Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/38



Here, good  reader,  thou  seest  a Paradise  open  to  all. But as it  is  not  my  wish  that  any  should  go  into  it  rashly,  I am desirous,  at  the  entrance,  to  offer  thee  a word  of  advice.

It is  a very  common  mistake  to  place  or  to  have  in  books the devotion  which  ought  to  be  sought  for  in  the  heart. Many imagine themselves,  or  others  imagine  them,  to  have  devotion, if  they  steadily  observe  a fixed  rule  of  saying  out  of good  books  a number  of  long  prayers  as  a daily  task.

This practice  I admit  to  have  a semblance  of  piety,  and I should be  loth  to  condemn  it  altogether. Yet is  it  not true that  such  devotion  justly  merits  suspicion  where  it  is meantime  attended  with  no  change  or  amendment  of  life, and where,  while  no  value  is  set  upon  inward  goodness  and solid virtue,  repose  is  found  in  adherence  to  the  repetition  of the  favourite  prayers? For here  is  an  absence  of  the  very root and  sap  from  which  true  piety  draws  all  its  vigour.

The special  claim  which  earnestness  in  prayer  possesses to commendation  lies  in  the  aid  and  advancement  which  it procures  to  holiness  of  life. St. Augustine  says,  that  he  who knows how  to  pray  rightly, knows  how  to  lead  a good  life. This is  true. A good life  and  good  prayer  mutually  aid  each other; and neither  can  subsist  without  the  other. A good life is  the  recommendation  of  prayer; and  prayer  preserves and promotes  a good  life.

Dost thou,  then,  ask,  who  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  devout? One, I answer,  who  is  not  only  attracted  with  prompt affection to  divine  things,  as  prayer  and the  offices  of  devotion, but  also  endeavours  to  lead  a life  worthy  of  the  service of God. Wouldst thou,  then,  dear  Christian,  be  good,  or assuredly  become  so? This is  accomplished,  not  by  words, however good  and  holy,  but  deeds. Therefore, when  reading good, devout,  and  holy  prayers,  join  to  them  a corresponding affection of  piety,  and  endeavour  earnestly  to  give  expression to holy  feelings  in  thyself. For even  a bad  man  may  easily