the pain of present suffering with the hope of future reward. For he knew that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. For your momentary and light tribulation works for you an eternal weigh t,of glory. And therefore neither hunger, nor nakedness, nor death, nor any creature, were able to separate him from my love; but he fought the good fight, kept the faith, finished his course, and so awaited the crown of justice, which was laid up for him.
Ask, if thou wilt, too, my martyr Laurence, whether he repents that, for a short space of time he exposed his body to tortures, and gave it to be broiled in the fire? Behold, a thousand years and more are now passed away since the sufferings of only one day and one night have requited him with the enjoyment of priceless glory. And how many thousands, how many myriads of thousands of years, are remaining still for that enjoyment to last! Put the same question to all the saints, and thou wilt find, that though none has been crowned without fighting, none would wish that he had not fought. They have all of them sown in tears, and therefore now they reap in joy. They have laboured little, and have gained abundance of repose; they have passed through fire and water, and thereby have been brought out into their refreshment. I have wiped away all tears from their eyes, and now there shall be no more mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow, for the former things are passed away. If, then, they so glorified God in their body, and received the cup of salvation, what shalt thou render to the Lord for all the things that he hath rendered to thee? 1 have stamped thee indeed with the same image, redeemed thee with the same blood, and called thee to the same incorruptible and eternal inheritance laid up for thee in heaven. How, then, is it that, with those saints, thou canst not drink of my chalice? Yet wouldst thou partake with them of my kingdom, wouldst thou be crowned and divide the spoil with those in whose company thou wilt not fight?
Man. I am a wretch that stands, and pants, and sighs after them afar off. I confess that the combats of the saints animate me, that their rewards delight me, and that their example induces me to follow them. To will is present with me, but I find not how to accomplish. Remember, I entreat thee, O Lord, what my substance is. Is not my life a wind? "What can a wretch like me effect, unless thou reach out thy right hand to the work of thy hands? Thou art the strength and the crown of all the saints. By thy co-
