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Show J2 - ' " ' Stomas CL'Kr.pij.: BOOK 3. CHAPTER IX. Son, I must be thy supreme and ultimate ul-timate end, if thou desirest to be truly happy. By this intention ehall thy affections af-fections be purified, which too often are irregularly bent upon thyself and things created. For if in anything thou seekest thyself, thy-self, thou presently faintest away within with-in thyeolf and groweth dry. Principally, therefore, refer all things to Me, for it is I that have given thee all. Consider each thtmg aa flowing from tihe Sovereign Good ,and, therefore, all must be returned to Me, as to their origin. J 2. Out of Me both little and great", poor and rich, as out of a living fountain, foun-tain, draw living water; and they who freely and wilSingly serve Me shall receive re-ceive grace for grace. I But to who would glory in anything ! el-se beside Me, or delight in any good as his own, shall not be established in j true joy, nor enlarged im his heart, but in many ways shall be impeded and straitened. Therefore thou must no ascribe any good to thyself, nor attribute virtue to any man, but give all to God, without with-out whom man has nothing. I have given all; I will also have all j again; and with great strictures! do I require a return of thanka 3. This is that truth by which all vain glory is put to flight. . And if heavenly grace and true charity char-ity come in, there ehall be no envy nor narrowness of heart, nor shall self-love keep possession. For divine charity overcomieth all and enlargeth all the power of the eoul. If thou art truly wise, thou wilt rejoice re-joice in Me alone, thou wilt hope in j Me alone; for none is good but God alone, who ia to be praised above all and to be blessed in all. j CHAPTER X. Now will I apeak again, O Lord, and will not be silent; I will say in the hearing of my God and my King who is on high: Oh, ihow great is the abundance of thy sweetness, O Lord, which Thou hast hidden for those that fear Thee. But what art Thou to those that serve Thee with their whole heart? Uneeekable. indeed, is the sweetness of Thy contemplation, which Thou be-stowest be-stowest sm these that love Thee. In this most of all hast Thou showed me the sweetness of Thy love, that when I had no being Thou didst make me. And when I was straying far from Thee, Thou broughtest me back again, that I might serve Thee; and Thou hast commanded me to love Thee. 2. O, Fountain of everlasting love, what shall I say of Thee? How can I ever forget Thee, who hast vouchsafed to remember me, even after that I was corrupted and was tost? Beyond all 'hope hast Thou showed mercy to Thy servant; and beyond all desert hast Thou manifested Thy grace and friendship. ' I What return shall I make to Thee for this favor? For it is not granted to all to forsake all things, to renounce ; the world, and to assume the monastic ; life. Its it much that I should serve Thee, whom the whole creation is bound to serve? It ought net to tspem much to me to serve Thee; but this rather doth appear ap-pear great and wonderful to me .that Thou vouchsafes to receive one iso wretched and unworthy for Thy servant, ser-vant, and to unite him to Thy Beloved. 2. Behold all things are Thine which I have, and with which I serve Thee. And yet contrarywise Thou rather servest me than I Thee. Ijo! Heaven and earth, which Thou hast created for the service of man, stand prepared, and daily perform whatsoever Thou hast commanded. And thics is but little; for Thou hast also created and appointed angela for the service of man. But what transcendeth all this is. that Thou Thyself hast vouchsafed to serve man, and hast promised that Thou wilt give him Thyself. 4. What shall I give Thee for all these thousands favors? Would 'that I could) serve Thee all he days of my life! Would that I were able, were it bufl for one day, to render Thee worthy of all eei-Vice, of all honor, and, of eternal praise. Thou art truly my Lord, and I am). 3 Thy poor servant, who am bound withj j all my strength to serve Thee and) t ought never to grow weary of praising! Thee. This is my -will, this is my esire; andl whatever is wanting in mei do Thou vouchsafe to supply. , 5. It is a great honor, a great glory toi f serve Thee, and to despise all things r for Thee. For they who willingly subject them- 5 selves to Thy most holy service shall - have great grace. They shall experience the most sweet I consolation of the Holy Spirit, Who, fof S the love of Thee, have cast away all carnal delight. They shall gain great freedoro of f.invl ' who, for Thy name, enter upon tha j narrow way, and relinquish a21 worldly I care. I 6. O. pleasant and. delightful ervic i of God, which maketh a man truly frea and holy! j O sacred state of religious semtude; which maketh men equal to angeto, pleasing- to God. terrible to the devils. J tind commendable to all the faithful. O servitude lovely and ever to bs r desired; in which we aTe rewarded! with the greatest good and joy is eciuire4 j that AviLl never end. |