The bed of sickness (after cares and strife) So, stretch'd beneath the juniper's chill shade, Arm'd with the heav'nly panoply 3 of saints. MEDITATIONS ON CHRIST'S DEATH AND PASSION. AN EMBLEM. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him. Isaiah, ch. liii, v. 5. Σίς είμι, ΧΡΙΣΤΕ· σῶσον, ὡς Αυτός θέλεις. Greg. Naz. Carin, lamb. Respice dum transis, quia sis mihi causa doloris HASTE not so fast, on worldly cares employ'd, Thy bleeding Saviour asks a short delay: What trifling bliss is still to be enjoy'd, What change of folly wings thee on thy way? Look back a moment, pause a while 2, and stay. For thee thy God assum'd the human frame; For thee the guiltless pains and anguish try'd; Thy passion (sin excepted) his became : Like thee he suffer'd, hunger, wept, and dy'd. Nor wealth nor plenty did he ever taste, The moss his pillow oft, his couch the ground; The poor man's bread completed his repast; Home he had none, and quiet never found, For fell reproach pursu'd, and aim'd the wound 3: weeping it is a sort of consolation to an afflicted person to be thoroughly sensible of his affliction." St. Ambrose. 29 Elijah. 30 2 Kings, ch. xix., v. 4—8. 31 Eph. ch. vi, v. 14-17.—Panoply (from the Greek), a complete suit of armour. Pope, Dryden. Mr. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, The way wherein thou oughtest to walk; the truth which thou desirest to obtain: and the life of happiness which thou longest to enjoy." St. August. 2 "If you labour for a time, you will afterwards enjoy an eternity of rest. Your sufferings are of a short duration, your joy will last for ever: and if your resolution wavers, and is going to desert you, turn your eyes towards Mount Calvary, and consider what Christ suffered for you, innocent as he was. This consideration will enable you to say in the event, that your sufferings lasted for a moment." Idem. "Through envy proceeded the fall of the St. August. world, and death of Christ." The wise men mock'd him, and the learned scorn'd; Th' ambitious worldling other patrons try'd; For ever mournful, but for ever dear, From this one prospect draw thy sole relief, 7" Great God, thy judgments are with justice crown'd, To human crimes and errours gracious still; "For he (Pilate) knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy." Mark, ch. xv, v. 10. An antient Heathen also hath personified envy, and painted her in a mischievous attitude; - Gnara malorum, Invidia infelix! animi vitalia vidit, 4 Nolo vivere sine vulnere, cum te videam vulneratum. Bonavent. "To know God, without knowing our misery, creates pride: to know misery, without knowing Christ, causes despondence.” St. Augustin. "They make a free-will offering to God, who in the midst of their sufferings preserve their gratitude and acknowledgements." Cassian. 6" God's Holy Spirit worketh in the following manner in his rational children. It instructs, mov and admonishes: as for example; it instructs the reason, moves the will, and admonishes the memory.” St. Gregor. in Moral, 7 Translated from the famous French Ode of M. de Barreaux. Grand Dieu! Tes jugements sont remplis d' équité, &c. Nor can thy goodness counter-work thy will. Thy nature and our lives are everlasting foes! "Severe thy truth, yet glorious is thy scheme; Where shall the flaming flashes of thy ire Transpierce our bodies? Ev'ry nerve and pore With Christ's immaculate blood is cover'd and o'er." "When we praise God we may speak much, and yet come short: Wherefore in sum, he is all. When you glorify him, exalt him as much as you can: for even yet he will far exceed. And when you exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary, for you can never go far enough," Ecclus. ch. xliii, v, 27— 30. |