2. Let us, as far as we can, direct our minds to that which is beautiful seemly and good, let us be occupied therein, let us keep it in mind, that by its illumination and brightness our souls may become beautiful and our minds transparent. For if our eyes, when obscured by dimness, are refreshed by the verdure of the fields and are able by the beauty of a grove or grassy hill to remedy every defect of the failing vision, while the very pupils and balls of the eye seem to be coloured with the hue of health: how much more does this eye of the mind, beholding that chief good, and dwelling and feeding thereupon, brighten and shine forth, so as to fulfil that which is written, _My soul shall be satisfied even as it were with marrow and fatness_. Moreover, he who has a skilful knowledge of the souls of his flock, pays attention to wild grasses, that he may obtain much pasturage: for by the sweeter kind of herbage lambs are made fatter, and the milky juice more healthful. On these pastures those _fat ones_ have fed, who _have eaten and worshipped_, for good indeed are those pastures wherein is placed the saint of God. Sidenote: Prov. xxvii. 25. Sidenote: Deut. xxxii. 2. Sidenote: 2 S. Pet. i. 4. 3. There is grass also, whereby the flocks of sheep are nourished, for whence come the fleeces of wisdom, and the clothing of prudence. And perchance this is the _grass of the mountain_, upon which the words of the prophet distil _as the showers upon the grass_, and which the wise man carefully gathers, that he may have a fleece for a covering, that is, for a spiritual garment. And thus proper food and clothing are provided for that soul which cleaves to the chief Good, that Good Which is Divine, and which the Apostle Peter exhorts us to seek for, that by the acquisition of such knowledge we may become _partakers of the Divine nature_. Sidenote: Deut. xxviii. 11, 12. Sidenote: Ib. xxxii. 2. 4. The knowledge hereof the good God opens to His saints, and grants it out of His good treasury, even as the sacred Law testifies, saying, _The Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee and open unto thee His good treasure_. From this heavenly treasure He gives rain to His lands, to bless all the works of thy hands. By this rain is signified the utterance of the Law, which moistens the soul fruitful and fertile in good works, that it may receive the dew of Grace. Sidenote: Ps. xxvii. 4. Sidenote: v. 13. Sidenote: Ps. lxv. 4. Sidenote: Ps. cxxviii. 5.