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"All this, dearest daughter, has been done by My
goodness and providence as I have told you, for by My
providence the Word repaired the key of obedience,
but worldly men devoid of every virtue do the
contrary; they, like unbridled horses, without the
bit of obedience, go from bad to worse, from sin to
sin, from misery to misery, from darkness to
darkness, from death to death, until they finally
reach the edge of the ditch of death, gnawed by the
worm of their conscience, and though it is true that
they can obey the precepts of the law if they will,
and have the time repenting of their disobedience, it
is very hard for them to do so, on account of their
long habit of sin.
"Therefore let no man trust to this, putting off
his finding of the key of obedience to the moment of
his death, for although everyone may and should hope
as long as he has life, he should not put such trust
in this hope as to delay repentance. What is the
reason of all this, and of such blindness that
prevents them recognizing this treasure?
"The cloud of self-love and wretched pride,
through which they abandoned obedience, and fell into
disobedience. Being disobedient they are impatient,
as has been said, and in their impatience endure
intolerable pain, for it has seduced them from the
way of Truth, leading them along a way of lies,
making them slaves and friends of the devils with
whom, unless indeed they amend themselves with
patience, they will go to the eternal torments.
"Contrariwise, My beloved sons, obedient and
observers of the law, rejoice and exult in My eternal
vision with the Immaculate and humble Lamb, the
Maker, Fulfiller, and Giver of this law of obedience.
Observing this law in this life they taste peace
without any disturbance, they receive and clothe
themselves in the most perfect peace, for there they
possess every good without any evil, safety without
any fear, riches without any poverty, satiety without
disgust, hunger without pain, light without darkness,
one supreme infinite good, shared by all those who
taste it truly.
"What has placed them in so blessed a state? The
blood of the Lamb, by virtue of which the key of
obedience has lost its rust, so that, by the virtue
of the blood, it has been able to unlock the door.
Oh! fools and madmen, delay no longer to come out of
the mud of impurity, for you seem like pigs to wallow
in the mire of your own lust. Abandon the injustice,
murders, hatreds, rancors, detractions, murmurings,
false judgments, and cruelty, with which you use your
neighbors, your thefts and treacheries, and the
disordinate pleasures and delights of the world; cut
off the horns of pride, by which amputation you will
extinguish the hatred which is in your heart against
your neighbors.
"Compare the injuries which you do to Me and to
your neighbor with those done to you, and you will
see that those done to you are but trifles. You will
see that remaining in hatred you injure Me by
transgressing My precept, and you also injure the
object of your hate, for you deprive him of your
love, whereas you have been commanded to love Me
above everything, and your neighbor as yourself.
"No gloss has been put upon these words as if it
should have been said, if your neighbor injures you
do not love him; but they are to be taken naturally
and simply, as they were said to you by My Truth, who
Himself literally observed this rule. Literally also
should you observe it, and if you do not you will
injure your own soul, depriving it of the life of
grace.
"Take, oh! take, then, the key of obedience with
the light of faith, walk no longer in such darkness
or cold, but observe obedience in the fire of love,
so that you may taste eternal life together with the
other observers of the law."
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