Page:Sermons on the Lord's Prayer.djvu/61

 room is made for good and truth to enter. And this casting out of evils and falses can be effected only by combat, which man must carry on, as of himself, yet looking to the Lord for help. When any evil passion or disorderly inclination rises in the natural mind,—then, remembering the Divine commandment which forbids that evil, the understanding of the spiritual mind, watching from above, sees it, and perceives it to be evil and contrary to the Divine commandment; and the will of the spiritual mind, loving good as it does, hates and grieves at this rising evil; and thus the man is incited to resist and struggle against it; and if he then make the effort to overcome it, looking to the Lord at the same time for aid, he will be enabled to conquer it, and cast it out; or, what is the same thing,—when man striving thus, as of himself, has conquered it, the Divine Spirit from the Lord coming down from within, will cast it out of his heart. This evil being thus cast out of the natural mind, the good affection or love which is the opposite of that evil, flows down from the internal or spiritual mind, and takes its place. And thus the natural mind is so far regenerated, and brought into agreement with the spiritual: and the Lord's will, so far, "is done on earth as in heaven."

The work of regeneration consists of a series of such temptations, combats, and victories. Consequently, it is a gradual work, not accomplished in a day or a year; but with the spiritual man, it is constantly going on, and is continued throughout his life in the world. He is, if faithful, becoming daily and weekly more