with a fervent imploring of the divine love, and here to pause awhile, so that the chiefest part of time be spent in an earnest desiring of this grace and favor, seeing in the divine love all our felicity doth consist, to that end, this prayer following will not be unprofitable.
A PRAYER FOR OBTAINING DIVINE LOVE.
Grant, I beseech thee, O Lord, that I may love thee with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my strength; O my only hope, my perfect glory, my refuge and solace; O my dearest of all friends, sweet spouse, flourishing spouse, sweeter than any honey, delight of my heart, life of my soul, joy of my spirit; O bright day of eternity, clear light of my bowels, paradise of my heart, original of all my good; O my chiefest strength, prepare, O Lord in my soul a delicious bed, that according to thy promise, there thou mayest dwell, and make thy mansion. Mortify in me whatsoever is displeasing to thee, and make me a man according to thine own heart. Pierce the marrow of my soul, wound my heart with the darts of dear affection, and inebriate me with the wine of love.
When shall I perfectly please thee in all things? when shall I cast from me all things contrary to thee? when shall I be wholly thine? when shall I leave to be my own? when shall nothing live in me, but what is
