O God of my heart, my portion, and my inheritance for ever! I desire to love thee, as the angels of heaven love thee. O how good hast thou been to me, and how ungrateful have I been to thee! I grieve from the bottom of my heart that I ever offended thee, who art infinitely amiable. Forgive me, dear Jesus! forgive me, O Father of mercies. O my God and my all! my soul doth thirst after thee. When shall I come and appear before thee, O thou fountain of mercy! O who will deliver me from this body of death! I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ; for Christ is my life, and to die will be my gain. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord God of Hosts! I love the beauty of thy house, and the place of thy glorious abode. "The eye hath not seen, the ear hath not heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what things God hath prepared for those who love him." {289} What have I more to do with the world? And in heaven, what can I desire but thee only, O Lord? Now dost thou dismiss thy servant in peace. I am weary of this life. I willingly take my leave of this world, and of all terrestrial objects. Nothing, O good Jesus! nothing more shall ever separate me from thee. O holy Mary, mother of God, who didst assist at the death of thy beloved son Jesus, obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Glorious St. Michael, prince of the heavenly host, intercede for me at the hour of my death, that I may depart this world in the grace and favour of my Creator. O holy Angel Guardian, to whose care God in his mercy has committed me, stand by me at that dreadful hour; protect me against all the powers of darkness: defend me from all my enemies; and conduct my soul to the mansions of eternal repose. O all ye blessed angels and saints of God, assist me by your intercession, in this last and dreadful passage. O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, be thou then to me a powerful redeemer and advocate with the Father. Let those hands which were nailed to the cross, plead in my behalf, and open to me the gates of heaven. Be thou a Jesus to me, and save my soul at that awful period. Hide me in thy wounds, and protect me under the shadow of thy wings. {290} O good Shepherd of souls! do not forsake me, but conduct my soul into eternal rest. Suffer thy passion and death to stand betwix my soul and thy justice; and let these comfortable words sound then in my ears: "This day thou shalt be with me in paradise." O sweet Comforter of desolate and distressed souls let me then experience the multitude of thy tender mercies, when my soul shall be in conflict with the pangs of death. Be mindful of thy poor creature, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Remember thou hast bought my soul at a dear rate. O let not thy precious blood be lost on me, or spilt in vain. O let not my soul perish, which cost thee so great a price.