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WHEREFORE, as Scripture says, "when you go forth to serve the Lord
stand in the fear of the Lord, and prepare your mind" not for repose or
carelessness or delights, but for temptations and troubles. For "through
much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God." For "strait is the
gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be which
find it." Consider therefore that you belong to the few and elect; and
do not grow cold after the examples of the lukewarmness of many: but live
as the few, that with the few you may be worthy of a place in the kingdom
of God: for "many are called, but few chosen, and it is a "little flock to
which it is the Father's good pleasure to give" an inheritance. You
should therefore realize that it is no light sin for one who has made
profession of perfection to follow after what is imperfect. And to this
state of perfection you may attain by the following steps and in the
following way.
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