Fullness

An excerpt from The Valley of Vision:

Heavenly Father,

Thou has revealed to me myself

as a mass of sin,

and thyself as the fullness of goodness,

with strength enough to succour me,

wisdom enough to guide me,

mercy enough to quicken me,

love enough to satisfy me.

Thou hast shown me that because thou art mine

I can live by thy life

be strong in thy strength,

be guided by thy wisdom;

and so I can pitchy my thoughts and heart in thee.

This is the exchange of wonderful love -

for me to have thee for myself,

and for thee to have me, and to give me thyself.

There is in thee all fullness of the good I need,

and the fullness of all grace to draw me to thyself,

who, else, could never have come.

But having come, I must cleave to thee,

be knit to thee,

always seek thee.

There is none all good as thou art:

With thee I can live without other things,

for thou art God all-sufficient,

and the glory, peace, rest, joy of the world

is a creaturely, perishing thing

in comparison with thee.

Help me to know that he who hopes for nothing but thee,

and for all things only for thee, hopes truly,

and that I must place all my happiness in holiness,

if I hope to be filled with all grace.

Convince me that I can have no peace at death,

nor hope that I should go to Christ,

unless I intended to do his will

and have his fullness while I live.

Amen,