16. How Devotion May Rightly Be Com Pared to a River of Paradise

FITTINGLY indeed is Devotion compared to a spring or that stream of the Earthly Paradise, which forsooth like a river makes the Concupiscible power flow forth in four streams. Tne first of these streams flows* toward heaven, which is sympathy with Christ's Passion and with all His Saints who for His sake have s uffered. That Concupiscible power is a river, joyous and cheerful, abounding in thanksgiving and full of praise, because their punishments and tortures have now passed away, and they are now about to enjoy eternal delights.

The second stream flows towards Purga tory, which is pity and compassion on all souls detained in punishment whereby they make satisfaction for their sins. This stream abounds in intimate and devout prayers ,..»«•"•'""

to God, whenever our friends have been placed in any necessity.

The third living stream of Paradise flows forth throughout the whole world, which is sympathy and pity for the necessities and the advantage of all Christendom. That stream bestows or acts with a disposing inwardness, so to speak, or internal disposition beyond that which all mortals together could offer in all the external works of mercy. ^he fourth stream which is charity and generosity, flows forth in external deeds upon all who are in need of it, and this by offering advice and by giving bodily assistance, and also temporal goods in every necessity of theirs. This stream ofttimes sustains great loads. These then are the four streams which in various ways adorn devotion.