Druckschrift 
The Garden of the Soul: a manual of spiritual exercises and instructions [...] / revised and corrected by Edward Price
Entstehung
Einzelbild herunterladen

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES.

23

3. Return to God. And thou, O my God, my Saviour, thou shalt be henceforth the sole object of my thoughts; I will no more apply my mind to objects that may be displeasing to thee. My memory shall entertain itself all the days of my life with the greatness of thy clemency, so mercifully exercised on me; thou shalt be the delight of my heart, and the sweetness of my affections.

4 Ah! such and such trash and trifles to which I applied myself: such and such unprofitable employments, in which I have foolishly squandered away my days; such and such affections which have captivated my heart, shall henceforth be a horror to my thoughts, and to this end I will use such and such good remedies.

Conclusion.- 1. Thank God, who made you for so excel­lent an end. Thou hast created me, O Lord, for thyself, and for the everlasting enjoyment of thy incomprehen­Bible glory: oh, when shall I be worthy of it? When shall I praise thee and bless thee as I ought? 2. Offer. I offer to thee, O my dear Creator, all these affections and resolutions, with all my heart and soul. 3. Prayer. I beseech thee, O God, to accept my desires and pur­poses, and give thy holy benediction to my soul, to the end that it may accomplish them, through the merits of thy blessed Son's blood, shed for me upon the cross, Our Father. Hail Mary. I believe in God,& c. Make your little nosegay of devotion as aforesaid.

THE THIRD MEDITATION- On the benefits of God.

Prepara- PLACE yourself in the presence of God,

tion 1.

2. Beseech him to inspire you.

Considerations.- 1. Consider the corporeal gifts which God has bestowed upon you; what a body! what con­veniences to maintain it! what health and lawful re­creations to entertain it! what friends and assistances! But consider all this with respect to many other persons much more worthy than yourself, who are destitute of all these blessings: some spoiled in their bodies, health,