126. With respect to the renunciation of the world: It is believed by many, that renouncing the world, and living in the spirit and not in the flesh, consists in casting away worldly things, which are chiefly riches and places of honour; and, further, in constantly going about, in pious meditation concerning God, salvation, and eternal life; and in spending one's life in prayer, in reading the Word, and pious books, and also in doing penance. But this is not meant by renouncing the world. Renouncing the world means loving God and loving the neighbour; and God is loved when a man lives according to His commandments; and the neighbour is loved, when a man performs uses. In order therefore that a man may receive the life of heaven it is absolutely necessary that he live in the world, and engage in its various duties and vocations. A life sequestered from worldly things, is a life of thought, and of faith separated from a life of love and charity; and in such a life willing good and doing good to the neighbour perish. And when the latter perish, spiritual life is like a house without any foundation, which gradually either subsides, or cracks and gapes open, or else totters until it falls.