Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/92

 (Habac. in.  18). Say to  Him:  My  Jesus,  I  bless,  and will ever  bless  Thee,  for  granting  me  so  many  favors, when I  deserved  at  Thy  hands  not  favors,  but  chastisements for  the  affronts  I  have  given  Thee. Say to Him,  with  the  sacred  Spouse:  "  All  fruits,  the new  and  the  old,  my  Beloved,  I  have  kept  for  Thee" (Cant. vii.  13). Lord, I  give  Thee  thanks;  I  keep  in memory  all  Thy  bounties,  past  and  present,  to  render Thee praise  and  glory  for  them  forever  and  ever.

But if  thou  lovest  thy  God,  thou  oughtest  to  rejoice more  in  His  blessedness  than  in  thine  own. He who loves  a  friend  very  much  sometimes  takes  more delight in  that  friend's  good  than  if  it  had  been  his own. Comfort thyself,  then,  in  the  knowledge  that thy God  is  infinitely  blessed. Be often  saying  to Him:  My  beloved  Lord,  I  rejoice  more  in  Thy  blessedness than  in  any  good  of  mine;  yes,  for  I  love Thee more  than  I  love  myself.

nother mark  of  confidence  highly  pleasing  to thy  most  loving  God  is  this:  that  when  thou hast committed  any  fault,thou  be  not  ashamed to go  at  once  to  His  feet  and  seek  His  pardon. Consider that God  is  so  greatly  inclined  to  pardon  sinners, that He  laments  their  perdition,  when  they  depart  far from Him  and  live  as  dead  to  His  grace. Therefore does He  lovingly  call  them,  saying:  "  Why  will  you die,  O  house  of  Israel?  Return  ye,  and  live"  (Ezech. xviii.  31,  32). He promises  to  receive  the  soul  that has forsaken  Him,  so  soon  as  she  returns  to  His arms: "  Turn  ye  to  me  .  .  .  and  I  will  turn  to  you" (Zach. i.  3). Oh, if  sinners  did  but  know  with  what tender mercy  the  Lord  stands  waiting  to  forgive them! " The  Lord  waiteth,  that  He  may  have  mercy on  you  "  (Is.  xxx.  18). Oh, did  they  but  know  the desire He  has,  not  to  chastise,  but  to  see  them  converted, that  He  may  embrace  them,  that  He  may