us. Far be it from me henceforward not to have God always in my sight; be thou at my right hand, that I may not be moved. Oh, how great a necessity has been pointed out to me for living a good and holy life, since all that I do, always and in all places, is done in the sight of a Judge who beholds all things!
§ 8. Regulation of life or actions, and care of time.
Christ. Take care, then, to do all that thou dost decently, and according to order. For one who knows that some great person is an observer, nay censor of his actions, is earnestly cautious of offending his sight by confusion and disorder in his conduct. How wilt thou act, then, in my presence, who see all that thou dost? First, arrange thy actions in due course, and also lay out for thyself, as far as possible, every hour of the day. Provide what is to be done in each, and do whatever thou dost at the time appointed.
Dost thou wonder at advice of this kind, as though it were too scrupulous and particular? Yet know that whatever is from God is regular. Knowest thou not how great a lover of order am I, who have created all things in due order, weight, and measure? But my enemy, Satan, is a hater of order and author of confusion, for his looks are ever directed to the place where dwells, not order, but everlasting horror. It is, therefore, merely his artifice, when thou art engaged in any holy occupation, to suggest to thee something else to be done and attended to, to distract thee from it. But, to elude him, abandon thyself to the one thing thou art about; cast away or set aside awhile the care of other matters. Do every thing at its proper time. Apply thyself to business as it arises. Matters of greater importance and necessity, those, for instance, which concern my glory and thy own salvation, doubtless require deservedly a due, and the better portion of thy time. Avoid the absurd conduct of many, who bestow the greatest attention on things of the least moment, and the least on those of the greatest. They spend the best part of their time in worldly business and the care of their person, and the worst they reserve for me. Oh, how wrongly they calculate! Hence is it that they are seized with shame; hence they are troubled, and reel like drunken men, and all their wisdom is swallowed up. But thou, do not so, but arrange thy conduct with piety and prudence, and seek first the kingdom of God and his justice; so shalt thou en-
