Chap. X That It Is Meet to Serve God, Despising This World
1. Now will I speak, O Lord, and will not be silent; I will say in the hearing of my God, my Lord, and my king that is on high.
O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast hidden for those that fear thee! Psalms xxx. [USCCB: Psalms xxxi. 20.]
But what art thou to those that love thee? What to those that serve thee with their whole heart?
Unspeakable indeed is the sweetness of thy contemplation, which thou bestowest on those that love thee.
In this, most of all hast thou shewed me the sweetness of thy love, that when I had no being, thou hast made me; and when I strayed far from thee, thou hast brought me back again, that I might serve thee; and thou hast commanded me to love thee.
2. O fountain of everlasting love, what shall I say of thee?
How can I ever forget thee, who hast vouchsafed to remember me, even after that I was laid waste, and perished?
Thou hast beyond all hope shewed mercy to thy servant; and beyond all my desert bestowed thy grace and friendship on me.
What return shall I make to thee for this grace? for it is a favour not granted to all, to forsake all things and renounce the world, and chuse a monastic life.
Can it be much to serve thee, whom the whole creation is bound to serve?
It ought not to seem much to me to serve thee; but this seems great and wonderful to me, that thou vouchsafest to receive one so wretched and unworthy into thy service, and to associate him to thy beloved servants.
3. Behold all things are thine, which I have, and with which I serve thee;
Though rather thou servest me, than I thee.
Lo! heaven and earth, which thou hast created for the service of man, are ready at thy beck, and daily do whatever thou hast commanded them.
And this is yet but little, for thou hast also appointed the angels for the service of man.
But, what is above all this is, that thou thyself hast vouchsafed to serve man, and hast promised that thou wilt give him thyself.
4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of favours? Oh that I could serve thee all the days of my life!
Oh that I were able, if it were but for one day, to serve thee worthily!
Indeed thou art worthy of all service, of all honour, and of eternal praise.
Thou art truly my Lord, and I am thy poor servant, who am bound with all my strength to serve thee, and ought never to grow weary of praising thee.
This is my will, this is my desire; and whatever is wanting to me, do thou vouchsafe to supply.
5. It is a great honour, a great glory to serve thee, and to despise all things for thee;
For they who willingly subject themselves to thy most holy service shall have a great grace;
They shall find the most sweet consolation of the Holy Ghost, who for the love of thee have cast away all carnal delight:
They shall gain great freedom of mind, who for thy name enter upon the narrow way, and neglect all worldly care.
6. Oh pleasant and delightful service of God, which makes a man truly free and holy!
O sacred state of religious bondage, which makes man equal to angels, pleasing to God, terrible to the devils, and commendable to all the faithful!
Oh service worthy to be embraced and always wished for, which leads to the supreme good, and procures a joy that will never end.