Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/50



Pere Nepveu and  Father  Faber.

— Psalm x.

God sees  me. Ah, what  a  phrase  is  this  for  him  who understands it  well! How capable  it  is  to  control  our passions, to  moderate  our  desires,  to  prevent  us  from  sinning, to  sustain  our  courage,  to  animate  our  fervour,  to regulate  our  conduct!

God sees  me. He is  ever  present,  always  mindful  of  me, thinks ever  of  me;  whereas  I  heed  Him  not,  I  am  not attentive to  Him,  I  never  think  of  Him. Oh! shame, shame!

God sees  me. With what  respect  and  modesty  ought  I not  to  behave  in  His  presence! The seraphim  hide  their faces with  their  wings,  and  I,  a  mere  worm  of  the  earth,  do not  tremble.

God sees  me. Shall I  dare,  in  the  presence  of  Thy glance so  infinitely  pure,  commit  deeds  which  I  dare  not even show  to  man? Shall I  dare  to  sin  in  Thy  presence, knowing that  sin  and  the  sinner  is  hated  by  Thee,  and  to condemn  the  sinner  Thou  hast  no  wish?

God sees  me. He penetrates  into  the  innermost  recesses of my  heart;  He  sees  therein  every  desire,  and  discerns every intention. With what  purity  of  intention  then  ought I not  to  perform  every  action.

God is  present  not  only  by  the  immensity  of  His  being,