Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/412

408 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. that man should be three times as long as that of Nestor. For that putting the hand into the flame is some part of the life of man, let it be never so small a one ; but the whole life of a man is no part of eternity. Sp. I have nothing to say against it. He. Besides, they that hasten forwards with all their heart and a certain hope, when the way is so short, do you believe they are tormented with the troubles of this life ? Sp. I do not think they are, if they have a certain belief and firm hope of attaining to it.

He. I come now to those delights you took notice of : they abstain from balls, banquets, and plays ; they so despise them that they enjoy those that are much pleasanter. They do not take less pleasure, but they take it after another manner. " The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive what comforts God has prepared for those that love Him." Blessed Paul was acquainted with the songs, dances, exultations, and banquets of pious minds in this life. Sp. But there are some lawful pleasures which they abridge themselves of.

He. The immoderate use of such pleasures as are in themselves lawful is unlawful, if you except that they who seem to live this austere life exceed others in enjoyment. What can be a more noble spectacle than the contemplation of this world 1 Men that are in God's favour take far more pleasure in that contemplation than other men ; for while they, out of curiosity, contemplate this wonderful fabric, they are perplexed in their minds because they cannot attain to the knowledge of the causes of many things. And in some cases, like Momus's, some murmur against the workman, often calling nature, which is indeed a mother, a stepmother, which reflection, though in word it be levelled against nature, yet rebounds on Him that is the author of nature, if indeed there is any such thing as nature. But a godly man, with religious and pure eyes, beholds the works of God his father with great pleasure of mind, admiring everything, finding fault with nothing, but giving thanks for all things, when he considers that all these things were made for man, and so in everything adores the omnipotence, wisdom, and goodness of the Creator, the footsteps of which he perceives in the things created. Imagine for once that there were really such a palace as Apuleius feigned for Psyche, or something more magnificent and fine, if it can be ; and suppose two spectators, one a stranger, who only came to see it, the other a servant, or a son of him that built it, which of them will take the greatest pleasure in the sight 1 the stranger who has nothing to do with the house, or the son who beholds the genius, wealth, and magnificence of a dear father in that building with great pleasure, especially when he reflects that all this fabric Was made for his own sake 1

Sp. Your question needs no answer ; but the greatest part that are not religious know not that heaven, and what is contained therein, was made for the sake of man. He. They all know it, but they do not all consider it ; and if it does come into their mind, yet he takes the most pleasure that loves the workman best, as he looks most cheerfully upon heaven that breathes after eternal life. /Sp. There seems to be a great deal of truth in what you say.

He. Now, as to banquets, the sweetness of them does not consist so much in the having a dainty palate, or in the seasonings of the cook,