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 of the  number  of  those  who,  presuming  on  Thy  goodness,  have  offended  Thee  again  and  again.

2. God  is  merciful;  but  he  is  also  just. Sinners are desirous that  he  should  be  merciful  only,  without  being just; but  that  is  impossible,  because  were  he  only  to  for give and  never  to  chastise,  he  would   be  wanting  in  justice. Hence Father  Avila  observes  that  patience  on  the part of  God  towards  those  who  avail  themselves  of  his compassion to  offend  him  the  more,  would   not  be  compassion,  but  a  want  of  justice. He is  bound  to  chastise the ungrateful. He bears  with  them  for  a  certain  time, but after  that  abandons  them.

Such a  punishment,  O  God! has not  as  yet  overtaken me, or  else  I  had  now  dwelt  in  hell,  or  had  been  obstinate  in  my  sins. But no:  I  desire  to  amend  my  life;  I desire  to  offend  Thee  no  more. Though I  have  hitherto displeased Thee,  I  am  sorry  for  it  with  my  whole  soul; I desire  henceforth  to  love  Thee,  and  I  desire  to  love Thee more  than  others  do,  because  Thou  hast  not  shown the same  patience  towards  others  as  towards  me.

3. God  is  not  mocked. Yet he  would  be  mocked,  if  the sinner could   go  on   continually  offending  him,  and  yet afterwards enjoy  him  in  heaven. What things  a  man  shall sow, those  also  shall  he  reap? He who  sows  good  works shall   reap   rewards;    but   he  who   sows  iniquities  shall reap   chastisements. The hope    of    those  who  commit sin  because  God   is  forgiving,  is  an  abomination  in  his sight: their  hope,  says  holy  Job,  is  an  abomination? Hence the sinner,  by  such  hope,  provokes  God   to  chastise  him the sooner,  as  that  servant  would   provoke  his  master, who, because  his  master  was  good,  took  advantage  of  his goodness to  behave  ill.

O Jesus! such, I  fear,  has  been  my  conduct  towards