Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/124

 which produces  all  things from nothing,  and  if  it  will, with the  same  ease  will  reduce all  things  to  nothing; which nothing  can  resist,  but all things  obey.

O dreadful omnipotence,  to be  adored  and  worshipped  in religious  silence! Thou, O King  of  ages,  by  thyself  canst do all  things. From thee began, and  on  thee  depends, all the  power,  strength,  fortitude, activity,  and  energy of all  things. Thou hast  created all  things  out  of  nothing, thou  preservest  them by thy  sustaining  influence, and holdest  them,  as  it  were, hanging from  the  hand  of  thy omnipotence, lest  they  should fall hack  to  their  own  nothing, from  whence  they  came forth. Thou, O Lord,  by  thyself canst  give,  and  do,  not only all  that  all  men,  together with the  holy  angels,  can  conceive, but  also  all  that  thy  infinite wisdom  can  think. For thy almighty  power  is  equal to thy  wisdom,  and  extends and diffuses  itself  equally,  because it  is  its  only  rule  and measure. For what  other measure can  there  be  of power  that  is  immense,  but immensity itself?

2. O Lord,  I exceedingly rejoice in  the  greatness  of thy  majesty  and  power,  the thought of  which  leads  me  to beseech  of  thee  to  imprint on my  soul  the  deepest  reverence and  submission  towards thy divine  majesty. It is  my wish  for  thee  to  order  and dispose of  me  and  all  thy creatures according  to  thy will, for  no  one  can  say  to thee,  Why  dost  thou  so? All things are  thine,  and  they are the  works  of  thy  hands.

3. Make  me,  O Lord,  always to  have  before  my  eves the most  certain  truth,  that thou are  constantly  present with me,  and  that  unless  I obey  thy  commandments,  and so never  offend  thee,  I am threatened  with  the  thunderbolt of  eternal  damnation from thy  all-powerful  hand.

Give to  my  heart  a secure confidence towards  thee,  that I may fear  none  but  thee, and that  no  creature  may  be able  to  separate  me  from  thy love. For are  not  all  creatures nothing,  when  compared with  thee? What harm can they  do  me  without  thy permission? But if,  O Lord, thou permittest  any  of  them to afflict  me,  this  will  tend to my  salvation,  and  will  cooperate with  me  for  the  attainment of  eternal  life. And therefore I place  all  my  confidence in  thee,  and  would have it  ever  repose  on  thee, O most mighty  God  and Lord. Amen.

O most wise  God,  thou  art