St. Bernard says, that there is
no more certain mark of God being present in a man's heart, than the desire of still increasing in grace, and he proves it by the saying - with the Wise Man:
"Those that eat me shall still hunger, and those that drink me shall still thirst." (Sirach, 24:21)
Like the Bloodhound, finding the scent, pursues eagerly, and never tires of the pursuit; whoever
smells the sweetness of the divine scent runs after it without ceasing, and cries out with the spouse in the Canticles,
"Draw me after Thee, we will run in the odor of thy divine perfumes." (Cant 1. 8)
St Bernard said he trembled, and his hair stood of an end, as often as he reflected on these words of the Holy Spirit:
" Man knows not whether he deserves love or hatred" (Eccles 9:1) This passage is terrible, says this great saint, "and I shook with horror as often as I thought on it, never without trembling repeating that sentence, Who knows whether he deserves love or hatred?" (Serm. 23 on the Cant.)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence." (Proverbs 9:10)
