Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/597

 birds are  caught  with  the snare, so  men  are  taken  in the  evil  time,  when  it  shall come suddenly  upon  them.

But thou,  my  son,  remember thy  Creator  in  the  days of thy  youth,  before  the  time of affliction  come,  knowing that it  is  good  for  a man when he  has  borne  the  yoke from his  youth;  for  with him that  fears  the  Lord  it shall  go  well  in  the  latter  end, and in  the  day  of  his  death he shall  be  blessed.

See, therefore,  how  thou walk circumspectly,  not  as  unwise, but  as  wise. For what folly can  be  greater  than,  when the whole  of  eternity  hangs  on the  brief  moment  of  this  life, and when  sentence  for  all  eternity is  to  be  passed  at  the  hour of death,  which  will  adjudge thee to  punishment  or  to  glory for  ever,  yet  to  make  so little  provision  for  that  risk, but to  be  anxiously  and  industriously careful  about everything else,  and  neglect the one  thing  which  alone, and before  all  others,  should be every  one’s  care?

What needs  a man  to  seek the things  that  are  above  him, whereas he  knows  not  what is profitable  for  him  in  his life, in  all  the  days  of  his  pilgrimage, and  in  his  time  that passes like  a shadow?

O ye sons  of  men! how long will  you  be  dull  of  heart? why do  you  love  vanity,  and seek after  lying? Surely man asses as  an  image; yea,  and he is disquieted  in  vain. His years shall  be  considered  as  a spider. For as  with  much labour it  weaves  its  web,  but in doing  so  spends  its  vitals, yet catches  nothing  but wretched flies,  so  do  men waste the  years  of  their  life, but with  what  profit  to  themselves at  last?

Man. Behold, thou  hast made my  days  measurable, and my  substanca  is  as  nothing before  thee. For a thousand  years  in  thy  sight  are as yesterday  which  is  passed. Spare me,  O Lord,  for  my days  are  nothing. Remember that I am  a stranger  with  thee and a sojourner,  as  all  my fathers  were.

Christ. Wherefore, I beseech you,  as  strangers  and pilgrims, to  refrain  yourselves from carnal  desires  and  cares of this  world,  which  war against the  soul. Behold, a pilgrim  does  not  loiter  on  the way; he does  not  turn  aside from the  path  to  pluck  flowers and  seek  for  pleasures, and so  trifle  away  his  time; but rather,  from  desire  of home  and  friends,  he  pursues and hastens  continually  on  the