perfection, making us aspire to and aim after it, and thus rendering us forgetful of the enemies who are close at hand and are actually assaulting and injuring us.
Hence we are continually wounded, but pay no regard to our wounds; and, estimating our intentions as if they were fulfilled, we are filled with various feelings of pride.
Thus, while we will not brook the least contradiction of word or deed, we spend our time in making long meditations and resolutions about bearing sufferings sharper than those which shall be hereafter, for the love of God. And because our lower nature, in the case of pains which are so far off, feels no repugnance to them, therefore do we poor creatures flatter ourselves, that we are already to be classed with those who endure agonies patiently.
To avoid this snare, resolve to fight against those enemies who are close at hand, and are really attacking you. You will in this way discover whether your resolutions are true or deceptive, strong or frail; and you will travel on towards virtue and perfection, by the well-beaten and royal road.
But with regard to enemies who are not now wont to harass you, unless you foresee that they are likely at some time hence to do so, I do not advise you to offer battle; you may, how-
