Exclamation XI

1. Why, O my God, source of all my strength, are we always cowards, except in rebelling against Thee? To this do the sons of Adam direct all their energies. Were not their reason blinded they would never dare to combine the strength of the whole human race in taking arms and waging war against Him Who in an instant could hurl them down the bottomless abyss. With minds obscured, they resemble madmen, who, bent on their own destruction, imagine they will thus gain new life; — in short, they are beside themselves.

2. What cure is there, my God, for such frenzy? Men say that madness increases strength. So it is with men who revolt against God: feeble as they may be, all their fury is spent on Thee, their greatest Benefactor.

3. O incomprehensible Wisdom! Thou needest all Thy love for creatures, to bear with such folly, and to¹ wait until we return to our senses, whilst by a thousand arts and remedies Thou art striving to bring about our cure.

4. How marvellous, that though we lack resolution to conquer self in trivial matters, and persuade ourselves that even if we try, we cannot avoid some occasion of sin, or some danger by which we risk eternal perdition, yet we have the audacity to afíront such sovereign majesty as Thine!

5. How is this, my only Good? how is it? Who gives such strength? Is not the captain whom men follow in this war against Thee Thy vassal? And he, dwells in unquenchable flames — how can he rise up against Thee? How can the vanquished inspire courage? His poverty is extreme, for he is deprived of the riches of heaven; why, then, do men follow him? What can he give, who owns nothing but sufferings? How can it be, my God? Why is it, my Creator? Why do men cowed by the devil defy Thee?

6. Even if, O my Lord, Thou hadst not aided Thine own — even if we owed some debt of gratitude to this prince of darkness, should we not compare the joys Thou hast in store for us with the false and treacherous promises of the evil one? He has betrayed Thee — what will he do to ws?

7. Alas, what utter blindness, my God! what revolting ingratitude, my King! What hopeless madness, to use Thy very gifts to serve Satan! to requite Thy tender love for us by loving one who hates Thee, and will hate Thee to eternity! Thou sheddedst all Thy Blood for us; for us didst suffer stripes, and agony, and torturing anguish! And we, instead of avenging Thy heavenly Father for the flagrant injuries done to Thee, His Son — ■ for Thou Thyself didst take no vengeance on Thine enemies, but didst ever pardon them — yet choose, as friends and companions, the very men who treated Thee so barbarously, since we follow their infernal leader. Surely we shall be of their company and share their fate, unless Thy mercy bring us to reason and forgive the past, 8. Return, ye children of men, return to your senses! Gaze on your King, while yet He is meek; cease from such sin and spend your fury and your strength on him who wars against you to rob you of your inheritance. Return, return to your senses, open your eyes, and with strong cries and tears beg for light from Him Who gives it to all the world. For the love of God, reflect that you are aiming, with all your might, at slaying Him Who lost His life to save yours, Who is your defender against your enemies!

8. If this is not enough, let it suflice to know that you are helpless against His power — sooner or later you must atone for your insults and blasphemy in everlasting flames. Do you dare thus to outrage Him because you see Him helpless and fettered by His love for us? What more 7 did His murderers do, after they had bound Him, than deal Him blows and wounds?:- 10. O my God! how Thou hast suffered for those who grieve so little for Thy pain! The day will come, Lord, when Thy justice will be made manifest, and men will discover that it equals Thy mercy. Mark that. Christians! Deeply as we may reflect upon it, never shall we realise how much we owe our Lord God and how magniñcent are His mercies. But, if His justice is as great, alas, alas! what will be their fate who deserve its being carried out and exemplified in them?