Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/23



1. By  transgression  of  the  law  thou  dishonor est  God.1    When the sinner  deliberates  whether  he  shall  give  or  refuse  his consent to  sin,  he  takes  the  balance  into  his  hands  to decide  which  is  of  most  value — the  favor  of  God,  some passion, some  worldly  interest  or  pleasure. When he yields  to  temptation,  what  does  he  do? He decides  that some wretched  gratification  is  more  desirable  than  the favor of  God. Thus it  is  that  he  dishonors  God,  declaring,  by  his  consent,  that  a  miserable  pleasure  is  preferable  to  the  divine  friendship.

Thus, then,  O  God! have I  so  many  times  dishonored Thee, by  esteeming  Thee  less  than  my  miserable  passions.

2. Of    this   the   Almighty   complains  by  the    prophet Ezekiel, when  he  says:    They  violated  Me  among  My  people, for a  handful  of  barley  and  a  piece  of  bread? If the  sinner should exchange  God  for  a  treasure  of  jewels,  or  for  a kingdom,  it  would  indeed  be  doing  a  great  evil,  because God  is  of  infinitely  more  value  than  all  the   treasures and kingdoms  of  the  earth. But for  what  do   so  many exchange him? for a  vapor,  for  a  little  dirt,  for  a  poisoned  pleasure,  which  is  no  sooner  tasted  than  it  vanishes.

O God! how could  I  have  had  the  heart  for  such  vile things,  so  often  to  despise   Thee,  who  hast   shown   so much  love  for  me? But behold,  my  Redeemer,  how  I now  love  Thee  above  all  things;  and  because  I  love  Thee, I feel  more  regret  for  having  lost  Thee,  my  God,  than  if I  had  lost  all  other  goods,  and  even  .my  life. Have pity on me,  and  forgive   me. I will   never  more   incur  Thy