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Show ; ' Stomas CL'KenijHJ.; CHAPTER XXII. Open, O Lord, my heart in Thy law, and teach me to walk in Thy commandments. com-mandments. Give me to understand Thy will, and to commemorate with great reverence and diligent consideration consider-ation all Thy benefits, as well in general gen-eral as in particular, so that henceforward hence-forward I may be able worthily to return re-turn thanks for them. I I know, and confess, indeed, that I am not able to return Thee due thanks of praise, not even for the least. I am less than any of Thy benefits bestowed on me; and when I consider Thy excellency, my spirit fainteth before be-fore the greatness thereof. All things that we have in soul and body, and whatsoever outwardly and inwardly, naturally or supernaturally, we posess, are Thy benefits, and we celebrate Thy bounty, mercy, and goodness, from whom we have received all good. Although one hath received more, another less, all are Thine, and without Thee even the least cannot be had. He who hath received greater things, cannot glory of his own merit, nor extol himself above all others, nor exult over the lesser, because he is indeed in-deed greater and better, who attri-buteth attri-buteth less to himself, and is more humble and devout in returning thanks. And he who esteemeth himself the vilest of all men, and judgeth himself the most unworthy, is fitted to receive still greater blessings. But he who hath received fewer ought not to be saddened, nor take it ill, nor envy him that is more enriched, but attend rather to Thee, and very much praise Thy goodness, for that Thou bestowest Thy gifts so freely and willingly, wjthout acceptance of persons. per-sons. All things are from Thee, and therefore there-fore Thou art to be praised in all. Thou knowest what is expedient to be given to each; and why this one hath less, and the other more, is not ours to decide, but Thine, with whom are determined the merits of each. For Thy will and the love of Thy honor ought to take precedence of all things, and to comfort and please Thee should be more than any benefits whatsoever which have been or can be given. |