Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/302

 self, — though the  lowest  of  thy suppliants, I ask,  I say,  with all the  humility  I am  able,  to enjoy  thee  singly  and  alone, to breathe  and  repose  in  thee only, and  not  on  any  of  thy gifts, however  excellent,  noble, precious,  or  divine.

7. I ask  for  the  clearest enlightenment of  my  understanding to  know  chiefly  three things. First, to  know  most perfectly thy  most  holy  will, and to  fulfil  it  entirely. Secondly, to know  my  own  vileness, ingratitude,  and  unworthiness of  all  good. Lastly, to have  a perfect  knowledge of all  the  moral  virtues  and their acquirement,  that  the simple, pure,  and  sincere  love of thee  may  grow  in  me  more and more.

8. Finally,  I beseech  thee to be  pleased  to  accept  my prayers,  not  as  proceeding from myself,  but,  as  it  were, inspired by  thee,  and  to  unite them with  the  prayers  of  thy Son Jesus  Christ,  of  his  most holy Mother,  of  the  holy  An-, gels, Apostles,  Martyrs,  Doctors, Virgins,  Confessors,  &amp;c., of the  Church,  both  triumphant and  militant,  for  obtaining, as  well  for  my  neighbour as  myself,  the  above-named  graces  and  gifts,  both spiritual and  corporal:  regarding not  my  person,  O Lord,  but  theirs,  whose  merits and prayers  I offer  to  thee, through Jesus  Christ  thy Son, from  whom  proceeds  and is derived  every  meritorious work and  every  good  desire. And may  this  all  turn  to  the eternal honour  and  glory  of the  most  glorious  Trinity, worthy of  the  utmost  adoration and  love. Amen.

1. O Lord, most pure and most worthy possessor of the hearts of men, I give thee most cheerfully the entire possession and direct control of all that I have, by renouncing every earthly affection and sensual delight; so that if I could enjoy all the pleasures of sense, and gratifications of the flesh, which are commonly tasted, and possessed, and desired by all men ; and even if I could enjoy these without sin, I would still, neverthe-