with unjust treatment." In answer I tell you, first, to remember that anger obscures reason, and prevents us from seeing things as they are. "Fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun." (Ps. lvii. 9.) Secondly, if you return evil for evil, your enemy shall gain a victory over you. ” If," said David, ” I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies." (Ps. vii. 5.) If I render evil for evil, I shall be defeated by my enemies. ” Overcome evil by good. ” Render every foe good for evil. ” Do good," says Jesus Christ, "to them that hate you." (Matt. v. 44.) This is the revenge of the saints, and is called by St. Paulinus, Heavenly revenge. It is by such revenge that you shall gain the victory. And should any of those, of whom the Prophet says, ” The venom, of asps is under their lips" (Ps. cxxxix. 4), ask how you can submit to such an injury, let your answer be: "The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John xviii. 11.) And then turning to God you shall say: ” I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it" (Ps. xxxviii. 10), for it is certain that every cross which befalls you comes from the Lord. “Good things and evil are from God." (Eccl xi. 14.) Should any one take away your property, recover it if you can; but if you cannot, say with Job: ” The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away" (i. 21.) A certain philosopher, who lost some of his goods in a storm, said: ” If 1 have lost my goods I will not lose my peace." And, do you say: If I have lost my property, I will not lose my soul.
12. In fine, when we meet with crosses, persecutions, and injuries, let us turn to God, who commands us to bear them with patience; and thus we shall always avoid anger. "Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour." (Eccl. xxviii. 8.) Let us give a look at the will of God, which disposes things in this manner for our merit, and anger shall cease. Let us give a look at Jesus crucified, and we shall not have courage to complain. St. Eleazar being asked by his spouse how he bore so many injuries without yielding to anger, answered: I turn to Jesus Christ, and thus I preserve my peace. Finally, let us give a glance at our
