That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God
Now will I speak again, O my Lord, and hold not my peace; I will say in
the ears of my God, my Lord, and my King, who is exalted above all, _Oh
how plentiful is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that
fear Thee!_(1) But what art Thou to those who love Thee? What to those
who serve Thee with their whole heart? Truly unspeakable is the
sweetness of the contemplation of Thee, which Thou bestowest upon those
who love Thee. In this most of all Thou hast showed me the sweetness of
Thy charity, that when I was not, Thou madest me, and when I wandered
far from Thee, Thou broughtest me back that I might serve Thee, and
commandedst me to love Thee.
2. O Fountain of perpetual love, what shall I say concerning Thee? How
shall I be unmindful of Thee, who didst vouchsafe to remember me, even
after I pined away and perished? Thou hast had mercy beyond all hope
upon Thy servant, and hast showed Thy grace and friendship beyond all
deserving. What reward shall I render Thee for this Thy grace? For it
is not given unto all to renounce this world and its affairs, and to
take up a religious life. For is it a great thing that I should serve
Thee, whom every creature ought to serve? It ought not to seem a great
thing to me to serve Thee; but rather this appeareth to me a great and
wonderful thing, that Thou vouchsafest to receive as Thy servant one so
poor and unworthy, and to join him unto Thy chosen servants.
3. Behold all things which I have are Thine, and with them I serve
Thee. And yet verily it is Thou who servest me, rather than I Thee.
Behold the heaven and the earth which Thou hast created for the service
of men; they are at Thy bidding, and perform daily whatsoever Thou dost
command. Yea, and this is little; for Thou hast even ordained the
Angels for the service of man. But it surpasseth even all these things,
that Thou Thyself didst vouchsafe to minister unto man, and didst
promise that Thou wouldest give Thyself unto him.
4. What shall I render unto Thee for all these Thy manifold mercies? Oh
that I were able to serve Thee all the days of my life! Oh that even
for one day I were enabled to do Thee service worthy of Thyself! For
verily Thou art worthy of all service, all honour, and praise without
end. Verily Thou art my God, and I am Thy poor servant, who am bound to
serve Thee with all my strength, nor ought I ever to grow weary of Thy
praise. This is my wish, this is my exceeding great desire, and
whatsoever is lacking to me, vouchsafe Thou to supply.
5. It is great honour, great glory to serve Thee, and to despise all
for Thy sake. For they shall have great grace who of their own will
shall submit themselves to Thy most holy service. They who for Thy love
have cast away every carnal delight shall find the sweetest consolation
of the Holy Ghost. They who enter the narrow way of life for Thy Name’s
sake, and have put away all worldly cares, shall attain great liberty
of spirit.
6. Oh grateful and delightsome service of God, whereby man is made
truly free and holy! Oh sacred condition of the religious servant,
which maketh man equal to the Angels, well-pleasing unto God, terrible
to evil spirits, and acceptable to all faithful ones! Oh service to be
embraced and ever desired, in which the highest good is promised, and
joy is gained which shall remain for evermore!
(1) Psalm xxxi. 19.