Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/298

 to offend  thee,  or  attempt  to do,  say,  or  think  any  thing contrary to  thy  will;  but  to shun,  as  a basilisk,  every  occasion of  sinning,  and  whatever is  displeasing  to  thee; for what  thou  wiliest  I will, and what  thou  detestest  I detest.

Yet if  that  should,  which I wish never  may,  happen  to me,  to  do,  or  leave  undone, any thing  in,  opposition  to  thy will, I now  solemnly  declare it all  to  be,  not  from  any  will or intention  of  my  own,  but from evil  suggestion  and  sudden impulse,  contrary  to  this my resolve. Enable me,  then, O Lord, to  continue  firm  in  it, and to  be  so  fully  master  of  all my desires  and  impulses,  as to  permit  none  of  them  ever to creep  in  upon  me.

I now freely  renounce, therefore, all  consent  which is contrary  to  thy  will; and I entirely abandon  all  freedom of  will  as  often  as  I shall  be  allured  to  evil,  and be placed  in  danger  of  offending thee,  and  in  all  that  has a tendency to  evil.

2. And  I purpose,  besides, to keep  most  perfectly  in future  all  thy  divine  precepts, and the  promises  I made  thee in baptism,  or  other  vows. And I will  also  endeavour, as far  as  by  thy  grace  I am able,  to  imitate  thy  most  holy life, and  acquire  the  habit of all  those  virtues  which please thee  the  most; and  in all  things  to  do  thy  most  just will, and  to  restrain  my  own, which is  inclined  to  evil, by subjecting  it,  for  love  of thee,  to  all  my  superiors, equals, and  inferiors,  and finally to  enter  on  the  way of perfection  by  those  means which thou,  my  Master,  hast shown me,  by  word  and  example, in  thy  holy  Gospel.

3. Help  me,  then,  O Lord, for without  thy  special  aid I cannot follow  out  and  fulfil these my  good  resolutions. Give me  a lively  faith,  and  a strong  and  constant  spirit; that, as  thou  art  unable  to  sin by nature,  so  I may  be  unable to sin  by  grace.

4. Lastly,  vouchsafe,  I implore thee,  by  thy  judgment, to accept  and  approve  this declaration of  my  will,  that all things  may  be  and  be  done to thy  glory  and  honour,  and the salvation  of  my  own  soul, and my  neighbour’s,  and  according to  thy  most  holy  will; to which  I dedicate  and  consecrate myself,  together  with the whole  being  which  thou hast bestowed  upon  me.