Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/107

 to seek  and  to  love  sincerely, simply, and  purely,  without any advantage  to  myself.

And now  I firmly  propose both to  serve  and  to  love  thy supreme majesty  for  the  future, not  in  order  to  escape from pain,  or  imprisonment, or hell,  nor  to  obtain  of  thee consolations, or  happiness  in the  next  life,  or  any  thing  else that is  desirable  in  this,  but that I may  seek  thee  alone, above all  things,  wish  for  thee alone, and  love  thee  alone. And surely  thou,  who  art  the true and  only  perfection  of all  things,  alone  art  sufficient for me.

Therefore to  thee  alone  I give  and  dedicate  myself  for ever, with  so  firm  and  inviolable a purpose,  and  with  so sincere  an  affection,  that  I desire  to  love  thee  with  my whole  soul,  and  to  serve  thee with this  intention,  even  were I to live  for  ever  and  ever. This, I repeat,  is  my  purpose, my resolution,  and  the  firm determination of  my  will.

2. If  thou  wilt  give  me comforts  and  consolations,  I will  bless  thee; for  thou  wilt deal with  me  as  a good  and gracious God,  such  as  thou wert, and  art,  and  wilt  be ever; and  I return  thee  endless thanks;  and  this  I do though  thou  wilt  not  give me them. Nay, if  thou  send me punishments,  sorrows, and vexations,  alike  I bless thee, and  return  thee  endless thanks.

3. In  confirmation  of  this resolve, I now  call  to  witness the  most  Blessed  Virgin Mary, the  Queen  of  heaven, with all  the  saints  and  angels that dwell  in  heaven; all  of whom  I entreat  to  intercede for me  with  thy  divine  majesty, that  this  my  purpose may grow  to  perfection,  of seeking  thee  only  and  purely in all  things,  and  nothing  else but thee.

I turn to  thee,  therefore, again, O my  dearest  Lord, and implore  thee  that  thou wouldst vouchsafe  to  accept this my  resolution,  and  give me strength  to  fulfil  it,  for without thee  I can  do  nothing. And, confessing  it  to  be  so, again I fly  to  thee; I recommend and  commit  myself  to thee  entirely,  and  hide  myself in the  depths  of  thy  mercy. Receive me,  then,  O my  God; embrace me,  O my  hope; in all  things,  O most  tender  Father, change  me  and  transform me  into  thyself.

4. With  this  object  and  intention I resolve  to  practice myself in  the  following  exercises and  acts  of  virtue. And though I should  sometimes fail to  develop  them  sufficiently in  word  or  in  deed, yet in  my  heart  I now  intend and resolve  to  perform  them always, at  every  moment, particularly at  the  hour  of death,  with  all  my  strength and affection,  and  in  the  most perfect manner  possible,  and known by  thee  to  be  possible,