Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE THIRD AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.337seated within? When does he learn frugality, towhom fine feasts and rich banquets have become ahabit? Or he who in gay sumptuous robesters with srold and purple, when does he redimself to ordinary and simple raimen rwhose bent is to miblic distinctions and ht bear to become a iDrivate and unnoticedman; while one who is thronged by a phalanx ofdependents, and retinued by the overflowing attendanceof an obsequious host, thinks it punishmentto be alone. The temptation still unrelaxed ,need is it that, as before, wine should entice, prideinflate, anger inflame, covetousness disquiet, crueltystimulate, ambition delight, and lust lead headlong." Such were my frequent musings; for whereasI was encumbered with the many sins of my pastlife, which it seemed impossible to be rid of, so Ihad used myself to give way to my clinging infirmities,and, from despair of better things, to humourthe evils of my heart, as slaves born in myouse and my proper offspring. But after thatlife-giving water succoured me, washing away thestain of former years, and pouring into my cleansedand hallowed breast the light which comes fromheaven, after that I drank in the heavenly Spirit,and was created into a new man by a second birth,then marvellously what before was doubtful be-came plain to me, what was hidden was reveawhat was dark began ^^ «^* -"--»* to ^ \^f shine, r^-f* *. -L A .I. vy *what was difficultnow had a way and means, what had seemedii.z