THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER.

A Prayer for perfect Self-denial and Love.

O Most gracious Jesus, I, a vile and wretched sinner, heartily acknowledge and confess myself utterly unworthy of all these benefits, and gifts, and graces, and of all grace and love, which so abundantly and beyond all measure Thou hast bestowed upon me, the least of the worms of earth, and above all, of that love whereby Thou gavest Thyself into the cruel hands of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest suffer a most bitter death for my sins, and mightest shed Thy precious Blood for my redemption. And I beseech Thee, O tender Jesus, mightily to inflame my heart with the same love, that I may utterly deny myself, and count myself for nothing, and may subject myself both to Thee, and, for Thy sake, to all creatures, so that I may correspond in some poor way, at least, with Thy obedience, and resignation, and wonderful humility. And this one other grace grant me also; namely, that my desires and affections may be so inflamed, that I may offer myself wholly to 93Thee in return, with the same burning love as that with which Thou didst offer Thyself to the Father for me; and that I may offer myself, too, with all my powers, as a living sacrifice, to accomplish Thy most gracious will in all things, both in what I do, and in what I leave undone, without any choice of my own, and to bear whatever may happen to me by the permission of Thy goodness, in whatsoever way or by whomsoever it may come about; and that I may so free and purify the very depths of my being, relying on Thy help, from all selfishness, and sensuality, and impressions of images, and from cleaving thereto; in a word, from everything that can cause a barrier between my soul and Thee, so that naked, and without anything coming between us, I may be united to Thee in will, and love, and intention, and desire; and that I may thoroughly and wholly shake myself off from, and make myself naked of all that is beneath Thee, so that Thou mayest have free space to work in me, and mayest accomplish Thy pleasant work within me without any obstacle; and that I, all free and unencumbered, may embrace Thee in the naked arms of Thy love, and rest for ever in Thee, and Thou in me, O my most sweet, and loving, and gracious Lord and God! Amen.