He That Hath No Cross Deserves No

Wouldst Thou Know The Lawfulness Of The Action Which Thou Desirest To Undertake, Let Thy Devotion Recommend It To Divine Blessing: If It Be Lawful, Thou Shalt Perceive Thy Heart Encouraged By Thy Prayer; If Unlawful, Thou Shalt Find Thy Prayer Discouraged By Thy Heart. That Action Is Not Warrantable Which Either Blushes To Beg A Blessing, Or, Having Succeeded, Dares Not Present A Thanksgiving.

If Thou Desire The Love Of God And Man, Be Humble, For The Proud Heart, As It Loves None But Itself, Is Beloved Of None But Itself. Humility Enforces Where Neither Virtue, Nor Strength, Nor Reason Can Prevail.

It Is A Most Just Punishment, That Man Should Lose That Freedom, Which Man Could Not Use, Yet Had Power To Keep, If He Would; And That He Who Had Knowledge To Do What Was Right, And Did Not Should Be Deprived Of The Knowledge Of What Was Right; And That He Who Would Not Do Righteously, When He Had The Power, Should Lose The Power To Do It, When He Had The Will.

A Despairing Heart Is The True Prophet Of Approaching Evil; His Actions May Weave The Webs Of Fortune, But Not Break Them.

Virtue Is Nothing But An Act Of Loving That Which Is To Be Beloved, And That Act Is Prudence, From Whence Not To Be Removed By Constraint Is Fortitude; Not To Be Allured By Enticements Is Temperance; Not To Be Diverted By Pride Is Justice.