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 with Christ. I hope, therefore, to  see  the  good  things of the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the living. For how  can  it  be that  thou  wilt  reject  me,  O infinite  Goodness,  when  thou callest me  in  so  many  ways? Lost thou  invite  me  and  draw me to  thee  thus,  and  yet  wilt thou suffer  me  to  faint  by  the way? In thee,  O Lord,  have I hoped; let me  not  be  confounded for  ever. This hope is laid  up  in  my  bosom. In all my difficulties  this  strengthens my  heart,  so  that  I faint not in  my  troubles. For I believe  that  my  Redeemer lives, and  that,  when  he  shall bring me  into  his  kingdom, he will  fill  me  with  joy  with his countenance. Oh, hope that does  not  make  ashamed  1 Oh, how  great  a solace  in trial  is  the  hope  of  so  great  a reward!

Inflame my  heart,  O most tender Father,  with  thy  love; so will  it  not  be  hard  to  do thy  will  and  obey  thy  commandments. For to  one  who loves nothing  is  impossible, or even  difficult; for  love  is strong  as  death. Oh, that  it may  fill  and  rule  my  heart! For hence  there  will  spring and grow  up  between  thee and me  such  a conformity  of conduct  and  union  of  will, that my  will  will  be  the  same as thine,  and  there  will  be no  more  rebellion  of  my  will against thine,  but  all  my  will shall be  in  thy  law. But what mark  of  true  love  and friendship can  be  plainer  than this? Who is  he  that  loves thee, but  he  who  has  thy commandments, and  keeps them? The exhibition  of  it in  practice  is  the  certain  proof of love.

The soul  is  supported  by temperance, .as  the  body  by food; nay,  a sober  and  moderate diet  is  useful  both  to body  and  soul. Grant me, therefore, with  the  bridle  of right  reason,  to  curb  the  use of the  pleasures  that  belong to this  life,  lest  perhaps  my heart  be  overcharged  with surfeiting and  gluttony,  and my corruptible  body  weigh down my  soul,  that  should muse upon  heavenly  things. Rightly do  I to  ask  for  this daily food,  for  the  bait  of  pleasure lurks  and  is  every  where ready to  ensnare  us  under  almost all  the  creatures  that  we daily  use.

Justice is,  to  give  every  one his due. Now, what  do  we owe  our  neighbour,  but  to  love one another,  to  bear  one  another’s burdens,  and  so  fulfil