CHAPTER X. SECOND MEDITATION

Of the End for which we were Created.

Preparation.

1. PLACE yourself before God. 2. Ask Him to inspire your heart.

Considerations.

1. God did not bring you into the world because He had any need of you,
useless as you are; but solely that He might show forth His Goodness in
you, giving you His Grace and Glory. And to this end He gave you
understanding that you might know Him, memory that you might think of
Him, a will that you might love Him, imagination that you might realise
His mercies, sight that you might behold the marvels of His works,
speech that you might praise Him, and so on with all your other
faculties.

2. Being created and placed in the world for this intent, all contrary
actions should be shunned and rejected, as also you should avoid as
idle and superfluous whatever does not promote it.

2. Consider how unhappy they are who do not think of all this,–who
live as though they were created only to build and plant, to heap up
riches and amuse themselves with trifles.

Affections and Resolutions.

1. Humble yourself in that hitherto you have so little thought upon all
this. Alas, my God, of what was I thinking when I did not think of
Thee? what did I remember when I forgot Thee? what did I love when I
loved Thee not? Alas, when I ought to have been feeding on the truth, I
was but filling myself with vanity, and serving the world, which was
made to serve me.

2. Abhor your past life. I renounce ye, O vain thoughts and useless
cogitations, frivolous and hateful memories: I renounce all worthless
friendships, all unprofitable efforts, and miserably ungrateful
self-indulgence, all pitiful compliances.

3. Turn to God. Thou, my God and Saviour shalt henceforth be the sole
object of my thoughts; no more will I give my mind to ideas which are
displeasing to Thee. All the days of my life I will dwell upon the
greatness of Thy Goodness, so lovingly poured out upon me. Thou shalt
be henceforth the delight of my heart, the resting-place of all my
affections. From this time forth I will forsake and abhor the vain
pleasures and amusements, the empty pursuits which have absorbed my
time;–the unprofitable ties which have bound my heart I will loosen
henceforth, and to that end I will use such and such remedies.

Conclusion.

1. Thank God, Who has made you for so gracious an end. Thou hast made
me, O Lord, for Thyself, that I may eternally enjoy the immensity of
Thy Glory; when shall I be worthy thereof, when shall I know how to
bless Thee as I ought?

2. Offer. O Dearest Lord, I offer Thee all my affections and
resolutions, with my whole heart and soul.

3. Pray. I entreat Thee, O God, that Thou wouldest accept my desires
and longings, and give Thy Blessing to my soul, to enable me to fulfil
them, through the Merits of Thy Dear Son’s Precious Blood shed upon the
Cross for me. OUR FATHER, etc. Gather your little spiritual bouquet.
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