Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/706

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nothing truer than his word of Truth.

I believe, Lord Jesus, that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, who camest into this world, not to destroy but to save us.

I believe whatever the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has believed and proposed to my belief from Christ and his Apostles until now, the rock and foundation of which Church is Christ Jesus, who has said: Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Here let the Apostles’ Creed he said, I believe, after which add: In this faith I was born and baptized; in this faith I have lived; and in this, by the grace of God, I desire to die. May the grace and charity of Jesus Christ my Saviour aid and strengthen me against all temptation, &c.

See the Act of Faith, part i. P. 59.

FOR THE EXERCISE OF HOPE.

The passages to this effect in the Psalms, Prophets, and Gospels, are without number: some of which we will cull from them as they occur to our memory. To a dying person nothing is so necessary as the retention in the mind of a most firm hope of the divine mercy; since it is this which it is the enemy's chief endeavour to uproot.

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

Though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me.

In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. It is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.

I set the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

Therefore my heart has been glad, and my tongue has rejoiced; moreover, my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee before his face; as smoke vanishes, so let them vanish away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

The Lord is nigh to them that are of a contrite heart, and he will save the humble of spirit.

Why art thou sad, O my