Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/52

 Scriptures, for  they  testify  of things  wonderful  and  above the strength  of  nature,  which have been  done  by  the  power of prayer,  by  calling  on  the name of  the  Lord,  who  alone doth wonderful  things.

Man. Have mercy  on  me,  O Lord,  for  I am  poor  and  needy, and like  a little  child  who knows not  his  going  out  and his coming  in;  who  has,  indeed, hands  and  feet,  but  can go nowhere  but  by  the  help of his  mother  or  his  nurse. In vain  I strive  and  labour  in the  sweat  of  my  face  to  attempt anything  great  or  small without thee,  in  whom  we  all live, move,  and  are; and  are not able  to  think  anything of ourselves  as  of  ourselves, but all  our  sufficiency  is  from God.

Christ. Therefore, my  son, if thou  hast  need  of  wisdom  or of  knowledge,  ask  of  me,  and it shall  be  given  thee. In me are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom and  of  knowledge. Thou deceivest thyself  if  thou  neglectest  prayer,  and  thinkest that these  may  be  acquired only by  attention  and  by  human skill. Hast thou  not  heard many of  my  servants  frankly acknowledge that  they  have advanced more  by  prayer  than by much  reading  and  study? Dost thou  desire  riches  and honours? The whole  world  is mine,  and  the  fulness  thereof. Mine is  counsel,  and  prudence, and  might. By me kings  reign;  mine  are  riches and honour,  wealth  and  justice. It is  I,  the  Lord,  who raise the  poor  out  of  the  dust. It is  easy  for  me  in  a moment to make  the  poor  honourable, and to  place  the  lowly  among the princes  of  his  people. Dost thou  desire  strength, health, or  length  of  days? Know that  nothing  is  done on earth  without  cause,  and that pain  springs  not  from the ground. It is  I who  command the  sea,  the  wind,  and the elements;  and  forthwith all obey  me. I kill, and  I make  alive;  I strike,  and  I heal. In my  hand  are  all  the ends of  the  earth,  and  in  my power  are  all  things,  good and evil,  life  and  death,  and all that  men  can  desire. In vain wilt  thou  seek  these things elsewhere,  if  first  thou seek not  me.

§ 2.  Preparation for  prayer by  the  affections  of  humility, and  penitence  or  contrition.

Man. Truly every  good and every  perfect  gift  is  from above, from  thee,  Father  most good, who  givest  bountifully to all;  and  art  so  ready  to give,  that  thou  desirest,  nay, commandest, us  to  ask.

My heart  is  ready,  O God, my heart  is  ready  to  speak  to thee  often,  and  to  pour  forth my prayer  before  thee.

But what  is  man  that  thou magnifiest him,  and  so  lovingly invitest  him  to  pray  to, or rather converse  with,  thee? Shall I appear  before  thee.