Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/264

 thou wilt  see  how  much  easier it is  to  gain  heaven  than earth, — to please  and  serve me than  the  world. Thou wilt learn  too  the  wretchedness of  those  who  walk  in ways  that  are  so  difficult; because there  is  toil,  and  contrition, and  unhappiness  in the  ways  of  those  who  have not known  the  way  of  peace; but my  ways  are  ways  that are beautiful  and  easy. Why, then, do  you  love  vanity,  and seek after  lying? Why do you  weary  yourselves  in  the way of  iniquity? How long will you  be  dull  of  heart,  O sons  of  men  that  are  liars  in the  balances? What will  it profit  you  to  gain  the  whole world, and  to  suffer  the  loss of your  soul?

. Lord,  whither  shall  I go  away  from  thee? Thou hast the words  of  eternal  life. Thy testimonies are  exceedingly trustworthy. Blessed is  the man whom  thou  instructest, O Lord, and  teachest  him  out of thy  law. Show me  thy ways, and  teach  me  thy  paths. Lead me  into  the  path  of  thy commandments, for  this  have I desired, and  remove  from me the  way  of  iniquity.

Hear my  words, for they  are  spirit  and  life. It is  I who  teach  thee  what is profitable. Blessed is  the man who  hears  me  and  keeps my words; but  all  men  are vain, in  whom  there  is  not the knowledge  of  God. Behold, by precepts  few  and easy, I will  instruct  thee  in this  way,  in  which  thou  shalt go. I will lead  thee  by  the paths of  equity,  which  when thou shalt  nave  entered,  thy steps shall  not  be  straitened; and when  thou  runnest,  thou shalt not  meet  a stumbling-block. Hearken, then,  diligently to  my  words,  and  lay them up  in  thy  heart. For if thou  wilt  keep  my  commandments, they  will  keep thee.

. Speak,  Lord,  for  thy servant heareth. But give me also  understanding,  that I may learn  thy  commandments, and  keep  them  with my whole  heart. Teach me to  do  thy  will,  for  thou  art my God,  that  I may  not  deserve to  be  beaten  with  many stripes, as  a servant  who knows, but  does  not,  the  will of his  Lord.

Before all  things, consider often  and  seriously within thyself  the  end  of  thy creation. For thou  knowest that there  can  be  no  regular application of  means  without knowledge of  the  end. Think, therefore, to  what  end  thou wert made  a man,  and  formed to my  own  image  and  likeness; why  thou  hast  received, in preference  to  all  other living creatures,  so  noble  a gift  as  that  of  reason; why brought into  this  world,  as