Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/201

 mity? When shall  I rise again from  the  mire  of  the deep into  which  I am  cast? Can it  be  thought  that  I have any hope  of  rising  again? Can one  that  is  dead  again live?

Out of  the  depths,  behold, I cry to  thee,  O Lord! Oh, graciously hear  my  voice. I have no  hope  of  myself; would it  were  more  firmly fixed on  thee. A violent despair is  ready  to  seize  me,  because my  weakness  grows daily greater  by  my  fault. And if  I say,  Now  I will  begin; now  is  the  hour  for  me to  rise  out  of  sleep; for  now is the  acceptable  time,  and the day  of  salvation; sin forthwith is  present  at  the door, like  a heavy  yoke,  and like a weight  of  lead  pressing down my  neck; and  the  enemy lifts  himself  up  against me, and  the  habit  of  evil  drags me in  its  fetters  like  one  that is conquered  and  bound.

Look, O Lord,  upon  my affliction,  deliver  me  from them that  surround  me,  for the fear  of  them  is  grown strong upon  me. For counsel has  perished  from  me,  and my strength  has  failed  me. My arm  is  broken,  and  my sword  will  not  save  me. Thou only art  left  to  me  for  a refuge. But, alas! I have too  often forsaken thee,  and  therefore  I justly  dread  to  be  forsaken by thee; nay,  I fear  already that I am  cast  away  from  thy sight. For thy  countenance is against  them  that  do  evil things, to  cut  off  the  remembrance of  them  from  the  earth. Lord, all  my  desire  is  before thee, and  my  groaning  is  not hid from  thee.

Christ. My son,  I have heard thy  groaning,  and  the cry of  thy  heart  has  reached my ears. For I am  near  to them  that  are  of  a contrite heart, and  am  ready  to  save the humble  of  spirit. But hearken awhile,  on  thy  part, to my  just  complaints. True, I break not  the  bruised  reed, nor quench  the  smoking  flax; for it  is  not  for  me  to  destroy any one  of  those  whom  my Father  has  given  me. But see thyself  how  justly  my anger  might  burn  like  fire against thee. I made thee  to my  own  image  and  likeness, and redeemed  thee  with  my blood,  that  thou  mightst serve me,  who  before  wert the slave  of  Satan. But thou hast made  me  to  serve  with thy sins,  thou  hast  wearied me with  thy  iniquities. Put me in  remembrance,  and  let us plead  together. Tell if thou  hast  anything  to  justify thyself.

Am not  I thy  Father,  who have possessed  thee,  and  made thee, and  created  thee? But thou hast  forsaken  the  Father that begot  thee,  and  hast  forgotten the  God  that  created