Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/215

 what shall  I say? lam confounded and  ashamed  to  lift up my  face  to  thee,  for  my iniquities  are  multiplied  over my head. For I too  am  become very  vile,  in  so  often  retracing my  steps,  and  in  returning so  often  to  my  vomit, like a dog  that  is  abominable in thy  sight. Whither shall I go from  thy  Spirit,  or  whither shall  I flee  from  thy face?

Christ. Whither, indeed, my dear  son,  but  to  his  mercy. whose power,  by  sinning, thou hast  despised. None of you  do  right  to  fly  from  me, unless it  be  to  me;  from my severity  to  my  goodness. Whither wilt  thou  fly,  where thou wilt  not  find  me  present? But it  is  well  if,  in thus  reproaching  thee,  I have made thee  sorrowful  to  penance. For the  sorrow  that is according  to  God  works penance steadfast  to  salvation. One warning  I give  thee,  to learn  wisdom  from  others’ danger and  loss,  who  confess their sins  with  their  mouth; but their  heart  is  not  right with God,  for  they  continually repeat  the  same  deeds, and so  perish  at  last.

How easy  would  it  be  for many to  escape  sins,  if  they wished in  earnest  to  flee  from dangers! The senses  of  man are too  prone  to  evil  from  his youth; and  shalt  thou  pass unhurt through  the  very  occasions or  incentives  to  sin? Can a man  hide  a fire  in  his bosom, and  his  clothes  not  be burnt; or  walk  upon  hot coals and  the  soles of  his  feet not be  scorched? Behold, David, Solomon,  Peter,  and many others,  were  famous  for their wisdom  and  holiness, yet the  occasion  of  sin  was their fall; and  therefore  they are now  set  before  thee  for an example  of  human  frailty, and need  of  care. For, by  so easily  falling,  they  teach  thee that thou  too  canst  fall; and canst thou  venture  to  trust  to thyself,  and  to  promise  thyself security  in  the  midst  of dangers? Happy is  the  man who is  always  afraid.

Man. I have sworn,  and am determined  to  keep  tho judgments of  thy  justice. But what can  I do  without  thee? In vain  do  I purpose,  unless thou, too,  give  me  thy  grace, and reach  out  thy  right  hand to the  work  of  thy  hands. True, I wish  to  serve  thee, but without  thee  I cannot; thou, who  hast  given  the  will, give also  the  power  to  perform. Confirm, O Lord,  what thou hast  wrought  in  me; cast me not  away  from  thy  face, and take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit from me. Pierce my  flesh  with thy fear,  and  wound  my  heart with thy  love; that  upon  these two feet,  as  it  were,  I may  constantly walk  in  the  path  of  thy commandments.