Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/336

 from thee,  who  hast  foreseen all my  ways,  and  understood my thoughts  afar  off? What shall I do  to  thee,  O keeper of men? Alas, O my  Lord! I have sinned,and  my  offences are not  hid  from  thee. Yet, if I judge  myself,  these  are the things  in  which  my  heart accuses me  most.

Here examine  thy  conscience, and  for  this  purpose think over  the  whole  course of the  day; weigh  well  where thou hast  been, with  whom engaged, what  thou  hast thought, said, and done. But remember to  make  thy  examination with  reference  to  thy state, office, or  vocation; so wilt  it  be  easy  for  thee  to discover  thy  sins, whether  of commission  or  omission. Also reflect seriously  what  progress thou  hast  made  in  the practice of  some  virtue, N., that is  most  necessary  to  thee, and in  the  rooting  out  of  some vice, N., that  gives  thee  the greatest trouble.

O Father of  mercies! who delightest not  in  the  perdition of sinners,  look  upon  me  according to  the  multitude  of thy  tender  mercies. Into the depths of  thy  eternal  love, with which  thou  hast  loved us, I cast  all  the  offences  of this  day  and  of  my  whole  life. From the  bottom  of  my  heart I am sorry  that  I have  so often  offended  thee,  and  been so ungrateful  for  thy  many blessings, O my  God  and  my highest  good. By the  death and the  love  of  thy  Son  Jesus Christ, I pray  thee  spare  me, a miserable creature,  and mercifully forgive  me  whatever sins  I have  this  day,  or ever  committed  against  thee, my neighbour,  and  myself.

O most powerful  God, without whose  spirit  there is nothing  in  man,  I firmly purpose, before  thee  and  the whole court  of  heaven,  to follow  more  exactly  the  rule of thy  will,  to  reform  my  habits, to  attend  more  closely to my  vocation,  and  to  avoid sin and  its  occasions,  &amp;c.

But though  this  is  my  wish, without thee  I am  unable to accomplish  it. Therefore thou who  givest  me  the  will, give me  also  the  power  to perform. Give what  thou commandest, and  command what thou  wilt,  that  I may live soberly,  justly,  and  godly in this  world,  and,  with  thy Saints, praise  thee  for  ever  in the  next.

Accept, O Lord,  this  my desire,  as  incense  in  thy  sight. Of thy  infinite  mercy  despise not this  my  late  and  evening sacrifice.

And you,  my  holy  Patrons! above all  thou,  O Virgin mother, and  thou,  my  guardian Angel,  and  thou,  N.,and all ye  denizens  of  heaven,  who never tire  in  praising  God,