Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/275

 Blessed be  the  name  of  the Lord, from  this  time  forth  for evermore. Amen.

One thing  have  I asked  of the  Lord,  this  will  I seek after, that  I may  dwell  in  the house of  the  Lord  all  the  days of my  life,  that  I may  see  the delight of  the  Lord,  and  may visit his  temple.

Thus too  wilt thou accomplish  what  will  be no  less  useful  to  thy  progress in piety,  namely,  the  bearing constantly in  thy  heart  the recollection of  my  presence, and the  doing  every  thing like one  whose  occupation  is ever  in  my  sight.

Walk, therefore,  before me and  be  perfect. But wouldst thou  do  ill? Seek for thyself  a spot  where  I should  not  see  thee,  and  there in security  do  what  thou  wilt. Dost thou  not  know  that  I fill  heaven  and  earth,  and  that all things  are  naked  and  open to my  sight? For my  eyes are brighter  than  the  sun, in every  place  they  behold  the good and  the  evil. How is it  that  many  like  horse  and mule without  bridle,  rush headlong into  every  wickedness, and  why  do  the  children of men  commit  evils  without any fear? Why else,  but  because they  believe  that  I am not  present  with  them,  and set not  God  before  their  eyes?

But think  thou  of  the  Lord, myself I mean,  in  all  thy  ways, and I will  direct  thy  steps. Consider how  efficacious  to duty  and  modesty  is  the  restraint of  a good  and  grave man’s presence. See how carefully and  exactly  thou dost every  thing  before  him, and how  cautious  thou  art to commit  no  fault  or  indecorum in  his  sight. Yet wouldst thou dare  to  do  in  my  presence what  thou  wouldst  not dare in  a man’s? Dost thou, then, revere  the  eyes  of  a man more than  of  thy  God,  thy Lord, and  thy  Judge,  who has power  to  cast  both  thy body and  soul  into  eternal fire?

. Whither  shall  I go from  thy  spirit,  and  whither shall I flee  from  thy  face,  who art inwardly  present  with  me, and searchest  my  heart  and reins? But, alas,  why  do  I not  live  like  one  who  believes thus? Alas for  the  dulness of our  heart? We so  live, speak, and  act  as  though  thou walkedst about  the  poles  of heaven,  and  didst  not  consider the  things  that  relate  to us. I fear a man  like  myself, a worm my  fellow-worm,  yet my God,  the  King  of  the universe, the  Judge  of  all  the kings of  the  earth,  I do  not fear! Jesus, son  of  David, have mercy  on  me! What wish have  I but  that  I may see, — see thee,  I say,  about me, nay  within  me? for thou art not  far  from  every  one  of