For the most part it is hidden, and only to a few is it revealed, in particular cases; but it never erreth, can never err, though to the eyes of the foolish it doth not appear right. To Me therefore must thou have recourse in every question, and not rely upon thine own judgment. For 'there shall no evil happen to the just.'1 Even if some injustice hath been done him, he will not be greatly troubled. "Neither will he vainly exult if he be justly defended. For he reflecteth that I am He Who 'trieth the hearts and reins," and judgeth not according to appearance or human judgment. For often a thing is found culpable in Mine eyes, when, according to the judgment of men, it is considered laudable."

5. "O Lord God, Thou just Judge, Mighty and Merciful, Who knowest the frailty and depravity of man, be Thou my strength and my whole confidence; for my conscience is not sufficient for me. Thou knowest what I do not know, and therefore I ought to humble myself at every rebuke, and to bear it with meekness.

"Be Thou propitious, and pardon me as often as I have not so acted, and grant me the blessing of greater endurance for time to come.

6

“For better for me is Thine abundant mercy for securing indulgence than mine own boasted righteousness, instead of the defence of my hiding conscience. For I know nothing to myself; yet am I not hereby justified:"3 for if Thy mercy be removed, 'in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.""4

1 Prov. xii. 21.
3 1 Cor. iv. 4.

2 Ps. vii. 9.

4 Ps. cxliii. 2.

CHAPTER XLVII.

ALL AFFLICTIONS ARE TO BE BORNE FOR ETERNAL LIFE.

stance.

Y son, let not the labours thou hast undertaken for Me break thy spirit, nor let thy troubles always make thee dejected; but let My promise strengthen and console thee in every circumI am able to restore to thee above all measure. "Thou shalt not labour here long, nor always be weighed down with grief. Wait a little while and thou shalt see a speedy end to evil. The hour will come when there shall be an end of all labour and all tumult. All that passeth away with time is short, all insignificant.

2. "Do what thou hast to do; labour faithfully in My vineyard; I will be thy reward.1 Write, read, sing, lament, be silent, pray, manfully bear contradiction: eternal life is worth all these, yea and greater struggles.

"Peace will come on a day which is known to the Lord; then there will not be day and night, as now, but constant light, infinite brightness, firm peace, uninterrupted rest!2 Thou wilt not then say: 'Who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?'3 neither wilt thou exclaim: Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of

6

1 S. Matth. xx. 4, 7; Genes. xv. 1. "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

2 Rev. xxii. 5. "For the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

3 Rom. vii. 24.

Kedar!' because death shall be destroyed and salvation shall be without flaw; there shall be no anxiety, but blessed joy, sweet and delightful intercourse.

3. "O, hadst thou seen the never-fading crowns of the blessed in heaven, with what glory they now exult, who, in this world in time gone by, were considered contemptible, and almost unworthy of life itself, thou wouldest straightway humble thyself, even to the earth, and wouldest desire rather to be under all than over one; neither wouldest thou desire happy days in this life, but wouldest rather rejoice in suffering tribulation for God's sake, and wouldest esteem it the greatest gain to be thought nothing of amongst men.

4. "O, if these things were understood by thee, and if they penetrated thy heart, how wouldest thou dare even once to complain? For the sake of life eternal should not any labours be undergone? To lose or gain the Kingdom of God is not a small matter.

66

Turn, therefore, thy face up to heaven. Behold, I and all My saints, who in this world had great conflict, now rejoice, now are consoled, now are free from care, now have peace, and they will remain with Me for ever in My Father's kingdom."

1 Ps. cxx. 5.

2 Heb. x. 32.

"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions."

CHAPTER XLVIII.

ON ETERNITY AND THE SHORTNESS OF THIS LIFE.

MOST blessed mansion of the heavenly city! O most glorious day of eternity, unobscured by any night, and always illumined by perfect truth!

Ever joyful day, ever free from care, never changing to the opposite! O that that day had already dawned, and all these temporal things had found their end! It shines indeed to the saints in all the splendour of perpetual brightness; but by those who are still pilgrims on this earth, it is only seen from far, and "through a glass.”1

2. The inhabitants of heaven know how joyful is this light; the sons of Eve, exiles, groan because theirs is so bitter and so tedious!

The days of this life are short and evil, full of griefs and difficulties; where man is defiled by many sins, embarrassed by many sufferings, attacked by many fears, worried by many cares, distracted by many objects of curiosity, implicated in many vanities, surrounded by many errors, worn down by many labours, saddened with temptations, enervated by enjoyment, tormented by poverty. 2

Tobit xiii. 13. "Rejoice and be glad for the children of the just: for they shall be gathered together and shall bless the Lord of the just." 1 Cor. xiii. 12; Heb. xi. 13. " Having seen them afar off."

2 Genes. xlvii. 9. "Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been." Eccles. ii. 23.

3. O, when will be the end of these evils? When shall I be freed from the wretched slavery of sin? When, O Lord, shall I think of Thee alone? When shall I fully rejoice in Thee?

When shall I have true liberty without any impediment, without any affliction of mind or body?

When will there be solid peace, peace that cannot be disturbed and is free from anxiety, peace within and without, firm peace on every hand? O good Jesus, when shall I stand and behold Thee?

When shall I contemplate the glory of Thy kingdom? When wilt Thou be all in all to me?

O, when shall I be with Thee in Thy kingdom, which Thou hast prepared for Thy beloved from all eternity ??

I have been left poor and an exile in an hostile land, where there are daily wars and very great misfortunes. 4. Console me in my exile, mitigate my grief, for all desire is towards Thee.

my

For all that this world offers as a solace, is a burden to me: I desire thoroughly to enjoy Thee, but am not able to apprehend Thee. I desire to cling to heavenly things, but am held down by things temporal, and by passions unsubdued. I desire to subject all things to the mind, but am compelled against my will to yield to the body.

Thus, unhappy man! I battle with myself, and am made myself a burden to myself, whilst the Spirit is striving to soar, and the flesh is struggling to remain upon the earth.

1 Rom. viii. 21. "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

2 S. Matth. xxv. 34.