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Many people put a lot of effort into doing good deeds, but it is actually more important to quit doing the bad things first. God wants us to be exclusively on His side, and not partially committed. When it comes to bad habits, feeling inferior and a miserable outlook, quit those early, and quit them often.

(Verweise: Isaiah 1:11-17; Joshua 24:5-15; True Christian Religion 329)

328. The longings of the flesh, the eyes and the remaining senses, if separated from the longings, that is, the affections, desires and pleasures of the spirit, are exactly like the longings of animals, essentially bestial. But the affections of the spirit are such as the angels have, so that they can be called truly human. In so far therefore as anyone indulges the longings of the flesh, so far is he an animal and a wild beast; but in so far as anyone yields to the desires of the spirit, so far is he a human being and an angel. The longings of the flesh can be compared with dried up and parched grapes and with wild grapes; but the affections of the spirit with juicy and tasty grapes, and also with the taste of wine pressed from them. The longings of the flesh can be compared with stables containing asses, goats and pigs; but the affections of the spirit with stables containing thoroughbred horses, as well as sheep and lambs. The difference is like that between an ass and a horse, or between a goat and a sheep, a pig and a lamb ¹ ; or in general terms between dross and gold, or between chalk and silver, coral and ruby, and so on. The longing and the deed cling together like blood and flesh, or like flame and oil. For the longing is in the deed, like the air from the lungs when it becomes breath and speech, or like the wind in a sail when a ship is sailing, or like water in a mill-wheel, which produces the movement and functioning of the machinery.

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