Vol. 2

CHAPTER V. 371the internal, tliework to the strength, the labour tothe ability of every one. A man thinks it good husbandryto put his new wine into old vessels; and hethereby ruins himself. He thinks to advance a soulvery fast, by putting it immediately on that which ismost perfect ; and he, by so doing, sometimes sets itvery far backward. The business is, not for a manto teach the soulunder his direction whatever goodhe knows himself; but to feed it with truths in proportionto its wants, and according to the strength ofits spiritual stomach, and to cause it to practise themaccording to the measure of its grace." 39. No man also, having drunk old wine,straightway desireth new; for he saith. The old isbetter."As old habits are difficult to be overcome, great regardmust be had to them at first. It is rashness ina spiritual director to undertake that which gracesometimes performs all at once. Habits are ordinarilycorrected only by other habits; and there mustbe time to form them; because, in order to obtainthe grace of them, much prayer, labour, and meditationon God's law, are necessary.If we do not earnestlybeg the rehsh of Christian truths, and the loveof the wholesome rigourof the gospel, the new lawof Jesus Christ will always appear to us a paradox,and his new yoke an insupportable one.