Considering these innocent souls I used to compare them to soft wax, upon which any impression may be stamped, the bad, alas! like the good; and I understood those words of Jesus: “_But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones ... it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea._”[95] Oh! how many souls might attain to a high degree of holiness if wisely guided from the very first. I well know that to accomplish His work of sanctification, God has need of no one, but just as He enables a skilful gardener to rear plants that are delicate and rare, granting him for this end all the knowledge necessary, while reserving to Himself the care of giving the increase, so, too, does He will to be aided in His divine culture of souls. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V As soon as I penetrated into the sanctuary of souls I judged at the first glance that the task exceeded my powers, and very quickly placing myself in the arms of the good God I imitated the little child, who, seized with sudden fear, tries to hide its golden head on its father’s shoulder, and I said: “Lord, Thou knowest it, I am myself too little to be capable of nurturing these Thy children; if Thou dost will to give to them, through me, what is suited to each one, fill Thou my little hand, and without leaving Thine arms, without even turning my head aside, I will distribute Thy treasures to the souls who come to me to seek sustenance. When they find it to their liking I shall know that it is not to me they owe it but to Thee; on the other hand if they complain, and find bitter what I offer them, my peace shall remain undisturbed, I will try to convince them that this nutriment comes from Thee, and I will carefully refrain from seeking any other for them.” When I thus understood that it was impossible for me to do anything by myself, the task appeared to me simplified. Interiorly, I occupied myself solely in trying to become more and more united to God--knowing that the rest would be added unto me. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X From afar it seems easy to do good to souls, to make them love God more, to mould them after our own views and opinions. But coming closer one feels, on the contrary, that to do good without the divine assistance, is as impossible a thing as to bring the sun back after it has set. One feels that it is absolutely necessary to forget our own inclinations, our personal notions, and to guide souls, not by our own way--the way we ourselves go--but by the particular way that Jesus wishes to lead them. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X