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 earth. Although I was  possessor of  glory  even  in  my Body,  yet  I repressed  what would otherwise  have  overflowed from  my  Soul  to  my Body; and  this  I did  that  my Passion,  from  the  absence  of all  comfort,  might  be  the more bitter  and  the  more abundant. Hence it  was  that, when praying  in  the  garden, from horror  of  death  and sorrow of  heart,  poured forth my  Sweat  of  Blood,  and cried out  on  the  Cross  as though  I had  been  forsaken by God  the  Father. And wilt thou  be  seeking  everywhere for  carnal  joys  and comforts? Wilt thou  pamper thy flesh  with  softness  and  delicacy? Reflect rather  on  my life,  and  when  thou  findest how unlike  thine  is  to  mine, be confounded  in  thyself; as that  servant  of  mine  not  unreasonably counsels  you,  who says, in  exhorting  you  to imitate  me,  Well  may est  thou be ashamed  upon  looking into the  life  of  Jesus  Christ, that thou  hast  not  yet  striven more to  conform  thyself  to him,  long  as  thou  hast  been in the  way  of  God. Oh, how ill agreed  are  carnal  comforts and  the  contemplation of my  Passion! And yet  they who confine  their  attention to the  desires  of  the  flesh often wonder  why  they  do not  feel  their  souls  affected when they  meditate  on  my Passion. Be sure  that  if  they would be  partakers  of  my  sufferings, they  would  partake also of  my  consolation.

Behold, when  David  ascended barefoot  the  Mount  of Olives,  he  was  followed  in the  same  manner  by  all  his servants. Urias would  not go into  his  own  house  to  rest upon a soft  bed,  because  Joab, his leader,  with  the  ark  and the rest  of  his  fellow-soldiers, were under  tents; and  wilt not thou  be  ashamed  to  fight under the  banner  of  the  Cross, and yet  devote  thy  time  to  the carnal pleasures  of  eating  and drinking, and  revelling  every day? to have  thy  Captain  and Head crowned  with  thorns, and thyself  to  be  an  effeminate member  of  his  Body?

. Confusion  has  covered my  face,  because  I have  so long  hitherto  been  absent from thy  paths. Oh, that  the same mind  might  henceforward be  in  me  which  I see,  O good  Jesus,  to  have  been  in thee; that  I might  strive  to entertain  the  same  affection to the  good  things  of  this  life and all  created  things,  which I know was  thine. For thou art the  Truth  and  the  eternal Wisdom  itself; he  whose judgment is  what  thine  is  cannot mistake; for  thou  canst neither deceive  nor  be  deceived. He who  follows  thee,  O eternal  Way! cannot wander. He that  adheres  to  thee,  O immortal  Way! will become