The holy life of Christ is the most perfect model of virtue we can have; every action of His is rich in instruction for us. Many wish to attain to Christ, but refuse to follow Him; many wish to enjoy Christ, but not to imitate Him. "Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. xi. 29), says our Saviour. Unless thou art willing to be a disciple of Christ, thou wilt never be a true Christian. Let the passion of Christ be thy merit, but at the same time let His holy life be the model for thine. Thy Beloved is white and ruddy (Cant. v. 10); and so mayest thou be ruddy by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ, and white by the imitation of His life. How dost thou truly love Christ, if thou dost not love His holy life? "If ye love Me, keep My commandments," says the Saviour (John xiv. 15, 23). Hence he who keepeth not His commandments loveth Him not.
John Gerhard — Gerhard's Sacred Meditations, translated from the Latin by Rev. C. W. Heisler, A. M. (Philadelphia: Lutheran Publication Society, copyright 1896), Meditation XXX, "The Imitation of Christ," p. 169
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