Book I, Chapter VII Summary and Analysis

Spiritual envy and sloth are two vices that do not seem to give beginning Christians too much trouble. Spiritual envy comes mostly when a new believer hears another being praised and wants that praise for himself and will try to devalue the praise. Spiritual sloth interferes with growth when they abandon the ways of Christianity when they don't get the rewards for which they hoped. Slothful Christians have trouble aligning themselves with the will of God and believe that things they want are God's will for them. They do not want to do things that bring no pleasure, even if they are commanded by God or by their spiritual leaders. St. John makes his transition from the imperfections of beginning Christians into his discussion of the dark night.