Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/683

 will, to  endure  it  patiently,  as  long  as  it  pleases  thee; only so  that  thou  strengthen  me  with  thy  grace,  never  even lightly to  offend  thee,  or  swerve  in  the  least  degree  from  thy most holy  Will.

And, oh,  that  I were  able  singly  to  endure  the  burdens  of all  and  each  of  those  who  have  ever  suffered  for  thee,  that  so I might  make  Borne  return,  whatever  it  might  be,  for  thy infinite charity! Come, I beseech  thee,  O most  bountiful Jesu, and  so  unite  mine  to  thy  most  holy  Will,  that  I may  be able  to  wish  nothing  save  what  thou  wilt.

O eternal Father  of  thy Son Jesus  Christ  by  nature, and of  us  by  grace; for  thou hast created  us  to  thy  own Image; and when  become  by sin  children  of  wrath,  hast adopted us  for  sons  of  grace and heirs  of  eternal  life,  by the  Blood  of  thy  Son;  and although heaven  is  the  seat of thy  majesty  and  glory,  yet thou continually  regardest  us upon  earth,  and  rulest  us with  fatherly  care,  charity, and providence.

To thee,  therefore,  do  I lift  up  my  eyes,  O merciful Father, who  dwellest  in  heaven, from  whence  comes  my help. My soul  pants  after thee, as  the  hart  after  the fountains of  water. For thou hast created  us  for  thyself, and our  heart  is  disquieted until it  return  and  rest  in thee. For where  my  Father is, there  is  my  country! there is my  hope  and  my  inheritance, and  my  portion  in  the land of  the  living. My heart sighs after  thee; my  soul  has adhered to  thee. Oh, that  thy right hand  would  uphold  me, for thy  mercy  is  better  than life! Oh, when  shall  I be  delivered from  this  banishment? When shall  I be  taken  out  of this  prison  into  which  I was cast when  stolen  away  from my country? When shall  I go  into  my  Father’s  house where there  are  many  mansions? When wilt thou  bring me out  of  this  pit  of  misery, and out  of  this  filthy  mire? When shall  I come  and  ap-