han he; and he certainly would not
exchange with him. So also in heaven. Every one is there satisfied
with his own degree of glory, because it suits himself, and gratifies
all the rational cravings of his nature. Not only are the lowest
without envy, and perfectly satisfied with their degree of glory, but
they even rejoice at the higher glory of others. For they see that
those who enjoy the highest glory of heaven have deserved it by the
heroic virtues they practised while on earth.

Christian soul, I suppose that now you understand something of the
degrees of enjoyment in heaven, and that you are filled with noble
ambition to reach a high degree of union with God. You no doubt
desire to see your whole nature so elevated as to have the most
perfect enjoyment of God himself, and of the creatures in store to
rejoice the glorified senses of the just. Set to work in good earnest
to live a holy life; for it is by so doing that we deserve the
highest powers of enjoyment. A few days of labor and struggle, a few
days of self-denial, a few days of suffering, and then, the
undisturbed possession and enjoyment Of God himself, and of His
beautiful and pure creatures, forever! This is what is in store for
them that practise virtue and persevere unto the end.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE GLORY OF JESUS AND MARY.

Before entering upon the contemplation of the excellent glory which
surrounds the blessed in heaven, we must endeavor to form a correct
idea of God's grace, which enabled them to perform the great and
noble actions we are now to consider. They were all, except Jesus and
Mary, conceived in sin, and, therefore, subject to the same
temptations that daily assail us. They never could have triumphed and
reached the supernatural glory which now surrounds them, had they
been left to their own natural strength, or rather, weakness.

When we enter a well-cultivated garden, filled with flowers of every
shade of color and every degree of beauty, it never enters into our
minds that they grew so of themselves, or gave to themselves their
delicate and exquisite perfumes. We know that the skill of the
gardener had something to do with their growth and beauty; we know,
moreover, that rain and sunshine, the quality of soil, and other
natural influences, did what was totally beyond the power of the
gardener; and finally we come to God, who is, ultimately, the sole
Author of their very life, growth, and perfection.

We are now to enter God'