Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/235

 far as  they  are  necessary,  to give  us  them,  even  with  no care  of  ours,  if  we  seek  first the kingdom  of  God  and  his justice; we, deliberately  despising the  things  of  earth, lift up  the  eyes  of  our  mind to that  heavenly  kingdom, that inheritance  incorruptible, and  undefiled,  and  unfading in  heaven,  which  only they merit  to  receive  who  set not their  heart  upon  riches, but despise  the  kingdom  of the  world  and  all  its  pomp, and sigh  continually  for  the riches of  the  kingdom  of  heaven, in  praying  from  their heart,

The kingdom  of  all  ages, when we  shall  be  filled  with the good  things  of  thy  house, and be  satisfied,  when  thy glory shall  appear;  for  we believe  that  we  shall  see  the good things  of  the  Lord  in the  land  of  the  living. Oh, what, and  how  great,  are they! Eye hath  not  seen, nor ear  heard,  neither  hath it entered  into  the  heart  of man,  what  things  God  has prepared for  them  that  love him.

Meantime, may  thy  kingdom of  grace  and  justice come to  us  also,  whicn  may make us,  though  poor  in worldly  things,  nevertheless rich in  the  merits  of  good works. For poor  as  is  the life we  lead  here,  yet,  if  we fear  God,  we  shall  have  many blessings. For not  earthly wealth, but  virtues  and  the gifts of  grace  are  the  true riches.

But we  must  beware  of being  surprised  by  faintness and sloth  in  seeking  the kingdom of  God;  for,  Not every one  that  saith:  Lord, Lord, shall  enter  into  the kingdom of  heaven; but  he that  doth  Vie  will  of  my Father  who  is  in  heaven.

Next, therefore,  to  the  victory over avarice, will come  the struggle against  sloth. The weapon to  assail  it  with  is  this:

That is,  oh,  that  we,  inhabitants of  earth,  may  do  it like  those  of  heaven! In heaven God  is  praised  with the greatest  delight. In heaven the  angels,  with  wonderful readiness,  obey  his pleasure. Oh, that  we  might do so  with  similar  devotion, alacrity, and  promptitude upon earth! Even to  wish this is  much  in  the  sight  of God,  who  sees  into  our  good will.

But because  the  weakness of our  flesh  compels  us  to  refresh our  bodily  powers  with meat and  drink,  an  act  which is productive  of  pleasure,  the devil endeavours  to  make  this an occasion  of  entangling  us in  the  vice  of  gluttony,  and of leading  us  into  excess