wonder is it, if touched by grief within, I weep, for it is the time for weeping. Happy hour! when sorrow for sin springs up within me. Blessed tear, which as every strain of the heart is considered, flows from the greatness of contrition. 3. And who can fully explore this abyss, and discover the hidden pollution without trembling? My GOD, True Light, Thou canst illumine all the darkness of my heart, and burn all its stains in the spirit of ardour and judgment. It is Thine to give a new heart, to create a clean one, and therein to prepare a secret dwelling, that it may be Thy resting place, and a tabernacle of Thy Name, Who art a lover of purity, and the guest of a good conscience. But because Thou dost not willingly visit a neglected house, and often leavest it to be defiled by wicked habits, therefore I fear lest this should be my lot. But do Thou mercifully and pitifully come to my aid to repair my ruins. Wce to him from whom in anger Thou hast departed. He has peace to whom Thou hast come, and with whom Thou remainest. Wretched man that I am, placed in the midst of snares, and weighed down by the chains of sin, what other counsel and remedy of salvation have I but to uplift my contrite eyes to Thee, if haply my cry may be heard in the heavens? For a polluted conscience will neither find nor have a more saving remedy, than XXII. On access to CHRIST, Saint of Saints, and King Of the longings of a Soul seeking God. "BUT it is good for me to cleave steadfastly unto GOD." O! brief and pleasant words, embracing GOD, and excluding all the world. What more can be said, what more desired? Is it not enough if that be done, which has now been spoken. And if others, ay, many others are spoken, can they not all be reduced to this? Say, therefore, my soul, with the Prophet, It is good for me to cleave steadfastly unto God. Oh! my GOD, Thou art my only good, Thou alone art good and precious. To speak of Thee is sweet to them that love Thee, to think of Thee pleasant to the devout, whose heart is not in this world, but altogether hidden 1 Ps. lxxiii. 28. B with Thee in Heaven; so that Thou art his only rest, and inner sweetness, and he is not daily tormented here, where false desires tempt. My GOD, how is it with him at heart, who burns with love of Thee? What joy is his, whom no vanity of creatures delights! Does not his voice speak in the Psalm from which I have taken the beginning of this discourse, and says it not as follows? "Whom have I in Heaven but Thee, and whom have I desired on earth beside Thee ?" Oh! holy, devout soul, hanging upon GOD, what is this I hear from thee? What is it that thou sayest? Do all in Heaven and on earth appear little unto thee? 2. "Yea, small indeed are they." What then seekest thou? Whom desirest thou without these? and where wilt thou find Him without them? Hath He a name, or place, or habitation, where He may be sought? Where is the place of the habitation of His Glory, of Whom thou hast sung, saying: "O LORD, I have loved the beauty of Thy House, and the place of the habitation of Thy Glory ?" 2 Answer me, I pray thee. For if thou canst point Him out to me, I will go with thee, and we will seek Him together, and thy God shall be my GOD, and it shall be well with us, when He has been found and detained by us. 3. “What is this (she says) which thou askest of me, or why dost thou pry into aught such with me? Thinkest thou that I can, or am able to speak such things. If charity inclines me, do not the rareness of the subject, and the depth of the secret prevent my declaring them? Why askest thou me? Ask those who have seen and heard Him; there are who have found Him, Whom thou seekest. But rather ask Him, Who knoweth all things. For He it is of Whom we converse, Who will better manifest Himself unto thee, and show far more clearly, where He dwelleth. He it is, Who teacheth man knowledge, and giveth His grace unto the humble. Draw near to Him, Who revealeth Himself, whensoever, and to whomsoever He pleaseth; for none can open without Him. He alone can reveal to thee the joy of His lovers, and that far beyond ought thou canst learn from me." 4. And now why speakest thou thus, holy and humble soul! Think not I would ask of thee, what, perchance, ought not to be known, or cannot be told. Let thy secret remain with thee; be thy door closed upon thee: let the seal of faith be unbroken, and the veil be not removed from the sanctuary. Eat holy bread in the sacrarium, within the tabernacle of thy house; ascend to the upper room; enter the cellar of the eternal King -or what is better, and sweeter far-the chamber |