by this motive in your conduct, especially in the inward acts of the mind, or in short outward actions, you must rest satisfied that you virtually have it, from the habit of maintaining a pure intention of pleasing God Alone in all you do.
But in actions which occupy some space of time, it is well not to be content with kindling this motive in your heart at the commencement of the action, but also to be careful to renew it frequently whilst the action is going on, and thus to preserve it alive to the very end.
If you neglect to do this, you will be in danger of falling into a snare, which our natural self-love prepares—for it is always more inclined and ready to follow its own course than to yield to God—namely, that of changing unconsciously after a time the objects and aims which you had in view when you began the action.
The servant of God, unless he is alive to this danger, often commences a work with the sole object of pleasing his Lord; but by degrees, and almost imperceptibly, he begins to take such pleasure in the work itself, that, losing sight of the Divine Will, he turns aside and becomes attached to the satisfaction he experiences in doing it, and to the advantage or credit he gains from it.
Then, if God Himself place some hindrance in his way, and the work is impeded by sickness,
