Page:AceticLibraryV2PreparationForDeath.djvu/134

 S. Bernard exclaims, "What terrible majesty for vile dust to dare to irritate! The Angelic Doctor is right when he says, " that the sin of man contains a malice almost infinite. Sin has a certain infinity of malice from the infinity of the Divine Majesty." Nay, S. Augustine calls sin absolutely an " infinite evil! " Therefore it is, that if all men, and all angels, were to offer themselves to die, and to annihilation, they would not be able to make satisfaction for one single sin. God punishes deadly sin with the great punishment of hell; but however much God punishes the sinner for it, all theologians agree in saying that God punishes it " Citra condignnm" that is to say, with less punishment than deadly sin deserves. And what punishment can be great enough for a worm that tries to set itself up against its Lord? God is Lord of all, because He has created all things. " All things are in Thy power. .... Thou hast made all things." (Esther xiii. 9, 10, Vulg.) And in fact all creatures obey God: "The winds and the sea obey Him;" (S. Matt. viii. 27.) " Fire and hail, snow and vapours; wind and storm, fulfilling His word." (Ps. cxlviii. 8.) But what does man do when he sins? He says to God, Lord, I do not wish to serve Thee! " I have broken Thy yoke, and burst Thy bands." (Jer. ii. 20.) The Lord says to him, "Revenge not thyself;" and he answers, " I will revenge myself! " " Take not the property of thy neighbour." He replies, " But I wish to take it." " Give up this wicked pleasure." He returns, " I will not give it up! " The sinner says to God, even what Pharaoh said to Moses when he brought him the command from God that he should let the people go. The rash one answered: " Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice ..... I know not the Lord." (Exod. v. 2.) Even thus does the sinner say, " Lord, I know Thee not; I wish to do what pleases me." In short, he despises God, and turns away from Him; and it is indeed committing a deadly sin to turn away from God "A turning away from the unchangeable good," as S. Thomas observes.

Of this does the Lord complain. " Thou hast forsaken me," saith the Lord; " thou art gone backward." (Jer. xv. 6.) Thou hast been ungrateful, says God, thou hast left Me, since I would never have left thee; thou hast turned away from Me. God has