§ 1. The inordinate Love of Creatures.

RECALL frequently to mind that thou art a Christian, not for the sake of the present but of the future life; 128and, despising earthly and transitory things, transfer thy affections to those which are heavenly and eternal. Thy soul is formed of so noble a nature that this whole world is not sufficient to satisfy it. Transitory and worthless things will never satisfy thee; but God alone, who is the supreme and eternal Good, will satisfy thee. And this will be fulfilled in thee when, being received into heaven, thou shalt see God as He is. There is nothing here on earth but a miserable exile, and bitter winter; in heaven is our true home, and a most delicious summer. How short is this life, however long it may be, compared to eternity! It can hardly be called a moment of time. How quickly do all things in this world pass by, flee away, and decay! If thou attachest thyself to things which pass, thou wilt pass away with them. Attach thyself to God, who remaineth unchanged, and never passeth away. What, I pray, will it avail thee, if, for the present, thou aboundest in riches, honours, and worldly delights and pleasures, and afterwards shouldst be cast into everlasting fire? Reflect within thyself, my friend; think diligently of this.

Make use of creatures here for the honour of God; but beware of clinging to them with faulty affection. Keep thyself free and pure within, as far as thou art able. Do thou refer entirely to the Creator, and to thy heavenly home, whatever beauty, elegance, sweetness, fragrance, melody or perfection, thou perceivest in created things; for all the fairness, sweetness, and perfection of creatures flows from God. Thou mayest indeed receive some solace in God from these created 129things; but them shouldst not cling to them, nor perversely seek in them thy self-will or thy own delight.

Therefore thou shalt not attach thyself with in ordinate love to any man, although he be very pious and holy; nor shalt thou desire that any one should so attach himself to thee, but be content with thy God, and delight in Him. Words cannot express how dangerous and hurtful is an inordinate love and affection towards any one. more especially when a person binds himself to another of different sex by this sort of affection and incautious familiarity. Love thyself and all men in God, and for the sake of God; but love God for His own sake.

I beseech thee, delight in Jesus Christ, thy sweet Creator and Redeemer, thy true riches, thy true and most joyful good. If thou art not able to love Him ardently, love Him as thou canst, and as much as He deigns to give thee grace. Desire that thou mayest be enabled to love Him perfectly by His own merciful will. And if thou feelest not this desire, do thou at least desire to have the desire. Say to thy gracious Lord: “O good Jesus, I ought and I wish to love Thee with my whole heart; deign to supply for me what is wanting to my ardent desire and love.” Thou mayest also say, “O Lord, I ought to be, and I wish to be, humble, resigned, patient, kind, gentle, modest, chaste, sober, active, and devout; do Thou in Thy goodness deign to supply all my deficiencies in these virtues.” For as often as thou shalt thus piously and from thy heart pray to 130Christ Jesus (even if thou shouldst do it a thousand times a day), so often will He doubtless offer Himself to His Father for thee, and perfectly supply thy defects by the love of His Heart, by His humility, resignation, patience, benignity, &c.