Page:Pleasures of England (1888).djvu/72

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54
The Pleasures of Faith.

feet of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah in the golden Gospel of Charles le Chauve[1]:—

"Hic Leo Surgendo portas confregit Averni
 Qui nunquam dormit, nusquam dormitat in ævum;")


"to Thee, Lord, I pray, who art the supreme truth; for all the truth that is, is truth from Thee. Thee I implore, O Lord, who art the highest wisdom. Through Thee are wise all those that are so. Thou art the true life, and through Thee are living all those that are so. Thou art the supreme felicity, and from Thee all have become happy that are so. Thou art the highest good, and from Thee all beauty springs. Thou art the intellectual light, and from Thee man derives his understanding.

"To Thee, O God, I call and speak. Hear, O hear me, Lord! for Thou art my God and my Lord; my Father and my Creator; my ruler and my hope; my wealth and my honour; my house, my country, my salvation, and my life! Hear, hear me, O Lord! Few of Thy servants comprehend Thee. But Thee alone I love,[2] indeed, above all other things. Thee I seek: Thee I will follow: Thee I am ready to serve. Under Thy power I desire to abide, for Thou alone art the Sovereign of all. I pray Thee to command me as Thou wilt."


You see this prayer is simply the expansion of that clause of the Lord's Prayer which most men eagerly

  1. At Munich: the leaf has been exquisitely drawn and legend communicated to me by Professor Westwood. It is written in gold on purple.
  2. Meaning—not that he is of those few, but that, without comprehending, at least, as a dog, he can love.