Mantic uttaïr, The master and his slave

A certain man had a very diligent negro slave, who had purified his hands of worldly things, and prayed all night until dawn, animated by the most upright intentions. One day his master said to him: “Diligent slave, when thou risest during the night, wake me also, that I may perform the ablution and pray with thee.” The negro replied: “He who loves to seek the spiritual path has no need to be awakened. If thou felt this love, thou wouldst wake of thyself, and wouldst not remain day and night in spiritual idleness. When someone must wake thee, another might just as well take thy place in prayer. He who feels neither this sentiment nor this love deserves to be buried beneath the dust, for he is no man of the spiritual path; but he who has fashioned his heart to this love belongs no longer either to heaven or to hell.”