Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/262

 leads to  life. For there  is  a way  which  seems  just  to  a man,  but  the  ends  thereof lead to  death. Strait and narrow is  the  way  that  leads to life,  and  few  there  are  that find it; but  broad  is  the  way that leads  to  destruction,  and alas, how  many  are  they  that go in  thereat! And why? Because they  take  no  care, where the  ways  diverge,  nay, rather among  so  many  turnings and  windings,  to  look for the  right  way,  and  to  inquire for  a guide  that  knows the way.

Hence it  is  that  the  wicked walk round  about,  and  because they  do  not  find  the way of  peace  and  truth, they perish  miserably. I will therefore point  out  to  thee,  my son,  what  is  good,  and  what the Lord  require  of  thee; namely, to  do  judgment  and justice, and  to  love  mercy, and to  walk  carefully  with thy God.

. I know,  O Lord, that the  way  of  a man  is  not his, neither  is  it  in  a man  to walk  and  to  direct  his  steps. Man is  a stranger  and  a pilgrim upon  the  earth,  and  is ignorant  of  his  end; he  knows not when  he  comes  into  the world, nor  when  he  goes  out of it. Without thee  we  are like sheep  going  astray  that have no  shepherd. Seek, then, thy servant,  O thou  good shepherd! Direct me  in  thy truth, and  teach  me,  for  thou art God  my  Saviour,  and  see if there  be  in  me  the  way  of iniquity,  and  lead  me  in  the eternal way.

Wouldst thou know the  way? Behold, I am  the  way,  the  truth,  and the life: the  way,  in  being  thy example; the truth,  in  giving thee my  promise; the  life,  in being  thy  reward. He that follows me  walks  not  in  darkness, but  shall  have  the  light of life. I have given  you  an example,  that  you  should  follow my  steps; that,  as  I have done, you  should  do  also. Look into  my  life,  therefore, and do  according  to  the  pattern which  was  shown  thee on the  mount; that  is,  learn of me,  because  I am  meek and humble  of  heart; for  I came  not  to  do  my  own  will, but the  will  of  him  that  sent me; nay,  I became  obedient to God  the  Father  unto  death, even the  death  of  the  cross.

Go, then,  also,  my  son,  and do in  like  manner. Be humble and  obedient; and  if  thou wilt enter  into  life,  keep  the commandments. Now, the first and  greatest  commandment is,  Thou  shalt  love  the Lord thy  God  with  thy  whole heart; and the  second,  thy neighbour as  thyself. He that has  my  commandments, and keeps  them,  he  it  is  that loves me. For the  proof  of