Vol. 2

498 ST. LUKE.charity makes every thing useful and advantageous.Man is hard-hearted even to his friends, when itmust cost him something to assist them ; because,most commonly, it is only either his own satisfaction,or his interest, which he loves in them. God doesgood to all, because he is goodness itself, because hecommunicates his good things without diminishingthem, because he works in all things without beingwearied,and because he loves without the least interest." 9. And I say unto you. Ask, and it shall begiven you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and itshall be opened unto you."A man, in order to offer up a good prayer,mustask with the humility of a beggar, he must seek withthe carefulness of a good servant, and he must knockwith the confidence of a friend. It is either throughpride, hard-heartedness, or want of power, that mensuffer themselves to be importuned by others, andmake them wait for their gifts so long : God does itout of kindness, wisdom, and love, and in order tothe more plentiful effusion of his gifts and mercies;since he himself engages to form in us the piety,perseverance, and other dispositions of prayer, andto proportion thereto the magnificence of his gifts,and the abundance of his graces." 10. For every one that asketh, receiveth ; andhe that seeketh, findeth;itshall be opened."and to him that knocketh,It is by charity that we must ask, seek, and knock:it is by this that we obtain every thing : it is by thisthat we make a good and persevering use of any giftalready received. When we do not receive that