Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/145

 learnt well  from  my  words and example,  that  the  kingdom of  heaven  should  suffer violence, and  the  violent  bear it away.

Nor shall  thou  be  deprived of those  good  things,  if,  like them, thou  walk  in  innocence, and dispose  in  thy  heart  to ascend  by  steps,  in  the  vale of tears,  in  the  place  that  has been set  for  thee  by  thy  first parents, and  by  thy  own  sin. But fear  not,  I,  thy  protector, am  with  thee. I will go before  thee,  and  will  humble the great  ones  of  the  earth. I, who  have  aided  the  saints, will not  fail  thee; and  I will give thee  my  blessing,  that thou mayest  go  from  virtue to virtue,  until,  with  my  elect, thou see  the  God  of  gods  in Sion,  and  art  inebriated  with the plenty  of  my  house.

. Blessed  is  the  man whom thou  instructest,  O Lord,  and  teachest him  out of thy  law. Teach me,  I beseech thee,  to  do  thy  will, for I,  too,  long  to  be  partaker with all  that  fear  thee  and keep thy  commandments.

Thy sanctification is  my  will. Be holy, because I am  holy; from  me all  the  saints  derived  all  the holiness they  possessed. I might propose  to  thee  myself only, as  the  perfect  pattern of all  virtue  and  perfection; for I am  the  way,  the  truth, and the  life. I am the  door; by me,  if  any  man  enter  in, he shall  be  saved. But it  will be very  useful  to  thee  to  look upon my  elect,  thy  brethren, like thyself  in  the  infirmity of the  flesh,  who  yet  bravely overcame the  world,  the  flesh, and the  devil. It may  not perhaps seem  wonderful,  if a singular  and  extraordinary perfection is  discovered  in my  works,  because  all  the fulness of  the  Godhead  dwells bodily in  me. But thou  canst not but  wonder  to  see  how the saints  lived  not  according to  the  flesh,  but  by  a saving  hatred  of  self,  lost their lives  in  this  world,  that they might  keep  them  to  life eternal.

In the  first  place  then, often hear,  read,  meditate, upon, and  admire  the  acts of the  saints. Praise their virtues, their  constancy,  patience, fortitude; extol  their chastity and  abstinence; celebrate their  obedience,  poverty, and  contempt  of  the world. For the  more  marks of virtue  thou  celebratest  in them,  the  more  miracles  thou celebratest of  my  power  and goodness.

If, therefore,  thou  wilt honour my  friends  who  reign with me  in  glory,  or  venerate one of  the  saints  whom  thou most lovest  as  thy  patron, and wouldst  render  them  an acceptable  service,  praise God and  give  him  thanks,  for having chosen,  from  all  eternity, St.  N.  to  be  his  friend; for