Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/708

 Our conversation  is  in  heaven, from  whence  also  we wait  for  the  Saviour,  our Lord Jesus  Christ; who  will reform the  body  of  our  lowness, made  like  the  body  of his  glory.

This is  a faithful  saying, and worthy  of  all  acceptation, that Christ  Jesus  came  into this world  to  save  sinners,  of whom  I am  the  chief.

He that  shall  persevere  to the  end,  he  shall  be  saved.

Be thou  faithful  until  death, and I will  give  thee  the crown of  life.

Let the  wicked  forsake  his way, and  the  unjust  man  his thoughts, and  let  him  return to the  Lord,  and  he  will  have mercy on  him,  and  to  our God, for  he  is  bountiful  to forgive. For my  thoughts, ate not  your  thoughts,  nor your ways  my  ways. For as the  heavens  are  exalted  above the earth,  so  are  my  ways exalted above  your  ways,  and my thoughts  above  your thoughts.

Is it  my  will  that  a sinner should die,  and  not  that  he should  be  converted  from  his ways, and  live? Be converted and do  penance  for  all  your iniquities; and iniquity  shall not be  your  ruin. For I desire not  the  death  of  him  that dies, says  the  Lord  God,  return ye,  and  live.

As I live,  says  the  Lord God, I desire  not  the  death of the  wicked,  but  that  the wicked turn  from  his  way  and live.' Turn  ye,  turn  ye  from your evil  ways. And why will you  die,  O House  of  Israel?

The Lord  is  compassionate and merciful,  long-suffering and plenteous  in  mercy. As a father has  compassion  on his  children,  so  has  the  Lord compassion on  them  that  fear him: for he  knows  our frame.

The Lord  is  sweet  to  all, and his  tender  mercies  are over all  his  works. The Lord lifts up  all  that  fall,  and  sets up all  that  are  cast  down.

The Pharisees  said  to  the disciples of  Jesus: Why  does your master  eat  with  publicans and  sinners? But Jesus hearing  it,  said: They that are  in  health  need  not  a physician,  but  they  that  are sick. For I am  not  come  to call  the  just,  but  sinners.

Come to  me,  all  you  that labour and  are  burdened,  and I will refresh  you,  and  you shall find  rest  to  your  souls.

I am the  good  Shepherd, and I know  my  sheep,  and mine know  me;  as  the  Fa-