Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/416

 to me,  and  so  often  refreshest  me  in  this  Sacrament,  that I have ever  offended  thee by my  sins,  such  as  N.  and N., which  thou  knowest,  O searcher  of  hearts! and I,  a miserable  sinner,  with  sorrow confess to  thee,  in  the  bitterness of  my  soul. Oh, that  I had  never  offended  thee! But a contrite and  humbled  heart, O God, thou  wilt  not  despise; thou  who,  for  love  of us,  hast  given  us  thy  only-begotten  Son,  that  he  might wash us  from  our  sins  in  his own Blood.

I firmly believe,  O my most  loving  Jesus,  and  with a lively faith  I profess  that thou thyself,  who  art  equal to God  the  Father  in  glory and power,  true  God  and man, art  truly  and  really  present in  this  Sacrament; who wert sent  from  heaven,  and camest  upon  earth,  to  seek and to  save  that  which  was lost. Therefore thou  wert truly born  of  a Virgin,  didst suffer, wert  crucified,  and dead; and, in  memory  of  thy love, has  left  us  in  this  Sacrament thy  Body  and  Blood.

And why  should  I not  hope in thee,  O sovereign  hope and only  salvation  of  my  soul? or whether  can  I fly,  if  not  to thee,  O Jesus,  my  only  refuge? who with  thy  sacred lips hast  said,  Come  to  me, all you  that  labour  and  are burdened, and  I will  refresh you.

Oh, how  sweet  to  my  mouth are these  words  of  thine,  O Lord,  sweeter  than  honey  to my  lips! and therefore  I come confidently to  thy  altar,  and here, full  of  hope,  I receive thee thyself. For if  I have thee, what  shall  I not  have? Because thou  hast  and  canst do all  things,  and  art  good above all.

The Lord  rules  me,  and  I shall  want  nothing;  he  has set me  in  a place  of  pasture, namely, where  he  himself,  the Good Shepherd,  who  has  laid down his  life  for  his  sheep, feeds us  with  no  other  food than his  own  Body  and  Blood.

What wilt  thou  not  give to man,  who  hast  given  him thyself? Surely, O good  Jesus, thou  wilt  not  suffer  me to  want  anything  necessary to salvation,  when  I so  often receive thee,  and  have  thee, the Author  of  salvation,  with me. No, thou  surely  wilt  not, for thy  Name’s  sake,  which  is Jesus.

For thou  truly  art  God  my Saviour,  and  art  good  above all good. And therefore  I love  thee,  O Christ  Jesus,  because thou,  of  thy  exceeding love for  me,  hast  come  into the flesh,  and  hast  loved  me even  to  the  death; and  in the  Sacrament  hast  given  me thyself  for  a pledge  of  this