pear before the face of God my Father? When wilt thou fill me with joy with thy countenance, that I may see thee, not as now, through a glass in a dark manner, but face to face? Blessed are they who dwell in thy House, O Lord; they shall praise thee for ever and ever! Behold, I have disposed my heart to ascend thither, in this valley of tears, the place in which the transgression of my first parent has set me. Aided by thy blessing, I shall go from virtue to virtue, till I see thee, the God of all gods, in Sion![1]
STEP I.
LIVELY FAITH.
Hallowed be thy name.
First, by true and lively Faith; for without Faith it is impossible to please God. For he that comes to thee, O God, must believe that thou art, and that thou art a Rewarder of them that seek thee. Now, what is our life upon the earth but a coming to, or a progress towards God by the two feet of Faith and Hope? For the rest and; repose in God, with that intimate union with and enjoyment of him, which are the fruit of perfect charity, are reserved for our heavenly Home. Then it is that thou wilt embrace thy son who returns to thee from a far country, and wilt put on him the first robe.
Meanwhile, I believe, O Lord, that thou art who art — that is, God supremely powerful, wise, and good over all things; and that thou wilt thyself be the reward and recompense exceeding great of them that love thee. I believe that my Redeemer lives, and that in the last day I shall rise out of the earth, and that in my flesh I shall see God my Saviour. In this Faith I desire to live and die. Supported by this Faith, I shall continue safe in every cross, tribulation, affliction, disease, and death itself; and alike in adversity and in prosperity, shall praise and sanctify thy Name, nothing doubting of the divine power and fatherly bounty with which thou art both able and willing to save me.
Strengthen and increase my Faith, O Lord, for the glory of Thy Name, which is hallowed by us best when we believe thee to be mighty in thy works, true in thy words, and most faithful to thy promises. It was because Moses and Aaron sanctified thee not in the sight of the people, by disbelieving thee when thou broughtest water out of the rock, that thou forbadest them to enter the promised land.[2]
