Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/352

 care of  thy  soul? Is not  the soul more  than  the  body? And what will  it  profit  thee  to gain  all  things,  and  lose  thy soul? Nothing is  more  displeasing or  offensive  to  me than  to  hear  these  words: I have  bought  a farm  and  yokes of oxen; I have  married  a wife,  and  therefore  I cannot come. Is it  not  these  and  the like acts  that  I once  so  severely and  plainly  condemned? See thyself  if  it  be  right  to prefer  such  vanities  to  me.

. I confess,  O Lord, that it  is  too  unworthy  for such perishable  trifles  to  forsake thee  and  thy  table,  which thou hast  so  lovingly,  so  delightfully, and  so  abundantly provided, not  for  thyself,  not for the  angels,  but  for  us  men. But thou  knowest  thyself  how hard it  is  for  a man  amid  so much  business,  both  public and private, — amid  so  many cares and  necessities  of  this life, to  keep  his  mind  collected and sufficiently  disposed duly to  partake  of  such  great mysteries.

. Then  make  all the more  haste  to  come  to me,  for  all  things  are  carried on through  my  wisdom  and providence. The more  difficult are  thy  affairs,  and  the greater the  wisdom  they  require, so  much  the  more  have recourse to  the  Tabernacle, and consult  the  Lord: there thou hast  the  fountain  of wisdom,  the  Angel  of  great counsel. If, therefore,  thou needest wisdom, ask  of  me,  and it shall  be  given  thee. Oh, if thou  didst  but  know  how many weave  spiders’  webs  and toil in  vain! In how  many things many  have  ill  success, because they  consult  not  the mouth of  the  Lord! It is vain  for  you  to  rise  before light, to  go  to  your  labours and business,  unless  I,  the Sun of  justice,  shed  light  upon your efforts.

. Truly,  O Lord,  the thoughts of  mortal  men  are full of  fear,  and  our  counsels uncertain. Henceforth, therefore, thou  shalt  be  my  light and my  guide,  and  thy  justifications shall  be  my  counsel; and therefore  will  I the  oftener  resort  with  Moses  to thy  tabernacle,  to  consult  the Lord.

. But  there  are very many  also  who  for  fear of men’s  judgments  come  but seldom to  my  table. But thou, who knowest  that  the  supreme Judge alone  is  to  be  feared, as one  who  has  power  to  cast into hell,  why  dost  thou,  who wouldst please  me,  place  more dependence on  men’s  words than upon  mine? Is not  every man a liar? and am  not  I the  truth  itself? Endeavour,