Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/687

 land of  promise,  we  need  food no less  for  the  soul  than for the  body,  that  we  faint not in  the  way. For not  in bread  alone  does  man  live, but in  every  word  that  proceeds from  thy  mouth. The food, therefore,  of  my  soul  is thy  Word,  and  also  thy  Sacraments, but  especially  that Bread of  Angels,  that  true Manna from  Heaven,  the Body and  Blood  of  our  Lord Jesus Christ. For he  says himself: My flesh  is  meat indeed, and  my  Blood  is  drink indeed, of  which  if  any  man eat, he  shall  never  die. Grant me,  O my  Lord,  that when I go  the  way  of  all flesh, and  pass  from  the  desert of this  world  to  the  Land  of the  eternal  Promise,  I may not want  a Viaticum;  but especially that  this  divine Bread may  strengthen  my heart. With thy  own  Body and Blood  refresh  my  soul, that in  the  strength  of  that food I may  walk  even  to  the high mountain  of  thy  glory, where thou  shalt  feed  with the fat  of  wheat  thy  Elect, whom thou  hast  fed  here  for a time with  the  bread  of tears,  and  satisfy  them  with the plenty  of  thy  house.

I know, O Lord,  that  not anything defiled  can  enter into the  Kingdom  of  Heaven; and that  thou  admittest  no one  there  save  him  who  is reconciled  both  to  thee  and to his  neighbour. But ah! alas, I am  wretched  and  poor, and the  debts  by  which  I am bound  to  thee  are  infinite; nor have  I wherewith  to  pay them or  make  satisfaction. What shall  I do? Behold, with thee,  O Lord,  there  is mercy,  and  plentiful  is  the redemption of  thy  Son. He came to  make  good  our  defaults, and  to  save  sinners,  of whom  I am  the  chief. Oh, enter not,  I beseech  thee,  into judgment with  thy  servant; for in  thy  sight  no  man  living shall be  justified; but  look  on the  face  of  thy  Christ.

From the  bottom  of  my heart  I am  sorry  that  I have ever offended  thee,  my  God and my  chief  Good. And, therefore, I forgive  from  my heart  my  neighbours  all  their offences; lest perchance  I look  in  vain  to  thee,  my  Lord, for mercy,  if,  servant  as  I am, I reserve anger  for  my  fellow-servant. Forgive me, then, according  to  the  promise of  thy  Son,  who  said, Forgive, and  it  shall  be  forgiven to  you,  especially  at  that last hour  when  I shall  be  summoned to  appear  before  thee, my Judge! Alas for  me! if, then, thou  mark  my  iniquities! Oh, that  the  handwriting of  the  decree,  that