January 9

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.—I PETER ii, 20.

Live to do good; but not with thought to win

Reward from man of any kindness done:

Remember Him who suffered for thy sin—

The merciful, the meek rejected One;

When He was slain for crime of doing good,

Canst thou expect return of gratitude?

Do good to all; but while thou servest best,

And at the greatest cost nerve thee to bear

(When thine own heart with anguish is opprest)

The cruel taunt, the cold averted air,

From lips which thou hast taught in hope to pray,

And eyes whose sorrows thou hast wiped away.

Do naught but good; for such the noble strife

Of virtue is 'gainst wrong to venture love,

And for thy foe devote a brother's life,

Content to wait the recompense above;

Brave for the truth, to fiercest insult meek;

In mercy strong—in vengeance only weak.

BETHUNE.

What is doing good? It is imitating God.

PUBLIUS SYRUS.

He is Good that does Good to others. If he suffers for the Good he does, he is better still; and if he suffers from them to whom he did Good, he is arrived to that height of Goodness, that nothing but an increase of his suffering can add to it: if it proves his death, his Virtue is at its summit; it is Heroism complete. LA BRUYERE.