Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

not die. Because I live, thou shalt live also. I reconciled thee to my Father by the blood of my cross, and being reconciled thou shalt live through me. I will pray for thee, I will fight for thee, I will yet do thee good.

[ocr errors]

Nothing can hurt thee but sin; nothing can grieve me but sin; nothing can make thee base before thy foes but sin. Take heed of sin, my Mansoul.

"And dost thou know why I at first, and do still suffer Diabolians to dwell in thy walls, O Mansoul? It is to keep thee waking, to try thy love, to make thee watchful, and to cause thee yet to prize my noble captains, their soldiers, and my mercy.

"It is also that yet thou mayest be made to remember what a deplorable condition thou once wast in, I mean when, not some, but all did dwell, not in thy wall, but in thy castle and strong hold, O Mansoul.

66 my Mansoul, should slay all them within, many there be without that would bring thee into bondage; for were all these within cut off, those without would find thee sleeping, and then as in a moment they would swallow up my Mansoul. I therefore left them in thee, not to do the hurt (the which they yet will, if thou hearken to them, and serve them) but to do thee good, the which they must, if thou watch and fight agains 'em. Know therefore that whatever they tempt thee to, my design is that they should drive thee, not further off, but nearer to my Father, to learn thee war, to make petitioning desirable to thee, and to make thee little in thine own eyes. Hearken diligently to this, my Minsoul.

"Shew me then thy love, my Mansoul, and let not those that are within thy walls, take thy affections off from him that hath redeemed thy soul. Yea, let the sight - of a Diabolian heighten thy love to me. I.came once and twice, and thrice to save thee from the poison of those arrows that would have wrought thy death; stand for me, my friend, my Mansoul, against the Diabolians, and

I will stand for thee before my Father, and all his court. Love me against temptation, and I will love thee notwithstanding thine infirmities.

"Omy Mansoul, remember what my captains, my soldiers, and my engines have done for thee. They have fought for thee, they have born much at thy hands to do thee good, O Mansoul. Hadst thou not had their help, Diabolus had certainly made a hand of thee. Nourish them therefore, my Mausoul. When thou dost well, they will be well; when thou dost ill, they will be ill, and sick, and weak. Make not my captains sick, O Mansoul, for if they be sick, thou canst not be well; if they be weak, thou canst not be strong; if they be faint, thou canst not be stout and valiant for thy King, O Mansoul. Nor must thou think always to live by sense, thou must live upon my word. Thou must believe, O my Mansoul, when I am for thee, that yet I love and bear thee upon mine heart for ever.

"Remember, therefore, O my Mansoul, that thou art beloved of me; as I have therefore taught thee to watch, to fight, to pray, and to make war against my foes, so now I command thee to believe that my love is constant to thee. O my Mansoul, bow have I set my beart, my love upon thee; watch, behold I lay none other burden upon thee than whał thou hast already; bold fast till I

come."

FINIS,

BRITISH

LIBRARY

PRESERVATION SERVICE

SHELFMARK R623 A 9052

THIS BOOK HAS BEEN 2002

MICROFILMED

RPI

MICROFILM NO. SEE ESTC

FEA1

« НазадПродовжити »