O holy Father, thou hast so appointed, and such is thy will; and that has come to pass which thou hast ordered.
4. For this is a favour to thy friend, that he should suffer and be afflicted in this world for the love of thee; how often soever, and by whomsoever thou permittest it to fall upon him.
Without thy counsel and providence, and without cause nothing is done upon earth.
It is good for me, O Lord, that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy justifications, (Psalms cxviii.) and cast away from me all pride of heart and presumption.
[USCCB: Psalms cxix. 71. "It was good for me to be afflicted, in order to learn your laws.">[
It is advantageous for me that shame has covered my face, that I may rather seek my comfort from thee, than from men.
I have also learned hereby to fear thy impenetrable judgment, who afflicting the just together with the wicked, but not without equity and justice.
5. Thanks be to thee, that thou hast not spared me in my evils, but hast bruised me with bitter stripes, inflicting pains, and sending distress both within and without.