Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/486

 my Name,  if  it  be  not  that thou mayest  follow  my  steps? Woe to  those  who  bear  so glorious  a name  idly  and  unworthily; who  are  called,  I say,  and  are  not  Christians; who with  their  mouth  say that they  know  me,  but  deny me in  their  deeds. So little care do  very  many  take  to follow  me,  or  conduct  themselves like  true  Christians! Better indeed  would  it  have been for  such  not  to  have known my  faith,  which  is  the way of  truth,  than,  when  it was  known,  to  have  held  it  in injustice. Alas! how sad  it  is for  me  to  see  my  Name  and my mark  everywhere  so  profaned!

Besides, if  every  one  who says that  he  abides  in  me ought  himself  also  to  walk even as  I walk,  much  more inexcusable are  those  who say that  they  abide  for  me, and who  discharge  an  embassage for  me,  that  is,  are  dispensers of  the  Mysteries  of God,  and  my  Ministers,  if  they do not  follow  me. But now, those who  should  have  followed me  the  most  closely  are often my  bitterest  persecutors, and  they  who  eat  my bread  greatly  supplant  me. How is  it  that  my  beloved work much  wickedness  in my  house? How is  it  that even among  them,  no  less  than among the  children  of  this world, reign  envying  and contention, pride  and  ambition, avarice  and  gluttony, luxury and  pride?

Are not  those  works  of  the flesh and  of  darkness? But I am the  true  Light,  and  he that  follows  me  does  not  walk in darkness. What concord has Christ  with  Belial? light with darkness? and thinkest thou that  they  deserve  to  be enrolled  under  my  Name,  and to share  my  lot,  or  are  rightly called children  of  light,  who love darkness  rather  than light? If similarity  of  conduct is  what  indeed  produces and preserves  friendship,  how can I call  those  my  friends who, in  their  conduct,  are  so unlike  myself? Can I acknowledge them  for  my  disciples who  hate  my  discipline, and cast  my  words  behind them? Shall they  be  my Ministers  who  say,  “ Lord, Lord, and  do  not  the  things which I say? ”

. Teach  me  to  do  thy will, for  thou  art  come  a teacher  from  God, and teachest indeed  the  way  of God  in  truth,  as  one  that  has power. Thou begannest  to do and  to  teach;  grant  that we may  follow  thee,  and  frame our life  according  to  the  pattern of  thy  own. For those whom thy  Father  has  chosen he has  called,  that  they  may be conformed  to  the  image of his  Son. Oh, that  thou