18. On the eternal praise of God

** Semper laus ejus in ore men"* " His praise shall he always in my mouthy 1 . Oh ! words full of sweetness in ihe ears of all devout christians^ o o but sweeter far when uttered in the high court of heaven in presence of the Almighty King, and His blessod ministers, the holy angels. Were, ail the' instrinncnts of music in the world brought together, in ccncert ?rid noi rt scund* with the praises ol' their God, vein would be their melody : to a pious soul, they could afford neither pleasure nor satisfaction : because God and His glory must be the prime source of all our music, and not the gratification of miserable vanity : for thus only can our praise be grateful or acceptable to God. When thy songs are animated with pure intentions, then canst thou exult in transports of holy joy with blessed Mary in her sublime canticle. Sweet is the symphony both on earth and in heaven, to praise the Lord, with heart unde filed, and voice in harmony with all creation, for His goodness unspeakable, and glorious magnificence. Delightful task to praise God at all times to ]o^h^ \he Creator of Iteaven and earth., Wnd to honour abundantly the Giver . of eternal iiO-^ : So'indeed the life, the honour,'the glory of the holy angels are entirely expended in praising God with all their powers; never ceasing from their song divine : in this, they never tire in singing forth His praise, nor ever praise in vain. In this manner are the souls of the saints incessantly occupied in their heavenly abodes : — now freed from the chains of the body, and secure from the wiles of Satan and all temptation : united to God in perfect charily, and filled with never ending joy, and happiness unspeakable. Now at rest from all their labours, they look back with infinite dcliirht at the severe o o trials, the grievous afflictions endured in this life : — at the various dangers and temptations, from which they have escaped. Now all their groans and lamentations are changed into canticles of joy, while the stripes and bufl'etings inflicted by a vile world, are become a greater augmentation to their crown of glory.

2. Oh ! happy country, where all is peace, where grief or sadness is unknown, where everything is refulgent with joy, ever resounding with praise divine and sweetest melody. Therefore praise thou also faithful soul, praise the Lord of heaven ; and do thou, O Sion, bending imder the load of terrene and grovelling propensities, — do thou praise thy God ! Do thou invoke Jesus from the scene of thy conflict ; — that attended by His holy anoels He mav descend to thy o o aid. and shield thee by His powerful protection. Beseech him that the power of the evil one may not prevail against thee, that the wickedness of the flesh may not seduce thee, — that neither the salutary strictness of religious discipline nor the severity of thy necessary labours may overcome thee. For the sake of thy Saviour, cheerfully undergo the burthen of the holy cross, which will hereafter open unto thee the gate of the heavenly kingdom. What wilt thou more ?

The royal road leading to Christ, is, to conquer thy headstrong will, — to patiently bear the weakness of thy brother, — and mortify thy flesh. For a transient toil, thou wilt exchange eternal repose ; — for an humble state and low degree, thou shalt enjoy honour and glory without end. Let the praise of God therefore, be always in thy mouth, both in prosperity and adversity : for in this, there is abundant merit, if thou resign thyself with all sincerity to the will of God. Whatsoever affliction may happen, whether from within or from without, receive all with humble thankfuU ness from the hand of a' most clement and merciful God who hath care for all His creatures high and low.

He who hath made thee according to His own image and likeness, will not according to his unspeakable goodness, forsake thee in thy necessity.

3. Open then thy mouth to sing the praise of the Omnipotent, by whose providence are directed and governed all things whether in heaven or on earth, in the sea, or the uttermost depths of the abyss. Praise thv Creator who hath made lOG GARDEN OF ROSES. thee a man and not a beast : and although He had even made thee a fly, still would He merit thy praise as having done well. A lion may not boast of his strength oVer the fly or the gnat ; because although he can make the forests ring with a louder roar, the tiny insect can take a loftier flight.

Let no contention then take place between the great and the small, — between the rich and the poor, — the strong and the weak, — the man of wisdom and the simple of heart, — between the prince and the peasant ; but let all with one accord, praise the Lord our God : who hath formed every creature of surpassing beauty and wonderful variety, in order to more abun dantly and openly proclaim the honour and glory of His holy name and the benefit of man. O ! faithful soul, praise thy merciful Redeemer, who by His death and passion, and sufferings on the cross, hath rescued thee from the sentence of eternal death. Him thou couldst not praise in a manner worthy of these benefits, even if thou couldst endure for His sake, a thousand deaths on a cross. Praise thy Protector who hath preserved thee from so many dangers, and so many sins : praise thy Benefactor who hath bestowed so many benefits as cannot be enumerated. Behold still more, — He daily showers down new favours, and descends to thee, in person on the holy altar; by which He communicates unto thee, the most precious gift even He can bestow, — Himself ; and for all these inestimable favours, He requires nothing more. He esteems nothing more than this, — that with all purity and sincerity, with all thy heart and all o o thy soul, thou wouldst love and praise Him for His own sake.

4. When thou wilt have experienced much joy and when things have gone well with thee, offer thy praises and thanksgiving, because God in His mercy hath vouchsafed to send thee consolation, lest thou faint on the way : for as often as thou hearest orreadestthe word of God, as often as thou dost meditate piously and devoutly on the Incarnation or Passion of Christ, so often doth the Lord send bread from heaven to cheer and comfort thy soul. When on the other hand, thou shalt have been overtaken with sadness or surprised with weakness, offer thy praises and thanksgiving : because God then visits, tries, and purifies thee lest thou become puffed up or presume too much on thyself; for, ailliction of body is not unfrequentlv a salu- ^ salutary recal to compunction of heart.

When thou wilt have been favoured with heahh of mind and strength of body, then shalt thou offer up praise and thanksgiving, because God hath vouchsafed thee these powers of mind and body, in order that thou mayest give thyself to useful labour or the service of others ; never wasting thy valuable hours in idleness.

Whenever thou art in a garden or orchard, on beholding the various kinds of trees, the beautiful flowers and fragrant roses, delicious apples, and mellow pears, the verdant plants and odoriferous lilies, offer up thy praise and thankssrivinsf, because God deions to show thee so many of his wondrous works, springing and budding forth from the earth : all of which in admirable power and wiso o no GARDEN OF ROSES. dom, He renews from year to year, in accordance with His benignity and for man's use and benefit.

Therefore at all times and in every place, praise the Lord and give Him thanks because all the earth is filled with His majesty, and His glory is above the heavens. Together with all the saints upon earth, do thou praise the Lord, Who is praised without end, by all the Angels in heaven. In praising God thou art made like unto Angels ; in neglecting His praise, thou art base and ungrateful ; — yea, worse than the brute beasts.

Behold the birds of the air, how they sing, the fishes of the sea, how they swim, the dogs of the earth, how they bark, the cattle and flocks of the field, how they bleat and low ; — all these, each in its way, show forth the praise and glory of God : nay, more the very o a GARDEN OF ROSES. Ill elements themselves are moved, elevated, and affected with the glory of God, and by their natural motions and regular changes, proclaim the magnificence of their Creator. Therefore in all thy actions, have God ever before thy eyes ; carefully avoiding aught that may offend Him. Thank Him for all the benefits so abundantly bestowed ; and at the conclusion of every business and every employment, thus pour out thy liveliest gratitude from the bottom of thy soul, — repeating,— " Praise be to God now and forever more! Let every spirit praise the Lord ! Amen." c o o o ' Justus germinabit sicut lilium, et fiorebU in aienium ante Dominum." " The just shall spring as tlie lily, and his root shall spread forth before the Lord for ever."

This little book may be called the Valley of Lilies, to distinguish it from that which precedes it, under the title of the Little Garden of Roses ; for as that treats of many virtues, which spring forth as fair roses, in the Garden of Jesus, so this discourses of many other virtues, which as so many lilies of exceeding whiteness, are planted by our Lord Jesus in the valley of humility ; where they are sweetly bedewed and fertilized by the inward infusion of the Holy Spirit. For, according to the testimony of St. Gregory, to seek to acquire all other virtues, without hurnil ity, is to carry dust against the wind.

It is of these lilies that the spouse of Christ, out of tlie humility and devotion of her soul, speaketh, in the Canticle of Canticles, when wishing to declare the inward joy and consolation she experienced from the visit of the Divine Spouse, and the graces He had heaped upon her, she says : " I to my beloved, and my beloved to me, who feedeth among the lilies."* And again : " My beloved is white and ruddy." " So shall he repose upon my bosom."

To Him be praise, honour, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.