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 shall  endure  it,  in  so  many things do  we  all  offend;  I beseech  thee, therefore,  by  thy eternal love,  mercifully  to  forgive me  whatever  things  I have  failed  in,  at  whatever time or  place,  and  in  what manner soever; or,  if  I  may not have  clearly  fulfilled  thy precept of  forgiving  those who sinned  against  me,  or  not have loved  my  enemies  from my heart,  I implore  thy  majesty to  accept,  O most  just God, in  satisfaction,  the  infinite price  of  the  blood,  and  the most touching  prayer  of  thy most dear  Son,  by  which  he asked  thee  to  forgive  his  enemies when  he  was  hanging  on the  cross.

O most gracious  Father! for the  sake  of  thy  infinite love, forgive  me  for  not  having hitherto,  with  sufficient diligence and  earnestness,  endeavoured to  resist  my  corrupt concupiscences  and  desires, but  rather  consented  to the  evil  suggestions  of  the world, the  flesh,  and  the  devil, for  which  I have  been  deservedly exposed  to  various misfortunes. I pray, then,  O Lord,  that  if,  in  the  counsel of thy  divine  providence,  thou willest me,  on  that  account, to undergo  temptations,  thou wilt never  permit  me  to  consent to  them. Vouchsafe, I beseech thee,  O almighty God, to  accept  the  glorious victory of  Christ  thy  Son,  by which  he  vanquished  the  flesh, the world,  and  Satan,  together with  his  most  holy  conversation, and  all  his  labours and sorrows,  for  the  supply of all  my  negligence  and frailty; and so  to  deliver  me from  all  evil,  and  to  bring  me to  all  good,  which  is  nowhere nor aught  else,  but  thyself, singly and  only,  O my  God and my  all! Amen.

Of the  exercises  of  an  ascetic  or  holy  life,  none  is  of more  frequent  recurrence  than confession; but  many  derive little or  no  benefit  from  it,  because  they  go  through  it,  not so much  from  a love  of  true piety, or  from  a desire  to