Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/131

 it be  my  first  consolation  in adversity. Let it  produce  in me  confidence  in  alarms,  security in  dangers,  courage  in difficulties,  patience  in  adversities, calmness  in  troubles, and  repose  of  mind  in the  expectation  of  future events. Let it  relieve  me from  all  anxiety,  that  I may repose securely  on  the  bounty of thy  providence  alone. Let it govern  all  that  I do,  and guide it  to  the  end,  as  it knows  best  for  thy  glory and my  salvation. Whatsoever means it  may  employ, whether prosperity  or  adversity, honour  or  disgrace, bad or  good  reputation,  penury or  abundance,  sickness or health,  life  or  death, — I refuse  nothing,  I reject  nothing. Whatever it  chooses, that I judge  to  be  most  right and proper,  and  I embrace  it as  the  most  welcome.

It is,  and  I hope  always may be,  my  earnest  desire and wish  to  do,  say,  and think only  what  thou,  O my Lord,  judgest  best  for  thy glory and  my  salvation; that I may contemplate,  admire, love, honour,  praise,  and bless thee,  in  all  and  above all things,  for  ever  and  ever. Amen.

i. O most  merciful  Lord, thou art  that  immeasurable mercy which  infinitely  surpasses all  our  misery  and  sin. For, first,  thou  drewest  me out  of  the darkness  of  nothing, and gavest  me  life,  and  a noble nature made  to  thy  image; and with  it  hast  bestowed on me  the  great  ornaments of the  understanding,  judgment, reason,  memory,  and will. Afterwards thou  hast raised me  from  the  low  state of nature  to  the  sublime  state of grace,  by  adopting  me  for thy son. To these  two  first states thou  hast  added  another, the  most  noble  of  all, the state  of  glory. For the gifts of  glory  are  far  more perfect and  excellent  than those of  grace. To this  high degree have  I been  destined by thy  infinite  goodness  and mercy.

If, then,  O my  soul,  thou hast gained  the  second  degree, be  diligent  to  reach to the  third; especially  when thou hast  so  many  aids  and supports to  help  thee  to  arrive at  such  happiness. Such are the  most  holy  sacraments, purchased for  us,  and  left  to us  by  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord, who, as  the  crown  and  perfection of  all  his  favours,  has left us  also  the  most  holy sacrament of  his  precious body and  blood.

2. Ah,  Lord,  enlighten  my heart,  that  I may  understand thy boundless  mercy,  prize  it highly  when  understood,  and keep it  always  before  my  eyes