Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/107

 progress. In the  first  place,  you  must  destroy  all  obstinacy of  judgment  and  opinion,  which  is  the  source  and origin of  infinite  evils. From this  flow  all  heresies, schisms, and  all  illusions  of  the  devil;  all  dissensions and strifes  are  referred  to  this. Detest this  obstinacy, therefore, as  the  bane  of  all  virtue. Learn to  submit your judgment,  therefore,  to  the  Church,  your  superiors and directors,  who  hold  the  place  of  God. " Lean  not upon  thy  own  judgment,  and  be  not  wise  in  thy  own conceit.    (Prov.  iii.  5,  7.)

III. This circumcision  must  extend  itself  particularly to self-love,  which  is  the  greatest  enemy  of  salvation. It blinds the  understanding,  and  inflames  the  mind  with " many  unprofitable  and  hurtful  desires,  which  drown men  in  destruction  and  perdition." (1 Tim.  vi.  9.)  Such are the  desires  of  possessing  wealth,  of  enjoying  the conveniences of  life,  of  being  honored  and  esteemed  by men,  of  being  preferred  before  others;  again,  the  desire of vain  and  unprofitable  knowledge,  and  the  love  of vanity  and  pleasures. "Cut off,"  therefore,  all  these passions, "  and  cast  them  from  you." (Matt. v.  30.)  Deny yourself, and  follow  Christ.

I. This  spiritual  circumcision  ought  not  only  to  extend itself to  the  inward  man;  but,  also,  to  the  external  senses! Reflect how  many  souls  have  lost  the  end  of  their  creation by  a  single  glance  of  the  eye. How many  others have perished  by  the  indulgence  of  the  other  senses! Restrain your  eyes,  therefore,  from  all  improper  or  dangerous objects;  your  ears  from  everything  that  savors of vanity  or  curiosity,  and  much  more  of  immodesty,