Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/117

 thy glory,  and  the  figure  of  thy  substance  ( Heb . i. 3),  I praise  thee,  I bless  thee,  I adore  thee,  and  rejoice in all  that  glory,  that  felicity,  which  is  essential  to thyself,  and  which  the  ingratitude  of  thy  creatures can never  lessen. Why cannot  I extol  thy  goodness with lips  purified  as  were  those  of  thy  prophet? Why cannot  I,  O Jesus,  residing  in  my  heart,  bum with the  ardours  which  consumed  the  heavenly spirits who  first  sung  the  praises  of  thy  hidden majesty? More ardent,  though  infinitely  less favoured than  I am,  they  proclaimed  with  joy  the blessings thou  wert  come  to  scatter  on  earth. Oh, that I had  the  hearts,  the  voices  of  men  and  angels, to thank  thee  for  those  with  which  thy  coming  this day has  enriched  me! O King of  peace,  reign  in  my soul,  and  let  thy  dominion  be  absolute  over  all  its powers, affections,  desires,  and  movements. Let my perverse  inclinations  become  submissive  to  the  orders of thy  amiable  providence,  that  I may  have  no  will but thine,  no  pursuit  but  that  of  pleasing  thee,  and no desire  but  that  of  enjoying  thee  eternally.

ETERNAL Truth,  how  happy  are  those  who listen to  thy  divine  inspirations,  who  hide  thy words in  their  hearts  that  they  may  never  sin  against thee! {Psalm cxviii. 11.) Oh,  that  my  ways  may be  henceforth  directed  to  keep  thy  justifications ! {Psalm  cxviii.  5.)  Oh,  that  I may  this  day  learn from thy  own  lips,  that  true  life  consists  in  knowing and loving  thee  alone! Eternal wisdom,  proceeding out of  the  mouth  of  the  Most  High,  my  heart  is  at this  moment  thy  throne  and  thy  possession; teach me to  practise  the  virtues  of  humility,  charity,  and obedience. But, alas! divine Jesus,  I deserve  not  thy