Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/64

 carious grace  according  to the  good  pleasure  of  thy  will, that we  may  both  will  what thou wiliest,  and  perform cheerfully what  thou  commandest. Give us  grace  to DO  WHAT  THOU  COMMANDEST,  AND  COMMAND  WHAT THOU PLEASEST.

But that  a man  may  more promptly perform  the  commands of  God,  it  is  also  necessary that  he  should  not  be altogether  destitute  of  the goods and  provisions  of  this present life. For we  are  subject to  various  ills  and  necessities as  long  as  we  bear  this mortal body. Therefore we make  the  petition.

Give us  this  day  our  daily bread.

Wilt thou,  that  is,  who openest thy  hand,  and  fillest with blessing  every  living creature; who feedest  the young ravens,  and  neglectest not the  birds  of  the  air,  but tenderly watchest  over  and feedest them — wilt  thou  abandon to  want  man,  whom  thou hast created  to  thine  own image, and  by  thy  most  precious blood  hast  made  an heir  of  heaven? We ask  not what may  serve  to  luxury  and pleasure, but  for  food  and  the supply of  our  necessities,  that we may  not  be  drawn  away from thy  service  by  the  cares and anxieties  of  the  world. And that  we  may  have strength to  serve  thee  both in mind  and  body,  feed  our souls also  with  the  food  of thy  word. And above  all, strengthen us  in  the  wilderness of  this  life  with  the  heavenly bread  of  Angels,  that we faint  not  in  the  way  we are  travelling  to  thee,  until we feast  with  thee  in  thy kingdom.

Here, then,  we  have  the order, the  end,  and  the  Author, of  the  temporal  blessings we  are  to  seek.

In the  following  petitions we pray  for  the  removal  of the  evils,  or  hindrances, which impede the  attainment  of  the end. They are  chiefly  three.

First, the commission  of sin; for  since  in  many  things we all  offend,  we  ought  humbly and  frequently  to  implore the forgiveness  of  our  sins. But it  is  in  vain  for  him  to ask  mercy  of  the  Lord,  who will not,  when  he  might,  show mercy to  his  neighbour. Bearing this in  mind,  we  rightly use this  form  of  prayer.

Forgive us  our  trespasses, as we  forgive  them  that  trespass against  us.

In many  things,  alas,  we  all daily offend. Lord, we  perish, unless, according  to  thy  great mercy, thou  preserve  us. But we know,  too,  that  if  a man treasures up  anger  against his neighbour,  in  vain  he  seeks succour from  thee. I pardon, therefore, from  my  heart all my  enemies,  and,  out  of my  love  for  thee,  I am  ready to do  good  to  those  who  hate