Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/282

 living God! Understand this, you  that  forget  God; lest he  snatch  you  away,  and there be  none  to  deliver  you.

. Enlighten  my  eyes, O Lord, that  I may  never sleep in  death,  lest  at  any time my  enemy  say,  I have prevailed against  him. For so to  begin  and  so  to  end the day,  in  forgetfulness  of God,  without  whom  we  can neither live,  move,  nor  exist for a moment,  is,  I confess, -the life,  not  of  a man,  but  of a beast. Grant to  me  never to go  up  into  my  bed,  nor give sleep  to  my  eves,  or slumber  to  my  eyelids,  till  I have  first  recounted  to  thee the past  day  in  the  bitterness of my  soul,  and  so,  with  a contrite  and  humbled  heart, which thou  dost  not  despise, may be  reconciled  to  thee, and in  the  self-same  may sleep and  rest  in  peace.

This do,  my  son, and thou  shalt  live. Examine thyself, I say,  earnestly  and strictly every  day,  especially at night. Summon, as  it were  to  the  judgment-seat, the words, deeds, and  thoughts of the  whole  day,  and  observe how thou  hast  sinned  by commission,  and  how  by omission. Consider how  thou mightst have  endeavoured  to reduce  to  habitual  practice the wholesome  admonitions I have hitherto  given  thee, and in  whatever  thou  findest thyself to  have  offended,  condemn  thyself,  be  sorry  from thy heart,  set  thyself  some penance, resolve  to  do  better the day  after,  and  for  this  ask for my  grace; but  first  of  all, return thanks  for  that  day’s blessings received. Last of all,  recommend  to  me  thy body and  soul. So shalt  thou sleep in  safety.

Otherwise, it  is  indeed great presumption,  nay  dangerous rashness,  to  go  to sleep  with  a conscience  laden with sins,  and  with  myself offended and  unreconciled  to thee. Moreover, if  thou  make not this  examination  every day, and  that  not  carelessly, but attentively,  thou  wilt ever stick  in  the  same  mire; after the  lapse  of  months, and even  years,  the  same faults will  both  live  in  thee still, and  will  gain  additional strength; and  so  powerful will they  become,  that  thou wilt not  afterwards  be  able to expel  them,  because  thou neglectedst to  root  out  with the harrow  of  discipline  and daily examination  the  thorns and briers,  which  this  earth, which is  subject  to  a curse, that is,  thy  corrupt  nature, from time  to  time  brings  up to  thee.

. I will  bless  thee,  O Lord,  at  all  times,  thy  praise shall be  ever  in  my  mouth. Blessed art  thou,  O Lord, who hast  taught  me  from  my youth; and  oh,  to  old  age and grey  hairs,  forsake  me not! Oh, that  my  ways  may