Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/149

 vanity, and  perdition. Ah ! my God  how  much  am  I grieved  for  having  offended  thee ! I am more  troubled at the  greatness  of  my  ingratitude  for  having  offended thee, than  at  the  greatness  of  the  torments  which  I have  deserved  for  my  sins. I would have  my  sorrow for my  sins  to  be  as  great  as  the  sins  themselves. I would have  my  regret  for  having  displeased  thee proportioned to  the  injuries  committed  against  thee. I would have  a grief  equal  to  thy  mercy. I would willingly bewail  the  enormity  of  my  sins  with  tears  of blood,  more  for  the  offence  and  insult  offered  thy  divine Majesty, than  for* the  injury  and  perdition  they  bring upon myself. But where  shall  I find  so  deep  a sense of sorrow,  save  only  in  the  fountains  of  thy  grace? Where shall  I find  such  a grief,  save  only  in  the  contemplation of  thy  immense  goodness  and  infinite majesty? Whence are  those  tears  to  flow,  save  only from the  ocean  of  thy  mercy? Here I cast  myself at thy  feet; consider  not  in  what  manner,  at  what time, or  how  late; consider  only  that  I come. But ah! Lord, in  how  miserable  a condition !'  how  filthy! how abominable! Clad with  the  deformity  of  my sins,  covered  with  the  filthiness  of  my  offences,  and defiled with  the  abominations  of  a vicious  life ! But, in approaching  thee,  O my  God,  I come  with  the confidence of  finding  in  thy  mercy  a secure  haven,  in thy  compassion  protection,  in  thy  clemency  a refuge, and in  thy  goodness  pardon. Wherefore, O Lord, under the  dread  of  thy  justice,  I seek  no  other remedy save  that  of  thy  mercy,  nor  fly  to  any  other shelter but  that  of  thy  clemency. In thee  I place my trust,  O my  God; for  though  by  sin  I have  lost the blessings  and  privileges  of  a son,  yet  thou,  O Lord,  infinitely  good,  dost  not  lose  the  love  and compassion of  a father. Let then,  O Lord,  thy  infinite