Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/36



1. God    himself    declares   that    the  sinner  treats  him with contempt,  and  complains  of  it  in    these   words:  1 have brought  up  children,  and  exalted  them;  but  they  have  despised  me.1     I  have  brought  up  my  children,  I  have  preserved  and  nourished  them,  but   with  base  ingratitude they have  despised   me. But who  is  God  who  is   thus despised by  men? He   is    the   Creator    of    heaven    and earth; he  is  the  sovereign  infinite  good,  in  whose  sight men and  angels  are  as  a  drop  of  water,  or  a  grain  of sand:  as  a  drop  of  a  bucket,  as  a  little  dust? In a  word,  all things created,  in  the  presence  of  his  infinite  greatness, are as  though  they  were  not:  All  nations  are  before  him as if  they  had  no  being  at  all,  and  counted  to  him  nothing  and vanity?

Behold me,  O  God! a daring  sinner  who  have  presumed to despise  Thy  infinite  majesty. But whilst  Thou  art infinite majesty,  Thou  art  also  infinite  mercy. I love Thee, O  Lord! and because  I  love  Thee  I  am  sorry  for having offended  Thee;  do  Thou  have  pity  on  me.

2. And,  O  God! who am   I  who  have  despised  Thee? A poor  helpless  worm,  who  have  nothing  but  what  Thou in   Thy    bounty    hast    bestowed    upon    me. Thou  hast given me  my  soul,  my  body,  the  use  of  reason,  and  numberless  other  benefits  in  this  world;  and  I  have  made  no other  use  of  them  all  but  to  offend  Thee,  my  benefactor. Nay, more;   at  the  very  time  that  Thou  didst  preserve  my life,  that  I  might  not  fall  into  hell  as  I  deserved,  I  abused Thy  goodness  and   forbearance. O   my   Saviour! how couldst Thou  have  had  such  patience  with  me? Wretch