34. On placing our sovereign good and farthest aim in God alone

" Satiahor cum apparuerit gloria " / shaU be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.''^ man attain to this glory ?

Jesus Christ. — By the contempt of himself, and all earthly things, and by an ardent love of all heavenly things.

The saints who rejoice in heaven, and all the faithful who still combat here below, against the allurements of sin, — are my witnesses for this.

But those who are far from attaining the eternal glory and sovereign beatitude, are the proud angels of darkness, the infidel Pagans, the perverse Jews, hardened heretics, and carnal men, who seduced by the pleasures of the world, and neglecting the service of God, propose no other end in all their actions, than the enjoyment of earthly goods, the honour and esteem of men. infatuated persons are driven about in every sense, in painful journeys, in severe study, in constant watchings, solicitous without ceasing, and labouring without relaxation, to increase and preserve those enjoyments which make them slaves to their desires : and when they have received a part of what they thirst for, when they have obtained directly or indirectly the object of their labours, still are they not satisfied ; they wish to rise still higher, for their vanity will leave nothing below them ; they puff themselves up, and think themselves wise and worthy of the esteem of man, and the homage of their brethren. Howbeit in all this, what is there but vanity, frailty, and nothing ; whatsoever they desire, whatever they seek, is lost as regards the great work of their salvation, and full of danger to the welfare of their souls.

2. In very deed ye are in error and deceive yourselves, ye who in the world find sweetness, ye for whom this present world is full of pleasantness ; for none of these enjoyments are secure, and every day ye draw nearer to death, and to the judgment of God.

For there is nothing in this world so agreeable but what has annexed to it somewhat of bitterness ; whatsoever of loveliest, best and sweetest, created things can offer you — 'all are insufficient to satisfy the soul ; they cannot deliver it from evil ; they cannot fill it with good, nor keep it in endless joy ; God alone, who is eternal, immense, and sovereignly good, God alone can produce in us these blessed effects. He is the creator of all things, visible and invisible, of angels and men, — before all — above all— and in all — God blessed for ever. o o 3. Can the blessed spirits in Heaven, or those on earth, think or speak worthily of Him ? Ah no ! for He is above all that a created bein^ can conceive, and in His si^ht all things are vain and valueless. Miserably deceived is the unhappy soul, that, apart from God, seeks and fosters those affections, which would turn it away from the love and honour of God, but which will leave it at the end in poverty and abject indigence.

4. O Lord, great and wonderful are tlnj works ! and to fathom or understand any one of them^ is not possihle for me or any living creature. What therefore shall I do, whereas I am unable either to comprehend things so far above my capacity, penetrate the secrets of o o heaven, or contemplate in company with angels, the face of my God ? I confess myself unworthy to enjoy happiness so great, and converse with the saints in heaven. Therefore will I humhlc and despise myself, bffore God and man, as long as I live, and I will be a$ nothing in my own eyes ; that God may have pity on me a miserable sinner, now, and all days of my life.

In the bitterness of my soul, I shall think over my past years, in rvhich I have provoked His wrath and iridignation, and with groans and weeping I will appease my God, whom I have so often offended by words, by deeds, by seeing, by hearing, and by the other senses: which had been given me to serve my Creator, with all my heart, all the days of my sojourn here below.

But lest I should become dejected and fall into despair on accnunt of o my nxinieroHS transgressions, I will call to mind, O Lord, the multitude of Thy mercies which are from eternity ; until hy Thy divine grace and favour, I may be enabled to reach Thee in saffty. Deliver me, O Lord, from all those dangers and calamities ichich so often assail me unprepared, and frequently distract my mind from the contemplation of Thy heavenly goods. Assist me, O God infinitely good, and place me nigh unto Thee : lest I should begin to wander far from my Supreme Good, which Thou art, O my God ! For in Thee alone is all my good. Give me Thyself, and it sufficeth my soul, O Lord, thou God of my salvation. Amen. o o