What is to he done? Behold, our mirror is the life of Christ. Look upon it, O Christian! and compare with it thy own; and because what is straight is the rule both of itself and of what is crooked, observe in it its great beauty and its different virtues, and the stains and vices in thy own, that are, however, the easier to be washed out, the more diligently thou consultest thy spotless mirror.
Keep, then, thy eyes ever fixed upon it, and meditate day and night upon the life of Christ, that thou may est learn the faults of thy own life and the virtues of Christs, and conceive hatred for the one, and love, with longing desire, to imitate it, for the other. For meditation produces knowledge, enlightens the understanding, excites the affection, and inflames the will. But of that which is unknown there is no desire; what wonder, then, if Christ has but few to imitate him?
