Tuesday in the First Week of Lent — On the Examination of the State of our Interior

Consider, first, the dreadful mischiefs that follow fi’om our not knowing the true state of our own souls. Alas! what would it avail us to have all other sciences, and to know aft things else, if we should not know what passes within ourselves, and so should want this most necessary of all sciences, the knowledge of ourselves I Ah! how many are there in the world, who pass their irboie lives in mortal sin, and yet, for want of looking into themselves, are not aware of it! How many imagine themselves to be alive, and have the name of being alive, and yet are dead / Apoc. iii. 1. How many imagine their souls to he rich and wealthy, and to stand in need of nothing, and they know not that in the very truth, and in the sight of G, they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, Apoc. iii. 17. O from my hidden sins cleanse me, O Lord; wild for the sins of others spare thy servant, Psal. xviii. 13.

Consider, secondly, that to prevent so great an evil, every Christian ought often to examine into the true state of his interior, and to consider seriously what are the real dispositions of his soul, especially with regard to his God. He cannot be in the state of grace, or in the way of salvation, if he love not God above all things. Reflect, O my soul; is there nothing thou lovest more than God? Is there nothing that takes place of him in thy affec tions? How comes it then, that commonly God is so seldom thought on in the course of the day? How comes it that, upon every occasion, worldly honour, temporal interest, sensual pleasure, the gratifying thyself, or the world, makes thee turn thy back on him? The true lover is ever thinking on the object of his love, and never better content than when in company, and conversing with his beloved. Is thy love of God such as this? Art thou resolutely determined, for no consideration whatsoever, for no honour, no interest, no pleasure, no human respect, no fear, no love, for nothing, in fine, that the world can give or take away, to be disloyal to thy God 1 If not, the love of God is not in thee, and thou art none of his. This is the best rule, by which thou mayst know, whether thou really lovest God or no. But then to know thy true disposition in this regard, examine thy works. Jf you love me, saith the Lord, keep my commandments, St. John xiv. 15.

Consider, thirdly, that thou must also examine how thy soul stands affected with regard to thy neighbour. For here is another great branch of the Christian’s duty, in which his soul is no less interested, and in which too many deceive themselves. O my soul, art thou just in thy thoughts, words, and works, to thy neighbour? Dost thou live up to the rules of charity in his regard? Art thou not censorious in thy judgments, bitter in thy speeches, hasty and passionate in thy carriage to him? Dost thou never injure him in his reputation, by backbiting and detraction; in his honour, by affronts; in his friends, by talebearing; in the peace of his mind, by derision or contempt? Art thou just in all thy dealings with him? Dost thou pay him his dues? Dost thou keep nothing from him unjustly? Dost thou do by him, in whatever station of life he may be, as thou Wouldst be done by, if thou wert in his case? Is there no rancour in thy heart against any one soul upon earth? no aeerel hatred, malice, or envy 1 Examine thyself well upon all these heads, in which millions affect to deceive themselves, to their eternal perdition.

Conclude to labour seriously for the knowledge of thyself, that thou mayst effectually amend thy life, and secure thy soul. For why shouldst thou suffer thyself to be any longer blindfolded by passion, or affected ignorance, with evident danger of falling down the dreadful precipice which leads to a miserable eternity?