which suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most stubborn resolves. 24. To think that only violent passions, such as ambition and love, can triumph over others, is to deceive oneself. Sloth, all languishing as it is, is often the master. It encroaches on all the plans and on all the actions of life. 25. Sloth is a thing that is easily discerned; the signs of it are: 26. When the very thought of labour is troublesome and unpleasing, and ease seems sweet; when duty is omitted hereby and left undone; 27. When the easy part of duty is culled out, and the harder part is cast aside; when the judgment will not believe that a laborious duty is a duty at all; 28. When that which thou doest is done with an ill will, and with a constant weariness of mind, and there is no alacrity or pleasure in thy work; 29. When the backward mind is shifting it off with excuses, or finding something else to do, or at least delaying it: when little impediments discourage or stop thee. The slothful saith, there is a lion in the way. 30. Christ would never hear of negative morality ; Thou shalt, was ever his word. 31. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 32. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed. NOT FAILURE BUT LOW AIM IS CRIME 1. We should exercise ourselves in a quiet, steady, firm displeasure at our own faults. 2. Many people fall into the error of being angry because they have been angry, vexed KINDNESS TOWARD ONE'S SELF because they have given way to vexation, thus keeping up a chronic state of irritation, which adds to the evil of what is past, and prepares the way for a fresh fall on the first occasion. 3. As a parent's tender, affectionate remonstrance has far more weight with his child than anger or sternness : 4. So, when we judge our own heart guilty, if we treat it gently, encouraging it to amendment, its repentance will be much deeper and more lasting than if stirred up in vehemence and wrath. 5. Art thou willing to minister to thine own heart in its maladies? For, indeed, thou art bound to succour it, and seek help for it when harrassed by passion, and to leave all else till that is done. 6. Where thou findest thyself unable for a secret duty, struggle not too hard with thyself, but go that pace that thou art able to go quietly. EXPECTING TOO MUCH OF ONE'S SELF 7. For every striving doth not enable thee but vex thee, and make duty wearisome to thee, and disable thee more, by increasing thy disease: like an ox that draweth unquietly, and a horse that chafeth himself, that quickly tireth. 8. Preserve thy willingness to duty, and avoid that which makes it grievous to thee. 9. He that seeketh victory over his nature, let him not set himself too great nor too small tasks. 10. For the first will make him dejected by often failings, and the second will make him a small proceeder, though by often prevailings. 11. And at the first let him practise with helps, as swimmers do with bladders or rushes; but after a time let him practise with disadvantages, as dancers do with thick shoes. For it breeds great perfection if the practice be harder than the use. 12. Neither let mistakes nor wrong directions discourage thee. There is precious instruction to be got by finding we were wrong. FAILURES AS STEPPINGSTONES 13. It is at bottom the condition on which all men have to cultivate themselves. 14. Our very walking is an incessant falling; a falling and a catching of ourselves before we come actually to the pavement. It is emblematic of all things a man does. 15. It is no such heinous matter to fall afflicted, as being down to lie dejected. 16. It may be no danger for a soldier to receive a wound in battle, but after the wound received, through despair of recovery to refuse a remedy; for we often see wounded champions bear the palm at last; and after fight, crowned with victory. 17. Our greatest glory consists, not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. 18. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again. They say, best men are moulded out of faults. 19. 'Tis not what man does which exalts him, but what man would do. The aim, if reached or not, makes great the life. 20. Aspire, break bounds, I say, Endeavour to be good, and better still, And best. Success is naught, endeavour's all. 21. What I aspired to be And was not, comforts me. 22. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. CHAPTER LXVI THE PRESENT ONLY IS OURS 1. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest. NOW 2. Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good. 3. Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good desire overpass thee. 4. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 5. Say not unto thy neighbour, "Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give"; when thou hast it by thee. 6. Strong souls within the present live, 9. What each day needs, that shalt thou ask; |