Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/297

 for past,  or  as firm  a purpose to avoid  future  sins,  as  I wish  and  ought  to  have  in proportion  to  the  greatness of my  abominations.

3. Therefore,  I beseech thee, O my  God,  accept,  for the supply  of  that  which  I ought  to  have,  the  infinite hatred with  which  thou  detestest  sin; and  in  place  of the  sorrow  which  I fail  in, I offer to  thee,  most  merciful Father, the  sorrows  of  Jesus Christ, thy  Son,  my  Redeemer, together  with  the sacrifice of  his  spotless  life, and the  holy  fervour  and  zeal that drew  him  to  the  most ignominious and  bitter  death, that he  might  destroy  sin.

4. Ah,  my  most  tender Jesus, I prostrate  myself  at the  feet  of  thy  mercies,  beseeching thee,  by  the  love which drew  thee  down  from heaven into  the  Virgin’s womb, to  apply  to  me  the merits of  thy  most  bitter passion and  most  precious blood, which  thou  hast  shed for sinners,  of  whom  I am the  chief; and  thus  to  supply all my  failings,  and  pardon  ail my faults,  sins,  negligences, and ingratitude.

Grant, I beseech  thee,  that all those  things  may  be  far from me  in  future; and  although by  nature  I cannot be totally  free  from  sin,  grant me, O infinite  goodness,  the grace at  least  never  to  sin mortally. This is  no  other than thy  own  will,  desire, wish, and  command. Give what thou  commandest,  and command what  thou  wilt.

Lastly, O Lord,  cause  all kinds of  holy  virtues  to  be ingrafted  in  me  in  place  of those  vices,  and  all  to  yield thee a return  of  glory  and thanksgiving, now  and  for ever and  ever. Amen.

1. O most mighty God! by the light of thy grace I know how greatly I am bound to do good works and to follow virtue, to turn from evil and to flee from sin. Therefore, now, wholly distrusting myself, and leaning confidently on thy holy grace, I propose and determine, with all the power of my free will, and with my fullest and most deliberate consent, never to sin again ; and a thousand times rather to throw away my life every hour, than, my God, ever seriously