Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/308

 Knowing Himself  from  all  eternity,  in  the  most  perfect manner by  intuitive  vision,  He  begets  from  all  eternity  a perfect  image  of  Himself,  "the  image  of  God  and  the figure  of  His  substance." (2 Cor.  iv.  4,  and  Heb.  i.  3.) This image  is  the  eternal  Word,  distinct  from  the  Father, but being  a  perfect  image  of  His  substance,  is  of  the same nature. These two  perfect  beings  of  the  same nature are  necessitated  to  love  each  other  from  all  eternity; this  mutual  love  which  they  "breathe"  towards each other  is  the  Divine  Spirit. Thus the  Father  communicates to  the  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  His  entire  nature without division,  retaining  His  own  proper  personality uncommunicated, while  the  Holy  Ghost  proceeds  from them both. Admire and  adore  this  most  profound  mystery, exercise  your  faith  in  acts  upon  it,  and  acknowledge the weakness  of  the  human  intellect,  in  attempting  to comprehend  the  immensity  of  the  Divinity. Say with the Apostle  of  nations,  "  O  the  depth  of  the  riches  of the  wisdom  and  of  the  knowledge  of  God!" (Rom. xi. 33)

II. Although all  the  external  works  of  God,  are  common to  the  three  persons  of  the  Trinity;  the  works  of omnipotence,  nevertheless,  are  appropriated  to  the Father; such  as  are,  creation,  preservation  and  providence. Hence, you  should  learn  how  much  you  ought  to love  that  Being,  Who  has  created  you,  Who  preserves  you, and Who  for  your  sake  has  formed  this  admirable  world. Learn, too,  how  much  reason  you  have  to  fear  that  Being, " that  can  destroy  both  body  and  soul  in  hell." (Matt. x. 28.)

III. This eternal  Father,  so  great  and  incomprehensible, has  stooped  so  low  beneath  Himself,  as,  for  love  of His  poor  insignificant  vassals,  to  condescend  to  make  us His  adopted  children  and  heirs  of  heaven. " The  Father