May 14

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.—

If any one in this world is possessed of a treasure, with that treasure he purchases whatever he has a mind to. Whatsoever he is desirous of he compasses with ease, and readily procures all possessions that suit his inclinations. So also they who have found the heavenly treasure of the Spirit, the Lord shining in their hearts, fulfill that entire extent of goodness there is in the commandments of the Lord, from that treasure that is within them, Christ; and by means of that do they amass together a large store of heavenly wealth. For by means of the heavenly treasure do they work every virtue in the whole circle of righteousness, and every commandment of the Lord, by the help of the invisible riches of the grace within them.

Whoever, therefore, possesses this heavenly treasure of the Spirit, he fulfills in his spirit all the righteousness of the commandments, and the complete practice of the virtues, without blame, and in purity; moreover without compulsion or difficulty. Then let us beseech God, and seek diligently unto him and pour out our supplications unto him, that he would freely grant unto us the treasure of his Spirit, that we may be enabled to walk in all his commandments without reproof and without blemish, and fulfill all the righteousness of the Spirit in purity and perfection.

For he that is poor, and naked, and a beggar, can purchase nothing in the world: but he that has a treasure to command, without trouble is master of what possession he pleases. So the soul that is naked, and destitute of God, can not, would it ever so fain, produce any of the fruits of the Spirit of righteousness in truth and reality, before it actually partakes of the Spirit itself.

It behooves every one therefore to oblige himself by force to petition to the Lord, that he may receive the heavenly treasure of the Spirit, so as without difficulty to be able to perform all the commandments of the Lord, blameless and in purity; which before, even with violence, he could never do. For being poor and destitute of the communication of the Spirit, how should he come by such spiritual possessions? But the soul which, by faith and much patience, produceth the fruits of the Spirit, and performs all the righteousness and commandments of the Lord, which the Spirit hath commanded, in and by it, with purity, and free from blame.

We ought therefore to beg of God with earnestness of heart, that he would grant unto us his riches, the true treasure of Christ, in our hearts, in the power and efficacy of the Spirit. And thus having found first within ourselves salvation and eternal life, we shall then profit others also, producing from that treasure of Christ within us, all the goodness of spiritual discourses, and declaring heavenly mysteries. For so it pleaseth the good will of the Father, that he should dwell with every one that believeth. "He that loveth me," saith Christ, "shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." And again, "We will come unto him, I and my Father, and make our abode with him." Thus did the infinite kindness of the Father's will. Thus was the inconceivable love of Christ pleased. And thus did the unspeakable goodness of the Spirit promise. Glory be to the tender mercies of the Holy Trinity, which surpass all expression!