A very common supposition

(John Angell James, "Christian Love" 1828)

It is a very common supposition that it is 
an easy thing to be a Christian. And if to be 
a Christian were nothing more than . . .
  going to a place of worship,
  indulging in pious emotions,
  subscribing to religious institutions, and
  professing certain religious opinions,
--the supposition would be correct--for 
nothing is more easy than all this!

But if the spirit of true piety is . . . 
  poverty of spirit, 
  humility, 
  self-abasement, 
  forgiveness of insults,
  patience under provocation, 
  penitence,
  meekness,
  purity,
  peaceableness,
  thirsting after righteousness,
--then must it be obvious to everyone who knows 
his own heart, that to be a true Christian is the 
most difficult thing in the world!