O it is a travail, a spiritual
travail! let the carnal, profane world, think and say as it will. And
through this path you must walk to the city of God, that has eternal
foundations, if ever you will come there.
Well! and what doth this blessed light do for you? Why, first, it sets
all your sins in order before you: it detects the spirit of this world in
all its baits and allurements, and shows how man came to fall from God,
and the fallen state he is in. Secondly, it begets a sense and sorrow,
in such as believe in it, for this fearful lapse. You will then see him
distinctly whom you have pierced, and all the blows and wounds you have
given him by your disobedience, and how you have made him to serve with
your sins; and you will weep and mourn for it, and your sorrow will be a
godly sorrow. Thirdly, after this it will bring you to the holy watch,
to take care that you do so no more, and that the enemy surprise you not
again. Then thoughts, as well as words and works, will come to judgment,
which is the way of holiness, in which the redeemed of the Lord do walk.
Here you will come to love God above all, and your neighbours as
yourselves. Nothing hurts, nothing harms, nothing makes afraid on this
holy mountain.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114