CHAPTER XIII.

_That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ, and crave his grace._

_The voice of the disciple._

*O MOST loving Lord, whom I desire to receive with all devotion, thou knowest my infirmity, and the necessity which I endure, with how many evils I am oppressed, how often I am grieved, tempted, troubled and defiled.

I am come unto thee for remedy, I crave of thee comfort and succour.

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!