Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/352

 that in  Him  there  is  only  one  nature,  but  three  persons, the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost;  and  I know  of  no  better  way  to  strengthen  our  faith  than to reflect  what  each  person  of  the  Trinity  has  done for us. What has  God  the  Father  done  for  us? " I  have  loved  you,"  He  says,  "  with  an  eternal love,  and  I  have  drawn  you  out  of  nothing." A million, a  thousand,  a  hundred  years  ago  what  were we? Who thought  of  us? Were we  not  lost  or  forgotten among  the  millions  and  trillions  of  human possibilities? No; there  was  One  who  thought  of  us. We held  a  place  in  the  eternal  knowledge  and  love of the  great  Father  of  all,  and  when  the  time  came He chose  us  and  brought  us  into  existence,  leaving millions of  others  in  their  nothingness  forever. With existence  He  bestowed  on  us  every  blessing which could  make  existence  happy. The heavens and the  glory  thereof,  the  earth,  and  the  sea  and every member  of  the  mineral,  vegetable,  and  animal kingdoms, all  He  created  for  us,  for  our  use  and  for our enjoyment. Then, when  He  saw  we  would destroy ourselves  by  the  abuse  of  the  things  He  had given for  our  use,  He  so  loved  us  as  to  give  up  His only-begotten Son  to  ransom  us. And lest  we should  fall  again  He  has  surrounded  us  on  all  sides with safeguards — He  has  placed  us  in  the  true Church to  imbibe  her  salutary  doctrines,  and  with  her sacraments to  nourish  our  souls  unto  eternal  life. " I  have  loved  you  with  an  eternal  love." We are eternal beings,  not  only  because  we  existed  in  God's knowledge  and  love  from  the  beginning;  not  only  be-