Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/504

 things, but  without  sin,  that thou mightst  know  how  to compassionate  the  tempted. Thou hast  said  that  not  they that are  in  health  need  a physician,  but  they  that  are ill. Behold here  a number of sick,  who  look  to  thee  to make them  well. Thou seest how weak  and  feeble  we  are, and that  we  have  no  power of ourselves  to  resist  evil  or pursue  good,  so  prone  to  evil are the  senses  and  thought of man’s  heart. The spirit, indeed, is  willing,  but  how easily the  weak  flesh  yields  to temptation! Save us  thou,  O Saviour! Thou, O heavenly Physician, give  us  strength and bring  us  aid! Thy grace is a powerful  medicine; if thou  strengthen  us,  we  can do all  things  in  thee.

Behold, O good  Samaritan, here lies  by  the  wayside  a man  that  has  fallen  among robbers, bleeding  from  many a wound, and  left  half  dead  by all. Behold, there  lies  in  my house  a paralytic; my  slothful soul is  powerless  to  do  works of virtue: come  and  heal  it.

But yet,  if  thou  so  determine, even  burn  me  and  cut me, for  this  too  is  the  physician’s part,  not  from  hatred, but from  love  for  his  patient. Pour into  my  wounds  wine and oil:  it  may  be  that  the one smarts,  yet  the  other soothes the  pain. The physician spares  not  the  patient, that he  may  not  lose  him. No, he strikes  him  that  he  may heal him,  he  gives  him  bitter draughts that  he  may  purge him.

Temptation is  indeed  a bitter cup,  but  thou,  O wise Physician! knowest how  to temper  it  according  to  the nature and  necessity  of  each, that thou  mayest  make,  with the temptations,  issue  to  escape. Therefore I,  too,  am ready  to  drink  of  thy  cup, and that  with  thee,  for  thou hast drunk  of  it  first,  not doubting but  that  it  will  be for  my  health,  if  thou  who givest it  me  mix  it  first.

Behold, I am  in  thy  hand; thou canst  heal  me  if  thou wilt. Heal me,  O Lord,  and I shall be  healed. Save me, and I shall  be  saved.

O Jesus, most  merciful Judge! to whom  the  Father has given  all  judgment,  not to judge  the  world,  but  that through thee  the  world  might be saved. Therefore, when thou shalt  come  openly  in  the clouds of  heaven,  with  power and great  majesty,  to  judge thy people,  to  render  to  every man according  to  his  works; then be  to  me,  O Jesus,  a favourable  Judge,  and  enter not into  judgment  with  thy servant; for in  thy  sight  no man  living  shall  be  justified. Rebuke me  not  then,  I pray thee, in  thy  indignation,  but let mercy  exalt  itself  above judgment, that  thou  mayest