Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/50

 and  Lord  of  the  whole  universe. And yet  how  little  reverence you have  borne  Him  hitherto  I Have  you  not  often  prayed  to Him  carelessly? Have you  never  dishonoured  His  holy  name? Have you  not  often  transgressed  His  commandments? Firmly resolve, then,  that  you  will  for  the  future  honour  the  Lord  your God more,  and  serve  Him  more  zealously. We pay  honour  to God  by  often  thinking  about  Him  and  by  adoring  Him  with  reverence and  devotion. St Patrick  used  to  worship  God  on  his knees three  hundred  times  every  day. Think more  about  your Lord and  Creator,  both  to-day  and  for  the  future,  and  pray  to Him  devoutly  and  from  your  heart. Let everything  you  look  at impel  you  to  say  thus  to  yourself:  “I  praise  Thee,  O great  God, and worship  Thy  power  and  wisdom. As many  stars  as  there are in  the  heavens,  as  many  flowers  as  grow  in  the  field,  as  many leaves as  there  are  on  the  trees,  as  many  drops  as  there  are  in the  ocean,  so  many  times  may  God  be  praised  and  magnified!” God made  the  earth  to  be  the  dwelling-place  of  man,  and has adorned  it  for  him  with  divine  prodigality. He has  given  us much  more  than  is  necessary  for  our  existence. Are the  numberless flowers  which  grow,  necessary  for  life? Could we  not  live without the  many  sorts  of  fruit  that  there  are? Take to  heart, then, how  good  and  generous  God  is  towards  us. Thank Him heartily for  His  gifts,  and  resolve  that  you  will  from  this  day  forward say  your  grace  before  and  after  meals  very  devoutly.

ESIDES the  visible  world,  God  also  created  an  invisible world, namely,  innumerable  spirits,  called  angels. They all came  forth  from  the  hand  of  God  good and  holy,  being  endowed with  excellent  gifts  of  nature  and  grace,  whereby  they might persevere  in  that  state  and  thus  obtain  everlasting  happiness in union  with  God. But they  did  not  all  continue  in  that  state, for, being  possessed  of  free  will,  a great  many  of  them  abused it, lost  the  grace  of  God,  and  became  wicked. They rebelled against God — Lucifer,  their  leader,  saying:  “We  shall  be  like  unto