And when we meet with any small adversity, we are too quickly dejected, and turn away to seek after human consolation.
4. If we strove like valiant men to stand in the battle; doubtless we should see that our Lord would help us from heaven.
For he is ready to help them that fight and trust in his grace: who furnishes us with occasions of fighting that we may overcome.
If we place our progress in religion in these outward observances only, our devotion will quickly be at an end.
But let us lay the axe to the root, that being purged from passions, we may possess a quiet mind.
5. If every year we rooted out one vice, we should soon become perfect men.
But now we often find it quite otherwise: that we were better and more pure in the beginning of our conversion, than after many years of our profession.
Our fervour and progress ought to be every day greater: but now it is esteemed a great matter if a man can retain some part of his first fervour.