Page:Imitation-of-christ-1901.djvu/153

Rh gladness, above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and comfort, above all hope and promise, above all desert and desire:

Above all gifts and benefits that Thou canst give and impart unto us, above all mirth and joyousness that the mind of man can feel:

Finally, above angels and archangels, and above all the heavenly host, above all things visible and invisible, and above all that Thou art not, O my God.

2. Because Thou, O Lord, my God, art supremely good above all; Thou alone art most high. Thou alone most powerful, Thou alone most full and sufficient, Thou alone most sweet and most full of consolation.

Thou alone art most lovely and loving, Thou alone most noble and glorious above all things, in Whom all good things together both perfectly are, and ever have been, and shall be.

And therefore whatsoever Thou bestowest on me besides Thyself, or revealest unto me, is but mean and unsatisfying, whilst Thou art not seen and fully obtained.

Surely my heart cannot truly rest, nor be entirely contented, unless it rest in Thee, and rise above all gifts and all creatures whatsoever.

3. O Thou most beloved spouse of my soul, Christ, Thou most pure Lover, Thou Lord of all creation; O that I had the wings of true liberty, that I might flee away and rest in Thee!

O when shall it be fully granted me, to consider in quietness of mind, and to see how sweet Thou art, my Lord God!

When shall I fully gather up myself into Thee, that