Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/203

 that is  over  all  thy  works! Behold, I,  a wretched  pilgrim and exile,  in  going  down  from the heavenly  Jerusalem,  have fallen among  robbers; I have been stripped  of  my  robe  of immortality,  and,  with  many wounds, have  been  left  half-dead; and  now  my  sores  are putrified and  corrupted  because of  my  foolishness,  and there is  no  health  in  my flesh. If thou  neglect  me, and pass me  by,  who  will have pity  upon  me,  or  who will bind  up  my  wounds? If thou pour  not  in  the  wine  of consolation,  and  the  oil  of mercy,  who  shall  prepare  for me the  medicine  that  I need? And if  thou  pay  not  the penny, the  price  of  my  salvation, who  shall  be  able  beside?

Christ. My son,  be  of  better comfort,  and  be  not  afraid. Thy ruin  is  from  thyself  alone, but thy  help  is  from  me. I am the Samaritan,  that  true  physician, who  came  for  this  into the world,  to  heal  the  contrite of  heart. It is  I myself who have  borne  thy  infirmities, and  even  of  my  own  blood have prepared  a remedy  for thy wounds. For I desire  not the death  of  a sinner,  but  that lie turn  from  his  way  and live; and therefore  I came  to seek  and  to  save  that  which was lost. I came not  to  call the just,  but  sinners. For they that  are  in  health  need not a physician,  but  they  that are ill. Remember my  words, by which  I invited  to  myself all the  sinners  of  the  earth, saying, Come  to  me,  all  you that labour  and  are  burdened, and I will  refresh  you.

Come, then,  too,  and  return by another  way  to  the  heavenly country,  the  way  which I have shown  to  sinners,  that they might  walk  in  it; I mean the way  of  penance. If, then, thou desirest  life,  turn  away from evil,  and  do  good; be mindful  from  whence  thou art fallen,  and  do  penance, and do  thy  first  works. Return, transgressor, to  the heart, and  see  that  it  is  a bitter thing  to  have  forsaken  the Lord thy  God,  thy  Creator. Lay aside  all  malice; cast  off the works  of  darkness; bring forth fruits  worthy  of  penance; deny  thyself  ungodliness and  worldly  desires,  and live henceforward  soberly, justly, and  godly  in  this world. This is  the  way  that leads to  life,  and  beside  it there  is  no  other.

Man. Oh, how  sweet  are thy words  to  my  palate,  O Lord,  more  than  honey  and the honeycomb  to  my  mouth! Now, indeed,  according  to  the multitude of  my  sorrows  in my  heart,  thy  comforts  have given joy  to  my  soul. Oh, faithful saying,  and  worthy of all  acceptation,  that  Christ