Book 1, Chapter 11
Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Our Spiritual Progress
“If every year we rooted out one vice, we would soon become perfect.”
- We would have much peace if we would not be so busy with the sayings and doings of others and with those things which do not belong to us.
How can you remain long in peace when you entangle yourself with other peoples’ cares, who seek occasions abroad, and who is little or seldom inwardly reflective?
Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace.
- What was the reason why some of the Saints were so perfect and contemplative?
Because they made it their sole study to subdue in themselves all earthly desires; and thus they were enabled, with every fiber of their heart, to cleave to God, and freely attend to themselves.
We are often taken up too much with our own passions, and too interested in transitory things.
We seldom perfectly overcome so much as one habit nor are we earnestly bent upon our daily progress; and therefore we remain cold and tepid.
- If we were perfectly dead to ourselves, and in no way entangled in our interior, then might we be able to relish divine things and experience something of heavenly contemplation.
Our whole and greatest hindrance is that we are not free from worldly passions and lusts; and we do not strive to walk in the perfect way of the saints. And when we meet with any small adversity we are too quickly dejected and then we turn away to seek after human comforts.
- If we strove like valiant soldiers to stand up in the battle, we would doubtlessly see our Lord help us from heaven.
For He is ready to help them that fight and trust in His grace: Who furnishes us with occasions of combat that we may overcome these obstacles.
If we place our progress in these outward religious observances our devotion will quickly be at an end.
But let us lay the ax at the root that, being purged of passions, we may possess a quiet mind.
- If every year we rooted out one vice, we would soon become perfect.
But now we often find it quite the other way around: that we were more pure and better in the beginning of our conversion than after many years of our profession of faith.
Our fervor and progress ought to be greater every day, but now it is considered a great matter if a disciple can retain some part of that first fervor.
If we would use but a little discipline on ourselves in the beginning, we might afterward do all things with ease and joy.
- It is hard to quit our old habits; but harder to go against our own will.
But if you do not overcome things that are small and easy, when will you overcome greater difficulties?
Resist your inclinations now, in the beginning, and break off your evil habits, lest perhaps little by little the difficulties will increase upon you.
Oh, if you were sensible, you would would bring peace to yourself and joy to others; by behaving well yourself you would be more eager for your spiritual progress.