Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/717

 superabundant multitude  of thy  tender  mercies. Prepare us all  in  the  way  that  thou pleaseat, and  especially  this our brother  N.,whom  it  is  thy appointment to  call  the  soonest; and  grant  him  happily  to breathe  out  his  soul  with  true patience, perfect  resignation, full remission  of  his  sins,  the strongest faith,  firm  hope,  and entire charity,  in  the  most perfect state,  into  thy  most sweet embrace  and  most  loving kiss,  to  thy  everlasting praise.

Ah! most sweet  Redeemer, Lord  Jesus,  by  those mournful words  which  thou utteredst when  dying  on  the Cross, and  exhausted  by  the sorrows of  thy  Passion: My God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou forsaken me? remove not,  I beseech  thee,  from  thy  servant, our brother  N.,  the  help  of thy  mercy,  for  in  this  hour and moment  of  extreme  affliction he  is,  from  faintness  of soul  and  exhaustion  of  spirit, unable to  invoke  thee.

By the  triumph  of  thy  holy Cross, and  by  the  infinite merit of  thy  Death  and  Passion, think  towards  him,  O Lord,  thoughts  of  peace,  and not of  affliction, — thoughts  of mercy  and  consolation. Deliver him out  of  all  his  anguish, and  by  thy  own  most holy Hands,  which,  O good Jesus and  most  loving  Father, thou hast,  for  him  and  for  us all,  permitted  to  be  fastened with nails  upon  the  Cross, deliver him  from  the  torments that are  due  to  him,  and bring him  safe  to  everlasting rest. Amen.

To the  same  effect  are  the Prayers for  a happy  death, above, chap. xi.

Here, good  reader, we  now close the  Paradise,  which  I entreat  and  exhort  thee  so  to use, as  that  it  may  prepare for thee  the  way  to  another, and that, when  on  the  point of departure  hence, thou  too mayest merit  to  hear: This day thou  shalt  be  with  me  in Paradise.

The author  and  translators will be  well  repaid  by  one ejaculation for  them  offered to God  from  thy  heart.