THE FAMILY ALTAR

April 17.

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,

that if One died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for

all that they which live should not henceforth live unto them-

selves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again."

2 Cor. 5:14-15

A life for a life ! Our blessed Savior redeemed us at the cost

of His own holy life; now, in return, we owe our life in loving

gratitude to Him. "After we have been redeemed by a ransom

of such endless and unceasing value, what use should we make

of our liberty? This may be illustrated by three words of which

tradition says that they were used in old England at the liberation

of prisoners. They were the three Latin words Exite, Gaudete,

Cavete, that is, Go forth, rejoice, beware. Come out of your cell,

rejoice over your liberty, and beware lest you get into prison again.

The price of your liberty has been paid down by the Son of God.

Therefore: Exite! Come out of the kingdom of darkness. Go

forth from under the curse of the Law. Renounce the service

of sin and Satan, and assert your liberty in Jesus Christ. And,

accepting the grace extended to you in Jesus Christ: Gaudete!

Rejoice over the liberty with which the Son of God has made

you free, and say to Him : Thanks be unto Thee, my Lord Jesus

Christ, because Thy sacred blood has made me free. . . . And in

order that you may be truly thankful, never forget the Cavete

which in ancient Britain was addressed to pardoned prisoners

for their warning. It is the 'Go, and sin no more.' What par-

doned prisoner will be so foolish as to return to his cell, preferring

the darkness of a dingy dungeon to light and liberty? Should

we who have been freed by Christ yield our members as servants

to unrighteousness ? No ! Ever must we guard against sin and

live unto Christ, striving more and more to become like unto Him.

Let us daily consecrate our heart, our mind, and all our members

to Him who drank for us the potion which sin had mixed, and

earned for us the cup of everlasting joy."

It was a strange and dreadful fray

When Death and Life contended;

But it was Life that won the day,

The reign of Death was ended.

Holy Scripture plainly saith

That Death is swallowed up by Death,

Made henceforth a derision.