Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/274

 quently warned  you,  that  you ought always  to  pray,  and  not to faint. And though  to many  this  seems  difficult,  yet they know  how  easy  it  is who,  amid  their  very  business, and  study,  and  conversation, readily  accustom themselves to  elevate  their minds to  God. To raise  even once the  eyes  to  heaven,  with inward affection  of  heart,  is an  ardent  prayer  in  itself,  and most tenderly  touches  my heart. For prayers  such  as these  should  originate  in  affection, in  sorrow  for  sins,  in hatred  of  this  world’s  vanity, in weariness  of  the  present, and longing  for  the  life  to come,  in  thanksgiving  for  my many  favours,  in  admiration of the  wonderful  works  of God,  in  confidence  in  God, and in  zeal  for  his  honour; but chiefly  in  the  burning love of  me,  with  which  the soul longs  to  be  united  to  its beloved.

But it  is  mostly  in  meditation that  the  fire  of  such  affections bursts  forth  into  flame; and therefore  they  are  ever  to be  fostered  with  ejaculatory prayers, the  substance  of which  may  be  suggested  as well  by  the  more  necessary virtues, as  by  all  the  objects of sense. Whence said  the man according  to  my  own heart: “ Thou hast  given  me, O Lord, a delight in  thy doings, and in  the  works  of thy  hands  I shall  rejoice!”

But to  make  such  a use  of creatures  belongs  not  to  all, but to  those  only  who  have their senses  practised  in  the discernment of  good  and  evil. For the  senseless  man  shall not know,  nor  will  the  fool understand these  things. Follow, however, in  the  steps  of that  same  prophet  of  mine, and imitate  him  in  sighing after me in brief  but  burning aspirations. Such are,  to  give thee a few  examples  out  of many:

How great  are  thy  works, O Lord ! Thou hast  made  all things in  wisdom;  the  earth is filled  with  thy  riches.

Oh, that  my  ways  may  be directed  to  keep  thy  justifications!

Woe is  me  that  my  sojourning is  prolonged! Create in me  a clean  heart,  O Lord,  and renew a right  spirit  within me. As the  hart  pants  after the fountains  of  water,  so  my soul  pants  after  thee,  O God. My soul  has  thirsted  after  the strong living  God; when  shall I come and  appear  before the face of  God!

Enlighten my  eyes,  that they never  sleep  in  death,  lest at any  time  my  enemy  say,  I have  prevailed  against  him.

I will love  thee,  O Lord, my strength; the  Lord  is  my firmament,  my  refuge,  and my deliverer.

The Lord  ruleth  me,  and I shall want  nothing. He hath set  me  in  a place  of  pasture.