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MY God, who can repine at suffering too much; if they remember the afflictions of JESUS?
Those many afflictions he so patiently en∣dur'd, and bore with silence all their weight:
Even from his humble cradle in the grot of Bethelem, to his bitter Cross on the mount of Calvary:
How litle do we read of glad and prosperous!
how much of pains and grief and perpetual affronts!
Somtimes abandon'd by his nearest friends; and left alone among all his discomforts:
Somtimes pursu'd by his fiercest enemys; and made the common mark of all their spite:
Somtimes they plot to insnare Him in his words; and enviously slander his miraculous deeds:
Somtimes tumultuously they gather about him; to gaze at and abuse this Man of sor∣rows:
Somtimes they furiously seize on his Person; and hale and drag him along the streets:
At last, they all conspire to take away his life; and condemn him to a sharp and cruel death.
Have you not seen a harmless Lamb * stand silent in the midst of ravenous wolves?
So stood the Prince of Peace and Innocence; besieg'd with a ring of savage Jews:
When they blasphem'd Him, he reply'd not a∣gain; and when they injuriously struck him, he only observ'd their rashnes:
When they provok't him with their utmost malice, he pleaded their excuse; and when they kill'd him, he earnestly pray'd for their pardon:
O strange ingratitude of humane nature; thus barbarously to crucify the worlds Redeemer!
O admirable love of the worlds Redeemer; thus patiently to dy for humane nature!
Say now, my soul, for whom thy dearest Lord * indur'd all this and infinitely more:
Canst thou complain of thy litle troubles; when the King of glory was thus afflicted?
Canst thou complain of a meanly furnisht house; when the Son of God had not where to lay his head?
We wear the conisance of a crucify'd Lord; and shall we shrink back at every cross we meet?
We believe in a God that was crown'd with thorns; and shall we abide to tread on nothing but roses?
Before our eys, O JESU, we see thee humble and meek; and shall thy servants be proud and insolent?
We see thee travail up and down poor and un∣regarded; and shal thy followers strive to be rich and esteem'd?
Thy charitable labours were maliciously slan∣der'd; and shall not our faults have the patience to be reprov'd?
Thou disdain'dst not to be cal'd in scorn the Carpenters son; and cannot our lownes bear a litle disparagement?
O how unlike are we to that blest Original, * who descended from heav'n to become our pattern!
How do we go astray from that sacred path, * which the holy JESUS trac'd with his own steps!
Pity, O dear Redeemer, the infirmitys of thy children; and strengthen with thy grace our fainting harts:
Arm us, O glorious Conqueror of sin and death! against all the fears and terrors of this world:
Arm all our powers with those celestial ver∣tues, of Faith, and Hope, and invincible Love:
That we may still go on, and resolutely meet * whatever stands in our way to heav'n:
Since we must suffer as Christians; and deserve it as sinners; * Lord, let us bear it as becomes thy servants.
Glory be, &c.
Antiph. He humbled himself for us, and became obedient to death; even the death of the Cross.
Antiph. Unworthy are we, O Lord, of the least of thy favours; and ingrateful for all.