Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/42



V. Collect  thy  thoughts  often  in  the  course  of  thy  prayer. Renew very  frequently  thy  recollection  of  the  divine  Presence. Prayer (that  is,  vocal  prayer,  especially  if  framed  by another)  should  be,  as  it  were,  sprinkled  and  seasoned  from time to  time  with  some  mental  address  of  thy  own,  that  it may  speak  of  itself  to  God,  and  also  may  treat  with  God, standing alone,  as  it  were,  without  the  support  of  another. This is  to  be  done  by  eliciting  affections  in  unison  with  the selection of  words  or  of  sentences,  as  of  faith,  hope,  charity, contrition, gratitude,  humility,  &amp;c.

VI. Lastly, do  not  forget  to  go  away  from  prayer  with reverence. If admitted  by  thy  Sovereign  to  a conference  on an  affair  of  thy  own,  how  rude  and  unbecoming  would  it  be, if, after  laying  it  before  him,  thou  wert  instantly  to  turn thy back  upon  him  and  depart,  without  showing  any  mark of gratitude  or  of  respect!

Examine, therefore,  briefly,  the  issue  of  thy  prayer. Be sorry and  ask  pardon  for  its  defects,  offer  and  commend humbly to  God  thy  service,  imperfect  though  it  be,  that  it may  please  him,  through  the  merits  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ, the Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  and  all  the  Saints,  and  this  for  the intention or  object  proposed  at  the  beginning. All this, for which  some  form  will  be  given  below,  may  be  briefly and readily  accomplished.

This is  the  method  of  praying  rightly  and  profitably,  or  of using  the  forms  of  prayer  prescribed  in  the  Paradise  or elsewhere; which,  if  thou  observe  not,  good  reader,  I myself will also  be  ready  to  admit  that  vocal  prayer  is  dry  and  devoid of  spiritual  fruit  and  devotion; and  that  thus  is  verified the complaint  of  the  Prophet,  that  you  eat, but  have  not enough; you drink, but  are  not  filled  with  drink;  you  sow much, and bring  in  little , &amp;c.

I will not  deny  that  prayers  read  from  books  have  the disadvantage that  is  to  be  expected  where  there  is  the  deficiency above  mentioned  of  earnestness  in  prayer; that  they often fail  to  harmonise  with  the  particular  feelings  or  wants of the  person  who  reads  them. Thus the  words  may  express compunction, love  of  God  and  our  neighbour,  zeal  for  the  divine Law,  detestation  of  covetousness,  &amp;c.,  as  when  is  said, for instance: Lord,  my  heart  is  not  exalted, nor  are  my  eyes lofty. And again,  Oh,  how  have  I loved  thy  law, O Lord;  it is  my  meditation  all  the  day. Therefore have  I loved  thy commandments above  gold  and  the  topaz,  &amp;c. Incline my heart  to  thy  testimonies, and  not  to  covetousness .s  And  yet