Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/44

 longer portions should  not  be  divided. Or else,  since  in  the Paradise, as  at an  elegant  repast,  there  are  various  dishes served up,  each  may  choose  what  is  most  to  his  taste. For here too,  as  elsewhere,  much  in  substance  is  better  than much in  quantity. But let  us  close  our  Introduction  with the words  of  S.  Augustine. He says, —

To pray  long  is  not, as  some  suppose , to  pray  with  much speaking. A quantity of  words  is  one  thing, continuance  in affection  is  another. For it  is  written  of  the  Lord  himself that he  passed  the  whole  night  in  prayer and  that  he  prayed very long;  all  which  was  to  give  us  an  example  how  seasonable is  the  prayer  that  is  made  in  time, of  which  the  Father is the  eternal  hearer. For prayer  should  be  free  from  much speaking, yet not  from  much  praying, if  the  intention  continue fervent. For to  speak  much  in  prayer  is  to  express a necessity in  a superfluity  of  words. But to  pray  much  is to  knock  to  him  to  whom  we  pray  with  a lasting  and  holy energy of  heart,  a work  that  is  better  performed  with  groans than with  speeches, with  weeping  than  with  words.

Almighty and everlasting  God,  I,  an  unworthy  sinner but the  work  of  thy  hands,  come  before  thy  presence  to praise  thee,  because  thou  art  my  God,  my  Lord,  my  Creator, my Saviour,  and  my  Preserver; who  alone,  I know,  canst bestow gifts  profitable  to  my  own  and  my  neighbour’s salvation, because  thou  art  supremely  powerful; nor  can I doubt thy  will,  because  thou  art  supremely  good: to  whom all creatures  in  heaven  and  earth  owe  praise,  and  can  never praise as  thou  meritest  to  be  praised.

But, wretch  that  I am,  bow  unworthy,  alas! and unprepared, from  the  countless  number  of  my  sins,  do  I come  to pray  to  thee! From the  bottom  of  my  heart  I am  sorry that I have  ever  offended  thee,  my  God,  who  art  supremely good, whom  I ought  to  have  praised  and  loved  above  all things.

But thou,  of  thy  mercy,  make  me  worthy,  and  cleanse  me from  all  my  iniquities  with  the  precious  Blood  of  thy  Son Jesus Christ  my  Saviour. Deliver also  my  heart  from  all vain, hurtful,  and  absent  thoughts,  that  I may  be  able  to adore  and  praise  thee  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  and  obtain  what