Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/150

 the pain  of  present  suffering with the  hope  of  future  reward. For he  knew  that  the sufferings of  this  present  time were not  worthy  to  be  compared with  the  glory  to  come. For your  momentary  and  light tribulation works  for  you  an eternal  weigh t,of  glory. And therefore neither  hunger,  nor nakedness, nor  death,  nor  any creature, were  able  to  separate him  from  my  love;  but  he fought  the  good  fight,  kept  the faith, finished  his  course,  and so awaited  the  crown  of  justice, which  was  laid  up  for  him.

Ask, if  thou  wilt,  too,  my martyr  Laurence,  whether  he repents  that,  for  a short  space of time  he  exposed  his  body to tortures,  and  gave  it  to  be broiled  in  the  fire? Behold, a thousand years  and  more are now  passed  away  since the sufferings  of  only  one  day and one  night  have  requited him with  the  enjoyment  of priceless  glory. And how many thousands,  how  many myriads of  thousands  of  years, are remaining  still  for  that enjoyment to  last! Put the same question  to  all  the  saints, and thou  wilt  find,  that  though none has  been  crowned  without fighting,  none  would  wish that he  had  not  fought. They have all  of  them  sown  in  tears, and therefore  now  they  reap in joy. They have  laboured little, and  have  gained  abundance of  repose; they  have passed through  fire  and  water, and thereby  have  been  brought out into  their  refreshment. I have wiped  away  all  tears from their  eyes,  and  now  there shall be  no  more  mourning, nor crying,  nor  sorrow,  for the former  things  are  passed away. If, then,  they  so  glorified God  in  their  body,  and received the  cup  of  salvation, what  shalt  thou  render to the  Lord  for  all  the  things that he  hath  rendered  to  thee? 1 have stamped  thee  indeed with the  same  image,  redeemed thee  with  the  same blood, and  called  thee  to  the same incorruptible  and  eternal inheritance  laid  up  for thee in  heaven. How, then,  is it  that,  with  those  saints,  thou canst not  drink  of  my  chalice? Yet wouldst  thou  partake with them  of  my  kingdom, wouldst thou  be  crowned  and divide the  spoil  with  those  in whose  company  thou  wilt  not fight?

Man. I am a wretch  that stands, and  pants,  and  sighs after them  afar  off. I confess that the  combats  of  the  saints animate me,  that  their  rewards delight me,  and  that  their example induces  me  to  follow them. To will  is  present  with me, but  I find  not  how  to  accomplish. Remember, I entreat thee,  O Lord,  what  my substance  is. Is not  my  life a wind? "What can  a wretch like  me  effect,  unless  thou reach  out  thy  right  hand  to the  work  of  thy  hands? Thou art  the  strength  and  the  crown of  all  the  saints.  By  thy  co-