and right, thy whole body will have light; therefore, whether thou eat or drink, or whatever else thou dost, remember to do all to the glory of my name.
Behold a labour that is slight, but whose fruit is without measure; small to the sower, but wonderfully productive of harvest. Behold an art, easy indeed, but one that makes gold out of lead, and of any base metal; that is, draws out and augments the love and grace of God from works that are otherwise bad and unprofitable.
For by means of a right intention, thy works, which were worthless, indifferent, and merely natural in themselves, assume a virtuous and meritorious character, and gain the favour of God: they suffer, too, no loss of temporal advantage, but become both pleasanter and easier to thyself, and more acceptable to me.
Oh, how many are defrauded of the fruit of their labours that are vitiated by corruptness of intention! who usually flatter themselves, notwithstanding, as people who have wrought justice, and take delight in the number of their works; which, however, they do from little love of my glory, or of true religion, but only to be seen of men, or for the rewards of this life rather than of the life which is to come. But it shall be, that when I shall have taken a time, I will judge justice; namely, in the great day, when I shall search Jerusalem with lamps, and will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.
Oh, how much that now is pleasant will then be bitter! how much that glitters now will then be odious! For, before me, a Judge that will render to every one according to their works, and principally according to the intention of their works, — before me, I say, what will many of you have to bring that is worthy of praise or reward? Amen, I say to you, they have already received their reward; they have obtained that which they had desired, that is, the glory of the world, — a famous name, carnal comforts, wealth, favours, dignities: what, then, remains for me to reward? For they who are led to perform even works of piety, rather by the desire of honour or advantage to themselves, than of my glory and of pleasing me, serve, not me, but themselves, the world, and the flesh; how, then, can they presume to claim their reward from me?
See here the vanity of men, who wear themselves out with foolish and fruitless toil. They sow much, and bring in
