Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/234

 that are  of  a contrite  heart. Consider, therefore,  who,  and how great,  and  how  powerful and  good,  is  thy  helper  in heaven; that  he  is  God,  and that he  is  himself  thy  Father. Fear not,  then,  in  this  conflict, but  confide  in  the  fatherly love  of  God  towards thee, and  say  with  the  Prophet, The  Lord  is  the  protector of  my  life,  of  whom shall I be  afraid? And then, in first  repeating,

Aim thy  weapon  against pride, which  is  the  first  head of the  beast. For since  pride, which is  the  beginning  of  all sin, instigates  us  to  vainglory, or  the  love  of  our  own honour, praise,  and  pre-eminence, it  will  be  wise  in  us  to dispel  the  pestilent  humour, by referring  all  praise  and glory to  him  who  alone  is  of himself  truly  holy  and  great, and therefore  alone  is  justly to be  praised  and  glorified. Let us  say,  then,  O our  heavenly Father,  hallowed  be  thy (not our)  name; be  thy  name confessed holy,  and  in  all things praised  and  glorified by all  men.

For this  is  truly  right  and just, whereas,  on  the  contrary, nothing  is  more  misplaced than  for  the  sinner to exalt  himself,  and  seek for honour  and  praise,  who is dust  and  ashes,  corruption and  a worm,  by  arrogating  to  himself  what  belongs to  God  alone; for, says the  apostle,  To  God alone be  honour  and  glory. The prophet,  too,  expresses his utter  aversion  to  human glory, in  saying,  Not  to  us, O Lord, not  to  us,  but  to  thy name give  glory.

Let this  too  be  our  feeling in  saying. Hallowed be thy  name. For if  we  ourselves seek  not  our  own glory, another  will  seek  it; if in  and  by  all  things  we honour  God  alone,  he  will honour them  that  honour him; but upon  them  that  despise him,  he  will  bring  ignominy and  disgrace. They shall be  covered  with  shame who arrogate  to  themselves the glory  that  is  due  to  God.

2. When  the  head  of  pride has been  struck  down  and crushed, the  devil  often  resorts to  the  incitements  of avarice,  and  with  persuasion proposes gain  next  to  honour for  an  object  of  pursuit. Hence he  inflames  men’s minds with  longing  for  this world’s goods,  and  makes  it his  sole  endeavour  to  cause them to  spend  their  whole lifetime in  acquiring  and preserving them,  to  place their hope  in  them,  and  to estimate  their  happiness  by the  greatness  of  their  wealth.

On the  other  hand,  reflecting how  vain,  fleeting,  and insufficient to  satisfy  the  heart of man  are  these  things,  and that God  has  promised,  as