, and which Job compares to the sea, and to
the sand by the seashore. [Job 6:3]

CHAPTER V

THE FIFTH IMAGE

THE EVIL ON OUR LEFT HAND

Here we must set before our eyes the whole multitude of our
adversaries and wicked men, and consider, first, how many evils
they would have inflicted on our bodies, our property, our good
name, and on our souls, but could not, being prevented by the
providence of God. Indeed, the higher one's station and the wider
one's sway,[23] the more is he exposed to the intrigues,
slanders, plots, and stratagems of his enemies. In all this we
may mark and feel the very present hand of God, and need not
wonder if we be touched now and then by one of these evils.

Again, let us consider the evils which these men themselves
endure; not that we may exult over them, but that we may feel
pity for them. For they, too, are exposed to all these same
evils, in common with ourselves; as may be seen in the preceding
times. Only, they are in a worse plight than we, because they
stand outside our fellowship,[24] both as to body and soul. For
the evil that we endure is as nothing compared to their evil
estate; for they are in sin and unbelief, under the wrath of God,
and under the dominion of the devil, wretched slaves to
ungodliness and sin, so that, if the whole world were to heap
curses on their heads, it could wish them no worse things. If we
rightly consider this, we shall see how much more highly favored
we are of God, in that we may bear our slight bodily ill in
faith, in the kingdom of Christ, and in the service of God; and,
indeed, are scarce able to feel it, being so rich in those high
blessings. Nay, this wretchedness of theirs must so sorely
trouble a pious Christian heart as to make its own troubles seem
delights beside them. Thus St. Paul exhorts in Philippians ii,
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, took upon Him the
form of a servant, etc." [Phil. 2:4 ff.] That is to say, Out of
fervent love He took our form upon Himself, bearing Himself
amidst our evils as though they were His own, and so completely
forgetting Himself and all His goods, and humbling Himself, that
He was found in all things to be made in the likeness of men,
counting nothing human foreign to Himself, and wholly giving
Himself over to our evils.

Animated with this love, and moved by thi