74. Let us then pass through the fires of
youth and the glow of early years; let us pass through the waters, let
us not remain therein, lest the deep floods shut us in. Let us
rather pass over, that we too may say: “Our soul has passed
over the stream,” Ps. cxxiv.
[cxxiii.] 4. for he who has
passed over is safe. And lastly, the Lord speaks thus:
“If thou pass through the water, I am with thee, the rivers shall
not overflow thee.” Isa. xliii. 2. And the
prophet says: “I have seen the wicked exalted above the
cedars of Libanus, and I passed by, and lo, he was not.”
Pass by things of this world, and you will see that the high places of
the wicked have fallen. Moses, too, passing by things of this
world, saw a great sight and said: “I will turn aside and
see this great sight,” Ex. iii. 3. for had he been
held by the fleeting pleasures of this world he would not have seen so
great a mystery.