Meditations vppon the mysteries of our holy faith with the practise of mental praier touching the same composed in Spanish by the R.F. Luys de la Puente ... ; and translated into English by F. Rich. Gibbons ...

The third Pointe.

THirdly, I will consider the littlenesse of my beeing, and of all the good that I haue in com∣parison of God, proceeding by Degrees, and be∣holding first what I am in comparison of all men joyned togither: and then what I am in compari∣son of men, and Angells: and then what all Crea∣tures are in comparison of God, before whome, (as Isaias saithe) the nations are, as if they were not: they are as nothing, and as a thing voide of beeing; they are as a droppe of VVater, or of the Dewe of the morning that falleth vpon the groun∣de, and can hardely bee seene. Then I alone, what shall I bee before God? As the Starres appeare not in the presence of the Sunne, and are as if they were not: so I, how greate good soeuer I haue,

am, as if I were not at all, in the presence of God; and much lesse then a litle worme in comparison of the whole worlde.

My Science, my Vertue, my Power, my Discre∣tion, my Fortitude, my Beautye, and all whatsoe∣uer good I haue, or can haue, is as nothing in com∣parison of that which God hath: for the which our Sauiour saide with greate reason; None is good but onely God; none is Potent, nor Strong, nor Beau∣tifull but God: for hee onely is Goodnesse, VVis∣dome, and Omnipotencie it selfe, in comparison whereof, that which the Creatures haue, deserueth not this name.

Then what wit can vnderstand how a man of so litle Beeing dareth to despise God, and to offen∣de him with so many Sinnes? O foole what hast thou donne? O wretched I, that haue beene so au∣dacious? O Immense God, in comparison of who∣me I am as if I were not, by the infinite excel∣lencie of thy Beeing, I beseeche the pardon my Sin∣nes, and illuminate mee to knowe the vilenesse, into which by their meanes I am come. Graunt mee that I may abhorre, and despise myselfe, and estee∣me myselfe lesse then nothing: and that like Iob I may doe penance in Dust and Ashes, accounting my selfe for such a one in thy diuine presence.

Notes

• Isai. 40.17.
• Sap. 11.
• Luc. 18.19.
• Iob. 42.6.