Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/288

 thy law; and  finally,  to  do  to our  neighbour  as  we  would be done  by? Again, it  is  just that we,  who  ask  thee  to  forgive us  the  far  heavier  debt  of ten  thousand  talents,  should not refuse  to  forgive  our neighbour the  trifling  debt of a hundred  pence. Give me, therefore,  a desire  and love for  this  justice,  O Lord, that I may  not,  by  neglecting it, fall  into  the  hands  of  thy justice. For if  a man  reserves anger for  a man  like  himself, how shall  he  hope  for  mercy from thee? Is it  not  just  that, with what  measure  he  metes, it should  be  measured  to  him again?

The life  of  man  is  exposed to many  temptations,  nay, is itself  a temptation  from first to  last. Strengthen my heart,  therefore,  with  the  virtue of  fortitude,  that  I may "not be  led  away  by  prosperity, nor  overcome  and  separated from  thee  by  adversity. For  thou  seest  what  strength I have  for  resistance;  but thou,  O Lord,  art  my  strength and  my  safety.  Have  pity  on me,  therefore,  for  I am  weak. But  they  who  have  sought after  my  soul  are  strong.  Oh, that  one  stronger  than  they, even  thou,  wouldst  come  upon them,  for  thou  art  strong  and mighty  in  battle; so  shall  my heart  not  fear,  for  thou  art with  me! If  God  is  for  us, who  shall  be  against  us? For thou  wilt  not  suffer  us  to  be tempted  above  that  we  are able,  but  wilt  make,  with  the temptation,  issue.

He who  is  governed  by  prudence, which  is  the  right  rule of all  conduct,  will  easily  escape all  evil. Give me,  therefore, O Lord,  this  virtue,  that whatever I do,  I may  do  prudently, and  in  all  things  look to the  end. For where  prudence presides,  even  evils work together  for  good;  but where it  is  absent,  even  virtues degenerate  into  vices. Let me  not,  then,  like  a blind man who  runs  headlong, stumble and  fall,  but  let  thy eyelids go  before  my  steps. Give me  the  simplicity  of  the dove, but  above  all,  the  prudence of  the  serpent; that,  as it  exposes  its  body  to  save  its head, so  I may  choose  rather to expose  my  body  and  limbs to torments,  than  to  suffer the utmost  of  all  evils,  in  the injury of  my  soul.