Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/53

 and speak to  my  Lord,  who am dust and  ashes; nay,  worse, an unworthy  and  thankless sinner, who  have  so  often  insulted and  offended  thy  majesty? Alas, if  the  just  begins his speech  by  accusing  himself, and dares  not  approach  to thee,  where  shall  I,  the  wicked and the  sinner,  appear? Is it, then, strange,  that  my  spirit is troubled, and  my  heart  vexed within me,  if  I am  straitened on every  side,  while  I reflect on the  necessity  of  prayer, and how  unworthy  I am  to pray? But whither  shall  I go  from  thy  spirit,  or  whither shall  I fly  from  thy  presence? I am thy  servant: give me  understanding,  and teach me  to  do  thy  will.

Christ. It is  I who  exhort and  invite  thee  to  pray and to  speak  with  me. Come, then, and  do  not  fear. But beware thou  come  not  unpreared. Consider Moses,  who, before he  came  to  converse with me,  was  commanded  to put  off  the  shoes  from  his feet. Follow, then,  his  example. First put  off  the actions and  desires  that  are stained with  the  dust  of  the earth. For many  rush  irreverently and  rashly  to  speak with me,  as  if  they  thought of nothing  less  than  my  presence, or  that  none  are  less worthy of  honour  and  respect. Is it  thus  that  the  culprit  conducts himself  before  his  judge, the dependant  before  his  lord, the servant  before  his  master, the beggar  before  the  rich man? Nay, does  a man  speak thus to  another  who  is  his equal? If, then,  thou  wilt please me,  or  escape  the  fierceness of  my  wrath,  be  more diligent to  prepare  thyself  to pray. For cursed  is  he  who doeth the  work  of  God  negligently.

Before prayer,  therefore, prepare thy  soul,  and  be  not as a man  that  tempteth  God. He does  this  who  asks  of  me by  means  that  are  unusual,  or not  rightly  ordained;  who dares to  expect  fruit  from that prayer  which  is  begun without care  and  attention, and performed  in  a dry  spirit, without pleasure  and  affection. These are  they  who honour me  with  their  lips, but their  heart  is  far  from  me. But see  what  this  preparation requires of  thee  to  do.

First of  all,  be  sorry  from the bottom  of  thy  heart  that thou hast  so  often  offended me by  sin,  for  praise  is not comely in  the  mouth  of  a sinner. For how  wilt  thou  tell of my  justice,  and  take  my testament  in  thy  mouth,  thou, who hatest  my  discipline,  and hast thrown  my  words  behind thee? Whom should  I more  readily  and  graciously look upon  than  him  who  is  of an  humble  spirit,  a contrite heart, and  who  trembles  at my  words? I will do  the  will of them  that  fear  me,  and  will hear their  prayer. Oh, how often have  I called  thee,  and