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AND this movement of the heart is not unsuitably illustrated by the
comparison of a mill wheel, which the headlong rush of water whirls round,
with revolving impetus, and which can never stop its work so long as it is
driven round by the action of the water: but it is in the power of the man
who directs it, to decide whether he will have wheat or barley or darnel
ground by it. That certainly must be crushed by it which is put into it by
the man who has charge of that business. So then the mind also through the
trials of the present life is driven about by the torrents of temptations
pouring in upon it from all sides, and cannot be free from the flow of
thoughts: but the character of the thoughts which it should either throw
off or admit for itself, it will provide by the efforts of its own
earnestness and diligence: for if, as we said, we constantly recur to
meditation on the Holy Scriptures and raise our memory towards the
recollection of spiritual things and the desire of perfection and the hope
of future bliss, spiritual thoughts are sure to rise from this, and cause
the mind to dwell on those things on which we have been meditating. But if
we are overcome by sloth or carelessness and spend our time in idle gossip,
or are entangled in the cares of this world and unnecessary anxieties, the
result will be that a sort of species of tares will spring up, and afford
an injurious occupation for our hearts, and as our Lord and Saviour says,
wherever the treasure of our works or purpose may be, there also our heart
is sure to continue.
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