When GOD'S grace has stirred man and wakened him with these three, and has made him to know the peril he is in, then he conceives a terror of GOD'S awful doom: and therethrough, he begins to repent whatever he did ill, and covets to amend himself through GOD'S grace, that stirs him to flee ill and give himself to good: and then comes grace following, to help the goodwill of man to fulfil it in deed. For though man have a good will to do the good, through grace before stirring the good will, yet can he not do indeed without GOD'S grace following and helping: and this the Apostle affirms of himself when he says; "But not I, but the grace of GOD in me"; that is, "the good which I do is naught, but GOD'S grace does it with me"; as if he had said, "I can do no good, unless GOD'S grace help me." GOD'S will is also a handmaiden to grace, to work all her will. GOD'S grace, wherever it be, will not be useless, but ever working and growing more and more, to increase thy reward. Therefore do we as the Apostle counsels us, "We exhort you, brethren, that ye receive not the grace of GOD in vain"; that is, "I pray you and bid you, my brothers in GOD, that ye receive not GOD'S grace in vain." He receives GOD'S grace in vain, that enjoys it not in good, when GOD sends it to him; and therefore perhaps, he shall never after win thereto. Isidore tells of a little fly that is called _Saura_, and this fly betokens grace stirring beforehand. This kind of fly is said to be the enemy of all venomous worms, so that when he sees any worm (going) toward man to sting him when he sleeps in the wilderness; he flies before to the man, and lights upon his face, and bites him a little; and therethrough he wakes before the beast comes to sting him. By this _Saura_ is understood grace that GOD sends to man against the temptations of the fiend, who often stings venomously: it cries unto thee, as the Apostle says; "Awake, thou that sleepest, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." But the unthankful act against this grace, and ruin it: as Virgil did with this little fly that saved him from death. He lay asleep, and an adder came toward him: but this fly Saura flew before, and lighted on his forehead, and pricked him a little, and therewith he wakened; also the adder came; but this Virgil, in his waking, felt his forehead smart, and smote himself on the face; and so he slew the fly, and so repaid him for his service, who saved his life. Therefore do thou not ruin GOD'S grace when it comes to thee, to warn thee of harm and stir thee to good. Glad ought man to be of GOD'S grace, when GOD sends it to him, and to take care full warily of so rich a gift: for grace is earnest-money of that lasting joy which is to come, as the Apostle says: "the grace of GOD is eternal life"; that is, "GOD'S grace is like a help and way to everlasting life." Therefore, He sets grace before us as the way that leads to everlasting joy: and also a pledge, if we keep it