Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/111



2. I praise  thee  for  thy almighty power,  glory,  dominion, and  empire  over  us and  over  all  things,  and because they  proceed  from thyself. Truly, O Lord,  if by  an  impossibility  I could possess any  thing  which thou hast  not,  I would  most willingly yield  the  whole  of it  entirely  to  thee. Nay, I would  not,  if  I were  able, be God,  that  thou  mightst  be alone,  and  mightst  have  no equal.

3. I wish  and  desire  also, from the  bottom  of  my  heart, all the  creatures  which  are  in heaven,  earth,  and  sea,  and whatever has  or  can  have existence any  where,  to  acknowledge that  they  have received their  whole  being from thee,  and  to  render  thee honour and  service. I desire them all  to  be  drawn  by thy  infinite  goodness,  and the excellence  of  thy  majesty, to praise,  magnify,  and  love thee only,  because  thou  alone art most  worthy  of  all  praise.

Moreover, it  fills  me  with the greatest  joy  to  know  that whatsoever thy  creatures  endeavour to  offer  through  love of thee,  all  falls  infinitely short of  thy  dignity  and greatness.

4. And  since  thou  art  of thyself  worthy  of  infinite love, with  my  whole  heart  I desire  to  love  thee  with  the same perfection  that  all  the blessed have  ever  loved  thee, love thee  now,  and  will  love thee ever. And with  the same affection  of  heart  I offer  to  thee  that  fervour  and flower of  charity,  with  which thou lovest,  hast  loved,  and wilt love  thyself  for  ever.

5. I am  immeasurably  glad, and give  thee  endless  thanks, for supplying  my  duty,  and that of  all  thy  creatures,  by thy  love  of  thyself. And I offer  thee  this  very  love  of thyself  in  thanksgiving  for all the  glory,  honour,  and happiness which  thou  enjoyest:  together  with  all  that glory, honour,  and  praise, which all  the  blessed  spirits, and all  the  just  of  this  world, offer thee  with  one  consent. And, in  return,  I desire,  in and  for  thyself,  thy  being, thy glory,  and  every  good that thou  hast.

6. I would  wish  thee  also, whom I most  tenderly  love, to be  well  assured  of  my  determination to  love  thee  with so firm  and  constant  a will, that although  thou  shouldst never grant  me  any  thing that is  good,  either  in  this world or  the  next; nay, though thou  shouldst  visit me with  every  affliction  in this  life  and  consign  me  to eternal  punishment  in  the next, — I would  love  thee nevertheless, and  serve  thee from the  very  bottom  of  my heart;  and,  by  the  help  of thy  grace,  would  not  cease or slacken  in  loving  thee  for a moment. And I most humbly entreat  of  thee  to