Day 44

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Summary of Christian morality : What is its true end? — Matt. vii. 12, 20.

' HATSOEVER you would that men should do to you, do you also to them.’ There can be nothing simpler than this principle: — nothing more far-reaching in practice ; for all human society is included in it. Nature itself teaches us the rule. But Christ places it higher than nature by adding : ‘ For this is the law and the prophets.’ It is the summary of their contents — the abridgment of all justice 5 and the root of the principle lies in the command : — ‘ thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ 1 <Do violence’ to yourself. The work of salvation is not to be undertaken in a spirit of softness. 4 Narrow is the gate’ of mortification, poverty, and penance. ‘Broad is the way’ of liberty and licence. There is the large number, and there the small number : — endless matter for 1 Matt. xxii. 39.