Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/51

 and ills  thou  art  exposed  in the  way  wherein  thou  walkest,  before  thou  reachest  to the  goal. Art thou  not  sitting in  darkness  and  in  the shadow of  death? Art thou not walking  in  the  midst  of snares? Turn thee  whithersoever thou  wilt,  whether  to the  right  hand  or  to  the  left, everywhere are  enemies  and snares; fightings without, fears within. The devil,  as a roaring  lion,  goeth  about seeking whom  he  may  devour. The whole  world,  seated  in wickedness,  allures  but  to  deceive; the  flesh,  thy  household foe, more  dangerous  than  all, flatters but  to  corrupt. The creatures, which  ought  to  be thy  steps  of  ascent  to  the Creator, are  made  a snare for the  feet  of  the  unwise. Thy very  senses  are  doors and windows  by  which  death enters into  thy  soul.

Man. Too often,  O Lord, have I found  what  thou  sayest  to  be  true: what  wonder, then, if  I too  exclaim,  Unhappy man  that  I am,  who will deliver  me  from  the  body of this  death? Whither shall I turn in  the  midst  of  so  many dangers? What shall  I do, that my  feet  may  be  guided into the  way  of  peace  and safety, that  I may  not  be  lost, but come  securely  to  the  goal, to thee,  my  God,  who  art my sovereign  good? I am perplexed on  every  Side,  but I know not  what  I ought  to do;  I have  no  resource  left but to  lift  up  my  eyes  to  thee in heaven,  from  whence  cometh  my  help.

Christ. This is  what  I would  have  thee  convinced  of above  all  things,  that  thou mayest understand  how  necessary for  thee  is  serious  and frequent prayer. Call on me,  therefore,  in  the  day  of trouble; I will  deliver  thee, and thou  shalt  glorify  me. In vain  is  the  net  spread  before the  eyes  of  the  winged ones, of  those  who  build  their nest in  the  heavens,  and  in spirit  fly  thither  from  the earth. For they  who  dwell under the  defence  of  the  Most High abide  securely  under the protection  of  the  God  of heaven. Dost thou  think  thyself safe  while  thou  trustest to thy  own  skill,  and  makest flesh thy  arm? The thoughts of men  are  fearful,  and  their counsels uncertain. Without me you  can  do  nothing;  for it is  I who  give  the  will,  the power, and  the  deed.

They who,  without  prayer, have ventured  on  great  things, or attempted  to  effect  the thoughts and  purposes  of their  hearts,  have  been brought to  nothing,  and  been confounded. They have  woven spiders’  webs; they  have been like  a garden  without water, and  like  the  ashes  of tow. But look  at  the  man that is  given  to  prayer. He shall be  like  a tree  planted  by the  waterside; all  his  works shall prosper. Search the