Page:AceticLibraryV2PreparationForDeath.djvu/133



HAT does he do who commits a deadly sin? He insults God, he dishonours God, he embitters God. In the first place, by the deadly sin that he commits, he insults God. As S. Thomas observes, the malice of an injury is measured according to the person that does it and the person who receives it. It is very wicked to insult a peasant, but it is worse to insult a nobleman, and still much worse is it, to insult a monarch. Who is God? He is the King of kings: " Lord of lords and King of kings." (Rev. xvii. 14.) God is of infinite majesty, with respect to Whom all the princes of the earth, the saints, and the angels in heaven, are less than a grain of dust, " As a drop of a bucket .... and as the small dust of the balance." (Isa. xl. 15.) Nay, says Isaiah, compared with the greatness of God all creatures are as the smallest things, even as though they had never been: " All nations before him are as nothing." (Isa. xl. 17.) Even such is God; and who is man? S. Bernard answers, even a sack of worms, and food for worms, who, in a short time, will be devoured by worms, " Miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Rev. iii. 17.) Man is a miserable worm that can do nothing; he is blind, and can see nothing; and poor and naked, and has nothing. And this miserable worm dares to insult God!