14. Wherefore let our soul, wishing to draw near to God, raise herself from the body, and ever adhere to that chief End which is divine, Which is everlasting, _Which was from the beginning_, and _Which was with God_, that is, the Word of God. This is that Divine Being, _in Whom we live and move and have our being_. This is _That which was in the beginning_, the true _I AM_. _For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was not yea nor nay but in Him was yea._ He bid Moses say, _I AM hath sent me_. Sidenote: Ps. cxix. 109. 15. With this Good therefore let our soul be, and if possible, be continually, that each of us may say, _My soul is continually in my hand_. And such will be the case, if it be not in the flesh, but in the spirit, and does not entangle itself in earthly things. For when it turns back to carnal things, then the allurements of the body creep over it, then it swells with rage and anger, then it is pierced with sorrow, then it is lifted up with arrogance, then it is bowed down with grief. Sidenote: S. Matt. v. 44, 45. Sidenote: Ib. 48. Sidenote: Rom. xiii. 10. 16. These are the heavy griefs of the soul by which it is often brought down to death, while its eyes are blinded so that they see not the light of true glory, and the riches of its eternal heritage. But by keeping them always fixed on God, it will receive from Christ the brightness of wisdom, so as to have its vision enlightened by the knowledge of God, and to behold that hope of our calling, and see that which is good and well-pleasing and perfect. For that which is good is well-pleasing to the Father, and that which is well-pleasing is perfect, as it is written in the Gospel, _Love your enemies, that ye may be the children of your Father Which is in heaven, for, He sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust_, which is surely a proof of goodness. Afterwards He concludes by saying, _Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father Which is in heaven is perfect_. For charity is perfect; in short it is _the fulfilling of the Law_; for what can be so good as _charity_ which _thinketh no evil_? Sidenote: Isa. xl. 31. Sidenote: Wisd. ix. 15. Sidenote: Rom. xi. 36. 17. Fly then those regions where dwell envy, ambition, and contention. Therefore let thy mind open itself to receive this Good, that it may mount above the clouds, that it may be _renewed as the eagle_, and like the eagle spread abroad its wings, that with new vigour in its pinions it may fearlessly soar aloft and leave its earthly dwelling-place behind it, _for the earthly habitation weigheth down the mind_. Let it put off old things, let it cast off wandering desires, let it purge its eyes that it may see that Fountain of true wisdom, that Source of eternal life Which flows and abounds with all things and is in want of nothing. For who hath given to Him, seeing that _of Him and through Him and to Him are all things_? Sidenote: Ps. xvi. 2.