who repays him with sorrow and bitterness. Ah, the word of God can never come to fail, which says, " Because thou servedst hot the Lord thy God with joyfulness .... thou shalt serve thy enemy which the Lord thy God shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things." (Deut. xxviii. 47, 48.) What does not that revengeful man suffer, after he is revenged? that dishonest one, after he has fulfilled his design? that ambitious one? that avaricious one? Oh how many there are, who, if they suffered for God that which they suffered to bring themselves to condemnation, would become great saints.
Affections and Prayers.
Oh my lost life, O my God, that I had but suffered the pains in serving Thee which I have suffered in offending Thee. I should, with Thy help, have become in part, worthy of heaven. Ah, my Lord, and wherefore did I leave Thee, and lose Thy grace? for pleasures that are brief and empoisoned, which vanished away ere I possessed them, and left my heart full of woe and bitterness. Ah \ my sins, I detest you, and curse you a thousand times; but I bless Thy mercy, my God, which with so much patience has endured with me. I love Thee, O my Creator and Redeemer, Who hast given Thy life for me; and because I love Thee. I repent with all my heart for having offended Thee. My God, my God, wherefore have I lost Thee? and for what have I exchanged Thee? Now I know the evil that I have done, and I resolve to lose every thing, even life itself, rather than Thy love. Grant me light, Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ; make me feel how very good Thou art, and make me understand how base are the pleasures which the devil presents to me, to make me lose Thy grace. I love Thee, but I desire to love Thee more. Grant that Thou mayest be my only thought, my only desire, my only love. I trust in Thy goodness through the merits of Thy Son.
Third Point.
Therefore, since all riches and pleasures of the world are not
