Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/484

 the way  that  my  Beloved  has preceded thee,  when  he  was seen upon  earth  and  conversed with  men,  and  gave you an  example,  that  you  also should do  as  he  has  done.

. Blessed  be  the  God and Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus Christ, the  Father  of  mercies and the  God  of  all  comfort, who art  rich  in  mercy; for  the exceeding love  with  which thou hast  loved  us. While we were  dead  in  sins,  thou hast quickened  us  together  in Christ  (by  whose  grace  we  are saved),  and  hast  raised  us  up together,  and  hast  made  us sit  together  in  the  heavenly places through  Christ,  that thou mightst  show,  in  the  ages to come,  the  abundant  riches of thy  grace. Oh, how  sweet are thy  words  to  my  palate with which  thou  callest  us to  the  fellowship  of  thy  Son? But can  I follow  God? the servant his  Lord? the slime of the  earth  the  King  of  heaven? one so  little  the  Boundless? the lowest  the  Highest? and one  so  weak  the  Almighty?

I came from  heaven, and  from  invisible  became visible; and  because thou wast  not  able  to  endure the splendour  of  my  majesty, I emptied myself,  taking  the form of  a servant,  being  made in the  likeness  of  men,  and  in habit  formed  as  a man,  that so at  least  thou  mightst  be able  to  follow  and  imitate me, whom  it  is  your  great glory to  follow,  your  greatest happiness to  attain  to.

For because  by  the  first man all  his  posterity  had fallen from  his  state  of  happiness, they  could  not  be  restored without  some  guide  to go  before  them. But who could this  be? A man? Not so; for all  were  in  one  condition, both  of  nature  and  of guilt. Some Angel,  then? Yet not  even  thus  could  the satisfaction to  the  Divine  justice be  full  and  sufficient. God alone, therefore,  was  equal  to it; but  he  could  not  be  seen. Therefore, that  one  might be given  to  man,  who  could be seen  by  all,  and  whom man might  safely  follow,  I, who  am  God,  became  a mortal man  like  yourselves,  that my every  action  might  be your  instruction,  and  my Godhead  shine  forth  to  you in manhood.

Why, then,  doest  thou  hesitate where  the  two  ways meet? Seekest thou  the  right and royal  road  to  salvation? I am the  Way; whosoever enters by  me  shall  be  saved. Dost thou  doubt  what  to think  of  honours,  riches,  joys, the pleasures  of  the  world, and the  judgments  of  men,