emia contineri, (in Ps. 118, l. 20, n. 1, p. 358.) Whence the
royal prophet entreats God, to consider nothing in him but his
lowliness of heart, (v. 153, ibid.) This holy father sticks not to
say, humility is the greatest work of our faith, our best sacrifice
to God, (in Ps. 1311, n. 1. p. 442;) but true humility is
accompanied with an invincible courage, and a firmness and constancy
in virtue, which no fear of worldly powers is ever able to shake,
(in Ps. xiv. p. 66.) St. Hilary laments, that even several pastors
of the church thought it a part of piety to flatter princes. But
true religion teaches us (Matt. x. 28) only to fear things which are
justly to be feared, that is, to fear God, to fear sin, or what can
hurt our souls: for what threatens only our bodies, this is to be
despised, when the interest of God and our souls is concerned. We
indeed study out of charity to give offence to no one, (1 Cor. x.
32, 33;) but desire only to please men for God, not by contemning
him, (in Ps. 52, p. 89, 90.) Prayer is the great Christian duty,
which this holy doctor was particularly solicitous to inculcate,
teaching that it consists in the cry of the heart; not in the lips,
as David cried to God in his whole heart, Ps. cxviii. v. 145, (in
Ps. cxviii. l. 19, p. 352.) We are to pour forth our souls before
God, with earnestness, and with abundance of tears, (in Ps. 41, apud
Marten. t. 9, p. 71.) Amidst the dangers and evils of this life, our
only comfort ought to be in God, in the assured hope of his
promises, and in prayer. (Ib.) That prayer is despised by God, which
is slothful and lukewarm, accompanied with distrust, distracted with
unprofitable thoughts, weakened by worldly anxiety and desires of
earthly goods, or fruitless, for want of the support of good works,
(in Ps. liv. p. 104.) All our actions and discourses ought to be
begin by prayer, and the divine praise, (in Ps. lxiv. p. 162.) The
day among Christians is always begun by prayer, and ended by hymns
to God, (ib. n. 12, p. 169.) By this public homage of the church,
and of every faithful soul in it, God is particularly honored, and
he delights in it. (St. Jerom. in eund. Ps.) St. Hilary takes
notice, that the night is of all others the most proper time for
prayer; as the example of Christ, David, and other saints,
demonstrates, (in Ps.