Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/224

 tracts me  to  thee. " O  Lord  of  Hosts,  how  lovely  are thy  tabernacles!  my  soul  longeth  and  fainteth"  for  thy possession; for  "  blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in thee." Thou art  the  God  of  all  glory;  and  what  am  I, and  what  should  I  have- been,  hadst  thou  not  raised  me from  the  grave  of  sin? Alas! without thee,  my  soul  is a  barren  hind,  fertile  only  in  the  production  of  weeds and brambles;  but  with  patient  love  thou  hast  come  to my  assistance,  saying,  "  Fear  not,  O  land,  be  glad  and rejoice,  for  I,  the  Lord,  have  done  great  things"  for thee. Ah, merciful  Lord! what hast  thou  left  undone to secure  my  happiness? And now,  forgetful  of  all  my fast  ingratitude,  thou  invitest  me  to  thy  sacred  banquet, come, then,  with  confidence,  because  "  thou  art  my God,  and  hast  heard  me,  and  art  become  my  salvation." Oh, "  what  shall  I  render  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  for  all  thou hast  rendered  unto  me?  I  will  take  the  chalice  of  salvation;  and  I  will  call  upon  thy  name.  I  will  pay  my tows  to  thee  before  all  thy  people;  for  I  am  thy  servant" I  have  strayed  far  from  thee,  my  God,  and  thou hast displayed  the  wonders  of  thy  mercy,  by  recalling me from  my  wanderings,  Oh,  perfect  thy  work  of  love, by preserving  me  from  ever  again  forsaking  the  path  of thy  commandments;  "  teach  me  to  do  thy  will,"  and strengthen me  to  fulfil  it  perfectly.

Humbled, O  Lord,  at  the  view  of  my  many  miseries, and convinced  of  my  weakness;  yet. animated with  a sincere  desire  to  employ  the  remainder  of  my  years  in repairing  my  past  ingratitude;  I  fervently  implore  thy powerful assistance,  for,  "  strengthened  by  thee,  I  can all  things;"  with  humble  confidence  I  approach  thy altar, "for  with  thee  is  the  fountain  of  life,  and  in  thy light  I  shall  see  light." Come, then,  O  blessed  Jesus, to take  possession  of  my  heart:,  in  thy  adorable  sacrament. Come, and  give  efficacy  to  my  resolution,  of firing  henceforth  but  for  thee,  and  of  devoting  all  my faculties  to  the  promotion  of  thy  glory. Establish thy dwelling in  my  soul,  that,  fertilised  by  the  dew  of  thy grace, it  may  produce  a  rich  harvest  of  holiness  and  virtue. May thy  love  be  the  end  of  my  existence,  and  the only motive  of  all  my  actions;  may  it  be  my  guide