Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/313

 he has  for  his  children  obliges  him  to  take  care  of them. He has  promised  us  his  protection — he  will then be  as  good  as  his  word. Sooner shall  the heavens and  the  earth  be  destroyed  than  that  the man should  perish  who  places  his  confidence  in  God.

[Examine your heart,  and  see  whether  your  confidence  be  worthy of the  goodness  of  God,  and  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ.]

“ Thou art my  God;  my  lot  is  in  thy  hands.” — Psalm  xxx.

“ Throw yourself upon  him; he  will  not  withdraw  to  let  yon fall.” — St. Austin.

1. God  has  loved  us  to  such  a decree  as  to  give  us his  only  Son. Had he  anything  better  he  would have given  it  to  us; is  it  not  buying  our  love  too dearly, to  purchase  it  at  such  a rate? A trifling bounty from  a fellow-creature  is  entitled  to  our  love. Why, then,  shall  we  not  love  a bounty  that  is infinite? What! doth its  being  infinite  render  it less  amiable?

2. God  has  strictly  enjoined  us  to  love  him. Is a commandment rigorous  which  orders  us  to  love what is  infinitely  worthy  of  our  affections? He commands us  to  love  him  with  all  our  heart. Is a heart  so  small  as  mine  too  much  for  a God  so  great? But in  saying  all,  he  admits  of  no  exception. Whatever share I give  him,  if  I give  him  not  all,  I give  him nothing.

3. If  eternity  could  have  an  end,  the  torments  of the  damned  in  hell,  even  to  the  day  of  judgment, would not  be  too  much  to  obtain  this  heavenly  love. There is  not  one  of  these  miserable  souls  that  would not think  itself  happy,  provided,  after  ages  of  suffering, it  could  love  that  infinite  beauty. We can  love God if  we  please; every  moment  invites  us  to  it.