Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/326

 If a poor  man,  or  rather thyself by  a poor  man,  ask  of me  assistance,  I will  cheerfully give  it,  for  thou  askest back thy  own; and  yet  (which is  merely  thy  charity)  thou promisest me  for  it  a hundredfold. Can I,  then,  distrust thee,  or  ever  send  any one empty  and  sorrowful away? By no  means; so  I resolve  before  thee,  and  the heavenly court.

Whatever I know  too  from reason, the  counsel  of  the wise, or  thy  own  inspiration, to  be  for  thy  greater (not my)  glory,  that  I am ready  to  do. What I must give up  once  at  my  death,  I had  rather  give  up,  from  affection, now  for  thy  sake. What is  to  be  lost  I am  willing to  lose  now,  that  it  may be kept  by  thee  for  thyself, and so  for  me. I now renounce all  things  that  I may be thy  disciple.

What if  the  world  does  not understand this,  whose  practice it  is  to  lay  up  treasures here, to  join  house  to  house, to advance  their  families,  to live  in  splendour,  to  walk in great  matters,  to  seek  a great  name! Oh, that  by  thy grace, I at  least  may  desire  to be  among  thy  disciples  and faithful stewards,  as  one  who am shortly  to  give  an  account of my  stewardship,  and  to  answer  to  thy  inquiry  why  I have  not  put  out  thy  talents to interest,  for  thee  I cannot deceive! I know what  I should  require  of  my  own  servant; I know  what  thou  wilt require of  me. Oh, let  me not  be  a servant  that  knows his Lord's  will,  and  does  it not!

With my  whole  heart, therefore, I give  thee  myself and all  that  I have. In affection, now  behold,  I am  a poor man. Behold, I have  left  all, and follow  thee. What, therefore, shall  I have? Thee, my God,  and  all  my  good.

Thou art  my  exceeding great reward;  thou  art  my portion  and  my  inheritance; and why  should  it  not  content me? Nay, even  now  thou givest me  thyself,  that  is,  thy Body and  Blood,  and  promisest me  besides  a hundredfold, and  eternal  life. I believe thee, for  thou  art  truth, and every  man  is  a liar; I believe thee,  for  thou  art  goodness supreme,  and  canst  not be outdone  in  thy  bounty; for we  do  but  render  to  thee what is  really  thine. Accept it, O God  of  my  heart,  for with sincerity  of  heart  I offer  it; and,  whenever  thou pleasest, receive  me,  poor  in this  world’s  goods,  but  rich in thy  gifts,  into  thy  everlasting dwellings. Amen.