Now that the twelve considerations on the happiness of the blessed have been set forth, I see that one conclusion may be drawn: that the happiness of the blessed is a thing at once greatest and most eminent in itself, and to be desired and procured by all men above all else; but that the way to find and obtain it is most narrow and most laborious, so that unless a man firmly resolve in his own mind to strive and struggle with all his strength, passing over all other things, he can never make his way through it, and much less arrive at the joys he longs for. And to set all this briefly before the eyes, it will be well to run briefly through all those considerations and their chief difficulties, by way of epilogue:
First, then, we considered eternal happiness under the name of the kingdom of God; but we saw annexed to it a very great difficulty from the book of God, because it is written: The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away (Matt. 11).
Next we considered the same happiness under the name of the city of God, or the heavenly City; and there too we noted no small difficulty, because they cannot be citizens of the saints who are citizens of this world (Eph. 2); and it is most difficult to live in the world and not to be of the world.
Thirdly we considered the same happiness under the name of the house of God, in which there are many mansions (John 14); and we noted that the gate of that house is most narrow, so that it cannot be entered without great labor.
Fourthly we considered the same place of beatitude under the name of paradise; but we considered at the same time at how great a price — not of gold or of silver, but of tears or of blood — the Lord purchased it, and the Martyrs, and the Confessors, and indeed all the blessed, both men and women. For it behooved Christ to suffer, and so to enter into His glory (Luke 24).
Fifth, we considered the same happiness under the name of a treasure hidden in a field: and we observed at the same time that it could not be obtained by him who had found it, unless he sold all that he had. (Matt. 13)
Sixth, we considered the same under the name of a precious pearl, for the acquiring of which the buyer likewise had to sell all his goods, so as to be able to purchase it. (Matt. 13)
Seventh, we considered the same under the name of the day's wage (Matt. 20), which was given only to those who labored diligently and unceasingly in the vineyard.
Eighth, we considered the same under the name of the great supper (Luke 14): and we saw that those were not deemed worthy of that supper who were devoted to temporal things.
Ninth, we considered the same under the name of the joy of the Lord: into which those alone were admitted (Matt. 25) who by great labor and solicitude had multiplied the talents committed to them, the rest being sent away into the exterior darkness.
Tenth, we considered the same under the name of the royal wedding feast (Matt. 25), from which all were excluded who, given over to sleep and sloth, did not keep unceasing vigil in good works and in expectation of the heavenly Bridegroom.
Eleventh, we considered the same under the name of the prize (1 Cor. 9), which those alone laid hold of who, not without labor and sweat, ran swiftly and perseveringly for the prize in the stadium.
Twelfth, we considered the same under the name of the crown (1 Cor. 9), which those alone merited who, fighting most valiantly, overthrew the adversary.
Therefore, to whatever side you turn, and under whatever name you consider the heavenly happiness, you will find that it cannot be obtained unless you sweat with all your strength and with every effort of mind and body. Accordingly, let all who wish to be blessed — which no one but a madman can fail to wish — shake off all sluggishness, and gird themselves for laboring in earnest, and for doing all good things, and enduring all evil things, with so great a reward set before them; and let them put no temporal affairs whatever before this great and truly only business, and let them always keep in mind those words of the holy Paul and Barnabas with which they exhorted the Christians: Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14)