according to discipline lies open to grievous ruin. He who seeks what is easier and more lax will always be in difficulties; for one thing or another will displease him.
Oh, that nothing else lay upon us to do, but with our mouth and whole heart to praise our Lord God! Oh, that you might never have need to eat, nor drink, nor sleep, but might always praise God, and only employ yourself in spiritual exercises! Then you would be much happier than now, when for some necessity or other you are in bondage to the flesh. Would that these necessities were not at all, but only the spiritual banquets of the soul, which, alas, we taste seldom enough!
When a man comes to that state, that he seeks not his comfort from any creature, then God first begins to be altogether sweet to him. Then he will be contented with whatever befalls him in this world. He will neither rejoice in great matters, nor be sorrowful for small, but entirely and confidently he commits himself to God, who is onto him all in all;† to whom assuredly nothing perishes or dies, but all things do live for Him, and serve Him without delay.
Remember always your end, and how that time lost returns not. Without care and diligence you will never get virtue. If you begin to wax
