fundamental doctrine, Faith.
If you are sure that God, in the long run, means kindness by
you, you should be happy; and if happy, surely you should be
kind."[67:9]

Here is destiny frowning and destiny smiling, but in each case so real,
so present, as to be immediately responded to with helpless terror and
with grateful warm-heartedness.

The author of the "Imitatio Christi" speaks thus of the daily living of
the Christian:

"The life of a Christian who has dedicated himself to the
service of God should abound with eminent virtues of all
kinds, that he may be really the same person which he is by
outward appearance and profession. Indeed, he ought not only
to be the same, but much more, in his inward disposition of
soul; because he professes to serve a God who sees the inward
parts, a searcher of the heart and reins, a God and Father of
spirits: and therefore, since we are always in His sight, we
should be exceedingly careful to avoid all impurity, all that
may give offence to Him whose eyes cannot behold iniquity. We
should, in a word, so far as mortal and frail nature can,
imitate the blessed angels in all manner of holiness, since
we, as well as they, are always in His presence. . . . And good
men have always this notion of the thing. For they depend upon
God for the success of all they do, even of their best and
wisest undertakings."[68:10]

Such is to be the practical acknowledgment of God in the routine of
life. The more direct response to this presence appears abundantly in
St. Augustine's conversation and reminiscence with God.

"How evil have not my deeds been; or if not my deeds my words;
or if not my words my will? But Thou, O Lord, art good and
merciful, and Thy right hand had respect unto the profoundness
of my death, and removed from the bottom of my heart that
abyss of corruption. And this was the result, that I willed
not to do what I willed, and willed to do what thou
willedst. . . . How sweet did it suddenly become to me to be
without the delights of trifles! And what at one time I
feared to lose, it was now a joy to me to put away. For Thou
didst cast them away from me, Thou true and highest sweetness.
Thou didst cast them away, and instead of them didst enter in
Thyself--sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and
blood; bright