Christian lies, and that to obtain it you must enter upon a constant and sharp warfare against self; you must provide yourself with four very safe and highly necessary weapons, that you may win the palm, and be finally a conqueror in this spiritual conflict—these are,
| Distrust of self | I. | |
| Trust in God | II. | |
| Spiritual Exercises | III. | |
| Prayer | IV. |
Concerning all these, with God's help, we intend plainly and briefly to treat.
CHAPTER II.
Of Distrust of Ourselves.
DISTRUST of yourself is so necessary in the spiritual combat, that without it you may be assured that you will neither gain the desired victory, nor be able to overcome even the weakest of your passions. You must be firmly convinced in your mind that this is the case, for we are too prone through our natural corruption to make a false estimate of ourselves; so that, though we are absolutely nothing, we persuade ourselves that we are something, and presume without the slightest foundation on our own strength.
