Chapter V. On imitating our Lord in His obedience

'• Jesus Christ became obedient even unto death for us."

The excellence of obedience consists in this, that by it we are certain of accomplishing the will of God. And this our Lord exemplified in the roost perfect manner possible, as head and restorer of the human race. We may make three considerations upon this, in order to excite ourselves to the imitation of His obedience.

1. Let us consider in what esteem we ought to hold the will of God, which we are certain of accomplishing when we obey. The will of God is not like our wilL The human will is of itself indifferent to good or eviL Virtue is not essential to it. It leans more to the side of vice j it is blind, and has need of lights and of the guidance of the understanding, in order to know objects and to regulate its conduct. It is feeble, inconstant, full of imperfections. The will of God, on the contrary, being essentially and necessarily right, just, and holy, is so infinitely and illimitably. It is itself rectitude, equity, holiness ; and consequently, as eloquence, if it spoke in its own person, could not but speak eloquently, so the will of God can will nothing except justly and holily. Now we are assured by faith that it is the will of God which is manifested by obedience.

Jesus Christ knew this infinitely better than we do. He knew perfectly that the will of His Father, even in the slightest things, is infinitely precious. He esteemed it infinitely ; and this it is that made Him prize obedience more than life.

2. Let us consider what ought to be the degree of that affection with which we should attach ourselves to the will of God, and of the fidelity with which we should follow it. It is beyond the power of our mind fully to conceive. First, it has perfections and attractions which render it worthy of all love, and of being preferred before every thing that is not God. Pain, ignominy, every thing most terrifying in nature, become sweet and pleasant when we recognise in them the will of God. Secondly, we are under greater obligation, if we may so express it, to the will of God than to any other of His attributes, than to His immensity, His wisdom, or His power. It is the will of God that gave us being ; it is by it that we exist, that we have the ability with which we are endowed, that we possess what we possess, that we hope what we hope. Thirdly, the will of God is the rule of all our duties ; it is the very source of them ; and no one whatever has any claim upon us but such as is founded on the will of God, and derives thence all its force.

Jesus Christ knew all this perfectly, and therefore it was that from the first moment of His life He made this great sacrifice of submission to the will of ffis Father. What did He not do to give us an example of obedience to the Divine will ? Such charms had it in BBs eyes, even as beheld in the torment of the Cross, that it made Him desire it with ardour and suffer it with joy.

3. Let us consider in our Lord His character of head and restorer of mankind. This character it was that obliged Him to redeem them by His obedience, as Adam, their first father, had ruined them by His disobedience. Thus it may be said that obedience has saved us, and that it is the cause of all the good we enjoy and the happiness we hope for ; as disobedience was the cause of all our evils and the misery into which we have fallen.

This virtue, then, belongs especially to apostolic men who are employed in promoting the salvation of souls. And it is for this reason that St. Ignatius urges it so much upon us, and desires that it should be the peculiar characteristic of his Company, and the mark distinguishing it from other religious orders.