Page:The Labyrinth of the World and the Paradise of the Heart.pdf/328

324 Yet nothing befell them; they stood together, or went their way merrily, pursuing their callings. And now I understood what it is to have God as a shield, for He entrusts to His servants certain tasks in the world, and they manfully do their duty. He is ever in them and with them, and guards them as the apple of His eye, that they may not die before they accomplish the task for which they were sent into the world.

4. This, indeed, the godly know, and they cheerfully rely on God's protection. I have heard some of them boast that they were not afraid even should the shadow of death be before them; even should thousands of thousands be in arms against them; even should the whole world be enraged, the land be tossed into the middle of the sea, the whole world be full of devils, and so forth. Oh, most happy security, unheard of in the world! For man, closed up and sheltered in the hand of God, is removed from the influence of all other things. Let us, then, all ye honest servants of Christ, understand that we have a most watchful guardian, protector, defender—the Almighty God Himself. Therefore let us rejoice!