The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales by Jean Pierre Camus
page 62 of 485 (12%)
page 62 of 485 (12%)
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and glory rendered to Him by His creatures, especially by those among
them endowed with reason. This is the good which David wishes to God in so many of his Psalms. Among others, in the _Praise ye the Lord from the heavens_,[1] and in the _Bless the Lord, O my soul_.[2] The three children also in the fiery furnace wish this good to God by their canticle: _All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord._[3] If we truly love God we shall try to bring this good to Him through ourselves, surrendering our whole being to Him, and doing all our actions, the indifferent as well as the good, for His glory. Not content with that, we shall also strive with all our might to make our neighbour serve and love God, so that by all and in all things God may be honoured. To love our neighbour in God is to rejoice in the good which our neighbour possesses, provided, indeed, that he makes use of it for the divine glory; to render him in his need all the assistance which lies within our power; to be zealous for the welfare of his soul, and to work for it as we do for our own, because God wills and desires it. That is to have true and unfeigned charity, and to love God sincerely and steadfastly for His own sake and our neighbour for the love of Him. [Footnote 1: Psalm cxlviii. 1.] [Footnote 2: Id. ciii. 1.] [Footnote 3: Dan. iii. 57.] UPON THE LOVE OF GOD IN GENERAL. |
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