ALL the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms
of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die
in behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth.
"For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose
his own soul?'' Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose
again for our sake. This is the gain which is laid up for me. Pardon me,
brethren: do not hinder me from living, do not wish to keep me in a state
of death; and while I desire to belong to God, do not ye give me over
to the world. Suffer me to obtain pure light: when I have gone thither,
I shall indeed be a man of God. Permit me to be an imitator of the passion
of my God. If any one has Him within himself, let him consider what I desire,
and let him have sympathy with me, as knowing how I am straitened.
