Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/73



1. Thy  will  alone  is  ever good, and  just,  and  perfect, in all  things. To the  know* ledge of  this  he  gently  leads us by  counsel,  by  precept,  and by inspiration,  as  well  as  by the  commands  of  those  who are set  over  us  in  God’s  name. To do  this  will  it  is  enough for us  that  God  wills  and  enjoins what  we  are  to  perform, so that  if  I obey  him, and  keep his commandments,  I shall merit life, 'but  if  otherwise, death.

2. Not  my  will,  which  is perverse,  but  thine. Nor yet the flesh's,  which  is  contrary to the  spirit; nor  the  worlds, which is  vain; nor  the  devil's, which  is  malignant;  but  thy will only,  which  is  the  rule of uprightness. For what  is thy  will  but  our  sanctification? Since thou  requires t nothing  of  us  but  what  is  for our benefit; not  thine,  for thou needest  not  our  goods.

3. As  the  will  of  God  is done  by  the  angels  in  heaven, where there  is  no  rebellion  of a perverse  will,  so  also  may it be  done  on  earth,  perfectly, promptly, speedily,  courageously, lovingly,  and  readily; where to  resist  thy  will  is  to be  unwilling  to  be  led  on sweetly  with  the  cords  of love,  that  is,  of  a man; but to prefer  to  be  driven  like  a beast  of  burden  by  the  force of thy  power,  or  to  be  dragged by the  chains  of  thy  justice. Teach me, O Lord, to  do  thy will; for thou  art  my  God. Behold, O Lord, I am thy servant. Lord, what wilt

thou have  me  to  dot  Speak, Lord, for  thy  servant  heareth.

1. The  bread  of  grace  and of the  word  of  God. For man does not  live  by  bread  alone, but his  soul  also  has  need  of sustenance. For, as  the  life of man  is  twofold,  so  is  the food or  bread  twofold,  whereby he  is  sustained.

2. Chiefly,  and  principally, the living  bread, which  came down from  heaven,  the  supersubstantial  bread  of  the  Eucharist, which  strengthens  the heart of  man,  and  confirms  his spirit.

3. Corporal  bread,  which  is necessary  for  sustaining  life; for which,  however,  he  would not have  us  solicitous,  or  over anxious, since  he  bids  us  look for it  from  the  divine  blessing.

4. Our,  not  my,  because  it is  common,  and  to  be  shared among our  brethren,  who  all acknowledge the  same  God and Father  of  all; who  would have his  gifts  supply  the  necessity, not  of  one,  or  of  a few,  but  of  all.

5. Daily:  if  meant  of  spiritual food,  not  that  which  is  the portion of  the  few  singularly beloved, of  which  I count  myself unworthy,  but  that  com