Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/270

 so much  loved,  how  much more to  be  loved  is  the  very fountain and  vast  ocean  of goodness! Oh, that my  soul may love  thee  above  all  things, and love  nothing  else  save only for  thy  sake!

Thy desire  is good; but  in  vain  thou aspirest to  love  me,  if  thou hate not  thyself. For the love of  the  flesh  and  the  love of the  Creator  agree  badly together: he, therefore,  that loves his  life  shall  lose  it; but he  that  hates  his  life  in this  world,  shall  keep  it  to life  eternal. Hence, if  thou live according  to  the  flesh, thou shalt  die; but  if;  by the spirit, thou  mortify  the  deeds of the  flesh,  thou  shalt  live. Without this  wholesome  self-hatred  thou  canst  not  be  my disciple. So; therefore,  mortify thy  desires,  thy  senses, and thy  members  that  are upon the  earth,  as  not  to  do all  that  thou  wouldst.

First, with  all  watchfulness keep  thy  heart,  for  it  is from  thence  that  life  issues forth. A very precious  treasure is  that  which  I have  entrusted thee  with; but  the vessel, enclosed  in  which  thou bearest it  about,  is  earthen, and liable  even  to  more  hazards than  glass, — the  casket of thy  heart;  and  many  are the plotting  enemies  to  which it is  exposed. And yet  thou often betrayest  it  thyself,  by thy  careless  watch  over  and abuse of  thy  senses.

Oh, how  few  are  there  that earnestly take  heed  to  their ways, that  they  sin  not  with their tongue! whereas no tongue  would  suffice  to  recount the  mischief  and  delinquencies that  are  caused  by the  tongue  alone. But if  any man think  to  be  religious,  not bridling his  tongue,  this  man’s religion is  vain. Knowest thou not  thyself  by  frequent experience, that  some  perception of  my  love  and  relish of devotion  is  acquired  only after much  labour,  and  yet  is easily  dissipated  by  a few  vain and idle  words? See, then, of what  consequence  to  progress in  holiness  is  the  regulation only  of  the  tongue. But few  reflect  on  this,  though experience has  taught  them that much  speaking  is  not without sin,  and  though  I, who  am  the  eternal  Truth, have said,  that  for  every  idle word an  account  shall  be  rendered in  the  day  of  judgment.

Besides, a strict  watch over the  other  senses  conduces much  to  proficiency  in my  love,  and  to  perseverance to the  end. How many,  alas, are there  whose  eyes  have been the  ruin  of  their  souls! Of this  thou  hast  an  example in Dina,  David,  and  many others; for he  is  happy  and wise who  learns  from  others’