Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/151

 operation it  was  that  thy saints achieved  such  wonders. Let thy  grace  precede  me also,  and  its  aid  follow  me. I can do  all  things  in  thee, who strengthenest  me. Lead me, O Lord,  into  the  path  of thy  commandments,  which  the saints themselves  so  cheerfully trod,  because  thou  didst enlarge their  heart,  that  in their  footsteps  I may  come to thee,  and  with  thy  saints praise thee,  and  be  united  to thee  for  ever  and  ever.

Take courage,  my son; I provided  for  my  saints a severe contest,  that  they might learn  from  victory  that patience is  stronger  than  all things. But thou  art  more gently dealt  with  than  they. For this  thou  needst  not think a season  of  persecution necessary. He who  desires to lead  a good  life  will  hardly fail  of  being  persecuted. Prove at  least  in  small  conflicts how  bravely  thou  canst stand thy  ground  in  greater. Behold, my  apostles  forsook all and  followed  me. Renounce at least  thy  affection for the  goods  of  this  life, and if  they  increase,  set  not thy heart  upon  them. The martyrs hesitated  not  to  shed their blood,  and  to  die  for my name. But I say  not  to thee,  Die,  lay  down  thy  life, overcome tyrants,  or  shed  thy blood for  me. But mortify thy members  that  are  upon the earth. Restrain the  desires of  the  flesh. Deny thyself. Be patient,  humble, meek. Render not  evil  for evil. Set a watch  over  thy mouth, fence  in  thy  ears  with thorns. Turn away  thy  eyes, that they  may  not  behold  vanity. Be reconciled  to  thy brother. Break thy  bread  to the  hungry. Will these,  and similar duties,  be  hard  for thee? Canst thou  not  bear to die? Bear at  least  an  insult or  a trivial  injury  with patience. Thou hast  not  resisted unto  blood,  like  so  many thousands of  my  martyrs. Behold, even young  and  delicate maidens outdo  their  sex  and age, and  trample  under  foot the world,  the  flesh,  and  the devil. Even they  vanquish tyrants, and,  unstained  in mind  and  body,  fly  to  the standard of  the  cross. And canst not  thou  chastise  thy body, and  bring  it  into  subjection? Or expectest  thou to go  straight  to  heaven  by so  soft  and  broad  a way,  as living  luxuriously,  and  pampering thy  slave,  the  body? Go; this  was  not  the  way of the  saints. Arise, thou that sleepest,  and  I will  enlighten thee. My hand  is  not shortened. Be not  wanting to thyself,  and  I,  who  have aided the  saints,  will  not  be wanting  to  thee. Praise, therefore, the  saints  with fervour, invoke  them  often, and diligently  follow  their example. As I have  been theirs, so  I will  be  also  thy exceeding great  reward.