Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/289



Lord of  heaven  and  earth, who, with  thy  only -begotten Son, and  the  Holy  Ghost,  art of infinite  majesty,  power, wisdom, and  goodness,  and art, therefore,  to  be  infinitely honoured and  loved; fountain of all  good,  from  whom  are  to be  hoped  for  with  undoubting confidence all  the  blessings of nature,  grace,  and  glory.

Mayest thou  be  sanctified, loved, and  glorified  by  me, and by  all  men,  in  all  thy  perfections of  power,  wisdom, goodness, mercy,  and  justice: in all  thy  judgments  and  statutes, as  they  relate  to  me,  to all  men,  and  to  all  things,  in all  the  works  of  nature,  grace, and glory; in  all  that  thou permittest, in  all  thy  blessings in  every  possible  way, for thy  own  sake,  without  any return, infinitely  above  all things, now,  always,  and  for ever and  ever. Oh, that  thou hadst always  been  thus  glorified by  me  and  by  all  men, and mightst  ever  in  future be thus  glorified  and  sanctified by  us.

Oh, that  thou  mayest  fully reign in  me  and  in  all  men,  by grace  now,  and  by  glory  hereafter. Oh, that  my  soul  may seek first  the  kingdom  of  God, and may  mind  and  desire  the things which  are  above,  not those which  are  upon  the earth. Oh, that,  weary  of  its present exile, where  sin  reigns, where ambition,  pride,  &amp;c., predominate, it  may  aspire incessantly to  that  blessed life, and  the  possession  of  an eternal  kingdom. Oh, that  it always  had,  and  from  this moment may  perfectly  do this,  that  so  at  last,  with  thee and with  all  the  saints,  I may reign for  ever  and  ever!

May thy  most  holy  will  l&gt;e done by  me,  and  by  all  pilgrims upon  earth,  in  a perfect performance of  thy  precepts, thy counsels,  and  thy  whole will, simply  for  thy  own  sake, as exactly,  readily,  and  perseveringly,  every  day  and moment of  our  life,  as  it  is done  by  the  blessed  who  possess eternity  in  heaven,  with the insatiable  desire  of  pleasing thee  according  to  thy  will. Oh, that  it  had  been  ever,  and may hereafter  be,  done  by  us all,  as  thou  wouldst  have  it done,  with  all  possible  perfection, with  understanding, affection, and  effect.