created me; when created, didst mercifully love me; and that for this purpose Thou didst create me, that I too should love Thee, my Creator, and in all things be obedient to Thy Precepts. And all this Thou didst for mine own good; not that Thou through me mightest be better or in any way be made richer. For Thou lackest no good; for Thou art essentially The Good; and from Thee is every one good who is good. And therefore Thou canst be neither better nor richer; and this, not through false powerlessness, but through true Power, Thou canst not. For whoso can do and doeth evil, by his own evil he can do and doeth it for by this power he is not raised aloft happily to high things, but is dragged down unhappily to things below. By this power, or rather powerlessness, miserably led astray, and as a swollen bladder emptily puffed up, driven from reason, and made, as it were, like to a foolish beast, most sadly stricken and cast down by the dart of pride, have I despised Thee, my Creator and most merciful LORD, in Thy Commands, which Thou gavest me for my good, had I observed them. Thus despising, and, as it were, mad, while I was borne along hither and thither in my pride, I lost my true firm footing, and stumbled into the ways of destruction and death; and fondly and foolishly follow the wind of vanity and empty elation.

I confess, O most merciful God, I confess before Thine Almightiness, that I am too proud and vain, and filled with all manner of elation. And I think that if I had any power in this world, no one would be able to bear my pride. But although that pride wherewith I am harassed before men is execrable and very perilous; yet there is another pride, whereby, when not dealing gently with myself, I diligently search out the secrets of my heart, my unhappy soul is not a little vexed and distracted.

If at any time it befalls, (which however seldom happens,) that I, unhappy, do something which, according to man's estimation, seemeth some resemblance of good, not a little do I pride myself upon this. And if any one speaks not of it, nor in any way cares to praise me, I despise him, as though foolish and knowing nothing; or even if, as though caring not for it, I fly from the empty and useless praise of men, yet not a little in my inward thoughts, where GOD alone seeth, do I glory thereat and in a wondrous manner, while avoiding praise, all the more do I seek praise and vain-glory.

Behold, O LORD my GoD, and my Creator, behold Thou seest me so doing, so living, and so losing all my life; behold Thou seest and execratest; and for such a life promisest nought save punishment and torments. Come Thou then to my aid, my Creator; come Thou, my Helper in time of need; come Thou and help my soul; and, by Thy unspeakable Mercy, destroy and confound my pride. Behold, O my GOD and my LORD, behold I confess to Thine immeasurable Goodness that I am altogether infected with the poison of this wickedness, polluted, and destroyed; and already, unless Thy Mercy come to my aid, I am brought almost to nought. But before Thy Majesty I acknowledge my fault. Condemned and guilty, I ask pardon and forgiveness of this and all my sins from Thee, my merciful Creator, Who willest not the death of a sinner, nor rejoicest in the destruction of them that die. Many other things too there are, which spring from the root of this plague, which I confess in like manner that I have; and by their annoyance I am not a little disquieted and often worn. And of all these in like manner I ask pardon and forgiveness. They are these,―anger; impatience; discord, displeasing to GoD, and hateful to all His Saints; indignation; rancour of spirit;

disgust of mind; greediness of appetite; murmuring; avarice; rapacity; and many other like things, whereby I see my soul miserably vexed and harassed, torn and mangled.

There is too, beside these, one evil, beyond all evils, evil; by which so much the more grievously and miserably do I perceive my soul torn and affiicted, in proportion as from my very cradle it hath been ever with me; it hath grown with me; in infancy, in childhood, in youth, it hath ever clung to me; nor yet, even when my limbs are failing with old age, doth it leave me. This evil is the desire of pleasure, fleshly delight, the storm of concupiscense, which in many and various ways hath mangled and dissipated my miserable soul; stripped it of every virtue; and rendered it powerless and weak. confess, most Sweet and Gentle LORD, I confess before Thine Almightiness, that by this wicked work and by the defiling remembrance thereof, I have often been stained and inflamed, and have suffered immoderate and unholy desires; and that not only the evil memories and foolish remembrances of mine own delights hurteth me; but also that the evil deeds of others related to me, and my foul remembrances brought back to memory, defile my heart with no slight stain of iniquity.

I

Behold, O my God, my most loving and merciful LORD, though feeling no little shame, I have laid before Thee mine iniquities; I have shewed Thee my wounds and my sins; I have shewed Thee my soul stained with wicked works; poisoned with the delights of evil works; defiled with the remembrances of evil delights. O GOD. my Mercy, look upon my penitence; look upon Thy Love; receive my confession, and do with me according to Thy Loving-kindness. If Thou, O LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who may abide it? or who, by

his own righteousness, without Thy Mercy, can be set free? Be Thou propitious unto me, O LORD, be Thou propitious unto me, a sinner; spare my sins and mine iniquities; that by Thy Mercy cleansed and purged from all vices, and mercifully absolved from all sins, when my conversation in this world is finished, I may be counted worthy to be taken into Thy Kingdom in Heaven; and there, with all Thy Saints, may be able to praise and bless and glorify Thee for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of S. Anselm.

PRAYER V.

FOR OBTAINING COMPUNCTION OF HEART
IN PRAYER.

PARDON, O LORD; pardon, O Loving LORD; pardon and pity me: spare mine ignorance and my much imperfection. Condemn me not as presumptuous, because I, Thy servant, venture,—and would that I were even a good servant, and not rather an useless and bad, yea on that ground a very bad one, because I venture without contrition of heart and fountain of tears, without due reverence and trembling, to praise and bless and adore Thee, our Almighty and terrible GOD. For if Angels, when they adore and praise Thee, tremble, being filled with wondrous exultation, why do not I, sinner as I am, when I stand before Thee, and sing Thy praise, and offer Thee sacrifice, quiver in my heart, grow pale in countenance, tremble in my lips, shudder in my whole body, and so with gushing tears weep before Thee unceasingly? I will, but I avail not; for what I desire, that I cannot do. Hence then am I exceedingly amazed at myself, while with the eyes of faith I gaze upon Thee Who art but too terrible.

But who can do this without the help of Thy Grace? For our whole salvation is Thy great Mercy. Ah! wretched me, how hath my soul been made thus insensate, that it is not frightened with exceeding fear, while it standeth before GOD, and