The good God has so wisely and bountifully ordained all things that by glorifying Him we glorify ourselves and reach the fulfilment of all our desires. But by refusing to glorify Him we degrade and utterly ruin ourselves. Now we are made free to do the one or the other. This freedom is a wonderful gift, a glorious gift in one way, making us like to God and capable of securing our own bliss forever, with God’s grace, of course: but on the other hand putting on us a terrible responsibility. No other power on earth can control a man’s liberty. When St. Agnes, a mere child of 13 years, refused to do wrong, the whole power of the Roman Empire could not bend her will; on the other hand, the influence of the holiest education cannot make a child virtuous without its free co-operation. Can a man then, by refusing to serve God, deprive the Creator of the glory that he was intended to render Him? Certainly not; but he can freely choose to glorify the goodness of God by faithful service, thus securing at the same time perfect happiness for himself, or choose to glorify God’s justice by his eternal punishment. _Colloquy_ with God Almighty, my Creator, and with Christ, my Redeemer; that I may do my full duty and secure eternal bliss. THE SECOND MEDITATION On the End of Creatures The second part of the foundation says: “_And the other things upon the face of the earth were created for man, and to help him to attain the end for which he was created. Whence it follows that man must make use of them in so far as they help him to attain his end; and in the same way he ought to withdraw himself from them in so far as they hinder him from it._” The task of the exercitant is three-fold: 1. Intellectual: he must strive to understand the truths proposed correctly, clearly and fully; 2. Practical: he must apply the truths to his own conduct; 3. Prayerful: so as to obtain aid from Heaven to succeed in both these respects. _The Preparatory Prayer_ is the same as in the first meditation. It is so too in all the following meditations. It will not be necessary to remind the exercitant of this in the subsequent exercises. _1st Prelude._ Imagine you behold our Dear Lord before you, who says: “My son, I will now teach you the second truth of the spiritual life.” _2nd Prelude._ Grant, O Dear Lord, that I may understand it fully and learn from it how to improve my conduct. _POINT I._ Consider these words: “_The other things upon the face of the earth are created for man_:” and man for God. Here is a clear exhibition of God’s wisdom; the inanimate is for the vegetable world, the vegetable for the animal, and all for man; inferior things are for the real good of superior ones. I am not then created for material enjoyment: _Ad majora natus sum_, “I am born for greater things,” I must not degrade myself by the perverse gratification of my animal nature.