CHAPTER XI. Second Consideration–on the Excellence of Virtue.

CONSIDER that nothing save holiness and devotion can satisfy your soul
in this world: behold how gracious they are; draw a contrast between
each virtue and its opposite vice; how gracious patience is compared
with vengeance; gentleness compared with anger; humility with pride and
arrogance; liberality with avarice; charity with envy; sobriety with
unsteadiness. It is one charm of all virtues that they fill the soul
with untold sweetness after being practised, whereas vice leaves it
harassed and ill at ease. Who would not speedily set to work and obtain
such sweetness?

In the matter of evil, he who has a little is not contented, and he who
has much is discontented; but he who has a little virtue is gladsome,
and his gladness is for ever greater as he goes on. O devout life! you
are indeed lovely, sweet and pleasant; you can soften sorrows and
sweeten consolations; without you good becomes evil, pleasure is marred
by anxiety and distress: verily whoso knows what you are may well say
with the woman of Samaria, “Lord, give me this water,” [207] an
aspiration often uttered by Saint Theresa and Saint Catherine of Genoa.
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[207] S. John iv. 15.
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