Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/236

 in the  quality  or  quantity  of our  food. Therefore we  must earnestly pray  God  against it, who  has  made  us  by  nature frail, and  liable  to. this necessity of  restoring  our  strength by food,  in  saying,

O merciful God! vouchsafe to give  us  our  necessary food, and  so  to  rule  us,  that we may  not  change  into  a matter  of  pleasure  the  requirements of  necessity,  and not use  for  luxury  what  thy bountiful hand  has  bestowed upon us  for  the  support  of nature; but  that  we  may  restrain our  carnal  appetites by the  law  of  God  and  of right  reason. Vouchsafe also to give  us  the  bread  of  heavenly wisdom,  that,  by  tasting how sweet  the  Lord  is,  we may  loathe  the  allurements of the  palate,  and  turn  with disgust from  all  bodily  pleasures, which,  in  comparison of the  sweetness  of  his  taste, are but  as  husks  of  swine.

But while  the  appetite  is being  bridled,  the  malice  of the  devil  often  contrives  for us occasions  for  anger  and impatience, that,  by  yielding to the  sin  of  hatred,  we  may be robbed of  the  fruit  of  abstinence, and  even  in  our very fasts  become  odious  to God,  like  the  people  of  whom Isaias speaks,  who  fasted  for debates and  strife.

Against this  malignant head of  the  Beast  he  hurls his weapon  with  a powerful hand who  prays  from  his heart,

For there  is  not  a day  on which  we  have  no  need  to ask  of  God  forgiveness  of  our sins; for in  many  things  we all  offend,  and  if  God  shall mark iniquities,  who  shall endure it? But this  we  can only obtain  by  not  being angry with  those  who  sin against us,  and  forgiving them from  our  hearts. Then indeed we  can  say  with  open confidence, Forgive  us,  as  we forgive.

This connection  of  the  one clause with  the  other  may well strike  us  with  fear  and anxiety. For what  if  thou forgive not  thy  debtors,  or  if thou  forgive  not  fully  and sincerely, or  if  outwardly only and  deceitfully,  and  in the  meantime  cherishest  anger in  thy  heart,  and  meditatest  revenge? Then, undoubtedly, thou  invokest God, not for  thee,  but  against  thee, and Wilt  have  him  not  for  thy father, but  for  thy  judge;  and wilt hear,  Out  of  thy  own mouth I judge  thee,  thou wicked servant; for  thou  desirest  to  be  forgiven  only  as thou  forgivest.

Let us,  then,  become  more