Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/353

 therefore, to  please  and  obey me before  all  things,  and  be not  conformed  to  this  wicked world. But if  thou  desire  to please  men,  thou  canst  not  be my  servant.

Besides, if  for  living  well and serving  me  thou  suffer calumny and persecution,  thou shouldst rather  rejoice  than  be sorry  that  thou  art  accounted worthy to  suffer  reproach  for my name; for  that  is  the  true calling of  a Christian. But comfort thyself  mean  time  with the consciousness  of  thy  good will: the day  will  come  when I, the  supreme  Judge,  will make manifest  the  counsels  of all  hearts,  and  will  convict  thy judges of  unjust  thoughts. Then shall  they  be  troubled themselves with  terrible  fear; but thou  shalt  stand  with  great constancy, if  thou  but  stand with patience  now. To him that overcomes  will  I give  the hidden manna  and  a new name.

. Lord,  let  it  be  with me a very  small  thing  to  be judged  by  man,  or  by  man’s day. For that  great  day  will bring all  things  to  light. I will desire  to  please,  and  fear to displease  thee  alone.

But yet  will  it  please  thee, if, though  conscious  of  my own  unworthiness,  and  of  thy majesty, as  well  as  of  the  reverence due  to  so  great  mysteries, I nevertheless  presume to come  to  thee  so  often? Ought I not  to  dread  that familiarity would  produce contempt? For such  is  the opinion of  many,  and  perhaps I should myself  do  this  more holily and  reverently  if  I were to do  it  more  seldom.

. I beseech  you, my faithful,  but  in  this  not faithful enough,  no  longer  to call  evil  good,  and  put  on sloth  and  lukewarmness,  under the  guise  of  virtue,  deceiving your  own  selves,  for it will  be  hard  to  deceive  my eyes,  that  are  brighter  than the sun. Does infrequency, delay, or  postponement  dispose you  to  become  more worthy of  my  table? Behold I, who  know  all  the  secrets  of the  heart,  know  what  is  in man. But to  me  your  conscience, which  I see  through and through,  is  witness  how well prepared  you  come  to me  after  a prolonged  delay. I will reprove  thee,  and  set before thy  face  that  this  is an  impious  piety,  and  an  irreligious reverence,  which cloaks sluggishness  with  the assumption of  piety,  and, under the  mask  of  reverence, knows how  to  pretend  a zeal  for  religion. But iniquity has  lied  to  itself. Does a patient become  the  healthier the longer  he  avoids  the  phy-