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 on the  day  of  accounts,  and  to  give  us  then  the  reward or the  chastisement  that  we  have  deserved.

This second  mode  of  practising  the  divine  presence does not  fatigue  the  mind;  for  the  exercise  of  it  we  need only enliven  our  faith  with  an  affectionate  act  of  the  will, saying: My  God,  I  believe  firmly  that  Thou  art  here present. To this  act  we  can  easily  add  the  acts  of  love, or of  resignation,  or  of  purity  of  intention,  and  the  like.

3. The  third  means  of  preserving  the  remembrance  of the  presence  of  God  is  to  recognize  him  in  his  creatures, which have  from  him  their  being,  and  their  power  of serving  us. God is  in  the  water  to  wash  us,  in  the  fire to warm  us,  in  the  sun  to  enlighten  us,  in  food  to  nourish us, in  clothes  to  cover  us,  and  in  like  manner  in  all other things  that  he  has  created  for  our  use. When we see  a  beautiful  object,  a  beautiful  garden,  or  a  beautiful flower, let  us  think  that  there  we  behold  a  ray  of  the  infinite beauty  of  God,  who  has  given  existence  to  that object. If we  converse  with  a  man  of  sanctity  and  learning, let  us  consider  that  it  is  God  who  imparts  to  him  a small  portion  of  his  own  holiness  and  wisdom. Thus, also, when  we  hear  harmonious  sounds,  when  we  feel  a fragrant  odor,  or  taste  delicious  meat  or  drink,  let  us remember  that  God  is  the  being  who  by  his  presence imparts to  us  these  delights,  that  by  them  we  may  be induced  to  aspire  to  the  eternal  delights  of  paradise.

Let us  accustom  ourselves  to  behold  in  every  object God, who  presents  himself  to  us  in  every  creature;  and let us  offer  him  acts  of  thanksgiving  and  of  love,  remembering that  from  eternity  he  has  thought  of  creating  so many  beautiful  creatures  that  we  might  love  him. St. Augustine says:  Learn  to  love  your  Creator  in  creatures; and fix  not  your  affection  on  what  God  has  made,  lest