Chap. XXI That We Are to Rest in God Above All Goods and Gifts
1. Above all things, and in all things, do thou my soul rest always in the Lord, for he is the eternal rest of the saints.
Give me, O most sweet and loving Jesus, to repose in thee above all things created, above all health and beauty, above all glory and honour, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and subtlety, above all riches and arts, above all joy and gladness, above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and consolation, above all hope and promise, above all merit and desire.
Above all gifts and presents that thou canst give and infuse, above all joy and jubilation that the mind can contain or feel; in line, above angels and archangels, and all the host of heaven; above all things visible and invisible, and above all that which thou, my God, art not.
2. For thou, O Lord my God, art the best above all things: thou alone most high, thou alone most powerful; thou alone most sufficient, and most full; thou alone most sweet, and most comfortable:
Thou alone most beautiful, and most loving; thou alone most noble, and most glorious above all things; in whom all good things are found together in all their perfection, and always have been, and always will be.
And therefore whatever thou bestowest upon me, that is not thyself, or whatever thou revealest to me concerning thyself, or promised, as long as I see thee not, nor fully enjoy thee, is too little and insufficient.
Because indeed my heart cannot truly rest, nor be entirely contented, till it rest in thee, and rise above all things created.
3. O my most beloved spouse, Christ Jesus, most pure lover, Lord of the whole creation; who will give me the wings of true liberty, to fly and repose in thee? Oh! when shall it be fully granted me to attend at leisure and see how sweet thou art, O Lord my God.
When shall I fully recollect myself in thee, that through the love of thee I may not feel myself, but thee alone, above all feeling and measure, in a manner not known to all?
But now I often sigh, and bear my misfortune with grief;
Because I meet with many evils in this vale of miseries, which frequently disturb me, afflict me, and cast a cloud over me: often hinder me and distract me, allure and entangle me, that I cannot have free access to thee, nor enjoy thy sweet embraces, which are ever enjoyed by blessed spirits.
Let my sighs move thee, and this manifold desolation under which I labour upon earth.
4. O Jesus, the brightness of eternal glory, the comfort of a soul in its pilgrimage; with thee is my mouth without voice, and my silence speaks to thee.
How long doth my Lord delay to come. Let him come to me, his poor servant, and make me joyful: let him stretch forth his hand, and deliver me a wretch from all anguish.
O come, O come; for without thee I can never have one joyful day nor hour, for thou art my joy; and without thee my table is empty.
I am miserable, and in a manner imprisoned, and loaded with fetters, till thou comfort me with the light of thy presence, and restore me to liberty, and shew me a favourable countenance.
5. Let others seek instead of thee whatever else they please; nothing else doth please me, or shall please me, but thou my God, my hope, my eternal salvation.
I will not hold my peace, nor cease to pray till thy grace returns, and thou speak to me interiorly.
6. Behold here I am; behold I come to thee, because thou hast called upon me.
Thy tears, and the desire of thy soul, thy humiliation and contrition of heart have inclined and brought me to thee.
7. And I said, O Lord, I have called upon thee, and have desired to enjoy thee, and am ready to renounce all other things for thee.
For thou didst first stir me up that I might seek thee.
Be thou therefore blessed, O Lord, who hath shewed this goodness to thy servant, according to the multitude of thy mercies.
What hath thy servant more to say in thy presence, but to humble himself exceedingly before thee; always remembering his own iniquity and vileness.
For there is none like to thee, amongst all things that are wonderful in heaven or earth.
Thy works are exceedingly good, thy judgments are true, and by thy providence all things are ruled.
Praise therefore and glory be to thee, O Wisdom of the Father: let my tongue, my soul, and all things created join in praising thee, and blessing thee.