Vol. 2

CHAPTER XII. 521fears. His wisdom cannot be surprised, his powercannot be forced, his love cannot forget itself: thisought to make us easy and satisfied, yet so as not toneglect human mean^. Man distrusts God, and fearsthat he is forgotten by him, because he judges ofGod by himself, is very apt to forget him, and to beunfaithful to him." 7. But even the very hairs of your head are allnumbered. Fear not therefore : ye are of more valuethan many sparrows."Some men admire the providence of God over thesmallest creatures, who yet, upon occasion, are uneasyand solicitous, as if they believed none with respectto themselves. God watches over everything,without debasing himself; he acts in every thing,without growing weary ; and he is sufficient for everything, without multiplying himself:and this becausehe need only will, and because whatever good he designshis creatures, he wills it by his power and hislove. He alone knows our value, because he aloneknows how much he loves us, and because he is himselfthe price of our love. Since God is mindful ofman with so much goodness, how can man be so unmindfulof God?*' 8. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confessme before men, him shall the Son of man alsoconfess before the angels of God :"Christ will treat us at the day of judgment, as wehave treated him in the time of our life. Happy isthat person who confesses him in his heart, with hismouth, and by his works ! We should esteem it anhonour to declare for Christ, if it cost us none of ourworldly pretensions : as if he was not capable of mak-