Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/267

 and right,  thy  whole  body will have  light; therefore, whether thou  eat  or  drink,  or whatever  else  thou  dost,  remember to  do  all  to  the  glory of my  name.

Behold a labour  that  is slight,  but  whose  fruit  is without  measure; small  to the  sower,  but  wonderfully productive of  harvest. Behold an art,  easy  indeed,  but one that  makes  gold  out  of lead,  and  of  any  base  metal; that is,  draws  out  and  augments the  love  and  grace  of God  from  works  that  are otherwise bad  and unprofitable.

For by  means  of  a right intention, thy  works,  which were worthless,  indifferent, and merely  natural  in  themselves, assume  a virtuous  and meritorious character,  and gain the  favour  of  God: they suffer, too,  no  loss  of  temporal advantage,  but  become both pleasanter  and  easier  to thyself,  and  more  acceptable to me.

Oh, how  many  are  defrauded of  the  fruit  of  their labours that  are  vitiated  by corruptness  of  intention! who usually  flatter  themselves, notwithstanding,  as people  who  have  wrought justice, and  take  delight  in the  number  of  their  works; which, however,  they  do  from little love  of  my  glory,  or  of true  religion,  but  only  to  be seen  of  men,  or  for  the  rewards of  this  life  rather  than of the  life  which  is  to  come. But it  shall  be,  that  when  I shall  have  taken  a time,  I will judge justice; namely,  in  the great day,  when  I shall  search Jerusalem with  lamps,  and will bring  to  light  the  hidden things of  darkness,  and  will make manifest  the  counsels of the  hearts.

Oh, how  much  that  now  is pleasant  will  then  be  bitter! how much  that  glitters  now will then  be  odious! For, before me,  a Judge  that  will render to  every  one  according to  their  works,  and  principally according  to  the  intention of  their  works, — before me,  I say,  what  will many of  you  have  to  bring that is  worthy  of  praise  or reward? Amen, I say  to  you, they have  already  received their reward;  they  have  obtained that  which  they  had desired, that  is,  the  glory  of the  world, — a famous  name, carnal comforts,  wealth,  favours, dignities: what,  then, remains for  me  to  reward? For they  who  are  led  to  perform even  works  of  piety, rather by  the  desire  of  honour or advantage  to  themselves, than of  my  glory  and  of  pleasing me,  serve,  not  me,  but themselves, the  world,  and the flesh; how,  then,  can they presume  to  claim  their reward from  me?

See here  the  vanity  of  men, who wear  themselves  out with foolish  and  fruitless  toil. They sow  much,  and  bring  in