weighing the measure of their own littleness, but rather following the desire of their hearts rather than the judgment of their reason. And because they presumed on greater matters than was pleasing to God, they quickly lost His grace. They who had set their nests in Heaven were made helpless and vile outcasts to the end that being humbled and made poor, they might learn not to fly with their own wings, but to trust under My wings.†
They that are novices and inexperienced in the way of the Lord, unless they govern themselves by the counsel of wise persons, may easily be deceived and broken to pieces. And if they will rather follow their own feelings than trust to others who are more experienced, their end will be dangerous, at least if they are unwilling to be drawn back from their own fond conceit. It is seldom the case that they who are wise in their own conceits endure humbly to be governed by others. Better it is to have a small potion of good sense with humility,† and little understanding, than great treasures of many sciences with vain self-pleasing. Better it is to have little, than much of that which may make you proud.
He acts indiscreetly, who wholly gives himself over to joy, forgetting his former poverty, and that chastened fear of the Lord, which is afraid of
