DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0265
a Devout and Holy Life. 263
Chapter XXIV.
The Conclusion. Of the Excellency and
Greatness of a devout Spirit.
I HAVE now finished what I intended in this Treatise. I
have explained the nature of devotion, both as it signifies
a life devoted to God, and as it signifies a regular method
of daily prayer. I have now only to add a word or two,
in recommendation of a life governed by this spirit of
devotion.
For though it is as reasonable to suppose it the desire of all
Christians to arrive at Christian Perfection, as to suppose, that
all sick men desire to be restored to perfect health; yet ex-
perience shows us, that nothing wants more to be pressed,
repeated, and forced upon our minds, than the plainest rules of
Christianity.
Voluntary poverty, virginity, and devout retirement, have been
here recommended, as things not necessary, yet highly beneficial
to those that would make the way to perfection the most easy
and certain. But Christian perfection itself is tied to no par-
ticular form of life; but is to be attained, though not with the
same ease, in every state of life.
This has been fully asserted in another place ; where • it has
been shown, that Christian perfection calls no one (necessarily) to
a Cloister, but to the full performance of those duties, which are
necessary for all Christians, and common to all states of life*
So that the whole of the matter is plainly this : Virginity,
voluntary poverty, and such other restraints of lawful things, are
not necessary to Christian perfection; but are much to be com-
mended in those, who choose them as helps and means of a more
safe and speedy arrival at it.
It is only in this manner, and in this sense, that I would re-
commend any particularity of life; not as if perfection consisted
in it, but because of its great tendency to produce and support
the true spirit of Christian perfection.
But the thing which is here pressed upon all, is a life of great
and strict devotion ; which, I think, has been sufficiently shown
to be equally the duty and happiness of all orders of men.
Neither is there anything in any particular state of life, that can be
justly pleaded as a reason for any abatements of a devout spirit.
* ' Christian Perfection,' p. 2.
Chapter XXIV.
The Conclusion. Of the Excellency and
Greatness of a devout Spirit.
I HAVE now finished what I intended in this Treatise. I
have explained the nature of devotion, both as it signifies
a life devoted to God, and as it signifies a regular method
of daily prayer. I have now only to add a word or two,
in recommendation of a life governed by this spirit of
devotion.
For though it is as reasonable to suppose it the desire of all
Christians to arrive at Christian Perfection, as to suppose, that
all sick men desire to be restored to perfect health; yet ex-
perience shows us, that nothing wants more to be pressed,
repeated, and forced upon our minds, than the plainest rules of
Christianity.
Voluntary poverty, virginity, and devout retirement, have been
here recommended, as things not necessary, yet highly beneficial
to those that would make the way to perfection the most easy
and certain. But Christian perfection itself is tied to no par-
ticular form of life; but is to be attained, though not with the
same ease, in every state of life.
This has been fully asserted in another place ; where • it has
been shown, that Christian perfection calls no one (necessarily) to
a Cloister, but to the full performance of those duties, which are
necessary for all Christians, and common to all states of life*
So that the whole of the matter is plainly this : Virginity,
voluntary poverty, and such other restraints of lawful things, are
not necessary to Christian perfection; but are much to be com-
mended in those, who choose them as helps and means of a more
safe and speedy arrival at it.
It is only in this manner, and in this sense, that I would re-
commend any particularity of life; not as if perfection consisted
in it, but because of its great tendency to produce and support
the true spirit of Christian perfection.
But the thing which is here pressed upon all, is a life of great
and strict devotion ; which, I think, has been sufficiently shown
to be equally the duty and happiness of all orders of men.
Neither is there anything in any particular state of life, that can be
justly pleaded as a reason for any abatements of a devout spirit.
* ' Christian Perfection,' p. 2.