from the
state of our felicity.

Many seek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them.

By flight alone we cannot overcome, but by patience and true humility
we become stronger than all our enemies.

He that only avoideth them outwardly, and doth not pluck them up by the
roots, shall profit little; yea, temptations will the sooner return
unto him, and will be more violent than before.

By little and little, and by the very beginning, unlearn evil habits,
lest perhaps by little and little they draw thee to greater difficulty.

Oh! if thou didst but consider how much inward peace unto thyself, and
joy unto others, thou wouldst procure by demeaning thyself well, I
think that thou wouldst be more careful of thy spiritual progress.

_Of the Profit of Adversity._--It is good that we have sometimes some
troubles and crosses; for they often make a man enter into himself, and
consider that he is here in banishment, and ought not to place his trust
in any worldly thing.

It is good that we be sometimes contradicted, and that men think ill or
inadequately; and this, although we do and intend well.

These things help often to the attaining of humility, and defend us
from vain glory: for then we are more inclined to seek God for our
inward witness, when outwardly we be contemned by men, and when there
is no credit given unto us.

And therefore a man should settle himself so fully in God, that he
needs not to seek many comforts of men.

When a good man is afflicted, tempted, or troubled with evil thoughts,
then he understandeth better the great need he hath of God, without
whom he perceiveth he can do nothing that is good.

Then also he sorroweth, lamenteth, and prayeth, by reason of the
miseries he suffereth.

Then he is weary of living longer, and wisheth that death would come,
that he might depart and be with Christ.

Then also he well perceiveth, that perfect security and full peace
cannot be had in this world.

_Before I left, I prayed with her._--This brings before us another very
touching scene in the life of St. Paul. His final farewell to the elders
of Ephesus. When he had spoken unto them he kneeled down and prayed with
them all. And they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him.
Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see
his face no more, and they accompanied him unto the ship. If this course
was persistently pursued by all Christian workers how manifo