Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/498

 Look, then,  my  son,  at  the pattern which  has  been  shewn thee on  the  Mount,  and  act accordingly. Behold here  the mystical Serpent  lifted  up  on high,  for  so  wilt  thou  be  easily cured from  the  bites  of  the old serpent,  and  be  healed  of all  thy  infirmities.

. I acknowledge  that the highest  and  most  profitable knowledge  is  to  know Jesus, and  him  crucified. Far be it  from  me,  therefore,  to boast,  except  in  the  Cross  of my  Lord  Jesus  Christ. For, as the  word  of  the  Cross,  to them  that  perish,  is  a stumbling-block and  foolishness, so, to  them  that  are  saved,  it is  the  power  and  the  wisdom of God. Oh, that  by  thee, O Jesus, the  world  may  be crucified  to  me,  and  I to  the world! Oh, that  I may  be ignorant  of  all  things  rather than of  thee,  in  whom  are  all the treasures  of  the  knowledge and  wisdom  of  God! Blessed is  the  man  whom thou instructest,  O Lord,  and teachest him  out  of  thy  law. Teach me,  not  only  to  know, but also  to  do  thy  will.

Then wilt  thou  be indeed  my  disciple  and  my friend,  if  thou  dost  what  I command thee,  not  by  my  words only, but  also,  and  much  more, by my  examples. But few, alas! are they  who  love  and imitate me  truly  1 Nor  is  this wonderful, for  very  many find it  irksome  to  inquire  into and meditate  on  what  I did  or what  I taught,  and  how,  then, can it  please  them  to  imitate me? I am forgotten  by  them; there is  not  one  of  them  that thinks of  me  in  his  heart; but how can  one  love  what  he knows  nothing  of? Love cannot possibly  be  drawn  towards what  is  unknown.

Therefore assure  thyself that there  is  nothing  more productive of  the  love  of  me, nothing more  profitable  to man’s  salvation,  than  is  constant meditation  on  my  Life and Passion. The heart  must be hard  as  iron  which  so  great a love has  no  power  to  soften. Who will  dare  to  sin,  if  he seriously  reflects  what  horrors I suffered,  that  I might deliver men  from  the  yoke  of sin  and  death? But all  this thou losest,  and  tramplest  my Blood  under  foot,  as  soon  as thou  knowingly  consentest  to sin. What! shall thy  soul  be of  no  value  to  thee,  for  which I laboured in  this  world  thirty-three years? Wilt thou sell that  for  nought  which  I bought  for  so  great  a price  as my  own  Blood,  and  which  I held  dearer  to  me  than  my own  life?

Look, my  son,  what  thou dost; on  either  side  of  thee thou hast  the  greatest  rewards and  the  greatest  punishments: these  have  I prepared, amid  much  toil  and sorrow, for  them  that  love me; those await  the  degenerate and  the  despisers.

If thou  wilt  be  happy,  fol-