Ludovicus van Leuven, Amoris divini et humani antipathia (1629)
Table of contents ↑Hierusalem Amoris [4]
Hierusalem Amoris.
IV.
August.
{?}13.
{?} ad Cor.
Ps.117.
DVas ciuitates, duo faciunt Amores; Hierusa-
lem facit Amor Dei, Babylonem facit Amor
sæculi. Interroget igitur se vnusquisque quid a-
met & inueniet vbi sit ciuis. O Anima quæ fama-
re desideras, in Amoris biuio constituta, attende
bene quam viam velis ingredi; exitum vtriusque
perpende, non initium. ne te angusta porta, labo-
riosum iter, spinosi gradus deterreant; hâc itur ad
Hierusalem, ad æternum gaudium, ad sempiter-
nas delicias: ne te inuitet blanda Venus, hilaris
Bacchus, spatiosus introitus, florida via, illâc itur
ad Babylonem, ad supplicium æternum, ad æru-
mnas perptuas. Contende igitur intrare per an-
gustam portam, sectare charitatem, æmulare spi-
ritualia, dic cum Dauide, Aperite mihi portas iu-
stitiæ, ingressus in eas confitebor Domino, hæc
porta Domini, iusti intrabunt in eam.
DVas ciuitates, duo faciunt Amores; Hierusa-
lem facit Amor Dei, Babylonem facit Amor
sæculi. Interroget igitur se vnusquisque quid a-
met & inueniet vbi sit ciuis. O Anima quæ fama-
re desideras, in Amoris biuio constituta, attende
bene quam viam velis ingredi; exitum vtriusque
perpende, non initium. ne te angusta porta, labo-
riosum iter, spinosi gradus deterreant; hâc itur ad
Hierusalem, ad æternum gaudium, ad sempiter-
nas delicias: ne te inuitet blanda Venus, hilaris
Bacchus, spatiosus introitus, florida via, illâc itur
ad Babylonem, ad supplicium æternum, ad æru-
mnas perptuas. Contende igitur intrare per an-
gustam portam, sectare charitatem, æmulare spi-
ritualia, dic cum Dauide, Aperite mihi portas iu-
stitiæ, ingressus in eas confitebor Domino, hæc
porta Domini, iusti intrabunt in eam.
Hierusalem Amoris.
IV.
Ie sçay qu' il est estroit, le chemin que ie montre,
Mais ie peux asseurer, celuy qui le rencontre,
Qu' il en sera mené, à vn heureux sejour.
Ne te degoustes pas, de ce sentier d'espines,
Qui se changeans bien tost, en fleur de Lys diuines,
Tu les pourra cuellir au paradis d'Amour.
IV.
Ie sçay qu' il est estroit, le chemin que ie montre,
Mais ie peux asseurer, celuy qui le rencontre,
Qu' il en sera mené, à vn heureux sejour.
Ne te degoustes pas, de ce sentier d'espines,
Qui se changeans bien tost, en fleur de Lys diuines,
Tu les pourra cuellir au paradis d'Amour.
Translations
|
The Jerusalem of love. |
|
Two kinds of love constitute two kinds of city. The love of God produces Jerusalem, the love the world produces Babylon. Let
therefore everyone ask himself what he loves and he will find where he is a citizen. Oh soul that, standing at the crossroad
of love, desires to love, take good notice which way you want to take. Take into account in what either type of love ends,
not of how it starts. Let not the narrow gate, the labourious journey, the thorny steps deter you. This is the road to Jerusalem,
to eternal joy, to everlasting delights. Let not Venus call you in, nor cheerful Bacchus, the roomy entrance, the flowers
along the way: the is the way to Babylon, to eternal punishment, to sorrows without end. You have to strive therefore to go
through the narrow gate, pursue charity, emulate what is spiritual, say with David [Ps. 118(117):19-20] Open to me the gates
of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. The gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. |
|
The Jerusalem of love. |