11. On trust in God in time of trouble

" Spera in Domino^ et fac honitatem."* " Trust in the Lord and do good."

1 . Let no man glory in the temporal advantages he may enjoy, nor put his trust in friends and familiars ; for all things are uncertain, and full of peril : but he that puts his trust in the Lord, and will call upon Him in the time of need, shall not be forsaken in his worst tribulation.

He whose life is good — whose words are edifying — who offends no one — who keeps a strict watch against iniquity, and over his evil o o o o thoughts, shall enjoy much peace. | Shut the door of thy house, and thou shall sleep in peace.

2. He that provides not every day some good thought or edifying action, to oppose as a shield to the attacks of the evil one, shall fall an easy prey to the enemy.

Many cease to pray, and to resist temptations, when all goes not well with them ; but virtue is not to be acquired without pain and strife, nor maintained without assiduous care.

A dissipated and inconstant mind abhors discipline and a retired life, as a bird abhors a state of captivity.

Art thou violently tempted or hardly pressed, or mocked, or loaded with confusion ? — despair not : reflect forthwith that thy sins justly deserve the censure and despite of men : suffer patiently, and sav trustfully, " It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, O Lord, that I may learn Thy justifications."* In temptation or tribulation, man learns his entire dependence on God; for then he .acknowledges his indigence, and feels the grievousness of his defects. He is both an unfaithful and a foolish servant, who makes use of his master's goods to minister to his own vanity, and thence to despise others.

3. He that despises his brethren and fellow servants, or thinks himself better than they, outrages God and all His saints : and the principal cause of this error — is, that we cease to be humble, and cast aside the remembrance of our own faults, while we cease to watch and weep over them.

It is enough for each to bear his own burthen ; why then do we busy ourselves, intermeddling with the conduct of others ? Why charge ourselves with a burthen heavier than we. can bear ?

It sometimes happens that a man's faults, errors, and negligences become public, in order to teach him more humility, and more compassion towards the weaknesses of his brethren, and to dispose him to guide with all charity into the way of peace, those who err. Taught by his own experience he says, — " This is a man, and not an angel ; it has happened to him, as it has already happened to me ; we are brethren — my intentions were bad, and his may perhaps have been good. He who has never erred, nor ever done wrong, is God alone.

Why mock est thou when thy brother falls ? " Let him that thinketh himself to stand, take heed lest ho fall."* Is thine own fall a cause of mockery ?

The shame of an open fall often entirely extinguishes all emotions of vain glory.