Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/278

 briers; and how,  amid  so many  cares  and  matters  of business,  the  spiritis  quenched by degrees,  devotion  dried up, and  all  relish  for  holy things gradually  and  insensibly destroyed. This is  the way to  hardness  of  heart, from thence  to  aversion,  and finally to  contempt  and  perdition. And what  wonder! Strangers have  devoured  their strength, and  they  knew  it not.

If thou  wouldst  be  wise at others’  cost  (and  this  is true  wisdom),  take  time  to reflect  that  I am  a God worthy to  be  adored  by  thee above all  things. Where will be thy  advantage,  if,  by  neglecting me  to  be  troubled about many  things,  thou  gain the whole  world,  and  with  it the  loss  of  thy  soul? But be it  that  thou  hast  a vocation to labour,  and  canst  not  disengage thyself  entirely  from1 business, it  is  not  my  will for thee  to  neglect  the  duties of  thy  calling. Only try to be  engaged  in  nothing  but what is  useful,  honest,  and necessary; so  wilt  thou  find thyself rather  failing  the time, than  the  time  thee. Or let  thy  soul  at  least  turn oftener to  its  rest,  and  see  to whom  thou  art  most  a debtor. Doubtless to  the  Lord,  who, above all  others,  is  thy  benefactor.

Every day,  therefore,  go up  at  least  once  with  Moses to the  mountain,  to  converse with me. Withdraw a little from the  crowd,  and  enter into thy  chamber,  and  betake thyself, as  it  were,  to  a haven of rest  after  a storm;  and when thou  hast  shut  the door, speak  to  me  in  secret, and there,  as  in  a desert,  I will  speak  to  thy  heart  what is for  thy  peace. Behold, even that  pious  heroine  Judith had  an  oratory  in  the upper part  of  her  house, which it  was  her  daily  custom to enter  with  her  maids  for the purpose  of  prayer. Thinkest thou  that  this  was  prejudicial to  her  plans  and  to her  affairs? No, there  was not a man  so  wise  or  successful,— none  of  the  princes  of the  people  brought  to  all that country  so  much  aid and security  as  she.

Wouldst thou have  a profitable exercise  in  this  daily retreat? Such will  readily occur to  thee,  when  thou hast begun  to  be  more  intimate with  me,  and  less  engaged with  men. See, then, pray and  read. When thou prayest, thou  speakest  with me; when thou  readest  good books, I speak  with  thee: and what can  be  more  noble, more profitable,  or  more pleasant to  man?

. Ah,  that  is  little  indeed which  thou  requirest  of us,  O Lord! True it  is,  that the whole  of  our  lifetime  is thine  alone. For as  there  is not  moment  but  we  enjoy