land, amid suffering and affliction and a hard struggle for existence, you miss the kind parents who have been long sleeping in the grave remember that even then you are not an orphan. Has not Christ Himself taught us to pray: Our Father, Who art in heaven?
In this world the sons of men
Are beloved by parents twain;
God is one alone, yet when
Parents forsake, He will remain
XXXI. The Pledge of Blessing
I. AS a young man, enjoying life, you be hold the future spread out before you clad in roseate hues. "What you ardently desire for yourself and what your parents and spiritual directors desire for you from the bottom of their hearts, is that good fortune, happiness, and well-being may perpetually encompass your path. But will these wishes be accomplished, will the sun of prosperity perpetually shine upon you, will the blessing of God accompany you in all your ways? What a joy it would be for you, could all these questions be answered in the affirmative, and a pledge, a surety be given you for all this!
Well, it is possible for you to enjoy this satisfaction! God himself has given you, in the fourth commandment, a certain pledge of happiness and blessing. "Honor thy father and mother as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, that thou mayest live a long time, and it may be well with thee in the land, which the Lord thy God will give thee" (Deut. v. 16).
