Chapter 5. On the Courts of the House of God.

IN earthly houses certain places are set apart for various purposes. ' But, in the courts of the blessed, all are occupied in one

occupation alone, the praise of their great King. Here, in this world, some are occupied in gaming money, in acquiring dignities, in acquiring knowledge, either to teach or to learn; whilst others devote themselves to mechanical arts, in order to provide the necessaries of life. But amongst the living, immortal inhabitants of heaven there will be no wants, no ignorance, no necessity, no ambition: all being content with their state, neither desire nor require anything more— - they are entirely devoted to the enjoyment, love, and praise of their " chief Good."

But some one may say, that the duty of praising God in psalms and hymns, and especially in reciting the canonical hours, is laborious and tiresome; and some there are who even consider it a heavy burden imposed upon them to spend so much time in singing in the Churches, and in praising God. To whom we answer, that "praising" God in this life is a meritorious act, but in the next it will be a reward. Hence it is, that what may be to many laborious here, in heaven will be a sweet occupation to all the saints. Now, we read and sing many things which we do not understand, whilst we labour much in driving away vain thoughts, which are like so many trouble some flies. Moreover, our body, which is mortal, cannot for any long space of time attend to the functions of the mind without being fatigued. But, in our blessed^ country, the body will be immortal and impas-

sible ; vain thoughts will depart ; we shall most perfectly understand what we sing ; and, what is the greatest of all, the divine (i praise" will be nothing more than the exercise of our happiness. Wherefore, if eternal happiness will not be troublesome, neither can the eternal praising of God be. That the praising of God is an exercise of beatitude, the prophet teachethus : "Bless ed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord : they shall praise thee for ever and ever/' (Psalm Ixxxiii.) As beatitude con sists in always loving and beholding the " chief Good/' so the exercise of beatitude consists in always admiring and praising God; and as no one will be wearied in loving Him, so no one will be wearied in praising Him. And again: we shall not only not grow weary in seeing and loving God, but we shall never be tired in seeing and praising the works of God, which will always be before us, showing forth His wonderful beauty, Nor can we praise the beautiful works of God without our praising the Author of them at the same time, for they will ever cry out unto us : " He made us, and not we ourselves." In fine, as we can never forget the benefits with which God hath loaded us, so we cannot but exult with the most grateful hearts in the praises of our most bountiful Benefactor.

Let us then conclude with St. Augustine, and say: "What else could be done, where neither any sloth will be admitted, nor any

want shall laoour ? God Himself will be the end of our desires : He will be seen without end, loved without weariness, praised without fatigue. This gift, this love, this exercise, will be truly shared by all, as eternal life itself will be common to all. There we shall rest and see : we shall see and love : we shall love and praise. Behold, what will be in the end without end. What other end have we than to arrive at that kingdom which hath no end?"*