Truly, it is a good thing to give up ourselves and our wills; though it is best to do this to the Lord Himself, fully and once for all. We should understand that true devotion consists not only in giving up ourselves, however deeply and fully it is done and intended, or in giving ourselves to the Church, to be governed and directed as to our wills for God's sake; but it consists in giving up ourselves to Christ Himself directly, and that to follow Him. The most essential part, however, of the whole matter, and one which is of more consequence for the purposes of devotion than this, is the believing that Christ has taken us. He is more willing to take than we to give; and this, indeed is the real object of faith. We are not required to believe that we give, but that He takes.

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