29. On union of the heart with God

" Convertcre anima mea in requiem. tuam,quia Dominus henefecit tibir* " Turn, 0 my soul, into thy rest, for the Lord hath been bountiful to thee:' 1 . For verily He is thy rest, and thy peace, thy life, thy salvation, and thy happiness : all, therefore, that thou dost, all that thou seesi, all that thou hearest of good, refer to the g^lory of God, that so thou mayest have peace and a good conscience.

Put not ihy trust, — rejoice not, — in thyself or others, but cling to o o God alone, purely, steadily, entirely : dwell with Him who giveth and worketh all in all, by the might of His goodness, and the greatness of His mercy.

Oh, who will give me grace to refer all to the praise and honour of God ? — with all my strength to do all the good that I am bound, or am able to do ; — to be so insensible to the vanities of earth, that none of them, whether great or small, shall be able to draw me from Him ; — to turn me away from his service ; — to overcast my soul with trouble, or in anywise to hinder me ?

But, perhaps, it is not possible for me to obtain such a state in this life ? Oh, say not so, for all is possible to God, and He can, instantly, by the sweet cords of His love, unite the devout soul to Himself: for this pure and perfect love of God, can so act in a moment, whensoever it pleases Him, that forgetful of all creatures, the soul may be wholly united to Him alone, and vehemently entlamed,yea melted, by the fire of his love.

2. Oh, my God and my love, when, in this place of exile, shall I be wholly united to Thee 1 when shall I love Thee with all the strength of my soul — that strength which Thou alone hast given and graciously infused ?

May all created beings keep silence before Thee, O my God ! Speak Thou only to my soul, O God, blessed eternally ! assist it, help it, enlighten it, Thou that art all in all, and whose brightness is above the stars of the lirmament!

Happy is the soul, which, being afflicted in this world, is comforted of God ; — which being unknown to men, — is known to the holy angels; — neglected by the wicked, but o o sought after by the good ; — despised by the proud, but loved by the humble ; — separated from the children of the world, but united to the servants of God ; — scorned by the great, but honoured by the little ones ; — dead to the world, but alive unto God; — afflicted in the flesh. but rejoicing in spirit; — weak in health, but strong in mind ; — downcast in countenance, but upright in conscience ; — burthened by toil, but strengthened in prayer ; — bent under the weight of infirmities, but raised up again by interior consolations, and prisoned in this world by the bonds of the flesh, but in spirit rapt to heaven, and joined with Christ.

3. Blessed is he who has Jesus and Mary, the angels and saints of God for his friends in this life ; — for guides on his way ; — for advisers in doubt ; — for masters in his o o Studies ; — for readers at his table ; — for com})anions in his solitude ; — for familiars in his conversation ; — for fellow-singers in choir ; — for guards in danger ; — for help in trials ; — for defenders against his enemies ; — for intercessors after sin ; — for assistants in his last hour ; — for comforters in his agony ; — for advocates in the day of judgment ; — for patrons before God ; — and for joyous congratulators, introducing him to the courts of heaven !

O religious and devout soul, who hast forsaken the world, thy family, and home, receive now God for thy father ; — Jesus for thy brother ; — Mary for thy mother ; — the angels for thy friends ; — and thy fellow-religious for thy relations.

Look on all the faithful as thy neighbours ; — the old men as thy uncles ; — the voung men as thy o brothers ; — the married women as thy mothers ; — the young maidens as thy sisters ; — the poor as thy friends ; — the travellers as thy cousins ; — the meek and humble of heart as tby companions ; — the sober and chaste as thy mess-mates ; — the sick and afflicted as thy familiars ; — the distressed and despised and scorned as the dear friends of thy heart ; — the pious as those most worthy of honour • — and all those who despise the world, and serve Christ, as co-heirs in the kino-dom of Heaven, This is the holy generation and noble offspring born of God, pleasing to God, founded on faiih, strengthened by hope, adorned by charity, armed with patience, proved by the lire of tribulation, and ever firm in constancy. o o