earth. Happy — yes, happy indeed — are such souls! ' If I yet pleased men,’ says St Paul, again, 'I should not be the servant of Christ.' [1]
Nevertheless, we must be on our guard here against a certain kind of indifference, which may make us neglect outward actions that would edify our neighbour. People are apt to say, 'What does it matter to me what they think?'; but this is really like saying, ' What does it matter to me if I give scandal? God forbid! We are bound, in all our external acts, to edify others, and to regulate every jot and tittle of what we do; but this must come about simply and naturally, and the glory of it must be given to God.
Again, we must take care not to be satisfied with merely a well-ordered exterior. We must furnish forth the spectacle that God demands — that is, a heart that is seeking Him in its hidden depths.
‘Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.' [2] Hide your alms from even your most intimate friends. ' Shut up alms in the heart of the poor,’ [3] says the wise man. Let even the poor themselves, if possible, not know you. Indeed, if you could, you should hide
