cannot know how much she loved Him. Such as these would wish to be all for Jesus, but they wish it if God will be satisfied with a divided love — if God would accept of a service of their own, and not the one He desires.
They would like to be perfect, but only in their own imperfect way; they wish to rely on human prudence, and if anything overtax their strength, they lose courage and are frightened at the least difficulty.
Vain are the desires, frivolous are the pretexts, of a heart steeped in tepidity.
*******
Howsoever long you may have lived, howsoever persevering you have been in doing well, oh! do not say, " It is enough, I am all right now; " for this would be as much as to say, " It is sufficient, I will now begin to slacken and fall off."
