Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/263

 love is  the  performance  of duty,

. Ah,  my  Creator, reach out  thy  right  hand  to the  work  of  thy  hands,  that I may not  swerve  from  thy commandments. Oh, that  my ways  may  be  directed  to  keep thy justifications,  for  my  will is in  the  law  of  the  Lord. But alas,  unhappy  man  that I am, I am  delighted  with the law  according  to  the  inward man; but  I see  another law in  my  members  fighting against the  law  of  my  mind; so that  the  good  which  I will I do not,  but  the  evil  which I will not; so  prone  are  the thoughts of  a man  to  evil from his  youth,  and  the  corruptible body  a load  upon  the soul. How, then,  shall  I love thee as  thou  wouldst  and shouldst be  loved? For the measure of  loving  thee  should be without  measure,  because thou exceedest  all  measure.

My commandments are  not  grievous,  much less are  they  impossible; for my yoke  is  sweet,  and  my burden  light. If thou  believe not me,  thou  wilt  be  convinced by  so  many  thousands of my  faithful  ones,  who  have adhered to  me  with  their whole heart. Nay, even  boys and young  virgins  will  shame thee, who  are  weak  by  their sex and  age. Behold how they are  numbered  among  the children of  God,  and  their  lot is among  the  saints! For my love  they  crucified  their  flesh with its  desires,  they  trampled upon  the  world  and  all its allurements,  threatenings and all  kinds  of  torments  they boldly despised,  they  manfully overcame  Satan; and thus, embracing  my  yoke with joy,  they  followed  me, their Redeemer,  with  their whole heart. And wilt  not thou be  able  to  do  what  those did?

. These  are  they  that fly like  the  clouds,  but  I am weak  and  lame,  and  creep upon the  ground. Their virtue was  exceedingly  strengthened, and  I cannot  attain  to it.

Then contemplate, my  son  (I  speak  as  a man,  because  of  the  infirmity of  thy  flesh),  those  who  are wise to  do  evil,  and  rejoice when they  have  done  it; and also the  bullocks  of  Ephraim taught to  love  to  tread  out corn, I mean,  the  children  of this  world. Behold how  actively they  run  and  toil,  how they torment  themselves,  and all to  acquire  a few  earthly goods that  soon  must  perish! How and  why  is  it  that they are  in  their  generation stronger than  the  children of light? Why, when  they thus yield  their  members  to serve  iniquity  to  iniquity, canst not  thou  yield  them  to serve  justice  to  sanctification? Try at  least,  and  make though it  were  but  a little exertion, and  thou  wilt  find for thyself  much  rest. Then