Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/509

 little while, that thy human nature, left to itself, might feel more bitterly the sting of death. But that dereliction was the crowning point of thy Father's and of thy own glory. For thou becamest obedient to death; for which cause God has exalted thee, and has given thee a Name which is above all names.

O Jesus, who for me wert thus forsaken, never cast me away from thee, especially at the hour of death; and when my strength shall fail, do not thou forsake me, for the glory of thy Name; lest at any time my enemy say, "God has forsaken him, I will pursue him and take him, for there is none to deliver him.” God, be not thou far from me, nor despise me, O God my Saviour! Grant that, even in desolation and among scourges, I may acknowledge thee for my gracious Father, and say, with the man of approved patience, As it has pleased the Lord, so is it done ; blessed be the Name of the Lord.

That I mean, O Jesus! of which the thief that was crucified with thee confessed thee to be the Lord, in saying, Remember me when thou shalt come into thy Kingdom; participation in which thou didst promise him at once, in saying, This day thou shalt be with me in paradise. Give me, O Jesus! to seek the things that are above, where thou art sitting at the right hand of God; to mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. But, before all things, give me a truly contrite and humbled heart, which thou mayest not despise, that, finally, with great confidence I may say with the thief, Thy kingdom come. Remember me, O Lord, who long ago hast hung for me between thieves upon the Cross, and now reignest with the Blessed in heaven! Oh, that then I too may merit to hear, This day thou shalt be with me in my Kingdom!

O most obedient Jesus! who for us becamest obedient to God the Father, to death, even the death of the Cross, and hast therefore openly testified that ct is finished, the work, namely, (oh how arduous and difficult !) of man’s Redemption, committed to thee by thy Father.

O Jesus! give me earnestly to perform the duties of my station, that, fighting a good fight, and finishing my course, I may look forward to receiving from thee a crown of justice. For if I do what thou hast commanded, thou