Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/698



O Father of  mercies  and God of  all  consolation! behold, I, thy  creature,  made  to thy  Image,  and  redeemed  by the  Blood  of  thy  only  Son, appear before  thee,  my  Creator, by  whom  and  for  whom I was made,  by  whose  grace  I have  lived  hitherto; to  whom I desire to  live  henceforward, so long  as  it  pleases  thee; and for whose  sake  and  in  whom  I desire  to  die. I humbly adore thee, for  whom  my  soul  longs and sighs  a thousand  times; I cry  to  thee  whom  I love  only and above  all  things,  O my rest,my  hope,  my  love,  my  desire, and  all  my  heart's  good!

O most loving  Father! although I am the  least  of  thy sons, nay,  unworthy  to  be called  thy  son,  because  I have  not  honoured  thee  as a Father,  still  I come  to  thee with great  confidence,  and throw myself  upon  thy  breast, and into  the  arms  of  thy  most sweet charity  and  mercy, sorry from  my  inmost  heart that I have  forsaken  thee,  my God,  the  fountain  of  all  good; departed from  thee,  my  most sweet Father,  and  forgotten thee, who,  as  if  regardless  of all  else,  hast  never  for  a moment forgotten  me!

Oh, that  I had  never  offended thee,  my  God,  and  my all! Accept at  least  this, the ardent  wish  and  desire  of my  inmost  heart; look  on  me and  pity  me,  while  yet  there is time  for  pity. For thou knowest, O Lord,  that  I love thee more  than  myself,  or  at least  desire  so  to  love  thee, and.above all  things  that  are or can  be  loved. For I know whom I have  believed;  and that thou  art  able  to  keep what I have  committed  to thee: and  I know  too  that  a contrite  and  humble  heart,  O God,  thou  wilt  not  despise!

I hope also  that  thou  wilt never cast  me  away  from  thy face, — thou who  so  lovingly invitest us  to  thee,  in  saying: Come to  me,  all  you  that  labour and  are  burdened,  and I will refresh  you. Behold, I come, O Lord,  according  to  thy  word;  receive  me,  thou who castest  not  out  anything that comes  to  thee,  and  I shall  live,  and  disappoint  me not  of  my  expectation. Bring my soul  out  of  this  prison, that I may  praise  thy  Name.

Oh, happy  the  hour  when I am delivered  from  the  body of this  death! when I come to thee; when  thou  comest and consolest  me! when I see thee, not  through  a glass  and in a dark  manner,  but  face to face! when, putting  off this corruptible  body,  which weighs down  the  soul,  I