Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/713



O eternal Father! I am that most unworthy  servant  whom thou hast  so  loved  as  to  give for him  thy  only-begotten Son. In this  hour  deal  mercifully with  thy  servant,  that his precious  Blood  may  not  be lost  in  me. For what  profit have I in  the  Blood  of  my Redeemer,  if  I go  down  into corruption?

O Christ Jesus! I am that lost sheep  which  thou  leftest the ninety  and  nine  in  the wilderness to  seek  with  so much  toil,  and  bring  back upon thy  shoulders. Thou art the  Good  Shepherd  who hast laid  down  thy  life  for  thy sheep. Oh, seek  thy  servant, for I have  gone  astray  like  a sheep  that  is  lost! Let not him who  even  now  goes  about like a lion,  roaring  and  seeking whom  he  may  devour, snatch me  away! Deliver me, O Lord, out  of  the  mouth  of the  lion,  &amp;c.

O Jesus, I am  that  unhappy man  who,  in  going  down from Jerusalem,  fell  among robbers, and,  after  receiving many wounds,  have  been  left half dead. But thou  art  my Physician,  and  that  true  Samaritan who  hast  been  moved with compassion  towards  me, and hast  bound  up  my  wounds, nay, and  hast  even  prepared for me  a medicine  of  thy  own Blood and  wounds. Thou art he  who  hast  borne  our infirmities, and  by  whose bruises we  are  healed. Have mercy on  me,  O Lord,  in  this my last  hour! O Lord, make haste to  help  me  ere  my  soul die and  perish  for  ever  I O Jesus,  I am  that  unhappy sinner,  and  one  that  is guilty  of  many  crimes. But thou art  my  Advocate  with the Father,  and  the  Propitiation for  my  sins. For thou wiliest not  the  death  of  the sinner, but  his  life. It was  to save  sinners  that  thou  earnest into this  world. Show mercy to me,  therefore,  in  this  last hour of  my  life! Be my  Mediator and  Advocate  with  the Father! O good Jesu,  be merciful  to  me  a sinner,  kc. Into thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit,  kc.

When Saint  Eligius,  Bishop of Noyon, had  embraced  his friends with  tears, and  bid them farewell, he  prayed  for 