Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/312

 3. All things  but  sin  fall  out  by  God's  appointment. Though his  arm  be  raised  to  strike,  we  are sure that  his  hand  is  conducted  by  his  heart. What have we  to  fear  from  a heart  that  loves  us? We will, then,  desire  nothing  but  what  he  pleases; we will  not  complain  of  losses,  sickness,  troubles,  &amp;c. The name  and  the  nature  of  these  things  are  changed as they  pass  through  the  hands  of  God. What the world calls  misfortune,  affliction,  dishonour,  is  an advantage,  a grace,  and  a favour  from  heaven,  when considered in  the  order  of  Providence.

[Renounce your oxen  will,  and  beg  of  God  that  his may  be  accomplished in  you.]

"Be it so,  Father,  because  it  is  thy  will.” — Matt.  xi.

“ He is pleasing  to  God,  to  whom  God  is  pleasing.”— Austin.

1. God is  the  great  parent  of  mankind; our  Lord Jesus Christ  has  taught  us  to  call  him  Father. Not a hair can  even  fall  from  our  heads  without  his knowledge. His providence  reaches  from  end  to  end, disposing all  things  sweetly. What madness,  therefore, to  doubt  of  his  protection,  or  be  slow  in  trusting ourselves  to  his  guidance.

2. The  insects  are  an  object  of  his  care — how  much more we,  who  are  created  to  his  image,  and  redeemed by the  blood  of  his  only  begotten  Son. If God  feeds the infidel,  who  knows  him  not — if  he  heaps  favours on the  impious,  by  whom  he  is  blasphemed — what will he  not  do  for  Christians  who  honour  and  love him?

3. Our  affairs  are  much  better  off  when  in  his hands than  they  can  be  in  our  own; let  us,  therefore, leave them  all  at  his  disposal. He is,  at  the  same time, our  Father  and  our  Creator. The tenderness