people and good things, and to ask ourselves why and how this action
and that is good, the more shall we be able to see the goodness of
God. And to see that, even for a moment, is worth all sights in
earth or heaven.

Worth all sights, indeed. No wonder that the saints of old called it
the 'Beatific Vision,' that is, the sight which makes a man utterly
blessed; namely, to see, if but for a moment, with his mind's eye
what God is like, and behold he is utterly good!

No wonder that they said (and I doubt not that they spoke honestly
and simply what they felt) that while that thought was before them,
this world was utterly nothing to them; that they were as men in a
dream, or dead, not caring to eat or to move, for fear of losing that
glorious thought; but felt as if they were (as they were most really
and truly) caught up into heaven, and taken utterly out of themselves
by the beauty and glory of God's perfect goodness. No wonder that
they cried out with David, 'Whom have I in heaven, O Lord, but Thee?
and there is none on earth whom I desire in comparison of Thee.' No
wonder that they said with St. Peter when he saw our Lord's glory,
'Lord, it is good for us to be here,' and felt like men gazing upon
some glorious picture or magnificent show, off which they cannot take
their eyes; and which makes them forget for the time all beside in
heaven and earth.

And it was good for them to be there: but not too long. Man was
sent into this world not merely to see, but to do; and the more he
sees, the more he is bound to go and do accordingly. St. Peter had
to come down from the mount, and preach the Gospel wearily for many a
year, and die at last upon the cross. St. Augustine, in like wise,