Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/97

 akin to  despair  about  his  salvation. A confessor, to  whom  he  opened  his  mind,  told  him  to go,  take  his  Bible,  and  write  out  all  the  texts  in which  God  calls  Himself  his  Father. He did so, and  was  blessed  with  calm  and  peace  before he had  written  twenty."

The following  extracts  from  the  Sacred  Scriptures reveal  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God. Like the  psalms  of  David,  which  you  ought  to read  and  meditate  upon,  they  confirm  us  in  our hope.

"Say to  them:  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God, I  desire  not  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but  that the  wicked  turn  from  his  way,  and  live"  (Ezech xxxiii.  n).

"The Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save that  which  was  lost"  (Luke  xix.  10).

"Behold what  manner  of  charity  the  Father hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should  be called,  and  should  be  the  sons  of  God"  (i John  iii.  i).

"But I  say  to  you:  Love  your  enemies,  do good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them that  persecute  and  calumniate  you;  that  you may  be  the  children  of  your  Father  who  is  in heaven,  who  maketh  the  sun  to  rise  upon  the good  and  bad,  and  raineth  upon  the  just  and unjust.  ...  Be  you  perfect  as  also  your heavenly  Father  is  perfect." — Words  of  our blessed Saviour  (Matt.  v.  44,  45,  48).

"Yea, I  have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting love;  therefore  have  I  drawn  thee,  taking  pity on  thee"  (Jer.  xxxi.  3).

u The  Lord  is  gracious  and  merciful;  patient and plenteous  in  mercy."

"The Lord  is  sweet  to  all,  and  His  tender mercies  are  over  all  His  works."