Day 32

But I venture to say that, even here, you should banish too great care, or uneasiness in seeking ; because St Paul further says : ‘ For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will.’ Tremble, then, in working out your salvation ; and yet mistrust not your strength too far, for God works with you : He Himself does with you everything you do. Rely, then, on His succour : throw yourself into His arms. He is good : He will take pity on your weakness : He will c work in you, according to His good will,’ that which you also must work in yourself. Yes : — work out your salvation : labour over it with care, and even with fear ; but at the same time with a kind of repose, as of one who looks for every help from an all-powerful and good God.

i Be not therefore solicitous for to-morrow ; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.’ This precept, most important for all the affairs of life, is especially so in the affair of our salvation. There are people who will torment themselves, and think 4 Yes : this is all very well ! I have been to confession, and have begun to be converted : but what trouble, temptation, and weariness are yet to come ! I shall never be able to resist them ; life is long, and I shall inevitably give way before such labours.’

Go forth, my son — or my daughter ! overcome to-day’s difficulties, and do not trouble yourself about to-morrow’s. One after the other you will conquer them all. 4 Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.’ He who has helped you to-day will not desert you to-morrow : but too much forethought and anxiety may be your destruction.

GbirtMbirb 2>as OF AVARICE AND RICHES AGAIN.

We are not to put confidence in possessions . — Luke xii. 15, 16, seq.

ET us add to the foregoing what St Luke says: — c Take heed and beware of all covetousness.’ Uproot so great an evil to the last fibre : suffer not even the least feeling of such a kind to remain within you.

However rich you may be, something will always be wanting to you — either of happiness, or of health, or of good fortune, or of greatness. Rejoice in this deficiency : accept with gladness and consolation this portion of poverty that has fallen to your lot. Love it, as a mark of Christianity and an imitation of Christ. Love your need and your nakedness. If you are a Religious, renounce all spirit of ownership ; and rejoice in the Lord that you not only possess [ in ] nothing, but are incapable by your very condition of possessing anything.

4 — for a man’s life doth not consist in the abundance of things that he possesseth.’ In vain do you say I have enough to live upon : you will live none the donger because of it. And in vain may you think I have nothing to fear — I possess all things in abundance : — 4 Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee.’ Take note how death is here explained : 4 thy soul is required? It is not your own : your very life is only lent to you : an account of it will be demanded. And when ? 4 This night.’ You will be found to-morrow morning dead in your bed ; and all these goods that you have been boasting of will not have helped you in the least, or have lengthened your life by a single second.

4 What shall I do ? ’ asks this rich man, in the midst of his abundance. Yes : here is the chief effect of great riches : — care and uneasiness. What shall I do with them ? Where put them ? How protect them ? 4 1 will pull down my barns and will build greater . . • and I will say to my soul : 44 Soul . . . take thy rest. Eat, drink and make good cheer.” ’ That is, 4 refuse nothing to the senses, and repose on the thought of your