Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/112

 vouchsafe to  confirm  and  accept my  love.

7. And  because  thou  desirest  me,  most  gracious  Lord, to love  my  neighbour  also,  I thank  thee  for  giving  me  so delightful  a precept;  and  I therefore  force  my  will  to love  him  to  the  utmost  of  my power. I desire to  love  him; and I pray  thee  to  give  him every blessing  that  may  make him happier,  and  more  acceptable to  thee. And I pray especially for  N.N.,  for  whom my rebellious  will  entertains some aversion.

Forgive them,  I entreat thee, all  their  sins; and  grant that they  may  lay  hold  on the  necessary  means  for  attaining everlasting  life; and if thou  knowest  it  to  be  expedient for  me  to  be  without some gift  of  thine  which  thou grantest to  them,  behold,  O Lord  my  God,  I refuse  it not. I am exceedingly  glad for the  love  which  thou  displayest  towards  them,  and for the  perfection  with  which thou adornest  them; and  for this I return  thee  the  greatest thanks.

8. And  if,  by  thy  permission, it  should  happen  to  me to  be  annoyed  and  offended by any  one,  I entreat  thee  notwithstanding, beforehand,  to give  him  pardon  for  his  fault, and life  eternal. And this  I do,  because  thou  lovest  him; and I desire  in  all  things  to be  conformed  to  thee,  that I may never  wish  any  thing but what  thou  thyself  wishest,  my  Lord  and  my  God. Amen.

''The worship  of  Latria,  which  is  paid  to  God  alone, is  an internal  and,  at  the  same  time, an  external  act, by  which a rational  creature  honours  God  by  humbling  himself, with  the  intention  of  adoring  him  and  confessing  him  to be  God. O God of  immeasurable  majesty  and  greatness, Father, Son,  and  Holy  Ghost!''

x. With  all  the  submission and humility  I am  capable of, in  the  presence  of  thy divine majesty,  O my  God, I acknowledge myself  thy creature, and  the  work  of  thy  hands,  dependent  on  thee for every,  thing. I acknowledge thee  to  be  the  absolute - Lord of  all,  most  worthy  to be  esteemed  and  honoured  as such  by  all. Prostrate on  the ground, with  the  deepest  and most heartfelt  submission,  I adore  thee,  out  of  the  depths