the incorruption and immortality of body and soul, the society of Angels, the heavenly city,
glory2692 unfailing, Father and father-land, the former without death, the latter without a
foe. These blessings let us desire with all eagerness, let us ask with all perseverance, not with
length of words, but with the witness of groans. Longing desire prayeth always, though the
tongue be silent. If thou art ever longing, thou art ever praying. When sleepeth prayer?
When desire groweth cold. So then let us beg for these eternal blessings with all eager desire,
let us seek for those good things with an entire earnestness, let us ask for those good things
with all assurance. For those good things do profit him that hath them, they cannot harm
him. But those other temporal good things sometimes profit, and sometimes harm. Poverty
hath profited many, and wealth hath harmed many; a private life hath profited many, and
exalted honour hath harmed many. And again, money hath profiled some, honourable
distinction hath profited some; profited them who use them well; but from those who use
them ill, the not withdrawing them hath harmed them more. And so, Brethren, let us ask
for those temporal blessings too, but in moderation, being sure that if we do receive them,
He giveth them, who knoweth what is expedient for us. Thou hast asked, and what thou
hast asked, hath not been given thee? Trust thy Father, who would give it thee, were it ex-
pedient for thee. Lo! judge in this case by thine own self. For such as thy son who knows
not the ways of men is in regard to thee, such in regard to the Lord art thou thyself, who
knowest not the things of God. Lo, thy son cries a whole day before thee, that thou wouldest
give him a knife, or a sword; thou dost refuse to give it him, thou wilt not give it, thou dis-
regardest his tears, lest thou shouldest have to bewail his death. Let him cry, and beat himself,
or throw himself upon the ground, that thou mayest set him on horseback; thou wilt not
do it, because he does not know how to govern the horse, he may throw and kill him. To
whom thou refusest a part, thou art reserving the whole. But that he may grow up, and
possess the whole in safety, thou givest him not that little thing which is full of peril to him.
8. And so, Brethren, we say, pray as much as ye are able. Evils abound, and God hath
willed that evils should abound. Would that evil men did not abound, and then evils would
not abound. Bad times! troublesome times! this men are saying. Let our lives be good; and
the times are good. We make our times; such as we are, such are the times. But what can we
do? We cannot, it may be, convert the mass of men to a good life. But let the few who do
give ear live well; let the few who live well endure the many who live ill. They are the corn,
they are in the floor; in the floor they can have the chaff with them, they will not have them
in the barn. Let them endure what they would not, that they may come to what they would.
Wherefore are we sad, and blame we God? Evils abound in the world, in order that the world
may not engage our love. Great men, faithful saints were they who have despised the world
with all its attractions;2693 we are not able to despise it even disfigured as it is. The world is
2692 Dignitas.
2693 Speciosum.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xvii. 19, ‘Why could not we cast it out’?…