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For who is Lord but the Lord?
"Since, then, Thou fillest heaven and earth, do they contain Thee? Or, as
they contain Thee not, dost Thou fill them, and yet there remains something
over? And where dost Thou pour forth that which remaineth of Thee when the
heaven and earth are filled? Or, indeed, is there no need that Thou who
containest all things shouldest be contained of any, since those things which
Thou fillest Thou fillest by containing them? For the vessels which Thou fillest
do not sustain Thee, since should they even be broken Thou wilt not be poured
forth. And when Thou art poured forth on us, Thou art not cast down, but we are
uplifted; nor art Thou dissipated, but we are drawn together. But, as Thou
fillest all things, dost Thou fill them with Thy whole self, or, as even all
things cannot altogether contain Thee, do they contain a part, and do all at
once contain the same part? Or has each its own proper part - the greater more,
the smaller less? Is, then, one part of Thee greater, another less? Or is it
that Thou art wholly everywhere whilst nothing altogether contains Thee?
What, then, art Thou, O my God - what, I ask, but the Lord God? For who is Lord
but the Lord? or who is God save our God Most high, most excellent, most potent,
most omnipotent; most piteous and most just; most hidden and most near; most
beauteous and most strong, stable, yet contained of none; unchangeable, yet
changing all things; never new, never old; making all things new, yet bringing
old age upon the proud and they know it not; always working, yet ever at rest;
gathering, yet needing nothing; sustaining, pervading, and protecting; creating,
nourishing, and developing; seeking, and yet possessing all things. Thou lovest,
and burnest not; art jealous, yet free from care; repentest, and hast no sorrow;
art angry, yet serene; changest Thy ways, leaving unchanged Thy plans;
recoverest what Thou findest, having yet never lost; art never in want, whilst
Thou rejoicest in gain; never covetous, though requiring usury? That Thou mayest
owe, more than enough is given to Thee;s yet who hath anything that is not
Thine? Thou payest debts while owing nothing; and when Thou forgivest debts,
losest nothing. Yet, O my God, my life, my holy joy, what is this that I have
said? And what saith any man when He speaks of Thee? Yet woe to them that keep
silence, seeing that even they who say most are as the dumb?"
St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, 1,3-1,4.
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