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542 CITY OF GOD
of God, which prevents in them a blind and disorderly
attachment to such matters; yet they think it a misfor
tune and, as it were, an injury, and. they allow their
heart continually to verge on destruction by trespassing
upon what is finite and perishable.
638. Secondly, this deceit is known by the forgetfulness
of spiritual benefits in the blind pursuit of what is
transitory, so that men neither recognize or acknowledge
what is
beyond. This fault among the children of the
Church is most vile and dreadful, since, without any ob
ligation on the part of God and without any of their
merit, the divine mercy seeks to draw them to the secure
path of eternal life, signally applying to them the merits
of the passion and death of my divine Son. Every one
who is now in a state of holiness in the Church, could
have been born in other times and ages, before God came
into the world ;
moreover he could have been born among
pagans, idolaters, heretics or other infidels, where his
eternal damnation would be unavoidable. Without their
merit God called such persons to his holy faith, giving
them knowledge of the certain truth; justifying them
in Baptism, putting at their disposal the Sacraments, the
ministers, the teachings and enlightenments of eternal
life. He placed them upon the sure path, granted them
his assistance, pardoned them their sins, raised them
from their falls, waited for their repentance, invited them
by his mercy, and rewarded them with a liberal hand.
He defended them through his holy angels, gave them
Himself as a pledge and as a nourishment of eternal life;
and thus He accumulated so many blessings upon them,
that they are without measure or number, and that not
a day nor an hour passes without increasing their indebt
edness.
639. Tell me then, daughter, what thanks are due to
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