Vol. 2

CHAPTER XVI. 593judged, concerning the use they have made of theirnatural talents, and of supernatural gifts, which bothbelong to God; concerning the employment of theirunderstanding, time, and wealth ; and concerningthe use which they either have or have not made ofJesus Christ, of his graces and mysteries, and of thesacraments, and all the helps of religion. Let ustherefore make use of all these talents, as personswho must give a strict account of them." 3. Then the steward said within himself, Whatshall I do ? for my lord taketh away from me thestewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed."What remains to a soul which has lost God andhis grace, but only sin and the consequences thereof,a proud poverty, and a slothful indigence; that is, auniversal inability as to labour, prayer, and everygood work conducting to salvation ? He is exceedingrich in the sight of God, who knows perfectlyhow to pray to him, all true riches being obtainedby prayer. It is a double poverty to want everything, and to be able to ask nothing." 4>. I am resolved what to do, that, when I amput out of the stewardship, they may receive me intotheir houses."Few persons are seriously concerned who shallreceive their soul after their death, and supply itswants ;but the generality of men are very earnest inseeking a retreat for this miserable body which mustrot. There is nothing which they are unwilling todo, no industry which they will not employ, to securethemselves from temporal poverty ; that of the soulis the only poverty of which they are insensible, andthe only reason why they are so, is because they are