On the same day he writes: "I will not feed my body with impure food--is it not of infinitely more importance that I should not feed my spirit with deeds of impurity?
By this I mean my gaining a living by making and selling articles which, in my judgment, are injurious, being luxurious and altogether unnecessary.

Should I cease from doing that which is contrary to my spirit, what else should I do?
O Lord, enlighten Thou my path!" With what zeal he still persisted in the practice of bodily mortification this entry bears witness: "December 6 .-- Day before yesterday I fasted and took a cold shower-bath.

My diet is apples, potatoes, nuts, and unleavened bread.
No water--scarcely a mouthful a week." Then follow some thoughts on the solidarity of humanity, which retards individual progress by weighting each with the burdens of all others.

He finds in this an explanation of the truth that our Lord took all the sins of men upon Himself and suffered for them on the cross.

The blind ingratitude with which this sacrifice has been repaid cuts him with anguish, from which he rises into this cry of love and adoration: "O Lord! my heart is choked from the utterance of its depth of thankfulness.