If we hope to be saved, we must follow the rule of life taught by Jesus Christ.

By the rule of life taught by Jesus Christ we are bound always to hate sin and to love God.

We must hate sin above all other evils, so as to be resolved never to commit a wilful sin, for the love or fear of anything whatsoever.

We must love God above all things, and with our whole heart.

We must learn to love God by begging of God to teach us to love him: 'O my God, teach me to love you'.

The love of God will lead us often to think how good God is; often to speak to him in our hearts; and always to seek to please him.

Jesus Christ also commands us to love one another - that is, all persons without exception - for his sake.

We are to love one another by wishing well to one another, and praying for one another; and by never allowing ourselves any thought, word or deed to the injury of anyone.

We are also bound to love our enemies; not only by forgiving them from our hearts, but also by wishing them well, and praying for them.

Jesus Christ has given us another great rule in these words 'if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me'. Luke 9:23

We are to deny ourselves by giving up our own will, and by going against our own humors, inclinations, and passions.

We are bound to deny ourselves because our natural inclinations are prone to evil from our very childhood; and, if not corrected by self-denial, they will certainly carry us to hell.  

We are to take up our cross daily by submitting daily with patience to the labours and sufferings of this short life, and by bearing them willingly for the love of God.

We are to follow our Blessed Lord by walking in his footsteps and imitating his virtues.

The principal virtues we are to learn of our Blessed Lord are meekness, humility, and obedience.

The enemies which we must fight against all the days of our life are the devil, the world, and the flesh.

By the devil I mean Satan and all his wicked angels, who are ever seeking to draw us into sin, that we may be damned with them.

By the world I mean the false maxims of the world and the society of those who love the vanities, riches and pleasures of this world better than God.

I number the devil and the world amongst the enemies of the soul because they are always seeking, by temptation and by work or example, to carry us along with them in the broad road that leads to damnation.

By the flesh I mean our own corrupt inclinations and passions, which are the most dangerous of all our enemies.

To hinder the enemies of our soul from drawing us into sin, we must watch, pray, and fight against all their suggestions and temptations.

In the warfare against the devil, the world, and the flesh we must depend not on ourselves but on God only; 'I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me'. Philip. 4:13