Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/481

 thy Lord  came,  ready  to  serve his own  servant,  rebellious and obstinate  though  he  be. He came,  not  to  be  ministered to, but to  minister. He came,  I say,  that  thou  mayest  repose; and he  waits  upon  thee  that thou mayest  rest,  and  he  slave and toil; that  thou  mayest  be cured,  and  he  bear  thy  infirmities; nay,  that  thou  mayest live,  and  he  die  in  thy place.

Oh, how  good,  and  more faithful than  Jacob,  is  this  servant, who  served,  not  seven only, but  thirty-three  years, and more,  for  thee! How truly, in  all  fidelity,  patience,  and long-suffering, has  he  served! — not lukewarmly  nor unwillingly, for  as  a giant  he rejoiced  to  run  the  way  of obedience; not  counterfeitly, for after  so  many  and  great labours, he  laid  down  even  his life; not with  murmuring,  for when scourged,  though  innocent, he  opened  not  his mouth, and  became  as  a man that hears  not,  and  that  has no reproofs  in  his  mouth. And what  more  ought  he  to do,  or  could  he  do  for  thee  as a servant  that  he  has  not done? Oh, how  detestable is man’s  pride  in  scorning  to serve,  which  no  example could humble  but  that  of servitude,  even  such  a servitude as  that  of  his  own  Lord himself!

Hear, my  son,  if thou  hast  ears  to  hear,  what my chosen  Apostle  says  to  my faithful; for  he  knows  my  secrets, and  speaks  from  my  own mouth; he it  is who  has  himself carried my  Name  before  the kings and  princes  of  the  earth; he it  is  who  judged  not  himself to know  anything  but  Jesus, myself that  is,  crucified; therefore, though  among  the perfect he  speaks  wisdom  hidden in  mystery,  yet  to  thee he speaks  of  me,  Christ  crucified, a stumbling-block  to unbelievers,  and  foolishness to them  that  perish; but  to thee,  and  to  them  that  are saved, clearly the  power  and the wisdom  of  God. And behold, how  well  it  is  that  he has  set  before  thy  eyes  the example of  my  humility,  with which I,  thy  God  and  Lord, have served  you  in  labours from my  youth,  even  to  the death of  the  Cross; that,  if thou  wilt  not  otherwise,  thou mayest learn  even  so  to  humble thyself, and  be  subject,  and to give  me  thanks  for  all  my humility  and  goodness. Oh, how cruelly  hast  thou  made me to  serve  with  thy  sins, and laid  upon  me  labour  with thy iniquities! And what  labour! not merely  weariness, hunger, and  thirst,  but  even to sweat,  and  that  a sweat  of blood  trickling  down  upon the ground; and  to  death,  and that the  death  of  the  Cross.

Man. O Lord, what  is