Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/689

 parated  from  the  Sovereign Good is  assuredly  the  evil  of all  evils. Oh, that  the  Lord would deliver  me  from  this evil! For the  dead  shall  not praise thee,  O Lord,  nor  any of them  that  go  down  to  hell. The living,  the  living,  he  shall give praise  to  thee.

O Lord deliver  my  soul; for thou  art  a just  and  merciful Lord. Deliver my  soul from death,  my  eyes  from tears, and  my  feet  from  falling, that  I may  sing  to  thee a new canticle,  and  sacrifice to thee  the  Sacrifice  of  praise.

The Lord  is  my  strength and my  praise,  and  he  is  become my  salvation.

The right  hand  of  the  Lord has wrought  strength; the right hand  of  the  Lord  has exalted me,  &amp;c.

I shall not  die,  but  live, and shall  declare  the  works  of the  Lord.

The Lord  chastising  has chastised me; but  he  has  not delivered me  over  to  death.

Thou hast  burst  my  bonds, and death  is  swallowed  up  in victory.

My soul  has  been  delivered even as  a sparrow  out  of  the snare of  the  fowler. The snare is  broken,  and  we  are delivered.

I will give  praise  to  the Lord, for  he  is  good; for  his mercy endures  for  ever. Amen. Amen.

I will speak  to  the  Lord, whereas I am  dust  and  ashes, a flying shadow,  and  a smoke that appears  for  a little while. Remember, Lord, what my  substance  is. Remember that thou  hast  formed me like  the  clay,  and  that  thou wilt bring  me  back  to  dust again. Do not  therefore  contend with  me  with  much strength; for  what  is  my strength  that  I can  hold  out; or what  is  my  end  that  I should  keep  patience? My strength is  not  the  strength of stones,  nor  is  my  flesh  of brass. Why, then,  are  the  arrows of  the  Lord  within  me, the rage  of  which  drinks up my  spirit; and  the  terrors of  the  Lord  war  against me?