PREFACE. XI 



" Although the infinite power and providence of God, 

 " my dearly beloved fishes, discovers itself in all the works 

 " of His creation, as in the heavens, in the sun, and in the 

 " moon, and in the stars in this lower world, in man, 

 " and in the other perfect creatures nevertheless the 

 " goodness of the Divine Majesty shines out in you 

 " more eminently, and appears after a particular manner, 

 " than in any other created beings. For notwithstand- 

 " ing you are comprehended under the name of reptiles, 

 " partaking of a middle nature between stones and 

 " beasts, and imprisoned in the deep abyss of waters ; 

 " notwithstanding you are tossed among billows, thrown 

 " up and down by tempests, deaf to hearing and dumb 

 " to speaking, and terrible to behold ; notwithstanding, 

 " I say, these natural disadvantages, the Divine goodness 

 " shows itself in you after a very wonderful manner. 

 " In you are seen the mighty mysteries of an infinite 

 " goodness. The Holy Scripture has always made use 

 " of you as the types and shadows of some profound 

 " sacrament. Do you think that without a mystery, 

 " that the first present that God Almighty made to man 

 " was of you, ye fishes? Do you think that without 

 " a mystery, among all creatures and animals which 

 " were appointed for sacrifices, you only were excepted ? 

 " Do you think there was nothing meant by our 

 " Saviour Christ, that next to the Paschal Lamb, he 

 " took so much pleasure in the food of you, O ye fishes? 

 " Do you think it was by mere chance, that when 

 " the Redeemer of the world was to pay a tribute to 



