Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/135

 until they  gained  a most  glorious victory. Amen.

Lastly, my  most  tender Lord, because  I know  thee  to be  my  only  good,  my  greatest happiness and  bliss,  I ought by no  means  to  suffer  myself to be  separated  from  thee; but rather  it  should  ever  be my  constant  endeavour  to continue  most  closely  united to thee. Therefore I desire, and will  exert  myself,  that  no moment  may  pass  that  I do not  confirm  what  I have  here set down  and  determined. And that  I may  be  able  to  do this,  I now  desire  with  all possible reverence  and  humility, to  enter  into  an  agreement with  thy divine majesty, and to  bind  myself  by  a lasting treaty; that  as  I.  shall never cease  to  breathe  as  long as I live,  so  I may  never cease to  believe  in  thee,  to love  thee,  to  praise  thee, to give  thee  thanks,  to  offer and resign  myself  to  thee,  to hope  and  rejoice  in  thee,  and to detest  the  world  as  a

plague; to  have  a zeal  for thy honour  and  the  salvation of souls,  to  fear  thee,  to  humble myself,  to  do  penance,  to form  holy  designs,  to  love  my neighbour,  to  cultivate  chastity, poverty,  and  obedience, and to  ask  of  thee  what  I have asked above. Also to  know thee, to  adore  thee,  and  praise thee as  a God  infinite,  immeasurable, immutable,  eternal, almighty, wise,  good,  holy, bountiful, provident,  merciful, just,  and  our  last  end. And to  show  that  this  is  now fully my  purpose,  I declare, with the  greatest  humility, in the  presence  of  thy  divine majesty and  the  whole  court of heaven,  that  I desire,  with my whole  heart,  and  with  all the virtue,  purity  of  intent, and ability  that  I can,  to  observe all  those  things  that  I have  mentioned  above. And this as  often  as  I breathe, and as  often  as  I turn  my thoughts  to  any  act  of  this kind that  is  acceptable  and pleasing to  thee. Accept this resolution, O Lord,  now,  for that, and  for  all  time. And may this  desire  of  my  soul  be ratified  and  confirmed  by  thy most gracious  will  for  ever and ever. Amen.