That the HOLY GHOST loves me and has regenerated, restrained, prevented, and converted me. That the whole of my life is a chain of loving Calls, and Providences. That the ever Blessed TRINITY Wills my Sal vation. That GOD has chastened me for that end. That our Blessed LORD is now interceding for me. That the HOLY SPIRIT is now convincing me of sin, and showing me to myself. That there is joy in Heaven over me, as I repent. That GOD, and all His Heavenly Court, and all His Kingdom, and all holy ones, desire my Salvation, in love, pity, and compassion. That the world unseen is, in GOD, benign, blessed and loving towards me. I AN ACT OF HOPE. Because He has no pleasure in the death of a sinner. Because He has given me every pledge of love. Because He has spared me to this day. Because He has converted me from I. A life of sin. II. A life of unreality. III. A life of spiritual That the Incarnation, in the Life of Which, I can alone live, was the greatest act of humility ever known. Because the tendency of my will and heart is towards repentance and His Presence. Because He has smit ten me. Because He has wakened in me desires, intentions, hopes. Because I should not fear, if I had no Hope, nor hope, if He had not given me the Grace of Hope. I AN ACT OF LOVE. And I can ask Him, to give me a heart to love. I do love Him in the reason, conscience, and desire of my soul. If I do not love Him with sensible, affective love, I trust I do by a sincere, effective love in obeying and believing. If I were what I ought to be, no desire would be so strong as the desire to be with Him. No affection, friend, or happiness would de WOULD love Him, lay me, if my sins were blotted out. if I could. Because I know that He loves me. Therefore if He were on earth, I would go to Him. I should fear to go, and yet fear more not to go. I would go, more trusting His Love, than fearing my sins. I would rather die at His Feet, than afar off, even for fear. If I cannot love Him, I can accuse myself to Him, of not loving. I desire to live, for love of Him. I desire to repent, for love of Him. I desire to obey, for love of Him. I desire to die, for love of Him. I desire to awaken, and to kindle, by every act in my power, an ardent love of JESUS CHRIST in my heart, until I can live in His Love, as my supreme if not my only solace, motive, and happiness. If He were now before me, would I not fall at His Feet, in full trust in His Tenderness and Pity? Would I not say the worst of myself, and yet believe He would forgive me? Does not He in His Love to me, desire the blotting out of my sins, more than I do? And does He not blot out every sin that is confessed? Will He lay to my charge the sins I remember with shame, which I would not do again to save my life? Does not He know, that I would choose His e Love, with all losses, rather than all the kingdoms of the world, the happiest home, the longest life of earthly peace, without it? Therefore: I believe, in GOD, His Character, Promises, and revealed Will. I hope, in spite of my many sins, my little repentance, my great inconstancy. I love, by desiring to love GOD in our LORD JESUS CHRIST; I know that He loves me, and He knows that I would love Him. "Who shall separate us?" |