Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/279

 thy blessings,  so  also  there should be  none  that  is  wanting in  thy  recollection  and praise. Oh, that  I may  do what  thou  hast  taught  me, that my  whole  day  may  pass as thou  directest! Oh, that I may so  attend  to  others, as never  to  forget  thee; and make the  love  of  thy  glory, and of  the  heavenly  Jerusalem, the  foundation  of  all  my joy!

But beware, moreover, of  being  wise  in thy  own  conceit,  for  so  thou wilt easily  fall. Woe to  him that is  alone,  for  when  he falls,  he  has  none  to  lift  him up. There is  none  so  wise, as not  to  need  sometimes  the counsel of  one  wiser  than  he. A wise man  shall  hear,  and shall be  the  wiser;  but  he that  hates  reproof  is  foolish.

Oh, how  many  are  there whom self-love  deceives! How many  are  blind  in  their own cause  who  are  too sharpsighted in  other  men’s! Behold David: who  was  ever holier or  dearer  to  me  than he? Yet he  afterwards  fell, and committed  a grievous sin; but acknowledged  it  not (though in  the  case  of  another he  knew  how  to  pass a sentence  severe  enough upon  the  spoiler  of  the  lamb) until he  was  plainly  reproved by my  servant  Nathan. My servant Moses,  again,  though I spoke with  him  face  to  face, was nevertheless  willing  to listen  with  no  less  profit  to the  counsel  of  Jethro,  his father-in-law. So was  Ananias heard  with  humility  by Paul,  Philip  by  the  eunuch  of Queen  Candace,  and  Peter  by Cornelius  the  centurion.

Have thou  too,  therefore, a faithful guide,  one  not  ignorant of  the  artifices  of  Satan, whom  thou  mayest  consult in  cases  of  difficulty,  to whom  thou  mayest  discover the secrets  of  thy  heart,  and whose direction  thou  mayest follow with  safety. But should he speak  to  thee  things  true and hard,  rather  than  pleasant and soft,  hate  him  not. Better are the  wounds  of  a friend, than the  deceitful  kisses  of  an enemy. Beware of  imitating those who  love  iniquity,  and hate their  own  souls,  and  so, having itching  ears,  seek  for themselves soft  teachers,  and turn away  their  hearing  from the truth. Beware, I say, of believing  those  who  speak to thee  nothing  but  what  is pleasant; who  say. Peace, and there  is  no  peace. Does not the  physician  destroy  the patient whom  he  spares? So do they  deceive  thee,  who call thee  happy  when  thou art not.

Be cautious,  therefore,  to whom  thou  entrustest  the care of  thy  soul. If thou