Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/270

 fishes of  the  sea,  which  pass  through  the  paths  of  the sea." (Ps.  viii.  5,  8.)  "If  there  be  such  delight  in  the earth, which  is  man's  prison-house,"  exclaims  St.  Augustine, "  what  must  there  be  in  our  future  palace?"

II. Not content  with  having  provided  all  these  things for you,  God' condescends  to  concur  with  creatures  for your advantage. In the  fire  He  warms  you;  He  enlightens you  in  the  sun;  in  the  air  He  refreshes  you;  and  He feeds  you  in  your  food. Say, therefore,  with  St.  Augustine, "  As  there  is  no  hour  or  moment,  O  Lord,  in  which I  do  not  enjoy  your  benefits,  so  ought  there  to  be  no moment  in  which  you  are  not  present  before  my  eyes  by remembrance,  and  in  which  I  do  not  love  you  with  all my  strength."

III. God has  bestowed  other  benefits  on  you  that  belong to  the  mind. Such are  good  education,  parental care, the  counsel  and  example  of  the  virtuous,  the  endowments of  knowledge,  the  conveniences  of  life,  perhaps with  little  labor  of  yours,  which  others  have  to  obtain with  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  and  sometimes  at  the imminent danger  of  losing  their  souls. Say with  the Psalmist, "  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  the things  that  He  hath  rendered  to  me?" (Ps. cxv.  3.)  He desires  nothing  in  return  but  yourself. " My  son,"  He says,  "give  Me  thy  heart." (Prov. xxiii.  26.)

I. In  order  that  you  may  the  better  understand  the extent of  this  benefit,  reflect  how  miserable  you  would be were  you  to  become  a  slave  to  some  cruel  tyrant,  who should force  you  to  endure  perpetual  imprisonment, hunger, and  thirst,  and  frequent  scourges. Remember