Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/324



Most useful  for  the  rich  in this  world,  that  they  may have this  woe  to  the  rich  changed into  the  beatitude of the  poor.

O most bountiful  God,  to whom  the  world  with  its  fulness belongs,  who  hast  no need  of  our  goods,  but  distributest  thy  goods  so  largely to us;  I acknowledge,  that from thy  bountiful  hand  I received  those  goods  that  I have.

But are  they  really  goods? Tell me,  I beseech  thee,  O good  Jesus,  eternal  Truth, why these  words  of  thine wound and  disquiet  me,  Woe to you  that  are  rich,  for  you have your  consolation;  and testifiest of  the  rich  man  that lie received  good  things  in  his lifetime, but  in  the  end  was buried in  hell?

Is it  thus  that  we  glory  in these  good  things,  and  call those who  have  them  happy, though thou,  the  eternal Truth, denouncest  to  them Woe ? Nay, more: Amen,  I say  to  you,  that  a rich  man shall hardly  enter  into  the kingdom of  heaven. And again, It  is  easier  for  a camel to pass  through  the  eye  of  a needle, than  for  a rich  man to enter  into  the  kingdom  of heaven.

Are these  things  true? Yes, most true  indeed,  for  they are the  words  of  the  eternal Truth. How, then,  is  it  that we call  them  goods,  and  with so much  anxiety  try  to  procure them? Is it  that  they will make  their  possessors good, and  more  acceptable  to thee,  the  highest  Good? But I hear that  it  is  not  the  rich, but the  poor,  whom  thou  hast chosen in  this  world. And If thou  be  rich, thou  shalt  not be free  from  sin  And  again. They that  will  become  rich fall into  temptation,  and  into the snare  of  the  devil, and  into many unprofitable  and  hurtful desires, which  plunge  men  into perdition.

But they  help  us,  perhaps, to serve  thee  more  easily. Yet I hear,  You  cannot  serve God and  Mammon;  and again, He  that  loves  gold  shall not be  justified,  for  there  is not  a more  wicked  thing  than to love  money;  and  again, Blessed is  the  man  that  has not gone  after  gold,  nor  put his trust  in  money,  nor  in treasures. The poor  in  spirit, too,  thou  pronouncest blessed, for  theirs  is  the  kingdom of  heaven.

Oh, voice  of  the  Lord,  that breakest the  cedars, and  discoverest  the  thick  woods! Do I believe this,  O my  God? Do I truly believe  thee,  O eternal