Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/488

 the beginning  of  the  world, whose glory  couldst  thou  but know, nothing  would  be heavy  for  thee  to  do  or  to suffer;  and  the  days  of  thy labours would  seem  to  thee few, because  of  the  greatness of thy  desire  and  of  thy  love. For my  kingdom  suffers  violence, and  the  violent  bear  it away. Now to  offer  violence to heaven  is  to  lose  thy  own life, to  overcome  thy  own  self, and the  evil  impulses  of  thy own mind,  and  to  crush  the desires of  the  flesh. To one who loves,  surely  this  is  no difficult  thing; nay,  it  will become pleasant,  especially  if at  the  same  time  he  looks  to the  recompense,  for  the  hope of reward  is  the  consolation of toil.

But be  it  that  it  is  laborious, wilt  thou,  therefore,  refuse it? Dost thou  desire  to sit  with  me  also  in  my  kingdom, and  wilt  thou  not  drink of the  cup  which  I have drunk of? Wilt thou  presume to  be  the  soldier  of Christ,  yet  dread  the  hardships which thy  Captain  embraces? Thou art  deceived,  my  son, thou art  deceived,  if  thou  expectest  to  pass  from  pleasures to  pleasures,  to  rejoice here with  the  world,  and hereafter to  rejoice  with  me in  heaven. Without a contest, not  one  of  the  Saints has been  crowned. Look upon me: was it  not  necessary  that I should suffer,  and  so  enter into my  own  glory? and shalt thou,  without  toil  and suffering, enter  into  another’s glory? Act, then,  courageously, and  endure  patiently; short and  momentary  is  the  labour, but  lasting  and  eternal the reward.

. I am  ready,  and  am  not troubled. I will run  the  way of thy  commandments  when thou hast  enlarged  my  heart.

First, then,  if  thou wilt come  after  me,  deny  thyself, and  take  up  thy  cross and follow  me.2  For,  for  thy sake it  was  that  I left  my throne,  put  off  my  majesty, and became  partaker  of  thy lowness, that  thou  mightst put off  the  old  man  and  put on the  new,  which  is  created according to  God,  and  mightst mortify thy  members  which are upon  the  earth. For thee I underwent death  upon  the Cross. Do thou  at  least  crucify thy  flesh,  with  its  vices and concupiscences,  and  die to sinful  desires; unless  thou wilt thus  die  with  me,  thou wilt not  be  able  to  live  with me.

. I confess,  O Lord, that he  is  worthy  of  death who refuses  to  live  to  thee. Who can  give  me,  O most gracious Jesus,  for  love  of thee,  to  die  to  myself  and