CHAPTER XV.
THE FOURTH PRIVILEGE OF VIRTUE: THE CONSOLATIONS WITH WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT VISITS THE JUST.
WE might regard charity, or the love of God, as the fourth privilege of virtue, particularly as the Apostle accounts it the first-fruit of the Holy Ghost; but our intention being at present to treat more of the rewards of virtue than of virtue itself, we shall devote this chapter to the consolations of the Holy Ghost, and refer to another part the consideration of charity, the most noble of virtues.
This fourth privilege of virtue is the effect of that divine light of which we spoke in the preceding chapter.
This is the teaching of David when he says: "Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart."[1] The Holy Scriptures furnish abundant proof of this truth. If the path of virtue, O deluded sinner! be as sad and difficult as you represent it, what does the Psalmist mean when he exclaims: "Oh! how great is the multitude of Thy sweetness, O Lord! which Thou hast hidden for them that fear Thee"?[2] And again: "My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall be delighted in His salvation. All my bones" (that is, all the powers of my soul) "shall say: Lord, who is like to Thee?"[3] Do not these texts
