21. If then any man hath begun to be an inhabitant of that heavenly city, an inhabitant, that is, by his life and manners, let him not depart from it, let him not go out again, or retrace his steps, the steps, that is, not of his body but of his mind; let him not turn back. Behind is luxury, behind is impurity. When Lot went up into the mountain he left behind him the crimes of Sodom, but she who looked back, could not reach the higher ground. It is not your feet but your manners which are never to turn back. Let not your hands hang down, or the knees of your faith and devotion become feeble. Let not the weakness of your will be backsliding, let there be no recurrence of crime. Thou hast entered in, remain therefore; thou hast arrived, stay still; _escape for thy life_. Sidenote: Joel iii. 13. Sidenote: S. Luke xvii. 31. Sidenote: Ps. civ. 2. 22. In your ascent your steps must tend directly upwards, no man can safely turn back. Here is the way, there, downfall; here ascent, there a precipice. In ascending there is labour, in descending danger; but the Lord is mighty, Who, when thou art founded there will guard and hedge thee round with prophetic walls and apostolic bulwarks. Therefore the Lord says to thee, _Come, get you down, for the press is full_. Let us be found within, not out of doors. In the Gospel too the Son of God saith, _He which shall be upon the house-top let him not come down to take away his vessels_. And this He says not of this house-top, but of that of which it is said, _He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault_. Sidenote: Joel iii. 9. Sidenote: Phil. iv. 13. 23. Remain within therefore, within Jerusalem, within thine own soul, peaceful, meek, and tranquil. Leave her not, nor descend in order to raise up this vessel of thine, either with honour, or wealth, or pride. Remain within, that aliens may not pass through thee, that sins may not pass through thy mind, vain acts, and idle thoughts: and they will not pass, if thou wilt wage a holy war in the cause of faith and devotion, for the love of truth against the snares of passion, and wilt take up the arms of God against spiritual wickedness and the craft of the devil, who tempts our senses by fraud and stratagem, but who is easily crushed by the gentle warrior, who sees no strife, but, as becomes the servant of God, teaches the faith with modesty, and convinces those who oppose themselves. Of him the Scripture says, _Let the warrior who is gentle arise_[165], and let him that is weak say, _I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me_. Sidenote: Joel iii. 18. Sidenote: 1 Cor. iii. 2. Sidenote: S. John iv. 14.