It Is Evident That You Contend Against

Great Winds And Storms Help Fruit-bearing Trees. So Also Do Corruptions And Temptations Help The Fruitfulness Of Grace And Holiness. The Storm Loosens The Earth Round Its Roots So The Tree Is Able To Get Its Roots Deeper Into The Earth, Where It Receives Fresh Supplies Of Nourishment. But Only Much Later Will It Be Seen To Bring Forth Better Fruit. So Corruptions And Temptations Develop The Roots Of Humility, Self-abasement And Mourning In A Deeper Search For That Grace By Which Holiness Grows Strong. But Only Later Will There Be Visible Fruits Of Increased Holiness.

Mortification Is The Soul's Vigorous Opposition To Self, Wherein Sincerity Is Most Evident.

Christ So Loves His People That He Sings With Joy Over Them.

Let No Man Think To Kill Sin With Few, Easy, Or Gentle Strokes. He Who Hath Once Smitten A Serpent, If He Follow Not On His Blow Until It Be Slain, May Repent That Ever He Began The Quarrel. And So He Who Undertakes To Deal With Sin, And Pursues It Not Constantly To The Death.

Now Nothing Can Prevent This But Mortification; That Withers The Root And Strikes At The Head Of Sin Every Hour, So That Whatever It Aims At It Is Crossed In.