CHAPTER III
THE THIRD IMAGE
THE PAST BLESSING, OR THE BLESSING BEHIND US
The consideration of this image is not difficult, in view of its counterpart, of the past evils;[1] we would, however, aid him who undertakes it. Here St. Augustine shows himself an excellent master, in his Confessions, in which he gives a beautiful rehearsal of the benefits of God toward him from his mother's womb.[2] The same is done in that fine Psalm cxxxviii, "Lord, Thou hast searched me," where the Psalmist, marveling among other things at the goodness of God toward him, says, "Thou understandest my thoughts afar off, Thou compassest my path and my lying down."[3] Which is as though he said, Whatever I have thought or done, whatever I shall achieve and possess, I see now that it is not the result of my industry, but was ordered long ago by Thy care. "And there is no speech in my tongue."[4] Where is it then? In Thy power.
We learn this from our own experience. For if we reflect on our past life, is it not a wonder that we thought, desired, did and said that which we were not able to foresee? How far different our course would have been, had we been left to our own free will! Now only do we understand it, and see how constantly God's present care and providence were over us, so that we could neither think nor speak nor will anything except as He gave us leave. As it is said in Wisdom vii,[5] "In His hands are both we and our words";
- ↑ See pp. 123 ff.
- ↑ The Confessions of St. Augustine, Book I, chap. vi.
- ↑ Ps. 139:2 ff.
- ↑ Thus the Vulgate.
- ↑ Wisd. 7:16
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