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I. I CALL upon Thee, my God, my mercy, who madest me, and
who didst not forget me, though forgetful of Thee. I call Thee
into' my soul, which by the desire which Thou inspirest in it Thou
preparest for Thy reception. Do not Thou forsake me calling upon
Thee, who didst anticipate me before I called, and didst
importunately urge with manifold calls that I should hear Thee from
afar, and be converted, and call upon Thee who calledst me. For
Thou, 0 Lord, hast blotted out all my evil deserts, that Thou
mightest not repay into my hands wherewith I have fallen from Thee,
and Thou hast anticipated all my good deserts, that Thou mightest
repay into Thy hands wherewith Thou madest me; because before I
was, Thou wast, nor was I [anything] to which Thou mightest grant
being. And yet behold, I am, out of Thy goodness, anticipating
all this which Thou hast made me, and of which Thou hast made me.
For neither hadst Thou stood in need of me, nor am I such a good as
to! be helpful unto Thee. my Lord and God; not that I may so
serve Thee as though Thou weft fatigued in working, or lest Thy
power may be less if lacking my assistance nor that, like the land, I
may so cultivate Thee that Thou wouldest be uncultivated did I
cultivate Thee not but that I may serve and worship Thee, to the end
that I may have well-being from Thee; from whom it is that! am one
susceptible of well-being.
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