th on them, 'O ye sons of men, how
long will ye be of heavy heart? Why love ye vanity, and seek after
leasing?' And in the same tone as he, but adding thereto some thing of
his own, one of our wise teachers, a most excellent divine, crieth
aloud to all, as from some exceeding high place of vantage, 'O ye sons
of men, how long will ye be of heavy heart? Why love ye vanity and
seek after leasing? Trow ye that this present life, and luxury, and
these shreds of glory, and petty lordship and false prosperity are any
great thing?'--things which no more belong to those that possess them
than to them that hope for them, nor to these latter any more than to
those who never thought of them: things like the dust carried and
whirled about to and fro by the tempest, or vanishing as the smoke, or
delusive as a dream, or intangible as a shadow; which, when absent,
need not be despaired of by them that have them not, and, when present,
cannot be trusted by their owners.

"This then was the commandment of the Saviour; this the preaching of
the Prophets and Apostles; in such wise do all the Saints, by word and
deed, constrain us to enter the unerring road of virtue. And though few
walk therein and more choose the broad way that leadeth to destruction,
yet not for this shall the life of this divine philosophy be minished
in fame. But as the sun, rising to shine on all, doth bounteously send
forth his beams, inviting all to enjoy his light, even so doth our true
philosophy, like the sun, lead with her light those that are her
lovers, and warmeth and brighteneth them. But if any shut their eyes,
and will not behold the light thereof, not for that must the sun be
blamed, or scorned by others: still less shall the glory of his
brightness be dishonoured through their silliness. But while they,
self-deprived of light, grope like blind men along a wall, and fall
into many a ditch, and scratch out their eyes on many a bramble bush,
the sun, firmly established on his own glory, shall illuminate them
that gaze upon his beams with unveiled face. Even so shineth the light
of Christ on all men abundantly, imparting to us of his lustre. But
every man shareth thereof in proportion to his desire and zeal. For
the Sun of righteousness disappointeth none of them that would fix
their gaze on him, yet doth he not compel those who willingly choose
darkness; but every man, so long as he is in this present life, is
committed to his own free will and ch