Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/77

 us new  men;  it  is  that  gift  by  which  we  are  as  we  are,  if, however, we  are  something  before  God,  as  the  Apostle says, w  By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am."

Yet, nevertheless  (so  strange  it  is),  it. is this  same  gift which, through  our  stubborn  ignorance,  we  know  not  of, and which,  through  our  unbearable  ingratitude,  we  receive every day  in  vain.

Alas! of what  use  is  it  to  acknowledge  its  greatness  and merit if  we  abuse  it  nearly  every  moment  of  our  life.

It is  for  that,  that  our  Saviour,  speaking  to  the  Samaritan woman, chided  her  ignorance  by  saying,  *  Ah! woman, if you  had  known  the  nature  and  excellence  of  the  gift  of God."

Grace triumphant  must,  so  to  speak,  be  subject  to  us. Be not  shocked  at  this  term,  for  it  derogates  nothing  from the dignity  of  grace. It must  be  so  subject  to  us  as  to well-nigh  weary  the  patience  of  God,  who  waits  for  us  for years without  interfering  with  our  free-will. It selects  the place and  time;  it  seizes  the  most  favourable  opportunity to win  us;  it  is  the  first  to  warn  us,  and,  far  from  taking something away  from  us  by  force  or  violence,  it  entreats us with  prayers  and  mild  remonstrances,  it  accommodates itself to  our  weaknesses,  adjusts  itself  to  our  humour,  and if at  last  it  makes  us  realise  the  blessings  of  heaven  and  the contempt for  earthly  joys,  it  is  only  after  having  convinced us by  innumerable  trials  of  the  solidity  of  the  one  and  the frailty of  the  other.

BOURDALOUE.

''On the Samaritan  Woman.