akin to despair about his salvation. A confessor, to whom he opened his mind, told him to go, take his Bible, and write out all the texts in which God calls Himself his Father. He did so, and was blessed with calm and peace before he had written twenty."
The following extracts from the Sacred Scriptures reveal the goodness and mercy of God. Like the psalms of David, which you ought to read and meditate upon, they confirm us in our hope.
"Say to them: As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live" (Ezech xxxiii. n).
"The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke xix. 10).
"Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God" (i John iii. i).
"But I say to you: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you; that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh the sun to rise upon the good and bad, and raineth upon the just and unjust. ... Be you perfect as also your heavenly Father is perfect." — Words of our blessed Saviour (Matt. v. 44, 45, 48).
"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on thee" (Jer. xxxi. 3).
u The Lord is gracious and merciful; patient and plenteous in mercy."
"The Lord is sweet to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."
