spect the spiritual traveller is unlike the one who performs an earthly journey, for the latter may rest without losing the ground he has gained, while with the former this would be impossible. There is another difference too between them: the weariness of the earthly traveller increases with the continuance of the bodily exertion, while in the spiritual journey, the longer the traveller walks the more strength and vigour he gains. For by the habit of virtue, the lower nature, which by its rebellion at first makes the way rough and toilsome, is gradually weakened; while the higher nature, in which virtue resides, gets more firm and more robust.
Therefore, as we progress in holiness, the pain which we felt lessens, and a certain secret joy, which, by the Divine working had intermingled with it, increases more and more.
In this way, by steadily going on from one virtue to another, we arrive at last at the summit of the mountain, where the perfected soul can work without weariness, nay, with pleasure and joyfulness; because, having now conquered and tamed its unruly passions, and having risen above all created things and above itself, it lives happily in the Heart of the Most High, and there, sweetly labouring, finds its repose.
