Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/211

 mandments than  the  judgment of  the  world. And what doth  it  profit  thee,  if thou  gain  the  whole  world, and suffer  the  loss  of  thy  own soul? Is this  the  return  thou makest me,  O foolish  and senseless man?

Man. Who shall  stand  up to  plead  with  thee,  or  shall answer thee  one  for  a thousand? I acknowledge that thou art  a God  long-suffering and  patient,  and  of  great mercy, who  hast  mercy  upon all, and  overlookest  the  sins of men  for  the  sake  of  repentance. Oh, who  will  give water to  my  head,  and  a fountain of  tears  to  my  eyes,  because I have  not  kept  thy  law, and have  received  my  soul  in vain,  for  which  thou  gavest thy own  beloved  soul  to death? What shall  I say  to thee,  O immeasurable  goodness? I have sinned; but spare me,  and  condemn  me not,  who  wast  willing  to  be condemned  for  me.

Christ. With what  unceasing affection  have  I loved thee; with what  sweetness, what promises  of  reward have I invited  thee  to  return my love! But thou  hast  run like an  adulteress  after  many lovers, and  hast  not  been afraid to  become  my  enemy, that thou  mightst  be  the friend of  the  world. Thou hast forsaken  me,  the  fountain of  living  water,  and  hast dug to  thyself  broken  cisterns, that  can  hold  no  water,  when  thou  mightst  have drawn waters  with  joy  out of the  Saviour’s  fountains. Thou hast  chosen,  I say,  rather to  follow  an  enemy,  who requites the  service  rendered him with  eternal  punishments, and  the  short-lived pleasure that  attends  it,  than me, who  crown  my  followers with glory  and  honour.

Man. I have sinned,  O Lord,  and  have  done  evil  before thee. But far  be  it  from me to  say  with  the  wicked, My iniquity  is  too  great  for me to  obtain  pardon. For I know  thou  art  bountiful  to forgive; and  although  my sins  are  multiplied  exceedingly, yet  of  thy  mercy  also these is  no  number. I should despair indeed,  did  I not know the  mercies  of  the  Lord. And the  tempter,  too,  does not sleep; but  to  him,  my Jesus,  I oppose  the  memory of thy  abundant  sweetness, which thou  hast  displayed  to David  when  he  grievously sinned, to  the  adulteress,  to thy  betrayer,  to  Mary  the sinner, to  Peter  when  he  denied thee,  to  the  woman  of Canaan  who  cried  out  to thee,  to  the  seditious  robber on the  cross; nay,  to  those even who  crucified  thee. Let those therefore  hope  in  thee who know  thy  name,  since thou, O Lord,  forsakest  not