Volume II, Treatise I, Chapter XIV

That We Ought to Mortify Ourselves Chiefly in that Vice or Passion

which predominates in us, and causes us to fall into the greatest faults.

Iv is written in the first book of Kings, that God, by the mouth of Samuel, commanded Saul entirely to destroy the Amalecites; not to spare sex or age, but to kill all, even their herds of cattle, and domestic creatures. ‘ Saul, notwithstanding, and all the people,” says the scripture, “pardoned Agag, and spared the fairest and the best amongst the flocks and spoils, and destroyed all the rest which was of little or no value.”—(1 Reg. xv. 9.) There are many persons, that now-a-days do the same. They mortify themselves in small matters, but spare themselves in great things that are of importance; and hereby still persist in their ill habits. But it is for such as these, I say, that what is most precious and dear to us, is what we must chiefly take notice of, to mortify ourselves therein, and to make a sacrifice thereof to God. What then did Samuel do? He goes. and finds out Saul, gives him a short reprehension on God’s part, caused Agag king of Amalec to be brought before him; “and Agag, who was very fat, being brought to him, Samuel cut him in pieces before our Lord.” —(1 Reg. xv. 32, 33.) Behold what you ought to do; you must destroy the king of the Amalecites, that is to say, sacrifice to God, by means of mortification, that passion which chiefly reigns in you, that vanity, this pride with which you are puffed up, that desire of glory and reputation, this impatience, this bad and untractable humour wherein you abound. There are some who labour strenuously threat, and who make sanctity consist in the exterior—in preserving a meek and edifying manner, and in displaying great moderation in all they do. But as to interior mortification, which is of greatest importance, they think not at all of it; but, on the contrary, are attached only to their own wills and judgments, and are more jealous of their honour and fame than any one can be. To such as these we may say in some measure, what our Saviour said to the scribes and pharisees: “wo to you scribes and pharisees, who make clean the outside of your cups and dishes, and yet are full of rapine and impurity within. Blind pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may also become clean.”-—(Mat. xxiii. 25). Make clean therefore, and mortify first your interior, if you would have your exterior neat and clean. For if this exterior modesty proceeds not from an interior peace and tranquillity of mind, all this is but deceit and hypocrisy. ‘ You are,” says our Saviour, ‘like painted sepulchres, which appear fair on the outside to the eyes of men, but within are full of dead men’s bones, and all kind of corruption.” (Ibid. 5:27). And what he said a little before in the same chapter, is more to our purpose. ‘ Wo be to you scribes and pharisees, who pay your tithes of mint, anise, and cummin, and have neglected what is of greater importance in the law, which is judgment, mercy, and. faith.” (Ibid. 5:23) This is exactly adapted to our subject; because there are some who take great care to mortify themselves in small matters, which cost them little or nothing; but what hurts or touches them to the quick, they take very great care to avoid. This, however, is what we must attack —this passion, this vice, this bad inclination, this ill habit which most of all reigns within us, which leads and governs us, which exposes us to greatest dangers, and causes us to fall into the worst of faults—it is this we ought chiefly to mortify. We see by expeperience, that there is scarce any one, but feels within himself some one thing that makes a more dangerous war against him, than all the rest; and that more strongly opposes his spiritual advancement in perfection. It is to this that every one is particularly to apply himself, to endeavour by mortification, to draw it out by the root. It is upon this we ought chiefly to cast our eyes, in our particular examin, and must dwell upon in our prayer; because it is this which each one has most need to reform in himself.

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