2. Nothing, therefore, ought to be more my care and study than to be united to thee in vision, love, and joy; because, in this union consists both my highest good, and thy highest glory. In comparison of this greatest good, I look upon all the delights and allurements of this life as mere filth and dung. And, from this moment, I direct to this end all my thoughts, works, and desires, nor will I be wearied or desist until I arrive at it. 3. But since of myself I am incapable of so great a good, I have recourse to thee, O most merciful God, of thy boundless goodness, by which thou hast created the world, and becamest man, and for man's sake hast willingly subjected thyself to death; and by thy other infinite blessings bestowed upon me, and by thy eternal will, by which thou hast freely predestined me to so sublime a height of glory, not to close against me the overflowing fountain of thy goodness, while I still have time to do good, most ungrateful and negligent though I am. But let this rather incite thee, the weaker I am, the more to assist and protect me. Remember, I beseech thee, the end to which thou hast destined me from all eternity, that thy most holy counsel and desire may not be frustrated in me. 4. Enlighten my mind by the light of thy Holy Spirit, that by his guidance I may be able to understand perfectly the vanity of this world, and to see clearly the dangers that lurk in it. And that I may understand also, on the other hand, the greatness, excellence, and sweetness of the infinite blessings which thou hast prepared for me in thyself, for which I thank thee with my whole heart, and willingly renounce all vanity. 5. Grant, O my Lord, that my mind may entertain no other thought, and my understanding receive no stronger impression than that of my last end; that, despising universally all perishable and temporal things, I may quickly raise myself to the love of eternal things, and to the desire of this my last and happy end. never Let my good desires never fail, nor my sighs and groans ever cease for that happy home. And grant that I may cease from fighting against myself, as I now propose to do, until I reach the end of my course, when all the saints shall repose in thee, their chief good and last end, by vision, love, and unspeakable comfort, when they have attained the completion of their purpose, and the fulfilment of the desire they had so wished and waited for; that is to say, their last end and highest good, for which they have so heroically fought, until they gained a most glo- plague; to have a zeal for rious victory. Amen. THE CONCLUSION Lastly, my most tender Lord, because I know thee to be my only good, my greatest happiness and bliss, I ought by no mean to suffer myself to be separated from thee; but rather it should ever be my constant endeavour to continue most closely united to thee. Therefore I desire, and will exert myself, that no moment may pass that I do not confirm what I have here set down and determined. And that I may be able to do this, I now desire with all possible reverence and humility, to enter into an agreement with thy divine majesty, and to bind myself by a lasting treaty; that as I shall never cease to breathe as long as I live, so I may never cease to believe in thee, to love thee, to praise thee, to give thee thanks, to offer and resign myself to thee, to hope and rejoice in thee, and to detest the world as a thy honour and the salvation of souls, to fear thee, to humble myself, to do penance, to form holy designs, to love my neighbour, to cultivate chastity, poverty, and obedience, and to ask of thee what I have asked above. Also to know thee, to adore thee, and praise thee as a God infinite, immeasurable, immutable, eternal, almighty, wise, good, holy, bountiful, provident, merciful, just, and our last end. And to shew that this is now fully my purpose, I declare, with the greatest humility, in the presence of thy divine majesty and the whole court of heaven, that I desire, with my whole heart, and with all the virtue, purity of intent, and ability that I can, to observe all those things that I have mentioned above. And this as often as I breathe, and as often as I turn my thoughts to any act of this kind that is acceptable and pleasing to thee. Accept this resolution, O Lord, now, for that, and for all time. And may this desire of my soul be ratified and confirmed by thy most gracious will for ever and ever. Amen. Not triple is their entity, Their being simple is. Simple being, simple doing, Simple willing, simple knowing, Simple, and single all Whether of one, whether of two, Or of the persons three, yet So The power is still equal. The Father, Word, and Spirit blest, One God they are; yet each possest Of some proprieties. In power one, in Deity, In brightness, and in majesty, In each all equal these. Father and Son, they are equal, And yet distinctions personal In each of them are found. Equal with Father, and with Son, Equal, yet each proceeding from, The Spirit, holy bond. These not by man's capacity Of mind can comprehended be, Nor their distinctions spied. To places, or to boundaries No order temporal is this, Of circumstances tied. In God there is but God alone, Beside him cause of aught is none, Cause of all causes he. These persons three, man's utmost height Of reason it transcendeth quite, To speak of worthily. What begetting, what proceeding, He, this height of heights though treading, May strive, but cannot know. Hasten not, believer, hasting Lest, the pathway everlasting Once left, askance you go. Keep the faith, your life adorning, Error's ways deceitful scorning, Hold all church-verity. So, whilst we one on earth abide, We may be one when death betide, In faith's true constancy. Praise to the Three in Unity, All praise to the One Trinity, And glory co-eternally. Amen. OF THE HOLY GHOST. From carnal made divine. Demon malice thou subduest, Demon subtilty refutest, Worsting our foes malign. Under thy teaching nought's obscure, Within thy presence nought impure, All shines with light serene. Leap regenerate hearts with joy, Consciences without alloy Exult, by thee made clean. At thy coming, hearts thou quellest; At thy entrance, clouds dispellest; Putting dark shades to flight. Sacred fire our breasts inflaming, Burning never, aye reclaim ing From care's blight. corroding Darkling minds thy wisdom teacheth, Stony hearts thy influence reacheth, Souls sunk in slothful trance Now with burning faith are glowing, Gift of clearness from thee flowing Gives mute lips utterance. Adopted into one; For he hath made both one, who made Come, blessed Comforter, to soothe Our hearts, our lips to rule with truth; Nor gall, nor asp's envenom'd tooth Thy presence can assail. Himself of both the living No joy is found, no gaiety, head, Of both the corner-stone. Thou shunnest the perverse of heart, Pure souls that choose the better part, With wisdom's gift to bless. All truths divine from thee are known, By thee the paths of justice shewn, By thee the way of peace. As erst at great Elias' word Streams plentiful from God are pour'd, Where vacant hearts are found. New bottles only can contain New wine, e'en so, grace to retain, Old hearts thou makest sound. Nought healthful, no serenity, No sweet comfort, and no plenty, Where'er thy graces fail. Thou salt from heav'n in mercy sent, Thou medicine and anointment, Endu'st the watery element With powers of mystery. We, now become a new creation, Pour forth to thee this pure oblation, We, children once of indignation, Now, Lord, thy family. O thou the gift, and yet the giver, Who all good things preservest ever, |