my desire, in all my thoughts, words, and actions; nay, that in every sigh, motion, and breath, I wish and intend this above all things, to unite with them, and to pile, as it were, on the same heap, all the force and multitude of those acts and hearts that please thy divine majesty, that neither I nor they may ever intermit that exercise to which we are bound by the law of our creation and preservation, which is, always to seek to know thee, to worship, and to love thee.
This duty I now render, and wish to render as perfectly and fully as possible, without regard either to reward or punishment; but only to thee, my chief good, to whom I owe it, for many reasons, and principally these four:
1. That I should acknowledge thy supreme majesty, glory, and excellence, and to this end most closely unite to thee my heart.
2. That I should give thee thanks for thy innumerable benefits to me, both general and particular.
3. That I should to some extent satisfy thee for my sins, and obtain thy favour, both now and at the hour of my death.
4. That I should obtain of thee the help of thy grace, and of every thing which thou knowest to be necessary to enable me to persevere to the end, and to enjoy thee for ever.
I humbly beseech thee, therefore, my dearest Lord, to vouchsafe of thy most tender mercy, to receive all these oblations, to preserve me from all sin, and to give me the grace never to bestow any portion of my heart in exchange for any perishable creature of thine; but that I may entirely, all that I am, cleave constantly to thee alone, my Creator, my God, my Lord, and my highest good.
A VERY BEAUTIFUL OBLATION OF ONE’S SELF.
Taken from the Tree of Life of Francis Bourgoine, Priest of the Congregation of the Oratory.
In which man, from the consideration of God's claims upon him, merely as he is the Author of nature, offers himself to him, entirely, with a general reference to his natural condition, by enumerating all his parts and faculties, as follows:
I offer to thee, O supreme, eternal, and adorable Trinity, one God, my soul, which thou hast created out of no-
