Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/25

 sake of  repentance. Men conceal  their  sense  of  the  in juries  which  they  receive,  either  because  they  are  good, and know  that  it  belongs  not  to  themselves  to  punish those who  offend  them;  or  because  they  are  unable,  and have not  the  power  to  revenge  themselves. But to  Thee, my God,  it  does  belong  to  take  revenge  of  the  offences which are  committed  against  Thy  infinite  majesty;  and thou indeed  art  able  to  avenge  Thyself,  whenever  Thou pleaseth; and  dost  Thou  dissemble? Men despise  Thee; they make  promises  to  Thee  and  afterwards  betray  Thee; and dost  Thou  seem  not  to  behold  them,  or  as  if  Thou hadst little  concern  for  Thy  honor?

Thus, O  Jesus,  hast  Thou  done  towards  me. Ah! my God, my  infinite  good,  I  will  no  longer  despise  Thee,  I will  no  longer  provoke  Thee  to  chastise  me. And why should I  delay  until  Thou  abandonest  me  in  reality  and condemnest me  to  hell? I am  truly  sorry  for  all  my offences  against  Thee. I would  that  I  had  died  rather than offend  Thee! Thou art  my  Lord,  Thou  hast  created me, and  Thou  hast  redeemed  me  by  Thy  death;  Thou alone hast  loved,  Thou  alone  deservest  to  be  loved,  and Thou alone  shall  be  the  sole  object  of  my  love.

3. My  soul,  how  could  you  be  so  ungrateful  and  so daring  against  your  God? When you  offended  him, could he  not  have  suddenly  called  you  out  of  life  and punished you  with  hell? And yet  he  waited  for  you; instead of  chastising  you,  he  preserved  your  life  and  gave you good  things. But you,  instead  of  being  grateful  to him  and  loving  him  for  such  excessive  goodness,  you continued to  offend  him!

O my  Lord,  since  Thou  hast  waited    for  me  with  so great  mercy,  I  give  Thee  thanks. I am  sorry  for  having offended Thee. I love  Thee. I might  at  this  hour  have dwelt in  hell,  where  I  could  not  have  repented,  nor  have