Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/621

 of the  years  of  my  miserable life. But for  those  years which, in  living  them,  I have lost by  living  wickedly,  despise not,  O Lord,  a contrite and a humbled  heart! My days have declined  like  a shadow, and  are  passed  away without fruit: it  is  impossible for me  to  recall  them. Be pleased that  I recount  them to thee  in  the  bitterness  of my  soul. One more  petition only have  I to  make  to  thee. Grant to  me  to  die  well,  so that  I may  sing  the  mercies of the  Lord  for  ever.

CHRIST. It is  not  for  me to  break  the  bruised  reed,  nor to quench  the  smoking  flax. Be thou  faithful  only  to  death. For I take  no  delight  in  the perdition of  them  that  die. Commit thy  way  to  the  Lord, and trust  in  him,  and  he  will do it,  without  whom  not  a hair  of  your  head  shall  perish.

MAN. I know well,  O Lord, the greatness  of  thy  love. In peace in  the  self-same  will  I sleep  and  take  my  rest,  without the  solicitude  that  is  caused, whether  by  the  love  of life,  or  by  the  fear  of  death. My lots  are  in  thy  hands. Upon thee,  O Lord,  do  I cast  all  my  care,  because  thou art careful  for me,  and  all  the hairs of  my  head  are  numbered before  thee. Thou hast set me  bounds  which  cannot be passed  over.

Thou art  the  Lord; do what  is  good  in  thine  eyes; and who  am  I,  that  I should say to  thee,  Why  dost  thou so? Shall the  clay  say  to  the potter, What  art  thou  making? or the  thing  fashioned contradict its  maker? Are not we  in  thy  hand  like  clay in the  hand  of  the  potter? Therefore shall  thy  Will  be my  will. If thou  wilt  have me live,  my  heart  is  ready, O God; but  increase  thy grace, that  I may  the  more faithfully serve  thee. If thou command me  to  die,  my  heart is ready; only  grant  that  my spirit  may  be  received  in peace. Thou, O Christ,  art my life,  and  to  die  is  gain. If longer life  shall  be  given  to me,  to  thee,  or  to  thy  honour and glory,  will  I live. If thou wouldst  have  me  die, death will  be  gain  to  me; for I shall obtain  and  possess thee, whom  my  soul  hitherto seeks and  loves. Therefore, if I walk  in  the  midst  of  the shadow of  death,  I shall  fear no evils,  for  thou  art  with me. Receive me,  according to thy  Word  (for  thou  hast said,  I desire  not  the  death of  a sinner),  and  I shall  live: and let  me  not  be  confounded in my  expectation. But this