r it will be
a magnificent comfort in the hour of death to know that we are on our way
to be judged by Him whom we have loved above all things. We are not
going to a strange country, since it is His country whom we love and who
loves us. These things being so, I have this very day solaced my soul
with our Lord, and have made my moan to Him in this manner. O my Lord,
why keepest Thou Thy servant in this miserable life so long, where all is
such vexation, and disappointment, and manifold trouble? And not only
keepest me so long in this banishment, but so hidest Thyself from me. Is
this worthy of Thee and of Thy great goodness? Were I what Thou art, and
wert Thou what I am, Thou wouldest not have to endure it at my hands. I
beseech Thee, O my Lord, to consider that this is a kind of injury and
wrong to proceed after this manner with one who loves Thee so much. This
and the like have come into my heart to say: though my bed in hell better
becomes me than so to speak to my Lord. At the same time, the love I
bear my Lord sometimes so consumes me that I am beside myself, till I
scarce know what I say or do; and then I find myself making such
unbecoming complaints that I am amazed our Lord endures them at my hands.
Eternal praise to so good a Lord!

ON THE LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR

There are only two duties that our Lord requires of us,--the love of God,
and the love of our neighbour. And, in my opinion, the surest sign for
discovering our love to God is our love to our neighbour. And be assured
that the further you advance in the love of your neighbour, the further
you are advancing in the love of God likewise. But, oh me, how many
worms lie gnawing at the roots of our love to our neighbour! Self-love,
self-esteem, fault-finding, envy, anger, impatience, scorn. I assure you
I write this with great grief, seeing myself to be so miserable a sinner
against all my neighbours. Our Lord, my sisters, expects works.
Therefore when you see any one sick, compassionate her as if she were
yourself. Pity her. Fast that she may eat. Wake that she may sleep.
Again, when you hear any one commended and praised, rejoice in it as much
as if you were commended and praised yourself. Which, indeed, should be
easy, because where humility truly is, praise is a torment. Cover also
your sister's defects as you would have your own defects and faults
covered and not exposed. As often as occasion offers, lift off your
neighbour's