Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/482

 man, that  thou  art  made known to  him,  or  the  son  of man  that  thou  makest  account of him? Oh, how  greatly  hast thou toiled,  O Lord,  in  serving me! Surely it  is  but  just and right  that  in  future  thou shouldst rest,  and  thy  servant at any  rate  serve  thee  in  his turn. At how  great  a price, O my Lord,  hast  thou  purchased for  thyself  my  profitless service! thou who,  if  thou hadst need  of  service,  mightst in a moment  have  had  more than twelve  legions  of  Angels to do  all  thy  will! Oh, how sweet and  gracious  is  the design by  which  thy  love has recovered  and  subdued to thyself  thy  obstinate  servant, with  good  overcoming his evil,  with  humility  confounding his  pride,  with  benefits overwhelming  his  ingratitude! Thus, indeed,  it is  that  wisdom  conquers wickedness. Thus hast  thou heaped coals  of  fire  upon  the head of  thy  enemy,  with  them to inflame  him  to  thy  love  and service.

Thou hast  conquered,  O Lord,  thou  hast  conquered the rebel. Behold, I give  my hands  to  thy  chains,  and  bow my neck  to  thy  yoke. Only vouchsafe to  let  me  serve  thee, suffer me  to  toil  for  thee. Take me  to  be  thy  servant for ever; behold,  I am  thy servant, though  unprofitable, unless now  too  thy  grace  be with  me,  and  labour  with me, always  both  going  before me  and  following  after me. It goes  before  us,  by first  displaying  to  us  examples of  humility  and  patience; may it  follow  after  us,  by aiding  us  to  imitate  what  has been shown  to  us! Oh, how happy are  we  if,  on  this  point, we listen  to  the  counsel  of thy  Apostle,  when  he  exhorts us to  have  this  mind  in  us, which we  know,  O Jesus,  to have  preceded  us  in  thyself! Oh, who  can  give  me  to  keep in earnest  all  these  words, pondering them  in  my  heart, that in  my  meditation  may  be kindled  the  fire  of  thy  love; and that  henceforth  I may run after  thee,  led  by  the odour of  thy  ointments! I have wandered  as  a sheep that is  lost. Who will  bring me back  into  the  right  way which leads  to  life,  that  I may  find  it  and  hold  to  it?

In the beginning I created  man  upright; that  is,  to  my  own image and  likeness. But he understood  not  when  he  was in honour; and  he  who  had been created  to  participate in the  divine  nature  was  compared to  the  senseless  beasts, and became  like  them.

This is  the  first  man,  Adam, who, for  transgressing  my commandment,  was  cast  out of Paradise,  and  became  guilty