will command the clouds to rain no rain upon it." (Isa. v. 5, 6.)
O divine Jesus, adorable benefactor of my soul! covered with confusion, and penetrated with grief, I cast myself at thy feet, not as my judge, but as my mediator, imploring of thee not to avenge the neglect of the graces I have hitherto received, but to add to and renew them all. O adorable abyss of mercy ! wert thou not truly infinite, I should long since have exhausted thy priceless treasures. I should have already been “ trampled on in thy indignation, and trodden down in thy wrath .” (Isa. lxiii. 3.) But Lord, though thou speakest justice, yet thou wilt “ be unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me; for thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake thou wilt lead me and nourish me ” (Ps. xxx. 3, 4); and this emboldens me to approach thee in the bitterness of my heart to deplore the grievousness of my offences. Deaf to thy divine voice, I have refused to follow thy inspirations, and have made as little account of thy graces as if they were not the purchase of thy blood, and the most precious pledges of thy will to save me. Why have I not served thee as thousands have done, who have been less favoured? What excuse can I offer for not being already far advanced in the road of perfection? Can I presume to say that thy arm has been shortened in my regard? My adorable Redeemer! on all occasions, in all circumstances, my heart tells me that thou couldst not do more than thou hast done for thy wretched servant. Would I could say that I also had done for thee the little I was able, that I offered thee my heart as generously as thou deservedst it. I have brought forth far different fruits from those thou hadst reason to expect from
