19. On the refuge of the poor, in God their helper

" Tihi derelict US est pauper, orphann tu eris adjutor."* " To Thee is the poor man left. Thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.''^ I . Blessed is the poor who has God for his help and support in tribulation ; and for his comforter in suffering ; who puts all his hope and trust in God, and in his last hour awaits from Him the crown of glory in the kingdom of eternal bliss.

Voluntary poverty, assumed for the love of Christ, is a precious virtue in the sight of God : — the everlasting recompense is in heaven, under the ward of the angels ; thieves cannot steal it, nor the violent bear it away ; nor can the murderer make it his prey.

By renouncing all the pleasures and gratifications of the world, the servant of Christ dwells beyond the circle of the dangers and cares which ever surround the rich on earth.

The faithful soul, who for the love of Jesus Christ, and for his kingdom's sake, despoils himself of everything in this world, enjoys true liberty, and possesses all things in Jesus ; who for the love of us became poor, and submitted to sufc o fering ; who was hung naked on the cross, and had not where to hiy his head, nor power to move his hands or feet.

Who amongst us can compare our nakedness or poverty with HisT — assuredly no one; wherefore, " His name alone is exaUed, the praise of Him is above heaven and earth."* Oh * salutary poverty, thou nowa-days wouldst meet nothing but contempt among men, unless God had been the first to submit voluntarily to thy privations !

Ob happy poverty, — debarring us from the pride of the eyes, and the occasion of many sins !

2. He is truly poor in spirit, who neither from word nor deed draws forth vamty, and who lest he fall thereby, covets not the honours of the world, O what an excellent virtue is voluntary poverty, retaining nothing to call its own ! It opens to the soul the gates of heaven, it adds new jewels to the crown of glory, that is laid up in heaven ; it makes us worthy to receive with the martyrs the palm of patience, after the hardships and suflerings of life, spent in the service of Christ.

For this is truly and faithfully to labour in the service of God, when for His love, we bear with want and all the inconveniences which follow poverty.

Blessed is he who learns how to profit by his wants and infirmities, and who in all the privations he endures, is still submissive to the will of God.

Let not poverty afflict thy heart when thou sufTerest want. — If men mock thee, or friends desert thee, give not way to wrath — but turn thy heart to Jesus, who became poor and weak for thy sake. Take comfort in God — in God alone, — if thou wouldst have thy soul rejoice forever; — for all consolations out of Him, how great soever they seem, are vain, transient, and insufficient.

3. Choose then Je-sus Christ for thy only friend and brother : renounce all to follow Him.

Avoid above all the fellowship of those who would turn thee from His holy service ; and who by leading thee again into the world, may lead thee to the gates of hell. ' For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction," saith Jesus Christ, "and many there are, who go in thereat." From Him only canst thou find the consolation required; from Him who is able to give the kingdom of heaven to those who for His sake, renounce the kingdom of this world, and all its vanities ; "for the world passes away, and the concupiscenc-e thereof,"* like smoke driven by the wind, and like the flowers of the field that wither away.

Do thou then, my brother, who hast submitted to voluntary poverty, go on courageously in thy holy enterprise ; be constant day and night in the service of God, in the peaceful abode thy piety has made choice of. Remember that thou hast spontaneously forsaken thy parents and thy friends, to unite thyself wholly to God ; that *thou mayest one day find them again, in the kingdom of Christ, and rejoice with them in the company of all the saints.

Thy light afflictions and transitory sorrows pere on earth, shall o be recompensed in heaven by the joy of eternal rest.

Reflect often on the sacred wounds of Christ ; think of the grievous sores of the poor Lazarus ; and it shall profit much during thy last agony, when at the point of death thou art about to pass from time to eternity.