of the years of my miserable life. But for those years which, in living them, I have lost by living wickedly, despise not, O Lord, a contrite and a humbled heart! My days have declined like a shadow, and are passed away without fruit: it is impossible for me to recall them. Be pleased that I recount them to thee in the bitterness of my soul. One more petition only have I to make to thee. Grant to me to die well, so that I may sing the mercies of the Lord for ever.
CHRIST. It is not for me to break the bruised reed, nor to quench the smoking flax.[1] Be thou faithful only to death. For I take no delight in the perdition of them that die. Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it,[2] without whom not a hair of your head shall perish.[3]
§ 10. Entire resignation of self to God.
MAN. I know well, O Lord, the greatness of thy love. In peace in the self-same will I sleep and take my rest, without the solicitude that is caused, whether by the love of life, or by the fear of death. My lots are in thy hands.[4] Upon thee, O Lord, do I cast all my care, because thou art careful for me,[5] and all the hairs of my head are numbered before thee. Thou hast set me bounds which cannot be passed over.
Thou art the Lord; do what is good in thine eyes; and who am I, that I should say to thee, Why dost thou so? Shall the clay say to the potter, What art thou making?[6] or the thing fashioned contradict its maker? Are not we in thy hand like clay in the hand of the potter? Therefore shall thy Will be my will. If thou wilt have me live, my heart is ready, O God; but increase thy grace, that I may the more faithfully serve thee. If thou command me to die, my heart is ready; only grant that my spirit may be received in peace. Thou, O Christ, art my life, and to die is gain. If longer life shall be given to me, to thee, or to thy honour and glory, will I live. If thou wouldst have me die, death will be gain to me; for I shall obtain and possess thee, whom my soul hitherto seeks and loves. Therefore, if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evils, for thou art with me. Receive me, according to thy Word (for thou hast said, I desire not the death of a sinner), and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my expectation. But this
