June 9
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeThird Sunday after Easter
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. I S. PETER ii. 11.
THERE is the warning against the lust of the flesh. A warning to remind us how most of the sins which infect the soul have their origin in the body; how from little beginnings, little self-indulgences, the temptation goes on to deeper and deeper sins, till at length it brings them within the net of that fearful seventh commandment, whereby such infinite multitudes will be condemned in the last day. The greater part of the wars that the soul has to sustain are carried on against the body, and when, therefore, that has been thoroughly brought under—which will not be till the next world—her warfare is accomplished. Follow Christ, the remedy and warning against the pride of life. What cloak is that which we are to cast about us, but the putting on our Lord Jesus Christ? first in baptism, afterwards as often as, renouncing every trust and confidence in ourselves, we unite our own poor works with the actions and sufferings of our Lord, and so look to them, and not to ourselves, for salvation; following, in this, all the Saints in their several courses, trying to discover no new way for ourselves, but keeping to the King's highway, and turning neither to the right hand nor to the left.
The faith sown by His Martyrs' blood, Which through all lands shall spread abroad.
O Lord, the power baptismal give With Thee to die, with Thee to live, To tread on earthly things and love The better things that are above.
L