Vol. 2

;86 ST. MARK.followed him, and from Judea, 8. And from Jerusalem,and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordanand they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude,when they had heard what great things he did, cameunto him."A spiritual director ought, 6. Not to provokethe wicked by a fruitless opposition, but humbly andprudently to avoid their presence and their malice.If Jesus Christ is abandoned and persecuted by thewicked, yet a great multitude of pious souls earnestlyseek and follow him.sake of God,When a man labours for thehe always finds more than he loses inthe midst of all contradiction. If the heart of agood pastor is afflicted for the obduracy of some;God comforts and encourages him by the fervencyand zeal of others. He is the savour of death tothose whose heart is dead, and the savour of life tothose whom God callsthereto." 9. And he spake to his disciples, that a smallship should wait on him because of the multitude,lest they should throng him.many; insomuch thattouch him, as many as had plagues."10. For he had healedthey pressed upon him for to7. A spiritual director must not suffer himselfto be so taken up with the external exercise of charity,as thereby to lose the recollectioi), humility,hberty, and peace of his mind. See here the admirablepatience of Jesus !with trust and confidence,These people seek himbut at the same time outof interest, and with importunity, yet he receivesthem all kindly and without the least uneasiness.How grateful would this violence be to him, if theysought him for the sake of their eternal salvation,