menseness of Almighty God and in view of the wisdom of God, and yet for all this to injure Him by my offences? To what greater height can the impudence of the slave reach than to tread under foot the will and honour of his Lord being in His presence? And what greater audacity than to do all this, our Lord being powerful to chastise him as his ingratitude deserves?
Colloquy. — O Lord, how hast Thou suffered me to be near Thee and in Thy presence? How is it that Thou hast not annihilated this disorderly and disloyal slave? How is it that Thou hast not turned Thine eyes from me, and vomited, and cast me out of Thy mouth for ever? I am grieved to the heart for my impudence and audaciousness, and I purpose, with Thy grace, never more hereafter to do anything unworthy of Thy presence.
3. Thirdly, I will consider the sovereign omnipotence of Almighty God, by which He is in all creatures, giving them the being they have and concurring with them in all their works; for without this concurrence of God's omnipotence, I can neither see, nor hear, nor speak, nor move hand nor foot nor understand, nor will, nor do any other thing whatsoever. And consequently, when I sin, I aid myself with His divine omnipotence to think, speak, or do the thing that disgusts Him; and such is His goodness and mercy that to preserve my liberty He denies me not this concurrence, nor denies it to the creatures of which I make use to offend Him; He concurs with my meat that it may be savoury to my taste, even when I sin in eating it, and with the beauty of the creature that it may recreate my sight, although I did sin in beholding it. Then what rashness is this for me to make war against God with the very power of the same God! And what does His aid avail me when I convert it to His injury?
