this world, where they are not found; yet no one wishes so to live, that he may arrive there
where they are found. Therefore the same Scripture admonishes us, and says, “Who is the
man that wisheth for life, and loveth to see good days?”3428 Scripture so asked the question,
as that It knew well what answer would be given It; knowing that all men would “seek for
life and good days.” In accordance with their desire It asked the question, as if the answer
would be given It from the heart of all, “I wish it;” It said thus, “Who is the man that wisheth
for life, and loveth to see good days?” Just as even at this very hour in which I am speaking
to you, when ye heard me say, “Who is the man that wisheth for life, and loveth to see good
days?” ye all answered in your heart, “I.” For so do I too, who am speaking with you, “wish
for life and good days;” what ye seek, that do I seek also.
5. Just as if gold were necessary for us all, and we all, I as well as you, were wishing to
get at the gold, and there was some anywhere in a field of yours, in a place subject to your
power, and I were to see you searching for it, and were to say to you, “What are ye searching
for?” ye were to answer me, “Gold.” And I were to say to you, “Ye are searching for gold,
and I am searching for gold too: what ye are searching for, I am searching for; but ye are
not searching for it where we can find it. Listen to me then, where we can find it; I am not
taking it away from you, I am showing you the spot;” yea, let us all follow Him, who knows
where what we are seeking for, is. So now too seeing that ye desire “life and good days,” we
cannot say to you, “Do not desire ‘life and good days;’” but this we say, “Do not seek for ‘life
and good days’ here in this world, where ‘good days’ cannot be.” Is not this life itself like
unto death? Now these days here hasten and pass away: for to-day has shut out yesterday;
tomorrow only rises that it may shut out to-day. These days themselves have no abiding;
wherefore wouldest thou abide with them? Your desire then whereby ye wish for “life and
good days,” I not only do not repress, but I even more strongly inflame. By all means “seek”
for “life, seek for good days;” but let them be sought there, where they can be found.
6. For would ye with me hear His counsel, who knoweth where “good days” and where
“life” is? Hear it not from me, but together with me. For One says to us, “Come, ye children,
hearken unto Me.” And let us run together, and stand, and prick up our ears, and with our
hearts understand the Father, who hath said, “Come, ye children, hearken unto Me, I will
teach you the fear of the Lord.”3429 And then follows what he would teach us, and to what
end the fear of the Lord is useful. “Who is the man that wisheth life, and loveth to see good
days?” We all answer, “We wish it.” Let us listen then to what follows, “Refrain thy tongue
from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile.”3430 Now say, “I wish it.” Just now when I
said, “Who is the man that wisheth for life, and loveth to see good days?” we all answered,
3428 Ps. xxxiv. 12.
3429 Ps. xxxiv. 11.
3430 Ps. xxxiv. 13.
919
On the words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 35, ‘Let your loins be girded about,…