Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/286

 thy power,  that  thou  wouldst permit no  evil,  from  which thou wert  not  able  to  extract a greater good.

O eternal Father,  who  with blessings unseen  hast  prepared for  thy  children  an  inheritance in  heaven,  but  requirest  them  to  be  undegenerate children,  in  conduct worthy of  such  a Father, grant us  to  try  to  be  perfect, as thou  our  Father  art  perfect. For this  we  are  not sufficient of  ourselves,  but  all our sufficiency  is  from  thee. Therefore, in  the  name,  and in the  very  words  of  thy  most dear Son,  we  ask  for  the  virtues and  gifts  without  which we are  unable  to  please  thee, and to  obtain  thy  kingdom.

The name  of  God  is  hallowed best  when  he  is  worshipped with  a true  and  living faith. I believe, O Lord, that thou art  almighty,  infinitely wise, and  supremely  good; that thou  art  true  and  faithful to  thy  promises,  nay,  that thou art  the  truth  itself. Lord, increase  my  faith; help my unbelief,  that  I may  sanctify thee  in  truth,  by  sincerity of  faith. Thy works and thy  judgments,  O Lord, are wonderful; yet  are  they true, and  justified  in  themselves. Thy name  is  admirable in  the  whole  earth,  yet there is  no  word  impossible with thee. To me  thy  testimonies are  very  trustworthy, therefore holiness  becomes thy house,  the  Church. For what can  be  more  unworthy than to  have  such  a belief, and yet,  while  with  our  lips, we confess  that  we  know thee, to  seem  by  our  life  and conduct to  deny  it? Be it far  from  me  to  act  thus,  but rather let  a living  faith  grow in me,  that  I may  sanctify  thy ever glorious  Name  by  a life that is  conformable  to  my faith. For what  will  the  name of Christian  avail  me  without a Christian life?

Which has  been  prepared for us  from  the  beginning  of the  world. For of  thy  infinite love thou  hast  made  us  heirs of thy  kingdom,  and  co-heirs