Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/204

 came into  the  world  to  save sinners, of  whom  I am  the chief. Now, therefore,  be mindful  of  thy  word,  in  which thou hast  given  me  hope; receive again  the  son,  who  has been a prodigal  and  a fugitive from thy  presence,  and,  now that he  returns  to  his  dearest Father, embrace  him  with  the arms of  love. Cast me  not away from  thy  presence,  and forgive thy  servant  all  his  sin, and strike  not  out  my  name from the  book  of  the  living.

Christ. I, even  I,  am  he that  blots  out  thy  iniquities for my  own  sake,  and  I will not remember  thy  sins. It is I that  justify  the  wicked,  forgiving him  all  his  sins  for  my name’s  sake; for  I choose rather to  be  merciful  than angry, and  desire  to  spare more than  to  punish. Why, then, dost  thou  fear? Why tremblest thou  to  approach so loving  a bosom? I am more ready  to  pardon  than thou to  repent.

But see  thou  be  not  slow to turn  to  the  Lord,  and  that thou defer  it  not  from  day  to day. Marty herein  are  the evils of  delay  and  procrastination. When thou  art  sick, dost thou  defer  to  take  care of thy  health? On the  contrary, dost  thou  not  presently send for  a physician,  and  deem that the  disease  should  be  met in its  beginning,  lest  perhaps medicine  be  prepared  in vain,  when  the  complaint  has gained strength  by  too  long a delay?

Thou art  wise  in  so  doing; but why  dost  thou  not  the same when  thy soul  is  sick? Then, surely,  thou  art  in greater  danger  than  if  pestilence or  poison  had  penetrated into  the  inmost  parts of thy  body. Why, then,  dost thou slumber? Why delay? Arise, make  haste,  and  turn to God  thy  Saviour,  lest  at any  time  he  seize  upon  thy soul as  a lion,  and  there  be none  to  ransom  it,  none  to save. Remember thy  Creator in the  days  of  thy  youth,  and beware of  habituating  thyself to any  sin: for  nothing  binds down a man  more  powerfully than a bad  habit. It is  as  difficult to  rid  one’s  self  of  a bad habit, which  is  as  it  were  a second  nature,  as  of  nature itself. Shouldst thou  give thy prime  to  the  world  and the flesh,  and  thy  refuse  to me,  who  have  given  thee  my all,  not  the  worst,  but  the best, and  for  thy  sake  have been in  labours  from  my youth?

Man. To many  this  saying, O Lord, is  hard,  and  they cannot receive  it. Hence they say,  Come,  and  let  us  enjoy the  good  things  that  are present, and  let  us  speedily use the  creatures  as  in  youth. Let not  the  flower  of  the  time pass by  us; let  us  crown