Oh, my friends, young people especially, beware; beware
lest you fall into the same miserable state of mind. The kingdom of
God is within you. The Holy Spirit, by which you were regenerate in
holy baptism, is stirring and pleading with your hearts, making you
happy when you do right, unhappy when you do wrong. Oh, listen to
those good thoughts and feelings within you! Never fancy that they
are your own thoughts and feelings: else you will fancy that you can
put them away and take them back again when you choose to change and
become religious. Do not let the devil deceive you into that notion.
These good thoughts and feelings are the Spirit of God. They are the
signs that the kingdom of God is within you; that God is King and
Master of your hearts and minds; and that you cannot keep Him out of
them: but that He can enter into them when He likes, and put right
thoughts into them. But though you cannot prevent God and His
kingdom entering into you, you can refuse to enter into it. Alas!
alas! how many of you shut your ears to God's voice: try to drive
God's Spirit out of your own hearts; try to forget what is right,
because it is unpleasant to remember it, and say to yourselves, "I
will have my own way.
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