Part IV, Chapter II

That We Must Always Have Good Courage

Light, though it be beautiful and lovely to our eyes, nevertheless dazzles them after we have been long in the dark. Before we become familiar with the inhabitants of any country, no matter how courteous and gracious they may be, we find ourselves at a loss amongst them. It may probably happen, Philothea, that this general farewell, which you have bid to the follies and vanities of the world, may make some impressions of sadness and discouragement on your mind. If this should be the case, have a little patience, I pray, for these impressions will soon disappear. It is but a little strangeness, occasioned by novelty; when it shall have passed away you will feel ten thousand consolations.

It may perhaps be painful to you at first to renounce that praise which your vanities extorted from foolish worldlings; but would you, for the sake of this insignificant reward, forfeit that eternal glory with which God will assuredly recompense you? The vain amusements, in which you have hitherto employed your time, will again represent themselves to allure your heart, and invite it to return to them; but can you resolve to renounce eternal happiness for such deceitful fooleries? Believe me, if you persevere, you will quickly receive consolations, so delicious and agreeable that they will force you to acknowledge that the world has nothing but gall in comparison of this honey, and that one day of devotion is preferable to a thousand years expended in all the pleasures that the world can afford.

But you see the mountain of Christian perfection is exceedingly high. O my God! you say, how shall I be able to ascend? Courage, Philothea! When the young bees begin to assume their form we call them nymphs; as yet they are unable to fly to the flowers, the mountains, or the neighboring hills, to gather honey; but, by continuing to feed on the honey which the old ones have prepared, their wings appear, and they acquire sufficient strength to fly and seek their food all over the country. It is true we are as yet but nymphs, or little bees, in devotion, and consequently unable to fly so high as to reach the top of Christian perfection; but yet, as our desires and resolutions begin to assume a form, and our wings begin to grow, we may reasonably hope that we shall one day become spiritual bees, and be able to fly; in the meantime let us feed upon the honey of the many good instructions which other devout persons have left us, and pray to God to give us wings like a dove, that we may not only be enabled to fly up, during the time of this present life, but also rest on the mountain of eternity in the life to come.

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