Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/480



Let this  mind be in  you, which  was  also in Christ  Jesus: who  being in the  form  of  God, thought it not  robbery  to  be  equal with God, but  emptied  himself, taking  the  form  of  a servant. 

Hear, O man! servant neither good  nor  faithful,  because, though  by  nature  and condition a servant,  thou wouldst not  serve,  but  attempted to  seize  on  liberty and equality  with  thy  Lord. Hear and  see  that  Christ, being in  the  form  of  God, not by  robbery  but  by  nature equal  with  God,  because himself  also  almighty, eternal, and immeasurable, not only emptied  himself  by  taking  the  form  of  a servant,  and being made  in  the  likeness  of men,  but  also  fulfilled  the ministry of  a servant,  by humbling  himself  and  becoming obedient  to  his  Father even  to  death.

But it  might  seem  to  thee a small thing  that,  though  he was  his  Son  and  co-equal,  he served  his  Father  as  a servant, if he  had  not  served  his  own servant too  more  than  a servant.

It was  to  serve  thy  Creator, O man, that  thou  wast  made; and what  is  juster  than  that thou shouldst  serve  him  who created thee,  without  whom thou canst  neither  live,  move, nor be? But what  can  be  a happier  or  nobler  lot  than to serve  him,  to  serve  whom is to  reign? And yet  thou hast said,  I will  not  serve.

But, lo! thy Creator  came,