ΤΟ THE CHRISTIAN READER; ON THE SCOPE, PLAN, AND ORDER OF THE "PARADISE." THE present age, fertile as it is in writers, has produced a variety of books serviceable to Christian piety. Some furnish lessons and instructions on the spiritual life; some suggest devout meditations, and subjects for holy affections; others, again, contain prayers, offices, litanies, and forms of devotional exercises. So little need have we to complain of scantiness in the sources of devotion, that we are all but overwhelmed by their variety and number. It seemed to me, therefore, no unprofitable labour to survey the gardens and pleasure-grounds of every author,— to cull thence the most notable plants, flowers, and shrubs, and to plant with them a new kind of Paradise of pleasure, or rather of piety; and thus to comprise in one small volume, suitable for daily use, the juice and sap of all those whose object is the cultivation of goodness. This is my purpose and design, which thou wilt learn more fully from the plan of the book, which I now subjoin. I. Since prayer is the desire of some good, and to act for the sake of an end is proper to man, it is a question what is the end proposed to one who prays? It is God, who is man's Supreme End and Sovereign Good. As is right, therefore, at the outset, and in the First Part, the most Holy Of Charity Of Contrition PAGE 646 646 CHAP. XIV. Prayers and Sentences to be often repeated Prayer to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world 649 650 CHAP. XV. Prayers and Memorable Words of Saints in their dying moments. Prayer of St. Eligius 650 Of St. Bernard 651 Of St. Laurence Justinian Of St. Jerome Prayer to be said for the dying by those present To the good reader Sequence: (Dies Ira). Epitaph of a Christian. ERRATA. p. 94, col. 2, 1. 26, after "fortitude" insert "extol their chastity and abstinence." p. 142, col. 1, 1. 14, for "spirits" read "spirit." p. 180, for "F. Christopher Mayer, Missionary Apostolic in Hindustan," read "F. Christian Mayer in the Enchiridion Industriarum." p. 293, col. 1, 1. 16, after "make" read "present." p. 405, col. 2, 1. 22, dele "that is." p. 595, stanza 3, 1. 1, for "Through" read "Though." ΤΟ THE CHRISTIAN READER; ON THE SCOPE, PLAN, AND ORDER OF THE "PARADISE." THE present age, fertile as it is in writers, has produced a variety of books serviceable to Christian piety. Some furnish lessons and instructions on the spiritual life; some suggest devout meditations, and subjects for holy affections; others, again, contain prayers, offices, litanies, and forms of devotional exercises. So little need have we to complain of scantiness in the sources of devotion, that we are all but overwhelmed by their variety and number. It seemed to me, therefore, no unprofitable labour to survey the gardens and pleasure-grounds of every author,to cull thence the most notable plants, flowers, and shrubs, and to plant with them a new kind of Paradise of pleasure, or rather of piety; and thus to comprise in one small volume, suitable for daily use, the juice and sap of all those whose object is the cultivation of goodness. This is my purpose and design, which thou wilt learn more fully from the plan of the book, which I now subjoin. I. Since prayer is the desire of some good, and to act for the sake of an end is proper to man, it is a question what is the end proposed to one who prays? It is God, who is man's Supreme End and Sovereign Good. As is right, therefore, at the outset, and in the First Part, the most Holy Trinity, the Triune God, is proposed as the object of worship, in the clear vision and fruition of whom consists the end of man. For GOD himself is the reward of his own service. II. This end might appear arduous and unattainable to us, were it not that we behold it attained already by others. In order, therefore, not to be too tardy in our endeavours, we ought to be stirred by their example. For why should we despair of our ability to do what we know that others have effected? The Blessed have effected it, who now reign in heaven with God; and they aid us by their patronage, that we may be able to effect it likewise. Their Worship and Veneration, therefore, will be treated of in the Second Part. III. Further, we cannot imitate the Saints, nor have them for our patrons, unless we recover ourselves from our sins, and do penance like them, putting off the old man, and putting on the new. Hence, therefore, the right practice of Penance and of Confession of Sins will be treated in the Third Part. IV. But it is not enough to decline from evil, unless we also do good,' and are equally attentive to the duties of Christian justice. The Fourth Part, therefore, will treat of the Spiritual and Religious Life, and of the virtues and means that belong to it. V. This life, however, needs aliment, that it may not become weak and faint, but increase more and more in strength and stature. But aliment of what kind? The Bread which strengthens man's heart,2 that, namely, which came down from heaven, and gives life to the world. For the Flesh of Christ is meat indeed, and his Blood is drink indeed. This it is that refreshes and strengthens the powers of the soul, that we may not faint in the way. Therefore Holy Communion and the Sacrifice of the Mass will be treated of in the Fifth Part. VI. Again, because the life of man is ever exposed to 3 John vi. 51, 52, 56. 1 Ps. xxxvi. 27. 2 Ps. ciii. 15. |