Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/684

 pear before  the  face  of  God my Father? When wilt  thou fill me  with  joy  with  thy countenance, that  I may  see thee, not  as  now,  through  a glass  in  a dark  manner,  but face to  face? Blessed are they who  dwell  in  thy  House, O Lord; they shall  praise thee for  ever  and  ever! Behold, I have  disposed  my heart  to  ascend  thither,  in this  valley  of  tears,  the  place in which  the  transgression  of my  first  parent  has  set  me. Aided by  thy  blessing,  I shall go from  virtue  to  virtue,  till I see  thee,  the  God  of  all  gods, in Sion!

First, by  true  and  lively Faith; for  without  Faith  it is  impossible  to  please  God. For he  that  comes  to  thee, O God, must  believe  that  thou art, and  that  thou  art  a Rewarder of  them  that  seek thee. Now, what  is  our  life upon the  earth  but  a coming to, or  a progress  towards  God by the  two  feet  of  Faith  and Hope? For the  rest  and; repose in  God,  with  that  intimate union  with  and  enjoyment of  him,  which  are  the fruit of  perfect  charity,  are reserved for  our  heavenly Home. Then it  is  that  thou wilt embrace  thy  son  who returns to  thee  from  a far country, and  wilt  put  on  him the first  robe.

Meanwhile, I believe,  O Lord,  that  thou  art  who art — that is,  God  supremely powerful, wise,  and  good over all  things; and  that thou wilt  thyself  be  the  reward and  recompense  exceeding great  of  them  that love thee. I believe that  my Redeemer  lives,  and  that  in the  last  day  I shall  rise  out of the  earth,  and  that  in  my flesh  I shall  see  God  my  Saviour. In this  Faith  I desire to live  and  die. Supported by this  Faith,  I shall  continue safe in  every  cross,  tribulation, affliction,  disease,  and death itself; and  alike  in  adversity and  in  prosperity, shall praise  and  sanctify  thy Name, nothing  doubting  of the  divine  power  and  fatherly bounty with  which  thou  art both able  and  willing  to  save me.

Strengthen and  increase my Faith,  O Lord,  for  the glory of  Thy  Name,  which  is hallowed  by  us  best  when  we believe  thee  to  be  mighty  in thy  works,  true  in  thy  words, and most  faithful  to  thy  promises. It was  because  Moses and Aaron  sanctified  thee  not in the  sight  of  the  people,  by disbelieving  thee  when  thou broughtest water  out  of  the rock, that  thou  forbadest them to enter  the  promised  land.