Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/239

 zeal, sought  thee,  the  King  of heaven  and  earth,  and  thy eternal kingdom,  in  which alone is  true  peace,  and  rest, and joy. Vouchsafe, I implore thee, of  thy  most  tender  mercy, to  accept  the  most  acceptable labours  of  thy  most  holy Son, by  which  he  has  made me and  all  men  joint-heirs with himself  in  thy  kingdom, for all  the  negligences  and failings of  which  I have  been miserably guilty,  while  I sought  and  minded  so  negligently the  things  that  are above, but  so  ardently  the things that  are  upon,  the earth.

O most merciful  Father! forgive me,  I beseech  thee,  of thy  infinite  goodness,  for  not having always,  as  I ought  to have  done,  preferred  to  my own  thy  divine  and  supreme will; for having  so  often again usurped  by  sin  the power over  my  own  will, which I had  surrendered  to thee  once  for  all; and  for  not having readily,  reverently, and cheerfully  embraced  the determination of  thy  most gracious will  respecting  me.

Vouchsafe, I implore  thee, O eternal Father,  to  accept thy most  dear  Son’s  most ready resignation  of  heart, and that  most  perfect  obedience whereby  he  became obedient to  thee  even  to  the death of  the  cross,  in  atonement  for  all  my  disobedience and transgression  of  thy  commandments.

O most bountiful  Father! who openest  thy  beneficent hand, and  fillest  with  blessing every living  creature,  and thus feedest  even  me,  however unworthy,  from  my youth,  by  so  largely  providing so  many  blessings  for  my body  as  well  as  my  soul; from the very  bottom  of  my  heart I pray thee  to  forgive  me  for having so  ungratefully  received thy  gifts  and  benefits for the  nourishment  of  both soul and  body,  and  for  having so often  abused  them,  to  thy hurt and  my  own  damnation, while I either  set  my  heart too much  upon  them,  or  enjoyed them  to  excess,  or  gave thee not  due  thanks  for  them.

Vouchsafe, O my  Father,  I implore  thee,  by  the  love  of thy  only-begotten  Son,  to  accept his  fasts,  hunger,  thirst, and wonderful  abstinence, with all  the  thanksgivings which he  was  accustomed  to offer  up  before  taking  food, in atonement  for  all  the  carelessness and  ingratitude  that I have ever  been  guilty  of in  receiving  thy  benefits  and gifts.

O Father of  immeasurable goodness! if thou  wilt  mark our sins  and  iniquities,  who