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262 tion, but seek it in their own strength, which is very feeble, by their own industry and exercises, and not from God, in distrust of themselves, and so they go backward rather than forward.

Again, there are those who have but just entered on the path of holiness, who persuade themselves that they have at once attained perfection, and so, having become vain in themselves, their virtues become vain also.

If then you would acquire Christian virtue and perfection, you must first distrust yourself, then trust in God, and strive to kindle in yourself the desire, as much as possible, of advancement day by day.

Watch also, so that no opportunity, whether it be great or small, of exercising a virtue be lost; and if you have missed some occasion of the kind, inflict on yourself some punishment, and do not suffer it to pass without chastisement.

And however far you may have advanced towards perfection, regard yourself day by day as one who is beginning, and study to perform every act with as much care, as if on it alone all perfection depended, and so with the second, the third, and all following actions.

Guard yourself against little faults as carefully, as diligent persons guard themselves against great ones.

Embrace virtue for virtue's sake, and for the