Revelations of St. Bridget/Chapter 14. The State of the world when Christ began to preach
CHAPTER XIV.
THE STATE OF THE WORLD WHEN CHRIST BEGAN TO PREACH.
The Son of God said: Before my Incarnation this world was like a wilderness, in which was a turbid and unclean well, of which all who drank, thirsted the more, and the sore-eyed became more afflicted. By this well stood two men, one of whom crying out, said: “ Drink securely, because the physician comes to take away all languor.” The other said: "Drink in joy, it is vain to long for the uncertain.” Moreover, seven roads led to the well, and therefore all desired it. Much doth the world resemble a desert, with wild beasts, fruitless trees, and unclean waters; because man, like a wild beast, was eager to pour out his neighbor’s blood, unfruitful in works of justice, and unclean by incontinence and cupidity. In this wilderness, then, men sought the turbid well, — that is, the love of the world and its honor, which is high in pride, turbid in the care and solicitude of the flesh, — and by the seven mortal sins, had, as it were, entrance by seven ways. The two men standing by the well signified the masters of the Jews and Gentiles. For the doctors of the Jews were proud of the law which they had and did not keep, and as they were full of avarice they incited the people by word and example to seek temporal things, saying: “ Live securely, for the Messias will come and restore all things.” And the doctors of the Gentiles said: w Use the creatures that you see, for the world was made for us to enjoy.” And when man v stood so blind, as to think neither of God nor hereafter, then I, God with the Father and Holy Ghost, came into the world, and* assuming humanity, said openly: “ What God promised and Moses wrote, is fulfilled. Love, therefore, the things of heaven, for those of earth pass, and those of eternity will I give unto you.” I showed, too, the sevenfold way whereby man might be drawn away from his vanity. For I showed poverty and obedience, I taught fasts and prayers; I sometimes fled away from men, and abode alone in prayer; I endured opprobrinm, I chose toil and grief, I bore pain and contempt. In my own self did I show the way, in which my friends long walked, but now the way is broken up. The guardians sleep; those who pass delight in vanity and novelties; therefore, I rise and will not be silent. I will take away the voice of praise, and I will let my vineyard to others, who will bear fruit in season. Yet, according to the common proverb, friends are found among enemies. Therefore, will I send to my friends, words sweeter than dates, more delicious than honey, more precious than gold. Who receive and keep them, shall have that treasure which is happily forever, and faileth not, but increases in life everlasting.
Before I began to walk and labor, a voice resounded before me, saying: "The axe is laid to the tree.” What was this voice but John the Baptist, who, sent before me, cried out in the desert: "The axe is laid to the tree as if to say: "Man is now ready, because the axe is ready.” And he came, preparing the way to the city, and extirpating all obstacles. And I, coming, labored from sunrise to sunset; that is, from my incarnation to my death on the cross, I worked out man’s salvation, flying in the beginning of my entrance into this wilderness, on account of the persecution of Herod, my enemy; and I suffered persecution, I ate and drank, and fulfilled all the other necessities of nature, without sin to the instruction of faith, and the manifestation of my true assumed nature. — Lib. iii., c. 15.