Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/135

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until they gained a most glorious victory. Amen.

THE CONCLUSION

Of an agreement of love with God.

Lastly, my most tender Lord, because I know thee to be my only good, my greatest happiness and bliss, I ought by no means to suffer myself to be separated from thee; but rather it should ever be my constant endeavour to continue most closely united to thee. Therefore I desire, and will exert myself, that no moment may pass that I do not confirm what I have here set down and determined. And that I may be able to do this, I now desire with all possible reverence and humility, to enter into an agreement with thy divine majesty, and to bind myself by a lasting treaty; that as I. shall never cease to breathe as long as I live, so I may never cease to believe in thee, to love thee, to praise thee, to give thee thanks, to offer and resign myself to thee, to hope and rejoice in thee, and to detest the world as a


plague; to have a zeal for thy honour and the salvation of souls, to fear thee, to humble myself, to do penance, to form holy designs, to love my neighbour, to cultivate chastity, poverty, and obedience, and to ask of thee what I have asked above. Also to know thee, to adore thee, and praise thee as a God infinite, immeasurable, immutable, eternal, almighty, wise, good, holy, bountiful, provident, merciful, just, and our last end. And to show that this is now fully my purpose, I declare, with the greatest humility, in the presence of thy divine majesty and the whole court of heaven, that I desire, with my whole heart, and with all the virtue, purity of intent, and ability that I can, to observe all those things that I have mentioned above. And this as often as I breathe, and as often as I turn my thoughts to any act of this kind that is acceptable and pleasing to thee. Accept this resolution, O Lord, now, for that, and for all time. And may this desire of my soul be ratified and confirmed by thy most gracious will for ever and ever. Amen.