Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/496

 If, therefore,  I  have  a  soul,  and  that  soul  is  immortal, what,  I  next  ask  myself,  what  is  the  value of this  soul  of  mine? For an  answer,  let  me  in  spirit raise myself  above  my  earthly  surroundings;  let  me, as it  were,  climb  up  in  spirit  half-way  to  heaven,  and there meet  my  God  and  there  say  to  Him:  "  Lord, teach  me  the  value  of  my  own  soul! "  What  does He answer? "Lay not  up  to  thyself  perishable treasures  on  earth,  but  lay  up  to  thyself  everlasting treasures  in  heaven.  For  what  will  it  profit  thee  if thou  gainest  the  whole  world  and  suffer  the  loss  of thine  own  soul,  or  what  exchange  shalt  thou  give  for thy  soul?  "  True,  Lord,  the  world  would  profit  me nothing  without  my  soul. It would  not  be  a  fair  exchange. My soul  longs  for  God  and  will  not  rest  satisfied with  anything  short  of  God  Himself. Here, then, standing  before  the  Most  High,  I  recognize  that there are  in  the  whole  world  of  things,  just  two,  and only two  things,  of  prime  importance  to  me,  viz., God and  my  own  soul. All other  things  over and above  these  two  are  mere  trifles. Remember that passage  of  the  Gospel  where  we  are  told the devil  tempted  Our  Lord;  where  he  took  Our Lord into  a  high  place. and showed  Him  all  the riches and  pleasures  and  honors  of  the  world,  and said to  Him:  "  All  this  will  I  give  Thee,  if  falling down  Thou  wilt  adore  me." But Our  Lord  answered him:  "Begone,  Satan." I, too,  were  the devil to  come  to  me  at  this  moment  and  offer  me  the whole world  in  exchange  for  my  soul,  would  imitate my Lord  and  answer:  "Begone,  Satan,  for  what