Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/273

 meats of  Egypt  have  been consumed; for  so  is  it  forbidden at  once  to  take  delight in  the  highest  and  lowest of  things.

Meantime I know  (for why  should  I dissemble  before thee,  who  knowest  my heart?)  how  great  is  the power of  pleasure,  by  which I see even  cedars  of  lib  anus overthrown, and  stars  as  it were  fallen  from  heaven: what, then,  can  one  so  weak as I am  presume  to  expect of himself?

To know  how weak you  are,  and  that  you are not  sufficient  to  think, much less  do,  any  thing  of yourselves,  as  of  yourselves, but that  all  your  sufficiency is from  me,  is  the  beginning of wisdom  and  salvation. Without me  you  can  do  nothing. As the  branch  cannot bear  fruit  of  itself,  unless it abide  in  the  vine,  so  neither can you,  unless  you  abide  in me. Unless the  hammer  is moved  by  the  hand  of  the workman, and  the  pen  by  the fingers of  the  writer,  what can either  of  them  effect?

. True  it  is,  O Lord, that unless  thou  build  the house, all  they  labour  in vain  that  build  it. In vain we strive  to  build  a tower, who have  no  means  of  our own to  complete  it,  But  it is  thou  who  workest  in  all men all  the  things  that  belong to  their  salvation. Without thee I can  do  nothing,  but I can do  all  things  in  thee who strengthenest  me.

It is  just,  therefore, that  I should  forsake  the children of  pride,  who  trust in their  own  strength,  and boast in  the  multitude  of their  riches,  that  when  left  to themselves  they  may  see  that without me  they  are,  and  can do, nothing; and  that  it  is  I only  who  give  the  will,  the power, and  the  deed.

. In  thee,  O Lord,  we live,  move,  and  are. Thou, O good Jesus,  art  my  strength and my  praise; thou  only  art become my  salvation. Therefore will I not  trust  in  my bow,  neither  shall  my  sword save me. Not our  own  high hand, but  the  right  hand  of the  Lord  shall  work  strength.

Be therefore  nothing solicitous,  but  in  every thing by  prayer  let  your  petitions be  made  known  to God. Lean not  upon  a staff of reed,  but  upon  thy  beloved; cast all  thy  care  upon  him, and thou  shalt  see  the  change of the  right  hand  of  the  Most High, who  alone  does  wonderful things. Hast thou  occasionally seen  some  make  but little progress,  or  even  utterly fail? Know that  this  happened through  their  own  self-confidence  and  inattention  to prayer. Hence I myself,  and also my  apostles,  have  fre-