divine Lord, into thy hands, since it was bought with no less a price than that of thy precious blood. Remember all the miracles thou hast worked for its sake, and forget what has been the depth of my ingratitude. Thou hast been pleased to declare that thou wiliest not the death of a sinner (that is, his eternal death), but rather that he be converted and live: this act of mercy I petition for, for the sake of thy most precious passion and death, trusting that the sentence which will decide my lot may be such as to ensure my happiness. It is true, my God, that notwithstanding all this I would despair when reflecting on the terror of thy judgments, did not thy frequent assurance of compassion and mercy give consolation to my afflicted soul: “ For the Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." (Psalm cxliv. 9.) “ Therefore the Lord waiteth that he may have mercy on us, therefore shall he he exalted sparing you." (Is. xxx. 18.) “ The Lord is my rock , and my strength , and my Saviour. God is my strong one , in him will I trust." (2 Kings xxii. 2, 3.) I cast myself then into the abyss of thy mercies, full of sorrow for having so often offended thee; but “ remember not former things , and look not on things of old" (Is. xliii. 18); be thou “ my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me." (Psalm xxxi. 7.)
From the Preface to the Elevation.
CONSIDERATION.
REFLECT that we must necessarily pass through the gate of death, before we can enter into the mansions of eternal bliss. All good Christians ought then, with St. Paul, to desire to be dissolved, that they may be with Christ, for it is a neglect
