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Show Lord, this is the work of a perfect man, never to let the mind slacken from attending to heavenly things, and amidst many cares to pass on as it were without care: not after the manner man-ner of an indolent person, but by a certain prerogative of a free mind, not cleaving with an t inordinate affection to anything created. Preserve me, I beseech Thee, O most merciful Lord God, from the cares of this life, that I be not ensnared by pleasure; and from all obstruction of mind, lest, overcome by molestations, I be quite cast down. ' I do not say from those things which worldly vanity covets cov-ets with so much eagerness; but from those miseries, which, by the common curse of our mortality, penally weigh down and keep back the soul of Thy servant from entering as often as it pleaseth into liberty of spirit. O, my God, unspeakable sweetness, turn from me into bitterness all carnal consolation, which withdraweth me from the love of things eternal, and wickedly allureth me to itself, by set ting before me some delightful present good. Let not flesh and blood, O Lord, prevail pre-vail over me; let it not overcome me: let not the world and the transitory glory deceive me; let not the devil supplant sup-plant me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure, and constancy to persevere. Give me, instead of all worldly consolation, con-solation, the most sweet unction of Thy Snirit; and instead of carnal love, infuse in-fuse into me the love of Thy name. t Behold! eating, drinking, clothing and other necessaries pertaining to the support of the body, are burdensome to the fervent spirit. j Grant that I may use such necessary supports with moderation, and not be entangled with any inordinate affection. affec-tion. It Is not lawful to cast them all away, for nature must be sustained; but to require superfluities, and such things as are rather for delight. Thy holy law forbiddeth; for otherwise the flesh would grow insolent against the spirit. In all this I beseech Thee, let Thy hand govern and teach me, that I may in no way exceed. |