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their perpetual thraldom, in which both of them always exist,
but in the hope, which one always has, and the other never.

540. The hope which Christians have of possessing an infinite good is
mingled with real enjoyment as well as with fear; for it is not as with
those who should hope for a kingdom, of which they, being subjects, would
have nothing; but they hope for holiness, for freedom from injustice, and
they have something of this.

541. None is so happy as a true Christian, nor so reasonable, virtuous, or
amiable.

542. The Christian religion alone makes man altogether lovable and happy. In
honesty, we cannot perhaps be altogether lovable and happy.

543. Preface.--The metaphysical proofs of God are so remote from the
reasoning of men, and so complicated, that they make little impression; and
if they should be of service to some, it would be only during the moment
that they see such demonstration; but an hour afterwards they fear they have
been mistaken.

Quod curiositate cognoverunt superbia amiserunt.91

This is the result of the knowledge of God obtained without Jesus Christ; it
is communion without a mediator with the God whom they have known without a
mediator. Whereas those who have known God by a mediator know their own
wretchedness.

544. The God of the Christians is a God who makes the soul feel that He is
her only good, that her only rest is in Him, that her only delight is in
loving Him; and who makes her at the same time abhor the obstacles which
keep her back and prevent her from loving God with all her strength.
Self-love and lust, which hinder us, are unbearable to her. Thus God makes
her feel that she has this root of self-love which destroys her, and which
He alone can cure.

545. J