Part 17 (1/2)

What an unspeakable privilege to unbosom one's trials and difficulties into the ear of a faithful servant of G.o.d. But ought we not to thank the Father of Light that the throne of grace has been erected, and we are kindly invited to come boldly into His immediate presence, through the rent veil of our Redeemer's flesh, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in every time of need?

Consider the change from comfort in the country to circ.u.mstances of cheerlessness in the city. Many make a sad mistake in leaving their country home to come to the city to be crowded in a tenement-house.

Drawn thither, perhaps, by the glare and din and bustle, to mingle in the sin and sorrow. She described the woman as weeping sorely. ”Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” What an inexpressible comfort to those who feel their loneliness in the city, then Jesus wept and said that he was friendless and homeless. ”He hath trodden the wine-press alone, of the people there was none with him.”

Poverty and hunger is a great temptation to a woman in the city. How comforting to know that Christ was tempted in this respect. For we read in G.o.d's divinely inspired word:

”Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he Had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. And the tempter came and said unto him: If thou art the son of G.o.d, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of G.o.d. Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of G.o.d, cast thyself down: for it is written,

”He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: And on their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

”Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy G.o.d.”--Matt. iv. 68.

To such weary ones we would say, remember the words of the blessed Jesus: ”Let not your hearts be troubled,” etc., for

I have read of a land whose inhabitants say ”I am sick, I am weary,” no more, And I pine, 'mid the burdens and heat of the day, For a glimpse of that life-giving sh.o.r.e.

Eye hath not seen it, and ear hath not heard, Yet all my spirit with longing is stirred; Oh, glory exceeding my heart's utmost pleading!

Eternal, eternal the weight of thy bliss!

_On Resisting Temptation._--Thomas A. Kempis says: So long as we live in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation.

Hence it is written in Job, ”The life of man upon earth is a life of temptation.”

Every one therefore ought to be careful about his temptations, and to watch in prayer, lest the devil find an advantage to deceive him; for he never sleepeth, but goeth about, seeking whom he may devour.

No man is so perfect and holy, but he hath sometimes temptations, and we cannot be altogether without them.

Nevertheless temptations are often very profitable to us, though they be troublesome and grievous; for in them a man is humbled, purified, and instructed.

All the Saints pa.s.sed through man's tribulations and temptations, and profited thereby.

And they that could not bear temptations, became reprobate, and fell away.

There is no order so holy, nor place so secret, as that there be not temptations, or adversities in it.

There is no man that is altogether free from temptations whilst he liveth on earth: for the root thereof is in ourselves, who are born with inclination to evil.

When one temptation or tribulation goeth away, another cometh; and we shall ever have something to suffer, because we are fallen from the state of our felicity.

Many seek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them.

By flight alone we cannot overcome, but by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies.

He that only avoideth them outwardly, and doth not pluck them up by the roots, shall profit little; yea, temptations will the sooner return unto him, and will be more violent than before.

By little and little, and by the very beginning, unlearn evil habits, lest perhaps by little and little they draw thee to greater difficulty.

Oh! if thou didst but consider how much inward peace unto thyself, and joy unto others, thou wouldst procure by demeaning thyself well, I think that thou wouldst be more careful of thy spiritual progress.

_Of the Profit of Adversity._--It is good that we have sometimes some troubles and crosses; for they often make a man enter into himself, and consider that he is here in banishment, and ought not to place his trust in any worldly thing.

It is good that we be sometimes contradicted, and that men think ill or inadequately; and this, although we do and intend well.