by vanquishing my sloth, and embracing spiritual alacrity and fervour in the service of God.
1. For the works of virtue will be easy and sweet to me; I shall labour little and thrive much in a little time, like those workmen who, coming late into the vineyard, laboured so fervently that they deserved as much in " one hour" as the remiss did that had laboured many hours, bearing " the burden of the day, and the heat," [1] which they would not have felt if they had fervently laboured; for the fervour of the spirit makes the burden of the law easy, and the yoke of it very sweet And, besides this, it augments merit, it doubles the talents received, it causes great peace in the soul, and much confirms perseverance to the obtaining of glory.
2. I may also consider how God our Lord exceedingly delights in being served with zeal and readiness, for as He is essentially alacrity itself, and as all the works He does and the rewards He gives us are done with great joy and fervour, rejoicing [2] to do us good, most justly does He command me to serve Him, and give Him what He requires, not with disgust and sadness, not by force and with repugnance, but with fervency and " exceeding great joy" of heart [3] "Hilarem enim datorem diligit Deus;" "For God loveth a cheerful giver." [4] To such an one He does great favours, and hears the petitions and " requests" of his " heart." [5] And finally He gives him a taste of that alacrity that is enjoyed in heaven, because he fulfils God's will upon earth. And therefore I will most earnestly beg of God our Lord this most noble spirit of joyful fervour in His service, saying to Him with David,
Colloquy. — " Eestore unto me the joy of Thy salvation," and " take not Thy Holy Spirit from me," [6] O Saviour of the world, that rejoicedst as " a giant to
