Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/522

 der to  thee,  O Lord,  for  all that thou  hast  rendered  to me? My soul,  bless  the  Lord, and all  that  is  within  me, bless his  holy  name.

5. Of  Imitation. Thou hast left  us  an  example,  O Lord! and wilt  that  we  follow thy  steps. Give what thou commandest,  and  command what  thou  wilt.

6. Of  Admiration. Who art thou,  O Lord,  and  who am I? Thou,  who  sufferest, art God  and  Lord,  just  and innocent. I am a worthless slave, a worm  of  earth,  and  a sinner,  who  have  merited  the punishment which  thou,  O miracle! endurest.

7. Of  Love. O sweet Jesus, my salvation  and  my  life! All thy  works,  O Lord,  tell of thy  love  to  me! It was love drew  thee  from  heaven, and  confined  thee  in the  Virgin’s  womb. It was love fastened  thee  to  the Cross; and what  shall  separate me  from  thy  love? This, oh, that  neither  life,  nor death, nor  whatever  happens, may effect!

These, then, are  the  affections on  which, according  to the  subject-matter, thy  mind should be  exercised, and  thy meditation seasoned  upon  the Life and  Passion  of  Christ; the practice  of  which  in  the several points  is  exhibited  in the  following  Rosary, and will be  taught  thee  more  fully by the  unction  of  the  Spirit. But the  affections  of  contrition  and  imitation  should  be chiefly  attended  to,  especially by beginners. For to  derive from the  consideration  of  the Passion the  hatred  of  sin  and the love  of  virtue  is  one  of  its principal fruits. And what can more  effectually  deter  us from  sin  than  to  think  how greatly it  was  necessary  for Christ to  suffer, that  he  might save us  from  our  sins? What can more  powerfully  incite  us to  the  love  of  virtue  than  to reflect  how  God  became  man, visible in  our  flesh,  and  like us, to  set  before  us  examples of victory  for  us  to  imitate?

In this  Rosary  also  are  to be  noted  particularly  the  following virtues: Humility,  obedience, meekness,  patience, mercy, charity,  &amp;c. Remark these and  the  like,  imitate them, and  exercise  other  pious affections in  relation  to  them. Christ, who, by the  protection of his  grace, guides  those whom he  teaches  by  the  example of  his  life,  will  not  fail to assist  your  endeavours,  and will at  last  crown  them  that follow him  with  the  eternal rewards of  his  glory.