all things, whatever he reaches forward to do! Strengthen me with heavenly courage, lest the old man, the miserable flesh, not as yet fully subject to the Spirit, prevail and get the upper hand; against which it will be needful for me to fight, so long as I breathe in this most miserable life.
Alas, what kind of life is this, where tribulation and miseries are never wanting; where all is full of snares and enemies! For when one tribulation of temptation retreats, another comes. Yes, and while the first conflict is still on, many others come unexpected one after another.
And how can a life be loved that has so many embitterments, and is subject to so many calamities and miseries? How too can it be called life, that begets so many deaths and plagues? And yet it is loved, and many seek to delight themselves in it. The world is often blamed for being deceitful and vain, and yet it is not easily abandoned, because the desires of the flesh are so strong. But some things draw us to love the world, others to condemn it. “The cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does” † draw us to the love of the world. But the pains and miseries that follow them bring hatred of the world and a weariness. But, alas, vicious pleasure overcomes the mind that is addicted to the world; and to be under thorns† it esteems a delight, because it has
