Wisdom Vault — onlinknow.co.za

Were we but, as we ought to be, dead to the World and our own Luſts; diſentangled from thoſe Chains and Snares within, that hamper and keep our Souls down to Matter and Senſe; then ſhouid We alſo reliſh Acts of Devotion, and be ravithed with marvellous Joy, when our Thoughts are fixed on God and Heaven.

The only, or the greateſt Bar to theſe Spiritual Delights, proceeds from Paſſions unſubdued; and from our own Sloth, which cares not to encounter Dit- ficulties, nor aſpires to the Perfection of the Saints. Hence is that Tameneſs and Dejection of Spirit, fo viſi le, ſo. ſcandalous, when any little Misfortune comes a- croſs us: Hence our vain Confidence, and anxious Care, which eeks and depends upon Human Helps and Remedies ; and neglects.

God, our only ſufficient Refuge and Deliverer. Would we but quit our ſelves like Men, and reſolutely ſtand our Ground, we ſhould not fail of Succours from above. God is always ready to ſtrengthen thoſe who ſtrive lawfully, and place their Hope in the Aſſiſtance of his hea- venly Grace: He means our very Hardfhips and Dangers for our Good; and engages us in new Conflicts and Tempta- tions, that he may make our Victories more glorious, and quality us for a brighter Crown.

If we content our ſelves with the obſervance of the outward Duties only, and ſup- f this. is the utmoſt Perfection neceſlary for us; we bring eligion into a very narrow Compaſs, and may quickly get to the End of it. But alas! the main of our Buſineſs 1 within: The Axe muſt be laid to the Root of the Tree, and our ſenſual Appetites quite cut down, before we can attain to true Pleaſure in Holineſs, and a peaceful Serenity of Mind.

Would we but impoſe upon our ſelves the Task of Mor- tifying a freſh Luſt, and conquering a vicious Habit every Year, even thus in a little time we might attain to ſome Perfection, But alas! we often take the direct contrary courſe; and are generally more wary, more devout, more _ zealous todo well, and to avoid Evil, when we firſt enter upon a Religious Life, than after we have ſpent ſome time in it.

The Fervor of our Affection, which ought in Reaſon to grow every Day ſtron ger and brighter, cools and goes out again; and v. ereckon it a great Matter, if our Zeal.can be kept up to the ame Warmth, which we felt at its firſt ER C3 . kindling f 8 18 Ok the Imitation Book J. kindling.

We are too tender of our Eſe, and loth to put our {clyes u on the ſtretch: Whereas, would we but uſe a little Severity, and ſubmit to ſome Violence at firſt, that trouble would quickly wear off; and all our Progreſs in Virtue would prove, not eaſy and tolerable only, but even a De- light, and wonder ful Satis faction to us.

Tis hard, I own, to part with our old Friends, and to unlearn Habits to which we have been long accuſtomed. And harder yet it is, to enter into a formal War with our own Inclinations, and obſtinately to deny what we eagerly defire.

But it we do not conquer ſmaller Difficulties, what will become of us, v hen aſſaulted by greater? If we do not reſiſt our natural Propenſions at firſt, before Inclination is ſtrengthed by Cuſtom; the Enemy will gather Strength. Every Day's Practice is a freſh Reinforcement ; and the longer the Delay, the greater will be the Difficulty.

O think of this in time, and conſider the happy Effects of an early and ſerious Piety: What Peace, what Triumphs to your ſelves; what Joy to others, to God and Chriſt, to Angels and good Men you will certainly procure, by behaving your ſelves gallautly in this Spiritual Warfare, This ſure will ba- lance all the Hardſhips of Virtue ; reproach your Cowardice and Sloth, provoke and inflame your Diligencezn 1 Courage; and make you zealous, reſolute, impatient, to grow in Grace, a d advance every Day in Spiritual Perfection.