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On Rules for Conduct of Life

is written in the Evangel: 'O son of Adam! If I give thee riches, thou wilt turn away from me with mundane cares; and if I make thee poor thou wilt sit down with a sad heart; then where wilt thou enjoy the sweetness of adoring me, and when wilt thou hasten to serve me?'

Sometimes thou art made haughty and careless by wealth, sometimes art in distress from exhaustion and penury; if thy State be such in joy and in distress, I know not when thou wilt turn to God from thyself.

will of the Inscrutable brings down one from the royal throne, and protects the other in the belly of a fish.

Happy is the time of the man who spends it in adoring Thee.

God draws the sword of wrath, prophets and saints draw in their heads; but if He casts a look of grace, He converts wicked into virtuous men.

If at the Resurrection He addresses us in anger, what chance of pardon will even prophets have? Say: 'Remove the veil from the face of mercy, because sinners entertain hopes of pardon!'

does not betake himself to the path of rectitude in consequence of the castigations of this world, will fall under