Day 15

the tie; for if this indissoluble bond symbolises the inseparable union of Jesus Christ with His Church, souls who have entered upon this blessed contract ought to keep their faith with Christ Himself, and never cause divorce between themselves and Him.

With this object, the smallest things that might displease the Heavenly Spouse must be avoided ; for open ruptures are not the only things to be feared in marriage, but the least coldness. Without care, all such tend to divorce ; and hence the smallest negligences should be promptly repaired, lest the delicacy of wedded love should be wounded, and so, being chilled, should soon die out.

Watch then, O Christian soul, over every little thing, for nothing so pleases one who loves as the evident desire to gratify him on all occasions ; whilst, contrariwise, there can be nothing more terrible than that celebrated utterance of the Son of God : c I would that thou wert cold or hot/ If you were one or the other, it might be possible to turn you towards good, and you would be capable of doing some work ; but * because thou art lukewarm,’ and inefficacious, nothing can be done with you — and c I will begin and vomit thee out of my mouth.’ 1 1 Apoc. iii. 15, 16.

Sfyteentb 2>ap W ? are not to swear : Christian simplicity Matt. v. 33-37.

CONSIDER this passage one of the most touching in the whole of Christian teaching, because the Son of God here inculcates the most lovable of all virtues, which is sincerity. The Christian never lies. He says, c That is, that is not ’ $ and this word of his takes the place of all oaths. For instead of swearing either by heaven or by earth, or by the Holy City, or by his head — or in any manner whatever — he is ordered, for sole reply, to say, 1 This is, or is not : — yea or no . 9 Falsehood can find no place in so simple a form of expression ; it allows of no disguise, for it gives the affirmative or negative answer without subterfuge or equivocation. The sincerity of a Christian ought to be so perfect and so taken for granted that his bare word will be believed as if he had taken oaths of many kinds.

‘That which is over and above these 9 (Le. y above the simple ‘yes* or ‘no’) ‘is of evil.’ 1 This is a very strong expression. Whatever we may say beyond simple affirmation or negation has been brought in by hardness of heart, malice, or trickery ; in short, by the devil. Let us therefore return to primitive simplicity, and make ourselves so trustworthy by our sincerity that everyone will trust to our unsupported word.

Do not be so emphatic and positive : — do not exaggerate. ‘Swear not’ means, in part, that we must have that gentleness implied in the promise ‘ blessed are the meek .’ 2 It would not be necessary to do more than simply affirm or deny if hearts were rightly disposed. Do you, for your own parts, remain in this guileless and gentle disposition ; and if you must ever exceed simplicity in your speech, let it only be for the good of those who will not be moved without something stronger.

Renew yourselves ; ‘ quit the old leaven.’ 3 The wicked man is a liar, because it is to his interest to hide or disguise his doings. ‘ Put on the new man’ — Jesus Christ — ‘who according to God is created in justice and holiness and 1 Matt, v. 37. 3 Ibid. v. 5. 3 1 Cor. v. 7.