RELIGION, SUPERSTITION, ETC. 55 



upon his soul, and at last addressed himself to them in 

 the following words : 



" My dearly beloved Pish. Although the infinite power 

 and providence of God discovers itself in all the works of 

 creation, as in the heavens, in the sun, in the moon, and 

 in the stars, in this lower world, in man, and in other 

 perfect creatures ; nevertheless, the goodness of the Divine 

 Majesty shines in you more eminently, and appears after 

 a more particular manner than in any other created 

 beings. For, notwithstanding 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 lost among 

 billows, thrown up and down tempests, deaf to hearing, 

 dumb to speech, and terrible to behold ; notwithstanding, 

 I say, these natural disadvantages, the Divine Greatness 

 shows itself in you after a very wonderful manner. In 

 you are seen the mighty mysteries of 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 mystery, the first present 

 that God Almighty made to man, was of you, O ye 

 fishes ? Do you think that without a mystery, among 

 all creatures and animals which were appointed for sacri- 

 fices, you only were accepted, ye fishes ? Do you think 

 there was nothing meant by our Saviour Christ, that next 

 to the Paschal lamb he took so much pleasure in the good 



