continued assaults are grievous unto me; and it is very exceedingly irksome to live thus daily in conflict.
Hereby doth my weakness become known unto me, in that hateful fancies do always much more easily enter than depart.
3. Most mighty God of Israel, Thou zealous lover of faithful souls! O that Thou wouldst consider the labour and sorrow of Thy servant, and assist him in all things whatsoever he undertaketh.
Strengthen me with heavenly courage, lest the old man, the miserable flesh, not as yet fully subject to the spirit, prevail and get the upper hand. Against this it will be needful for me to fight, as long as I breathe in this miserable life.
Alas, what a life is this, where tribulation and miseries are never wanting; where all is full of snares and enemies!
For when one tribulation or temptation goeth, another cometh; yea and while the first conflict is yet lasting, many others come unexpected.
4. And how can a life be loved that hath so many embitterments, and is subject to so many calamities and miseries?
How can it be called a life, that begetteth so many deaths and plagues?
And yet it is the object of men's love, and many delight therein.
The world is oftentimes blamed for being deceitful and vain, and yet men do not easily part with it, because the desires of the flesh bear so great a sway.
But some things draw us to love the world, others to contemn it.
