stacle
the
more
its
activity
would
increase.
If
it
were
a
piece
of
wood,
a
longer
and
stronger
activity-
would
be
needed
to
consume
it
;
but
if
it
were
only
a
straw,
it
would
be
burned
up
in
a
moment,
and
would
but
very
slightly
impede
its
course.
You
will
notice
that
the
obstacles
which
the
fire
would
encounter
would
only
impart
to
it
a
fresh
stimulus
to
surmount
all
which
prevented
its
union
with
its
centre;
again,
it
is
to
be
remarked,
that
the
more
obstacles
the
fire
might
encounter,
and
the
more
con-siderable
they
might
be,
the
more
they
would
retard
its
course;
and
if
it
were
continually
meeting
with
fresh
ones,
it
would
be
kept
back,
and
prevented
from
returning
whence
it
came.
We
know
by
experi-ence,
that
if
we
continually
add
fuel
to
fire,
we
shall
keep
it
down,
and
prevent
its
rising.
It
is
the
same
with
the
souls
of
men.
Their
instincts
and
natural
propensities
lead
them
towards
God.
They
would
advance
incessantly,
were
it
not
for
the
hindrances
they
meet.
These
hindrances
are
sins
and
imper-fections,
which
prove
the
greater
obstacles
in
the
way
of
their
return
to
God,
according
as
they
are
serious
and
lasting
;
so
that
if
they
continue
in
sin.
