November 30 — On St. Andrew

Consider, first, the lessons we are to learn from the example of this great saint. St. Andrew, before he came to Christ, was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, (John i. 35, 40,) trained up to devotion and penance, in that excellent school of the grea forerunner of our Lord. See, ray soul, the great advantages of early piety, and of a saint-like education. It is good for a man, saith the prophet, when he hath borne the yoke from his youth, (Lament, iii.27;) and It is a proverb, saith Solomon, (Prov. xxii 6,) a young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not depart from it, St John, the true friend of the Bridegroom, who sought not his own honour and glory, but the spiritual advantage of his disciples, directed them to Jesus. St. Andrew and another heard him saying of our Lord, Behold the Lamb of God! and they presently followed him, and accompanied him to the place of his abode, and there they staid with him that day. O what entertainment did he give them i O, what heavenly conversation did they there enjoy 1 Christians, se you take care to fit up a lodging for Christ in your own interior; and invite him in thither, and entertain him there, by the exercise of recollection and of mental prayer; and you may also bo ao h!q)py as to relish the admirable sweetness of his divine conversation.

Consider, secondly, that St. Andrew had no sooner foun4 Christ himself, but he immediately endeavored to impart the same happiness to his brother Simon, and forthwith brought him to our Lord. Happy they, that, having found Jesus, and relished his sweetness, endeavour, like St. Andrew, to bring their brethr ren also to him; according to that of the Scripture, (Apoc. xxii. 17,) Let him that heareth, say, Come; that is, let him that heareth the sweet voice and invitation of the Spirit of. in hp own soul, calling him to Christ, invite as many others as he c in, and bring them along with him. But though these two brothers began now to be acquainted with our Lord, and to believe in him, they had not as yet left all to follow him. This grace was reserved for another time, when, as we read, (Matt. iv. 18,) Jesus, walking hy the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, {far they were fishermen;) and he saith to them, Come after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men; and they, immediately lcav~ ing their nets, followed him. Learn, Christians, from this example, a ready correspondence with the calls and graces of God, even though he should call upon you to leave all you possess, and to follow him; how much more when he calls for a much easier sacrifice, such as the giving up, for the love of him, some petty toy or worldly bauble, which has taken possession of your heart! Alas! the affections to these fooleries are like nets, from which you must be disengaged before you can truly follow Christ.

Consider, thirdly, that, from this time, St. Andrew stuck close to our Lord, as his individual companion and disciple; and, after his ascension into heaven, employed his whole life in propagating, by his labours, by his preaching, and by his miracles, the glory of his Master’s name, and his blessed kingdom, and in procuring salvation. to innumerable souls. Neither did he cease, till, after many sufferings and tribulations, (the usual portion of the disciples of Christ,) he laid down his life for the love of his Lord, following him faithfully and constantly unto death, even to the death of the cross. But O, with what affection did he salute the cross, prepared for him! when, according to the acts of his martyrdom, coming within sight of that happy instrument, which was to send him to his God, he cried out, O good cross, which hast received beauty and glory from bearing the body of my Lord! O cross which I have long desired, tenderly loved, and continually sought after, and which now at length art here prepared, to satisfy my longing soul; receive me now in thy embraces; take me away from amongst mortals, and conduct me to my Master; that, through thee, he may receive me, who redeemed me, by dying on thee. Christians, what are your dispositions with regard to the cross prepared for you 1 There is no going to heaven for you by any other way than that of the cross. Are you sensible of this? Do you, like St. Andrew, lovingly embrace this blessed instrument, which is to bring you to your God and to a happy eternity? Two considerations, in particular, recommended the cross to St. Andrew, for the object of his affection and love; namely, the €;example of his Master, who had sanctified the cross by his own sufferings and death, and the cross’ being the sovereign means of divine appointment to bring him to his Master, and to unite him eternally to him. O, let the like considerations recommend the cross also to your love and atfection.

Conclude to labour to imitate the virtues of St. Andrew, more especially his early piety, his attention to all the divine calls, his early correspondence with the grace of God, his constant adhesion to Christ, and his dedicating his whole life to his love and service; and the pious dispositions of his soul with relation to the cross. There is no better way of honouring the saints, than by endeavouring to be saints, by an imitation of their lives