Vol. 2

CHAPTER XIII. 201that is in tlie field not turn back again for to take uphis garment."There is no time, which is not a time of abominationand desolation; since sin, which is the greatestof all, never ceases to lay waste the world. Happythat person, who, during this life, is either on thehouse-top,by having embraced the state of evangelicalperfection, or in the field, by a laborious andpenitential life. It is a great folly in either of them,to go down, or to turn back, in order to take u^ thatwhich they have quitted, and to enter again into theconversation of the world." 17. But wo to them that are with child, and tothem that give suck, in those days !"Unhappy that fruitfuliiess which produces nothingbut miserable wretches ! Happy those women whohave chosen the part to have nothing to do in theworld, but only to secure the salvation of their souls,and, like wise virgins, to keep themselves always in areadiness to trim their lamps !It is a very great misfortune,at the hour of death, either to findonly big with good desires,the heartor to see only some smallbeginnings of good works, as yet feeble and imperfect.To be able to abide the wrath of God, wemust have works, and those such as are animated andstrengthened by charity." 18. And pray ye that your flight be not in thewinter."How late is it, to hei^'in our flight from the worldand sin in the winter of old age and death I In thewinter, the days are short, the ways bad, the seasonrainy,the night comes on before we are aware, andwe meet with a thousand impediments and hinder-I 3