Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/57

 thou art,  and  who  I am. Shall the  vile  worm,  or  the slimy frog  from  its  pool,  creep up to  the  glorious  throne  of the  most  high  God,  and  enter the heavenly  court  where  the King of  kings  sits  on  his starry seat,  surrounded  with the innumerable  spirits  of  the blessed? Shall I sing  to  thee in the  sight  of  the  angels, worship towards  thy  holy  temple, and  confess  thy  name? This is  what  holy  men,  beloved of  thee,  pondered  seriously with  a living  faith,  and hence they  prayed  with  reverence and  devotion. But, alas! my zeal  is  far  removed from theirs,  and  hence  it  is that  I am  so  absent  from  thee, that I am  nowhere  less  than where I seem  to  be  when  I pray. Thus while  I wish  to plead  my  cause  in  prayer,  I make  it  worse;  and  while  I desire  to  propitiate  thee,  I only  offend  thee  the  more.

§ 5. ''Frequency  and  constancy in  prayer. ''

Christ. What wonder  is it,  my  son,  if  where  thy  treasure is,  there  is  thy  heart  also? Hardly can  the  understanding be withdrawn  from  where  the affections are  fixed. Thou art of the  earth,  and  art  not  careful enough  to  have  thy  conversation in  heaven,  but  art too much  busied  with  the love of  earthly  things. Hence spring up  those  thorns  which so deeply  wound  thy  heart, and choke  the  good  seed,  so that  it  cannot  bring  forth fruit. Think how  much  it must  displease  me  to  see  the sons of  men  so  wholly  and  earnestly occupied  with  the  concerns of  the  flesh  and  of  the world, and  this  life’s  goods, and so  regardless  of  prayer, on which  depends  their  eternal salvation,  and  the  glory  of my  name. Look at  the  children of  this  world: they  eat, drink, play,  pass  their  days  in pleasure,  and  no  one  feels  the length of  time  thus  spent  a burden; they  are  engaged with their  farms  and  their cattle, wrapt  up  in  cares  and business, and  occupied  in  an infinity  of  questions. Though never idle,  they  are  always  ill employed, because  they  are never at  leisure  to  see  that  I am  God. Or if  at  any  time they are  pleased  to  pray,  it is  either  deferred  to  the  last hour, or  to  the  most  improper time,  or  else  it  is  thoughtlessly and  carelessly  done. Would any  earthly  prince  endure to  be  admitted  to  speak to thyself,  only  when  all  the lowest of  the  people  have  been received before  him?

Not so  David  my  chosen servant, the  man  according to my  own  heart. He was  a king,  and  entangled  in  the cares of  a very  great  kingdom, yet  his  eyes  prevented the morning,  that  he  might meditate on  my  words,  and he gave  praise  to  me  seven times a day; nay,  rose  at  midnight to  praise  me.