the inward man: but I see another law in my members fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of sin."[1]
The efficacy
of devotion.
This, therefore, is the prime root
and cause of all our miseries, against
which there is no remedy more convenient and efficacious than devotion, which,
according to St. Thomas, is nothing else, but
a certain promptitude and facility of the mind
to do well. It doth exclude from our mind
this tedious difficulty, and maketh us with
alacrity apply ourselves to virtuous acts.
Therefore, not without cause we may term it
spiritual food, recreative and heavenly dew,
a pleasant instinct and supernatural affection
of the Holy Ghost, which doth so strengthen
and transform the hearts of men, that it doth
beget in them a new gust and feeling of spiritual things, and on the contrary, a tedious
loathing of worldly vanities.
Daily experience manifesteth this particular unto us. For we see the souls of those who arise from profound and devout prayer, to be strengthened with admirable resolutions, adorned with new graces, and replenished with firm purposes of amendment of life, and frequenting pious exercises, they burn with an ardent desire of serving and loving him with their whole heart, whom in their prayer they found the God of all goodness and benignity, desiring
- ↑ Rom vii. 22
