2. Oh! how great confidence shall he have at the hour of his death, who is not detained by an affection to any thing in the world?
But an infirm soul is not yet capable of having a heart thus perfectly disengaged from all things; neither doth the sensual man understand the liberty of an internal man.
But if he will be spiritual indeed, he must renounce as well those that are near him, as those that are afar off; and beware of none more than of himself.
If thou perfectly overcome thyself, thou shalt with more ease subdue all things else.
The perfect victory is to triumph over one's self.
For he that keeps himself in subjection, so that his sensuality is ever subject to reason, and reason in all things obedient to me, he is indeed a conqueror of himself, and Lord of all the world.
3. If thou desire to mount thus high, thou must begin manfully, and set the axe to the root, that thou mayest root out and destroy thy secret inordinate inclination to thyself, and to all selfish and earthly goods.
This vice, by which a man inordinately loves himself, is at the bottom of all that which is to be rooted out and overcome in us; which evil being once conquered and brought under, a great peace and tranquillity will presently ensue.
But because there are few that labour to die perfectly to themselves, and that fully tend beyond themselves; therefore do they remain entangled in themselves, nor can they be elevated in spirit above themselves.