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diff --git a/1653-0.txt b/1653-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fba98fe --- /dev/null +++ b/1653-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7262 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Imitation of Christ + +Author: Thomas à Kempis + +Translator: William Benham + +Release Date: February, 1999 [eBook #1653] +[Most recently updated: May 5, 2023] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IMITATION OF CHRIST *** + + + + +The Imitation of Christ + +by Thomas à Kempis + +Translated by Rev. William Benham + + +Contents + + INTRODUCTORY NOTE + THE IMITATION OF CHRIST + + THE FIRST BOOK ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE + CHAPTER I Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities + CHAPTER II Of thinking humbly of oneself + CHAPTER III Of the knowledge of truth + CHAPTER IV Of prudence in action + CHAPTER V Of the reading of Holy Scriptures + CHAPTER VI Of inordinate affections + CHAPTER VII Of fleeing from vain hope and pride + CHAPTER VIII Of the danger of too much familiarity + CHAPTER IX Of Obedience and Subjection + CHAPTER X Of the danger of superfluity of words + CHAPTER XI Of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress + CHAPTER XII Of the uses of adversity + CHAPTER XIII Of resisting temptation + CHAPTER XIV On avoiding rash judgment + CHAPTER XV Of works of charity + CHAPTER XVI Of bearing with the faults of others + CHAPTER XVII Of a Religious life + CHAPTER XVIII Of the example of the holy fathers + CHAPTER XIX Of the exercises of a religious man + CHAPTER XX Of the love of solitude and silence + CHAPTER XXI Of compunction of heart + CHAPTER XXII On the contemplation of human misery + CHAPTER XXIII Of meditation upon death + CHAPTER XXIV Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked + CHAPTER XXV Of the zealous amendment of our whole life + + THE SECOND BOOK ADMONITIONS CONCERNING THE INNER LIFE + CHAPTER I Of the inward life + CHAPTER II Of lowly submission + CHAPTER III Of the good, peaceable man + CHAPTER IV Of a pure mind and simple intention + CHAPTER V Of self-esteem + CHAPTER VI Of the joy of a good conscience + CHAPTER VII Of loving Jesus above all things + CHAPTER VIII Of the intimate love of Jesus + CHAPTER IX Of the lack of all comfort + CHAPTER X Of gratitude for the Grace of God + CHAPTER XI Of the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus + CHAPTER XII Of the royal way of the Holy Cross + + THE THIRD BOOK ON INWARD CONSOLATION + CHAPTER I Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul + CHAPTER II What the truth saith inwardly without noise of words + CHAPTER III How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many consider them not + CHAPTER IV How we must walk in truth and humility before God + CHAPTER V Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love + CHAPTER VI Of the proving of the true lover + CHAPTER VII Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility + CHAPTER VIII Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God + CHAPTER IX That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end + CHAPTER X That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God + CHAPTER XI That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed + CHAPTER XII Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil desires + CHAPTER XIII Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ + CHAPTER XIV Of meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we may not be lifted up because of our well-doing + CHAPTER XV How we must stand and speak, in everything that we desire + CHAPTER XVI That true solace is to be sought in God alone + CHAPTER XVII That all care is to be cast upon God + CHAPTER XVIII That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of Christ + CHAPTER XIX Of bearing injuries, and who shall be approved as truly patient + CHAPTER XX Of confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life + CHAPTER XXI That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts + CHAPTER XXII Of the recollection of God’s manifold benefits + CHAPTER XXIII Of four things which bring great peace + CHAPTER XXIV Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another + CHAPTER XXV Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist + CHAPTER XXVI Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth than doth frequent reading + CHAPTER XXVII That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good + CHAPTER XXVIII Against the tongues of detractors + CHAPTER XXIX How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God + CHAPTER XXX Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace + CHAPTER XXXI Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found + CHAPTER XXXII Of self-denial and the casting away all selfishness + CHAPTER XXXIII Of instability of the heart, and of directing the aim towards God + CHAPTER XXXIV That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things + CHAPTER XXXV That there is no security against temptation in this life + CHAPTER XXXVI Against vain judgments of men + CHAPTER XXXVII Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart + CHAPTER XXXVIII Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God in dangers + CHAPTER XXXIX That man must not be immersed in business + CHAPTER XL That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory + CHAPTER XLI Of contempt of all temporal honour + CHAPTER XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men + CHAPTER XLIII Against vain and worldly knowledge + CHAPTER XLIV Of not troubling ourselves about outward things + CHAPTER XLV That we must not believe everyone, and that we are prone to fall in our words + CHAPTER XLVI Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us + CHAPTER XLVII That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life + CHAPTER XLVIII Of the day of eternity and of the straitnesses of this life + CHAPTER XLIX Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised to those who strive + CHAPTER L How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God + CHAPTER LI That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to those that are lofty + CHAPTER LII That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more worthy of chastisement + CHAPTER LIII That the Grace of God doth not join itself to those who mind earthly things + CHAPTER LIV Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace + CHAPTER LV Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace + CHAPTER LVI That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by means of the Cross + CHAPTER LVII That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some faults + CHAPTER LVIII Of deeper matters, and God’s hidden judgments which are not to be inquired into + CHAPTER LIX That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone + + THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR + CHAPTER I With how great reverence Christ must be received + CHAPTER II That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the Sacrament + CHAPTER III That it is profitable to Communicate often + CHAPTER IV That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate devoutly + CHAPTER V Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest + CHAPTER VI An inquiry concerning preparation for Communion + CHAPTER VII Of the examination of conscience, and purpose of amendment + CHAPTER VIII Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of self + CHAPTER IX That we ought to offer ourselves and all that is ours to God, and to pray for all + CHAPTER X That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted + CHAPTER XI That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most necessary to a faithful soul + CHAPTER XII That he who is about to Communicate with Christ ought to prepare himself with great diligence + CHAPTER XIII That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament + CHAPTER XIV Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and Blood of Christ + CHAPTER XV That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial + CHAPTER XVI That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require His Grace + CHAPTER XVII Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ + CHAPTER XVIII That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + + +The treatise “Of the Imitation of Christ” appears to have been +originally written in Latin early in the fifteenth century. Its exact +date and its authorship are still a matter of debate. Manuscripts of +the Latin version survive in considerable numbers all over Western +Europe, and they, with the vast list of translations and of printed +editions, testify to its almost unparalleled popularity. One scribe +attributes it to St. Bernard of Clairvaux; but the fact that it +contains a quotation from St. Francis of Assisi, who was born thirty +years after the death of St. Bernard, disposes of this theory. In +England there exist many manuscripts of the first three books, called +“Musica Ecclesiastica,” frequently ascribed to the English mystic +Walter Hilton. But Hilton seems to have died in 1395, and there is no +evidence of the existence of the work before 1400. Many manuscripts +scattered throughout Europe ascribe the book to Jean le Charlier de +Gerson, the great Chancellor of the University of Paris, who was a +leading figure in the Church in the earlier part of the fifteenth +century. The most probable author, however, especially when the +internal evidence is considered, is Thomas Haemmerlein, known also as +Thomas à Kempis, from his native town of Kempen, near the Rhine, about +forty miles north of Cologne. Haemmerlein, who was born in 1379 or +1380, was a member of the order of the Brothers of Common Life, and +spent the last seventy years of his life at Mount St. Agnes, a +monastery of Augustinian canons in the diocese of Utrecht. Here he died +on July 26, 1471, after an uneventful life spent in copying +manuscripts, reading, and composing, and in the peaceful routine of +monastic piety. + +With the exception of the Bible, no Christian writing has had so wide a +vogue or so sustained a popularity as this. And yet, in one sense, it +is hardly an original work at all. Its structure it owes largely to the +writings of the medieval mystics, and its ideas and phrases are a +mosaic from the Bible and the Fathers of the early Church. But these +elements are interwoven with such delicate skill and a religious +feeling at once so ardent and so sound, that it promises to remain, +what it has been for five hundred years, the supreme call and guide to +spiritual aspiration. + + + + +THE IMITATION OF CHRIST + + + + +THE FIRST BOOK +ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its +vanities + + +_He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness_,(1) saith the Lord. +These are the words of Christ; and they teach us how far we must +imitate His life and character, if we seek true illumination, and +deliverance from all blindness of heart. Let it be our most earnest +study, therefore, to dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ. + +2. His teaching surpasseth all teaching of holy men, and such as have +His Spirit find therein the hidden manna.(2) But there are many who, +though they frequently hear the Gospel, yet feel but little longing +after it, because they have not the mind of Christ. He, therefore, that +will fully and with true wisdom understand the words of Christ, let him +strive to conform his whole life to that mind of Christ. + +3. What doth it profit thee to enter into deep discussion concerning +the Holy Trinity, if thou lack humility, and be thus displeasing to the +Trinity? For verily it is not deep words that make a man holy and +upright; it is a good life which maketh a man dear to God. I had rather +feel contrition than be skilful in the definition thereof. If thou +knewest the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what +should all this profit thee without the love and grace of God? Vanity +of vanities, all is vanity, save to love God, and Him only to serve. +That is the highest wisdom, to cast the world behind us, and to reach +forward to the heavenly kingdom. + +4. It is vanity then to seek after, and to trust in, the riches that +shall perish. It is vanity, too, to covet honours, and to lift up +ourselves on high. It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and +be led by them, for this shall bring misery at the last. It is vanity +to desire a long life, and to have little care for a good life. It is +vanity to take thought only for the life which now is, and not to look +forward to the things which shall be hereafter. It is vanity to love +that which quickly passeth away, and not to hasten where eternal joy +abideth. + +5. Be ofttimes mindful of the saying,(3) The eye is not satisfied with +seeing, nor the ear with hearing. Strive, therefore, to turn away thy +heart from the love of the things that are seen, and to set it upon the +things that are not seen. For they who follow after their own fleshly +lusts, defile the conscience, and destroy the grace of God. + +(1) John viii. 12. (2) Revelations ii. 17. (3) Ecclesiastes i. 8. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +Of thinking humbly of oneself + + +There is naturally in every man a desire to know, but what profiteth +knowledge without the fear of God? Better of a surety is a lowly +peasant who serveth God, than a proud philosopher who watcheth the +stars and neglecteth the knowledge of himself. He who knoweth himself +well is vile in his own sight; neither regardeth he the praises of men. +If I knew all the things that are in the world, and were not in +charity, what should it help me before God, who is to judge me +according to my deeds? + +2. Rest from inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is found much +distraction and deceit. Those who have knowledge desire to appear +learned, and to be called wise. Many things there are to know which +profiteth little or nothing to the soul. And foolish out of measure is +he who attendeth upon other things rather than those which serve to his +soul’s health. Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life +refresheth the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence +towards God. + +3. The greater and more complete thy knowledge, the more severely shalt +thou be judged, unless thou hast lived holily. Therefore be not lifted +up by any skill or knowledge that thou hast; but rather fear concerning +the knowledge which is given to thee. If it seemeth to thee that thou +knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there +are many more things which thou knowest not. Be not high-minded, but +rather confess thine ignorance. Why desirest thou to lift thyself above +another, when there are found many more learned and more skilled in the +Scripture than thou? If thou wilt know and learn anything with profit, +love to be thyself unknown and to be counted for nothing. + +4. That is the highest and most profitable lesson, when a man truly +knoweth and judgeth lowly of himself. To account nothing of one’s self, +and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and +perfect wisdom. Even shouldest thou see thy neighbor sin openly or +grievously, yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for +thou knowest not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us +are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Of the knowledge of truth + + +Happy is the man whom Truth by itself doth teach, not by figures and +transient words, but as it is in itself.(1) Our own judgment and +feelings often deceive us, and we discern but little of the truth. What +doth it profit to argue about hidden and dark things, concerning which +we shall not be even reproved in the judgment, because we knew them +not? Oh, grievous folly, to neglect the things which are profitable and +necessary, and to give our minds to things which are curious and +hurtful! Having eyes, we see not. + +2. And what have we to do with talk about genus and species! He to whom +the Eternal Word speaketh is free from multiplied questionings. From +this One Word are all things, and all things speak of Him; and this is +the Beginning which also speaketh unto us.(2) No man without Him +understandeth or rightly judgeth. The man to whom all things are one, +who bringeth all things to one, who seeth all things in one, he is able +to remain steadfast of spirit, and at rest in God. O God, who art the +Truth, make me one with Thee in everlasting love. It wearieth me +oftentimes to read and listen to many things; in Thee is all that I +wish for and desire. Let all the doctors hold their peace; let all +creation keep silence before Thee: speak Thou alone to me. + +3. The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things +and the deeper things he understandeth; and that without labour, +because he receiveth the light of understanding from above. The spirit +which is pure, sincere, and steadfast, is not distracted though it hath +many works to do, because it doth all things to the honour of God, and +striveth to be free from all thoughts of self-seeking. Who is so full +of hindrance and annoyance to thee as thine own undisciplined heart? A +man who is good and devout arrangeth beforehand within his own heart +the works which he hath to do abroad; and so is not drawn away by the +desires of his evil will, but subjecteth everything to the judgment of +right reason. Who hath a harder battle to fight than he who striveth +for self-mastery? And this should be our endeavour, even to master +self, and thus daily to grow stronger than self, and go on unto +perfection. + +4. All perfection hath some imperfection joined to it in this life, and +all our power of sight is not without some darkness. A lowly knowledge +of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of man’s +learning. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of +anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better +than all. And because many seek knowledge rather than good living, +therefore they go astray, and bear little or no fruit. + +5. O if they would give that diligence to the rooting out of vice and +the planting of virtue which they give unto vain questionings: there +had not been so many evil doings and stumbling-blocks among the laity, +nor such ill living among houses of religion. Of a surety, at the Day +of Judgment it will be demanded of us, not what we have read, but what +we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how holily we have +lived. Tell me, where now are all those masters and teachers, whom thou +knewest well, whilst they were yet with you, and flourished in +learning? Their stalls are now filled by others, who perhaps never have +one thought concerning them. Whilst they lived they seemed to be +somewhat, but now no one speaks of them. + +6. Oh how quickly passeth the glory of the world away! Would that their +life and knowledge had agreed together! For then would they have read +and inquired unto good purpose. How many perish through empty learning +in this world, who care little for serving God. And because they love +to be great more than to be humble, therefore they “have become vain in +their imaginations.” He only is truly great, who hath great charity. He +is truly great who deemeth himself small, and counteth all height of +honour as nothing. He is the truly wise man, who counteth all earthly +things as dung that he may win Christ. And he is the truly learned man, +who doeth the will of God, and forsaketh his own will. + +(1) Psalm xciv. 12; Numbers xii. 8. (2) John viii. 25 (Vulg.). + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Of prudence in action + + +We must not trust every word of others or feeling within ourselves, but +cautiously and patiently try the matter, whether it be of God. +Unhappily we are so weak that we find it easier to believe and speak +evil of others, rather than good. But they that are perfect, do not +give ready heed to every news-bearer, for they know man’s weakness that +it is prone to evil and unstable in words. + +2. This is great wisdom, not to be hasty in action, or stubborn in our +own opinions. A part of this wisdom also is not to believe every word +we hear, nor to tell others all that we hear, even though we believe +it. Take counsel with a man who is wise and of a good conscience; and +seek to be instructed by one better than thyself, rather than to follow +thine own inventions. A good life maketh a man wise toward God, and +giveth him experience in many things. The more humble a man is in +himself, and the more obedient towards God, the wiser will he be in all +things, and the more shall his soul be at peace. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Of the reading of Holy Scriptures + + +It is Truth which we must look for in Holy Writ, not cunning of words. +All Scripture ought to be read in the spirit in which it was written. +We must rather seek for what is profitable in Scripture, than for what +ministereth to subtlety in discourse. Therefore we ought to read books +which are devotional and simple, as well as those which are deep and +difficult. And let not the weight of the writer be a stumbling-block to +thee, whether he be of little or much learning, but let the love of the +pure Truth draw thee to read. Ask not, who hath said this or that, but +look to what he says. + +2. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Without +respect of persons God speaketh to us in divers manners. Our own +curiosity often hindereth us in the reading of holy writings, when we +seek to understand and discuss, where we should pass simply on. If thou +wouldst profit by thy reading, read humbly, simply, honestly, and not +desiring to win a character for learning. Ask freely, and hear in +silence the words of holy men; nor be displeased at the hard sayings of +older men than thou, for they are not uttered without cause. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Of inordinate affections + + +Whensoever a man desireth aught above measure, immediately he becometh +restless. The proud and the avaricious man are never at rest; while the +poor and lowly of heart abide in the multitude of peace. The man who is +not yet wholly dead to self, is soon tempted, and is overcome in small +and trifling matters. It is hard for him who is weak in spirit, and +still in part carnal and inclined to the pleasures of sense, to +withdraw himself altogether from earthly desires. And therefore, when +he withdraweth himself from these, he is often sad, and easily angered +too if any oppose his will. + +2. But if, on the other hand, he yield to his inclination, immediately +he is weighed down by the condemnation of his conscience; for that he +hath followed his own desire, and yet in no way attained the peace +which he hoped for. For true peace of heart is to be found in resisting +passion, not in yielding to it. And therefore there is no peace in the +heart of a man who is carnal, nor in him who is given up to the things +that are without him, but only in him who is fervent towards God and +living the life of the Spirit. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Of fleeing from vain hope and pride + + +Vain is the life of that man who putteth his trust in men or in any +created Thing. Be not ashamed to be the servant of others for the love +of Jesus Christ, and to be reckoned poor in this life. Rest not upon +thyself, but build thy hope in God. Do what lieth in thy power, and God +will help thy good intent. Trust not in thy learning, nor in the +cleverness of any that lives, but rather trust in the favour of God, +who resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. + +2. Boast not thyself in thy riches if thou hast them, nor in thy +friends if they be powerful, but in God, who giveth all things, and in +addition to all things desireth to give even Himself. Be not lifted up +because of thy strength or beauty of body, for with only a slight +sickness it will fail and wither away. Be not vain of thy skilfulness +or ability, lest thou displease God, from whom cometh every good gift +which we have. + +3. Count not thyself better than others, lest perchance thou appear +worse in the sight of God, who knoweth what is in man. Be not proud of +thy good works, for God’s judgments are of another sort than the +judgments of man, and what pleaseth man is ofttimes displeasing to Him. +If thou hast any good, believe that others have more, and so thou +mayest preserve thy humility. It is no harm to thee if thou place +thyself below all others; but it is great harm if thou place thyself +above even one. Peace is ever with the humble man, but in the heart of +the proud there is envy and continual wrath. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Of the danger of too much familiarity + + +Open not thine heart to every man, but deal with one who is wise and +feareth God. Be seldom with the young and with strangers. Be not a +flatterer of the rich; nor willingly seek the society of the great. Let +thy company be the humble and the simple, the devout and the gentle, +and let thy discourse be concerning things which edify. Be not familiar +with any woman, but commend all good women alike unto God. Choose for +thy companions God and His Angels only, and flee from the notice of +men. + +2. We must love all men, but not make close companions of all. It +sometimes falleth out that one who is unknown to us is highly regarded +through good report of him, whose actual person is nevertheless +unpleasing to those who behold it. We sometimes think to please others +by our intimacy, and forthwith displease them the more by the +faultiness of character which they perceive in us. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Of Obedience and Subjection + + +It is verily a great thing to live in obedience, to be under authority, +and not to be at our own disposal. Far safer is it to live in +subjection than in a place of authority. Many are in obedience from +necessity rather than from love; these take it amiss, and repine for +small cause. Nor will they gain freedom of spirit, unless with all +their heart they submit themselves for the love of God. Though thou run +hither and thither, thou wilt not find peace, save in humble subjection +to the authority of him who is set over thee. Fancies about places and +change of them have deceived many. + +2. True it is that every man willingly followeth his own bent, and is +the more inclined to those who agree with him. But if Christ is amongst +us, then it is necessary that we sometimes yield up our own opinion for +the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to have perfect knowledge of all +things? Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready +also to hear the opinions of others. Though thine own opinion be good, +yet if for the love of God thou foregoest it, and followest that of +another, thou shalt the more profit thereby. + +3. Ofttimes I have heard that it is safer to hearken and to receive +counsel than to give it. It may also come to pass that each opinion may +be good; but to refuse to hearken to others when reason or occasion +requireth it, is a mark of pride or wilfulness. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Of the danger of superfluity of words + + +Avoid as far as thou canst the tumult of men; for talk concerning +worldly things, though it be innocently undertaken, is a hindrance, so +quickly are we led captive and defiled by vanity. Many a time I wish +that I had held my peace, and had not gone amongst men. But why do we +talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely resume our +silence without some hurt done to our conscience? We like talking so +much because we hope by our conversations to gain some mutual comfort, +and because we seek to refresh our wearied spirits by variety of +thoughts. And we very willingly talk and think of those things which we +love or desire, or else of those which we most dislike. + +2. But alas! it is often to no purpose and in vain. For this outward +consolation is no small hindrance to the inner comfort which cometh +from God. Therefore must we watch and pray that time pass not idly +away. If it be right and desirable for thee to speak, speak things +which are to edification. Evil custom and neglect of our real profit +tend much to make us heedless of watching over our lips. Nevertheless, +devout conversation on spiritual things helpeth not a little to +spiritual progress, most of all where those of kindred mind and spirit +find their ground of fellowship in God. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress + + +We may enjoy abundance of peace if we refrain from busying ourselves +with the sayings and doings of others, and things which concern not +ourselves. How can he abide long time in peace who occupieth himself +with other men’s matters, and with things without himself, and +meanwhile payeth little or rare heed to the self within? Blessed are +the single-hearted, for they shall have abundance of peace. + +2. How came it to pass that many of the Saints were so perfect, so +contemplative of Divine things? Because they steadfastly sought to +mortify themselves from all worldly desires, and so were enabled to +cling with their whole heart to God, and be free and at leisure for the +thought of Him. We are too much occupied with our own affections, and +too anxious about transitory things. Seldom, too, do we entirely +conquer even a single fault, nor are we zealous for daily growth in +grace. And so we remain lukewarm and unspiritual. + +3. Were we fully watchful of ourselves, and not bound in spirit to +outward things, then might we be wise unto salvation, and make progress +in Divine contemplation. Our great and grievous stumbling-block is +that, not being freed from our affections and desires, we strive not to +enter into the perfect way of the Saints. And when even a little +trouble befalleth us, too quickly are we cast down, and fly to the +world to give us comfort. + +4. If we would quit ourselves like men, and strive to stand firm in the +battle, then should we see the Lord helping us from Heaven. For He +Himself is alway ready to help those who strive and who trust in Him; +yea, He provideth for us occasions of striving, to the end that we may +win the victory. If we look upon our progress in religion as a progress +only in outward observances and forms, our devoutness will soon come to +an end. But let us lay the axe to the very root of our life, that, +being cleansed from affections, we may possess our souls in peace. + +5. If each year should see one fault rooted out from us, we should go +quickly on to perfection. But on the contrary, we often feel that we +were better and holier in the beginning of our conversion than after +many years of profession. Zeal and progress ought to increase day by +day; yet now it seemeth a great thing if one is able to retain some +portion of his first ardour. If we would put some slight stress on +ourselves at the beginning, then afterwards we should be able to do all +things with ease and joy. + +6. It is a hard thing to break through a habit, and a yet harder thing +to go contrary to our own will. Yet if thou overcome not slight and +easy obstacles, how shalt thou overcome greater ones? Withstand thy +will at the beginning, and unlearn an evil habit, lest it lead thee +little by little into worse difficulties. Oh, if thou knewest what +peace to thyself thy holy life should bring to thyself, and what joy to +others, methinketh thou wouldst be more zealous for spiritual profit. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Of the uses of adversity + + +It is good for us that we sometimes have sorrows and adversities, for +they often make a man lay to heart that he is only a stranger and +sojourner, and may not put his trust in any worldly thing. It is good +that we sometimes endure contradictions, and are hardly and unfairly +judged, when we do and mean what is good. For these things help us to +be humble, and shield us from vain-glory. For then we seek the more +earnestly the witness of God, when men speak evil of us falsely, and +give us no credit for good. + +2. Therefore ought a man to rest wholly upon God, so that he needeth +not seek much comfort at the hand of men. When a man who feareth God is +afflicted or tried or oppressed with evil thoughts, then he seeth that +God is the more necessary unto him, since without God he can do no good +thing. Then he is heavy of heart, he groaneth, he crieth out for the +very disquietness of his heart. Then he groweth weary of life, and +would fain depart and be with Christ. By all this he is taught that in +the world there can be no perfect security or fulness of peace. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Of resisting temptation + + +So long as we live in the world, we cannot be without trouble and +trial. Wherefore it is written in Job, The life of man upon the earth +is a trial.(1) And therefore ought each of us to give heed concerning +trials and temptations, and watch unto prayer, lest the devil find +occasion to deceive; for he never sleepeth, but goeth about seeking +whom he may devour. No man is so perfect in holiness that he hath never +temptations, nor can we ever be wholly free from them. + +2. Yet, notwithstanding, temptations turn greatly unto our profit, even +though they be great and hard to bear; for through them we are humbled, +purified, instructed. All Saints have passed through much tribulation +and temptation, and have profited thereby. And they who endured not +temptation became reprobate and fell away. There is no position so +sacred, no place so secret, that it is without temptations and +adversities. + +3. There is no man wholly free from temptations so long as he liveth, +because we have the root of temptation within ourselves, in that we are +born in concupiscence. One temptation or sorrow passeth, and another +cometh; and always we shall have somewhat to suffer, for we have fallen +from perfect happiness. Many who seek to fly from temptations fall yet +more deeply into them. By flight alone we cannot overcome, but by +endurance and true humility we are made stronger than all our enemies. + +4. He who only resisteth outwardly and pulleth not up by the root, +shall profit little; nay, rather temptations will return to him the +more quickly, and will be the more terrible. Little by little, through +patience and long-suffering, thou shalt conquer by the help of God, +rather than by violence and thine own strength of will. In the midst of +temptation often seek counsel; and deal not hardly with one who is +tempted, but comfort and strengthen him as thou wouldest have done unto +thyself. + +5. The beginning of all temptations to evil is instability of temper +and want of trust in God; for even as a ship without a helm is tossed +about by the waves, so is a man who is careless and infirm of purpose +tempted, now on this side, now on that. As fire testeth iron, so doth +temptation the upright man. Oftentimes we know not what strength we +have; but temptation revealeth to us what we are. Nevertheless, we must +watch, especially in the beginnings of temptation; for then is the foe +the more easily mastered, when he is not suffered to enter within the +mind, but is met outside the door as soon as he hath knocked. Wherefore +one saith, + +Check the beginnings; once thou might’st have cured, +But now ’tis past thy skill, too long hath it endured. + + +For first cometh to the mind the simple suggestion, then the strong +imagination, afterwards pleasure, evil affection, assent. And so little +by little the enemy entereth in altogether, because he was not resisted +at the beginning. And the longer a man delayeth his resistance, the +weaker he groweth, and the stronger groweth the enemy against him. + +6. Some men suffer their most grievous temptations in the beginning of +their conversion, some at the end. Some are sorely tried their whole +life long. Some there are who are tempted but lightly, according to the +wisdom and justice of the ordering of God, who knoweth the character +and circumstances of men, and ordereth all things for the welfare of +His elect. + +7. Therefore we ought not to despair when we are tempted, but the more +fervently should cry unto God, that He will vouchsafe to help us in all +our tribulation; and that He will, as St. Paul saith, with the +temptation make a way to escape that we may be able to bear it.(2) Let +us therefore humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God in all +temptation and trouble, for He will save and exalt such as are of an +humble spirit. + +8. In temptations and troubles a man is proved, what progress he hath +made, and therein is his reward the greater, and his virtue doth the +more appear. Nor is it a great thing if a man be devout and zealous so +long as he suffereth no affliction; but if he behave himself patiently +in the time of adversity, then is there hope of great progress. Some +are kept safe from great temptations, but are overtaken in those which +are little and common, that the humiliation may teach them not to trust +to themselves in great things, being weak in small things. + +(1) Job vii. 1 (Vulg.). (2) 1 Corinthians x. 13. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +On avoiding rash judgment + + +Look well unto thyself, and beware that thou judge not the doings of +others. In judging others a man laboureth in vain; he often erreth, and +easily falleth into sin; but in judging and examining himself he always +laboureth to good purpose. According as a matter toucheth our fancy, so +oftentimes do we judge of it; for easily do we fail of true judgment +because of our own personal feeling. If God were always the sole object +of our desire, we should the less easily be troubled by the erring +judgment of our fancy. + +2. But often some secret thought lurking within us, or even some +outward circumstance, turneth us aside. Many are secretly seeking their +own ends in what they do, yet know it not. They seem to live in good +peace of mind so long as things go well with them, and according to +their desires, but if their desires be frustrated and broken, +immediately they are shaken and displeased. Diversity of feelings and +opinions very often brings about dissensions between friends, between +countrymen, between religious and godly men. + +3. Established custom is not easily relinquished, and no man is very +easily led to see with the eyes of another. If thou rest more upon thy +own reason or experience than upon the power of Jesus Christ, thy light +shall come slowly and hardly; for God willeth us to be perfectly +subject unto Himself, and all our reason to be exalted by abundant love +towards Him. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Of works of charity + + +For no worldly good whatsoever, and for the love of no man, must +anything be done which is evil, but for the help of the suffering a +good work must sometimes be postponed, or be changed for a better; for +herein a good work is not destroyed, but improved. Without charity no +work profiteth, but whatsoever is done in charity, however small and of +no reputation it be, bringeth forth good fruit; for God verily +considereth what a man is able to do, more than the greatness of what +he doth. + +2. He doth much who loveth much. He doth much who doth well. He doth +well who ministereth to the public good rather than to his own. +Oftentimes that seemeth to be charity which is rather carnality, +because it springeth from natural inclination, self-will, hope of +repayment, desire of gain. + +3. He who hath true and perfect charity, in no wise seeketh his own +good, but desireth that God alone be altogether glorified. He envieth +none, because he longeth for no selfish joy; nor doth he desire to +rejoice in himself, but longeth to be blessed in God as the highest +good. He ascribeth good to none save to God only, the Fountain whence +all good proceedeth, and the End, the Peace, the joy of all Saints. Oh, +he who hath but a spark of true charity, hath verily learned that all +worldly things are full of vanity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Of bearing with the faults of others + + +Those things which a man cannot amend in himself or in others, he ought +patiently to bear, until God shall otherwise ordain. Bethink thee that +perhaps it is better for thy trial and patience, without which our +merits are but little worth. Nevertheless thou oughtest, when thou +findeth such impediments, to beseech God that He would vouchsafe to +sustain thee, that thou be able to bear them with a good will. + +2. If one who is once or twice admonished refuse to hearken, strive not +with him, but commit all to God, that His will may be done and His +honour be shown in His servants, for He knoweth well how to convert the +evil unto good. Endeavour to be patient in bearing with other men’s +faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou thyself also hast +many things which have need to be borne with by others. If thou canst +not make thine own self what thou desireth, how shalt thou be able to +fashion another to thine own liking. We are ready to see others made +perfect, and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings. + +3. We will that others be straitly corrected, but we will not be +corrected ourselves. The freedom of others displeaseth us, but we are +dissatisfied that our own wishes shall be denied us. We desire rules to +be made restraining others, but by no means will we suffer ourselves to +be restrained. Thus therefore doth it plainly appear how seldom we +weigh our neighbour in the same balance with ourselves. If all men were +perfect, what then should we have to suffer from others for God? + +4. But now hath God thus ordained, that we may learn to bear one +another’s burdens, because none is without defect, none without a +burden, none sufficient of himself, none wise enough of himself; but it +behoveth us to bear with one another, to comfort one another, to help, +instruct, admonish one another. How much strength each man hath is best +proved by occasions of adversity: for such occasions do not make a man +frail, but show of what temper he is. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Of a Religious life + + +It behoveth thee to learn to mortify thyself in many things, if thou +wilt live in amity and concord with other men. It is no small thing to +dwell in a religious community or congregation, and to live there +without complaint, and therein to remain faithful even unto death. +Blessed is he who hath lived a good life in such a body, and brought it +to a happy end. If thou wilt stand fast and wilt profit as thou +oughtest, hold thyself as an exile and a pilgrim upon the earth. Thou +wilt have to be counted as a fool for Christ, if thou wilt lead a +religious life. + +2. The clothing and outward appearance are of small account; it is +change of character and entire mortification of the affections which +make a truly religious man. He who seeketh aught save God and the +health of his soul, shall find only tribulation and sorrow. Nor can he +stand long in peace, who striveth not to be least of all and servant of +all. + +3. Thou art called to endure and to labour, not to a life of ease and +trifling talk. Here therefore are men tried as gold in the furnace. No +man can stand, unless with all his heart he will humble himself for +God’s sake. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Of the example of the holy fathers + + +Consider now the lively examples of the holy fathers, in whom shone +forth real perfectness and religion, and thou shalt see how little, +even as nothing, is all that we do. Ah! What is our life when compared +to theirs? They, saints and friends of Christ as they were, served the +Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in labour and +weariness, in watchings and fastings, in prayer and holy meditations, +in persecutions and much rebuke. + +2. O how many and grievous tribulations did the Apostles, Martyrs, +Confessors, Virgins, endure; and all others who would walk in the +footsteps of Christ. For they hated their souls in this world that they +might keep them unto life eternal. O how strict and retired a life was +that of the holy fathers who dwelt in the desert! what long and +grievous temptations they did suffer! how often were they assaulted by +the enemy! what frequent and fervid prayers did they offer unto God! +what strict fasts did they endure! what fervent zeal and desire after +spiritual profit did they manifest! how bravely did they fight that +their vices might not gain the mastery! how entirely and steadfastly +did they reach after God! By day they laboured, and at night they gave +themselves ofttimes unto prayer; yea, even when they were labouring +they ceased not from mental prayer. + +3. They spent their whole time profitably; every hour seemed short for +retirement with God; and through the great sweetness of contemplation, +even the need of bodily refreshment was forgotten. They renounced all +riches, dignities, honours, friends, kinsmen; they desired nothing from +the world; they ate the bare necessaries of life; they were unwilling +to minister to the body even in necessity. Thus were they poor in +earthly things, but rich above measure in grace and virtue. Though poor +to the outer eye, within they were filled with grace and heavenly +benedictions. + +4. They were strangers to the world, but unto God they were as kinsmen +and friends. They seemed unto themselves as of no reputation, and in +the world’s eyes contemptible; but in the sight of God they were +precious and beloved. They stood fast in true humility, they lived in +simple obedience, they walked in love and patience; and thus they waxed +strong in spirit, and obtained great favour before God. To all +religious men they were given as an example, and they ought more to +provoke us unto good livings than the number of the lukewarm tempteth +to carelessness of life. + +5. O how great was the love of all religious persons at the beginning +of this sacred institution! O what devoutness of prayer! what rivalry +in holiness! what strict discipline was observed! what reverence and +obedience under the rule of the master showed they in all things! The +traces of them that remain until now testify that they were truly holy +and perfect men, who fighting so bravely trod the world underfoot. Now +a man is counted great if only he be not a transgressor, and if he can +only endure with patience what he hath undertaken. + +6. O the coldness and negligence of our times, that we so quickly +decline from the former love, and it is become a weariness to live, +because of sloth and lukewarmness. May progress in holiness not wholly +fall asleep in thee, who many times hast seen so many examples of +devout men! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Of the exercises of a religious man + + +The life of a Christian ought to be adorned with all virtues, that he +may be inwardly what he outwardly appeareth unto men. And verily it +should be yet better within than without, for God is a discerner of our +heart, Whom we must reverence with all our hearts wheresoever we are, +and walk pure in His presence as do the angels. We ought daily to renew +our vows, and to kindle our hearts to zeal, as if each day were the +first day of our conversion, and to say, “Help me, O God, in my good +resolutions, and in Thy holy service, and grant that this day I may +make a good beginning, for hitherto I have done nothing!” + +2. According to our resolution so is the rate of our progress, and much +diligence is needful for him who would make good progress. For if he +who resolveth bravely oftentimes falleth short, how shall it be with +him who resolveth rarely or feebly? But manifold causes bring about +abandonment of our resolution, yet a trivial omission of holy exercises +can hardly be made without some loss to us. The resolution of the +righteous dependeth more upon the grace of God than upon their own +wisdom; for in Him they always put their trust, whatsoever they take in +hand. For man proposeth, but God disposeth; and the way of a man is not +in himself.(1) + +3. If a holy exercise be sometimes omitted for the sake of some act of +piety, or of some brotherly kindness, it can easily be taken up +afterwards; but if it be neglected through distaste or slothfulness, +then is it sinful, and the mischief will be felt. Strive as earnestly +as we may, we shall still fall short in many things. Always should some +distinct resolution be made by us; and, most of all, we must strive +against those sins which most easily beset us. Both our outer and inner +life should be straitly examined and ruled by us, because both have to +do with our progress. + +4. If thou canst not be always examining thyself, thou canst at certain +seasons, and at least twice in the day, at evening and at morning. In +the morning make thy resolves, and in the evening inquire into thy +life, how thou hast sped to-day in word, deed, and thought; for in +these ways thou hast often perchance offended God and thy neighbour. +Gird up thy lions like a man against the assaults of the devil; bridle +thine appetite, and thou wilt soon be able to bridle every inclination +of the flesh. Be thou never without something to do; be reading, or +writing, or praying, or meditating, or doing something that is useful +to the community. Bodily exercises, however, must be undertaken with +discretion, nor are they to be used by all alike. + +5. The duties which are not common to all must not be done openly, but +are safest carried on in secret. But take heed that thou be not +careless in the common duties, and more devout in the secret; but +faithfully and honestly discharge the duties and commands which lie +upon thee, then afterwards, if thou hast still leisure, give thyself to +thyself as thy devotion leadeth thee. All cannot have one exercise, but +one suiteth better to this man and another to that. Even for the +diversity of season different exercises are needed, some suit better +for feasts, some for fasts. We need one kind in time of temptations and +others in time of peace and quietness. Some are suitable to our times +of sadness, and others when we are joyful in the Lord. + +6. When we draw near the time of the great feasts, good exercises +should be renewed, and the prayers of holy men more fervently besought. +We ought to make our resolutions from one Feast to another, as if each +were the period of our departure from this world, and of entering into +the eternal feast. So ought we to prepare ourselves earnestly at solemn +seasons, and the more solemnly to live, and to keep straightest watch +upon each holy observance, as though we were soon to receive the reward +of our labours at the hand of God. + +7. And if this be deferred, let us believe ourselves to be as yet +ill-prepared, and unworthy as yet of the glory which shall be revealed +in us at the appointed season; and let us study to prepare ourselves +the better for our end. Blessed is that servant, as the Evangelist Luke +hath it, whom, when the Lord cometh He shall find watching. Verily I +say unto you He will make him ruler over all that He hath.(2) + +(1) Jeremiah x. 23. (2) Luke xii. 43, 44. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Of the love of solitude and silence + + +Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the +mercies of God to thee. Leave curious questions. Study such matters as +bring thee sorrow for sin rather than amusement. If thou withdraw +thyself from trifling conversation and idle goings about, as well as +from novelties and gossip, thou shalt find thy time sufficient and apt +for good meditation. The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they +could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God. + +2. One hath said, “As oft as I have gone among men, so oft have I +returned less a man.” This is what we often experience when we have +been long time in conversation. For it is easier to be altogether +silent than it is not to exceed in word. It is easier to remain hidden +at home than to keep sufficient guard upon thyself out of doors. He, +therefore, that seeketh to reach that which is hidden and spiritual, +must go with Jesus “apart from the multitude.” No man safely goeth +abroad who loveth not to rest at home. No man safely talketh but he who +loveth to hold his peace. No man safely ruleth but he who loveth to be +subject. No man safely commandeth but he who loveth to obey. + +3. No man safely rejoiceth but he who hath the testimony of a good +conscience within himself. The boldness of the Saints was always full +of the fear of God. Nor were they the less earnest and humble in +themselves, because they shone forth with great virtues and grace. But +the boldness of wicked men springeth from pride and presumption, and at +the last turneth to their own confusion. Never promise thyself security +in this life, howsoever good a monk or devout a solitary thou seemest. + +4. Often those who stand highest in the esteem of men, fall the more +grievously because of their over great confidence. Wherefore it is very +profitable unto many that they should not be without inward temptation, +but should be frequently assaulted, lest they be over confident, lest +they be indeed lifted up into pride, or else lean too freely upon the +consolations of the world. O how good a conscience should that man +keep, who never sought a joy that passeth away, who never became +entangled with the world! O how great peace and quiet should he +possess, who would cast off all vain care, and think only of healthful +and divine things, and build his whole hope upon God! + +5. No man is worthy of heavenly consolation but he who hath diligently +exercised himself in holy compunction. If thou wilt feel compunction +within thy heart, enter into thy chamber and shut out the tumults of +the world, as it is written, Commune with your own heart in your own +chamber and be still.(1) In retirement thou shalt find what often thou +wilt lose abroad. Retirement, if thou continue therein, groweth sweet, +but if thou keep not in it, begetteth weariness. If in the beginning of +thy conversation thou dwell in it and keep it well, it shall afterwards +be to thee a dear friend, and a most pleasant solace. + +6. In silence and quiet the devout soul goeth forward and learneth the +hidden things of the Scriptures. Therein findeth she a fountain of +tears, wherein to wash and cleanse herself each night, that she may +grow the more dear to her Maker as she dwelleth the further from all +worldly distraction. To him who withdraweth himself from his +acquaintance and friends God with his holy angels will draw nigh. It is +better to be unknown and take heed to oneself than to neglect oneself +and work wonders. It is praiseworthy for a religious man to go seldom +abroad, to fly from being seen, to have no desire to see men. + +7. Why wouldest thou see what thou mayest not have? The world passeth +away and the lust thereof. The desires of sensuality draw thee abroad, +but when an hour is past, what dost thou bring home, but a weight upon +thy conscience and distraction of heart? A merry going forth bringeth +often a sorrowful return, and a merry evening maketh a sad morning? So +doth all carnal joy begin pleasantly, but in the end it gnaweth away +and destroyeth. What canst thou see abroad which thou seest not at +home? Behold the heaven and the earth and the elements, for out of +these are all things made. + +8. What canst thou see anywhere which can continue long under the sun? +Thou believest perchance that thou shalt be satisfied, but thou wilt +never be able to attain unto this. If thou shouldest see all things +before thee at once, what would it be but a vain vision? Lift up thine +eyes to God on high, and pray that thy sins and negligences may be +forgiven. Leave vain things to vain men, and mind thou the things which +God hath commanded thee. Shut thy door upon thee, and call unto thyself +Jesus thy beloved. Remain with Him in thy chamber, for thou shalt not +elsewhere find so great peace. If thou hadst not gone forth nor +listened to vain talk, thou hadst better kept thyself in good peace. +But because it sometimes delighteth thee to hear new things, thou must +therefore suffer trouble of heart. + +(1) Psalm iv. 4. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Of compunction of heart + + +If thou wilt make any progress keep thyself in the fear of God, and +long not to be too free, but restrain all thy senses under discipline +and give not thyself up to senseless mirth. Give thyself to compunction +of heart and thou shalt find devotion. Compunction openeth the way for +many good things, which dissoluteness is wont quickly to lose. It is +wonderful that any man can ever rejoice heartily in this life who +considereth and weigheth his banishment, and the manifold dangers which +beset his soul. + +2. Through lightness of heart and neglect of our shortcomings we feel +not the sorrows of our soul, but often vainly laugh when we have good +cause to weep. There is no true liberty nor real joy, save in the fear +of God with a good conscience. Happy is he who can cast away every +cause of distraction and bring himself to the one purpose of holy +compunction. Happy is he who putteth away from him whatsoever may stain +or burden his conscience. Strive manfully; custom is overcome by +custom. If thou knowest how to let men alone, they will gladly let thee +alone to do thine own works. + +3. Busy not thyself with the affairs of others, nor entangle thyself +with the business of great men. Keep always thine eye upon thyself +first of all, and give advice to thyself specially before all thy +dearest friends. If thou hast not the favour of men, be not thereby +cast down, but let thy concern be that thou holdest not thyself so well +and circumspectly, as becometh a servant of God and a devout monk. It +is often better and safer for a man not to have many comforts in this +life, especially those which concern the flesh. But that we lack divine +comforts or feel them rarely is to our own blame, because we seek not +compunction of heart, nor utterly cast away those comforts which are +vain and worldly. + +4. Know thyself to be unworthy of divine consolation, and worthy rather +of much tribulation. When a man hath perfect compunction, then all the +world is burdensome and bitter to him. A good man will find sufficient +cause for mourning and weeping; for whether he considereth himself, or +pondereth concerning his neighbour, he knoweth that no man liveth here +without tribulation, and the more thoroughly he considereth himself, +the more thoroughly he grieveth. Grounds for just grief and inward +compunction there are in our sins and vices, wherein we lie so +entangled that we are but seldom able to contemplate heavenly things. + +5. If thou thoughtest upon thy death more often than how long thy life +should be, thou wouldest doubtless strive more earnestly to improve. +And if thou didst seriously consider the future pains of hell, I +believe thou wouldest willingly endure toil or pain and fear not +discipline. But because these things reach not the heart, and we still +love pleasant things, therefore we remain cold and miserably +indifferent. + +6. Oftentimes it is from poverty of spirit that the wretched body is so +easily led to complain. Pray therefore humbly unto the Lord that He +will give thee the spirit of compunction and say in the language of the +prophet, _Feed me, O Lord, with bread of tears, and give me +plenteousness of tears to drink_.(1) + +(1) Psalm lxxx. 5. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +On the contemplation of human misery + + +Thou art miserable wheresoever thou art, and whithersoever thou +turnest, unless thou turn thee to God. Why art thou disquieted because +it happeneth not to thee according to thy wishes and desires? Who is he +that hath everything according to his will? Neither I, nor thou, nor +any man upon the earth. There is no man in the world free from trouble +or anguish, though he were King or Pope. Who is he who hath the +happiest lot? Even he who is strong to suffer somewhat for God. + +2. There are many foolish and unstable men who say, “See what a +prosperous life that man hath, how rich and how great he is, how +powerful, how exalted.” But lift up thine eyes to the good things of +heaven, and thou shalt see that all these worldly things are nothing, +they are utterly uncertain, yea, they are wearisome, because they are +never possessed without care and fear. The happiness of man lieth not +in the abundance of temporal things but a moderate portion sufficeth +him. Our life upon the earth is verily wretchedness. The more a man +desireth to be spiritual, the more bitter doth the present life become +to him; because he the better understandeth and seeth the defects of +human corruption. For to eat, to drink, to watch, to sleep, to rest, to +labour, and to be subject to the other necessities of nature, is truly +a great wretchedness and affliction to a devout man, who would fain be +released and free from all sin. + +3. For the inner man is heavily burdened with the necessities of the +body in this world. Wherefore the prophet devoutly prayeth to be freed +from them, saying, Deliver me from my necessities, O Lord.(1) But woe +to those who know not their own misery, and yet greater woe to those +who love this miserable and corruptible life. For to such a degree do +some cling to it (even though by labouring or begging they scarce +procure what is necessary for subsistence) that if they might live here +always, they would care nothing for the Kingdom of God. + +4. Oh foolish and faithless of heart, who lie buried so deep in worldly +things, that they relish nothing save the things of the flesh! +Miserable ones! they will too sadly find out at the last, how vile and +worthless was that which they loved. The saints of God and all loyal +friends of Christ held as nothing the things which pleased the flesh, +or those which flourished in this life, but their whole hope and +affection aspired to the things which are above. Their whole desire was +borne upwards to everlasting and invisible things, lest they should be +drawn downwards by the love of things visible. + +5. Lose not, brother, thy loyal desire of progress to things spiritual. +There is yet time, the hour is not past. Why wilt thou put off thy +resolution? Arise, begin this very moment, and say, “Now is the time to +do: now is the time to fight, now is the proper time for amendment.” +When thou art ill at ease and troubled, then is the time when thou art +nearest unto blessing. Thou must go through fire and water that God may +bring thee into a wealthy place. Unless thou put force upon thyself, +thou wilt not conquer thy faults. So long as we carry about with us +this frail body, we cannot be without sin, we cannot live without +weariness and trouble. Gladly would we have rest from all misery; but +because through sin we have lost innocence, we have lost also the true +happiness. Therefore must we be patient, and wait for the mercy of God, +until this tyranny be overpast, and this mortality be swallowed up of +life. + +6. O how great is the frailty of man, which is ever prone to evil! +To-day thou confessest thy sins, and to-morrow thou committest again +the sins thou didst confess. Now dost thou resolve to avoid a fault, +and within an hour thou behavest thyself as if thou hadst never +resolved at all. Good cause have we therefore to humble ourselves, and +never to think highly of ourselves, seeing that we are so frail and +unstable. And quickly may that be lost by our negligence, which by much +labour was hardly attained through grace. + +7. What shall become of us at the end, if at the beginning we are +lukewarm and idle? Woe unto us, if we choose to rest, as though it were +a time of peace and security, while as yet no sign appeareth in our +life of true holiness. Rather had we need that we might begin yet +afresh, like good novices, to be instructed unto good living, if haply +there might be hope of some future amendment and greater spiritual +increase. + +(1) Psalm xxv. 17. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Of meditation upon death + + +Very quickly will there be an end of thee here; take heed therefore how +it will be with thee in another world. To-day man is, and to-morrow he +will be seen no more. And being removed out of sight, quickly also he +is out of mind. O the dulness and hardness of man’s heart, which +thinketh only of the present, and looketh not forward to the future. +Thou oughtest in every deed and thought so to order thyself, as if thou +wert to die this day. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not +greatly fear death. It were better for thee to watch against sin, than +to fly from death. If to-day thou art not ready, how shalt thou be +ready to-morrow? To-morrow is an uncertain day; and how knowest thou +that thou shalt have a to-morrow? + +2. What doth it profit to live long, when we amend so little? Ah! long +life doth not always amend, but often the more increaseth guilt. Oh +that we might spend a single day in this world as it ought to be spent! +Many there are who reckon the years since they were converted, and yet +oftentimes how little is the fruit thereof. If it is a fearful thing to +die, it may be perchance a yet more fearful thing to live long. Happy +is the man who hath the hour of his death always before his eyes, and +daily prepareth himself to die. If thou hast ever seen one die, +consider that thou also shalt pass away by the same road. + +3. When it is morning reflect that it may be thou shalt not see the +evening, and at eventide dare not to boast thyself of the morrow. +Always be thou prepared, and so live that death may never find thee +unprepared. Many die suddenly and unexpectedly. For at such an hour as +ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.(1) When that last hour shall come, +thou wilt begin to think very differently of thy whole life past, and +wilt mourn bitterly that thou hast been so negligent and slothful. + +4. Happy and wise is he who now striveth to be such in life as he would +fain be found in death! For a perfect contempt of the world, a fervent +desire to excel in virtue, the love of discipline, the painfulness of +repentance, readiness to obey, denial of self, submission to any +adversity for love of Christ; these are the things which shall give +great confidence of a happy death. Whilst thou art in health thou hast +many opportunities of good works; but when thou art in sickness I know +not how much thou wilt be able to do. Few are made better by infirmity: +even as they who wander much abroad seldom become holy. + +5. Trust not thy friends and kinsfolk, nor put off the work of thy +salvation to the future, for men will forget thee sooner than thou +thinkest. It is better for thee now to provide in time, and to send +some good before thee, than to trust to the help of others. If thou art +not anxious for thyself now, who, thinkest thou, will be anxious for +thee afterwards? Now the time is most precious. Now is the accepted +time, now is the day of salvation. But alas! that thou spendest not +well this time, wherein thou mightest lay up treasure which should +profit thee everlastingly. The hour will come when thou shalt desire +one day, yea, one hour, for amendment of life, and I know not whether +thou shalt obtain. + +6. Oh, dearly beloved, from what danger thou mightest free thyself, +from what great fear, if only thou wouldst always live in fear, and in +expectation of death! Strive now to live in such wise that in the hour +of death thou mayest rather rejoice than fear. Learn now to die to the +world, so shalt thou begin to live with Christ. Learn now to contemn +all earthly things, and then mayest thou freely go unto Christ. Keep +under thy body by penitence, and then shalt thou be able to have a sure +confidence. + +7. Ah, foolish one! why thinkest thou that thou shalt live long, when +thou art not sure of a single day? How many have been deceived, and +suddenly have been snatched away from the body! How many times hast +thou heard how one was slain by the sword, another was drowned, another +falling from on high broke his neck, another died at the table, another +whilst at play! One died by fire, another by the sword, another by the +pestilence, another by the robber. Thus cometh death to all, and the +life of men swiftly passeth away like a shadow. + +8. Who will remember thee after thy death? And who will entreat for +thee? Work, work now, oh dearly beloved, work all that thou canst. For +thou knowest not when thou shalt die, nor what shall happen unto thee +after death. While thou hast time, lay up for thyself undying riches. +Think of nought but of thy salvation; care only for the things of God. +Make to thyself friends, by venerating the saints of God and walking in +their steps, that when thou failest, thou mayest be received into +everlasting habitations.(2) + +9. Keep thyself as a stranger and a pilgrim upon the earth, to whom the +things of the world appertain not. Keep thine heart free, and lifted up +towards God, for here have we no continuing city.(3) To Him direct thy +daily prayers with crying and tears, that thy spirit may be found +worthy to pass happily after death unto its Lord. Amen. + +(1) Matthew xxiv. 44. (2) Luke xvi. 9. (3) Hebrews xiii. 14. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked + + +In all that thou doest, remember the end, and how thou wilt stand +before a strict judge, from whom nothing is hid, who is not bribed with +gifts, nor accepteth excuses, but will judge righteous judgment. O most +miserable and foolish sinner, who art sometimes in fear of the +countenance of an angry man, what wilt thou answer to God, who knoweth +all thy misdeeds? Why dost thou not provide for thyself against the day +of judgment, when no man shall be able to be excused or defended by +means of another, but each one shall bear his burden himself alone? Now +doth thy labour bring forth fruit, now is thy weeping acceptable, thy +groaning heard, thy sorrow well pleasing to God, and cleansing to thy +soul. + +2. Even here on earth the patient man findeth great occasion of +purifying his soul. When suffering injuries he grieveth more for the +other’s malice than for his own wrong; when he prayeth heartily for +those that despitefully use him, and forgiveth them from his heart; +when he is not slow to ask pardon from others; when he is swifter to +pity than to anger; when he frequently denieth himself and striveth +altogether to subdue the flesh to the spirit. Better is it now to +purify the soul from sin, than to cling to sins from which we must be +purged hereafter. Truly we deceive ourselves by the inordinate love +which we bear towards the flesh. + +3. What is it which that fire shall devour, save thy sins? The more +thou sparest thyself and followest the flesh, the more heavy shall thy +punishment be, and the more fuel art thou heaping up for the burning. +For wherein a man hath sinned, therein shall he be the more heavily +punished. There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning +goads, and the gluttons be tormented with intolerable hunger and +thirst. There shall the luxurious and the lovers of pleasure be plunged +into burning pitch and stinking brimstone, and the envious shall howl +like mad dogs for very grief. + +4. No sin will there be which shall not be visited with its own proper +punishment. The proud shall be filled with utter confusion, and the +covetous shall be pinched with miserable poverty. An hour’s pain there +shall be more grievous than a hundred years here of the bitterest +penitence. No quiet shall be there, no comfort for the lost, though +here sometimes there is respite from pain, and enjoyment of the solace +of friends. Be thou anxious now and sorrowful for thy sins, that in the +day of judgment thou mayest have boldness with the blessed. For then +shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such +as have afflicted him and made no account of his labours.(1) Then shall +he stand up to judge, he who now submitteth himself in humility to the +judgments of men. Then shall the poor and humble man have great +confidence, while the proud is taken with fear on every side. + +5. Then shall it be seen that he was the wise man in this world who +learned to be a fool and despised for Christ. Then shall all +tribulation patiently borne delight us, while the mouth of the ungodly +shall be stopped. Then shall every godly man rejoice, and every profane +man shall mourn. Then the afflicted flesh shall more rejoice than if it +had been alway nourished in delights. Then the humble garment shall put +on beauty, and the precious robe shall hide itself as vile. Then the +little poor cottage shall be more commended than the gilded palace. +Then enduring patience shall have more might than all the power of the +world. Then simple obedience shall be more highly exalted than all +worldly wisdom. + +6. Then a pure and good conscience shall more rejoice than learned +philosophy. Then contempt of riches shall have more weight than all the +treasure of the children of this world. Then shalt thou find more +comfort in having prayed devoutly than in having fared sumptuously. +Then thou wilt rather rejoice in having kept silence than in having +made long speech. Then holy deeds shall be far stronger than many fine +words. Then a strict life and sincere penitence shall bring deeper +pleasure than all earthly delight. Learn now to suffer a little, that +then thou mayest be enabled to escape heavier sufferings. Prove first +here, what thou art able to endure hereafter. If now thou art able to +bear so little, how wilt thou be able to endure eternal torments? If +now a little suffering maketh thee so impatient, what shall hell-fire +do then? Behold of a surety thou art not able to have two Paradises, to +take thy fill or delight here in this world, and to reign with Christ +hereafter. + +7. If even unto this day thou hadst ever lived in honours and +pleasures, what would the whole profit thee if now death came to thee +in an instant? All therefore is vanity, save to love God and to serve +Him only. For he who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, +nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love giveth +sure access to God. But he who still delighteth in sin, no marvel if he +is afraid of death and judgment. Nevertheless it is a good thing, if +love as yet cannot restrain thee from evil, that at least the fear of +hell should hold thee back. But he who putteth aside the fear of God +cannot long continue in good, but shall quickly fall into the snares of +the devil. + +(1) Wisd. v. 1. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Of the zealous amendment of our whole life + + +Be thou watchful and diligent in God’s service, and bethink thee often +why thou hast renounced the world. Was it not that thou mightest live +to God and become a spiritual man? Be zealous, therefore, for thy +spiritual profit, for thou shalt receive shortly the reward of thy +labours, and neither fear nor sorrow shall come any more into thy +borders. Now shalt thou labour a little, and thou shalt find great +rest, yea everlasting joy. If thou shalt remain faithful and zealous in +labour, doubt not that God shall be faithful and bountiful in rewarding +thee. It is thy duty to have a good hope that thou wilt attain the +victory, but thou must not fall into security lest thou become slothful +or lifted up. + +2. A certain man being in anxiety of mind, continually tossed about +between hope and fear, and being on a certain day overwhelmed with +grief, cast himself down in prayer before the altar in a church, and +meditated within himself, saying, “Oh! if I but knew that I should +still persevere,” and presently heard within him a voice from God, “And +if thou didst know it, what wouldst thou do? Do now what thou wouldst +do then, and thou shalt be very secure.” And straightway being +comforted and strengthened, he committed himself to the will of God and +the perturbation of spirit ceased, neither had he a mind any more to +search curiously to know what should befall him hereafter, but studied +rather to inquire what was the good and acceptable will of God, for the +beginning and perfecting of every good work. + +3. Hope in the Lord and be doing good, saith the Prophet; dwell in the +land and thou shalt be fed(1) with its riches. One thing there is which +holdeth back many from progress and fervent amendment, even the dread +of difficulty, or the labour of the conflict. Nevertheless they advance +above all others in virtue who strive manfully to conquer those things +which are most grievous and contrary to them, for there a man profiteth +most and meriteth greater grace where he most overcometh himself and +mortifieth himself in spirit. + +4. But all men have not the same passions to conquer and to mortify, +yet he who is diligent shall attain more profit, although he have +stronger passions, than another who is more temperate of disposition, +but is withal less fervent in the pursuit of virtue. Two things +specially avail unto improvement in holiness, namely firmness to +withdraw ourselves from the sin to which by nature we are most +inclined, and earnest zeal for that good in which we are most lacking. +And strive also very earnestly to guard against and subdue those faults +which displease thee most frequently in others. + +5. Gather some profit to thy soul wherever thou art, and wherever thou +seest or hearest good examples, stir thyself to follow them, but where +thou seest anything which is blameworthy, take heed that thou do not +the same; or if at any time thou hast done it, strive quickly to amend +thyself. As thine eye observeth others, so again are the eyes of others +upon thee. How sweet and pleasant is it to see zealous and godly +brethren temperate and of good discipline; and how sad is it and +grievous to see them walking disorderly, not practising the duties to +which they are called. How hurtful a thing it is to neglect the purpose +of their calling, and turn their inclinations to things which are none +of their business. + +6. Be mindful of the duties which thou hast undertaken, and set always +before thee the remembrance of the Crucified. Truly oughtest thou to be +ashamed as thou lookest upon the life of Jesus Christ, because thou +hast not yet endeavoured to conform thyself more unto Him, though thou +hast been a long time in the way of God. A religious man who exercises +himself seriously and devoutly in the most holy life and passion of our +Lord shall find there abundantly all things that are profitable and +necessary for him, neither is there need that he shall seek anything +better beyond Jesus. Oh! if Jesus crucified would come into our hearts, +how quickly, and completely should we have learned all that we need to +know! + +7. He who is earnest receiveth and beareth well all things that are +laid upon him. He who is careless and lukewarm hath trouble upon +trouble, and suffereth anguish upon every side, because he is without +inward consolation, and is forbidden to seek that which is outward. He +who is living without discipline is exposed to grievous ruin. He who +seeketh easier and lighter discipline shall always be in distress, +because one thing or another will give him displeasure. + +8. O! if no other duty lay upon us but to praise the Lord our God with +our whole heart and voice! Oh! if thou never hadst need to eat or +drink, or sleep, but wert always able to praise God, and to give +thyself to spiritual exercises alone; then shouldst thou be far happier +than now, when for so many necessities thou must serve the flesh. O! +that these necessities were not, but only the spiritual refreshments of +the soul, which alas we taste too seldom. + +9. When a man hath come to this, that he seeketh comfort from no +created thing, then doth he perfectly begin to enjoy God, then also +will he be well contented with whatsoever shall happen unto him. Then +will he neither rejoice for much nor be sorrowful for little, but he +committeth himself altogether and with full trust unto God, who is all +in all to him, to whom nothing perisheth nor dieth, but all things live +to Him and obey His every word without delay. + +10. Remember always thine end, and how the time which is lost returneth +not. Without care and diligence thou shalt never get virtue. If thou +beginnest to grow cold, it shall begin to go ill with thee, but if thou +givest thyself unto zeal thou shalt find much peace, and shalt find thy +labour the lighter because of the grace of God and the love of virtue. +A zealous and diligent man is ready for all things. It is greater +labour to resist sins and passions than to toil in bodily labours. He +who shunneth not small faults falleth little by little into greater. At +eventide thou shalt always be glad if thou spend the day profitably. +Watch over thyself, stir thyself up, admonish thyself, and howsoever it +be with others, neglect not thyself. The more violence thou dost unto +thyself, the more thou shall profit. Amen. + +(1) Psalm xxxvii. 3. + + + + +THE SECOND BOOK +ADMONITIONS CONCERNING THE INNER LIFE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Of the inward life + + +The kingdom of God is within you,(1) saith the Lord. Turn thee with all +thine heart to the Lord and forsake this miserable world, and thou +shalt find rest unto thy soul. Learn to despise outward things and to +give thyself to things inward, and thou shalt see the kingdom of God +come within thee. For the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy +Ghost, and it is not given to the wicked. Christ will come to thee, and +show thee His consolation, if thou prepare a worthy mansion for Him +within thee. All His glory and beauty is from within, and there it +pleaseth Him to dwell. He often visiteth the inward man and holdeth +with him sweet discourse, giving him soothing consolation, much peace, +friendship exceeding wonderful. + +2. Go to, faithful soul, prepare thy heart for this bridegroom that he +may vouchsafe to come to thee and dwell within thee, for so He saith, +if any man loveth me he will keep my words: and my Father will love +him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.(2) Give, +therefore, place to Christ and refuse entrance to all others. When thou +hast Christ, thou art rich, and hast sufficient. He shall be thy +provider and faithful watchman in all things, so that thou hast no need +to trust in men, for men soon change and swiftly pass away, but Christ +remaineth for ever and standeth by us firmly even to the end. + +3. There is no great trust to be placed in a frail and mortal man, even +though he be useful and dear to us, neither should much sorrow arise +within us if sometimes he oppose and contradict us. They who are on thy +side to-day, may to-morrow be against thee, and often are they turned +round like the wind. Put thy whole trust in God and let Him be thy fear +and thy love, He will answer for thee Himself, and will do for thee +what is best. Here hast thou no continuing city,(3) and wheresoever +thou art, thou art a stranger and a pilgrim, and thou shalt never have +rest unless thou art closely united to Christ within thee. + +4. Why dost thou cast thine eyes hither and thither, since this is not +the place of thy rest? In heaven ought thy habitation to be, and all +earthly things should be looked upon as it were in the passing by. All +things pass away and thou equally with them. Look that thou cleave not +to them lest thou be taken with them and perish. Let thy contemplation +be on the Most High, and let thy supplication be directed unto Christ +without ceasing. If thou canst not behold high and heavenly things, +rest thou in the passion of Christ and dwell willingly in His sacred +wounds. For if thou devoutly fly to the wounds of Jesus, and the +precious marks of the nails and the spear, thou shalt find great +comfort in tribulation, nor will the slights of men trouble thee much, +and thou wilt easily bear their unkind words. + +5. Christ also, when He was in the world, was despised and rejected of +men, and in His greatest necessity was left by His acquaintance and +friends to bear these reproaches. Christ was willing to suffer and be +despised, and darest thou complain of any? Christ had adversaries and +gainsayers, and dost thou wish to have all men thy friends and +benefactors? Whence shall thy patience attain her crown if no adversity +befall thee? If thou art unwilling to suffer any adversity, how shalt +thou be the friend of Christ? Sustain thyself with Christ and for +Christ if thou wilt reign with Christ. + +6. If thou hadst once entered into the mind of Jesus, and hadst tasted +yea even a little of his tender love, then wouldst thou care nought for +thine own convenience or inconvenience, but wouldst rather rejoice at +trouble brought upon thee, because the love of Jesus maketh a man to +despise himself. He who loveth Jesus, and is inwardly true and free +from inordinate affections, is able to turn himself readily unto God, +and to rise above himself in spirit, and to enjoy fruitful peace. + +7. He who knoweth things as they are and not as they are said or seem +to be, he truly is wise, and is taught of God more than of men. He who +knoweth how to walk from within, and to set little value upon outward +things, requireth not places nor waiteth for seasons, for holding his +intercourse with God. The inward man quickly recollecteth himself, +because he is never entirely given up to outward things. No outward +labour and no necessary occupations stand in his way, but as events +fall out, so doth he fit himself to them. He who is rightly disposed +and ordered within careth not for the strange and perverse conduct of +men. A man is hindered and distracted in so far as he is moved by +outward things. + +8. If it were well with thee, and thou wert purified from evil, all +things would work together for thy good and profiting. For this cause +do many things displease thee and often trouble thee, that thou art not +yet perfectly dead to thyself nor separated from all earthly things. +Nothing so defileth and entangleth the heart of man as impure love +towards created things. If thou rejectest outward comfort thou wilt be +able to contemplate heavenly things and frequently to be joyful +inwardly. + +(1) Luke xvii. 21. (2) John xiv. 23. (3) Hebrews xiii. 14. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +Of lowly submission + + +Make no great account who is for thee or against thee, but mind only +the present duty and take care that God be with thee in whatsoever thou +doest. Have a good conscience and God will defend thee, for he whom God +will help no man’s perverseness shall be able to hurt. If thou knowest +how to hold thy peace and to suffer, without doubt thou shalt see the +help of the Lord. He knoweth the time and the way to deliver thee, +therefore must thou resign thyself to Him. To God it belongeth to help +and to deliver from all confusion. Oftentimes it is very profitable for +keeping us in greater humility, that others know and rebuke our faults. + +2. When a man humbleth himself for his defects, he then easily +pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are angered against +him. God protecteth and delivereth the humble man, He loveth and +comforteth the humble man, to the humble man He inclineth Himself, on +the humble He bestoweth great grace, and when he is cast down He +raiseth him to glory: to the humble He revealeth His secrets, and +sweetly draweth and inviteth him to Himself. The humble man having +received reproach, is yet in sufficient peace, because he resteth on +God and not on the world. Reckon not thyself to have profited in +anywise unless thou feel thyself to be inferior to all. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Of the good, peaceable man + + +First keep thyself in peace, and then shalt thou be able to be a +peacemaker towards others. A peaceable man doth more good than a +well-learned. A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily +believeth evil; a good, peaceable man converteth all things into good. +He who dwelleth in peace is suspicious of none, but he who is +discontented and restless is tossed with many suspicions, and is +neither quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet. He often saith +what he ought not to say, and omitteth what it were more expedient for +him to do. He considereth to what duties others are bound, and +neglecteth those to which he is bound himself. Therefore be zealous +first over thyself, and then mayest thou righteously be zealous +concerning thy neighbour. + +2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and to colour thine own deeds, but +thou wilt not accept the excuses of others. It would be more just to +accuse thyself and excuse thy brother. If thou wilt that others bear +with thee, bear thou with others. Behold how far thou art as yet from +the true charity and humility which knows not how to be angry or +indignant against any save self alone. It is no great thing to mingle +with the good and the meek, for this is naturally pleasing to all, and +every one of us willingly enjoyeth peace and liketh best those who +think with us: but to be able to live peaceably with the hard and +perverse, or with the disorderly, or those who oppose us, this is a +great grace and a thing much to be commended and most worthy of a man. + +3. There are who keep themselves in peace and keep peace also with +others, and there are who neither have peace nor suffer others to have +peace; they are troublesome to others, but always more troublesome to +themselves. And there are who hold themselves in peace, and study to +bring others unto peace; nevertheless, all our peace in this sad life +lieth in humble suffering rather than in not feeling adversities. He +who best knoweth how to suffer shall possess the most peace; that man +is conqueror of himself and lord of the world, the friend of Christ, +and the inheritor of heaven. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Of a pure mind and simple intention + + +By two wings is man lifted above earthly things, even by simplicity and +purity. Simplicity ought to be in the intention, purity in the +affection. Simplicity reacheth towards God, purity apprehendeth Him and +tasteth Him. No good action will be distasteful to thee if thou be free +within from inordinate affection. If thou reachest after and seekest, +nothing but the will of God and the benefit of thy neighbour, thou wilt +entirely enjoy inward liberty. If thine heart were right, then should +every creature be a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine. There +is no creature so small and vile but that it showeth us the goodness of +God. + +2. If thou wert good and pure within, then wouldst thou look upon all +things without hurt and understand them aright. A pure heart seeth the +very depths of heaven and hell. Such as each one is inwardly, so +judgeth he outwardly. If there is any joy in the world surely the man +of pure heart possesseth it, and if there is anywhere tribulation and +anguish, the evil conscience knoweth it best. As iron cast into the +fire loseth rust and is made altogether glowing, so the man who turneth +himself altogether unto God is freed from slothfulness and changed into +a new man. + +3. When a man beginneth to grow lukewarm, then he feareth a little +labour, and willingly accepteth outward consolation; but when he +beginneth perfectly to conquer himself and to walk manfully in the way +of God, then he counteth as nothing those things which aforetime seemed +to be so grievous unto him. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Of self-esteem + + +We cannot place too little confidence in ourselves, because grace and +understanding are often lacking to us. Little light is there within us, +and what we have we quickly lose by negligence. Oftentimes we perceive +not how great is our inward blindness. We often do ill and excuse it +worse. Sometimes we are moved by passion and count it zeal; we blame +little faults in others and pass over great faults in ourselves. +Quickly enough we feel and reckon up what we bear at the hands of +others, but we reflect not how much others are bearing from us. He who +would weigh well and rightly his own doings would not be the man to +judge severely of another. + +2. The spiritually-minded man putteth care of himself before all cares; +and he who diligently attendeth to himself easily keepeth silence +concerning others. Thou wilt never be spiritually minded and godly +unless thou art silent concerning other men’s matters and take full +heed to thyself. If thou think wholly upon thyself and upon God, what +thou seest out of doors shall move thee little. Where art thou when +thou art not present to thyself? and when thou hast overrun all things, +what hath it profited thee, thyself being neglected? If thou wouldst +have peace and true unity, thou must put aside all other things, and +gaze only upon thyself. + +3. Then thou shalt make great progress if thou keep thyself free from +all temporal care. Thou shalt lamentably fall away if thou set a value +upon any worldly thing. Let nothing be great, nothing high, nothing +pleasing, nothing acceptable unto thee, save God Himself or the things +of God. Reckon as altogether vain whatsoever consolation comes to thee +from a creature. The soul that loveth God looketh not to anything that +is beneath God. God alone is eternal and incomprehensible, filling all +things, the solace of the soul, and the true joy of the heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Of the joy of a good conscience + + +The testimony of a good conscience is the glory of a good man. Have a +good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy. A good conscience is able +to bear exceeding much, and is exceeding joyful in the midst of +adversities; an evil conscience is ever fearful and unquiet. Thou shalt +rest sweetly if thy heart condemn thee not. Never rejoice unless when +thou hast done well. The wicked have never true joy, nor feel internal +peace, for there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.(1) And if +they say “we are in peace, there shall no harm happen unto us, and who +shall dare to do us hurt?” believe them not, for suddenly shall the +wrath of God rise up against them, and their deeds shall be brought to +nought, and their thoughts shall perish. + +2. To glory in tribulation is not grievous to him who loveth; for such +glorying is glorying in the Cross of Christ. Brief is the glory which +is given and received of men. Sadness always goeth hand in hand with +the glory of the world. The glory of the good is in their conscience, +and not in the report of men. The joy of the upright is from God and in +God, and their joy is in the truth. He who desireth true and eternal +glory careth not for that which is temporal; and he who seeketh +temporal glory, or who despiseth it from his heart, is proved to bear +little love for that which is heavenly. He who careth for neither +praises nor reproaches hath great tranquillity of heart. + +3. He will easily be contented and filled with peace, whose conscience +is pure. Thou art none the holier if thou art praised, nor the viler if +thou art reproached. Thou art what thou art; and thou canst not be +better than God pronounceth thee to be. If thou considerest well what +thou art inwardly, thou wilt not care what men will say to thee. Man +looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the +heart:(2) man looketh on the deed, but God considereth the intent. It +is the token of a humble spirit always to do well, and to set little by +oneself. Not to look for consolation from any created thing is a sign +of great purity and inward faithfulness. + +4. He that seeketh no outward witness on his own behalf, showeth +plainly that he hath committed himself wholly to God. For not he that +commendeth himself is approved, as St. Paul saith, but whom the Lord +commendeth.(3) To walk inwardly with God, and not to be held by any +outer affections, is the state of a spiritual man. + +(1) Isaiah lvii. 21. (2) 1 Samuel xvi. 7. (3) 2 Corinthians x. 18. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Of loving Jesus above all things + + +Blessed is he who understandeth what it is to love Jesus, and to +despise himself for Jesus’ sake. He must give up all that he loveth for +his Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things. The love +of created things is deceiving and unstable, but the love of Jesus is +faithful and lasting. He who cleaveth to created things will fall with +their slipperiness; but he who embraceth Jesus will stand upright for +ever. Love Him and hold Him for thy friend, for He will not forsake +thee when all depart from thee, nor will he suffer thee to perish at +the last. Thou must one day be separated from all, whether thou wilt or +wilt not. + +2. Cleave thou to Jesus in life and death, and commit thyself unto His +faithfulness, who, when all men fail thee, is alone able to help thee. +Thy Beloved is such, by nature, that He will suffer no rival, but alone +will possess thy heart, and as a king will sit upon His own throne. If +thou wouldst learn to put away from thee every created thing, Jesus +would freely take up His abode with thee. Thou wilt find all trust +little better than lost which thou hast placed in men, and not in +Jesus. Trust not nor lean upon a reed shaken with the wind, because all +flesh is grass, and the goodliness thereof falleth as the flower of the +field.(1) + +3. Thou wilt be quickly deceived if thou lookest only upon the outward +appearance of men, for if thou seekest thy comfort and profit in +others, thou shalt too often experience loss. If thou seekest Jesus in +all things thou shalt verily find Jesus, but if thou seekest thyself +thou shalt also find thyself, but to thine own hurt. For if a man +seeketh not Jesus he is more hurtful to himself than all the world and +all his adversaries. + +(1) Isaiah xl. 6. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Of the intimate love of Jesus + + +When Jesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth hard, but when +Jesus is not present everything is hard. When Jesus speaketh not +within, our comfort is nothing worth, but if Jesus speaketh but a +single word great is the comfort we experience. Did not Mary Magdalene +rise up quickly from the place where she wept when Martha said to her, +The Master is come and calleth for thee?(1) Happy hour when Jesus +calleth thee from tears to the joy of the spirit! How dry and hard art +thou without Jesus! How senseless and vain if thou desirest aught +beyond Jesus! Is not this greater loss than if thou shouldst lose the +whole world? + +2. What can the world profit thee without Jesus? To be without Jesus is +the nethermost hell, and to be with Jesus is sweet paradise. If Jesus +were with thee no enemy could hurt thee. He who findeth Jesus findeth a +good treasure, yea, good above all good; and he who loseth Jesus loseth +exceeding much, yea, more than the whole world. Most poor is he who +liveth without Jesus, and most rich is he who is much with Jesus. + +3. It is great skill to know how to live with Jesus, and to know how to +hold Jesus is great wisdom. Be thou humble and peaceable and Jesus +shall be with thee. Be godly and quiet, and Jesus will remain with +thee. Thou canst quickly drive away Jesus and lose His favour if thou +wilt turn away to the outer things. And if thou hast put Him to flight +and lost Him, to whom wilt thou flee, and whom then wilt thou seek for +a friend? Without a friend thou canst not live long, and if Jesus be +not thy friend above all thou shalt be very sad and desolate. Madly +therefore doest thou if thou trusteth or findest joy in any other. It +is preferable to have the whole world against thee, than Jesus offended +with thee. Therefore of all that are dear to thee, let Jesus be +specially loved. + +4. Let all be loved for Jesus’ sake, but Jesus for His own. Jesus +Christ alone is to be specially loved, for He alone is found good and +faithful above all friends. For His sake and in Him let both enemies +and friends be dear to thee, and pray for them all that they may all +know and love Him. Never desire to be specially praised or loved, +because this belongeth to God alone, who hath none like unto Himself. +Nor wish thou that any one set his heart on thee, nor do thou give +thyself up to the love of any, but let Jesus be in thee and in every +good man. + +5. Be pure and free within thyself, and be not entangled by any created +thing. Thou oughtest to bring a bare and clean heart to God, if thou +desirest to be ready to see how gracious the Lord is. And in truth, +unless thou be prevented and drawn on by His grace, thou wilt not +attain to this, that having cast out and dismissed all else, thou alone +art united to God. For when the grace of God cometh to a man, then he +becometh able to do all things, and when it departeth then he will be +poor and weak and given up unto troubles. In these thou art not to be +cast down nor to despair, but to rest with calm mind on the will of +God, and to bear all things which come upon thee unto the praise of +Jesus Christ; for after winter cometh summer, after night returneth +day, after the tempest a great calm. + +(1) John xi. 28. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Of the lack of all comfort + + +It is no hard thing to despise human comfort when divine is present. It +is a great thing, yea very great, to be able to bear the loss both of +human and divine comfort; and for the love of God willingly to bear +exile of heart, and in nought to seek oneself, nor to look to one’s own +merit. What great matter is it, if thou be cheerful of heart and devout +when favour cometh to thee? That is an hour wherein all rejoice. +Pleasantly enough doth he ride whom the grace of God carrieth. And what +marvel, if he feeleth no burden who is carried by the Almighty, and is +led onwards by the Guide from on high? + +2. We are willing to accept anything for comfort, and it is difficult +for a man to be freed from himself. The holy martyr Laurence overcame +the love of the world and even of his priestly master, because he +despised everything in the world which seemed to be pleasant; and for +the love of Christ he calmly suffered even God’s chief priest, Sixtus, +whom he dearly loved, to be taken from him. Thus by the love of the +Creator he overcame the love of man, and instead of human comfort he +chose rather God’s good pleasure. So also learn thou to resign any near +and beloved friend for the love of God. Nor take it amiss when thou +hast been deserted by a friend, knowing that we must all be parted from +one another at last. + +3. Mightily and long must a man strive within himself before he learn +altogether to overcome himself, and to draw his whole affection towards +God. When a man resteth upon himself, he easily slippeth away unto +human comforts. But a true lover of Christ, and a diligent seeker after +virtue, falleth not back upon those comforts, nor seeketh such +sweetness as may be tasted and handled, but desireth rather hard +exercises, and to undertake severe labours for Christ. + +4. When, therefore, spiritual comfort is given by God, receive it with +giving of thanks, and know that it is the gift of God, not thy desert. +Be not lifted up, rejoice not overmuch nor foolishly presume, but +rather be more humble for the gift, more wary and more careful in all +thy doings; for that hour will pass away, and temptation will follow. +When comfort is taken from thee, do not straightway despair, but wait +for the heavenly visitation with humility and patience, for God is able +to give thee back greater favour and consolation. This is not new nor +strange to those who have made trial of the way of God, for with the +great saints and the ancient prophets there was often this manner of +change. + +5. Wherefore one said when the favour of God was present with him, I +said in my prosperity I shall never be moved,(1) but he goeth on to say +what he felt within himself when the favour departed: Thou didst turn +Thy face from me, and I was troubled. In spite whereof he in no wise +despaireth, but the more instantly entreateth God, and saith, Unto +Thee, O Lord, will I cry, and will pray unto my God; and then he +receiveth the fruit of his prayer, and testifieth how he hath been +heard, saying, The Lord heard me and had mercy upon me, the Lord was my +helper. But wherein? Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy, Thou hast +put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. If it was thus with +the great saints, we who are poor and needy ought not to despair if we +are sometimes in the warmth and sometimes in the cold, for the Spirit +cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of His will. Wherefore +holy Job saith, Thou dost visit him in the morning, and suddenly Thou +dost prove him.(2) + +6. Whereupon then can I hope, or wherein may I trust, save only in the +great mercy of God, and the hope of heavenly grace? For whether good +men are with me, godly brethren or faithful friends, whether holy books +or beautiful discourses, whether sweet hymns and songs, all these help +but little, and have but little savour when I am deserted by God’s +favour and left to mine own poverty. There is no better remedy, then, +than patience and denial of self, and an abiding in the will of God. + +7. I have never found any man so religious and godly, but that he felt +sometimes a withdrawal of the divine favour, and lack of fervour. No +saint was ever so filled with rapture, so enlightened, but that sooner +or later he was tempted. For he is not worthy of the great vision of +God, who, for God’s sake, hath not been exercised by some temptation. +For temptation is wont to go before as a sign of the comfort which +shall follow, and heavenly comfort is promised to those who are proved +by temptation. As it is written, To him that overcometh I will give to +eat of the tree of life.(3) + +8. Divine comfort is given that a man may be stronger to bear +adversities. And temptation followeth, lest he be lifted up because of +the benefit. The devil sleepeth not; thy flesh is not yet dead; +therefore, cease thou not to make thyself ready unto the battle, for +enemies stand on thy right hand and on thy left, and they are never at +rest. + +(1) Psalm xxx. 6. (2) Job vii. 18. (3) Revelation ii. 7. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Of gratitude for the Grace of God + + +Why seekest thou rest when thou art born to labour? Prepare thyself for +patience more than for comforts, and for bearing the cross more than +for joy. For who among the men of this world would not gladly receive +consolation and spiritual joy if he might always have it? For spiritual +comforts exceed all the delights of the world, and all the pleasures of +the flesh. For all worldly delights are either empty or unclean, whilst +spiritual delights alone are pleasant and honourable, the offspring of +virtue, and poured forth by God into pure minds. But no man can always +enjoy these divine comforts at his own will, because the season of +temptation ceaseth not for long. + +2. Great is the difference between a visitation from above and false +liberty of spirit and great confidence in self. God doeth well in +giving us the grace of comfort, but man doeth ill in not immediately +giving God thanks thereof. And thus the gifts of grace are not able to +flow unto us, because we are ungrateful to the Author of them, and +return them not wholly to the Fountain whence they flow. For grace ever +becometh the portion of him who is grateful and that is taken away from +the proud, which is wont to be given to the humble. + +3. I desire no consolation which taketh away from me compunction, I +love no contemplation which leadeth to pride. For all that is high is +not holy, nor is everything that is sweet good; every desire is not +pure; nor is everything that is dear to us pleasing unto God. Willingly +do I accept that grace whereby I am made humbler and more wary and more +ready to renounce myself. He who is made learned by the gift of grace +and taught wisdom by the stroke of the withdrawal thereof, will not +dare to claim any good thing for himself, but will rather confess that +he is poor and needy. Give unto God the thing which is God’s,(1) and +ascribe to thyself that which is thine; that is, give thanks unto God +for His grace, but for thyself alone confess thy fault, and that thy +punishment is deserved for thy fault. + +4. Sit thou down always in the lowest room and thou shalt be given the +highest place.(2) For the highest cannot be without the lowest. For the +highest saints of God are least in their own sight, and the more +glorious they are, so much the lowlier are they in themselves; full of +grace and heavenly glory, they are not desirous of vain-glory; resting +on God and strong in His might, they cannot be lifted up in any wise. +And they who ascribe unto God all the good which they have received, +“seek not glory one of another, but the glory which cometh from God +only,” and they desire that God shall be praised in Himself and in all +His Saints above all things, and they are always striving for this very +thing. + +5. Be thankful, therefore, for the least benefit and thou shalt be +worthy to receive greater. Let the least be unto thee even as the +greatest, and let that which is of little account be unto thee as a +special gift. If the majesty of the Giver be considered, nothing that +is given shall seem small and of no worth, for that is not a small +thing which is given by the Most High God. Yea, though He gave +punishment and stripes, we ought to be thankful, because He ever doth +for our profit whatever He suffereth to come upon us. He who seeketh to +retain the favour of God, let him be thankful for the favour which is +given, and patient in respect of that which is taken away. Let him pray +that it may return; let him be wary and humble that he lose it not. + +(1) Matthew xxii. 21. (2) Luke xiv. 10. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Of the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus + + +Jesus hath many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His +Cross. He hath many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He +findeth many companions of His table, but few of His fasting. All +desire to rejoice with Him, few are willing to undergo anything for His +sake. Many follow Jesus that they may eat of His loaves, but few that +they may drink of the cup of His passion. Many are astonished at His +Miracles, few follow after the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus so +long as no adversities happen to them. Many praise Him and bless Him, +so long as they receive any comforts from Him. But if Jesus hide +Himself and withdraw from them a little while, they fall either into +complaining or into too great dejection of mind. + +2. But they who love Jesus for Jesus’ sake, and not for any consolation +of their own, bless Him in all tribulation and anguish of heart as in +the highest consolation. And if He should never give them consolation, +nevertheless they would always praise Him and always give Him thanks. + +3. Oh what power hath the pure love of Jesus, unmixed with any gain or +love of self! Should not all they be called mercenary who are always +seeking consolations? Do they not prove themselves lovers of self more +than of Christ who are always seeking their own gain and advantage? +Where shall be found one who is willing to serve God altogether for +nought? + +4. Rarely is any one found so spiritual as to be stripped of all +selfish thoughts, for who shall find a man truly poor in spirit and +free of all created things? “His value is from afar, yea from the ends +of the earth.” A man may give away all his goods, yet that is nothing; +and if he do many deeds of penitence, yet that is a small thing; and +though he understand all knowledge, yet that is afar off; and if he +have great virtue and zealous devotion, yet much is lacking unto him, +yea, one thing which is the most necessary to him of all. What is it +then? That having given up all things besides, he give up himself and +go forth from himself utterly, and retain nothing of self-love; and +having done all things which he knoweth to be his duty to do, that he +feel that he hath done nothing. Let him not reckon that much which +might be much esteemed, but let him pronounce himself to be in truth an +unprofitable servant, as the Truth Himself saith, When ye have done all +things that are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants.(1) +Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and be able to say with +the Prophet, As for me, I am poor and needy.(2) Nevertheless, no man is +richer than he, no man stronger, no man freer. For he knoweth both how +to give up himself and all things, and how to be lowly in his own eyes. + +(1) Luke xvii. 10. (2) Psalm xxv. 16. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Of the royal way of the Holy Cross + + +That seemeth a hard saying to many, If any man will come after Me, let +him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow Me.(1) But it will be +much harder to hear that last sentence, Depart from me, ye wicked, into +eternal fire.(2) For they who now willingly hear the word of the Cross +and follow it, shall not then fear the hearing of eternal damnation. +This sign of the Cross shall be in heaven when the Lord cometh to +Judgment. Then all servants of the Cross, who in life have conformed +themselves to the Crucified, shall draw nigh unto Christ the Judge with +great boldness. + +2. Why fearest thou then to take up the cross which leadeth to a +kingdom? In the Cross is health, in the Cross is life, in the Cross is +protection from enemies, in the Cross is heavenly sweetness, in the +Cross strength of mind, in the Cross joy of the spirit, in the Cross +the height of virtue, in the Cross perfection of holiness. There is no +health of the soul, no hope of eternal life, save in the Cross. Take up +therefore, thy cross and follow Jesus and thou shalt go into eternal +life. He went before thee bearing His Cross and died for thee upon the +Cross, that thou also mayest bear thy cross and mayest love to be +crucified upon it. For if thou be dead with Him, thou shalt also live +with Him, and if thou be a partaker of His sufferings thou shalt be +also of His glory. + +3. Behold everything dependeth upon the Cross, and everything lieth in +dying; and there is none other way unto life and to true inward peace, +except the way of the Holy Cross and of daily mortification. Go where +thou wilt, seek whatsoever thou wilt, and thou shalt find no higher way +above nor safer way below, than the way of the Holy Cross. Dispose and +order all things according to thine own will and judgment, and thou +shalt ever find something to suffer either willingly or unwillingly, +and thus thou shalt ever find thy cross. For thou shalt either feel +pain of body, or tribulation of spirit within thy soul. + +4. Sometimes thou wilt be forsaken of God, sometimes thou wilt be tried +by thy neighbour, and which is more, thou wilt often be wearisome to +thyself. And still thou canst not be delivered nor eased by any remedy +or consolation, but must bear so long as God will. For God will have +thee learn to suffer tribulation without consolation, and to submit +thyself fully to it, and by tribulation be made more humble. No man +understandeth the Passion of Christ in his heart so well as he who hath +had somewhat of the like suffering himself. The Cross therefore is +always ready, and every where waiteth for thee. Thou canst not flee +from it whithersoever thou hurriest, for whithersoever thou comest, +thou bearest thyself with thee, and shalt ever find thyself. Turn thee +above, turn thee below, turn thee without, turn thee within, and in +them all thou shalt find the Cross; and needful is it that thou +everywhere possess patience if thou wilt have internal peace and gain +the everlasting crown. + +5. If thou willingly bear the Cross, it will bear thee, and will bring +thee to the end which thou seekest, even where there shall be the end +of suffering; though it shall not be here. If thou bear it unwillingly, +thou makest a burden for thyself and greatly increaseth thy load, and +yet thou must bear it. If thou cast away one cross, without doubt thou +shalt find another and perchance a heavier. + +6. Thinketh thou to escape what no mortal hath been able to avoid? +Which of the saints in the world hath been without the cross and +tribulation? For not even Jesus Christ our Lord was one hour without +the anguish of His Passion, so long as He lived. It behooved, He said, +Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his +glory.(3) And how dost thou seek another way than this royal way, which +is the way of the Holy Cross? + +7. The whole life of Christ was a cross and martyrdom, and dost thou +seek for thyself rest and joy? Thou art wrong, thou art wrong, if thou +seekest aught but to suffer tribulations, for this whole mortal life is +full of miseries, and set round with crosses. And the higher a man hath +advanced in the spirit, the heavier crosses he will often find, because +the sorrow of his banishment increaseth with the strength of his love. + +8. But yet the man who is thus in so many wise afflicted, is not +without refreshment of consolation, because he feeleth abundant fruit +to be growing within him out of the bearing of his cross. For whilst he +willingly submitteth himself to it, every burden of tribulation is +turned into an assurance of divine comfort, and the more the flesh is +wasted by affliction, the more is the spirit strengthened mightily by +inward grace. And ofttimes so greatly is he comforted by the desire for +tribulation and adversity, through love of conformity to the Cross of +Christ, that he would not be without sorrow and tribulation; for he +believeth that he shall be the more acceptable to God, the more and the +heavier burdens he is able to bear for His sake. This is not the virtue +of man, but the grace of Christ which hath such power and energy in the +weak flesh, that what it naturally hateth and fleeth from, this it +draweth to and loveth through fervour of spirit. + +9. It is not in the nature of man to bear the cross, to love the cross, +to keep under the body and to bring it into subjection, to fly from +honours, to bear reproaches meekly, to despise self and desire to be +despised, to bear all adversities and losses, and to desire no +prosperity in this world. If thou lookest to thyself, thou wilt of +thyself be able to do none of this; but if thou trustest in the Lord, +endurance shall be given thee from heaven, and the world and the flesh +shall be made subject to thy command. Yea, thou shalt not even fear +thine adversary the devil, if thou be armed with faith and signed with +the Cross of Christ. + +10. Set thyself, therefore, like a good and faithful servant of Christ, +to the manful bearing of the Cross of thy Lord, who out of love was +crucified for thee. Prepare thyself for the bearing many adversities +and manifold troubles in this wretched life; because so it shall be +with thee wheresoever thou art, and so in very deed thou shalt find it, +wherever thou hide thyself. This it must be; and there is no means of +escaping from tribulation and sorrow, except to bear them patiently. +Drink thou lovingly thy Lord’s cup if thou desirest to be His friend +and to have thy lot with Him. Leave consolations to God, let Him do as +seemeth best to Him concerning them. But do thou set thyself to endure +tribulations, and reckon them the best consolations; for the sufferings +of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which +shall be revealed in us,(4) nor would they be even if thou wert to +endure them all. + +11. When thou hast come to this, that tribulation is sweet and pleasant +to thee for Christ’s sake, then reckon that it is well with thee, +because thou hast found paradise on earth. So long as it is hard to +thee to suffer and thou desirest to escape, so long it will not be well +with thee, and tribulations will follow thee everywhere. + +12. If thou settest thyself to that thou oughtest, namely, to suffer +and to die, it shall soon go better with thee, and thou shalt find +peace. Though thou shouldest be caught up with Paul unto the third +heaven,(5) thou art not on that account secure from suffering evil. I +will show him, saith Jesus, what great things he must suffer for My +Name’s sake.(6) It remaineth, therefore, to thee to suffer, if thou +wilt love Jesus and serve Him continually. + +13. Oh that thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus, +how great glory should await thee, what rejoicing among all the saints +of God, what bright example also to thy neighbour! For all men commend +patience, although few be willing to practise it. Thou oughtest surely +to suffer a little for Christ when many suffer heavier things for the +world. + +14. Know thou of a surety that thou oughtest to lead the life of a +dying man. And the more a man dieth to himself, the more he beginneth +to live towards God. None is fit for the understanding of heavenly +things, unless he hath submitted himself to bearing adversities for +Christ. Nothing more acceptable to God, nothing more healthful for +thyself in this world, than to suffer willingly for Christ. And if it +were thine to choose, thou oughtest rather to wish to suffer +adversities for Christ, than to be refreshed with manifold +consolations, for thou wouldest be more like Christ and more conformed +to all saints. For our worthiness and growth in grace lieth not in many +delights and consolations, but rather in bearing many troubles and +adversities. + +15. If indeed there had been anything better and more profitable to the +health of men than to suffer, Christ would surely have shown it by word +and example. For both the disciples who followed Him, and all who +desire to follow Him, He plainly exhorteth to bear their cross, and +saith, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up +his cross, and follow Me.(7) So now that we have thoroughly read and +studied all things, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. We +must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.(8) + +(1) Matthew xvi. 24. (2) Matthew xxv. 41. (3) Luke xxiv. 46. (4) Romans +viii. 18. (5) 2 Corinthians xii. 2. (6) Acts ix. 16. (7) Luke ix. 23. +(8) Acts xiv. 21. + + + + +THE THIRD BOOK +ON INWARD CONSOLATION + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul + + +I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me.(1) Blessed is the +soul which heareth the Lord speaking within it, and receiveth the word +of consolation from His mouth. Blessed are the ears which receive the +echoes of the soft whisper of God, and turn not aside to the +whisperings of this world. Blessed truly are the ears which listen not +to the voice that soundeth without, but to that which teacheth truth +inwardly. Blessed are the eyes which are closed to things without, but +are fixed upon things within. Blessed are they who search inward things +and study to prepare themselves more and more by daily exercises for +the receiving of heavenly mysteries. Blessed are they who long to have +leisure for God, and free themselves from every hindrance of the world. +Think on these things, O my soul, and shut the doors of thy carnal +desires, so mayest thou hear what the Lord God will say within thee. + +2. These things saith thy Beloved, “I am thy salvation, I am thy peace +and thy life. Keep thee unto Me, and thou shalt find peace.” Put away +thee all transitory things, seek those things that are eternal. For +what are all temporal things but deceits, and what shall all created +things help thee if thou be forsaken by the Creator? Therefore put all +things else away, and give thyself to the Creator, to be well pleasing +and faithful to Him, that thou mayest be able to attain true +blessedness. + +(1) Psalm lxxxv. 8. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +What the truth saith inwardly without noise of words + + +Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.(1) I am Thy servant; O give me +understanding that I may know Thy testimonies. Incline my heart unto +the words of Thy mouth.(2) Let thy speech distil as the dew. The +children of Israel spake in old time to Moses, Speak thou unto us and +we will hear, but let not the Lord speak unto us lest we die.(3) Not +thus, O Lord, not thus do I pray, but rather with Samuel the prophet, I +beseech Thee humbly and earnestly, Speak, Lord, for Thy servant +heareth. Let not Moses speak to me, nor any prophet, but rather speak +Thou, O Lord, who didst inspire and illuminate all the prophets; for +Thou alone without them canst perfectly fill me with knowledge, whilst +they without Thee shall profit nothing. + +2. They can indeed utter words, but they give not the spirit. They +speak with exceeding beauty, but when Thou art silent they kindle not +the heart. They give us scriptures, but Thou makest known the sense +thereof. They bring us mysteries, but Thou revealest the things which +are signified. They utter commandments, but Thou helpest to the +fulfilling of them. They show the way, but Thou givest strength for the +journey. They act only outwardly, but Thou dost instruct and enlighten +the heart. They water, but Thou givest the increase. They cry with +words, but Thou givest understanding to the hearer. + +3. Therefore let not Moses speak to me, but Thou, O Lord my God, +Eternal Truth; lest I die and bring forth no fruit, being outwardly +admonished, but not enkindled within; lest the word heard but not +followed, known but not loved, believed but not obeyed, rise up against +me in the judgment. Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth; Thou hast the +words of eternal life.(4) Speak unto me for some consolation unto my +soul, for the amendment of my whole life, and for the praise and glory +and eternal honour of Thy Name. + +(1) 1 Samuel iii. 9. (2) Psalm cxix. 125. (3) Exodus xx. 19. (4) John +vi. 68. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many +consider them not + + +“My Son, hear My words, for My words are most sweet, surpassing all the +knowledge of the philosophers and wise men of this world. My words are +spirit, and they are life,(1) and are not to be weighed by man’s +understanding. They are not to be drawn forth for vain approbation, but +to be heard in silence, and to be received with all humility and with +deep love.” + +2. And I said, “Blessed is the man whom Thou teachest, O Lord, and +instructest him in Thy law, that Thou mayest give him rest in time of +adversity,(2) and that he be not desolate in the earth.” + +3. “I,” saith the Lord, “taught the prophets from the beginning, and +even now cease I not to speak unto all; but many are deaf and hardened +against My voice; many love to listen to the world rather than to God, +they follow after the desires of the flesh more readily than after the +good pleasure of God. The world promiseth things that are temporal and +small, and it is served with great eagerness. I promise things that are +great and eternal, and the hearts of mortals are slow to stir. Who +serveth and obeyeth Me in all things, with such carefulness as he +serveth the world and its rulers? + +Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, saith the sea;(3) +And if thou reason seekest, hear thou me. + + +For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will +scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean reward is sought after; +for a single piece of money sometimes there is shameful striving; for a +thing which is vain and for a trifling promise, men shrink not from +toiling day and night.” + +4. “But, O shame! for an unchangeable good, for an inestimable reward, +for the highest honour and for a glory that fadeth not away, it is +irksome to them to toil even a little. Be thou ashamed therefore, +slothful and discontented servant, for they are found readier unto +perdition than thou unto life. They rejoice more heartily in vanity +than thou in the truth. Sometimes, indeed, they are disappointed of +their hope, but my promise faileth no man, nor sendeth away empty him +who trusteth in Me. What I have promised I will give; what I have said +I will fulfil; if only a man remain faithful in My love unto the end. +Therefore am I the rewarder of all good men, and a strong approver of +all who are godly. + +5. “Write My words in thy heart and consider them diligently, for they +shall be very needful to thee in time of temptation. What thou +understandest not when thou readest, thou shalt know in the time of thy +visitation. I am wont to visit Mine elect in twofold manner, even by +temptation and by comfort, and I teach them two lessons day by day, the +one in chiding their faults, the other in exhorting them to grow in +grace. He who hath My words and rejecteth them, hath one who shall +judge him at the last day.” + +A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION + + +6. O Lord my God, Thou art all my good, and who am I that I should dare +to speak unto Thee? I am the very poorest of Thy servants, an abject +worm, much poorer and more despicable than I know or dare to say. +Nevertheless remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, I have nothing, and +can do nothing. Thou only art good, just and holy; Thou canst do all +things, art over all things, fillest all things, leaving empty only the +sinner. Call to mind Thy tender mercies, and fill my heart with Thy +grace, Thou who wilt not that Thy work should return to Thee void. + +7. How can I bear this miserable life unless Thy mercy and grace +strengthen me? Turn not away Thy face from me, delay not Thy +visitation. Withdraw not Thou Thy comfort from me, lest my soul “gasp +after thee as a thirsty land.” Lord, teach me to do Thy will, teach me +to walk humbly and uprightly before Thee, for Thou art my wisdom, who +knowest me in truth, and knewest me before the world was made and +before I was born into the world. + +(1) John vi. 63. (2) Psalm xciv. 13. (3) Isaiah xxiii. 4. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +How we must walk in truth and humility before God + + +“My Son! walk before Me in truth, and in the simplicity of thy heart +seek Me continually. He who walketh before Me in the truth shall be +safe from evil assaults, and the truth shall deliver him from the wiles +and slanders of the wicked. If the truth shall make thee free, thou +shalt be free indeed, and shalt not care for the vain words of men.” + +2. Lord, it is true as Thou sayest; let it, I pray Thee, be so with me; +let Thy truth teach me, let it keep me and preserve me safe unto the +end. Let it free me from all evil and inordinate affection, and I will +walk before Thee in great freedom of heart. + +3. “I will teach thee,” saith the Truth, “the things which are right +and pleasing before Me. Think upon thy sins with great displeasure and +sorrow, and never think thyself anything because of thy good works. +Verily thou art a sinner, liable to many passions, yea, tied and bound +with them. Of thyself thou always tendest unto nothing, thou wilt +quickly fall, quickly be conquered, quickly disturbed, quickly undone. +Thou hast nought whereof to glory, but many reasons why thou shouldest +reckon thyself vile, for thou art far weaker than thou art able to +comprehend. + +4. “Let, therefore, nothing which thou doest seem to thee great; let +nothing be grand, nothing of value or beauty, nothing worthy of honour, +nothing lofty, nothing praiseworthy or desirable, save what is eternal. +Let the eternal truth please thee above all things, let thine own great +vileness displease thee continually. Fear, denounce, flee nothing so +much as thine own faults and sins, which ought to be more displeasing +to thee than any loss whatsoever of goods. There are some who walk not +sincerely before me, but being led by curiosity and pride, they desire +to know my secret things and to understand the deep things of God, +whilst they neglect themselves and their salvation. These often fall +into great temptations and sins because of their pride and curiosity, +for I am against them. + +5. “Fear thou the judgments of God, fear greatly the wrath of the +Almighty. Shrink from debating upon the works of the Most High, but +search narrowly thine own iniquities into what great sins thou hast +fallen, and how many good things thou hast neglected. There are some +who carry their devotion only in books, some in pictures, some in +outward signs and figures; some have Me in their mouths, but little in +their hearts. Others there are who, being enlightened in their +understanding and purged in their affections, continually long after +eternal things, hear of earthly things with unwillingness, obey the +necessities of nature with sorrow. And these understand what the Spirit +of truth speaketh in them; for He teacheth them to despise earthly +things and to love heavenly; to neglect the world and to desire heaven +all the day and night.” + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love + + +I bless Thee, O Heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for +that Thou hast vouchsafed to think of me, poor that I am. O, Father of +Mercies and God of all comfort,(1) I give thanks unto Thee, who +refreshest me sometimes with thine own comfort, when I am unworthy of +any comfort. I bless and glorify Thee continually, with thine only +begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, for ever and ever. O +Lord God, Holy lover of my soul, when Thou shalt come into my heart, +all my inward parts shall rejoice. Thou art my glory and the joy of my +heart. Thou art my hope and my refuge in the day of my trouble. + +2. But because I am still weak in love and imperfect in virtue, I need +to be strengthened and comforted by Thee; therefore visit Thou me often +and instruct me with Thy holy ways of discipline. Deliver me from evil +passions, and cleanse my heart from all inordinate affections, that, +being healed and altogether cleansed within, I may be made ready to +love, strong to suffer, steadfast to endure. + +3. Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh +every heavy burden light, and equaliseth every inequality. For it +beareth the burden and maketh it no burden, it maketh every bitter +thing to be sweet and of good taste. The surpassing love of Jesus +impelleth to great works, and exciteth to the continual desiring of +greater perfection. Love willeth to be raised up, and not to be held +down by any mean thing. Love willeth to be free and aloof from all +worldly affection, lest its inward power of vision be hindered, lest it +be entangled by any worldly prosperity or overcome by adversity. +Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing loftier, +nothing broader, nothing pleasanter, nothing fuller or better in heaven +nor on earth, for love was born of God and cannot rest save in God +above all created things. + +4. He who loveth flyeth, runneth, and is glad; he is free and not +hindered. He giveth all things for all things, and hath all things in +all things, because he resteth in One who is high above all, from whom +every good floweth and proceedeth. He looketh not for gifts, but +turneth himself to the Giver above all good things. Love oftentimes +knoweth no measure, but breaketh out above all measure; love feeleth no +burden, reckoneth not labours, striveth after more than it is able to +do, pleadeth not impossibility, because it judgeth all things which are +lawful for it to be possible. It is strong therefore for all things, +and it fulfilleth many things, and is successful where he who loveth +not faileth and lieth down. + +5. Love is watchful, and whilst sleeping still keepeth watch; though +fatigued it is not weary, though pressed it is not forced, though +alarmed it is not terrified, but like the living flame and the burning +torch, it breaketh forth on high and securely triumpheth. If a man +loveth, he knoweth what this voice crieth. For the ardent affection of +the soul is a great clamour in the ears of God, and it saith: My God, +my Beloved! Thou art all mine, and I am all Thine. + +6. Enlarge Thou me in love, that I may learn to taste with the +innermost mouth of my heart how sweet it is to love, to be dissolved, +and to swim in love. Let me be holden by love, mounting above myself +through exceeding fervour and admiration. Let me sing the song of love, +let me follow Thee my Beloved on high, let my soul exhaust itself in +Thy praise, exulting with love. Let me love Thee more than myself, not +loving myself except for Thy sake, and all men in Thee who truly love +Thee, as the law of love commandeth which shineth forth from Thee. + +7. Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, +faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly, and never seeking her own; +for wheresoever a man seeketh his own, there he falleth from love. Love +is circumspect, humble, and upright; not weak, not fickle, nor intent +on vain things; sober, chaste, steadfast, quiet, and guarded in all the +senses. Love is subject and obedient to all that are in authority, vile +and lowly in its own sight, devout and grateful towards God, faithful +and always trusting in Him even when God hideth His face, for without +sorrow we cannot live in love. + +8. He who is not ready to suffer all things, and to conform to the will +of the Beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover of God. It behoveth +him who loveth to embrace willingly all hard and bitter things for the +Beloved’s sake, and not to be drawn away from Him because of any +contrary accidents. + +(1) 2 Corinthians i. 3. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Of the proving of the true lover + + +“My Son, thou art not yet strong and prudent in thy love.” + +2. Wherefore, O my Lord? + +3. “Because for a little opposition thou fallest away from thy +undertakings, and too eagerly seekest after consolation. The strong +lover standeth fast in temptations, and believeth not the evil +persuasions of the enemy. As in prosperity I please him, so in +adversity I do not displease. + +4. “The prudent lover considereth not the gift of the lover so much as +the love of the giver. He looketh for the affection more than the +value, and setteth all gifts lower than the Beloved. The noble lover +resteth not in the gift, but in Me above every gift. + +5. “All is not lost, though thou sometimes think of Me or of My saints, +less than thou shouldest desire. That good and sweet affection which +thou sometimes perceivest is the effect of present grace and some +foretaste of the heavenly country; but hereon thou must not too much +depend, for it goeth and cometh. But to strive against the evil motions +of the mind which come to us, and to resist the suggestions of the +devil, is a token of virtue and great merit. + +6. “Therefore let not strange fancies disturb thee, whencesoever they +arise. Bravely observe thy purpose and thy upright intentions towards +God. It is not an illusion when thou art sometimes suddenly carried +away into rapture, and then suddenly art brought back to the wonted +vanities of thy heart. For thou dost rather unwillingly undergo them +than cause them; and so long as they displease thee and thou strivest +against them, it is a merit and no loss. + +7. “Know thou that thine old enemy altogether striveth to hinder thy +pursuit after good, and to deter thee from every godly exercise, to +wit, the contemplation of the Saints, the pious remembrance of My +passion, the profitable recollection of sin, the keeping of thy own +heart, and the steadfast purpose to grow in virtue. He suggesteth to +thee many evil thoughts, that he may work in thee weariness and terror, +and so draw thee away from prayer and holy reading. Humble confession +displeaseth him, and if he were able he would make thee to cease from +Communion. Believe him not, nor heed him, though many a time he hath +laid for thee the snares of deceit. Account it to be from him, when he +suggesteth evil and unclean thoughts. Say unto him, ‘Depart unclean +spirit; put on shame, miserable one; horribly unclean art thou, who +bringest such things to mine ears. Depart from me, detestable deceiver; +thou shalt have no part in me; but Jesus shall be with me, as a strong +warrior, and thou shalt stand confounded. Rather would I die and bear +all suffering, than consent unto thee. Hold thy peace and be dumb; I +will not hear thee more, though thou plottest more snares against me. +The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom then shall I fear? Though a +host of men should rise up against me, yet shall not my heart be +afraid. The Lord is my strength and my Redeemer.’(1) + +8. “Strive thou like a good soldier; and if sometimes thou fail through +weakness, put on thy strength more bravely than before, trusting in My +more abundant grace, and take thou much heed of vain confidence and +pride. Because of it many are led into error, and sometimes fall into +blindness well-nigh irremediable. Let this ruin of the proud, who +foolishly lift themselves up, be to thee for a warning and a continual +exhortation to humility.” + +(1) Psalms xxvii. 1-3; xix. 14. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility + + +“My Son, it is better and safer for thee to hide the grace of devotion, +and not to lift thyself up on high, nor to speak much thereof, nor to +value it greatly; but rather to despise thyself, and to fear as though +this grace were given to one unworthy thereof. Nor must thou depend too +much upon this feeling, for it can very quickly be turned into its +opposite. Think when thou art in a state of grace how miserable and +poor thou art wont to be without grace. Nor is there advance in +spiritual life in this alone, that thou hast the grace of consolation, +but that thou humbly and unselfishly and patiently takest the +withdrawal thereof; so that thou cease not from the exercise of prayer, +nor suffer thy other common duties to be in anywise neglected; rather +do thy task more readily, as though thou hadst gained more strength and +knowledge; and do not altogether neglect thyself because of the dearth +and anxiety of spirit which thou feelest. + +2. “For there are many who, when things have not gone prosperous with +them, become forthwith impatient or slothful. For the way of a man is +not in himself,(1) but it is God’s to give and to console, when He +will, and as much as He will, and whom He will, as it shall please Him, +and no further. Some who were presumptuous because of the grace of +devotion within them, have destroyed themselves, because they would do +more than they were able, not considering the measure of their own +littleness, but rather following the impulse of the heart than the +judgment of the reason. And because they presumed beyond what was +well-pleasing unto God, therefore they quickly lost grace. They became +poor and were left vile, who had built for themselves their nest in +heaven; so that being humbled and stricken with poverty, they might +learn not to fly with their own wings, but to put their trust under My +feathers. They who are as yet new and unskilled in the way of the Lord, +unless they rule themselves after the counsel of the wise, may easily +be deceived and led away. + +3. “But if they wish to follow their own fancies rather than trust the +experience of others, the result will be very dangerous to them if they +still refuse to be drawn away from their own notion. Those who are wise +in their own conceits, seldom patiently endure to be ruled by others. +It is better to have a small portion of wisdom with humility, and a +slender understanding, than great treasures of sciences with vain +self-esteem. It is better for thee to have less than much of what may +make thee proud. He doeth not very discreetly who giveth up himself +entirely to joy, forgetting his former helplessness and the chaste fear +of the Lord, which feareth to lose the grace offered. Nor is he very +wise, after a manly sort, who in time of adversity, or any trouble +whatsoever, beareth himself too despairingly, and feeleth concerning Me +less trustfully than he ought. + +4. “He who in time of peace willeth to be oversecure shall be often +found in time of war overdispirited and full of fears. If thou knewest +always how to continue humble and moderate in thyself, and to guide and +rule thine own spirit well, thou wouldest not so quickly fall into +danger and mischief. It is good counsel that when fervour of spirit is +kindled, thou shouldest meditate how it will be with thee when the +light is taken away. Which when it doth happen, remember that still the +light may return again, which I have taken away for a time for a +warning to thee, and also for mine own glory. Such a trial is often +more useful than if thou hadst always things prosperous according to +thine own will. + +5. “For merits are not to be reckoned by this, that a man hath many +visions or consolations, or that he is skilled in the Scriptures, or +that he is placed in a high situation; but that he is grounded upon +true humility and filled with divine charity, that he always purely and +uprightly seeketh the honour of God, that he setteth not by himself, +but unfeignedly despiseth himself, and even rejoiceth to be despised +and humbled by others more than to be honoured.” + +(1) Jeremiah x. 23. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God + + +I will speak unto my Lord who am but dust and ashes. If I count myself +more, behold Thou standest against me, and my iniquities bear true +testimony, and I cannot gainsay it. But if I abase myself, and bring +myself to nought, and shrink from all self-esteem, and grind myself to +dust, which I am, Thy grace will be favourable unto me, and Thy light +will be near unto my heart; and all self-esteem, how little soever it +be, shall be swallowed up in the depths of my nothingness, and shall +perish for ever. There Thou showest to me myself, what I am, what I +was, and whither I have come: so foolish was I and ignorant.(1) If I am +left to myself, behold I am nothing, I am all weakness; but if suddenly +Thou look upon me, immediately I am made strong, and filled with new +joy. And it is great marvel that I am so suddenly lifted up, and so +graciously embraced by Thee, since I am always being carried to the +deep by my own weight. + +2. This is the doing of Thy love which freely goeth before me and +succoureth me in so many necessities, which guardeth me also in great +dangers and snatcheth me, as I may truly say, from innumerable evils. +For verily, by loving myself amiss, I lost myself, and by seeking and +sincerely loving Thee alone, I found both myself and Thee, and through +love I have brought myself to yet deeper nothingness: because Thou, O +most sweet Lord, dealest with me beyond all merit, and above all which +I dare ask or think. + +3. Blessed be Thou, O my God, because though I be unworthy of all Thy +benefits, Thy bountiful and infinite goodness never ceaseth to do good +even to ingrates and to those who are turned far from Thee. Turn Thou +us unto Thyself, that we may be grateful, humble, and godly, for Thou +art our salvation, our courage, and our strength. + +(1) Psalm lxxiii. 22. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end + + +“My Son, I must be thy Supreme and final end, if thou desirest to be +truly happy. Out of such purpose thy affection shall be purified, which +too often is sinfully bent upon itself and upon created things. For if +thou seekest thyself in any matter, straightway thou wilt fail within +thyself and grow barren. Therefore refer everything to Me first of all, +for it is I who gave thee all. So look upon each blessing as flowing +from the Supreme Good, and thus all things are to be attributed to Me +as their source. + +2. “From Me the humble and great, the poor and the rich, draw water as +from a living fountain, and those who serve Me with a free and faithful +spirit shall receive grace for grace. But he who will glory apart from +Me, or will be delighted with any good which lieth in himself, shall +not be established in true joy, nor shall be enlarged in heart, but +shall be greatly hindered and thrown into tribulation. Therefore thou +must not ascribe any good to thyself, nor look upon virtue as belonging +to any man, but ascribe it all unto God, without whom man hath nothing. +I gave all, I will receive all again, and with great strictness require +I the giving of thanks. + +3. “This is the Truth, and by it the vanity of boasting is put to +flight. And if heavenly grace and true charity shall enter into thee, +there shall be no envy, nor straitening of the heart, nor shall any +self-love take possession of thee. For divine charity conquereth all +things, and enlargeth all the powers of the soul. If thou art truly +wise, thou wilt rejoice in Me alone, thou wilt hope in Me alone; for +there is none good but one, that is God,(1) Who is to be praised above +all things, and in all things to receive blessing.” + +(1) Luke xviii. 19. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God + + +Now will I speak again, O my Lord, and hold not my peace; I will say in +the ears of my God, my Lord, and my King, who is exalted above all, _Oh +how plentiful is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that +fear Thee!_(1) But what art Thou to those who love Thee? What to those +who serve Thee with their whole heart? Truly unspeakable is the +sweetness of the contemplation of Thee, which Thou bestowest upon those +who love Thee. In this most of all Thou hast showed me the sweetness of +Thy charity, that when I was not, Thou madest me, and when I wandered +far from Thee, Thou broughtest me back that I might serve Thee, and +commandedst me to love Thee. + +2. O Fountain of perpetual love, what shall I say concerning Thee? How +shall I be unmindful of Thee, who didst vouchsafe to remember me, even +after I pined away and perished? Thou hast had mercy beyond all hope +upon Thy servant, and hast showed Thy grace and friendship beyond all +deserving. What reward shall I render Thee for this Thy grace? For it +is not given unto all to renounce this world and its affairs, and to +take up a religious life. For is it a great thing that I should serve +Thee, whom every creature ought to serve? It ought not to seem a great +thing to me to serve Thee; but rather this appeareth to me a great and +wonderful thing, that Thou vouchsafest to receive as Thy servant one so +poor and unworthy, and to join him unto Thy chosen servants. + +3. Behold all things which I have are Thine, and with them I serve +Thee. And yet verily it is Thou who servest me, rather than I Thee. +Behold the heaven and the earth which Thou hast created for the service +of men; they are at Thy bidding, and perform daily whatsoever Thou dost +command. Yea, and this is little; for Thou hast even ordained the +Angels for the service of man. But it surpasseth even all these things, +that Thou Thyself didst vouchsafe to minister unto man, and didst +promise that Thou wouldest give Thyself unto him. + +4. What shall I render unto Thee for all these Thy manifold mercies? Oh +that I were able to serve Thee all the days of my life! Oh that even +for one day I were enabled to do Thee service worthy of Thyself! For +verily Thou art worthy of all service, all honour, and praise without +end. Verily Thou art my God, and I am Thy poor servant, who am bound to +serve Thee with all my strength, nor ought I ever to grow weary of Thy +praise. This is my wish, this is my exceeding great desire, and +whatsoever is lacking to me, vouchsafe Thou to supply. + +5. It is great honour, great glory to serve Thee, and to despise all +for Thy sake. For they shall have great grace who of their own will +shall submit themselves to Thy most holy service. They who for Thy love +have cast away every carnal delight shall find the sweetest consolation +of the Holy Ghost. They who enter the narrow way of life for Thy Name’s +sake, and have put away all worldly cares, shall attain great liberty +of spirit. + +6. Oh grateful and delightsome service of God, whereby man is made +truly free and holy! Oh sacred condition of the religious servant, +which maketh man equal to the Angels, well-pleasing unto God, terrible +to evil spirits, and acceptable to all faithful ones! Oh service to be +embraced and ever desired, in which the highest good is promised, and +joy is gained which shall remain for evermore! + +(1) Psalm xxxi. 19. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed + + +“My Son, thou hast still many things to learn, which thou hast not well +learned yet.” + +2. What are they, Lord? + +3. “To place thy desire altogether in subjection to My good pleasure, +and not to be a lover of thyself, but an earnest seeker of My will. Thy +desires often excite and urge thee forward; but consider with thyself +whether thou art not more moved for thine own objects than for My +honour. If it is Myself that thou seekest, thou shalt be well content +with whatsoever I shall ordain; but if any pursuit of thine own lieth +hidden within thee, behold it is this which hindereth and weigheth thee +down. + +4. “Beware, therefore, lest thou strive too earnestly after some desire +which thou hast conceived, without taking counsel of Me; lest haply it +repent thee afterwards, and that displease thee which before pleased, +and for which thou didst long as for a great good. For not every +affection which seemeth good is to be forthwith followed; neither is +every opposite affection to be immediately avoided. Sometimes it is +expedient to use restraint even in good desires and wishes, lest +through importunity thou fall into distraction of mind, lest through +want of discipline thou become a stumbling-block to others, or lest by +the resistance of others thou be suddenly disturbed and brought to +confusion. + +5. “Sometimes, indeed, it is needful to use violence, and manfully to +strive against the sensual appetite, and not to consider what the flesh +may or not will; but rather to strive after this, that it may become +subject, however unwillingly, to the spirit. And for so long it ought +to be chastised and compelled to undergo slavery, even until it be +ready for all things, and learn to be contented with little, to be +delighted with things simple, and never to murmur at any +inconvenience.” + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil +desires + + +O Lord God, I see that patience is very necessary unto me; for many +things in this life fall out contrary. For howsoever I may have +contrived for my peace, my life cannot go on without strife and +trouble. + +2. “Thou speakest truly, My Son. For I will not that thou seek such a +peace as is without trials, and knoweth no adversities; but rather that +thou shouldest judge thyself to have found peace, when thou art tried +with manifold tribulations, and proved by many adversities. If thou +shalt say that thou art not able to bear much, how then wilt thou +sustain the fire hereafter? Of two evils we should always choose the +less. Therefore, that thou mayest escape eternal torments hereafter, +strive on God’s behalf to endure present evils bravely. Thinkest thou +that the children of this world suffer nought, or but little? Thou wilt +not find it so, even though thou find out the most prosperous. + +3. “‘But,’ thou wilt say, ‘they have many delights, and they follow +their own wills, and thus they bear lightly their tribulations.’ + +4. “Be it so, grant that they have what they list; but how long, +thinkest thou, will it last? Behold, like the smoke those who are rich +in this world will pass away, and no record shall remain of their past +joys. Yea, even while they yet live, they rest not without bitterness +and weariness and fear. For from the very same thing wherein they find +delight, thence they oftentimes have the punishment of sorrow. Justly +it befalleth them, that because out of measure they seek out and pursue +pleasures, they enjoy them not without confusion and bitterness. Oh how +short, how false, how inordinate and wicked are all these pleasures! +Yet because of their sottishness and blindness men do not understand; +but like brute beasts, for the sake of a little pleasure of this +corruptible life, they incur death of the soul. Thou therefore, my son, +go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites.(1) +Delight thou in the Lord, and He shall give thee thy heart’s desire.(2) + +5. “For if thou wilt truly find delight, and be abundantly comforted of +Me, behold in the contempt of all worldly things and in the avoidance +of all worthless pleasures shall be thy blessing, and fulness of +consolation shall be given thee. And the more thou withdrawest thyself +from all solace of creatures, the more sweet and powerful consolations +shalt thou find. But at the first thou shalt not attain to them, +without some sorrow and hard striving. Long-accustomed habit will +oppose, but it shall be overcome by better habit. The flesh will murmur +again and again, but will be restrained by fervour of spirit. The old +serpent will urge and embitter thee, but will be put to flight by +prayer; moreover, by useful labour his entrance will be greatly +obstructed.” + +(1) Ecclesiastes xviii. 30. (2) Psalm xxxvii. 4. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus +Christ + + +“My Son, he who striveth to withdraw himself from obedience, +withdraweth himself also from grace, and he who seeketh private +advantages, loseth those which are common unto all. If a man submit not +freely and willingly to one set over him, it is a sign that his flesh +is not yet perfectly subject to himself, but often resisteth and +murmureth. Learn therefore quickly to submit thyself to him who is over +thee, if thou seekest to bring thine own flesh into subjection. For the +outward enemy is very quickly overcome if the inner man have not been +laid low. There is no more grievous and deadly enemy to the soul than +thou art to thyself, if thou art not led by the Spirit. Thou must not +altogether conceive contempt for thyself, if thou wilt prevail against +flesh and blood. Because as yet thou inordinately lovest thyself, +therefore thou shrinkest from yielding thyself to the will of others. + +2. “But what great thing is it that thou, who art dust and nothingness, +yieldest thyself to man for God’s sake, when I, the Almighty and the +Most High, who created all things out of nothing, subjected Myself to +man for thy sake? I became the most humble and despised of men, that by +My humility thou mightest overcome thy pride. Learn to obey, O dust! +Learn to humble thyself, O earth and clay, and to bow thyself beneath +the feet of all. Learn to crush thy passions, and to yield thyself in +all subjection. + +3. “Be zealous against thyself, nor suffer pride to live within thee, +but so show thyself subject and of no reputation, that all may be able +to walk over thee, and tread thee down as the clay in the streets. What +hast thou, O foolish man, of which to complain? What, O vile sinner, +canst thou answer those who speak against thee, seeing thou hast so +often offended God, and many a time hast deserved hell? But Mine eye +hath spared thee, because thy soul was precious in My sight; that thou +mightest know My love, and mightest be thankful for My benefits; and +that thou mightest give thyself altogether to true subjection and +humility, and patiently bear the contempt which thou meritest.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Of meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we may not be +lifted up because of our well-doing + + +Thou sendest forth Thy judgments against me, O Lord, and shakest all my +bones with fear and trembling, and my soul trembleth exceedingly. I +stand astonished, and remember that the heavens are not clean in thy +sight.(1) If Thou chargest Thine angels with folly, and didst spare +them not, how shall it be unto me? Stars have fallen from heaven, and +what shall I dare who am but dust? They whose works seemed to be +praiseworthy, fell into the lowest depths, and they who did eat Angels’ +food, them have I seen delighted with the husks that the swine do eat. + +2. There is therefore no holiness, if Thou O Lord, withdraw Thine hand. +No wisdom profiteth, if Thou leave off to guide the helm. No strength +availeth, if Thou cease to preserve. No purity is secure, if Thou +protect it not. No self-keeping availeth, if Thy holy watching be not +there. For when we are left alone we are swallowed up and perish, but +when we are visited, we are raised up, and we live. For indeed we are +unstable, but are made strong through Thee; we grow cold, but are +rekindled by Thee. + +3. Oh, how humbly and abjectly must I reckon of myself, how must I +weigh it as nothing, if I seem to have nothing good! Oh, how profoundly +ought I to submit myself to Thy unfathomable judgments, O Lord, when I +find myself nothing else save nothing, and again nothing! Oh weight +unmeasurable, oh ocean which cannot be crossed over, where I find +nothing of myself save nothing altogether! Where, then, is the +hiding-place of glory, where the confidence begotten of virtue? All +vain-glory is swallowed up in the depths of Thy judgments against me. + +4. What is all flesh in Thy sight? _For how shall the clay boast +against Him that fashioned it?_(2) How can he be lifted up in vain +speech whose heart is subjected in truth to God? The whole world shall +not lift him up whom Truth hath subdued; nor shall he be moved by the +mouth of all who praise him, who hath placed all his hope in God. For +they themselves who speak, behold, they are all nothing; for they shall +cease with the sound of their words, but the truth of the Lord endureth +for ever.(3) + +(1) Job xv. 15. (2) Isaiah xxix. 16. (3) Psalm cxvii. 2. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +How we must stand and speak, in everything that we desire + + +“My Son, speak thou thus in every matter, ‘Lord, if it please Thee, let +this come to pass. Lord, if this shall be for Thine honour, let it be +done in Thy Name. Lord, if thou see it good for me, and approve it as +useful, then grant me to use it for Thy honour. But if thou knowest +that it shall be hurtful unto me, and not profitable for the health of +my soul, take the desire away from me’! For not every desire is from +the Holy Ghost, although it appear to a man right and good. It is +difficult to judge with certainty whether a good or an evil spirit move +thee to desire this or that, or whether thou art moved by thine own +spirit. Many have been deceived at the last, who seemed at the +beginning to be moved by a good spirit. + +2. “Therefore, whatsoever seemeth to thee desirable, thou must always +desire and seek after it with the fear of God and humility of heart, +and most of all, must altogether resign thyself, and commit all unto Me +and say, ‘Lord, thou knowest what is best; let this or that be, +according as Thou wilt. Give what Thou wilt, so much as Thou wilt, when +Thou wilt. Do with me as Thou knowest best, and as best shall please +Thee, and as shall be most to Thine honour. Place me where Thou wilt, +and freely work Thy will with me in all things. I am in Thine hand, and +turn me in my course. Behold, I am Thy servant, ready for all things; +for I desire to live not to myself but to Thee. Oh, that I might live +worthily and perfectly.’” + +A PRAYER TO BE ENABLED TO DO GOD’S WILL PERFECTLY + + +3. Grant me Thy grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and +work in me, and persevere with me, even unto the end. Grant that I may +ever desire and wish whatsoever is most pleasing and dear unto Thee. +Let Thy will be mine, and let my will alway follow Thine, and entirely +accord with it. May I choose and reject whatsoever Thou dost; yea, let +it be impossible for me to choose or reject except according to Thy +will. + +4. Grant that I may die to all worldly things, and for Thy sake love to +be despised and unknown in this world. Grant unto me, above all things +that I can desire, to rest in Thee, and that in Thee my heart may be at +peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, Thou alone its rest; apart +from Thee all things are hard and unquiet. In Thee alone, the supreme +and eternal God, _I will lay me down in peace and take my rest_.(1) +Amen. + +(1) Psalm iv. 8. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +That true solace is to be sought in God alone + + +Whatsoever I am able to desire or to think of for my solace, I look for +it not here, but hereafter. For if I alone had all the solaces of this +world, and were able to enjoy all its delights, it is certain that they +could not endure long. Wherefore, O my soul, thou canst be fully +comforted and perfectly refreshed, only in God, the Comforter of the +poor, and the lifter up of the humble. Wait but a little while, my +soul, wait for the Divine promise, and thou shalt have abundance of all +good things in heaven. If thou longest too inordinately for the things +which are now, thou shalt lose those which are eternal and heavenly. +Let temporal things be in the use, eternal things in the desire. Thou +canst not be satisfied with any temporal good, for thou wast not +created for the enjoyment of these. + +2. Although thou hadst all the good things which ever were created, yet +couldst not thou be happy and blessed; all thy blessedness and thy +felicity lieth in God who created all things; not such felicity as +seemeth good to the foolish lover of the world, but such as Christ’s +good and faithful servants wait for, and as the spiritual and pure in +heart sometimes taste, whose conversation is in heaven.(1) All human +solace is empty and short-lived; blessed and true is that solace which +is felt inwardly, springing from the truth. The godly man everywhere +beareth about with him his own Comforter, Jesus, and saith unto Him: +“Be with me, Lord Jesus, always and everywhere. Let it be my comfort to +be able to give up cheerfully all human comfort. And if Thy consolation +fail me, let Thy will and righteous approval be alway with me for the +highest comfort. _For Thou wilt not always be chiding, neither keepest +Thou Thine anger for ever_.”(2) + +(1) Philippians iii. 20. (2) Psalm ciii. 9. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +That all care is to be cast upon God + + +“My Son, suffer me to do with thee what I will; I know what is +expedient for thee. Thou thinkest as a man, in many things thou judgest +as human affection persuadeth thee.” + +2. Lord, what Thou sayest is true. Greater is Thy care for me than all +the care which I am able to take for myself. For too insecurely doth he +stand who casteth not all his care upon Thee. Lord, so long as my will +standeth right and firm in Thee, do with me what Thou wilt, for +whatsoever Thou shalt do with me cannot be aught but good. Blessed be +Thou if Thou wilt leave me in darkness: blessed also be Thou if Thou +wilt leave me in light. Blessed be Thou if Thou vouchsafe to comfort +me, and always blessed be Thou if Thou cause me to be troubled. + +3. “My Son! even thus thou must stand if thou desirest to walk with Me. +Thou must be ready alike for suffering or rejoicing. Thou must be poor +and needy as willingly as full and rich.” + +4. Lord, I will willingly bear for Thee whatsoever Thou wilt have to +come upon me. Without choice I will receive from Thy hand good and +evil, sweet and bitter, joy and sadness, and will give Thee thanks for +all things which shall happen unto me. Keep me from all sin, and I will +not fear death nor hell. Only cast me not away for ever, nor blot me +out of the book of life. Then no tribulation which shall come upon me +shall do me hurt. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of +Christ + + +“My Son! I came down from heaven for thy salvation; I took upon Me thy +miseries not of necessity, but drawn by love that thou mightest learn +patience and mightest bear temporal miseries without murmuring. For +from the hour of My birth, until My death upon the Cross, I ceased not +from bearing of sorrow; I had much lack of temporal things; I +oftentimes heard many reproaches against Myself; I gently bore +contradictions and hard words; I received ingratitude for benefits, +blasphemies for My miracles, rebukes for My doctrine.” + +2. Lord, because Thou wast patient in Thy life, herein most of all +fulfilling the commandment of Thy Father, it is well that I, miserable +sinner, should patiently bear myself according to Thy will, and as long +as Thou wilt have it so, should bear about with me for my salvation, +the burden of this corruptible life. For although the present life +seemeth burdensome, it is nevertheless already made very full of merit +through Thy grace, and to those who are weak it becometh easier and +brighter through Thy example and the footsteps of Thy saints; but it is +also much more full of consolation than it was of old, under the old +Testament, when the gate of heaven remained shut; and even the way to +heaven seemed more obscure when so few cared to seek after the heavenly +kingdom. But not even those who were then just and in the way of +salvation were able, before Thy Passion and the ransom of Thy holy +Death, to enter the kingdom of heaven. + +3. Oh what great thanks am I bound to give Thee, who hast vouchsafed to +show me and all faithful people the good and right way to Thine eternal +kingdom, for Thy way is our way, and by holy patience we walk to Thee +who art our Crown. If Thou hadst not gone before and taught us, who +would care to follow? Oh, how far would they have gone backward if they +had not beheld Thy glorious example! Behold we are still lukewarm, +though we have heard of Thy many signs and discourses; what would +become of us if we had not such a light to help us follow Thee? + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Of bearing injuries, and who shall be approved as truly patient + + +“What sayest thou, My Son? Cease to complain; consider My suffering and +that of My saints. Thou hast not yet resisted unto blood.(1) It is +little which thou sufferest in comparison with those who have suffered +so many things, have been so strongly tempted, so grievously troubled, +so manywise proved and tried. Thou oughtest therefore to call to mind +the more grievous sufferings of others that thou mightest bear thy +lesser ones more easily, and if they seem not to thee little, see that +it is not thy impatience which is the cause of this. But whether they +be little or whether they be great, study to bear them all with +patience. + +2. “So far as thou settest thyself to bear patiently, so far thou dost +wisely and art deserving of the more merit; thou shalt also bear the +more easily if thy mind and habit are carefully trained hereunto. And +say not ‘I cannot bear these things from such a man, nor are things of +this kind to be borne by me, for he hath done me grievous harm and +imputeth to me what I had never thought: but from another I will suffer +patiently, such things as I see I ought to suffer.’ Foolish is such a +thought as this, for it considereth not the virtue of patience, nor by +whom that virtue is to be crowned, but it rather weigheth persons and +offences against self. + +3. “He is not truly patient who will only suffer as far as seemeth +right to himself and from whom he pleaseth. But the truly patient man +considereth not by what man he is tried, whether by one above him, or +by an equal or inferior, whether by a good and holy man, or a perverse +and unworthy; but indifferently from every creature, whatsoever or how +often soever adversity happeneth to him, he gratefully accepteth all +from the hand of God and counteth it great gain: for with God nothing +which is borne for His sake, however small, shall lose its reward. + +4. “Be thou therefore ready for the fight if thou wilt have the +victory. Without striving thou canst not win the crown of patience; if +thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned. But if thou desirest +to be crowned, strive manfully, endure patiently. Without labour thou +drawest not near to rest, nor without fighting comest thou to victory.” + +5. Make possible to me, O Lord, by grace what seemeth impossible to me +by nature. Thou knowest how little I am able to bear, and how quickly I +am cast down when a like adversity riseth up against me. Whatsoever +trial of tribulation may come to me, may it become unto me pleasing and +acceptable, for to suffer and be vexed for Thy sake is exceeding +healthful to the soul. + +(1) Hebrews xii. 4. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Of confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life + + +_I will acknowledge my sin unto Thee;_(1) I will confess to Thee, Lord, +my infirmity. It is often a small thing which casteth me down and +maketh me sad. I resolve that I will act bravely, but when a little +temptation cometh, immediately I am in a great strait. Wonderfully +small sometimes is the matter whence a grievous temptation cometh, and +whilst I imagine myself safe for a little space; when I am not +considering, I find myself often almost overcome by a little puff of +wind. + +2. Behold, therefore, O Lord, my humility and my frailty, which is +altogether known to Thee. Be merciful unto me, and _draw me out of the +mire that I sink not_,(2) lest I ever remain cast down. This is what +frequently throweth me backward and confoundeth me before Thee, that I +am so liable to fall, so weak to resist my passions. And though their +assault is not altogether according to my will, it is violent and +grievous, and it altogether wearieth me to live thus daily in conflict. +Herein is my infirmity made known to me, that hateful fancies always +rush in far more easily than they depart. + +3. Oh that Thou, most mighty God of Israel, Lover of all faithful +souls, wouldst look upon the labour and sorrow of Thy servant, and give +him help in all things whereunto he striveth. Strengthen me with +heavenly fortitude, lest the old man, this miserable flesh, not being +yet fully subdued to the spirit, prevail to rule over me; against which +I ought to strive so long as I remain in this most miserable life. Oh +what a life is this, where tribulations and miseries cease not, where +all things are full of snares and of enemies, for when one tribulation +or temptation goeth, another cometh, yea, while the former conflict is +yet raging others come more in number and unexpected. + +4. And how can the life of man be loved, seeing that it hath so many +bitter things, that it is subjected to so many calamities and miseries. +How can it be even called life, when it produces so many deaths and +plagues? The world is often reproached because it is deceitful and +vain, yet notwithstanding it is not easily given up, because the lusts +of the flesh have too much rule over it. Some draw us to love, some to +hate. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of +life, these draw to love of the world; but the punishments and miseries +which righteously follow these things, bring forth hatred of the world +and weariness. + +5. But, alas! an evil desire conquereth a mind given to the world, and +thinketh it happiness to be under the nettles(3) because it savoureth +not nor perceiveth the sweetness of God nor the inward gracefulness of +virtue. But they who perfectly despise the world and strive to live +unto God in holy discipline, these are not ignorant of the divine +sweetness promised to all who truly deny themselves and see clearly how +grievously the world erreth, and in how many ways it is deceived. + +(1) Psalm xxxii. 5. (2) Psalm lxix. 14. (3) Job xxx. 7. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts + + +Above all things and in all things thou shalt rest alway in the Lord, O +my soul, for he himself is the eternal rest of the saints. Grant me, +most sweet and loving Jesus, to rest in Thee above every creature, +above all health and beauty, above all glory and honour, above all +power and dignity, above all knowledge and skilfulness, above all +riches and arts, above all joy and exultation, above all fame and +praise, above all sweetness and consolation, above all hope and +promise, above all merit and desire, above all gifts and rewards which +Thou canst give and pour forth, above all joy and jubilation which the +mind is able to receive and feel; in a word, above Angels and +Archangels and all the army of heaven, above all things visible and +invisible, and above everything which Thou, O my God, art not. + +2. For Thou, O Lord, my God, art best above all things; Thou only art +the Most High, Thou only the Almighty, Thou only the All-sufficient, +and the Fulness of all things; Thou only the All-delightsome and the +All-comforting; Thou alone the altogether lovely and altogether loving; +Thou alone the Most Exalted and Most Glorious above all things; in Whom +all things are, and were, and ever shall be, altogether and +all-perfect. And thus it falleth short and is insufficient whatsoever +Thou givest to me without Thyself or whatsoever Thou revealest or dost +promise concerning Thyself, whilst Thou art not seen or fully +possessed: since verily my heart cannot truly rest nor be entirely +content, except it rest in Thee, and go beyond all gifts and every +creature. + +3. O my most beloved Spouse, Jesus Christ, most holy lover of my soul, +Ruler of this whole Creation, who shall give me the wings of true +liberty, that I may flee to Thee and find rest? Oh when shall it be +given me to be open to receive Thee to the full, and to see how sweet +Thou art, O Lord my God? When shall I collect myself altogether in +Thee, that because of Thy love I may not feel myself at all, but may +know Thee only above every sense and measure, in measure not known to +others. But now I ofttimes groan, and bear my sad estate with sorrow; +because many evils befall me in this vale of miseries which continually +disturb and fill me with sorrow, and encloud me, continually hinder and +fill me with care, allure and entangle me, that I cannot have free +access to Thee, nor enjoy that sweet intercourse which is always near +at hand to the blessed spirits. Let my deep sighing come before Thee, +and my manifold desolation on the earth. + +4. O Jesus, Light of Eternal Glory, solace of the wandering soul, +before Thee my mouth is without speech, and my silence speaketh to +Thee. How long will my Lord delay to come unto me? Let Him come unto +me, His poor and humble one, and make me glad. Let Him put forth His +hand, and deliver His holy one from every snare. Come, Oh come; for +without Thee shall be no joyful day or hour, for Thou art my joy, and +without Thee is my table empty. I am miserable, and in a manner +imprisoned and loaded with fetters, until Thou refresh me by the light +of Thy presence, and give me liberty, and show Thy loving countenance. + +5. Let others seek some other thing instead of Thee, whatsoever it +shall please them; but for my part nothing else pleaseth or shall +please, save Thou, my God, my hope, my eternal salvation. I will not +hold my peace, nor cease to implore, until Thy grace return, and until +Thou speak to me within. + +6. “Behold, here I am! Behold, I come to thee, for thou didst call Me. +Thy tears and the longing of thy soul, thy humbleness and contrition of +heart have inclined Me, and brought Me to thee.” + +7. And I said Lord, I have called upon Thee, and I have longed to enjoy +Thee, being ready to reject everything for Thy sake. For Thou didst +first move me to seek Thee. Therefore, blessed be Thou, O Lord, who has +wrought this good work upon Thy servant, according to the multitude of +Thy mercy. What then hath Thy servant to say in Thy presence, save to +humble himself greatly before Thee, being alway mindful of his own +iniquity and vileness. For there is none like unto Thee in all marvels +of heaven and earth. Excellent are Thy works, true are Thy judgments, +and by Thy Providence are all things governed. Therefore praise and +glory be unto Thee, O Wisdom of the Father, let my mouth and my soul +and all created things praise and bless Thee together. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +Of the recollection of God’s manifold benefits + + +Open, O Lord, my heart in Thy law, and teach me to walk in the way of +Thy commandments. Grant me to understand Thy will and to be mindful of +Thy benefits, both general and special, with great reverence and +diligent meditation, that thus I may be able worthily to give Thee +thanks. Yet I know and confess that I cannot render Thee due praises +for the least of Thy mercies. I am less than the least of all the good +things which Thou gavest me; and when I consider Thy majesty, my spirit +faileth because of the greatness thereof. + +2. All things which we have in the soul and in the body, and whatsoever +things we possess, whether outwardly or inwardly, naturally or +supernaturally, are Thy good gifts, and prove Thee, from whom we have +received them all, to be good, gentle, and kind. Although one receiveth +many things, and another fewer, yet all are Thine, and without Thee not +even the least thing can be possessed. He who hath received greater +cannot boast that it is of his own merit, nor lift himself up above +others, nor contemn those beneath him; for he is the greater and the +better who ascribeth least to himself, and in giving thanks is the +humbler and more devout; and he who holdeth himself to be viler than +all, and judgeth himself to be the more unworthy, is the apter for +receiving greater things. + +3. But he who hath received fewer gifts, ought not to be cast down, nor +to take it amiss, nor to envy him who is richer; but rather ought he to +look unto Thee, and to greatly extol Thy goodness, for Thou pourest +forth Thy gifts so richly, so freely and largely, without respect of +persons. All things come of Thee; therefore in all things shalt thou be +praised. Thou knowest what is best to be given to each; and why this +man hath less, and that more, is not for us but for Thee to understand, +for unto Thee each man’s deservings are fully known. + +4. Wherefore, O Lord God, I reckon it even a great benefit, not to have +many things, whence praise and glory may appear outwardly, and after +the thought of men. For so it is that he who considereth his own +poverty and vileness, ought not only to draw therefrom no grief or +sorrow, or sadness of spirit, but rather comfort and cheerfulness; +because Thou, Lord, hast chosen the poor and humble, and those who are +poor in this world, to be Thy friends and acquaintance. So give all +Thine apostles witness whom Thou hast made princes in all lands. Yet +they had their conversation in this world blameless, so humble and +meek, without any malice or deceit, that they even rejoiced to suffer +rebukes for Thy Name’s sake,(1) and what things the world hateth, they +embraced with great joy. + +5. Therefore ought nothing so much to rejoice him who loveth Thee and +knoweth Thy benefits, as Thy will in him, and the good pleasure of +Thine eternal Providence, wherewith he ought to be so contented and +comforted, that he would as willingly be the least as any other would +be the greatest, as peaceable and contented in the lowest as in the +highest place, and as willingly held of small and low account and of no +name or reputation as to be more honourable and greater in the world +than others. For Thy will and the love of Thine honour ought to go +before all things, and to please and comfort him more, than all +benefits that are given or may be given to himself. + +(1) Acts v. 41. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Of four things which bring great peace + + +“My Son, now will I teach thee the way of peace and of true liberty.” + +2. Do, O my Lord, as Thou sayest, for this is pleasing unto me to hear. + +3. “Strive, My Son, to do another’s will rather than thine own. Choose +always to have less rather than more. Seek always after the lowest +place, and to be subject to all. Wish always and pray that the will of +God be fulfilled in thee. Behold, such a man as this entereth into the +inheritance of peace and quietness.” + +4. O my Lord, this Thy short discourse hath in itself much of +perfectness. It is short in words but full of meaning, and abundant in +fruit. For if it were possible that I should fully keep it, disturbance +would not so easily arise within me. For as often as I feel myself +disquieted and weighed down, I find myself to have gone back from this +teaching. But Thou, Who art Almighty, and always lovest progress in the +soul, vouchsafe more grace, that I may be enabled to fulfil Thy +exhortation, and work out my salvation. + +A PRAYER AGAINST EVIL THOUGHTS + + +5. O Lord my God, be not Thou far from me, my God, haste Thee to help +me,(1) for many thoughts and great fears have risen up against me, +afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through them unhurt? how shall I +break through them? + +6. “I,” saith He, “will go before thee, and make the crooked places +straight.”(2) I will open the prison doors, and reveal to thee the +secret places. + +7. Do, Lord, as Thou sayest; and let all evil thoughts fly away before +Thy face. This is my hope and my only comfort, to fly unto Thee in all +tribulation, to hope in Thee, to call upon Thee from my heart and +patiently wait for Thy loving kindness. + +A PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE MIND + + +8. Enlighten me, Blessed Jesus, with the brightness of Thy inner light, +and cast forth all darkness from the habitation of my heart. Restrain +my many wandering thoughts, and carry away the temptations which strive +to do me hurt. Fight Thou mightily for me, and drive forth the evil +beasts, so call I alluring lusts, that peace may be within Thy walls +and plenteousness of praise within Thy palaces,(3) even in my pure +conscience. Command Thou the winds and the storms, say unto the sea, +“Be still,” say unto the stormy wind, “Hold thy peace,” so shall there +be a great calm. + +9. Oh send forth Thy light and Thy truth,(4) that they may shine upon +the earth; for I am but earth without form and void until Thou give me +light. Pour forth Thy grace from above; water my heart with the dew of +heaven; give the waters of devotion to water the face of the earth, and +cause it to bring forth good and perfect fruit. Lift up my mind which +is oppressed with the weight of sins, and raise my whole desire to +heavenly things; that having tasted the sweetness of the happiness +which is from above, it may take no pleasure in thinking of things of +earth. + +10. Draw me and deliver me from every unstable comfort of creatures, +for no created thing is able to satisfy my desire and to give me +comfort. Join me to Thyself by the inseparable bond of love, for Thou +alone art sufficient to him that loveth Thee, and without Thee all +things are vain toys. + +(1) Psalm lxxi. 12. (2) Isaiah xlv. 2. (3) Psalm cxxii. 7. (4) Psalm +xliii. 3. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another + + +“My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. _What is +that to thee? Follow thou Me._(1) For what is it to thee whether a man +be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer +for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore +dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all +things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with +each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his +thoughts reach. All things therefore are to be committed to Me; watch +thou thyself in godly peace, and leave him who is unquiet to be unquiet +as he will. Whatsoever he shall do or say, shall come unto him, for he +cannot deceive Me. + +2. “Trouble not thyself about the shadow of a great name, nor about the +friendship of many, nor about the love of men towards thee. For these +things beget distraction and great sorrows of heart. My word should +speak freely unto thee, and I would reveal secrets, if only thou didst +diligently look for My appearing, and didst open unto Me the gates of +thy heart. Be sober and watch unto prayer,(2) and humble thyself in all +things.” + +(1) John xxi. 22. (2) 1 Peter iv. 7. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist + + +“My Son, I have said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, +not as the world giveth give I unto you.(1) All men desire peace, but +all do not care for the things which belong unto true peace. My peace +is with the humble and lowly in heart. Thy peace shall be in much +patience. If thou heardest Me, and didst follow My voice, thou +shouldest enjoy much peace.” + +2. What then shall I do, Lord? + +3. “In everything take heed to thyself what thou doest, and what thou +sayest; and direct all thy purpose to this, that thou please Me alone, +and desire or seek nothing apart from Me. But, moreover, judge nothing +rashly concerning the words or deeds of others, nor meddle with matters +which are not committed to thee; and it may be that thou shalt be +disturbed little or rarely. Yet never to feel any disquiet, nor to +suffer any pain of heart or body, this belongeth not to the present +life, but is the state of eternal rest. Therefore count not thyself to +have found true peace, if thou hast felt no grief; nor that then all is +well if thou hast no adversary; nor that this is perfect if all things +fall out according to thy desire. Nor then reckon thyself to be +anything great, or think that thou art specially beloved, if thou art +in a state of great fervour and sweetness of spirit; for not by these +things is the true lover of virtue known, nor in them doth the profit +and perfection of man consist.” + +4. In what then, Lord? + +5. “In offering thyself with all thy heart to the Divine Will, in not +seeking the things which are thine own, whether great or small, whether +temporal or eternal; so that thou remain with the same steady +countenance in giving of thanks between prosperity and adversity, +weighing all things in an equal balance. If thou be so brave and +long-suffering in hope that when inward comfort is taken from thee, +thou even prepare thy heart for the more endurance, and justify not +thyself, as though thou oughtest not to suffer these heavy things, but +dost justify Me in all things that I appoint, and dost bless My Holy +Name, then dost thou walk in the true and right way of peace, and shalt +have a sure hope that thou shalt again behold My face with joy. For if +thou come to an utter contempt of thyself, know that then thou shalt +enjoy abundance of peace, as much as is possible where thou art but a +wayfaring man.” + +(1) John xiv. 27. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth +than doth frequent reading + + +Lord, this is the work of a perfect man, never to slacken his mind from +attention to heavenly things, and among many cares to pass along as it +were without care, not after the manner of one indifferent, but rather +with the privilege of a free mind, cleaving to no creature with +inordinate affection. + +2. I beseech Thee, my most merciful Lord God, preserve me from the +cares of this life, lest I become too much entangled; from many +necessities of the body, lest I be taken captive by pleasure; from all +obstacles of the spirit, lest I be broken and cast down with cares. I +say not from those things which the vanity of the world goeth about +after with all eagerness, but from those miseries, which by the +universal curse of mortality weigh down and hold back the soul of thy +servant in punishment, that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit, so +often as it would. + +3. O my God, sweetness unspeakable, turn into bitterness all my fleshly +consolation, which draweth me away from the love of eternal things, and +wickedly allureth toward itself by setting before me some present +delight. Let not, O my God, let not flesh and blood prevail over me, +let not the world and its short glory deceive me, let not the devil and +his craftiness supplant me. Give me courage to resist, patience to +endure, constancy to persevere. Grant, in place of all consolations of +the world, the most sweet unction of Thy Spirit, and in place of carnal +love, pour into me the love of Thy Name. + +4. Behold, food and drink and clothing, and all the other needs +appertaining to the support of the body, are burdensome to the devout +spirit. Grant that I may use such things with moderation, and that I be +not entangled with inordinate affection for them. To cast away all +these things is not lawful, because nature must be sustained, but to +require superfluities and things which merely minister delight, the +holy law forbiddeth; for otherwise the flesh would wax insolent against +the spirit. In all these things, I beseech Thee, let Thy hand guide and +teach me, that I in no way exceed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good + + +“My Son, thou must give all for all, and be nothing of thine own. Know +thou that the love of thyself is more hurtful to thee than anything in +the world. According to the love and inclination which thou hast, +everything more or less cleaveth to thee. If thy love be pure, sincere, +well-regulated, thou shalt not be in captivity to anything. Do not +covet what thou mayest not have; do not have what is able to hinder +thee, and to rob thee of inward liberty. It is wonderful that thou +committest not thyself to Me from the very bottom of thy heart, with +all things which thou canst desire or have. + +2. “Why art thou consumed with vain sorrow? Why art thou wearied with +superfluous cares? Stand thou by My good pleasure, and thou shalt +suffer no loss. If thou seekest after this or that, and wilt be here or +there, according to thine own advantage or the fulfilling of thine own +pleasure, thou shalt never be in quiet, nor free from care, because in +everything somewhat will be found lacking, and everywhere there will be +somebody who opposeth thee. + +3. “Therefore it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that +which advantageth thee, but rather the despising it and cutting it by +the root out of thy heart; which thou must not only understand of money +and riches, but of the desire after honour and vain praise, things +which all pass away with the world. The place availeth little if the +spirit of devotion is wanting; nor shall that peace stand long which is +sought from abroad, if the state of thy heart is without the true +foundation, that is, if it abide not in Me. Thou mayest change, but +thou canst not better thyself; for when occasion ariseth and is +accepted thou shalt find what thou didst fly from, yea more.” + +A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM + + +4. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Give me +virtue to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to free my +heart from all fruitless care and trouble, and that I be not drawn away +by various desires after any things whatsoever, whether of little value +or great, but that I may look upon all as passing away, and myself as +passing away with them; because there is no profit under the sun, and +all is vanity and vexation of spirit.(1) Oh how wise is he that +considereth thus! + +5. Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn to seek Thee +above all things and to find Thee; to relish Thee above all things and +to love Thee; and to understand all other things, even as they are, +according to the order of Thy wisdom. Grant me prudently to avoid the +flatterer, and patiently to bear with him that opposeth me; for this is +great wisdom, not to be carried by every wind of words, nor to give ear +to the wicked flattering Siren; for thus do we go safely on in the way +we have begun. + +(1) Ecclesiastes ii. 11. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Against the tongues of detractors + + +“My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think ill of thee, and say +of thee what thou art unwilling to hear. Thou oughtest to think worse +of thyself, and to believe no man weaker than thyself. If thou walkest +inwardly, thou wilt not weigh flying words above their value. It is no +small prudence to keep silence in an evil time and to turn inwardly +unto Me, and not to be troubled by human judgment. + +2. “Let not thy peace depend upon the word of men; for whether they +judge well or ill of thee, thou art not therefore any other man than +thyself. Where is true peace or true glory? Is it not in Me? And he who +seeketh not to please men, nor feareth to displease, shall enjoy +abundant peace. From inordinate love and vain fear ariseth all +disquietude of heart, and all distraction of the senses.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God + + +Blessed be thy name, O Lord, for evermore, who hast willed this +temptation and trouble to come upon me. I cannot escape it, but have +need to flee unto Thee, that Thou mayest succour me and turn it unto me +for good. Lord, now am I in tribulation, and it is not well within my +heart, but I am sore vexed by the suffering which lieth upon me. And +now, O dear Father, what shall I say? I am taken among the snares. Save +me from this hour, but for this cause came I unto this hour,(1) that +Thou mightest be glorified when I am deeply humbled and am delivered +through Thee. Let it be Thy pleasure to deliver me;(2) for what can I +do who am poor, and without Thee whither shall I go? Give patience this +time also. Help me, O Lord my God, and I will not fear how much soever +I be weighed down. + +2. And now amid these things what shall I say? Lord, Thy will be done. +I have well deserved to be troubled and weighed down. Therefore I ought +to bear, would that it be with patience, until the tempest be overpast +and comfort return. Yet is Thine omnipotent arm able also to take this +temptation away from me, and to lessen its power that I fall not +utterly under it, even as many a time past thou has helped me, O God, +my merciful God. And as much as this deliverance is difficult to me, so +much is it easy to Thee, O right hand of the most Highest. + +(1) John xii. 27. (2) Psalm xl. 16. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace + + +“My Son, I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble.(1) Come unto +Me, when it is not well with thee. + +“This it is which chiefly hindereth heavenly consolation, that thou too +slowly betakest thyself unto prayer. For before thou earnestly seekest +unto Me, thou dost first seek after many means of comfort, and +refresheth thyself in outward things: so it cometh to pass that all +things profit thee but little until thou learn that it is I who deliver +those who trust in Me; neither beside Me is there any strong help, nor +profitable counsel, nor enduring remedy. But now, recovering courage +after the tempest, grow thou strong in the light of My mercies, for I +am nigh, saith the Lord, that I may restore all things not only as they +were at the first, but also abundantly and one upon another. + +2. “For is anything too hard for Me, or shall I be like unto one who +saith and doeth not? Where is thy faith? Stand fast and with +perseverance. Be long-suffering and strong. Consolation will come unto +thee in its due season. Wait for Me; yea, wait; I will come and heal +thee. It is temptation which vexeth thee, and a vain fear which +terrifieth thee. What doth care about future events bring thee, save +sorrow upon sorrow? Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.(2) It +is vain and useless to be disturbed or lifted up about future things +which perhaps will never come. + +3. “But it is the nature of man to be deceived by fancies of this sort, +and it is a sign of a mind which is still weak to be so easily drawn +away at the suggestion of the enemy. For he careth not whether he +deceive and beguile by true means or false; whether he throw thee down +by the love of the present or fear of the future. Therefore let not thy +heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Believe in Me, and put thy +trust in My mercy.(3) When thou thinkest thyself far removed from Me, I +am often the nearer. When thou reckonest that almost all is lost, then +often is greater opportunity of gain at hand. All is not lost when +something goeth contrary to thy wishes. Thou oughtest not to judge +according to present feeling, nor so to take or give way to any grief +which befalleth thee, as if all hope of escape were taken away. + +4. “Think not thyself totally abandoned, although for the time I have +sent to thee some tribulation, or have even withdrawn some cherished +consolation; for this is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. And without +doubt it is better for thee and for all My other servants, that ye +should be proved by adversities, than that ye should have all things as +ye would. I know thy hidden thoughts: and that it is very needful for +thy soul’s health that sometimes thou be left without relish, lest +perchance thou be lifted up by prosperity, and desirous to please +thyself in that which thou art not. What I have given I am able to take +away, and to restore again at My good pleasure. + +5. “When I shall have given, it is Mine; when I shall have taken away, +I have not taken what is thine; for every good gift and every perfect +gift(4) is from me. If I shall have sent upon thee grief or any +vexation, be not angry, nor let thy heart be sad; I am able quickly to +lift thee up and to change every burden into joy. But I am just and +greatly to be praised, when I do thus unto thee. + +6. “If thou rightly consider, and look upon it with truth, thou +oughtest never to be so sadly cast down because of adversity, but +rather shouldst rejoice and give thanks; yea, verily to count it the +highest joy that I afflict thee with sorrows and spare thee not. As My +Father hath loved Me, so love I you;(5) thus have I spoken unto My +beloved disciples: whom I sent forth not unto worldly joys, but to +great strivings; not unto honours, but unto contempt; not unto ease, +but to labours; not unto rest, but to bring forth much fruit with +patience. My son, remember these words.” + +(1) Nahum i. 7. (2) Matthew vi. 34. (3) John xiv. 27; Psalm xiii. 5. +(4) James i. 17. (5) John xv. 9. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found + + +O Lord, I still need more grace, if I would arrive where neither man +nor any other creature may hinder me. For so long as anything keepeth +me back, I cannot freely fly unto Thee. He desired eagerly thus to fly, +who cried, saying, Oh that I had wings like a dove, for then would I +flee away and be at rest. What is more peaceful than the single eye? +And what more free than he that desireth nothing upon earth? Therefore +must a man rise above every creature, and perfectly forsake himself, +and with abstracted mind to stand and behold that Thou, the Creator of +all things, hast among Thy creatures nothing like unto Thyself. And +except a man be freed from all creatures, he will not be able to reach +freely after Divine things. Therefore few are found who give themselves +to contemplation, because few know how to separate themselves entirely +from perishing and created things. + +2. For this much grace is necessary, which may lift up the soul and +raise it above itself. And except a man be lifted up in the spirit, and +freed from all creatures, and altogether united to God, whatsoever he +knoweth, whatsoever even he hath, it mattereth but little. He who +esteemeth anything great save the one only incomprehensible, eternal, +good, shall long time be little and lie low. For whatsoever is not God +is nothing, and ought to be counted for nothing. Great is the +difference between a godly man, illuminated with wisdom, and a scholar +learned in knowledge and given to books. Far nobler is that doctrine +which floweth down from the divine fulness above, than that which is +acquired laboriously by human study. + +3. Many are found who desire contemplation, but they do not strive to +practice those things which are required thereunto. It is also a great +impediment, that much is made of symbols and external signs, and too +little of thorough mortification. I know not how it is, and by what +spirit we are led, and what we who would be deemed spiritual are aiming +at, that we give so great labour and so eager solicitude for transitory +and worthless things, and scarcely ever gather our senses together to +think at all of our inward condition. + +4. Ah, me! Forthwith after a little recollection we rush out of doors, +and do not subject our actions to a strict examination. Where our +affections are set we take no heed, and we weep not that all things +belonging to us are so defiled. For because all flesh had corrupted +itself upon the earth, the great deluge came. Since therefore our +inmost affections are very corrupt, it followeth of necessity that our +actions also are corrupt, being the index of a deficient inward +strength. Out of a pure heart proceedeth the fruit of good living. + +5. We demand, how much a man hath done; but from how much virtue he +acted, is not so narrowly considered. We ask if he be strong, rich, +handsome, clever, whether he is a good writer, good singer, good +workman; but how poor he may be in spirit, how patient and gentle, how +devout and meditative, on these things many are silent. Nature looketh +upon the outward appearance of a man, grace turneth its thought to the +heart. The former frequently judgeth amiss; the latter trusteth in God, +that it may not be deceived. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Of self-denial and the casting away all selfishness + + +“My Son, thou canst not possess perfect liberty unless thou altogether +deny thyself. All they are enslaved who are possessors of riches, they +who love themselves, the selfish, the curious, the restless; those who +ever seek after soft things, and not after the things of Jesus Christ; +those who continually plan and devise that which will not stand. For +whatsoever cometh not of God shall perish. Hold fast the short and +complete saying, ‘Renounce all things, and thou shalt find all things; +give up thy lust, and thou shalt find rest.’ Dwell upon this in thy +mind, and when thou art full of it, thou shalt understand all things.” + +2. O Lord, this is not the work of a day, nor children’s play; verily +in this short saying is enclosed all the perfection of the religious. + +3. “My son, thou oughtest not to be turned aside, nor immediately cast +down, because thou hast heard the way of the perfect. Rather oughtest +thou to be provoked to higher aims, and at the least to long after the +desire thereof. Oh that it were so with thee, and that thou hadst come +to this, that thou wert not a lover of thine own self, but wert ready +always to My nod, and to his whom I have placed over thee as thy +father. Then shouldest thou please Me exceedingly, and all thy life +should go on in joy and peace. Thou hast still many things to renounce, +which if thou resign not utterly to Me, thou shalt not gain what thou +seekest. I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou +mayest be rich,(1) that is heavenly wisdom, which despiseth all base +things. Put away from thee earthly wisdom, and all pleasure, whether +common to men, or thine own. + +4. “I tell thee that thou must buy vile things with those which are +costly and great in the esteem of men. For wonderfully vile and small, +and almost given up to forgetfulness, doth true heavenly wisdom appear, +which thinketh not high things of itself, nor seeketh to be magnified +upon the earth; many honour it with their lips, but in heart are far +from it; it is indeed the precious pearl, which is hidden from many.” + +(1) Revelation iii. 18. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +Of instability of the heart, and of directing the aim towards God + + +“My Son, trust not thy feeling, for that which is now will be quickly +changed into somewhat else. As long as thou livest thou art subject to +change, howsoever unwilling; so that thou art found now joyful, now +sad; now at peace, now disquieted; now devout, now indevout; now +studious, now careless; now sad, now cheerful. But the wise man, and he +who is truly learned in spirit, standeth above these changeable things, +attentive not to what he may feel in himself, or from what quarter the +wind may blow, but that the whole intent of his mind may carry him on +to the due and much-desired end. For thus will he be able to remain one +and the same and unshaken, the single eye of his desire being +steadfastly fixed, through the manifold changes of the world, upon Me. + +2. “But according as the eye of intention be the more pure, even so +will a man make his way steadfastly through the manifold storms. But in +many the eye of pure intention waxeth dim; for it quickly resteth +itself upon anything pleasant which occurreth, and rarely is any man +found altogether free from the blemish of self-seeking. So the Jews of +old came to Bethany, to the house of Martha and Mary, that they might +see not Jesus, but Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.(1) +Therefore must the eye of the intention be cleansed, that it may be +single and right, and above all things which come in its way, may be +directed unto Me.” + +(1) John xii. 9. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things + + +Behold, God is mine, and all things are mine! What will I more, and +what more happy thing can I desire? O delightsome and sweet world! that +is, to him that loveth the Word, not the world, neither the things that +are in the world.(1) My God, my all! To him that understandeth, that +word sufficeth, and to repeat it often is pleasing to him that loveth +it. When Thou art present all things are pleasant; when Thou art +absent, all things are wearisome. Thou makest the heart to be at rest, +givest it deep peace and festal joy. Thou makest it to think rightly in +every matter, and in every matter to give Thee praise; neither can +anything please long without Thee but if it would be pleasant and of +sweet savour, Thy grace must be there, and it is Thy wisdom which must +give unto it a sweet savour. + +2. To him who tasteth Thee, what can be distasteful? And to him who +tasteth Thee not, what is there which can make him joyous? But the +worldly wise, and they who enjoy the flesh, these fail in Thy wisdom; +for in the wisdom of the world is found utter vanity, and to be +carnally minded is death. But they who follow after Thee through +contempt of worldly things, and mortification of the flesh, are found +to be truly wise because they are carried from vanity to verity, from +the flesh to the spirit. They taste that the Lord is good, and +whatsoever good they find in creatures, they count it all unto the +praise of the Creator. Unlike, yea, very unlike is the enjoyment of the +Creator to enjoyment of the Creature, the enjoyment of eternity and of +time, of light uncreated and of light reflected. + +3. O Light everlasting, surpassing all created lights, dart down Thy +ray from on high which shall pierce the inmost depths of my heart. Give +purity, joy, clearness, life to my spirit that with all its powers it +may cleave unto Thee with rapture passing man’s understanding. Oh when +shall that blessed and longed-for time come when Thou shalt satisfy me +with Thy presence, and be unto me All in all? So long as this is +delayed, my joy shall not be full. Still, ah me! the old man liveth in +me: he is not yet all crucified, not yet quite dead; still he lusteth +fiercely against the spirit, wageth inward wars, nor suffereth the +soul’s kingdom to be in peace. + +4. But Thou who rulest the raging of the sea, and stillest the waves +thereof when they arise, rise up and help me. Scatter the people that +delight in war.(2) Destroy them by Thy power. Show forth, I beseech +Thee, Thy might, and let Thy right hand be glorified, for I have no +hope, no refuge, save in Thee, O Lord my God. + +(1) 1 John ii. 15. (2) Psalm lxviii. 30. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +That there is no security against temptation in this life + + +“My Son, thou art never secure in this life, but thy spiritual armour +will always be needful for thee as long as thou livest. Thou dwellest +among foes, and art attacked on the right hand and on the left. If +therefore thou use not on all sides the shield of patience, thou wilt +not remain long unwounded. Above all, if thou keep not thy heart fixed +upon Me with steadfast purpose to bear all things for My sake, thou +shalt not be able to bear the fierceness of the attack, nor to attain +to the victory of the blessed. Therefore must thou struggle bravely all +thy life through, and put forth a strong hand against those things +which oppose thee. For to him that overcometh is the hidden manna +given,(1) but great misery is reserved for the slothful. + +2. “If thou seek rest in this life, how then wilt thou attain unto the +rest which is eternal? Set not thyself to attain much rest, but much +patience. Seek the true peace, not in earth but in heaven, not in man +nor in any created thing, but in God alone. For the love of God thou +must willingly undergo all things, whether labours or sorrows, +temptations, vexations, anxieties, necessities, infirmities, injuries, +gainsayings, rebukes, humiliations, confusions, corrections, +despisings; these things help unto virtue, these things prove the +scholar of Christ; these things fashion the heavenly crown. I will give +thee an eternal reward for short labour, and infinite glory for +transient shame. + +3. “Thinkest thou that thou shalt always have spiritual consolations at +thy will? My Saints had never such, but instead thereof manifold +griefs, and divers temptations, and heavy desolations. But patiently +they bore themselves in all, and trusted in God more than in +themselves, knowing that the sufferings of this present time are not +worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.(2) +Wouldst thou have that immediately which many have hardly attained unto +after many tears and hard labours? Wait for the Lord, quit thyself like +a man and be strong; be not faint-hearted, nor go aside from Me, but +constantly devote thy body and soul to the glory of God. I will reward +thee plenteously, I will be with thee in trouble.”(3) + +(1) Revelation ii. 17. (2) Romans viii. 17. (3) Psalm xci. 15. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +Against vain judgments of men + + +“My Son, anchor thy soul firmly upon God, and fear not man’s judgment, +when conscience pronounceth thee pious and innocent. It is good and +blessed thus to suffer; nor will it be grievous to the heart which is +humble, and which trusteth in God more than in itself. Many men have +many opinions, and therefore little trust is to be placed in them. But +moreover it is impossible to please all. Although Paul studied to +please all men in the Lord, and to become all things to all men,(1) yet +nevertheless with him it was a very small thing that he should be +judged by man’s judgment.”(2) + +2. He laboured abundantly, as much as in him lay, for the building up +and the salvation of others; but he could not avoid being sometimes +judged and despised by others. Therefore he committed all to God, who +knew all, and by patience and humility defended himself against evil +speakers, or foolish and false thinkers, and those who accused him +according to their pleasure. Nevertheless, from time to time he +replied, lest his silence should become a stumbling-block to those who +were weak. + +3. “Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die? +To-day he is, and to-morrow his place is not found. Fear God and thou +shalt not quail before the terrors of men. What can any man do against +thee by words or deeds? He hurteth himself more than thee, nor shall he +escape the judgment of God, whosoever he may be. Have thou God before +thine eyes, and do not contend with fretful words. And if for the +present thou seem to give way, and to suffer confusion which thou hast +not deserved, be not angry at this, nor by impatience diminish thy +reward; but rather look up to Me in heaven, for I am able to deliver +thee from all confusion and hurt, and to render to every man according +to his works.” + +(1) 1 Corinthians ix. 22. (2) 1 Corinthians iv. 3. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of +heart + + +“My Son, lose thyself and thou shalt find Me. Stand still without all +choosing and all thought of self, and thou shalt ever be a gainer. For +more grace shall be added to thee, as soon as thou resignest thyself, +and so long as thou dost not turn back to take thyself again.” + +2. O Lord, how often shall I resign myself, and in what things shall I +lose myself? + +3. “Always; every hour: in that which is little, and in that which is +great. I make no exception, but will that thou be found naked in all +things. Otherwise how canst thou be Mine and I thine, unless thou be +inwardly and outwardly free from every will of thine own? The sooner +thou dost this, the better shall it be with thee; and the more fully +and sincerely, the more thou shalt please Me, and the more abundantly +shalt thou be rewarded. + +4. “Some resign themselves, but with certain reservations, for they do +not fully trust in God, therefore they think that they have some +provision to make for themselves. Some again at first offer everything; +but afterwards being pressed by temptation they return to their own +devices, and thus make no progress in virtue. They will not attain to +the true liberty of a pure heart, nor to the grace of My sweet +companionship, unless they first entirely resign themselves and daily +offer themselves up as a sacrifice; without this the union which +bringeth forth fruit standeth not nor will stand. + +5. “Many a time I have said unto thee, and now say again, Give thyself +up, resign thyself, and thou shalt have great inward peace. Give all +for all; demand nothing, ask nothing in return; stand simply and with +no hesitation in Me, and thou shalt possess Me. Thou shalt have liberty +of heart, and the darkness shall not overwhelm thee. For this strive +thou, pray for it, long after it, that thou mayest be delivered from +all possession of thyself, and nakedly follow Jesus who was made naked +for thee; mayest die unto thyself and live eternally to Me. Then shall +all vain fancies disappear, all evil disturbings, and superfluous +cares. Then also shall immoderate fear depart from thee, and inordinate +love shall die.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God +in dangers + + +“My Son, for this thou must diligently make thy endeavour, that in +every place and outward action or occupation thou mayest be free +within, and have power over thyself; and that all things be under thee, +not thou under them; that thou be master and ruler of thy actions, not +a slave or hireling, but rather a free and true Hebrew, entering into +the lot and the liberty of the children of God, who stand above the +present and look upon the eternal, who with the left eye behold things +transitory, and with the right things heavenly; whom temporal things +draw not to cleave unto, but who rather draw temporal things to do them +good service, even as they were ordained of God to do, and appointed by +the Master Workman, who hath left nought in His creation without aim +and end. + +2. “And if in any chance of life thou stand not in outward appearances, +nor judgest things which are seen and heard by the fleshly sense, but +straightway in every cause enterest with Moses into the tabernacle to +ask counsel of God; thou shalt hear a divine response and come forth +instructed concerning many things that are and shall be. For always +Moses had recourse to the tabernacle for the solving of all doubts and +questionings; and fled to the help of prayer to be delivered from the +dangers and evil deeds of men. Thus also oughtest thou to fly to the +secret chamber of thy heart, and earnestly implore the divine succour. +For this cause we read that Joshua and the children of Israel were +deceived by the Gibeonites, that they asked not counsel at the mouth of +the Lord,(1) but being too ready to listen to fair speeches, were +deceived by pretended piety.” + +(1) Joshua ix. 14. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +That man must not be immersed in business + + +“My Son, always commit thy cause to Me; I will dispose it aright in due +time. Wait for My arrangement of it, and then thou shalt find it for +thy profit.” + +2. O Lord, right freely I commit all things to Thee; for my planning +can profit but little. Oh that I did not dwell so much on future +events, but could offer myself altogether to Thy pleasures without +delay. + +3. “My Son, a man often striveth vehemently after somewhat which he +desireth; but when he hath obtained it he beginneth to be of another +mind, because his affections towards it are not lasting, but rather +rush on from one thing to another. Therefore it is not really a small +thing, when in small things we resist self.” + +4. The true progress of man lieth in self-denial, and a man who denieth +himself is free and safe. But the old enemy, opposer of all good +things, ceaseth not from temptation; but day and night setteth his +wicked snares, if haply he may be able to entrap the unwary. Watch and +pray, saith the Lord, lest ye enter into temptation.(1) + +(1) Matthew xxvi. 41. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory + + +Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that +Thou visitest him?(1) What hath man deserved, that Thou shouldest +bestow thy favour upon him? Lord, what cause can I have of complaint, +if Thou forsake me? Or what can I justly allege, if Thou refuse to hear +my petition? Of a truth, this I may truly think and say, Lord, I am +nothing, I have nothing that is good of myself, but I fall short in all +things, and ever tend unto nothing. And unless I am helped by Thee and +inwardly supported, I become altogether lukewarm and reckless. + +2. But Thou, O Lord, art always the same, and endurest for ever, always +good, righteous, and holy; doing all things well, righteously, and +holily, and disposing all in Thy wisdom. But I who am more ready to go +forward than backward, never continue in one stay, because changes +sevenfold pass over me. Yet it quickly becometh better when it so +pleaseth Thee, and Thou puttest forth Thy hand to help me; because Thou +alone canst aid without help of man, and canst so strengthen me that my +countenance shall be no more changed, but my heart shall be turned to +Thee, and rest in Thee alone. + +3. Wherefore, if I but knew well how to reject all human consolations, +whether for the sake of gaining devotion, or because of the necessity +by which I was compelled to seek Thee, seeing there is no man who can +comfort me; then could I worthily trust in Thy grace, and rejoice in +the gift of new consolation. + +4. Thanks be to Thee, from whom all cometh, whensoever it goeth well +with me! But I am vanity and nothing in Thy sight, a man inconstant and +weak. What then have I whereof to glory, or why do I long to be held in +honour? Is it not for nought? This also is utterly vain. Verily vain +glory is an evil plague, the greatest of vanities, because it draweth +us away from the true glory, and robbeth us of heavenly grace. For +whilst a man pleaseth himself he displeaseth Thee; whilst he gapeth +after the praises of man, he is deprived of true virtues. + +5. But true glory and holy rejoicing lieth in glorying in Thee and not +in self; in rejoicing in Thy Name, not in our own virtue; in not taking +delight in any creature, save only for Thy sake. Let thy Name, not mine +be praised; let Thy work, not mine be magnified; let Thy holy Name be +blessed, but to me let nought be given of the praises of men. Thou art +my glory, Thou art the joy of my heart. In Thee will I make my boast +and be glad all the day long, but for myself let me not glory save only +in my infirmities.(2) + +6. Let the Jews seek the honour which cometh from one another; but I +will ask for that which cometh from God only.(3) Truly all human glory, +all temporal honour, all worldly exultation, compared to Thy eternal +glory, is but vanity and folly. O God my Truth and my Mercy, Blessed +Trinity, to Thee alone be all praise, honour, power, and glory for ever +and for ever. Amen. + +(1) Psalm viii. 4. (2) 2 Corinthians xii. 5. (3) John v. 44. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +Of contempt of all temporal honour + + +“My Son, make it no matter of thine, if thou see others honoured and +exalted, and thyself despised and humbled. Lift up thine heart to Me in +heaven, and then the contempt of men upon earth will not make thee +sad.” + +2. O Lord, we are in blindness, and are quickly seduced by vanity. If I +look rightly within myself, never was injury done unto me by any +creature, and therefore I have nought whereof to complain before Thee. +But because I have many times and grievously sinned against Thee, all +creatures do justly take arms against me. Therefore to me confusion and +contempt are justly due, but to Thee praise and honour and glory. And +except I dispose myself for this, namely, to be willing that every +creature should despise and desert me, and that I should be esteemed +altogether as nothing, I cannot be inwardly filled with peace and +strength, nor spiritually enlightened, nor fully united to Thee. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +That our peace is not to be placed in men + + +“My Son, if thou set thy peace on any person because thou hast high +opinion of him, and art familiar with him, thou shalt be unstable and +entangled. But if thou betake thyself to the ever-living and abiding +Truth, the desertion or death of a friend shall not make thee sad. In +Me ought the love of thy friend to subsist, and for My sake is every +one to be loved, whosoever he be, who appeareth to thee good, and is +very dear to thee in this life. Without Me friendship hath no strength +or endurance, neither is that love true and pure, which I unite not. +Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends, that +as far as in thee lieth, thou wouldst rather choose to be without any +companionship of men. The nearer a man approacheth to God, the further +he recedeth from all earthly solace. The deeper also he descendeth into +himself, and the viler he appeareth in his own eyes, the higher he +ascendeth towards God. + +2. “But he who attributeth anything good to himself, hindereth the +grace of God from coming to him, because the grace of the Holy Ghost +ever seeketh the humble heart. If thou couldst make thyself utterly +nothing, and empty thyself of the love of every creature, then should +it be My part to overflow unto thee with great grace. When thou settest +thine eyes upon creatures, the face of the Creator is withdrawn from +thee. Learn in all things to conquer thyself for thy Creator’s sake, +then shalt thou be able to attain unto divine knowledge. How small +soever anything be, if it be loved and regarded inordinately, it +holdeth us back from the highest good, and corrupteth.” + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +Against vain and worldly knowledge + + +“My Son, let not the fair and subtle sayings of men move thee. For the +kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.(1) Give ear to My words, +for they kindle the heart and enlighten the mind, they bring +contrition, and they supply manifold consolations. Never read thou the +word that thou mayest appear more learned or wise; but study for the +mortification of thy sins, for this will be far more profitable for +thee than the knowledge of many difficult questions. + +2. “When thou hast read and learned many things, thou must always +return to one first principle. I am He that teacheth man knowledge,(2) +and I give unto babes clearer knowledge than can be taught by man. He +to whom I speak will be quickly wise and shall grow much in the spirit. +Woe unto them who inquire into many curious questions from men, and +take little heed concerning the way of My service. The time will come +when Christ will appear, the Master of masters, the Lord of the Angels, +to hear the lessons of all, that is to examine the consciences of each +one. And then will He search Jerusalem with candles,(3) and the hidden +things of darkness(4) shall be made manifest, and the arguings of +tongues shall be silent. + +3. “I am He who in an instant lift up the humble spirit, to learn more +reasonings of the Eternal Truth, than if a man had studied ten years in +the schools. I teach without noise of words, without confusion of +opinions, without striving after honour, without clash of arguments. I +am He who teach men to despise earthly things, to loathe things +present, to seek things heavenly, to enjoy things eternal, to flee +honours, to endure offences, to place all hope in Me, to desire nothing +apart from Me, and above all things to love Me ardently. + +4. “For there was one, who by loving Me from the bottom of his heart, +learned divine things, and spake things that were wonderful; he +profited more by forsaking all things than by studying subtleties. But +to some I speak common things, to others special; to some I appear +gently in signs and figures, and again to some I reveal mysteries in +much light. The voice of books is one, but it informeth not all alike; +because I inwardly am the Teacher of truth, the Searcher of the heart, +the Discerner of the thoughts, the Mover of actions, distributing to +each man, as I judge meet.” + +(1) 1 Corinthians iv. 20. (2) Psalm xciv. 10. (3) Zephaniah i. 12. (4) +1 Corinthians iv. 5. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +Of not troubling ourselves about outward things + + +“My Son, in many things it behoveth thee to be ignorant, and to esteem +thyself as one dead upon the earth, and as one to whom the whole world +is crucified. Many things also thou must pass by with deaf ear, and +must rather think upon those things which belong unto thy peace. It is +more profitable to turn away thine eyes from those things that +displease, and to leave each man to his own opinion, than to give +thyself to discourses of strife. If thou stand well with God and hast +His judgment in thy mind, thou wilt verily easily bear to be as one +conquered.” + +2. O Lord, to what have we come? Behold a temporal loss is mourned +over; for a trifling gain we labour and hurry; and spiritual loss +passeth away into forgetfulness, and we rarely recover it. That which +profiteth little or nothing is looked after, and that which is +altogether necessary is negligently passed by; because the whole man +slideth away to outward things, and unless he quickly recovereth +himself in outward things he willingly lieth down. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +That we must not believe everyone, and that we are prone to fall in our +words + + +Lord, be thou my help in trouble, for vain is the help of man.(1) How +often have I failed to find faithfulness, where I thought I possessed +it. How many times I have found it where I least expected. Vain +therefore is hope in men, but the salvation of the just, O God, is in +Thee. Blessed be thou, O Lord my God, in all things which happen unto +us. We are weak and unstable, we are quickly deceived and quite +changed. + +2. Who is the man who is able to keep himself so warily and +circumspectly as not sometimes to come into some snare of perplexity? +But he who trusteth in Thee, O Lord, and seeketh Thee with an unfeigned +heart, doth not so easily slip. And if he fall into any tribulation, +howsoever he may be entangled, yet very quickly he shall be delivered +through Thee, or by Thee shall be comforted, because Thou wilt not +forsake him that trusteth in Thee unto the end. A friend who continueth +faithful in all the distresses of his friend is rare to be found. Thou, +O Lord, Thou alone art most faithful in all things, and there is none +other like unto Thee. + +3. Oh, how truly wise was that holy soul which said, “My mind is +steadfastly fixed, and it is grounded in Christ.”(2) If thus it were +with me, the fear of man should not so easily tempt me, nor the arrows +of words move me. Who is sufficient to foresee all things, who to guard +beforehand against future ills? If even things which are foreseen +sometimes hurt us, what can things which are not foreseen do, but +grievously injure? But wherefore have I not better provided for myself, +miserable that I am? Why, too, have I given such heed to others? But we +are men, nor are we other than frail men, even though by many we are +reckoned and called angels. Whom shall I trust, O Lord, whom shall I +trust but Thee? Thou art the Truth, and deceivest not, nor canst be +deceived. And on the other hand, Every man is a liar,(3) weak, unstable +and frail, especially in his words, so that one ought scarcely ever to +believe what seemeth to sound right on the face of it. + +4. With what wisdom hast thou warned us beforehand to beware of men, +and that a man’s foes are they of his own household,(4) and that we +must not believe if one say unto us Lo here, or Lo there.(5) I have +been taught by my loss, and O that I may prove more careful and not +foolish hereby. “Be cautious,” saith some one: “be cautious, keep unto +thyself what I tell thee.” And whilst I am silent and believe that it +is hid with me, he himself cannot keep silence concerning it, but +straightway betrayeth me and himself, and goeth his way. Protect me, O +Lord, from such mischief-making and reckless men; let me not fall into +their hands, nor ever do such things myself. Put a true and steadfast +word into my mouth, and remove a deceitful tongue far from me. What I +would not suffer, I ought by all means to beware of doing. + +5. Oh, how good and peacemaking a thing it is to be silent concerning +others, and not carelessly to believe all reports, nor to hand them on +further; how good also to lay one’s self open to few, to seek ever to +have Thee as the beholder of the heart; not to be carried about with +every wind of words, but to desire that all things inward and outward +be done according to the good pleasure of Thy will! How safe for the +preserving of heavenly grace to fly from human approval, and not to +long after the things which seem to win admiration abroad, but to +follow with all earnestness those things which bring amendment of life +and heavenly fervour! How many have been injured by their virtue being +made known and too hastily praised. How truly profitable hath been +grace preserved in silence in this frail life, which, as we are told, +is all temptation and warfare. + +(1) Psalm lx. 11. (2) St. Agatha. (3) Psalm cxvi. 11; Romans iii. 4. +(4) Matthew x. 17, 36. (5) Matthew xxiv. 23. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us + + +“My Son, stand fast and believe in Me. For what are words but words? +They fly through the air, but they bruise no stone. If thou are guilty, +think how thou wouldst gladly amend thyself; if thou knowest nothing +against thyself, consider that thou wilt gladly bear this for God’s +sake. It is little enough that thou sometimes hast to bear hard words, +for thou art not yet able to bear hard blows. And wherefore do such +trivial matters go to thine heart, except that thou art yet carnal, and +regardest men more than thou oughtest? For because thou fearest to be +despised, thou art unwilling to be reproved for thy faults, and seekest +paltry shelters of excuses. + +2. “But look better into thyself, and thou shalt know that the world is +still alive in thee, and the vain love of pleasing men. For when thou +fleest away from being abased and confounded for thy faults, it is +plain that thou art neither truly humble nor truly dead to the world, +and that the world is not crucified to thee. But hearken to My word, +and thou shalt not care for ten thousand words of men. Behold, if all +things could be said against thee which the utmost malice could invent, +what should it hurt thee if thou wert altogether to let it go, and make +no more account of it than of a mote? Could it pluck out a single hair +of thy head? + +3. “But he that hath no heart within him, and hath not God before his +eyes, is easily moved by a word of reproach; but he who trusteth in Me, +and seeketh not to abide by his own judgment, shall be free from the +fear of men. For I am the Judge and the Discerner of all secrets; I +know how the thing hath been done; I know both the injurer and the +bearer. From Me went forth that word, by My permission this hath +happened, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.(1) I shall +judge the guilty and the innocent; but beforehand I have willed to try +them both by a secret judgment. + +4. “The testimony of men often deceiveth. My judgment is true; it will +stand, and it shall not be overturned. It commonly lieth hid, and only +to few in certain cases is it made known; yet it never erreth, nor can +err, although it seem not right to the eyes of foolish men. To Me, +therefore, must men have recourse in all judgment, and must not lean to +their opinion. For there shall no evil happen to the just,(2) +whatsoever may be sent to him by God. Even though some unjust charge be +brought against him, he will care little; nor, again, will he exult +above measure, if through others he be clearly vindicated. For he +considereth that I am He who try the hearts and reins,(3) who judge not +outwardly and according to human appearance; for often in Mine eyes +that is found blameworthy which in the judgment of men is held worthy +of praise.” + +5. O Lord God, O Judge, just, strong, and patient, who knowest the +frailty and sinfulness of men, be Thou my strength and my whole +confidence; for my own conscience sufficeth me not. Thou knowest what I +know not; and therefore ought I under all rebuke to humble myself, and +to bear it meekly. Therefore mercifully forgive me as often as I have +not done this, and grant me the next time the grace of greater +endurance. For better unto me is Thine abundant pity for the attainment +of Thy pardon, than the righteousness which I believe myself to have +for defence against my conscience, which lieth wait against me. +Although I know nothing against myself, yet I am not hereby +justified,(4) because if Thy mercy were removed away, in Thy sight +should no man living be justified.(5) + +(1) Luke ii. 35. (2) Proverbs xii. 21. (3) Psalm vii. 9. (4) 1 +Corinthians iv. 4. (5) Psalm cxliii. 2. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life + + +“My Son, let not the labours which thou hast undertaken for Me break +thee down, nor let tribulations cast thee down in any wise, but let my +promise strengthen and comfort thee in every event. I am sufficient to +reward thee above all measure and extent. Not long shalt thou labour +here, nor always be weighed down with sorrows. Wait yet a little while, +and thou shalt see a speedy end of thine evils. An hour shall come when +all labour and confusion shall cease. Little and short is all that +passeth away with time. + +2. “Do earnestly what thou dost; labour faithfully in My vineyard; I +will be thy reward. Write, read, sing, weep, be silent, pray, endure +adversities manfully; eternal life is worthy of all these conflicts, +yea, and of greater. Peace shall come in one day which is known to the +Lord; which shall be neither day nor night,(1) but light eternal, +infinite clearness, steadfast peace, and undisturbed rest. Thou shalt +not say then, _Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?_(2) +nor cry out, _Woe is me, for my sojourning is prolonged_,(3) because +death will be utterly destroyed, and there shall be salvation which can +never fail, no more anxiety, happy delight, sweet and noble society. + +3. “Oh, if thou sawest the unfading crowns of the Saints in heaven, and +with what great glory they now rejoice, who aforetime were reckoned by +this world contemptibly and as it were unworthy of life, truly thou +wouldst immediately humble thyself even to the earth, and wouldst +desire rather to be in subjection to all, than to have authority over +one; nor wouldst thou long for pleasant days of this life, but wouldst +more rejoice to be afflicted for God’s sake, and wouldst esteem it gain +to be counted for nought amongst men. + +4. “Oh, if these things were sweet to thy taste, and moved thee to the +bottom of thine heart, how shouldst thou dare even once to complain? +Are not all laborious things to be endured for the sake of eternal +life? It is no small thing, the losing or gaining the Kingdom of God. +Lift up therefore thy face to heaven. Behold, I and all My Saints with +Me, who in this world had a hard conflict, now rejoice, are now +comforted, are now secure, are now at peace, and shall remain with Me +evermore in the Kingdom of My Father.” + +(1) Zechariah xiv. 7. (2) Romans vii. 24. (3) Psalm cxx. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +Of the day of eternity and of the straitnesses of this life + + +Oh most blessed mansion of the City which is above! Oh most clear day +of eternity which the night obscureth not, but the Supreme Truth ever +enlighteneth! Day always joyful, always secure and never changing its +state into those which are contrary. Oh would that this day might shine +forth, and that all these temporal things would come to an end. It +shineth indeed upon the Saints, glowing with unending brightness, but +only from afar and through a glass, upon those who are pilgrims on the +earth. + +2. The citizens of heaven know how glorious that day is; the exiled +sons of Eve groan, because this is bitter and wearisome. The days of +this life are few and evil, full of sorrows and straits, where man is +defiled with many sins, ensnared with many passions, bound fast with +many fears, wearied with many cares, distracted with many questionings, +entangled with many vanities, compassed about with many errors, worn +away with many labours, weighed down with temptations, enervated by +pleasures, tormented by poverty. + +3. Oh when shall there be an end of these evils? When shall I be +delivered from the wretched slavery of my sins? When shall I be +mindful, O Lord, of Thee alone? When shall I rejoice in Thee to the +full? When shall I be in true liberty without any impediment, without +any burden on mind or body? When shall there be solid peace, peace +immovable and secure, peace within and without, peace firm on every +side? Blessed Jesus, when shall I stand to behold Thee? When shall I +gaze upon the glory of Thy kingdom? When shalt Thou be to me all in +all? Oh when shall I be with Thee in Thy Kingdom which Thou hast +prepared from the foundation of the world for them that love Thee? I am +left destitute, an exile in a hostile land, where are daily wars and +grievous misfortunes. + +4. Console my exile, mitigate my sorrow, for towards Thee all my desire +longeth. For all is to me a burden, whatsoever this world offereth for +consolation. I yearn to enjoy Thee intimately, but I cannot attain unto +it. I long to cleave to heavenly things, but temporal things and +unmortified passions press me down. In my mind I would be above all +things, but in my flesh I am unwillingly compelled to be beneath them. +So, wretched man that I am, I fight with myself, and am made grievous +even unto myself, while the spirit seeketh to be above and the flesh to +be beneath. + +5. Oh how I suffer inwardly, while with the mind I discourse on +heavenly things, and presently a crowd of carnal things rusheth upon me +whilst I pray. My God, be not Thou far from me, nor depart in wrath +from Thy servant. Cast forth Thy lightning and scatter them; send out +Thine arrows,(1) and let all delusions of my enemy be confounded. +Recall my senses unto Thyself, cause me to forget all worldly things; +grant me quickly to cast away and despise the imaginations of sin. +Succour me, O Eternal Truth, that no vanity may move me. Come unto me, +O Heavenly Sweetness, and let all impurity flee from before Thy face. +Pardon me also, and of Thy mercy deal gently with me, whensoever in +prayer I think on anything besides Thee; for truly I confess that I am +wont to be continually distracted. For often and often, where in the +body I stand or sit, there I myself am not; but rather am I there, +whither I am borne by my thoughts. Where my thought is, there am I; and +there commonly is my thought where that which I love is. That readily +occurreth to me, which naturally delighteth, or pleaseth through +custom. + +6. Wherefore Thou, who art the Truth, hast plainly said, Where your +treasure is, there will your heart be also.(2) If I love heaven, I +gladly meditate on heavenly things. If I love the world, I rejoice in +the delights of the world, and am made sorry by its adversities. If I +love the flesh, I am continually imagining the things which belong to +the flesh; if I love the spirit, I am delighted by meditating on +spiritual things. For whatsoever things I love, on these I readily +converse and listen, and carry home with me the images of them. But +blessed is that man who for Thy sake, O Lord, is willing to part from +all creatures; who doth violence to his fleshly nature and crucifieth +the lusts of the flesh by the fervour of his spirit, so that with +serene conscience he may offer unto Thee a pure prayer, and be made +worthy to enter into the angelic choirs, having shut out from himself, +both outwardly and inwardly, all worldly things. + +(1) Psalm lxxi. 12. (2) Matthew vi. 21. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised +to those who strive + + +“My Son, when thou feelest the desire of eternal happiness to be poured +into thee from above, and longest to depart from the tabernacle of this +body, that thou mayest contemplate My glory without shadow of turning, +enlarge thine heart, and take in this holy inspiration with all thy +desire. Give most hearty thanks to the Supreme Goodness, who dealeth +with thee so graciously, visiteth thee so lovingly, stirreth thee up so +fervently, raiseth thee so powerfully, lest thou sink down through +thine own weight, to earthly things. For not by thine own meditating or +striving dost thou receive this gift, but by the sole gracious +condescension of Supreme Grace and Divine regard; to the end that thou +mayest make progress in virtue and in more humility, and prepare +thyself for future conflicts, and cleave unto Me with all the affection +of thy heart, and strive to serve Me with fervent will. + +2. “My Son, often the fire burneth, but the flame ascendeth not without +smoke. So also the desires of some men burn towards heavenly things, +and yet they are not free from the temptation of carnal affection. Thus +therefore they are not acting with an altogether simple desire for +God’s glory when they pray to Him so earnestly. Such, too, is +oftentimes thy desire, when thou hast imagined it to be so earnest. For +that is not pure and perfect which is tainted with thine own +self-seeking. + +3. “Seek thou not what is pleasant and advantageous to thyself, but +what is acceptable and honourable unto Me; for if thou judgest rightly, +thou must choose and follow after My appointment rather than thine own +desire; yea, rather than anything that can be desired. I know thy +desire, and I have heard thy many groanings. Already thou longest to be +in the glorious liberty of the children of God; already the eternal +home delighteth thee, and the heavenly country full of joy; but the +hour is not yet come; there remaineth still another season, even a +season of warfare, a season of labour and probation. Thou desirest to +be filled with the Chief Good, but thou canst not attain it +immediately. I AM that Good; wait for Me, until the Kingdom of God +shall come. + +4. “Thou must still be tried upon earth, and be exercised in many +things. Consolation shall from time to time be given thee, but abundant +satisfying shall not be granted. Be strong therefore, and be thou brave +both in working and in suffering things which are against thy nature. +Thou must put on the new man, and be changed into another man. Thou +must often do what thou wouldst not; and thou must leave undone what +thou wouldst do. What pleaseth others shall have good success, what +pleaseth thee shall have no prosperity. What others say shall be +listened to; what thou sayest shall receive no heed. Others shall ask +and receive; thou shalt ask and not obtain. Others shall be great in +the report of men, but about thee shall nothing be spoken. To others +this or that shall be entrusted; thou shalt be judged useful for +nought. + +5. “For this cause nature shall sometimes be filled with sadness; and +it is a great thing if thou bear it silently. In this and many like +things the faithful servant of the Lord is wont to be tried, how far he +is able to deny himself and bring himself into subjection in all +things. Scarcely is there anything in which thou hast need to mortify +thyself so much as in seeing things which are adverse to thy will; +especially when things are commanded thee to be done which seem to thee +inexpedient or of little use to thee. And because thou darest not +resist a higher power, being under authority, therefore it seemeth hard +for thee to shape thy course according to the nod of another, and to +forego thine own opinion. + +6. “But consider, My Son, the fruit of these labours, the swift end, +and the reward exceeding great; and thou shalt find it no pain to bear +them then, but rather the strongest solace of thy patience. For even in +exchange for this trifling desire which thou hast readily forsaken, +thou shalt always have thy will in Heaven. There verily thou shalt find +all that thou wouldst, all that thou canst long for. There thou shalt +have all good within thy power without the fear of losing it. There thy +will, ever at one with Mine, shall desire nothing outward, nothing for +itself. There no man shall withstand thee, none shall complain of thee, +none shall hinder, nothing shall stand in thy path; but all things +desired by thee shall be present together, and shall refresh thy whole +affection, and fill it up even to the brim. There I will glory for the +scorn suffered here, the garment of praise for sorrow, and for the +lowest place a throne in the Kingdom, for ever. There shall appear the +fruit of obedience, the labour of repentance shall rejoice, and humble +subjection shall be crowned gloriously. + +7. “Now therefore bow thyself humbly under the hands of all men; nor +let it trouble thee who said this or who ordered that; but take special +heed that whether thy superior, thy inferior, or thy equal, require +anything from thee, or even show a desire for it; take it all in good +part, and study with a good will to fulfil the desire. Let one seek +this, another that; let this man glory in this, and that man in that, +and be praised a thousand thousand times, but rejoice thou only in the +contempt of thyself, and in Mine own good pleasure and glory. This is +what thou art to long for, even that whether by life or by death God +may be ever magnified in thee.”(1) + +(1) Philippians i. 20. + + + + +CHAPTER L + +How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God + + +O Lord, Holy Father, be Thou blessed now and evermore; because as Thou +wilt so it is done, and what Thou doest is good. Let Thy servant +rejoice in Thee, not in himself, nor in any other; because Thou alone +art the true joy, Thou art my hope and my crown, Thou art my joy and my +honour, O Lord. What hath Thy servant, which he received not from Thee, +even without merit of his own? Thine are all things which Thou hast +given, and which Thou hast made. I am poor and in misery even from my +youth up,(1) and my soul is sorrowful unto tears, sometimes also it is +disquieted within itself, because of the sufferings which are coming +upon it. + +2. I long after the joy of peace; for the peace of Thy children do I +beseech, for in the light of Thy comfort they are fed by Thee. If Thou +give peace, if Thou pour into me holy joy, the soul of Thy servant +shall be full of melody, and devout in Thy praise. But if Thou withdraw +Thyself as too often Thou art wont, he will not be able to run in the +way of Thy commandments, but rather he will smite his breast and will +bow his knees; because it is not with him as yesterday and the day +before, when _Thy candle shined upon his head_,(2) and _he walked under +the shadow of Thy wings_,(3) from the temptations which beset him. + +3. O Father, righteous and ever to be praised, the hour cometh when Thy +servant is to be proved. O beloved Father, it is well that in this hour +Thy servant suffer somewhat for Thy sake. O Father, evermore to be +adored, as the hour cometh which Thou foreknewest from everlasting, +when for a little while Thy servant should outwardly bow down, but +always live inwardly with Thee; when for a little while he should be +little regarded, humbled, and fail in the eyes of men; should be wasted +with sufferings and weaknesses, to rise again with Thee in the dawn of +the new light, and be glorified in the heavenly places. O Holy Father, +thou hast ordained it so, and so hast willed it; and that is done which +Thou Thyself hast commanded. + +4. For this is Thy favour to Thy friend, that he should suffer and be +troubled in the world for Thy love’s sake, how often soever, and by +whomsoever and whosoever Thou hast suffered it to be done. Without Thy +counsel and providence, and without cause, nothing cometh to pass on +the earth. It is good for me, Lord, that I had been in trouble, that I +may learn Thy statutes,(4) and may cast away all pride of heart and +presumption. It is profitable for me that confusion hath covered my +face, that I may seek to Thee for consolation rather than unto men. By +this also I have learned to dread Thine unsearchable judgment, who +afflictest the just with the wicked, but not without equity and +justice. + +5. Thanks be unto Thee, because Thou hast not spared my sins, but hast +beaten me with stripes of love, inflicting pains, and sending troubles +upon me without and within. There is none who can console me, of all +things which are under heaven, but Thou only, O Lord my God, Thou +heavenly Physician of souls, who dost scourge and hast mercy, who +leadest down to hell and bringest up again.(5) Thy discipline over me, +and Thy rod itself shall teach me. + +6. Behold, O beloved Father, I am in Thy hands, I bow myself under the +rod of Thy correction. Smite my back and my neck that I may bend my +crookedness to Thy will. Make me a pious and lowly disciple, as Thou +wert wont to be kind, that I may walk according to every nod of Thine. +To Thee I commend myself and all that I have for correction; better is +it to be punished here than hereafter. Thou knowest all things and each +of them; and nothing remaineth hid from Thee in man’s conscience. +Before they are, thou knowest that they will be, and Thou needest not +that any man teach Thee or admonish Thee concerning the things which +are done upon the earth. Thou knowest what is expedient for my profit, +and how greatly trouble serveth unto the scrubbing off the rust of sin. +Do with me according to Thy desired good pleasure, and despise not my +life which is full of sin, known to none so entirely and fully as to +Thee alone. + +7. Grant me, O Lord, to know that which ought to be known; to love that +which ought to be loved; to praise that which pleaseth Thee most, to +esteem that which is precious in Thy sight, to blame that which is vile +in Thine eyes. Suffer me not to judge according to the sight of bodily +eyes, nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of +ignorant men; but to discern in true judgment between visible and +spiritual things, and above all things to be ever seeking after the +will of Thy good pleasure. + +8. Oftentimes the senses of men are deceived in judging; the lovers of +the world also are deceived in that they love only visible things. What +is a man better because by man he is reckoned very great? The deceiver +deceiveth the deceiver, the vain man the vain, the blind man the blind, +the weak man the weak, when they exalt one another; and in truth they +rather put to shame, while they foolishly praise. For as humble St. +Francis saith, “What each one is in Thine eyes, so much he is, and no +more.” + +(1) Psalm lxxxviii. 15. (2) Job xxix. 3. (3) Psalm xvii. 8. (4) Psalm +cxix. 71. (5) Job xiii. 2. + + + + +CHAPTER LI + +That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to +those that are lofty + + +“My Son, thou art not always able to continue in very fervent desire +after virtues, nor to stand fast in the loftier region of +contemplation; but thou must of necessity sometimes descend to lower +things because of thine original corruption, and bear about the burden +of corruptible life, though unwillingly and with weariness. So long as +thou wearest a mortal body, thou shalt feel weariness and heaviness of +heart. Therefore thou oughtest to groan often in the flesh because of +the burden of the flesh, inasmuch as thou canst not give thyself to +spiritual studies and divine contemplation unceasingly. + +2. “At such a time it is expedient for thee to flee to humble and +external works, and to renew thyself with good actions; to wait for My +coming and heavenly visitation with sure confidence; to bear thy exile +and drought of mind with patience, until thou be visited by Me again, +and be freed from all anxieties. For I will cause thee to forget thy +labours, and altogether to enjoy eternal peace. I will spread open +before thee the pleasant pastures of the Scriptures, that with enlarged +heart thou mayest begin to run in the way of My commandments. And thou +shalt say, ‘The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be +compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’”(1) + +(1) Romans viii. 18. + + + + +CHAPTER LII + +That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more +worthy of chastisement + + +O Lord, I am not worthy of Thy consolation, nor of any spiritual +visitation; and therefore Thou dealest justly with me, when Thou +leavest me poor and desolate. For if I were able to pour forth tears +like the sea, still should I not be worthy of Thy consolation. +Therefore am I nothing worthy save to be scourged and punished, because +I have grievously and many a time offended Thee, and in many things +have greatly sinned. Therefore, true account being taken, I am not +worthy even of the least of Thy consolations. But Thou, gracious and +merciful God, who willest not that Thy works should perish, to show +forth the riches of Thy mercy upon the vessels of mercy,(1) vouchsafest +even beyond all his own deserving, to comfort Thy servant above the +measure of mankind. For Thy consolations are not like unto the +discoursings of men. + +2. What have I done, O Lord, that Thou shouldst bestow any heavenly +comfort upon me? I remember not that I have done any good, but have +been ever prone to sin and slow to amendment. It is true and I cannot +deny it. If I should say otherwise, Thou wouldst rise up against me, +and there would be none to defend me. What have I deserved for my sins +but hell and everlasting fire? In very truth I confess that I am worthy +of all scorn and contempt, nor is it fit that I should be remembered +among Thy faithful servants. And although I be unwilling to hear this, +nevertheless I will for the Truth’s sake, accuse myself of my sins, +that the more readily I may prevail to be accounted worthy of Thy +mercy. + +3. What shall I say, guilty that I am and filled with confusion? I have +no mouth to utter, unless it be this word alone, “I have sinned, Lord, +I have sinned; have mercy upon me, forgive me.” Let me alone, that I +may take comfort a little before I go whence I shall not return even to +the land of darkness and the shadow of death.(2) What dost Thou so much +require of a guilty and miserable sinner, as that he be contrite, and +humble himself for his sins? In true contrition and humiliation of +heart is begotten the hope of pardon, the troubled conscience is +reconciled, lost grace is recovered, a man is preserved from the wrath +to come, and God and the penitent soul hasten to meet each other with a +holy kiss.(3) + +4. The humble contrition of sinners is an acceptable sacrifice unto +Thee, O Lord, sending forth a smell sweeter far in Thy sight than the +incense. This also is that pleasant ointment which Thou wouldst have +poured upon Thy sacred feet, for a broken and contrite heart Thou hast +never despised.(4) There is the place of refuge from the wrathful +countenance of the enemy. There is amended and washed away whatsoever +evil hath elsewhere been contracted. + +(1) Romans ix. 23. (2) Job x. 20, 21. (3) Luke xv. 20. (4) Psalm li. +17. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII + +That the Grace of God doth not join itself to those who mind earthly +things + + +“My Son, precious is My grace, it suffereth not itself to be joined +with outward things, nor with earthly consolations. Therefore thou +oughtest to cast away all things which hinder grace, if thou longest to +receive the inpouring thereof. Seek a secret place for thyself, love to +dwell alone with thyself, desire the conversation of no one; but rather +pour out thy devout prayer to God, that thou mayest possess a contrite +mind and a pure conscience. Count the whole world as nought; seek to be +alone with God before all outward things. For thou canst not be alone +with Me, and at the same time be delighted with transitory things. Thou +oughtest to be separated from thy acquaintances and dear friends, and +keep thy mind free from all worldly comfort. So the blessed Apostle +Peter beseecheth, that Christ’s faithful ones bear themselves in this +world as strangers and pilgrims.(1) + +2. “Oh how great a confidence shall there be to the dying man whom no +affection to anything detaineth in the world? But to have a heart so +separated from all things, a sickly soul doth not yet comprehend, nor +doth the carnal man know the liberty of the spiritual man. But if +indeed he desire to be spiritually minded, he must renounce both those +who are far off, and those who are near, and to beware of no man more +than himself. If thou perfectly conquer thyself, very easily shalt thou +subdue all things besides. Perfect victory is the triumph over oneself. +For whoso keepeth himself in subjection, in such manner that the +sensual affections obey the reason, and the reason in all things +obeyeth Me, he truly is conqueror of himself, and lord of the world. + +3. “If thou desire to climb to this height, thou oughtest to start +bravely, and to lay the axe to the root, to the end that thou mayest +pull up and destroy the hidden inordinate inclination towards thyself, +and towards all selfish and earthly good. From this sin, that a man +loveth himself too inordinately, almost everything hangeth which +needeth to be utterly overcome: when that evil is conquered and put +under foot, there shall be great peace and tranquillity continually. +But because few strive earnestly to die perfectly to themselves, and do +not heartily go forth from themselves, therefore do they remain +entangled in themselves, and cannot be raised in spirit above +themselves. But he who desireth to walk at liberty with Me, must of +necessity mortify all his evil and inordinate affections, and must +cling to no creature with selfish love.” + +(1) 1 Peter ii. 11. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV + +Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace + + +“My Son, pay diligent heed to the motions of Nature and of Grace, +because they move in a very contrary and subtle manner, and are hardly +distinguished save by a spiritual and inwardly enlightened man. All men +indeed seek good, and make pretence of something good in all that they +say or do; and thus under the appearance of good many are deceived. + +2. “Nature is deceitful and draweth away, ensnareth, and deceiveth +many, and always hath self for her end; but Grace walketh in simplicity +and turneth away from every appearance of evil, maketh no false +pretences, and doeth all entirely for the sake of God, in whom also she +finally resteth. + +3. “Nature is very unwilling to die, and to be pressed down, and to be +overcome, and to be in subjection, and to bear the yoke readily; but +Grace studieth self-mortification, resisteth sensuality, seeketh to be +subdued, longeth to be conquered, and willeth not to use her own +liberty. She loveth to be held by discipline, and not to have authority +over any, but always to live, to remain, to have her being under God, +and for God’s sake is ready to be humbly subject to every ordinance of +man. + +4. “Nature laboureth for her own advantage, and considereth what profit +she may gain from another; but Grace considereth more, not what may be +useful and convenient to self, but what may be profitable to the many. + +5. “Nature willingly receiveth honour and reverence; but Grace +faithfully ascribeth all honour and glory to God. + +6. “Nature feareth confusion and contempt, but Grace rejoiceth to +suffer shame for the name of Jesus. + +7. “Nature loveth ease and bodily quiet; Grace cannot be unemployed, +but gladly embraceth labour. + +8. “Nature seeketh to possess things curious and attractive, and +abhorreth those which are rough and cheap; Grace is delighted with +things simple and humble, despiseth not those which are rough, nor +refuseth to be clothed with old garments. + +9. “Nature hath regard to things temporal, rejoiceth in earthly lucre, +is made sad by loss, vexed by any little injurious word; but Grace +reacheth after things eternal, cleaveth not to those which are +temporal, is not perturbed by losses, nor embittered by any hard words, +because she hath placed her treasure and joy in heaven where nought +perisheth. + +10. “Nature is covetous, and receiveth more willingly than she giveth, +loveth things that are personal and private to herself; while Grace is +kind and generous, avoideth selfishness, is contented with a little, +believeth that it is more blessed to give than to receive. + +11. “Nature inclineth thee to created things, to thine own flesh, to +vanities and dissipation; but Grace draweth to God and to virtues, +renounceth creatures, fleeth from the world, hateth the desires of the +flesh, restraineth vagaries, blusheth to be seen in public. + +12. “Nature is glad to receive some outward solace in which the senses +may have delight; but Grace seeketh to be comforted in God alone, and +to have delight in the chief good above all visible things. + +13. “Nature doeth everything for her own gain and profit, can do +nothing as a free favour, but hopeth to attain something as good or +better, or some praise or favour for her benefits; and she loveth that +her own deeds and gifts should be highly valued; but Grace seeketh +nothing temporal, nor requireth any other gift of reward than God +alone; neither longeth she for more of temporal necessities than such +as may suffice for the attaining of eternal life. + +14. “Nature rejoiceth in many friends and kinsfolk, she boasteth of +noble place and noble birth, she smileth on the powerful, flattereth +the rich, applaudeth those who are like herself; but Grace loveth even +her enemies, and is not lifted up by the multitude of friends, setteth +no store upon high place or high birth, unless there be greater virtue +therewith; favoureth the poor man more than the rich, hath more +sympathy with the innocent than with the powerful; rejoiceth with the +truthful, not with the liar; always exhorteth the good to strive after +better gifts of grace, and to become by holiness like unto the Son of +God. + +15. “Nature quickly complaineth of poverty and of trouble; Grace +beareth want with constancy. + +16. “Nature looketh upon all things in reference to herself; striveth +and argueth for self; but Grace bringeth back all things to God from +whom they came at the beginning; ascribeth no good to herself nor +arrogantly presumeth; is not contentious, nor preferreth her own +opinion to others, but in every sense and understanding submitteth +herself to the Eternal wisdom and the Divine judgment. + +17. “Nature is eager to know secrets and to hear new things; she loveth +to appear abroad, and to make experience of many things through the +senses; she desireth to be acknowledged and to do those things which +win praise and admiration; but Grace careth not to gather up new or +curious things, because all this springeth from the old corruption, +whereas there is nothing new or lasting upon earth. So she teacheth to +restrain the senses, to shun vain complacency and ostentation, to hide +humbly those things which merit praise and real admiration, and from +everything and in all knowledge to seek after useful fruit, and the +praise and honour of God. She desireth not to receive praise for +herself or her own, but longeth that God be blessed in all His gifts, +who out of unmingled love bestoweth all things.” + +18. This Grace is a supernatural light, and a certain special gift of +God, and the proper mark of the elect, and the pledge of eternal +salvation; it exalteth a man from earthly things to love those that are +heavenly; and it maketh the carnal man spiritual. So far therefore as +Nature is utterly pressed down and overcome, so far is greater Grace +bestowed and the inner man is daily created anew by fresh visitations, +after the image of God. + + + + +CHAPTER LV + +Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace + + +O Lord my God, who hast created me after thine own image and +similitude, grant me this grace, which Thou hast shown to be so great +and so necessary for salvation, that I may conquer my wicked nature, +which draweth me to sin and to perdition. For I feel in my flesh the +law of sin, contradicting the law of my mind, and bringing me into +captivity to the obedience of sensuality in many things; nor can I +resist its passions, unless Thy most holy grace assist me, fervently +poured into my heart. + +2. There is need of Thy grace, yea, and of a great measure thereof, +that my nature may be conquered, which hath alway been prone to evil +from my youth. For being fallen through the first man Adam, and +corrupted through sin, the punishment of this stain descended upon all +men; so that Nature itself, which was framed good and right by Thee, is +now used to express the vice and infirmity of corrupted Nature; because +its motion left unto itself draweth men away to evil and to lower +things. For the little power which remaineth is as it were one spark +lying hid in the ashes. This is Natural reason itself, encompassed with +thick clouds, having yet a discernment of good and evil, a distinction +of the true and the false, though it be powerless to fulfil all that it +approveth, and possess not yet the full light of truth, nor +healthfulness of its affections. + +3. Hence it is, O my God, that I delight in Thy law after the inward +man,(1) knowing that Thy commandment is holy and just and good; +reproving also all evil, and the sin that is to be avoided: yet with +the flesh I serve the law of sin, whilst I obey sensuality rather than +reason. Hence it is that to will to do good is present with me, but how +to perform it I find not.(2) Hence I ofttimes purpose many good things; +but because grace is lacking to help mine infirmities, I fall back +before a little resistance and fail. Hence it cometh to pass that I +recognize the way of perfectness, and see very clearly what things I +ought to do; but pressed down by the weight of my own corruption, I +rise not to the things which are more perfect. + +4. Oh how entirely necessary is Thy grace to me, O Lord, for a good +beginning, for progress, and for bringing to perfection. For without it +I can do nothing, but I can do all things through Thy grace which +strengtheneth me.(3) O truly heavenly grace, without which our own +merits are nought, and no gifts of Nature at all are to be esteemed. +Arts, riches, beauty, strength, wit, eloquence, they all avail nothing +before Thee, O Lord, without Thy grace. For the gifts of Nature belong +to good and evil alike; but the proper gift of the elect is grace—that +is, love—and they who bear the mark thereof are held worthy of +everlasting life. So mighty is this grace, that without it neither the +gift of prophecy nor the working of miracles, nor any speculation, +howsoever lofty, is of any value at all. But neither faith, nor hope, +nor any other virtue is accepted with Thee without love and grace. + +5. O most blessed grace that makest the poor in spirit rich in virtues, +and renderest him who is rich in many things humble in spirit, come +Thou, descend upon me, fill me early with Thy consolation, lest my soul +fail through weariness and drought of mind. I beseech thee, O Lord, +that I may find grace in Thy sight, for Thy grace is sufficient for +me,(4) when I obtain not those things which Nature longeth for. If I be +tempted and vexed with many tribulations, I will fear no evil, while +Thy grace remaineth with me. This alone is my strength, this bringeth +me counsel and help. It is more powerful than all enemies, and wiser +than all the wise men in the world. + +6. It is the mistress of truth, the teacher of discipline, the light of +the heart, the solace of anxiety, the banisher of sorrow, the deliverer +from fear, the nurse of devotion, the drawer forth of tears. What am I +without it, save a dry tree, a useless branch, worthy to be cast away! +“Let Thy grace, therefore, O Lord, always prevent and follow me, and +make me continually given to all good works, through Jesus Christ, Thy +Son. Amen.” + +(1) Romans vii. 12, 22. 25. (2) Romans vii. 18. (3) Philippians iv. 13. +(4) 2 Corinthians xii. 9. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI + +That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by means of the +Cross + + +My Son, so far as thou art able to go out of thyself so far shalt thou +be able to enter into Me. As to desire no outward thing worketh +internal peace, so the forsaking of self inwardly joineth unto God. I +will that thou learn perfect self-denial, living in My will without +contradiction or complaint. Follow Me: I am the way, the truth, and the +life.(1) Without the way thou canst not go, without the truth thou +canst not know, without the life thou canst not live. I am the Way +which thou oughtest to follow; the Truth which thou oughtest to +believe; the Life which thou oughtest to hope for. I am the Way +unchangeable; the Truth infallible; the Life everlasting. I am the Way +altogether straight, the Truth supreme, the true Life, the blessed +Life, the uncreated Life. If thou remain in My way thou shalt know the +Truth, and the truth shall make thee free,(2) and thou shalt lay hold +on eternal life. + +2. “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.(3) If thou +wilt know the truth, believe in Me. If thou wilt be perfect, sell all +that thou hast. If thou wilt be My disciple, deny thyself. If thou +wouldst possess the blessed life, despise the life which now is. If +thou wilt be exalted in heaven, humble thyself in the world. If thou +wilt reign with Me, bear the cross with Me; for only the servants of +the cross find the way of blessedness and of true light.” + +3. O Lord Jesu, forasmuch as Thy life was straitened and despised by +the world, grant unto me to imitate Thee in despising the world, for +the servant is not greater than his lord, nor the disciple above his +master.(4) Let Thy servant be exercised in Thy life, because there is +my salvation and true holiness. Whatsoever I read or hear besides it, +it refresheth me not, nor giveth me delight. + +4. “My son, because thou knowest these things and hast read them all, +blessed shalt thou be if thou doest them. He who hath My commandments +and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me, and I will love him, and +will manifest Myself to him,(5) and I will make him to sit down with Me +in My Father’s Kingdom.” + +5. O Lord Jesu, as Thou hast said and promised, even so let it be unto +me, and grant me to prove worthy. I have received the cross at Thy +hand; I have carried it, and will carry it even unto death, as Thou +hast laid it upon me. Truly the life of a truly devoted servant is a +cross, but it leadeth to paradise. I have begun; I may not return back +nor leave it. + +6. Come, my brothers, let us together go forward. Jesus shall be with +us. For Jesus’ sake have we taken up this cross, for Jesus’ sake let us +persevere in the cross. He will be our helper, who was our Captain and +Forerunner. Behold our King entereth in before us, and He will fight +for us. Let us follow bravely, let no man fear terrors; let us be +prepared to die bravely in battle, and let us not so stain our +honour,(6) as to fly from the cross. + +(1) John xiv. 6. (2) John viii. 32. (3) Matthew xix. 17, 21. (4) +Matthew x. 24. (5) John xiv. 21. (6) 1 Mac. ix. 10. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII + +That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some +faults + + +“My Son, patience and humility in adversities are more pleasing to Me +than much comfort and devotion in prosperity. Why doth a little thing +spoken against thee make thee sad? If it had been more, thou still +oughtest not to be moved. But now suffer it to go by; it is not the +first, it is not new, and it will not be the last, if thou live long. +Thou art brave enough, so long as no adversity meeteth thee. Thou +givest good counsel also, and knowest how to strengthen others with thy +words; but when tribulation suddenly knocketh at thine own door, thy +counsel and strength fail. Consider thy great frailty, which thou dost +so often experience in trifling matters nevertheless, for thy soul’s +health these things are done when they and such like happen unto thee. + +2. “Put them away from thy heart as well as thou canst, and if +tribulation hath touched thee, yet let it not cast thee down nor +entangle thee long. At the least, bear patiently, if thou canst not +joyfully. And although thou be very unwilling to hear it, and feel +indignation, yet check thyself, and suffer no unadvised word to come +forth from thy lips, whereby the little ones may be offended. Soon the +storm which hath been raised shall be stilled, and inward grief shall +be sweetened by returning grace. I yet live, saith the Lord, ready to +help thee, and to give thee more than wonted consolation if thou put +thy trust in Me, and call devoutly upon Me. + +3. “Be thou more calm of spirit, and gird thyself for greater +endurance. All is not frustrated, though thou find thyself very often +afflicted or grievously tempted. Thou art man, not God; thou art flesh, +not an angel. How shouldst thou be able to remain alway in the same +state of virtue, when an angel in heaven fell, and the first man in +paradise? I am He who lifteth up the mourners to deliverance, and those +who know their own infirmity I raise up to my own nature.” + +4. O Lord, blessed be Thy word, sweeter to my mouth than honey and the +honeycomb. What should I do in my so great tribulations and anxieties, +unless Thou didst comfort me with Thy holy words? If only I may attain +unto the haven of salvation, what matter is it what things or how many +I suffer? Give me a good end, give me a happy passage out of this +world. Remember me, O my God, and lead me by the right way unto Thy +Kingdom. Amen. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII + +Of deeper matters, and God’s hidden judgments which are not to be +inquired into + + +“My Son, beware thou dispute not of high matters and of the hidden +judgments of God; why this man is thus left, and that man is taken into +so great favour; why also this man is so greatly afflicted, and that so +highly exalted. These things pass all man’s power of judging, neither +may any reasoning or disputation have power to search out the divine +judgments. When therefore the enemy suggesteth these things to thee, or +when any curious people ask such questions, answer with that word of +the Prophet, _Just art Thou, O Lord, and true is Thy judgment_,(1) and +with this, _The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous +altogether_.(2) My judgments are to be feared, not to be disputed on, +because they are incomprehensible to human understanding. + +2. “And be not given to inquire or dispute about the merits of the +Saints, which is holier than another, or which is the greater in the +Kingdom of Heaven. Such questions often beget useless strifes and +contentions: they also nourish pride and vain glory, whence envyings +and dissensions arise, while one man arrogantly endeavoureth to exalt +one Saint and another another. But to wish to know and search out such +things bringeth no fruit, but it rather displeaseth the Saints; for I +am not _the God of confusion but of peace;_(3) which peace consisteth +more in true humility than in self-exaltation. + +3. “Some are drawn by zeal of love to greater affection to these Saints +or those; but this is human affection rather than divine. I am He Who +made all the Saints: I gave them grace, I brought them glory; I know +the merits of every one; _I prevented them with the blessings of My +goodness_.(4) I foreknew my beloved ones from everlasting, _I chose +them out of the world;_(5) they did not choose Me. I called them by My +grace, drew them by My mercy, led them on through sundry temptations. I +poured mighty consolations upon them, I gave them perseverance, I +crowned their patience. + +4. “I acknowledge the first and the last; I embrace all with +inestimable love. I am to be praised in all My Saints; I am to be +blessed above all things, and to be honoured in every one whom I have +so gloriously exalted and predestined, without any preceding merits of +their own. He therefore that shall despise one of the least of these My +people, honoureth not the great; because I made both small and +great.(6) And he who speaketh against any of My Saints speaketh against +Me, and against all others in the Kingdom of Heaven.” + + They are all one through the bond of charity; they think the same + thing, will the same thing, and all are united in love one to another. + +5. “But yet (which is far better) they love Me above themselves and +their own merits. For being caught up above themselves, and drawn +beyond self-love, they go all straightforward to the love of Me, and +they rest in Me in perfect enjoyment. There is nothing which can turn +them away or press them down; for being full of Eternal Truth, they +burn with the fire of inextinguishable charity. Therefore let all +carnal and natural men hold their peace concerning the state of the +Saints, for they know nothing save to love their own personal +enjoyment. They take away and add according to their own inclination, +not as it pleaseth the Eternal Truth. + +6. “In many men this is ignorance, chiefly is it so in those who, being +little enlightened, rarely learn to love any one with perfect spiritual +love. They are still much drawn by natural affection and human +friendship to these or to those: and as they reckon of themselves in +lower matters, so also do they frame imaginations of things heavenly. +But there is an immeasurable difference between those things which they +imperfectly imagine, and these things which enlightened men behold +through supernatural revelation. + +7. “Take heed, therefore, My son, that thou treat not curiously those +things which surpass thy knowledge, but rather make this thy business +and give attention to it, namely, that thou seek to be found, even +though it be the least, in the Kingdom of God. And even if any one +should know who were holier than others, or who were held greatest in +the Kingdom of Heaven; what should that knowledge profit him, unless +through this knowledge he should humble himself before Me, and should +rise up to give greater praise unto My name? He who considereth how +great are his own sins, how small his virtues, and how far he is +removed from the perfection of the Saints, doeth far more acceptably in +the sight of God, than he who disputeth about their greatness or +littleness. + +8. “They are altogether well content, if men would learn to be content, +and to refrain from vain babbling. They glory not of their own merits, +seeing they ascribe no good unto themselves, but all unto Me, seeing +that I of my infinite charity have given them all things. They are +filled with so great love of the Divinity, and with such overflowing +joy, that no glory is lacking to them, neither can any felicity be +lacking. All the Saints, the higher they are exalted in glory, the +humbler are they in themselves, and the nearer and dearer are they unto +Me. And so thou hast it written that they cast their crowns before God +and fell on their faces before the Lamb, and worshipped Him that liveth +for ever and ever.(7) + +9. “Many ask who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, who know not +whether they shall be worthy to be counted among the least. It is a +great thing to be even the least in Heaven, where all are great, +because all shall be called, and shall be, the sons of God. _A little +one shall become a thousand, but the sinner being an hundred years old +shall be accursed_. For when the disciples asked _who should be the +greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven_, they received no other answer than +this, _Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall +not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But whosoever shall humble +himself as this little child, the same shall be greatest in the Kingdom +of Heaven_.”(8) + +10. Woe unto them who disdain to humble themselves willingly with the +little children; for the low gate of the kingdom of Heaven will not +suffer them to enter in. Woe also to them who are rich, who have their +consolation here;(9) because whilst the poor enter into the kingdom of +God, they shall stand lamenting without. Rejoice ye humble, and exult +ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God if only ye walk in the truth. + +(1) Psalm cxix. 137. (2) Psalm xix. 9. (3) 1 Corinthians xiv. 33. (4) +Psalm xxi. 3. (5) John xv. 19. (6) Wisd. vi. 8. (7) Revelation iv. 10; +v. 14. (8) Matthew xviii. 3. (9) Luke vi. 24. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX + +That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone + + +O Lord, what is my trust which I have in this life, or what is my +greatest comfort of all the things which are seen under Heaven? Is it +not Thou, O Lord my God, whose mercies are without number? Where hath +it been well with me without Thee? Or when could it be evil whilst Thou +wert near? I had rather be poor for Thy sake, than rich without Thee. I +choose rather to be a pilgrim upon the earth with Thee than without +Thee to possess heaven. Where Thou art, there is heaven; and where Thou +are not, behold there death and hell. Thou art all my desire, and +therefore must I groan and cry and earnestly pray after Thee. In short +I can confide fully in none to give me ready help in necessities, save +in Thee alone, O my God. Thou art my hope, Thou art my trust, Thou art +my Comforter, and most faithful in all things. + +2. _All men seek their own;_(1) Thou settest forward only my salvation +and my profit, and turnest all things unto my good. Even though Thou +dost expose me to divers temptations and adversities, Thou ordainest +all this unto my advantage, for Thou are wont to prove Thy beloved ones +in a thousand ways. In which proving Thou oughtest no less to be loved +and praised, than if Thou wert filling me full of heavenly +consolations. + +3. In Thee, therefore, O Lord God, I put all my hope and my refuge, on +Thee I lay all my tribulation and anguish; because I find all to be +weak and unstable whatsoever I behold out of Thee. For many friends +shall not profit, nor strong helpers be able to succour, nor prudent +counsellors to give a useful answer, nor the books of the learned to +console, nor any precious substance to deliver, nor any secret and +beautiful place to give shelter, if Thou Thyself do not assist, help, +strengthen, comfort, instruct, keep in safety. + +4. For all things which seem to belong to the attainment of peace and +felicity are nothing when Thou art absent, and bring no felicity at all +in reality. Therefore art Thou the end of all good, and the fulness of +Life, and the soul of eloquence; and to hope in Thee above all things +is the strongest solace of Thy servants. _Mine eyes look unto Thee_,(2) +in Thee is my trust, O my God, Father of mercies. + +5. Bless and sanctify my soul with heavenly blessing that it may become +Thy holy habitation, and the seat of Thy eternal glory; and let nothing +be found in the Temple of Thy divinity which may offend the eyes of Thy +majesty. According to the greatness of Thy goodness and the multitude +of Thy mercies look upon me, and hear the prayer of Thy poor servant, +far exiled from Thee in the land of the shadow of death. Protect and +preserve the soul of Thy least servant amid so many dangers of +corruptible life, and by Thy grace accompanying me, direct it by the +way of peace unto its home of perpetual light. Amen. + +(1) Philippians ii. 21 (2) Psalm cxli. 8. + + + + +THE FOURTH BOOK +OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR + + +A devout exhortation to the Holy Communion + + +The Voice of Christ + + +Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will +refresh you,(1) saith the Lord. The bread that I will give is My flesh +which I give for the life of the world.(2) Take, eat: this is My Body, +which is given for you; this do in remembrance of Me.(3) He that eateth +My flesh and drinketh My blood dwelleth in Me and I in him. The words +that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.(4) + +(1) Matthew xi. 28 (2) John vi. 51. (3) Matthew xxvi. 26; Luke xxii. +19. (4) John vi. 51, 63. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +With how great reverence Christ must be received + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +These are Thy words, O Christ, Eternal Truth; though not uttered at one +time nor written together in one place of Scripture. Because therefore +they are Thy words and true, I must gratefully and faithfully receive +them all. They are Thine, and Thou hast uttered them; and they are mine +also, because Thou didst speak them for my salvation. Gladly I receive +them from Thy mouth, that they may be more deeply implanted in my +heart. Words of such great grace arouse me, for they are full of +sweetness and love; but my own sins terrify me, and my impure +conscience driveth me away from receiving so great mysteries. The +sweetness of Thy words encourageth me, but the multitude of my faults +presseth me down. + +2. Thou commandest that I draw near to Thee with firm confidence, if I +would have part with Thee, and that I receive the food of immortality, +if I desire to obtain eternal life and glory. Come unto Me, sayest +Thou, all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Oh, +sweet and lovely word in the ear of the sinner, that Thou, O Lord my +God, dost invite the poor and needy to the Communion of Thy most holy +body and blood. But who am I, O Lord, that I should presume to approach +unto Thee? Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee, and yet +Thou sayest, Come ye all unto Me. + +3. What meaneth this most gracious condescension, this most lovely +invitation? How shall I dare to come, who know no good thing of myself, +whence I might be able to presume? How shall I bring Thee within my +house, seeing that I so often have sinned in Thy most loving sight? +Angels and Archangels stand in awe of Thee, the Saints and just men +fear Thee, and Thou sayest, Come unto Me! Except Thou, Lord, hadst said +it, who should believe it true? And except Thou hadst commanded, who +should attempt to draw near? + +4. Behold, Noah, that just man, laboured for a hundred years in +building the ark, that he might be saved with the few; and I, how shall +I be able in one hour to prepare myself to receive the Builder of the +world with reverence? Moses, Thy servant, Thy great and especial +friend, made an ark of incorruptible wood, which also he covered with +purest gold, that he might lay up in it the tables of the law, and I, a +corruptible creature, shall I dare thus easily to receive Thee, the +Maker of the Law and the Giver of life? Solomon, the wisest of the +kings of Israel, was seven years building his magnificent temple to the +praise of Thy Name, and for eight days celebrated the feast of its +dedication, offered a thousand peace offerings, and solemnly brought up +the Ark of the Covenant to the place prepared for it, with the sound of +trumpets and great joy, and I, unhappy and poorest of mankind, how +shall I bring Thee into my house, who scarce know how to spend half an +hour in devotion? And oh that it were even one half hour worthily +spent! + +5. O my God, how earnestly these holy men strove to please Thee! And +alas! how little and trifling is that which I do! how short a time do I +spend, when I am disposing myself to Communion. Rarely altogether +collected, most rarely cleansed from all distraction. And surely in the +saving presence of Thy Godhead no unmeet thought ought to intrude, nor +should any creature take possession of me, because it is not an Angel +but the Lord of the Angels, that I am about to receive as my Guest. + +6. Yet there is a vast difference between the Ark of the Covenant with +its relics, and Thy most pure Body with its ineffable virtues, between +those sacrifices of the law, which were figures of things to come, and +the true sacrifice of Thy Body, the completion of all the ancient +sacrifices. + +7. Wherefore then do I not yearn more ardently after Thy adorable +presence? Why do I not prepare myself with greater solicitude to +receive Thy holy things, when those holy Patriarchs and Prophets of +old, kings also and princes, with the whole people, manifested so great +affection of devotion towards Thy Divine Service? + +8. The most devout king David danced with all his might before the Ark +of God, calling to mind the benefits granted to his forefathers in days +past; he fashioned musical instruments of various sorts, put forth +Psalms, and appointed them to be sung with joy, played also himself +ofttimes on the harp, being inspired with the grace of the Holy Ghost; +he taught the people of Israel to praise God with the whole heart, and +with unity of voice to bless and praise Him every day. If so great +devotion was then exercised, and celebration of divine praise was +carried on before the Ark of the Testimony, how great reverence and +devotion ought now to be shown by me and all Christian people at the +ministering of the Sacrament, at receiving the most precious Body and +Blood of Christ. + +9. Many run to diverse places to visit the memorials of departed +Saints, and rejoice to hear of their deeds and to look upon the +beautiful buildings of their shrines. And behold, Thou art present here +with me, O my God, Saint of Saints, Creator of men and Lord of the +Angels. Often in looking at those memorials men are moved by curiosity +and novelty, and very little fruit of amendment is borne away, +especially when there is so much careless trifling and so little true +contrition. But here in the Sacrament of the Altar, Thou art present +altogether, My God, the Man Christ Jesus; where also abundant fruit of +eternal life is given to every one soever that receiveth Thee worthily +and devoutly. But to this no levity draweth, no curiosity, nor +sensuality, only steadfast faith, devout hope, and sincere charity. + +10. O God, invisible Creator of the world, how wondrously dost Thou +work with us, how sweetly and graciously Thou dealest with Thine elect, +to whom Thou offerest Thyself to be received in this Sacrament! For +this surpasseth all understanding, this specially draweth the hearts of +the devout and enkindleth their affections. For even thy true faithful +ones themselves, who order their whole life to amendment, oftentimes +gain from this most excellent Sacrament great grace of devotion and +love of virtue. + +11. Oh admirable and hidden grace of the Sacrament, which only Christ’s +faithful ones know, but the faithless and those who serve sin cannot +experience! In this Sacrament is conferred spiritual grace, and lost +virtue is regained in the soul, and the beauty which was disfigured by +sin returneth again. So great sometimes is this grace that out of the +fulness of devotion given, not only the mind but also the weak body +feeleth that more strength is supplied unto it. + +12. But greatly must we mourn and lament over our lukewarmness and +negligence, that we are not drawn by greater affection to become +partakers of Christ, in whom all the hope and the merit of those that +are to be saved consist. For He Himself is our sanctification and +redemption.(1) He is the consolation of pilgrims and the eternal +fruition of the Saints. Therefore it is grievously to be lamented that +many so little consider this health-giving mystery, which maketh heaven +glad and preserveth the whole world. Alas for the blindness and +hardness of man’s heart, that he considereth not more this unspeakable +gift, and even slippeth down through the daily use, into carelessness. + +13. For if this most holy Sacrament were celebrated in one place only, +and were consecrated only by one priest in the whole world, with what +great desire thinkest thou, would men be affected towards that place +and towards such a priest of God, that they might behold the divine +mysteries celebrated? But now are many men made priests and in many +places the Sacrament is celebrated, that the grace and love of God +towards men might the more appear, the more widely the Holy Communion +is spread abroad over all the world. Thanks be unto Thee, O good Jesus, +Eternal Shepherd, who hast vouchsafed to refresh us, poor and exiled +ones, with Thy precious Body and Blood, and to invite us to partake +these holy mysteries by the invitation from Thine own mouth, saying, +Come unto Me, ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh +you. + +(1) 1 Corinthians i. 30. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the Sacrament + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +Trusting in Thy goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I draw near, the sick +to the Healer, the hungering and thirsting to the Fountain of life, the +poverty-stricken to the King of heaven, the servant to the Lord, the +creature to the Creator, the desolate to my own gentle Comforter. But +whence is this unto me, that Thou comest unto me? Who am I that Thou +shouldest offer me Thyself? How doth a sinner dare to appear before +Thee? And how dost thou vouchsafe to come to the sinner? Thou knowest +Thy servant, and Thou knowest that he hath in him no good thing for +which Thou shouldest grant him this grace. I confess therefore mine own +vileness, I acknowledge Thy goodness, I praise Thy tenderness, and I +give Thee thanks for Thine exceeding great love. For Thou doest this +for Thine own sake, not for my merits, that Thy goodness may be more +manifest unto me, Thy charity more abundantly poured out upon me, and +Thy humility more perfectly commended unto me. Therefore because this +pleaseth Thee and Thou hast commanded that thus it shall be, Thy +condescension pleaseth me also; and oh that mine iniquity hinder it +not. + +2. O most sweet and tender Jesus, what reverence, what giving of thanks +is due to Thee with perpetual praise for the receiving of Thy sacred +Body and Blood, the dignity whereof no man is found able to express. +But what shall I think upon in this Communion in approaching my Lord, +whom I am not able worthily to honour, and nevertheless whom I long +devoutly to receive? What shall be better and more healthful meditation +for me, than utter humiliation of myself before Thee, and exaltation of +Thine infinite goodness towards me? I praise Thee, O my God, and exalt +Thee for evermore. I despise myself, and cast myself down before Thee +into the deep of my vileness. + +3. Behold, Thou art the Saint of saints and I the refuse of sinners; +behold, Thou stoopest unto me who am not worthy to look upon Thee; +behold, Thou comest unto me, Thou willest to be with me, Thou invitest +me to Thy feast. Thou willest to give me the heavenly food and bread of +angels to eat; none other, in truth, than Thyself, The living bread, +which didst descend from heaven; and givest life to the world.(1) + +4. Behold, whence this love proceedeth! what manner of condescension +shineth forth herein. What great giving of thanks and praise is due +unto Thee for these benefits! Oh how salutary and profitable Thy +purpose when Thou didst ordain this! How sweet and pleasant the feast +when Thou didst give Thyself for food! Oh how admirable is thy working, +O Lord, how mighty Thy power, how unspeakable Thy truth! For Thou didst +speak the word, and all things were made; and this is done which Thou +hast commanded. + +5. A thing wonderful, and worthy of faith, and surpassing all the +understanding of man, that Thou, O Lord my God, very God and very man, +givest Thyself altogether to us in a little bread and wine, and art so +our inexhaustible food. Thou, O Lord of all, who hast need of nothing, +hast willed to dwell in us through Thy Sacrament. Preserve my heart and +my body undefiled, that with a joyful and pure conscience I may be able +very often to [celebrate, and](2) receive to my perpetual health. Thy +mysteries, which Thou hast consecrated and instituted both for Thine +own honour, and for a perpetual memorial. + +6. Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks unto God for so great a gift and +precious consolation, left unto thee in this vale of tears. For so oft +as thou callest this mystery to mind and receivest the body of Christ, +so often dost thou celebrate the work of thy redemption, and art made +partaker of all the merits of Christ. For the charity of Christ never +groweth less, and the greatness of His propitiation is never exhausted. +Therefore, by continual renewal of thy spirit, thou oughtest to dispose +thyself hereunto and to weigh the great mystery of salvation with +attentive consideration. So great, new, and joyful ought it to appear +to thee when thou comest to communion, as if on this self-same day +Christ for the first time were descending into the Virgin’s womb and +becoming man, or hanging on the cross, suffering and dying for the +salvation of mankind. + +(1) John vi. 51. (2) The words in brackets are only suitable for a +priest. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +That it is profitable to Communicate often + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +Behold I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy +gift, and be made joyful in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy +goodness hast prepared for the poor.(1) Behold in Thee is all that I +can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation and redemption, my hope +and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy +servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul.(2) +I long now to receive Thee devoutly and reverently, I desire to bring +Thee into my house, so that with Zacchaeus I may be counted worthy to +be blessed by Thee and numbered among the children of Abraham. My soul +hath an earnest desire for Thy Body, my heart longeth to be united with +Thee. + +2. Give me Thyself and it sufficeth, for besides Thee no consolation +availeth. Without Thee I cannot be, and without Thy visitation I have +no power to live. And therefore I must needs draw nigh unto Thee often, +and receive Thee for the healing of my soul, lest haply I faint by the +way if I be deprived of heavenly food. For so Thou, most merciful +Jesus, preaching to the people and healing many sick, didst once say, I +will not send them away fasting to their own homes, lest they faint by +the way.(3) Deal therefore now to me in like manner, for Thou left +Thyself for the consolation of the faithful in the Sacrament. For Thou +art the sweet refreshment of the soul, and he who shall eat Thee +worthily shall be partaker and inheritor of the eternal glory. +Necessary indeed it is for me, who so often slide backwards and sin, so +quickly wax cold and faint, to renew, cleanse, enkindle myself by +frequent prayers and penitences and receiving of Thy sacred Body and +Blood lest haply by too long abstinence, I fall short of my holy +resolutions. + +3. For the imaginations of man’s heart are evil from his youth,(4) and +except divine medicine succour him, man slideth away continually unto +the worse. The Holy Communion therefore draweth us back from evil, and +strengtheneth us for good. For if I now be so negligent and lukewarm +when I communicate [or celebrate], how should it be with me, if I +receive not this medicine, and sought not so great a help? [And though +I am not every day fit nor well prepared to celebrate, I will +nevertheless give diligent heed at due season, to receive the divine +mysteries, and to become partaker of so great grace]. For this is the +one principal consolation of a faithful soul, so long as it is absent +from Thee in mortal body, that being continually mindful of its God, it +receiveth its Beloved with devout spirit. + +4. Oh wonderful condescension of Thy pity surrounding us, that Thou, O +Lord God, Creator and Quickener of all spirits, deignest to come unto a +soul so poor and weak, and to appease its hunger with Thy whole Deity +and Humanity. Oh happy mind and blessed soul, to which is granted +devoutly to receive Thee its Lord God, and in so receiving Thee to be +filled with all spiritual joy! Oh how great a Lord doth it entertain, +how beloved a Guest doth it bring in, how delightful a Companion doth +it receive, how faithful a Friend doth it welcome, how beautiful and +exalted a Spouse, above every other Beloved, doth it embrace, One to be +loved above all things that can be desired! Oh my most sweet Beloved, +let heaven and earth and all the glory of them, be silent in Thy +presence; seeing whatsoever praise and beauty they have it is of Thy +gracious bounty; and they shall never reach unto the loveliness of Thy +Name, Whose Wisdom is infinite.(5) + +(1) Psalm lxviii. 10. (2) Psalm lxxxvi. 4. (3) Matthew xv. 32. (4) +Genesis viii. 21. (5) Psalm cxlvii. 5. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate devoutly + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +O Lord my God, prevent Thou Thy servant with the blessings of Thy +sweetness, that I may be enabled to draw near worthily and devoutly to +Thy glorious Sacrament. Awaken my heart towards Thee, and deliver me +from heavy slumber. Visit me with Thy salvation that I may in spirit +taste Thy sweetness, which plentifully lieth hid in this Sacrament as +in a fountain. Lighten also mine eyes to behold this so great mystery, +and strengthen me that I may believe it with undoubting faith. For it +is Thy word, not human power; it is Thy holy institution, not the +invention of man. For no man is found fit in himself to receive and to +understand these things, which transcend even the wisdom of the Angels. +What portion then shall I, unworthy sinner, who am but dust and ashes, +be able to search into and comprehend of so deep a Sacrament? + +2. O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart, in good and firm faith, and +according to Thy will, I draw nigh unto Thee with hope and reverence, +and truly believe that Thou art here present in the Sacrament, God and +man. Thou willest therefore that I receive Thee and unite myself to +Thee in charity. Wherefore I beseech Thy mercy, and implore Thee to +give me Thy special grace, to this end, that I may be wholly dissolved +and overflow with love towards Thee, and no more suffer any other +consolation to enter into me. For this most high and most glorious +Sacrament is the health of the soul and the body, the medicine of all +spiritual sickness, whereby I am healed of my sins, my passions are +bridled, temptations are conquered or weakened, more grace is poured +into me, virtue begun is increased, faith is made firm, hope is +strengthened, and charity is enkindled and enlarged. + +3. For in this Sacrament Thou hast bestowed many good things and still +bestowest them continually on Thine elect who communicate devoutly, O +my God, Lifter up of my soul, Repairer of human infirmity, and Giver of +all inward consolation. For Thou pourest into them much consolation +against all sorts of tribulation, and out of the deep of their own +misery Thou liftest them up to the hope of Thy protection, and with +ever new grace, dost inwardly refresh and enlighten them; so that they +who felt themselves to be anxious and without affection before +Communion, afterwards being refreshed with heavenly food and drink, +find themselves changed for the better. And even in such wise Thou +dealest severally with Thine elect, that they may truly acknowledge and +clearly make proof that they have nothing whatsoever of their own, and +what goodness and grace come to them from Thee; because being in +themselves cold, hard of heart, indevout, through Thee they become +fervent, zealous, and devout. For who is there coming humbly to the +fountain of sweetness, carrieth not away thence at the least some +little of that sweetness? Or who standing by a large fire, feeleth not +from thence a little of its heat? And Thou art ever a full and +overflowing fountain, a fire continually burning, and never going out. + +4. Wherefore if it is not suffered to me to draw from the fulness of +the fountain, nor to drink unto satisfying, yet will I set my lips to +the mouth of the heavenly conduit, that at least I may receive a small +drop to quench my thirst, that I dry not up within my heart. And if I +am not yet able to be altogether heavenly and so enkindled as the +Cherubim and Seraphim, yet will I endeavour to give myself unto +devotion, and to prepare my heart, that I may gain if it be but a +little flame of the divine fire, through the humble receiving of the +life-giving Sacrament. But whatsoever is wanting unto me, O merciful +Jesus, Most Holy Saviour, do Thou of Thy kindness and grace supply, who +hast vouchsafed to call all unto Thee, saying, Come unto me, all ye +that are weary and heavy laden, and I will refresh you. + +5. I indeed labour in the sweat of my face, I am tormented with sorrow +of heart, I am burdened with sins, I am disquieted with temptations, I +am entangled and oppressed with many passions, and there is none to +help me, there is none to deliver and ease me, but Thou, O Lord God, my +Saviour, to whom I commit myself and all things that are mine, that +Thou mayest preserve me and lead me unto life eternal. + + Receive me unto the praise and glory of Thy name, who hast prepared + Thy Body and Blood to be my meat and drink. Grant, O Lord God my + Saviour, that with coming often to Thy mysteries the zeal of my + devotion may increase. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +If thou hadst angelic purity and the holiness of holy John the Baptist, +thou wouldest not be worthy to receive or to minister this Sacrament. +For this is not deserved by merit of man that a man should consecrate +and minister the Sacrament of Christ, and take for food the bread of +Angels. Vast is the mystery, and great is the dignity of the priests, +to whom is given what is not granted to Angels. For priests only, +rightly ordained in the church, have the power of consecrating and +celebrating the Body of Christ. The priest indeed is the minister of +God, using the Word of God by God’s command and institution; +nevertheless God is there the principal Author and invisible Worker, +that to whom all that He willeth is subject, and all He commandeth is +obedient. + +2. Therefore thou must believe God Almighty in this most excellent +Sacrament, more than thine own sense or any visible sign at all. And +therefore with fear and reverence is this work to be approached. Take +heed therefore and see what it is of which the ministry is committed to +thee by the laying on of the Bishop’s hand. Behold thou art made a +priest and art consecrated to celebrate. See now that thou do it before +God faithfully and devoutly at due time, and shew thyself without +blame. Thou hast not lightened thy burden, but art now bound with a +straiter bond of discipline, and art pledged to a higher degree of +holiness. A priest ought to be adorned with all virtues and to afford +to others an example of good life. His conversation must not be with +the popular and common ways of men, but with Angels in Heaven or with +perfect men on earth. + +3. A priest clad in holy garments taketh Christ’s place that he may +pray unto God with all supplication and humility for himself and for +the whole people. He must always remember the Passion of Christ. He +must diligently look upon Christ’s footsteps and fervently endeavour +himself to follow them. He must bear meekly for God whatsoever ills are +brought upon him by others. He must mourn for his own sins, and for the +sins committed by others, and may not grow careless of prayer and holy +oblation, until he prevail to obtain grace and mercy. When the priest +celebrateth, he honoureth God, giveth joy to the Angels, buildeth up +the Church, helpeth the living, hath communion with the departed, and +maketh himself a partaker of all good things. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +An inquiry concerning preparation for Communion + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +When I consider Thy dignity, O Lord, and mine own vileness, I tremble +very exceedingly, and am confounded within myself. For if I approach +not, I fly from life; and if I intrude myself unworthily, I run into +Thy displeasure. What then shall I do, O my God, Thou helper and +Counsellor in necessities. + +2. Teach Thou me the right way; propound unto me some short exercise +befitting Holy Communion. For it is profitable to know how I ought to +prepare my heart devoutly and reverently for Thee, to the intent that I +may receive Thy Sacrament to my soul’s health [or it may be also for +the celebrating this so great and divine mystery]. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Of the examination of conscience, and purpose of amendment + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +Above all things the priest of God must draw nigh, with all humility of +heart and supplicating reverence, with full faith and pious desire for +the honour of God, to celebrate, minister, and receive this Sacrament. +Diligently examine thy conscience and with all thy might with true +contrition and humble confession cleanse and purify it, so that thou +mayest feel no burden, nor know anything which bringeth thee remorse +and impedeth thy free approach. Have displeasure against all thy sins +in general, and specially sorrow and mourn because of thy daily +transgressions. And if thou have time, confess unto God in the secret +of thine heart, all miseries of thine own passion. + +2. Lament grievously and be sorry, because thou art still so carnal and +worldly, so unmortified from thy passions, so full of the motion of +concupiscence, so unguarded in thine outward senses, so often entangled +in many vain fancies, so much inclined to outward things, so negligent +of internal; so ready to laughter and dissoluteness, so unready to +weeping and contrition; so prone to ease and indulgence of the flesh, +so dull to zeal and fervour; so curious to hear novelties and behold +beauties, so loth to embrace things humble and despised; so desirous to +have many things, so grudging in giving, so close in keeping; so +inconsiderate in speaking, so reluctant to keep silence; so disorderly +in manners, so inconsiderate in actions; so eager after food, so deaf +towards the Word of God; so eager after rest, so slow to labour; so +watchful after tales, so sleepy towards holy watchings; so eager for +the end of them, so wandering in attention to them; so negligent in +observing the hours of prayer, so lukewarm in celebrating, so +unfruitful in communicating; so quickly distracted, so seldom quite +collected with thyself; so quickly moved to anger, so ready for +displeasure at others; so prone to judging, so severe at reproving; so +joyful in prosperity, so weak in adversity; so often making many good +resolutions and bringing them to so little effect. + +3. When thou hast confessed and bewailed these and thy other +shortcomings, with sorrow and sore displeasure at thine own infirmity, +make then a firm resolution of continual amendment of life and of +progress in all that is good. Then moreover with full resignation and +entire will offer thyself to the honour of My name on the altar of +thine heart as a perpetual whole burnt-offering, even by faithfully +presenting thy body and soul unto Me, to the end that thou mayest so be +accounted worthy to draw near to offer this sacrifice of praise and +thanksgiving to God, and to receive the Sacrament of My Body and Blood +to thy soul’s health. For there is no oblation worthier, no +satisfaction greater for the destroying of sin, than that a man offer +himself to God purely and entirely with the oblation of the Body and +Blood of Christ in the Holy Communion. If a man shall have done what in +him lieth, and shall repent him truly, then how often soever he shall +draw nigh unto Me for pardon and grace, As I live, saith the Lord, I +have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be +converted, and live. All his transgressions that he hath committed, +they shall not be mentioned unto him.(1) + +(1) Ezekiel xviii. 22, 23. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of self + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +As I of my own will offered myself unto God the Father on the Cross for +thy sins with outstretched hands and naked body, so that nothing +remained in Me that did not become altogether a sacrifice for the +Divine propitiation; so also oughtest thou every day to offer thyself +willingly unto Me for a pure and holy oblation with all thy strength +and affections, even to the utmost powers of thine heart. What more do +I require of thee than thou study to resign thyself altogether unto Me? +Whatsoever thou givest besides thyself, I nothing care for, for I ask +not thy gift, but thee. + +2. As it would not be sufficient for thee if thou hadst all things +except Me, even so whatsoever thou shalt give Me, if thou give Me not +thyself, it cannot please Me. Offer thyself to Me, and give thyself +altogether for God, so shall thy offering be accepted. Behold I offered +Myself altogether to the Father for thee, I give also My whole body and +blood for food, that thou mightest remain altogether Mine and I thine. +But if thou stand in thyself, and offer not thyself freely to My will, +thy offering is not perfect, neither shall the union betwixt us be +complete. Therefore ought the freewill offering of thyself into the +hands of God to go before all thy works, if thou wilt attain liberty +and grace. For this is the cause that so few are inwardly enlightened +and made free, that they know not how to deny themselves entirely. My +word standeth sure, Except a man forsake all, he cannot be My +disciple.(1) Thou therefore, if thou wilt be My disciple, offer thyself +to Me with all thy affections. + +(1) Luke xiv. 33. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +That we ought to offer ourselves and all that is ours to God, and to +pray for all + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +Lord, all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine.(1) I desire +to offer myself up unto thee as a freewill offering, and to continue +Thine for ever. Lord, in the uprightness of mine heart I willingly +offer(2) myself to Thee to-day to be Thy servant for ever, in humble +submission and for a sacrifice of perpetual praise. Receive me with +this holy Communion of Thy precious Body, which I celebrate before Thee +this day in the presence of the Angels invisibly surrounding, that it +may be for the salvation of me and of all Thy people. + +2. Lord, I lay before Thee at this celebration all my sins and offences +which I have committed before Thee and Thy holy Angels, from the day +whereon I was first able to sin even unto this hour; that Thou mayest +consume and burn them every one with the fire of Thy charity, and +mayest do away all the stains of my sins, and cleanse my conscience +from all offence, and restore me to Thy favour which by sinning I have +lost, fully forgiving me all, and mercifully admitting me to the kiss +of peace. + +3. What can I do concerning my sins, save humbly to confess and lament +them and unceasingly to beseech Thy propitiation? I beseech Thee, be +propitious unto me and hear me, when I stand before Thee, O my God. All +my sins displease me grievously: I will never more commit them; but I +grieve for them and will grieve so long as I live, steadfastly +purposing to repent me truly, and to make restitution as far as I can. +Forgive, O God, forgive me my sins for Thy holy Name’s sake; save my +soul, which Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood. Behold I commit +myself to Thy mercy, I resign myself to Thy hands. Deal with me +according to Thy loving-kindness, not according to my wickedness and +iniquity. + +4. I offer also unto Thee all my goodness, though it is exceedingly +little and imperfect, that Thou mayest mend and sanctify it, that Thou +mayest make it well pleasing and acceptable in Thy sight, and ever draw +it on towards perfection; and furthermore bring me safely, slothful and +useless poor creature that I am, to a happy and blessed end. + +5. Moreover I offer unto Thee all pious desires of the devout, +necessities of parents, friends, brothers, sisters, and all who are +dear to me, and of those who have done good to me, or to others for Thy +love; and those who have desired and besought my prayers for themselves +and all belonging to them; that all may feel themselves assisted by Thy +grace, enriched by consolation, protected from dangers, freed from +pains; and that being delivered from all evils they may joyfully give +Thee exceeding thanks. + +6. I offer also to Thee prayers and Sacramental intercessions for those +specially who have injured me in aught, made me sad, or spoken evil +concerning me, or have caused me any loss or displeasure; for all those +also whom I have at any time made sad, disturbed, burdened, and +scandalized, by words or deeds, knowingly or ignorantly; that to all of +us alike, Thou mayest equally pardon our sins and mutual offences. Take +away, O Lord, from our hearts all suspicion, indignation, anger, and +contention, and whatsoever is able to injure charity and diminish +brotherly love. Have mercy, have mercy, Lord, on those who entreat Thy +mercy; give grace to the needy; and make us such that we may be worthy +to enjoy Thy grace, and go forward to the life eternal. Amen. + +(1) 1 Chronicles xxix. 11. (2) 1 Chronicles xxix. 17. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +Thou must frequently betake thee to the Fountain of grace and divine +mercy, to the Fountain of goodness and all purity; to the end that thou +mayest obtain the healing of thy passions and vices, and mayest be made +stronger and more watchful against all temptations and wiles of the +devil. The enemy, knowing what profit and exceeding strong remedy lieth +in the Holy Communion, striveth by all means and occasions to draw back +and hinder the faithful and devout, so far as he can. + +2. For when some set about to prepare themselves for Holy Communion, +they suffer from the more evil suggestions of Satan. The very evil +spirit himself (as is written in Job), cometh among the sons of God +that he may trouble them by his accustomed evil dealing, or make them +over timid and perplexed; to the intent that he may diminish their +affections, or take away their faith by his attacks, if haply he may +prevail upon them to give up Holy Communion altogether, or to come +thereto with lukewarm hearts. But his wiles and delusions must not be +heeded, howsoever wicked and terrible they be; but all his delusion +must be cast back upon his own head. The wretch must be despised and +laughed to scorn: neither must Holy Communion be omitted because of his +insults and the inward troubles which he stirreth up. + +3. Often also too much carefulness or some anxiety or other touching +confession hindereth from obtaining devotion. Do thou according to the +counsel of wise men, and lay aside anxiety and scruple, because it +hindereth the grace of God and destroyeth devotion of mind. Because of +some little vexation or trouble do not thou neglect Holy Communion, but +rather hasten to confess it, and forgive freely all offences committed +against thee. And if thou hast offended any man, humbly beg for pardon, +and God shall freely forgive thee. + +4. What profiteth it to put off for long time the confession of thy +sins, or to defer Holy Communion? Cleanse thyself forthwith, spit out +the poison with all speed, hasten to take the remedy, and thou shalt +feel thyself better than if thou didst long defer it. If to-day thou +defer it on one account, to-morrow perchance some greater obstacle will +come, and so thou mayest be long time hindered from Communion and +become more unfit. As soon as thou canst, shake thyself from thy +present heaviness and sloth, for it profiteth nothing to be long +anxious, to go long on thy way with heaviness of heart, and because of +daily little obstacles to sever thyself from divine things: nay it is +exceeding hurtful to defer thy Communion long, for this commonly +bringeth on great torpor. Alas! there are some, lukewarm and +undisciplined, who willingly find excuses for delaying repentance, and +desire to defer Holy Communion, lest they should be bound to keep +stricter watch upon themselves. + +5. Alas! how little charity, what flagging devotion, have they who so +lightly put off Holy Communion. How happy is he, how acceptable to God, +who so liveth, and in such purity of conscience keepeth himself, that +any day he could be ready and well inclined to communicate, if it were +in his power, and might be done without the notice of others. If a man +sometimes abstaineth for the sake of humility or some sound cause, he +is to be commended for his reverence. But if drowsiness have taken hold +of him, he ought to rouse himself and to do what in him lieth; and the +Lord will help his desire for the good will which he hath, which God +specially approveth. + +6. But when he is hindered by sufficient cause, yet will he ever have a +good will and pious intention to communicate; and so he shall not be +lacking in the fruit of the Sacrament. For any devout man is able every +day and every hour to draw near to spiritual communion with Christ to +his soul’s health and without hindrance. Nevertheless on certain days +and at the appointed time he ought to receive the Body and Blood of his +Redeemer with affectionate reverence, and rather to seek after the +praise and honour of God, than his own comfort. For so often doth he +communicate mystically, and is invisibly refreshed, as he devoutly +calleth to mind the mystery of Christ’s incarnation and His Passion, +and is inflamed with the love of Him. + +7. He who only prepareth himself when a festival is at hand or custom +compelleth, will too often be unprepared. Blessed is he who offereth +himself to God for a whole burnt-offering, so often as he celebrateth +or communicateth! Be not too slow nor too hurried in thy celebrating, +but preserve the good received custom of those with whom thou livest. +Thou oughtest not to produce weariness and annoyance in others, but to +observe the received custom, according to the institution of the +elders; and to minister to the profit of others rather than to thine +own devotion or feeling. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most +necessary to a faithful soul + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +O most sweet Lord Jesus, how great is the blessedness of the devout +soul that feedeth with Thee in Thy banquet, where there is set before +it no other food than Thyself its only Beloved, more to be desired than +all the desires of the heart? And to me it would verily be sweet to +pour forth my tears in Thy presence from the very bottom of my heart, +and with the pious Magdalene to water Thy feet with my tears. But where +is this devotion? Where the abundant flowing of holy tears? Surely in +Thy presence and in the presence of the holy Angels my whole heart +ought to burn and to weep for joy; for I have Thee in the Sacrament +verily present, although hidden under other form. + +2. For in Thine own Divine brightness, mine eyes could not endure to +behold Thee, neither could the whole world stand before the splendour +of the glory of Thy Majesty. In this therefore Thou hast consideration +unto my weakness, that Thou hidest Thyself under the Sacrament. I +verily possess and adore Him whom the Angels adore in heaven; I yet for +a while by faith, but they by sight and without a veil. It is good for +me to be content with the light of true faith, and to walk therein +until the day of eternal brightness dawn, and the shadows of figures +flee away.(1) But when that which is perfect is come, the using of +Sacraments shall cease, because the Blessed in heavenly glory have no +need of Sacramental remedy. For they rejoice unceasingly in the +presence of God, beholding His glory face to face, and _being changed +from glory to glory_(2) of the infinite God, they taste the Word of God +made flesh, as He was in the beginning and remaineth for everlasting. + +3. When I think on these wondrous things, even spiritual comfort +whatsoever it be becometh sore weariness to me; for so long as I see +not openly my Lord in His own Glory, I count for nothing all which I +behold and hear in the world. Thou, O God, art my witness that nothing +is able to comfort me, no creature is able to give me rest, save Thou, +O my God, whom I desire to contemplate everlastingly. But this is not +possible, so long as I remain in this mortal state. Therefore ought I +to set myself unto great patience, and submit myself unto Thee in every +desire. For even Thy Saints, O Lord, who now rejoice with Thee in the +kingdom of heaven, waited for the coming of Thy glory whilst they lived +here, in faith and great glory. What they believed, that believe I; +what they hoped, I hope; whither they have attained to, thither through +Thy grace hope I to come. I will walk meanwhile in faith, strengthened +by the examples of the Saints. I will have also holy books for comfort +and for a mirror of life, and above them all Thy most holy Body and +Blood shall be for me a special remedy and refuge. + +4. For two things do I feel to be exceedingly necessary to me in this +life, without which this miserable life would be intolerable to me; +being detained in the prison of this body, I confess that I need two +things, even food and light. Thou hast therefore given to me who am so +weak, Thy sacred Body and Blood, for the refreshing of my soul and +body, and hast set _Thy Word for a lantern to my feet_.(3) Without +these two I could not properly live; for the Word of God is the light +of my soul, and Thy Sacrament the bread of life. These may also be +called the two tables, placed on this side and on that, in the treasury +of Thy holy Church. One table is that of the Sacred Altar, bearing the +holy bread, that is the precious Body and Blood of Christ; the other is +the table of the Divine Law, containing holy doctrine, teaching the +true faith, and leading steadfastly onwards even to that which is +within the veil, where the Holy of Holies is. + +5. Thanks be unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, Light of Light everlasting, for +that table of holy doctrine which Thou has furnished unto us by Thy +servants the Prophets and Apostles and other teachers. Thanks be to +Thee, O Creator and Redeemer of men, who to make known Thy love to the +whole world has prepared a great supper, in which Thou hast set forth +for good not the typical lamb, but Thine own most Holy Body and Blood; +making all Thy faithful ones joyful with this holy banquet and giving +them to drink the cup of salvation, wherein are all the delights of +Paradise, and the holy Angels do feed with us, and with yet happier +sweetness. + +6. Oh how great and honourable is the office of the priests, to whom it +is given to consecrate the Sacrament of the Lord of majesty with holy +words, to bless it with the lips, to hold it in their hands, to receive +it with their own mouth, and to administer it to others! Oh how clean +ought those hands to be, how pure the mouth, how holy the body, how +unspotted the heart of the priest, to whom so often the Author of +purity entereth in! From the mouth of the priest ought naught to +proceed but what is holy, what is honest and profitable, because he so +often receiveth the Sacrament of Christ. + +7. His eyes ought to be single and pure, seeing they are wont to look +upon the Body of Christ; the hands should be pure and lifted towards +heaven, which are wont to hold within them the Creator of heaven and +earth. To priests is it specially said in the Law, _Be ye holy, for I +the Lord your God am holy._(4) + +8. Assist us with Thy grace, O Almighty God, that we who have taken +upon us the priestly office, may be able to converse worthily and +devoutly with Thee in all purity and good conscience. And if we are not +able to have our conversation in such innocency of life as we ought, +yet grant unto us worthily to lament the sins which we have committed, +and in the spirit of humility and full purpose of a good will, to serve +Thee more earnestly for the future. + +(1) Cant. ii. 17. (2) 2 Corinthians iii. 18. (3) Psalm cxix. 105. (4) +Leviticus xix. 2. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +That he who is about to Communicate with Christ ought to prepare +himself with great diligence + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +I am the Lover of purity, and Giver of sanctity. I seek a pure heart, +and there is the place of My rest. Prepare for Me the larger upper room +furnished, and I will keep the Passover at thy house with my +disciples.(1) If thou wilt that I come unto thee and abide with thee, +purge out the old leaven,(2) and cleanse the habitation of thy heart. +Shut out the whole world, and all the throng of sins; sit as a sparrow +alone upon the house-top,(3) and think upon thy transgressions with +bitterness of thy soul. For everyone that loveth prepareth the best and +fairest place for his beloved, because hereby the affection of him that +entertaineth his beloved is known. + +2. Yet know thou that thou canst not make sufficient preparation out of +the merit of any action of thine, even though thou shouldest prepare +thyself for a whole year, and hadst nothing else in thy mind. But out +of My tenderness and grace alone art thou permitted to draw nigh unto +My table; as though a beggar were called to a rich man’s dinner, and +had no other recompense to offer him for the benefits done unto him, +but to humble himself and to give him thanks. Do therefore as much as +lieth in thee, and do it diligently, not of custom, nor of necessity, +but with fear, reverence, and affection, receive the Body of thy +beloved Lord God, who vouchsafeth to come unto thee. I am He who hath +called thee; I commanded it to be done; I will supply what is lacking +to thee; come and receive Me. + +3. When I give the grace of devotion, give thanks unto thy God; it is +not because thou art worthy, but because I had mercy on thee. If thou +hast not devotion, but rather feelest thyself dry, be instant in +prayer, cease not to groan and knock; cease not until thou prevail to +obtain some crumb or drop of saving grace. Thou hast need of Me, I have +no need of thee. Nor dost thou come to sanctify Me, but I come to +sanctify thee and make thee better. Thou comest that thou mayest be +sanctified by Me, and be united to Me; that thou mayest receive fresh +grace, and be kindled anew to amendment of life. See that thou neglect +not this grace, but prepare thy heart with all diligence, and receive +thy Beloved unto thee. + +4. But thou oughtest not only to prepare thyself for devotion before +Communion, thou must also keep thyself with all diligence therein after +receiving the Sacrament; nor is less watchfulness needed afterwards, +than devout preparation beforehand: for good watchfulness afterwards +becometh in turn the best preparation for the gaining more grace. For +hereby is a man made entirely indisposed to good, if he immediately +return from Communion to give himself up to outward consolations. +Beware of much speaking; remain in a secret place, and hold communion +with thy God; for thou hast Him whom the whole world cannot take away +from thee. I am He to whom thou oughtest wholly to give thyself; so +that now thou mayest live not wholly in thyself, but in Me, free from +all anxiety. + +(1) Mark xiv. 14, 15. (2) 1 Corinthians v. 7. (3) Psalm cii. 7. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after union +with Christ in the Sacrament + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +Who shall grant unto me, O Lord, that I may find Thee alone, and open +all my heart unto Thee, and enjoy Thee as much as my soul desireth; and +that no man may henceforth look upon me, nor any creature move me or +have respect unto me, but Thou alone speak unto me and I unto Thee, +even as beloved is wont to speak unto beloved, and friend to feast with +friend? For this do I pray, this do I long for, that I may be wholly +united unto Thee, and may withdraw my heart from all created things, +and by means of Holy Communion and frequent celebration may learn more +and more to relish heavenly and eternal things. Ah, Lord God, when +shall I be entirely united and lost in Thee, and altogether forgetful +of myself? Thou in me, and I in Thee;(1) even so grant that we may in +like manner continue together in one. + +2. Verily Thou art my Beloved, the choicest among ten thousand,(2) in +whom my soul delighteth to dwell all the days of her life. Verily Thou +art my Peacemaker, in Whom is perfect peace and true rest, apart from +Whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery. Verily Thou art a God +that hidest Thyself, and Thy counsel is not with the wicked, but Thy +Word is with the humble and the simple. O how sweet, O Lord, is Thy +spirit, who that Thou mightest manifest Thy sweetness towards Thy +children, dost vouchsafe to refresh them with the bread which is full +of sweetness, which cometh down from heaven. Verily there is no other +nation so great, which hath its gods drawing nigh to them, as Thou, our +God, art present unto all Thy faithful ones,(3) unto whom for their +daily solace, and for lifting up their heart unto heaven, Thou givest +Thyself for their food and delight. + +3. For what other nation is there so renowned as the Christian people? +Or what creature is so beloved under heaven as the devout soul to which +God entereth in, that he may feed it with His glorious flesh? O +unspeakable grace! O wonderful condescension! O immeasurable love +specially bestowed upon men! But what reward shall I give unto the Lord +for this grace, for charity so mighty? There is nothing which I am able +to present more acceptable than to give my heart altogether unto God, +and to join it inwardly to Him. Then all my inward parts shall rejoice, +when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God. Then shall He say unto +me, “If thou wilt be with Me, I will be with thee.” And I will answer +Him, “Vouchsafe, O Lord, to abide with me, I will gladly be with Thee; +this is my whole desire, even that my heart be united unto Thee.” + +(1) John xv. 4. (2) Cant. v. 10. (3) Deuteronomy iv. 7. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and +Blood of Christ + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +O how great is the abundance of Thy sweetness, O Lord, which Thou hast +laid up for them that fear Thee. When I call to mind some devout +persons who draw nigh to Thy Sacrament, O Lord, with the deepest +devotion and affection, then very often I am confounded in myself and +blush for shame, that I approach Thine altar and table of Holy +Communion so carelessly and coldly, that I remain so dry and without +affection, that I am not wholly kindled with love before Thee, my God, +nor so vehemently drawn and affected as many devout persons have been, +who out of the very earnest desire of the Communion, and tender +affection of heart, could not refrain from weeping, but as it were with +mouth of heart and body alike panted inwardly after Thee, O God, O +Fountain of Life, having no power to appease or satiate their hunger, +save by receiving Thy Body with all joyfulness and spiritual eagerness. + +2. O truly ardent faith of those, becoming a very proof of Thy Sacred +Presence! For they verily know their Lord in the breaking of bread, +whose heart so ardently burneth within them(1) when Jesus walketh with +them by the way. Ah me! far from me for the most part is such love and +devotion as this, such vehement love and ardour. Be merciful unto me, O +Jesus, good, sweet, and kind, and grant unto Thy poor suppliant to feel +sometimes, in Holy Communion, though it be but a little, the cordial +affection of Thy love, that my faith may grow stronger, my hope in Thy +goodness increase, and my charity, once kindled within me by the +tasting of the heavenly manna, may never fail. + +3. But Thy mercy is able even to grant me the grace which I long for, +and to visit me most tenderly with the spirit of fervour when the day +of Thy good pleasure shall come. For, although I burn not with desire +so vehement as theirs who are specially devout towards Thee, yet, +through Thy grace, I have a desire after that greatly inflamed desire, +praying and desiring to be made partaker with all those who so +fervently love Thee, and to be numbered among their holy company. + +(1) Luke xxiv. 32. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it +fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it +gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to +leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. +Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly +little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve +out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He hath +long time denied; He sometimes giveth at the end what at the beginning +of prayer He hath deferred to give. + +2. If grace were always given immediately, and were at hand at the +wish, it would be hardly bearable to weak man. Wherefore the grace of +devotion is to be waited for with a good hope and with humble patience. +Yet impute it to thyself and to thy sins when it is not given, or when +it is mysteriously taken away. It is sometimes a small thing which +hindereth and hideth grace; (if indeed that ought to be called _small_ +and not rather _great_, which hindereth so great a good); but if thou +remove this, be it small or great, and perfectly overcome it, thou wilt +have what thou hast asked. + +3. For immediately that thou hast given thyself unto God with all thine +heart, and hast sought neither this nor that according to thine own +will and pleasure, but hast altogether settled thyself in Him, thou +shalt find thyself united and at peace; because nothing shall give thee +so sweet relish and delight, as the good pleasure of the Divine will. +Whosoever therefore shall have lifted up his will unto God with +singleness of heart, and shall have delivered himself from every +inordinate love or dislike of any created thing, he will be the most +fit for receiving grace, and worthy of the gift of devotion. For where +the Lord findeth empty vessels,(1) there giveth He His blessing. And +the more perfectly a man forsaketh things which cannot profit, and the +more he dieth to himself, the more quickly doth grace come, the more +plentifully doth it enter in, and the higher doth it lift up the free +heart. + +4. Then shall he see, and flow together, and wonder, and his heart +shall be enlarged within him,(2) because the hand of the Lord is with +him, and he hath put himself wholly in His hand, even for ever. Lo, +thus shall the man be blessed, that seeketh God with all his heart, and +receiveth not his soul in vain. This man in receiving the Holy +Eucharist obtaineth the great grace of Divine Union; because he hath +not regard to his own devotion and comfort, but, above all devotion and +comfort, to the glory and honour of God. + +(1) 2 Kings iv. (2) Isaiah lx. 5. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require His +Grace + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +O most sweet and loving Lord, whom now I devoutly desire to receive, +Thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I suffer, in what +evils and vices I lie; how often I am weighed down, tempted, disturbed, +and defiled. I come unto Thee for remedy, I beseech of Thee consolation +and support. I speak unto Thee who knowest all things, to whom all my +secrets are open, and who alone art able perfectly to comfort and help +me. Thou knowest what good thing I most stand in need of, and how poor +I am in virtues. + +2. Behold, I stand poor and naked before Thee, requiring grace, and +imploring mercy. Refresh the hungry suppliant, kindle my coldness with +the fire of Thy love, illuminate my blindness with the brightness of +Thy presence. Turn thou all earthly things into bitterness for me, all +grievous and contrary things into patience, all things worthless and +created into contempt and oblivion. Lift up my heart unto Thee in +Heaven, and suffer me not to wander over the earth. Be Thou alone sweet +unto me from this day forward for ever, because Thou alone art my meat +and drink, my love and joy, my sweetness and my whole good. + +3. Oh that Thou wouldest altogether by Thy presence, kindle, consume, +and transform me into Thyself; that I may be made one spirit with Thee, +by the grace of inward union, and the melting of earnest love! Suffer +me not to go away from Thee hungry and dry; but deal mercifully with +me, as oftentimes Thou hast dealt wondrously with Thy saints. What +marvel if I should be wholly kindled from Thee, and in myself should +utterly fail, since Thou art fire always burning and never failing, +love purifying the heart and enlightening the understanding. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ + + +The Voice of the Disciple + + +With the deepest devotion and fervent love, with all affection and +fervour of heart, I long to receive Thee, O Lord, even as many Saints +and devout persons have desired Thee in communicating, who were +altogether well pleasing to Thee by their sanctity of life, and dwelt +in all ardent devotion. O my God, Eternal Love, my whole Good, +Happiness without measure, I long to receive Thee with the most +vehement desire and becoming reverence which any Saint ever had or +could have. + +2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, +yet do I offer Thee the whole affection of my heart, even as though I +alone had all those most grateful inflamed desires. Yea, also, +whatsoever things a pious mind is able to conceive and long for, all +these with the deepest veneration and inward fervour do I offer and +present unto Thee. I desire to reserve nothing unto myself, but freely +and entirely to offer myself and all that I have unto Thee for a +sacrifice. O Lord my God, my Creator and Redeemer! with such affection, +reverence, praise, and honour, with such gratitude, worthiness, and +love, with such faith, hope, and purity do I desire to receive Thee +this day, as Thy most blessed Mother, the glorious Virgin Mary, +received and desired Thee, when she humbly and devoutly answered the +Angel who brought unto her the glad tidings of the mystery of the +Incarnation. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according +to thy word.(1) + +3. And as Thy blessed forerunner, the most excellent of Saints, John +Baptist, being full of joy in Thy presence, leapt while yet in the womb +of his mother, for joy in the Holy Ghost; and afterwards discerning +Jesus walking amongst men, humbled himself exceedingly, and said, with +devout affection, The friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and +heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice;(2) +even so I wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires, and to +present myself unto Thee with my whole heart. Whence also, on behalf of +myself and of all commended to me in prayer, I offer and present unto +Thee the jubilation of all devout hearts, their ardent affections, +their mental ecstasies, and supernatural illuminations and heavenly +visions, with all the virtues and praises celebrated and to be +celebrated by every creature in heaven and earth; to the end that by +all Thou mayest worthily be praised and glorified for ever. + +4. Receive my prayers, O Lord my God, and my desires of giving Thee +infinite praise and unbounded benediction, which, according to the +multitude of Thine unspeakable greatness, are most justly due unto +Thee. These do I give Thee, and desire to give every day and every +moment; and with beseechings and affectionate desires I call upon all +celestial spirits and all Thy faithful people to join with me in +rendering Thee thanks and praises. + +5. Let all peoples, nations, and tongues praise Thee, and magnify Thy +holy and sweet-sounding Name, with highest jubilations and ardent +devotion. And let all who reverently and devoutly celebrate Thy most +high Sacrament, and receive it with full assurance of faith, be +accounted worthy to find grace and mercy with Thee, and intercede with +all supplication for me a sinner; and when they shall have attained +unto their wished-for devotion and joyous union with Thee, and shall +depart full of comfort and wondrously refreshed from Thy holy, heavenly +table, let them vouchsafe to be mindful of me, for I am poor and needy. + +(1) Luke i. 38. (2) John iii. 29. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a +humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith + + +The Voice of the Beloved + + +Thou must take heed of curious and useless searching into this most +profound Sacrament, if thou wilt not be plunged into the abyss of +doubt. He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by the glory +thereof.(1) God is able to do more than man can understand. A pious and +humble search after truth is to be allowed, when it is always ready to +be taught, and striving to walk after the wholesome opinions of the +fathers. + +2. Blessed is the simplicity which leaveth alone the difficult paths of +questionings, and followeth the plain and firm steps of God’s +commandments. Many have lost devotion whilst they sought to search into +deeper things. Faith is required of thee, and a sincere life, not +loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the mysteries of God. If thou +understandest not nor comprehendest the things which are beneath thee, +how shalt thou comprehend those which are above thee? Submit thyself +unto God, and humble thy sense to faith, and the light of knowledge +shall be given thee, as shall be profitable and necessary unto thee. + +3. There are some who are grievously tempted concerning faith and the +Sacrament; but this is not to be imputed to themselves but rather to +the enemy. Care not then for this, dispute not with thine own thoughts, +nor make answer to the doubts which are cast into thee by the devil; +but believe the words of God, believe His Saints and Prophets, and the +wicked enemy shall flee from thee. Often it profiteth much, that the +servant of God endureth such things. For the enemy tempteth not +unbelievers and sinners, because he already hath secure possession of +them; but he tempteth and harasseth the faithful and devout by various +means. + +4. Go forward therefore with simple and undoubting faith, and draw nigh +unto the Sacrament with supplicating reverence. And whatsoever thou art +not enabled to understand, that commit without anxiety to Almighty God. +God deceiveth thee not; he is deceived who believeth too much in +himself. God walketh with the simple, revealeth Himself to the humble, +giveth understanding to babes, openeth the sense to pure minds, and +hideth grace from the curious and proud. Human reason is weak and may +be deceived; but true faith cannot be deceived. + +5. All reason and natural investigation ought to follow faith, not to +precede, nor to break it. For faith and love do here especially take +the highest place, and work in hidden ways in this most holy and +exceeding excellent Sacrament. God who is eternal and incomprehensible, +and of infinite power, doth great and inscrutable things in heaven and +in earth, and His wonderful works are past finding out. If the works of +God were of such sort that they might easily be comprehended by human +reason, they should no longer be called wonderful or unspeakable. + +(1) Proverbs xxv. 27 (Vulg.). + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IMITATION OF CHRIST *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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