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172 God and Very Man. Consider the greatness of His sufferings and His ignominy, which would have exceeded the deserts of the lowest criminal in the world. Behold your Lord, not only preserving calmness, and marvellously patient, but rejoicing as at His nuptials; and as a little water sprinkled on a fire serves but to quicken the flame, so with the increase of His agonies, which to His overflowing Love seemed little, did His joy increase, and His eager desire to suffer still more. Bear in mind, too, that your most merciful Lord did and suffered all this, not from necessity nor for any advantage to Himself, but (as He has told you) from the motive of love for you, and in order that you might have His example to help you in gaining the virtue of patience. Endeavour, then, to acquire a perfect knowledge of what He desires of you, and of the delight He takes in seeing you exercise yourself in this virtue. Make acts of ardent desire to bear, not only without complaint, but even with joy, your present cross and all others which may be your lot, even if they are heavier, that you may become more like your God, and give Him greater comfort. Picture to yourself the shame and bitterness He endured for your sake, and His stedfastness and patience; and then, avow to your shame that your patience is hardly to be called a