Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/109

 of thy  holy  prophet,  with whom I exclaim,  Let  the people confess  to  thee, O God, let all  the  people  give  praise to thee. Let all  the  earth adore thee, and  sing  to  thee. Oh, praise the  Lord, all  ye nations; praise  him, all  ye people.

4. I also  willingly  offer thee, if  need  be,  my  life  and my blood,  to  defend  the  truth and confession  of  this  faith. And I would  it  might  please thee, O most  holy  Trinity, Father, Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, to give  me  the  grace  to  undergo for  it  martyrdom. With thy grace  I would  not  only most readily  offer  myself  for all hard  and  difficult  services, but would  even  esteem  it  the greatest favour  to  be  permitted to  endure  much  suffering for  the  love  of  thy truth. Hear me  graciously, O my most  loving  God.

''Hope is  a virtue  infused  into  our  minds  by  God, by  which we  ought  certainly  to  expect  eternal  happiness,  through the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Redeemer, together  with our  works  preceded  by  the  grace  of  Christ. ''

1. Bowed  down  and  prostrate before  thee,  O my  almighty God,  I adore  and  worship thee,  to  whom  nothing  is impossible  or  difficult; as  it has  been  most  truly  said,  No word  is  impossible  with  God. By thy  almighty  power  thou hast promised  to  give  me  the glory of  heaven,  and  hast  invited me  to  share  it  with  thee, and be  like  thee,  O infinite goodness! I hope, therefore, and desire  to  obtain  eternal life from  thee  alone,  by  thy help, and  the  good  works which, by  thy  special  grace, I determine to  do.

2. O God,  who  art  indeed almighty, behold,  I most  certainly know  that,  without  thy mediation, I cannot  possess the great  happiness  promised me; I know, too,  that  thou desirest and  wishest  to  give it me,  for  this  is  why  thou hast given  thy  Son  to  die  for me.

3. I rejoice  and  congratulate myself  my  most  sweet Jesus, my  infinite  goodness, that I can  be  made  happy  by thee  only,  and  that  there  is no  other  name  under  heaven given to  us  whereby  we may  be  saved. Not bliss  itself would  satisfy  me,  unless