Whenever a man desires anything inordinately, at once he
becomes restless. A proud and avaricious man is never at rest;
but a poor and humble man enjoys the riches of peace. A man
who is not yet perfectly dead to self is easily tempted, and is
overcome even in small and trifling things. And he who
weak in spirit, and still a prey to the senses and bodily passions,
can only with great difficulty free himself from worldly lusts.
Therefore he is sad when he does so withdraw himself, and
quickly angered when anyone opposes him. Yet, if he obtains
what he desires, his conscience is at once stricken by remorse,
because he has yielded to his passion, which in no way helps
him in his search for peace. True peace of heart can be found
only by resisting the passions, not by yielding to them. There
is no peace in the heart of a worldly man, who is entirely
given to outward affairs; but only in a fervent, spiritual
man,
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