ills to provide against his own. Turn, therefore, thy eyes away from beholding vanity. Or rather, like Job, make a covenant with thy eyes, that by them thou mayest not let in any blind love or hurtful affection. It will be easier for thee not to admit it at all, than, after it has been admitted, to cast it out. Hedge in thy ears with thorns, that they may not be open to the beasts that tear the heart, as detractors, railers, or filthy talkers. When thou sittest down to eat, put a knife to thy throat, that is, bridle thy appetite; set not thy heart upon tasting every meat, and be careful to take food in obedience to the necessity rather than the gratification of nature. Deprive also thy appetite of a portion of thy food, and offer it to me in my members.
Think what delights I forsook, what bitter sufferings I underwent for thy sake; and therefore deny thyself also many things that are agreeable to the flesh, but hurtful to the spirit; and that thou mayest the more easily refrain from things unlawful, curb thy appetite sometimes even in things lawful, knowing that I have prepared far greater joys for those who, for my love, have despised such vanities.
Man. Shame has covered my face, O Lord, to see thee occupied in labours from thy youth, every where pursuing that which is hard and rough, and ourselves, who in name are Christians, so much degenerated from thy example. For in thy whole life what else hast thou taught us, who, for the joy that was set before thee, enduredst the cross, despising the shame, than to despise pleasures, deny ourselves, bear our cross, and follow thee? Thou knewest indeed how to refuse the evil and choose the good, but chosest that which was most painful and troublesome to the flesh. That, therefore, is best, most profitable, and most to be chosen.
But in this how few follow thee! All seek their own, that is, what is pleasant to the flesh, and we are not ashamed to be sensual members under a head that is crowned with thorns. We wish to be, and to be esteemed, thy servants and disciples. But alas! how much readier are we to listen to the world and its prince; how earnestly we fulfil the desires of the flesh! O Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee.
Christ. But henceforward follow thou my steps, and bear constantly in thy body the mortification of my cross. Chastise thy body, and bring it into subjection. Behold how those men of virtue, my elect, hated their lives in this world, that they might keep them to life eternal; yet
