The benefits of repressing all Joy in Moral Goods.

Very great benefits result to the soul, provided the Will is restrained from rejoicing in Moral Goods. In the first place, it is delivered from many temptations and illusions of Satan, which rejoicing in our good works secretly involves, as we learn from these words of God to Job: ‘He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.’ * This applies to the evil spirit, for he deceives the soul in the moisture of joy and in the hollowness of the reed, that is, of good works done through vanity. Nor is it strange that the devil should deceive it secretly in this rejoicing; for, independently of the devil’s suggestion, this empty joy is a delusion itself, especially when a feeling of boasting lurks in the heart, as it is written, ‘Thy arrogancy hath deceived thee and the pride of thy heart.’t Can there be a greater delusion than that of boasting? The soul is delivered from it by purifying itself from this joy.

2. The second benefit is that our good works are done with greater deliberation and in greater perfection. If the passion of Joy and satisfaction prevails, no deliberation can be had; for then the irascible and concupiscible faculties are so strong that they will not bend to Reason; and, in general, under their influence we change our works and intentions, taking one thing in hand to-day and another to-morrow, beginning everything and bringing nothing to good effect. If Joy be the main-spring of our work, we shall be inconsistent: some are naturally more so than others; and when our joy ceases, we abstain also from our work, and our intentions are abandoned, however important they may be. With

* Job xl. 16. + Jerem. xlix. 16.

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people of this kind, Joy is the soul and strength of their good works; and when that joy disappears their good works perish; neither do they persevere. These are they of whom Christ saith, that they receive the word with joy, and that the devil takes it away that they may not persevere. ‘They by the wayside are they that hear; then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved.’* Their strength consisted solely in their joy, and therefore to withdraw the will from this joy is an admirable preparation for perseverance and final success. This benefit, then, is as great as is the opposite evil. The wise man regards the substance and benefit of his labour—not the pleasure which it brings: he is not like one beating the air, but he elicits from his good works a durable joy, without demanding the tribute of passing delights.

3. The third benefit is Divine; by quenching this hollow rejoicing we attain to poverty of spirit, which is one of the beatitudes: * Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.’ f

4. The fourth benefit of suppressing this Joy is, that we become gentle, humble, and prudent in our doings. We shall do nothing in a hurry, carried away by the concupiscible and irascible nature of this joy; neither shall we become presumptuous through overvaluing our good works under the influence of it; nor shall we be unconsciously blinded by it.

5. The fifth benefit is that we shall become pleasing unto God and man, delivered from the dominion of avarice and gluttony, spiritual sloth and envy, and a thousand other vices,

* §. Luke viii. 12. + S, Matt. v. 35 -