Ch. 4: We must live before God in humility and truth. The one who walks in truth will be safe from the assaults of the wicked. Think of your sins with great displeasure and grief. Never consider yourself to be something because of good works. Let what you most dislike be your own great baseness. Fear and flee nothing like you do your own vices and sins. [There is good in me and brokenness in me. Both good works alone {leads to pride} and brokenness alone {leads to despair, discouragement, despondency, dejection, depression, defeat} are lies.]
- Free me from every evil affection and disordered love.
- You are subject to and entangled with many passions.
- You have nothing to be proud of but many things you ought to revile.
Ch. 5: The wondrous affection of divine love. Because I am still weak in love and imperfect in virtue I need comfort and consolation. Free me from errant and evil passions and heal my heart of all disordered affections.
- Love bears burdens without burden. Love feels no burden.
- Let me love you more than myself. Let me love myself only for your sake.
- There is no living in love without sorrow.
Ch. 6: Proof of being a true lover. A strong lover stands firm in temptation.
- A prudent lover considers not so much the lover's gift as the giver's love.
- Know that your ancient enemy strives earnestly to obstruct your desire for good. [Satan's only weapon is discouragement, so that we tire of asking for God's help.]
- Fight like a good soldier (2 Tim 2:3; 4:7).
No comments:
Post a Comment