But having demonstrated the first point by natural reason and
experience, I will proceed to do the same by the second. And first of
all, I ought to acknowledge, that the beginnings of a virtuous life,
are toilsome: _Ardua prima via est_; and more especially to those who
have been a long time under the dominion of their passions. Vicious
habits, are enemies, which in their first attacks, wage cruel war,
but their force declines daily, and sometimes, by a miracle of grace,
they are laid prostrate at the first onset. The flight of a vicious
man from sin, is in all respects, like the escape of the Hebrews from
the land of Egypt. How dejected were they, when, with the Red Sea in
their front, they saw the Egyptian army at their backs! How haughty
were the Egyptians! how desponding were the Hebrews! They are just on
the point of treating to surrender, when Moses, exalting his voice,
said to the people, “Now, Israel, advance boldly into the gulph, for
the Lord hath undertaken to defend you.” They obey, and upon setting
their feet in the water, the Sea divided. The troops of Pharaoh pursue
them in crouds. What pride possessed the Egyptians! what fear the
Hebrews! However, the last proceed with trembling pace, till they reach
the opposite shore; upon arriving there, they turn round, and look at
whence they came from, and they then perceive Pharaoh and all his host
are buried in the Red Sea. Their grief is converted to happiness, and
their groans to songs of joy.
XXIV. Exactly like this, is the flight of a sinner from vice. Egypt
is the criminal station. The enemies who pursue the fugitive sinner
are his vicious inclinations, of which, he was a long time the slave:
these are strong, he is feeble. The first assault is furious. Moses
is the virtue which animates him. The sinner at last, breaks through
a sea of difficulties, and although it requires more perseverance in
some to compleat the good work, than in others, he ultimately obtains
the satisfaction, of seeing all his passions drowned. He gains footing
on the opposite shore: and what follows? the same that happened to the
Hebrews, he bursts forth in songs of joy. Afterwards, in pursuing his
road to the Land of Promise, he is now and then upon the way, assaulted
by enemies, that is, by some temptations; but they are overcome, as
Moses overcame the Amalekites, by lifting the hands to Heaven, under
which figure is implied the force and efficacy of prayer. Sometimes
he also meets with bitter waters, that is to say tribulations, but
a miraculous wood sweetens them; for the cross, or passion of our
Saviour, makes them palatable. From Mara or Marath, a place whose name
is used to express bitterness, on account of its nauseous waters, he
makes the transition to Elim, a situation, which is both pleasant and
delightsome.
XXV. Thus it succeeds with the sinner, who, fugitive from vice, puts
himself under the divine protection, which never fails those who
solicit it; but to be uniform to what I proposed, it will now be
necessary, to consider virtue in its natural state, and abstracted from
the extraordinary aids, with which it is assisted by grace.