April 7

First Sunday in Lent

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. S. Matthew 4:1.

THE Apostle doth fitly style our Lord Jesus the Captain, or Leader, of our salvation. He marches, leads all the way, puts on us nothing that He hath not first encountered. Let this be our comfort, that we be not dismayed, we shall meet temptations. Christ went before us in this conflict, and overcame before us and for us; and we likewise, in His strength, shall overcome. Then — when? Look backward. Then — presently after He was baptized, and not simply by the water of Jordan, but by the Spirit from heaven, and was singularly replenished, full of the Holy Ghost. Thus shalt thou be sure to be assaulted when thou hast received the greatest enlargements from heaven, either at the blessed Sacrament or in prayer, or in any other way; then look for an onset. This arch-pirate lets the empty ships pass, but lays wait for them when they return richest laden.

My blessed Redeemer and my Lord, I read my duty in Thy Word; But in Thy life the law appears, Drawn out in living characters.

What truth and love Thy bosom fill! What zeal to do Thy Father's will! Such zeal, and truth, and love Divine, I would transcribe, and make them mine.

Cold mountains, and the midnight air, Witnessed the fervour of Thy prayer; The desert Thy temptations knew, Thy conflict and Thy vict'ry too.

Be Thou my pattern; make me bear More of Thy gracious image here; Then God, the Judge, shall own my name Among the followers of the Lamb.