Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/34



What renders  so  very  necessary  this  desire,  and  as  T  may  say, this hunger  and  thirst  for  our  spiritual  advancement,  is,  that  we cannot  have  a  better  disposition  than  this  is  for  obtaining from God  the  perfection  we  aim  at. St. Ambrose  says,  that  the Lord is  so  well  pleased  with  the  man  who  feels  this  longing desire, that  he  fills  his  soul  with  graces  and  favours;  and  in support  of  this  assertion,  he  quotes  these  words  of  the  Blessed Virgin in  her  canticle :  "  The  Lord  has  filled  the  hungry  with good  things." (Luke, i.  35.)  The  Royal  Prophet  has  said  the same before:  "The  Lord  has  filled  the  einpty  soul,  and  has satiated  the  hungry  and  thirsty  soul  with  good  things." (Ps. cvi.  9.)

Here then  we  see,  as  has  been  observed  in  a  former  chapter, that, in  recompense  of  their  good-will,  the  fervour  whereof is most  pleasing  in  his  eyes,  God  has  heaped  his  favours  and riches on  those,  who  have  had  so  great  a  zeal  for  perfection  as, in a  manner,  to  have  hungered  and  thirsted  after  it. An angel appeared to  Daniel,  and  told  him  his  prayers  were  heard,  because "  he  was  a  man  of  desires." (Dan. ix.  23.)  The  desire David had  of  building  a  temple  was  so  pleasing  to  God,  that though he  did  not  permit  him  to  carry  his  design  into  execution, yet, as  if  he  had  executed  it,  the  Lord,  to  recompense  him,  confirmed the  crown  to  his  posterity. In fine,  so  earnest  was  Zacheus's desire  of  seeing  the  Redeemer,  that  Jesus  first  looked  up  to him  in  the  sycamore  tree,  saying,  "  Zacheus,  make  haste  and come  down,  for  this  day  I  must  abide  in  thy  house." (Luke, xix. 5.)  But  the  truth  of  this  maxim  is  still  more  clearly  set forth by  Solomon,  who  speaking  of  wisdom,  which  is  nothing else than  God  himself,  says:  "  Wisdom  is  easily  seen  by  those that  love  it,  and  is  soon  found  by  them  that  seek  it." (Wis. vi. 13.)  But  do  you  know  with  what  facility  it  is  found? u It  preventeth  them  that  covet  it,  and  it  sheweth  itself  first  to  them."  (Ib. vi.  1 4.)  It  is  at  hand  the  moment  you  wish  for  it.  "  He  that  rises early to  seek  it  shall  not  go  far  before  he  meets  it,  he  shall  find it sitting  at  his  door."  (Ib.  vi.  15.)  How  infinite  is  the  goodness and  mercy  of  God!  He  is  not  content  with coming  to  seek us  and  to  knock  often  at  our  door;  "Behold,"  says  he,  in  the Apocalypse,  "howl  stand  at  your  door  and  knock?"  (Ap.  iii.  20);