living God! Understand this, you that forget God; lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you.
Man. Enlighten my eyes, O Lord, that I may never sleep in death, lest at any time my enemy say, I have prevailed against him. For so to begin and so to end the day, in forgetfulness of God, without whom we can neither live, move, nor exist for a moment, is, I confess, -the life, not of a man, but of a beast. Grant to me never to go up into my bed, nor give sleep to my eves, or slumber to my eyelids, till I have first recounted to thee the past day in the bitterness of my soul, and so, with a contrite and humbled heart, which thou dost not despise, may be reconciled to thee, and in the self-same may sleep and rest in peace.[1]
Christ. This do, my son, and thou shalt live. Examine thyself, I say, earnestly and strictly every day, especially at night. Summon, as it were to the judgment-seat, the words, deeds, and thoughts of the whole day, and observe how thou hast sinned by commission, and how by omission. Consider how thou mightst have endeavoured to reduce to habitual practice the wholesome admonitions I have hitherto given thee, and in whatever thou findest thyself to have offended, condemn thyself, be sorry from thy heart, set thyself some penance, resolve to do better the day after, and for this ask for my grace; but first of all, return thanks for that day’s blessings received. Last of all, recommend to me thy body and soul. So shalt thou sleep in safety.
Otherwise, it is indeed great presumption, nay dangerous rashness, to go to sleep with a conscience laden with sins, and with myself offended and unreconciled to thee. Moreover, if thou make not this examination every day, and that not carelessly, but attentively, thou wilt ever stick in the same mire; after the lapse of months, and even years, the same faults will both live in thee still, and will gain additional strength; and so powerful will they become, that thou wilt not afterwards be able to expel them, because thou neglectedst to root out with the harrow of discipline and daily examination the thorns and briers, which this earth, which is subject to a curse, that is, thy corrupt nature, from time to time brings up to thee.
Man. I will bless thee, O Lord, at all times, thy praise shall be ever in my mouth. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast taught me from my youth; and oh, to old age and grey hairs, forsake me not! Oh, that my ways may
- ↑ Ps. iv. 9.
