upper hand in all virtuous actions. And all the pains, sorrows, and
persecutions which God makes us suffer at the hands of those who are
enemies to virtue, we shall endure with joy, in honour of God and
for the glory of virtue, and in the hope of obtaining and possessing
justice in purity of heart; for Christ said: "Blessed are those who
are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven." For righteousness preserved in virtue and in virtuous
actions is a coin of the same weight and value as the kingdom of
heaven, and it is by it that we may purchase and obtain eternal
life. By these virtues a man goes forth towards God and towards
himself, in good conduct, virtue, and justice.

ON THE KINGDOM OF THE SOUL

HE who wishes to obtain and preserve these virtues, will adorn,
occupy, and order his soul like a kingdom. Free will is the king of
the soul. It is free by nature, and more free still by grace. It
will be crowned with a crown or diadem named Charity. We shall
receive this crown and this kingdom from the Emperor, who is the
Lord, the sovereign and king of kings, and we shall possess, rule,
and preserve this kingdom in His name. This king, free will, will
dwell in the highest town in the kingdom--that is to say, in the
concupiscent faculty of the soul. He will be adorned and clad with a
robe in two parts. The right side of his robe will be a virtue
called strength, that he may be strong and powerful to overcome all
obstacles and sojourn in the heaven, in the palace of the supreme
Emperor, and to bend with love and ardent self-surrender his crowned
head before the supreme monarch. This is the proper work of charity.
By it we receive the crown, by it we adorn the crown, and by it we
keep and possess the kingdom throughout eternity. The left side of