"Be it so, Father, because it is thy will." _Matthew_ xi. "He is pleasing to God, to whom God is pleasing." _St. Augustine._ _Twenty-fourth Day_.--Confidence in God. 1. God is the greatest parent of mankind; our Lord Jesus Christ has taught us to call him _Father_. Not a hair can even drop from our heads without his knowledge. His providence reaches from end to end, disposing all things sweetly. What madness, therefore, to doubt of his protection, or to be slow in trusting ourself to his guidance! 2. The _insects_ are an object of his care; how much more we who are created to his image, and redeemed by the blood of his only-begotten Son! If God feed the infidels, who know him not; if he heaps favours on the impious, by whom he is blasphemed, what will he not do for Christians who honour and love him? 3. Our affairs are much better off when in his hands, than they can be in our own: let us therefore leave them all at his disposal. He is at the same time our Father and our Creator. The tenderness he has for his children obliges him to take care of them. He has promised us his protection; he will then be as good as his word. Sooner shall the heavens and the earth he destroyed, than that man should perish, who places his confidence in God. {201} Examine your heart, and see whether your confidence be worthy of the goodness of God, and the merits of Jesus Christ. "Thou art my God: my lot is in thy hands." _Psalm_ xxx. "Throw yourself upon him, he will not withdraw to let you fall." _St. Augustine._ _Twenty-fifth Day._--On the Love of God. 1. God has loved us to such a degree, as to give us his only Son: had he any thing better he would have given it us. Is it not buying our love too dearly, to purchase it at so dear a rate? A trifling bounty from a fellow-creature is entitled to our love; why, then, shall we not love a bounty that is infinite? Why doth its being infinite render it less amiable? 2. God has strictly enjoined me to love him. Is a commandment rigorous, which orders us to love what is infinitely worthy of our affections? He commands us to love him with all our hearts. Is a heart so small as mine, too much for a God so great? But in saying _all_, he admits of no exception. Whatever share I give him, if I give him not all, I give him nothing. {202} 3. If eternity could have an end, the torments of the damned in hell, even to the day of judgment, would not be too much to obtain this heavenly love. There is not one of these miserable souls that would not think itself happy, provided that, after ages of sufferings, it could love that infinite beauty. We can love God if we please: every moment invites us to it. Not to do so while it can be done, is a monstrous insensibility. Disclaim every love but that of God alone, and endeavour to love him above all things. "If I have not charity, I am nothing." 1 _Corinthians_ xiii. _Twenty-sixth Day_.--Love of Jesus Christ.