Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/81



OLY Job  was  struck  with  wonder  to  consider our God  so  devoted  in  benefiting  man,  and showing the  chief  care  of  His  Heart  to  be to  love  man  and  to  make  Himself  beloved  by  him. Speaking to  the  Lord,  he  exclaims:  "  What  is  man, that  Thou  shouldst  magnify  him,  or  why  dost  Thou set  Thy  Heart  upon  him?" (Job vii.  17.)  Hence  it is  clearly  a  mistake  to  think  that  great  confidence and familiarity  in  treating  with  God  is  a  want  of reverence  to  His  Infinite  Majesty. Thou oughtest indeed. O devout  soul,  to  revere  Him  in  all  humility, and abase  thyself  before  Him;  specially  when  thou dost call  to  mind  the  unthankfulness  and  the  outrages whereof,  in  past  times,  thou  hast  been  guilty. Yet this  should  not  hinder  thy  treating  with  Him with the  most  tender  love  and  confidence  in  thy power. He is  Infinite  Majesty;  but  at  the  same time He  is  Infinite  Goodness,  Infinite  Love. In God thou  dost  possess  the  Lord  most  exalted  and supreme; but  thou  hast  also  Him  who  loves  thee with the  greatest  possible  love. He disdains  not, but delights  that  thou  shouldst  use  towards  Him that confidence,  that  freedom  and  tenderness,  which children use  towards  their  mothers. Hear how  He invites  us  to  come  to  His  feet,  and  the  caresses  He promises  to  bestow  on  us:  "You  shall  be  carried  at