1. Be vigilant, and delight in God's service, and often think with thyself, to what end thou camest hither, and why thou didst leave the world: was it not that thou mightest live to God, and become a spiritual man?
Be fervent therefore in thy spiritual progress, for thou shalt shortly receive the reward of thy labours: and then grief and fear shall no more come near thee.
Thou shalt labour now a little, and thou shalt find great rest: yea, everlasting joy.
If thou continue faithful and fervent in working, God will doubtless be faithful and liberal in rewarding.
Thou must preserve a good and firm hope of coming to the crown: but must not think thyself secure, lest thou grow negligent or proud.
2. When a certain person in anxiety of mind was often wavering between hope and fear; and on a time being overwhelmed with grief, had prostrated himself in prayer in the church before a certain altar, he revolved these things within himself, saying: If I did but know that I should still persevere: and presently he heard within himself an answer from God: And if thou didst know this, what wouldst thou do? Do now what thou wouldst then do, and thou shalt be very secure.
And immediately being comforted and strengthened, he committed himself to the divine will, and his anxious wavering ceased.
Neither had he a mind any more to search curiously, to know what should befal him hereafter; but rather studied to enquire what was the will of God, well pleasing and perfect, for the beginning and accomplishing every good work.
Hope in the Lord, and do good, saith the prophet, and inhabit the land, and thou shalt be fed with the riches thereof. Psalms xxxi.