haughty, selfish and tyrannical, we cannot fail to make these characteristics our own. If we think of Him as acting from a selfish love of glory, we shall feel that we most closely resemble Him when we are acting from a similar love; and so the love of glory will become the ruling principle in us. But if, on the contrary, we conceive the Object of our adoration to be noble, generous and unselfish in his nature, then shall we, through the plastic power of such conception, grow to be noble, generous and unselfish in ours. If we conceive Him to be supremely tender, compassionate, wise and good—supremely patient, loving and forgiving—then will these same graces gradually become more and more our own.
Common observation and universal experience justify these conclusions. We are naturally inclined to imitate those to whom we look up with a feeling of respect and veneration. We fall unconsciously into their habits of thought, feeling, speech and action. We adopt their sentiments; we assume their tones; we imitate their manners; we often copy their follies and weaknesses—sometimes even their vices. The love and veneration we feel for them blind us to their faults and foibles, or give to these an air of comeliness, and create in us a desire to be like them; and this desire is perpetually stimulating our growth in that direction.
