Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/85

 trembling with  dread, — it  would  be  a  greater  to  think that conversing  with  God  is  but  weariness  and  bitterness. No, it  is  not  so:  "  Her  conversation  hath no  bitterness,  nor  her  company  any  tediousness" (Wisd. viii.  16). Ask those  souls  who  love  Him with a  true  love,  and  they  will  tell  thee  that  in  the sorrows of  their  life  they  find  no  greater,  no  truer relief, than  in  a  loving  converse  with  God.

Now this  does  not  require  thee  continually  to apply  thy  mind  to  it,  so  as  to  forget  all  thy  employments and  recreations. It only  requires  of  thee, without putting  these  aside,  to  act  towards  God  as thou  dost  act  on  occasion  towards  those  who  love thee, and  whom  thou  lovest.

Thy God  is  ever  near  thee,  nay,  within  thee:  "  In Him  we  live,  and  move,  and  be"  (Acts  xvii.  28). There is  no  barrier  at  the  door  against  any  who  desire to  speak  with  Him,  nay,  God  delights  that  thou shouldst treat  with  Him  confidently. Treat with Him of  thy  business,  thy  plans,  thy  griefs,  thy  fears, — of all  that  concerns  thee. Above all,  do  so  (as  I have  said)  with  confidence,  with  open  heart. For God is  not  wont  to  speak  to  the  soul  that  speaks not to  Him;  forasmuch  as,  if  she  be  not  used  to  converse with  Him,  she  would  little  understand  His voice when  He  spoke  to  her. And this  is  what  the Lord complains  of:  "  Our  sister  is  little:  what  shall we  do  to  our  sister  in  the  day  when  she  is  to  be spoken  to?" (Cant. viii.  8.)

Our sister  is  but  a  child  in  My  love;  what  shall  we do  to  speak  to  her  if  she  understand  Me  not? God will have  Himself  esteemed  the  Lord  of  surpassing power and  terribleness,  when  we  despise  His  grace; but, on  the  contrary,  He  will  have  Himself  treated with as  the  most  affectionate  Friend,  when  we  love Him; and  to  this  end  He  would  have  us  often  speak with Him  familiarly  and  without  restraint.

It is  true  that  God  ought  always  to  be  revered  in