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 little; they  eat,  but  are  not satisfied; they drink,  and  are not refreshed; and  they  that receive wages,  put  them  into a bag with  holes. But thou, my son,  be  more  cautious, and take  care  lest  thou  too do nothing  in  doing  much, and lose  all  the  fruit  of  thy labour. Why dost  thou  spend thy gold  for  that  which  is not  bread,  and  thy  silver  for that which  dost  not  satisfy? How long  dost  thou  halt  between two  sides? If I am the  Lord  thy  God,  follow  me with  all  thy  heart. If thou preferrest or  lovest  any  other thing before  me,  why  dost thou glory  in  my  name  and title? Why dost  thou  usurp my badge? If thou  enjoyest servitude, to  serve  me  is  to reign; if  thou  seekest  glory, it is  great  glory  to  follow the Lord: them  that  follow me will  I glorify,  but  they that despise  me  shall  be  despised. If thou  desirest  reward, ask  it  of  me  alone; and from whom  canst  thou  expect a greater? For eye hath not  seen,  nor  ear  heard, neither hath  it  entered  into the heart  of  man,  what  things I have prepared  for  them that love  me. Oh, that  thou wouldst but  look  oftener  to this  recompense,  and  then  no toil  could  possibly  seem  hard to thee! For the  hope  of reward  is  the  solace  of  labour; and  behold,  I will  be thy  exceeding  great  reward.

. Thou  art  worthy,  O Lord,  to  receive  praise,  and glory, and  honour  from  every creature; and why  not  from me also,  who  am  created  to thy  own  image,  and  bought by thee  with  so  great  a price, that in  my  heart  and  my  body I might glorify  thee,  my God? Who is  there  that plants a tree  or  a vine,  and eats not  of  its  fruit? But thou, O Lord,  hast  formed  me, and placed  me  on  this  earth. Thou hast  transplanted  this vine, that  is,  my  soul,  out  of Egypt,  and  placed  me  in  this station N.,  vocation  N.,  and office N.,  that  I am  in. Far be it  from  me  when  thou  expectest  of  me  grapes,  that  I should  bring  forth  only  wild grapes.

Oh, that  my  soul  might  be as  a watered  garden,  prolific in good  fruits,  that  is,  in  solid virtues. Away with  showy flowers, that  please  only  the eye, that  is,  false  virtues,  and works that  are  good  only  in appearance,  which  will  wither away  quickly  as  grass. Be rooted  out  every  spurious plant, planted  not  by  the Father of  truth,  but  by  the father of  vanity  and  pride.

Oh, would  that  I might  be like  a tree  planted  near  the running waters,  which  renders thee  its  fruit  in  due  season; lest  if  thou  come,  and find upon  it  no  fruit  of  true to be  cut  down  and  cast  into the fire.