10. On the instability of the human heart

" Qui manct in me, et ego in co, hie fert fruclurn multum.'"* " He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit ."

1 . The thoughts and affections of man change and vary unceasingly ; but all are vain and impure which are not of God.

Oh heart of man ! ever too greedy and insatiable ! what misery and bitterness is thine in forsaking thy God ! why toil after so many empty trifles that can bring thee no consolation nor satisfy thy wants ?

What then art thou doing, or whither dost thou oro lookincr for happiness ?

Return, return speedily into thine own heart ; see in how many things thou hast offended, and take care to repair the evil thou hast done.

Make ready a dwelling place for thy God ; and cast away the rush of vain imaginings, and all external cares, that thou mayest be filled with the consolations of the Holy Spirit.

2. He that often goes abroad is rarely the better for it ; for all that glitters so fair in the world, leads to nothing real.

The eye is not satisfied with what it sees ; and what strikes the ear filletn not the heart; and if all be not referred to the praise of the Creator, all that thou seest is but an empty vision.

Hence the holy David sings — " Thou hast given me, O Lord, a delight in Thy doings, and in the works of Thy hands shall I rejoice."* In no created thing is there any stability ; there is nothing permanent or enduring but God, our sovereign good.

Abide in the truth ; it will deliver thee from falsehood, from iniquity, and from the malice of thy enemies.

The slander that is falsely circulated against one's neighbour, shall return on the head of the inventor.

Christ is truth ; and he that follows Him loves the truth, and all virtue.

He that sacrifices truth to temporal advantage, fortune or honours, makes shipwreck of his faith, and bids adieu to the glory which is the reversion of virtue. o o o o God is truth, and permits not liars to remain long concealed.

The evil doer may for some time disseminate his falsehood, but the truthful man shall at last prevail, and the hypocrite be ' confounded in the hour he thinks not of.

Let not thy thoughts or thy desires be set on any thing but what is just or pleasing to God ; so shalt thou practice virtue, and work good works for the glory of God.

3. He that speaks the truth, and hates iniquity, shall be great in the kingdom of heaven: but he that works iniquity, and hates the truth, shall be tormented with eternal punishment.

Abide in truth and in charity, and thus shalt thou be pleasing to God, to angels, and to men.

Fear not — the wicked may haply deprive thee of some transitory £jood, but God will grant to him who patiently suffers from injustice, goods that are infinitely greater and eternal.

Dost thou wish thy soul to dwell in peace, and thy conscience to reproach thee in nothing 1 Be humble, be patient, be obedient— for There is no enemy so dangerous as thyself, when thy passions are roused.

Look carefully into thy own faults, and thou wilt find little inclination to weigh the actions of others. o o