hear nothing but reproaches and rebukes. Nay, it would be but right to remove me far away from intercourse with all men, that I might be sure of infecting none of them with the ulcerous corruptions of my abominable vices.
4. I could wish, too, my utter vileness and wretchedness to be known to every one, that all, with just loathing, might detest me, and, in their zeal for thy glory, treat me as I deserve.
5. I admire thine inestimable goodness to me, O Lord, that thou hast borne with me till now, and hast not thrown me into the lowest pit of hell, as by my utter ingratitude to thee I have deserved. Yes, I acknowledge that, because of my ingratitude, I alone, of all thy creatures, am unworthy of the divine care, providence, and love, with which thou favourest all the rest: and I shudder to see myself a thing unspeakably foul, hateful,and abominable ; and I beg of thee, O eternal Light! that I may ever make such progress in self-knowledge, as never again perversely to exalt myself above others.
Ah, Lord! out of the bottomless deep of my wretchedness I cry and invoke the deep of thy mercy and goodness. Oh, grant me this grace. Amen.
IV.
Act of Prayer to God.
Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.[1]
1. O my most gracious God and Lord, although by my creation, preservation, redemption, justification, special vocation, and natural condition, I am thine, yet thine I wish to be, and am still more by the most express election of my own free will : and, therefore, for no favour will I knock at the gate of any other than thee, who art the fountain and source of all good.
2, Neither ought I to desire, ask, or wish of thee any other thing than what pleases thee best, and most conduces to thy greater glory. But should my will ever happen to be influenced by the desire of any thing else, I now hate and detest it, and wish it not to be. And I beg of thy divine Majesty, in such cases, never to hear me. And, therefore, my first and principal prayer to thee, and one that I make to thee with all the earnestness I am able, is, that thy most perfect will may be
- ↑ 1 John xv. 16.
