Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/265

 it were  into  a most  spacious theatre. Lastly, why  thou wert redeemed  by  so  many labours of  my  whole  life; and provided,  moreover,  with so many  sacraments  and  aids of heavenly  grace.

For can  it  be  that  I have made for  nought  all  the  children of  men? For what,  then, have I bestowed  upon  them so many  gifts  of  mind  and body? Was it  that  they  might strive to  heap  up  riches? to seek reputation  and  glory? to build  largely  and  magnificently, as  if  they  were  to  live here for  ever;  to  join  house  to house,  and  lay  field  to  field;  to be  engaged  with  farms  and yokes of  oxen; to  be  clothed, in purple  and  fine  linen,  and feast sumptuously  every  day; to spend  their  time  in  pleasure, comfort,  plays,  and amusements; to eat  and drink, and  pass  their  lives  in enjoyment,  imagining  this  to be  their  portion? Away with a thought that  is  so  impious and disproportionate  to  my bounty;  for  I created  man, and redeemed  him,  for  a much  higher  and  nobler  end.

. Praise  the  Lord,  O my  soul! I will praise  thee, O Lord, as  long  as  I live. For, since  thou  needest  not anything, what  is  man  that thou art  mindful  of  him,  or why  hast  thou  set  thy  heart towards him? Didst thou, then, create  us  for  any  need that thou  hast  of  our  goods? Yet what  have  we  that  we have  not  received? Thine, is the  world,  with  all  its  fulness. Thou hast  created  us only  to  display  in  us  the  riches of thy  goodness  and  glory. For since  thy  nature  is  goodness supreme,  it  desires  nothing more  than  to  communicate and  diffuse  itself  around. Who, O Lord,  can  tell  the wonders of  thy  power,  wisdom, and  goodness? What shall I render  to  the  Lord  for all that  he  has  rendered  to me? My soul,  bless  the  Lord, and forget  not  all  his  benefits. Let my  tongue  cleave  to  my laws,  if  I remember  not  my Creator.

Oh, that  thou wouldst be  wise  and  understand, and  know  how  to  estimate rightly  thy  end,  and  the gift of thy  creation! Hear, therefore, and  understand. I gave thee  understanding,  and fixed my  eyes  upon  thee,  that thou mightest  not  be  like  the horse and  mule,  which  have  no understanding  to  know  God their creator; I gave  thee,  I say,  understanding,  that  thou mightst own me  for  thy  Lord and thy  God; a will,  that thou mightst  love  me,  and desire only  heavenly  things; memory, that  thou  mightst be mindful  of  me  and  of  my gifts; a tongue,  that  thou mightst praise  me; and  lastly, all thy  senses  and  faculties, both of  body  and  soul,  that thou mightst  employ  them  all to the  glory  of  my  name; and when thou  shalt  have  faith-