Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/31

 must believe  it  because  faith  so  teaches  it. Hence the Council of  Nice  commands  us  to  confess:  "  I  believe  in one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  who  for  us  men and  for  our  salvation  was  crucified  for  us,  suffered,  and was  buried."

And if  it  is  true,  O  God  of  love! that Thou  hast  died for the  love  of  men,  can  there  be  one  who  believes  this, and does  not  love  Thee,  so  loving  a  God? But, O  God! of those  who  are  guilty  of  such  ingratitude  I  am  one; and not  only  have  I  not  loved  Thee,  my  Redeemer,  but I have  many  times,  for  the  sake  of  gratifying  my  miserable  and  depraved  inclinations,  renounced  Thy  grace and Thy  love.

2. Thou  hast  then,  my  Lord  and  my  God,  died  for me; and  how  could  I,  knowing  this,  have  so  often  disowned  Thee   and  turned    my  back   upon  Thee? But Thou, my  Saviour,  didst   come  down  from  heaven  to save  that  which   was  lost. My ingratitude,  therefore, does  not  deprive  me  of  the  hope  of   pardon. Yes, O Jesus! I  hope  that  Thou   wilt  pardon  me  all  offences which   I   have    committed    against  Thee,  through    the death which  Thou  didst  suffer  for  me  on  Mount  Cal vary. Oh that  I  could  die  of  grief  and  of  love  as  often as I  think  of  the  offences  which  I  have  committed  against the love  which  Thou  hast  shown  towards   me! Make known to  me,  O  Lord! what I  must  do  henceforward  to make  amends  for  my  ingratitude. Keep up  in  my  mind a continual  remembrance  of  the  bitter  death  Thou  wast pleased to  suffer  for  me,  that  I  may  love  Thee  and  never more offend  Thee.

3. God,  then,  has  died  for  me;  and  shall  I  be  able  to