563.众所周知，习惯成自然，因此，对一个人容易的事对另一个人就很难，自我反省和忏悔由此发现的罪过也是一样。对于一个雇工、搬运工或农夫来说，还有什么比用双手从早劳作到晚更容易的呢？然而，生活悠闲的绅士或虚弱的人做同样的工作，仅半个小时就疲倦不堪，汗流浃背。对于一个男仆来说，穿着便鞋陪同工作人员走上几英里是容易的，而一个惯于旅行的人则很难从这条街慢慢跑到下条街。
凡工作积极上进的技工，都能轻松愉快地完成工作任务，要是离开工作岗位，会急于回来；而同行的懒散技工，则很难被驱使工作。每个人都一样，无论他的职位或追求是什么。对于一个勤于虔诚的人，还有比向神祷告更容易的吗？而对于一个耽于不敬的人，还有比这更难的吗？反之亦然。无论哪个牧师，首次在国王面前布道时，谁不胆怯？但若经常这样做，他就无所畏惧了。对于一个似天使的人，还有比将他们的眼目提升到天堂更容易的吗？而对于一个似魔鬼的人，还有比把他们投入地狱更容易的吗？但若后一种人变成伪君子，他也会仰望天堂，不过，他的心却远离。每个人策划好的目的和由此产生的性情都会渗透他里面。
563. 众所周知, 习惯成自然, 因此, 对一个人容易的事对另一个人就很难, 自我反省和忏悔由此发现的罪过也是一样。 对于一个雇工, 搬运工或农夫来说, 还有什么比用双手从早劳作到晚更容易的呢? 然而, 生活悠闲的绅士或虚弱的人做同样的工作, 仅半个小时就疲倦不堪, 汗流浃背。 对于一个男仆来说, 穿着便鞋陪同工作人员走上几英里是容易的, 而一个惯于旅行的人则很难从这条街慢慢跑到下条街。
凡工作积极上进的技工, 都能轻松愉快地完成工作任务, 要是离开工作岗位, 会急于回来; 而同行的懒散技工, 则很难被驱使工作。 每个人都一样, 无论他的职位或追求是什么。 对于一个勤于虔诚的人, 还有比向神祷告更容易的吗? 而对于一个耽于不敬的人, 还有比这更难的吗? 反之亦然。 无论哪个牧师, 首次在国王面前布道时, 谁不胆怯? 但若经常这样做, 他就无所畏惧了。 对于一个似天使的人, 还有比将他们的眼目提升到天堂更容易的吗? 而对于一个似魔鬼的人, 还有比把他们投入地狱更容易的吗? 但若后一种人变成伪君子, 他也会仰望天堂, 不过, 他的心却远离。 每个人策划好的目的和由此产生的性情都会渗透他里面。
563. It is well known that habits form a kind of second nature, and therefore what is easy for one person is difficult for another. This applies also to examining ourselves and confessing what we have found.
It is easy for manual laborers, porters, and farm workers to work with their arms from morning till evening, but a delicate person of the nobility cannot do the same work for half an hour without fatigue and sweating. It is easy for a forerunner with a walking stick and comfortable shoes to ply the road for miles, whereas someone used to riding in a carriage has difficulty jogging slowly from one street to the next.
[2] All artisans who are devoted to their craft pursue it easily and willingly, and when they are away from it they long to get back to it; but it is almost impossible to force a lazy person with the same skills to practice that craft. The same goes for everyone who has some occupation or pursuit.
What is easier for someone who is pursuing religious devotion than praying to God? And what is more difficult for someone who is enslaved to ungodliness?
All priests are afraid the first time they preach before royalty. But after they get used to it, they go on boldly.
What is easier for angelic people than lifting their eyes up to heaven? What is easier for devilish people than casting their eyes down to hell? (If they are hypocrites, however, they can look toward heaven in a similar way, but with aversion of heart.)
We are all saturated with the goal we have in mind and the habits that result from it.
563. It is well known that habit becomes second nature, so that what is easy for one person is difficult for another. The same is true of self-examination and confessing its results. Is there anything easier for a hired labourer, a porter or a farm-labourer than to toil with his hands from morning to night? Yet on the other hand a gentleman who leads a soft life could not do the same for half an hour without fatigue and sweat. It is easy for a runner with a staff and in soft shoes to cover a mile, while one who is used to riding in a carriage can hardly run slowly from one street to the next.
[2] Any artisan who works hard at his job performs it easily and willingly, and when he is away from it is anxious to get back to it; while another who has the same trade, but is lazy, can hardly be at length induced to practise it. It is much the same with anyone who holds any office or is engaged in any study. Is anything easier for the religious zealot than to pray to God, or more difficult for the slave of irreligion, or the reverse of these? Is not any priest who is preaching for the first time before the king afraid? But once he is established as a preacher, he proceeds fearlessly. What is easier for one who is an angel than to lift up his eyes to heaven, or for one who is a devil than to cast them down to hell? But if the second man becomes a hypocrite, he can look up to heaven as well as the first, but keep his heart turned away. The end he has in view and the disposition it engenders permeates every person.
563. It is known that habit is a second nature, and that therefore what is easy for one is difficult for another; and this is true of self-examination and a confession of what is thereby discovered. What is easier for a hired laborer, a porter, or a farmer, than to work with his hands from morning till evening, while a gentleman or a delicate person could not do the same work for half an hour without fatigue and sweating? It is easy for a footman with a staff and easy boots to pursue his way for miles, while one accustomed to ride can hardly run slowly from one street to another. Every mechanic who is attentive to his task goes through it easily and willingly, and when he leaves it, longs to return; while another, who understands the same trade, but is indolent, can scarcely be driven to work. The same is true of everyone, whatever may be his office or pursuit. To one diligent in piety, what is easier than to pray to God? while to one who is a slave to impiety, what is more difficult, and vice versa? What priest, preaching before a king for the first time, does not feel timid? but after doing it frequently he goes through boldly. What is easier for an angelic man than to raise his eyes to heaven, or for a devilish man than to cast them down toward hell? But if the latter becomes a hypocrite, he too can look up to heaven, but his heart is turned away. Everyone becomes imbued with the end he has in view and the habit arising therefrom.
563. It is well known that habit forms a second nature, and consequently that what is easy to one person is difficult to another; so it is with self-examination, and the confession of sins that have been discovered. There is nothing easier than for a hired laborer, a porter, or a farmer to work with his hands from morning till evening, while a gentleman, or one delicately brought up, could not do such work for half an hour without fatigue. It is easy for an out-runner with staff and suitable shoes to run for miles; while a person accustomed to ride in a coach can with difficulty run even slowly from one street to the next. Every workman who is diligent at his work performs it easily and willingly, and when he leaves it, is glad to return to it; whereas another, skilled in the same trade but slothful, can scarcely be driven to it. The case is the same in every employment and pursuit. There is nothing easier than for a person of pious habits to pray to God; and on the other hand, more difficult for one who is a slave to impiety. No priest, preaching for the first time before a king, is free from nervousness; but when he has been accustomed to it, he proceeds with boldness. What is easier than for a man angel to raise his eyes towards heaven, and for a man devil to cast his downward towards hell? If, however, the latter is a hypocrite, he can likewise look upward towards heaven, though his heart is turned away. It is the end regarded, and the habit thence formed, which determine the character.
563. Notum est, quod Consuetudo faciat alteram naturam, et quod inde facile sit uni, quod alteri difficile, ita quoque explorare se, et explorata confiteri; quid facilius est mercenario, bajulo et colono, quam laborare brachiis a mane ad vesperam, cum vicissim honoratus et delicatus absque lassitudine et sudore idem non potest facere semissem 1 horae. Facile est praecursori cum baculo et in mollibus calceis carpere viam millenaris, 2 quum 3 assuefactus vehi curru, vix potest lente currere ab una platea in alteram. Omnis artifex assiduus operi suo facile et libenter id peragit, et abiens ab illo avet redire, cum alius ejusdem artificii gnarus, sed socors, vix tandem cogi ad illud potest: similiter omnis qui in aliqua functione aut in aliquo studio est. Quid pietatis studioso facilius est quam orare ad Deum, et quid impietati emancipato difficilius, et vicissim. Quis sacerdos prima vice concionans coram Rege, non timet, at postquam instauratus est, intrepide pergit. Quid facilius est homini Angelo quam elevare oculos ad Coelum, et homini diabolo dejicere oculos ad infernum, at si hic hypocrita fit, potest similiter suspicere ad Coelum, sed averso corde: finis propter quem, et inde habitus unumquemvis imbuit.
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