Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/209

 thy commandments,  and  be directed  back  into  the  right way. Tell me  how  great  are my iniquities  and  my  sins.

Christ. Thy own  conscience, if  not  blunted  or seared,  will  easily  answer thee; question  it  earnestly, and it  will  not  be  silent. Does it  not  very  often,  unasked, torment,  reprove,  and scourge with  secret  lash  the guilty sinner? But if  any thing is  forgotten,  however, after diligent  scrutiny,  commit it  to  my  mercy,  and weary not  thyself  with  scruples; for  I intend  this  Sacrament of  Penance  for  thy  comfort, and  not  thy  torture. Yet self-love  not  unfrequently  causes  a man  to  incline his  heart  to  evil  words, to make  excuses  in  sins. Exercise, then, with  all  impartiality, within  thyself,  the  several functions  of  culprit, accuser, and  judge; and  when thou hast  found  thyself  guilty, do not  spare,  but  reprove thyself very  severely,  and grieve from  the  bottom  of thy  heart,  that  thou  hast  offended and  despised  me  thy God, thy  Creator,  and  thy Saviour, who  should  have been the  supreme  object  of thy  love,  because  I am  supremely good.

Think how  greatly  thou sorrowest and  weepest  instantly for  the  loss  of  something most  worthless; and dost thou  not  sorrow  when thou hast  injured  thy  own soul, and  lost  me,  thy  greatest good? Thou confessest me thy  Lord,  but  where is my  fear? Thou callest me thy  Father,  but  where is my  love? How often have I spoken  to  thee  in thy  heart,  and  said,  nay,  even thy own  conscience  has  said to thee,  Thy  way  is  perverse; by  this  men  go  not  to heaven; this  is  the  broad way that  leads  to  destruction: none have  gone  by  it  who pleased God. How long  wilt thou love  vanity,  and  seek after lying? But for  all  this, thou hast  cast  my  words  behind thee; and  behold,  still  I stand  at  the  door  and  knock, and am  hardly  admitted.

Man. Enter not  into  judgment with  thy  servant,  for in thy  sight  shall  no  man living be  justified. Remember, O Lord, I beseech  thee, that thou  hast  made  me  as the  clay,  and  wilt  bring  me into  dust  again. And since thou hatest  nothing  that  thou hast made,  let  thy  mercies speedily overtake  me,  for  I am  become  exceeding  poor.

Christ. Remember, my son,  what  I have  done  for thee; for what  hast  thou