Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/99

 my desire,  in  all  my  thoughts, words, and  actions; nay,  that in every  sigh,  motion,  and breath, I wish  and  intend  this above all  things,  to  unite  with them, and  to  pile,  as  it  were, on the  same  heap,  all  the force and  multitude  of  those acts and  hearts  that  please thy divine  majesty,  that  neither I nor  they  may  ever  intermit that  exercise  to  which we are  bound  by  the  law  of our  creation  and  preservation, which  is,  always  to  seek to know  thee,  to  worship, and to  love  thee.

This duty  I now  render, and wish  to  render  as  perfectly and  fully  as  possible, without regard  either  to  reward or  punishment; but only to  thee,  my  chief  good, to whom  I owe  it,  for  many reasons, and  principally  these four:

1. That  I should  acknowledge thy  supreme  majesty, glory, and  excellence,  and  to this  end  most  closely  unite  to thee  my  heart.

2. That  I should  give  thee thanks for  thy  innumerable benefits to  me,  both  general and particular.

3. That  I should  to  some extent satisfy  thee  for  my sins,  and  obtain  thy  favour, both now  and  at  the  hour  of my  death.

4. That  I should  obtain of thee  the  help  of  thy  grace, and of  every  thing  which thou knowest  to  be  necessary to enable  me  to  persevere  to the  end,  and  to  enjoy  thee for ever.

I humbly beseech  thee, therefore, my  dearest  Lord, to vouchsafe  of  thy  most  tender mercy,  to  receive  all  these oblations, to  preserve  me from  all  sin,  and  to  give  me the  grace  never  to  bestow any portion  of  my  heart  in exchange  for  any  perishable creature of  thine;  but  that I may entirely,  all  that  I am,  cleave  constantly  to  thee alone, my  Creator,  my  God, my Lord,  and  my  highest good.

In which  man,  from  the  consideration  of  God's  claims  upon him, merely  as  he  is  the  Author  of  nature, offers  himself to  him, entirely, with  a general  reference  to  his  natural condition, by  enumerating  all  his  parts  and  faculties, as follows: 

I offer to  thee,  O supreme,  eternal,  and  adorable  Trinity, one God,  my  soul,  which thou  hast  created  out  of  no-