So thou, good reader, understand, the things of earth ’Tis God ordains. Reflect. ’Twas written ere his birth. 75 From whom to flee? From self? Oh! That’s absurd! From whom to steal? From God? Worse, worse! No word! The lion now remarked: “The words you speak are true. But just consider how the prophets, saints, ensue. What they have wrought hath God blessed, made to prosper still; Their joys and griefs, their sufferings, pains, were by His will. Their stratagems dictated by their God were, all.[146] ‘Who comes of gentle blood, will gentle words let fall.’[147] Their traps have taken angels with the baits they placed. Their seeming slips and faults were all by wisdom traced. 80 Exert thyself, O man; put shoulder to the wheel, The prophets and the saints to imitate in zeal. Exertion’s not a struggle against Providence. ’Twas Providence enjoined it,--made it our defence. Blasphemer may I be, if ever single man Bestowed in vain one effort to fulfil God’s plan. Thou hast no broken bones; why bind thy limbs in splints? Have patience yet awhile; then laugh; we’re not mere flints. It is a bad investment to seek worldly gain.[148] Whose hope is placed in heaven never shall see pain.[149] 85 The stratagems employed for worldly gain are vile, But stratagems for gaining heaven are worth our while. Blest stratagem is that which bursts a prison door. Curst stratagem is one that spreads a dungeon floor. The world’s a dungeon. We are all in prison here. Burst, then, thy prison gate, and free thyself from fear. What is the world? Unmindful of our God to be; Not gold or silver, wife or children, things we see. The wealth we hold at service of our God is blest. ‘The riches of the just are pure,’ Ahmed confess’d. 90 The water from a leak is danger to a ship; The sea beneath her keel is just what makes her skip. Great Solomon despised wealth, sway, with all his heart. With countless treasures poor he named himself. Best part! An empty jar will float upon a raging sea, The air that fills it will not let it sunken be. Th’ afflatus of true poverty man’s soul will buoy. Above the troubles of the world he rides. Ahoy! Should all earth’s boundless riches by him be possessed; The whole is viewed in his pure sight as naught at best. 95 Close then the inlet to thy heart; seal it with love; First filling it with wisdom’s spirit from above. Endeavour is from God; so sickness, and its balm. He vainly strives who would deny this truthful psalm.” Of this complexion, many proofs the lion brought; No answer those compulsionists in dispute sought. The fox, the deer, the hare, and eke the sly jackal, Were fain to quit compulsion’s cause, for good and all.