Chapter 2. On the Concord and Peace of the City of God.

ANOTHER reason why the kingdom of heaven is called the "city of God," appears to be this, — because a kingdom usually contains an almost infinite number of people, differing one from another in their language, manners, and laws ; where many have never seen each other, and much less formed any acquaintance. But a city in cludes those only who are of the same language, the same customs, and who are governed by the same laws. Wherefore, heaven is called both "a kingdom and a city/' because, although the inhabitants of this heavenly kingdom are almost innume rable, and as St. John tells us, are collected from " all nations, and tribes, and peoples,

and tongues," and also divided into angels, archangels, principalities, powers, dominations, thrones, cherubim, and seraphim, who are much more numerous than men, and are distinguished, not by nations, and peoples, and tongues, but by a specific diversity of nature ; yet all these are true citizens, living in concord and unanimity, and governed by one only law of charity. Wherefore, all have but one heart and one soul. And because charity is contrary to hatred, envy, contention, discord, strife, and other vices, therefore anger, conten tion, envy, &c., are far removed from this holy city of Jerusalem :^ charity alone reigneth, and with it justice, peace, and "joy in the Holy Ghost/' In the begin ning of creation there was a great battle in heaven between Michael, the archangel, and the dragon; but Michael, and the angels who remained firm with him in faith and obedience to their Lord, gained the victory over the dragon and his angels, who by their pride had fallen away from God."" "And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent who is called the devil and Satan, who seduce th the whole world ; and he was cast unto the ^ earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." (Apoc. chap.

This battle seems by

• See the Apocalypse, chap. xii the mystery of our Redemption. cation of St. Michael, Sept. 29.)

xii. 9.) From that time the holy city of Jerusalem " hath placed peace in its bor ders ;" nor has the sound of the war- trum pet been heard therein, neither will it be heard there for ever.

What then can be sweeter, what more blessed than this city? They who know the evils of war, its depredations, slaughter, rapine, sacrileges, &c., can easily imagine the sweetness of peace. But, leaving aside war, who has not experienced in his own city, and even in his own house, how dis agreeable it is to have anything to do with passionate men, who take the worst view of all our actions ? " Depart from the unjust, and evil shall depart from thee," saith Ecclesiasticus. But where shall we go, and not find the unjust ? and if they are every where to be found, evils will certainly be found also, as long as we remain in this land of exile. Hear how the same Eccle siasticus speaks of a wicked woman : "It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon than to dwell with a wicked woman. " (chap, xxv.) Now, if the partner of one's life becomes a lion and a dragon on account of her wickedness, to how many afflictions are men exposed ! "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," says the apostle. (2 Timothy, chap. iii. 12.) How unhappy, therefore, is the city of this world, wherein we are obliged to bear with so many enemies, and to fight our way. If we wish to be devout,

we shall be persecuted by men ; and if, to avoid their persecution, we become wicked, we shall then incur the indignation of our supreme and almighty King, who will punish us, and, both alive and dead, will take vengeance, for His anger no one can resist. Oh, unfortunate and miserable country, where no one can escape from war or persecution, where no one can find true peace ! Let us therefore, with our whole heart, love and praise that heavenly city, from which alone every affliction is banished, and where no war, no hatred, no strife, can ever gain admittance.