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35. But neither does He use after our fashion of using. For when
we use objects, we do so with a view to the full enjoyment of the
goodness of God. God, however, in His use of us, has reference to
His own goodness. For it is because He is good we exist; and so far
as we truly exist we are good. And, further, because He is also
just, we cannot with impunity be evil; and so far as we are evil, so
far is our existence less complete. Now He is the first and supreme
existence, who is altogether unchangeable, and who could say in the
fullest sense of the words, "I AM THAT I AM," and "Thou
shalt say to them, I AM hath sent me unto you;" so that all other
things that exist, both owe their existence entirely to Him, and are
good only so far as He has given it to them to be so. That use,
then, which God is said to make of us has no reference to His own
advantage, but to ours only; and, so far as He is concerned, has
reference only to His goodness.
When we take pity upon a man and care for him, it is for his advantage
we do so; but somehow or other our own advantage follows by a sort of
natural consequence, for God does not leave the mercy we show to him
who needs it to go without reward. Now this is our highest reward,
that we should fully enjoy Him, and that all who enjoy Him should
enjoy one another in Him.
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