Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/272

 this was  to  love  them  truly. Oh, that  thou  too  wouldst learn that  the  world,  with its concupiscence,  passes away; that thy  life  also  flies like a shadow,  and  like  a vapour that  appears  for  a little time. But what  wilt  thou wish to  have  done  at  the  last? What will  finally  remain  to thee  of  all  thy  joys,  but  the cross, tribulation,  and  vexation of  spirit! Oh, how  will they then  bewail  their  deception, when  sorrow  shall seize upon  the  end  of  their joy, who  now  take  pleasure in the  worst  of  things,  and count it  delightful  to  be  under briers! For in  the  end  of  a man  is  the  disclosing  of  his works; and the  affliction  of his  last  hour  makes  him  forget great  delights. Oh, that thou couldst  taste  the  bitterness which  terminates  their pleasures and  their  joys! Then wouldst thou  exclaim,  Death is in  the  pot,  death  is  in  the pleasures of  the  flesh; and wouldst not  eat  of  that  which, when tasted,  brings  death; and wouldst  not  wish  to drink  of  a cup,  whose  wine goes in  pleasantly  now,  but hereafter will  bite  like  a snake,  and  spread  its  poison like a basilisk; when  all  the sinners of  the  earth  shall drink the  dregs  of  my  cup; for fire  and  brimstone,  and storms of  wind,  shall  be  the portion of  their  cup  at  the last.

Now, if  a physician  should order thee  when  sick  to  abstain from  certain  meats, however grateful  to  thy palate, thou  wouldst  doubtless obey  him  out  of  love  to thy  life  and  health. How much more  shouldst  thou obey me,  for  the  sake  of  thy soul, and  of  thy  eternal  salvation? How long,  then,  like a child, wilt  thou  love  childishness, and  long,  like  a fool, for the  things  that  are  hurtful to  thee?

. Blessed  be  thou,  O Lord,  for  ever,  for  so  warning me,  that  I too  may  not reach forth  my  hands  to  the cup of  Babylon. No, henceforward my  soul  refuses  to have  pleasure  in  it. But I will  be  mindful  of  thee,  O Jesus,  and  shall  not  want  for delight; for delights  are  in thy  right  hand,  and  it  is  thy delight to  be  with  the  sons of men.

Let others,  then,  take  the timbrel and  harp,  live  luxuriously, be  delicately  clothed, be wanton  on  their  couches, and leave  every  where  tokens of joy; but  I will  delight  in the  Lord. My sole  and  principal pleasure  shall  be  to know  no  other  pleasure  for thy sake;  that  I may  taste how sweet  thou  art,  O Lord my God. The gift  to  understand this  wilt  thou  not  give, save to  those  who  are  weaned from the  milk,  and  taken from the  breasts  of  earthly pleasure; nor  wilt  thou  give manna from  heaven,  till  the