Page:MeditationsOnTheMysteriesOfOurHolyV1.djvu/298

 but for the body, as " length of days, and years of life and peace." And therefore it is " more to be desired than gold and many precious stones," or more than all the treasures of the earth. It is also delightful, "sweet above honey and the honeycomb," and cheers men's hearts with a greater alacrity than any that can be given by all the sweet things of this life. Hence it is that Almighty God "prevents" beginners with "blessings of sweetness," that they may cheerfully begin the way of His commandments. To those who are proficients, this divine lawgiver gives His blessing, that they may "go from virtue to virtue," until they arrive to the height of perfection. And " upon the head of the just " that are perfect He pours His " blessing " in great abundance, giving them some taste of what they shall enjoy in glory. And, finally, in the day of judgment, He will give them the supreme benediction, saying unto them, " Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you;" as we have meditated already.

2. Considering these blessings, and comparing them with the curses which were declared in the preceding point, I am principally to collect three affections of very great importance.

i. The first is a great sorrow for having broken a law so holy, so profitable, and so sweet, making myself unworthy of its celestial blessing, and incurring the three evils, contrary to the three goods that have been spoken of; for together with the breach of the law go those vices that pollute both body and spirit, all the temporal and eternal woes that body and soul suffer, and all the griefs and bitterness with which our heart is afflicted.