Day 38

Consider well, O Christian, what a state you bring yourself to by sin ! God, who had made you in His own image, and had placed your soul — renewed by His grace — amongst the number of His Spouses, now ranks you with 4 dogs and swine.’ Take pity on your own condition, and try to escape from it : — having recourse to prayer, of which we shall now go on to speak.

r i2 5 ] Gbirt^nintb Das forth from it by prayer.

4 Ask : seek : knock.’ These words stand for three degrees of prayer ; and — so to speak — for three separate entreaties which we are to make, perseveringly, and one after the other. But what are we to entreat God to give us, that we may get out of this worse than bestial state that sin has plunged us into ? Some words of St James will teach us : — 4 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, Who giveth abundantly, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.’ 1 1 James i. 5, 6.