Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/108

 to myself  or  to  any  other creature whatsoever. And now behold  I offer  thee  them all, as  much  as  if  I were  myself  their  first  author; while, with all  my  heart,  I pray thee, by  thy  infinite  goodness and mercy,  that  thou  wouldst vouchsafe to  accept  them. Amen.

''Faith, as the  foundation  of  the  rest, holds  the  first  place among  the  theological  virtues, and  is  a habit  of  the understanding infused  by  God,  by  which  the  believer  is enlightened  to  assent  and adhere  to  those  things  which are  revealed  and  proposed by  God  himself, through  the Church. ''

1. O God,  most  faithful and true,  first  and  everlasting Truth, with  my  whole  soul  I embrace  this  foundation  of faith. And therefore,  most humbly, prostrate  on  the ground, I adore  and  worship thee, in  heaven  and  on  earth. And I most  firmly  profess,  in the  best  and  most  perfect manner I am  able,  that  I now  and  ever  both  believe in my  heart  and  confess  with my mouth  all  that  thou  hast spoken, revealed,  and  proposed to  be  believed  by  thy holy Church,  particularly those things  which  are  contained in  the  Apostles'  Creed. And I affirm  them  all  to  be most  certain,  so  that  nothing whatever of  them  can  be called  in  question.

2. I therefore  confess,  and most firmly  protest  before thy divine  majesty  and  the whole court  of  heaven,  that  I will  live  and  die  in  the  confession of  this  truth. Oh, how I wish that  the  whole  world beside would  know  and  confess thee  with  the  firmest faith! Most deeply  do  I grieve  that  it  does  not  believe, adore, and  venerate  thee  as  it ought.

3. I beseech  thee,  then,  by the  precious  blood,  the  life and death  of  my  Lord  Jesus Christ, by  the  merits  of  his most holy  mother,  and  by  the intercession of  thy  holy  apostles, disciples,  martyrs,  confessors, virgins,  and  all  thy saints and  elect,  that  thou wouldst increase  in  me  and in all  men  that  holy  light  of faith,  and  enkindle  it  in  unbelievers, that  all  may  know, confess, and  adore  thee  the more, according  to  the  desire