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 once weakened through indiscretion, it scarce ever can be brought to its former fervor.

There is yet another danger more pernicious than the former, which is, that some having experience of this inestimable virtue of prayer, that all the fruit of a spiritual life doth depend upon it. Hence they persuade themselves, that in it all is contained, and that only, that virtue doth suffice for our salvation, which makes them to neglect other virtues, which are likewise the foundations and props which do uphold a spiritual building, which being taken away the whole fabric falleth to ruin; wherefore, they that seek after this one only virtue, with such indiscreet avidity, the more they labor the less fruit they reap. But the servant of God that expecteth merit and comfort in the way of perfection, must not fix his eyes so much upon one only virtue, although it be never so rare and excellent, but generally attend to all, as one string upon an instrument maketh no music, except we strike the rest, so one virtue cannot make a spiritual harmony in our souls, if the other be wanting, not unlike a clock, which if there be but a fault in one wheel, the others will stand; so it is in a spiritual clock, if one virtue be deficient.

These things which we have hitherto said, which do help to devotion, are so to be taken