n the
way. Too much we might suppose, to hear pious people talk, that
because of Christ's way we must be miserable and our life an
endless Cross! And so life may be a cross, but He carries it for us.

Do sinful men never suffer? Do the sinful escape disease? and live
for ever without biting the dust in death or disappointment? Why,
disease and suffering are the very twin-children of sin. I am amazed
that people can take such a view of the Cross as to think it an
unhappy, miserable way. For so marvellous is the beauty of such
love that there is no other so desirable a thing upon earth.

"Come, walk the way with Me," says the Beloved; "I am all serenity,
all peace, all might, all power, all love. Come, walk with Me, and
forget thy tiny cares in the peace of My bosom."

* * *

We do not love God because we do not yet know Him. And we do
not know Him because we seek only to know and have our own
desires: and having learnt to know these, we would have our
unknown God accommodate Himself to us and them.

But let us first seek to know God's desires by heart, and then
accommodate our own to His: so shall we learn to be pleasing to
Christ, that He may lead us, whilst here, into His Garden. For to the
creature that ardently pursues God there comes at last a time when
He reveals Himself to the searching soul, saying: "I Am Here.
Come!" Then in secrecy we arise,--and go to Him out of the House
of Vanity into the music of the great Beyond.

There is small credit or virtue to the soul when, in a state of high
grace or nearness, she burns with love for her God: for she is under
the spell of the enticement of His Presence--how can she help but
burn! It is as though two earthly lovers, in full sight and nearness,
are filled each for each with great love, and are content.

But this is a credit to the soul and the creature (as to the earthly
lovers), that in separation and farness they should seek no other, but
continue to dwell with great intentness upon the absent love. This is
fidelity.

At times it is as if her Lord said to the soul: "I have other to do than
to stay by thee; and also thou hast had more than enough to thy
share of My honey"; and, so saying, He departs.

And this is fidelity of the soul and the creature, and a great virtue,
that, without change of face, without complaint or petitioning, they
should with all sweetness continue to pour up to Him their unabated
love. If any can do this, he is a perfect lover an