Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/92

 divine Lord,  into  thy  hands,  since  it  was  bought with no  less  a price  than  that  of  thy  precious  blood. Remember all  the  miracles  thou  hast  worked  for  its sake, and  forget  what  has  been  the  depth  of  my ingratitude. Thou hast  been  pleased  to  declare  that thou wiliest  not  the  death  of  a sinner  (that  is,  his eternal  death),  but  rather  that  he  be  converted  and live: this act  of  mercy  I petition  for,  for  the  sake  of thy  most  precious  passion  and  death,  trusting  that the sentence  which  will  decide  my  lot  may  be  such as to  ensure  my  happiness. It is  true,  my  God, that notwithstanding  all  this  I would  despair  when reflecting on  the  terror  of  thy  judgments,  did  not thy frequent  assurance  of  compassion  and  mercy give consolation  to  my  afflicted  soul: “ For  the Lord is  sweet  to  all:  and  his  tender  mercies  are  over  all his works."  (Psalm  cxliv.  9.)  “ Therefore  the  Lord waiteth  that  he  may  have  mercy  on  us,  therefore  shall  he he  exalted  sparing  you." (Is. xxx.  18.)  “ The  Lord is my  rock, and  my  strength , and  my  Saviour. God is my  strong  one, in  him  will I trust."  (2  Kings  xxii.  2,  3.) I cast  myself  then  into  the  abyss  of  thy  mercies,  full of  sorrow  for  having  so  often  offended  thee;  but “ remember  not  former  things , and  look  not  on  things  of old"  (Is.  xliii.  18); be  thou  “ my  refuge  from  the trouble which  hath  encompassed  me."  (Psalm  xxxi.  7.)

EFLECT that  we  must  necessarily  pass  through the gate  of  death,  before  we  can  enter  into  the mansions of  eternal  bliss. All good  Christians ought then,  with  St.  Paul,  to  desire  to  be  dissolved, that they  may  be  with  Christ,  for  it  is  a neglect