That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed
“My Son, thou hast still many things to learn, which thou hast not well
learned yet.”
2. What are they, Lord?
3. “To place thy desire altogether in subjection to My good pleasure,
and not to be a lover of thyself, but an earnest seeker of My will. Thy
desires often excite and urge thee forward; but consider with thyself
whether thou art not more moved for thine own objects than for My
honour. If it is Myself that thou seekest, thou shalt be well content
with whatsoever I shall ordain; but if any pursuit of thine own lieth
hidden within thee, behold it is this which hindereth and weigheth thee
down.
4. “Beware, therefore, lest thou strive too earnestly after some desire
which thou hast conceived, without taking counsel of Me; lest haply it
repent thee afterwards, and that displease thee which before pleased,
and for which thou didst long as for a great good. For not every
affection which seemeth good is to be forthwith followed; neither is
every opposite affection to be immediately avoided. Sometimes it is
expedient to use restraint even in good desires and wishes, lest
through importunity thou fall into distraction of mind, lest through
want of discipline thou become a stumbling-block to others, or lest by
the resistance of others thou be suddenly disturbed and brought to
confusion.
5. “Sometimes, indeed, it is needful to use violence, and manfully to
strive against the sensual appetite, and not to consider what the flesh
may or not will; but rather to strive after this, that it may become
subject, however unwillingly, to the spirit. And for so long it ought
to be chastised and compelled to undergo slavery, even until it be
ready for all things, and learn to be contented with little, to be
delighted with things simple, and never to murmur at any
inconvenience.”