is
now
like
a
peaceful
lake
on
a
mountain-top,
to
the
brow
of
the
hill
in
order
to
precipitate
it,
and
to
start
it
on
a
course
which
will
be
more
or
less
rapid
according
to
the
depth
of
its
fall.
It
appears
to
me
that
even
the
most
advanced
in
this
degree
have
a
habit
of
concealing
their
faults,
both
from
themselves
and
others,
always
finding
excuses
and
extenuations
;
not
designedly,
but
from
a
certain
love
of
their
own
excellence,
and
a
habitual
dissimulation
under
which
they
hide
themselves.
The
faults
which
cause
them
the
deepest
solicitude
are
those
which
are
most
apparent
lo
others.
They
have
a
hidden
love
of
self,
stronger
than
ever,
an
esteem
for
their
own
position,
a
secret
desire
to
attract
attention,
an
affected
modesty,
a
facility
in
judging
others,
and
a
pre-ference
for
private
devotion
rather
than
domestic
duties,
which
renders
them
the
cause
of
many
of
the
sins
of
those
around
them.
This
is
of
great
importance.
The
soul,
feeling
itself
drawn
so
strongly
and
sweetly,
desires
to
be
always
alone
and
in
prayer,
which
gives
rise
to
two
evils
—
the
first,
that
in
its
seasons
of
greatest
liberty
it
spends
too
I
