I speak to him that knoweth all things, to whom all my inward parts are open, and who alone can perfectly comfort and help me. Thou knowest what good things I stand most in need of, and how poor I am in virtues. 2. Behold, I stand before thee poor and naked, calling for grace, and craving mercy. Refresh thy hungry beggar, inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love, enlighten my blindness with the brightness of thy presence. Turn all earthly things to me into bitterness, all things grievous into patience, all created things into contempt and oblivion. Lift up my heart to thee in heaven, and suffer me not to wander upon earth. Be thou only sweet unto me from henceforth for evermore. For thou only art my meat and my drink, my love and my joy, my sweetness and all my good. 3. O that with thy presence thou wouldst wholly inflame, burn, and transform me into thyself; That I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union, and by the meltings of ardent love! Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and thirsty; but deal mercifully with me, as thou hast often dealt wonderfully with thy saints. What marvel is it, if I should be wholly inflamed by thee, and die to myself! Since thou art a fire always burning and never decaying, love purifying the heart and enlightning the understanding! CHAPTER XIV. _Of fervent love, and vehement desire to receive Christ._ _The voice of the disciple._ WITH great devotion and ardent love, with the affection and fervour of my whole heart I desire to receive thee, O Lord, as many saints and devout persons have desired thee, when they received thy sacrament. O my God, my everlasting love, my whole good, my never-ending happiness, I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire and most worthy reverence that any of the saints ever had. 2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, yet I offer unto thee the whole affection of my heart, as if I had all those inflamed desires: Yea, and whatsoever an holy mind can conceive and desire, all this, with the greatest reverence, I offer and present unto thee. I desire to reserve nothing to myself, but freely and most willingly to sacrifice myself and all mine unto thee. My Lord God, my Creator and my Redeemer: I desire to receive thee this day with such affection, reverence, praise and honour, with such gratitude and love, with such faith, hope and purity, as thy holy mother received thee, when she humbly and devoutly answered the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be unto me according to thy word.” I offer and present unto thee, the joys, fervent affections, extasies, and supernatural illuminations and heavenly visions of all devout hearts, with all the virtues and praises celebrated by all creatures in heaven and earth, that by all thou mayst be worthily praised and glorified for ever.