Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/328

 this state,  N.  and  office  N.,  I will  apply  myself  more  diligently to  the  works  and  occupations, as  N.  and  N.,  that  are agreeable to  my  vocation; and I will  endeavour  to  do  all things decently  and  according to  order.

And because  thou  commandest  me  to  seek  first  the kingdom of  God,  I will  devote myself  but  sparingly  to the  cares  of  exterior  business, that I may  not  want  for  time for the  greatest  of  all  business, the  care  of  my  eternal salvation. For I know  the vanity of  pursuing  and  gaining all  things,  and  yet  losing thee, the  only  supreme  good. No, rather  shall  my  soul  seek thee before  all  things,  and  in all  things,  O my  God  and  my all!

Oh, that  my  ways,  O Lord, may this  day  be  directed  to keep  thy  justifications! It is, indeed, no  pleasure  to  me to  walk  in  hard  ways,  the ways of  sinners,  in  which there is  nothing  but  destruction and  unhappiness,  for although at  first  they  seem good, yet  their  end  leads to death. I have sworn, and am  determined  to  keep the judgments  of  thy  justice. I have said  I will  take  heed to my  ways,  that  I sin  not with my  tongue; I will  turn away my  eyes,  that  they  may not behold  vanity. And oh, that with  all  watchfulness  I may  keep  my  heart! I know that these  occasions,  N.  and N., have often  been  hurtful  to me,  and  how  shall  I expose myself to  the  same  danger again to-day? No, O Lord, for love  of  thee  I will  not, for my  soul  desires  to  please, serve, and  adhere  to  thee alone.

But, O Lord,  to  what  purpose have  I this  wish,  if  thou give me  not  the  power  to accomplish  it? ’Tis in  vain that man  proposes,  if  he  is not  disposed  by  thy  grace. Thou knowest  my  frailty, that I am  poor  and  miserable, and that  without  thee  I am unable  to  do,  or  even  think, any thing  at  all,  but  that  from thee alone  is  all  my  sufficiency. Rise up,  therefore, to help  me,  and  by  thy  powerful grace  give  me  strength successfully to  accomplish  the good that  I wish.

And thou  too,  O most holy Virgin,  Mother  of  God, and my  special  patroness! take upon  thee  the  care  of thy  client,  and  shew  thyself a mother. And thou,  O my angel  guardian, who  by command  of  the  divine  goodness hast  taken  upon  thee  my charge; and  you,  O holy  Patrons, N.  N.,  who  are  specially dear  to  me,  faithfully assist your  client  this  day,  and direct him  into  the  way  of  sal-