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Exclamation XIV

  1. Alas, alas. Lord! how long this exile lasts! What torture does it give me from my yearning to possess my God! Yet, Lord, what can the soul do, held fast in this prison? ■123 may perform for my God! Why then should I remain in such utter misery? That the will of God may be done:— is there aught better than that? My soul, hope, hope on, for thou knowest not when the day or the hour will come. Keep constant watch, for all is swiftly fleeting, though thy longing makes thee doubt the inevitable, and lengthens the brief time. Remember — the longer thy battle, the more thou provest thy love for thy God, and the greater thy never-ending bHss and delight with thy Beloved.

Footnotes

  1. Milner, etc., Excl.* XV. EXCLAMATIONS. Í03 2. Ah, Jesus, how long is mortal life, though men call it short! Short, indeed, in which to gain eternal life, but very long and weary to the soul that desires to be in God's presence! What medicine hast Thou for such suffering? None, save to sufíer for Thy sake! 3. O sweet comfort of those who love my God, never desert thy lovers, for thou dost increase, yet solace, the pain caused by the Beloved in the soul that pines for Him! I desire, Lord, to please Thee, and well I know that I can find happiness in no human being, ^ therefore, Thou wilt not blame me for desiring Thee. 4. Behold me here. Lord! if there is need for me to live to render Thee some service, like St. Martin who loved Thee so fervently,' I refuse no trials that may await me on earth.* But alas, my Lord, he gave Thee works, while I only render Thee empty words, for I can do no more, 5. Let my words prevail in Thy divine presence, and look not on my feeble merits. May we all attain to the love of Thee, O Lord! Since we must live, let us live, solely for Thee, relinquishing all desires, all self-interest, for what can profit us more than to please Thee? 6. O my joy and my God! what can I do to pleasq Thee? My services are contemptible, however ■ many I ↩

  2. Life, ch. xxiv. 7, 8. ↩

  3. See note on St. Martin, Castle, M. vi. ch. vi. 6. * Way of Perf. oh. xix. 12. • ↩

Chapter 14 of 16