1. I will listen what the Lord God shall say within me. Blessed is the soul which hears the Lord speaking within it, and receivs 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 sounds without, but to that which teaches 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 your carnal desires, so may you hear what the Lord God will say within you.

2. These things says your Beloved, "I am your salvation, I am your peace and your life. Keep you to Me, and you will find peace." Put away you all transitory things, seek those things that are eternal. For what are all temporal things but deceits, and what shall all created things help you if you be forsaken by the Creator? Therefore put all things else away, and give yourself to the Creator, to be well pleasing and faithful to Him, that you may be able to attain true blessedness.

1. Speak Lord, for your servant hears. I am Your servant; O give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies. Incline my heart to the words of Your mouth. Let your speech distil as the dew. The children of Israel said in old time to Moses, Speak you to us and we will hear, but let not the Lord speak to us in case we die. Not so, O Lord, not so do I pray, but rather with Samuel the prophet, I beseech You humbly and earnestly, Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears. Let not Moses speak to me, nor any prophet, but rather speak You, O Lord, who did inspire and illuminate all the prophets; for You alone without them can perfectly fill me with knowledge, whilst they without You shall profit nothing.

2. They can indeed utter words, but they give not the spirit. They speak with exceeding beauty, but when You are silent they kindle not the heart. They give us scriptures, but You make known the sense thereof. They bring us mysteries, but You revealest the things which are signified. They utter commandments, but You helpest to the fulfilling of them. They show the way, but You give strength for the journey. They act only outwardly, but You do instruct and enlighten the heart. They water, but You give the increase. They cry with words, but You give understanding to the hearer.

3. Therefore let not Moses speak to me, but You, O Lord my God, Eternal Truth; in case I die and bring forth no fruit, being outwardly admonished, but not enkindled within; in case the word heard but not followed, known but not loved, believed but not obeyed, rise up against me in the judgment. Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears; You have the words of eternal life. Speak to me for some consolation to my soul, for the amendment of my whole life, and for the praise and glory and eternal honour of Your Name.

1. "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, and are not to be weighed by man's understanding. They are not to be drawn forth for vain approval, 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 You teachest, O Lord, and instructest him in Your law, that You may give him rest in time of adversity, and that he be not desolate in the earth."

3. "I," says the Lord, "taught the prophets from the beginning, and even now cease I not to speak to 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 promiss 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 servs and obeys Me in all things, with such carefulness as he servs the world and its rulers?

Be you ashamed, O Sidon, says the sea; And if you reason seek, hear you 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 fads not away, it is irksome to them to toil even a little. Be you ashamed therefore, slothful and discontented servant, for they are found readier to perdition than you to life. They rejoice more heartily in vanity than you in the truth. Sometimes, indeed, they are disappointed of their hope, but my promise fails no man, nor sends away empty him who trusts 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 to 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 your heart and consider them diligently, for they shall be very needful to you in time of temptation. What you understand not when you readest, you will know in the time of your 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 has My words and rejects them, has one who shall judge him at the last day."

A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION

6. O Lord my God, You are all my good, and who am I that I should dare to speak to You? I am the very poorest of Your 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. You only are good, just and holy; You can do all things, are over all things, fillest all things, leaving empty only the sinner. Call to mind Your tender mercies, and fill my heart with Your grace, You who will not that Your work should return to You void.

7. How can I bear this miserable life unless Your mercy and grace strengthen me? Turn not away Your face from me, delay not Your visitation. Withdraw not You Your comfort from me, in case my soul "gasp after you as a thirsty land." Lord, teach me to do Your will, teach me to walk humbly and uprightly before You, for You are my wisdom, who know me in truth, and knew me before the world was made and before I was born into the world.

1. "My Son! walk before Me in truth, and in the simplicity of your heart seek Me continually. He who walks 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 you free, you will be free indeed, and will not care for the vain words of men."

2. Lord, it is true as You say; let it, I pray You, be so with me; let Your truth teach me, let it keep me and preserve me safe to the end. Let it free me from all evil and inordinate affection, and I will walk before You in great freedom of heart.

3. "I will teach you," says the Truth, "the things which are right and pleasing before Me. Think upon your sins with great displeasure and sorrow, and never think yourself anything because of your good works. Verily you are a sinner, liable to many passions, yea, tied and bound with them. Of yourself you always tend to nothing, you will quickly fall, quickly be conquered, quickly disturbed, quickly undone. You have nought whereof to glory, but many reasons why you should reckon yourself vile, for you are far weaker than you are able to comprehend.

4. "Let, therefore, nothing which you do seem to you 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 you above all things, let your own great vileness displease you continually. Fear, denounce, flee nothing so much as your own faults and sins, which ought to be more displeasing to you 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 you the judgments of God, fear greatly the wrath of the Almighty. Shrink from debating upon the works of the Most High, but search narrowly your own iniquities into what great sins you have fallen, and how many good things you have 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 speaks in them; for He teaches them to despise earthly things and to love heavenly; to neglect the world and to desire heaven all the day and night."

1. I bless You, O Heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for that You have condescended to think of me, poor that I am. O, Father of Mercies and God of all comfort, I give thanks to You, who refreshest me sometimes with your own comfort, when I am unworthy of any comfort. I bless and glorify You continually, with your only begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, for ever and ever. O Lord God, Holy lover of my soul, when You will come into my heart, all my inward parts shall rejoice. You are my glory and the joy of my heart. You are 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 You; therefore visit You me often and instruct me with Your 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 maks every heavy burden light, and equaliss every inequality. For it bears the burden and maks it no burden, it maks every bitter thing to be sweet and of good taste. The surpassing love of Jesus impels to great works, and excits to the continual desiring of greater perfection. Love wills to be raised up, and not to be held down by any mean thing. Love wills to be free and aloof from all worldly affection, in case its inward power of vision be hindered, in case 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 loves flie, runs and is glad; he is free and not hindered. He gives all things for all things, and has all things in all things, because he rests in One who is high above all, from whom every good flows and proceeds. He looks not for gifts, but turns himself to the Giver above all good things. Love oftentimes knows no measure, but breaks out above all measure; love feels no burden, reckons not labours, strivs after more than it is able to do, pleads not impossibility, because it judgs all things which are lawful for it to be possible. It is strong therefore for all things, and it fulfils many things, and is successful where he who loves not fails and lies down.

5. Love is watchful, and whilst sleeping still keeps 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 breaks forth on high and securely triumphs. If a man loves, he knows what this voice cries. For the ardent affection of the soul is a great clamour in the ears of God, and it says: My God, my Beloved! You are all mine, and I am all Yours.

6. Enlarge You 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 You my Beloved on high, let my soul exhaust itself in Your praise, exulting with love. Let me love You more than myself, not loving myself except for Your sake, and all men in You who truly love You, as the law of love commands which shins forth from You.

7. Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long- suffering, manly, and never seeking her own; for wheresoever a man seeks his own, there he falls 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 hids 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 behoves him who loves 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.

2 Corinthians i. 3.

1. "My Son, you are not yet strong and prudent in your love."

2. Wherefore, O my Lord?

3. "Because for a little opposition you fallest away from your undertakings, and too eagerly seek after consolation. The strong lover stands fast in temptations, and does not believe the evil persuasions of the enemy. As in prosperity I please him, so in adversity I do not displease.

4. "The prudent lover considers not the gift of the lover so much as the love of the giver. He looks for the affection more than the value, and sets all gifts lower than the Beloved. The noble lover rests not in the gift, but in Me above every gift.

5. "All is not lost, though you sometimes think of Me or of My saints, less than you should desire. That good and sweet affection which you sometimes perceivest is the effect of present grace and some foretaste of the heavenly country; but hereon you must not too much depend, for it goes and comes. 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 you, whencesoever they arise. Bravely observe your purpose and your upright intentions towards God. It is not an illusion when you are sometimes suddenly carried away into rapture, and then suddenly are brought back to the wonted vanities of your heart. For you do rather unwillingly undergo them than cause them; and so long as they displease you and you strivest against them, it is a merit and no loss.

7. "Know you that your old enemy altogether strivs to hinder your pursuit after good, and to deter you 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 your own heart, and the steadfast purpose to grow in virtue. He suggests to you many evil thoughts, that he may work in you weariness and terror, and so draw you away from prayer and holy reading. Humble confession displeass him, and if he were able he would make you to cease from Communion. Believe him not, nor heed him, though many a time he has laid for you the snares of deceit. Account it to be from him, when he suggests evil and unclean thoughts. Say to him, 'Depart unclean spirit; put on shame, miserable one; horribly unclean are you, who bring such things to mine ears. Depart from me, detestable deceiver; you will have no part in me; but Jesus shall be with me, as a strong warrior, and you will stand confounded. Rather would I die and bear all suffering, than consent to you. Hold your peace and be dumb; I will not hear you more, though you plot 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.'

8. "Strive you like a good soldier; and if sometimes you fail through weakness, put on your strength more bravely than before, trusting in My more abundant grace, and take you 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 you for a warning and a continual exhortation to humility."

Psalms xxvii. 1-3; xix. 14.

1. "My Son, it is better and safer for you to hide the grace of devotion, and not to lift yourself up on high, nor to speak much thereof, nor to value it greatly; but rather to despise yourself, and to fear as though this grace were given to one unworthy thereof. Nor must you depend too much upon this feeling, for it can very quickly be turned into its opposite. Think when you are in a state of grace how miserable and poor you are accustomed to be without grace. Nor is there advance in spiritual life in this alone, that you have the grace of consolation, but that you humbly and unselfishly and patiently take the withdrawal thereof; so that you cease not from the exercise of prayer, nor suffer your other common duties to be in anywise neglected; rather do your task more readily, as though you had gained more strength and knowledge; and do not altogether neglect yourself because of the dearth and anxiety of spirit which you 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, 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 to 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 wis, 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 you to have less than much of what may make you proud. He does not very discreetly who givs up himself entirely to joy, forgetting his former helplessness and the chaste fear of the Lord, which fears to lose the grace offered. Nor is he very wise, after a manly sort, who in time of adversity, or any trouble whatsoever, bears himself too despairingly, and feels concerning Me less trustfully than he ought.

4. "He who in time of peace wills to be oversecure shall be often found in time of war overdispirited and full of fears. If you knew always how to continue humble and moderate in yourself, and to guide and rule your own spirit well, you would not so quickly fall into danger and mischief. It is good counsel that when fervour of spirit is kindled, you should meditate how it will be with you when the light is taken away. Which when it does happen, remember that still the light may return again, which I have taken away for a time for a warning to you, and also for mine own glory. Such a trial is often more useful than if you had always things prosperous according to your own will.

5. "For merits are not to be reckoned by this, that a man has 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 seeks the honour of God, that he sets not by himself, but unfeignedly despiss himself, and even rejoics to be despised and humbled by others more than to be honoured."

Jeremiah x. 23.

1. I will speak to my Lord who am but dust and ashes. If I count myself more, behold You stand 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, Your grace will be favourable to me, and Your light will be near to 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 You show to me myself, what I am, what I was, and whither I have come: so foolish was I and ignorant. If I am left to myself, behold I am nothing, I am all weakness; but if suddenly You 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 You, since I am always being carried to the deep by my own weight.

2. This is the doing of Your love which freely goes before me and succours me in so many necessities, which guards me also in great dangers and snatches me, as I may truly say, from innumerable evils. For truly, by loving myself amiss, I lost myself, and by seeking and sincerely loving You alone, I found both myself and You, and through love I have brought myself to yet deeper nothingness: because You, O most sweet Lord, deal with me beyond all merit, and above all which I dare ask or think.

3. Blessed be You, O my God, because though I be unworthy of all Your benefits, Your bountiful and infinite goodness never ceass to do good even to ingrates and to those who are turned far from You. Turn You us to Yourself, that we may be grateful, humble, and godly, for You are our salvation, our courage, and our strength.

Psalm lxxiii. 22.

1. "My Son, I must be your Supreme and final end, if you desire to be truly happy. Out of such purpose your affection shall be purified, which too often is sinfully bent upon itself and upon created things. For if you seek yourself in any matter, immediately you will fail within yourself and grow barren. Therefore refer everything to Me first of all, for it is I who gave you all. So look upon each blessing as flowing from the Supreme Good, and so 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 lies 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 you must not ascribe any good to yourself, nor look upon virtue as belonging to any man, but ascribe it all to God, without whom man has 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 you, there shall be no envy, nor straitening of the heart, nor shall any self-love take possession of you. For divine charity conquers all things, and enlarges all the powers of the soul. If you are truly wise, you will rejoice in Me alone, you will hope in Me alone; for there is none good but one, that is God, Who is to be praised above all things, and in all things to receive blessing."

Luke xviii. 19.

1. 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 Your goodness which You have laid up for them that fear You! But what are You to those who love You? What to those who serve You with their whole heart? Truly unspeakable is the sweetness of the contemplation of You, which You bestow upon those who love You. In this most of all You have showed me the sweetness of Your charity, that when I was not, You madest me, and when I wandered far from You, You brought me back that I might serve You, and commandedst me to love You.

2. O Fountain of perpetual love, what shall I say concerning You? How shall I be unmindful of You, who did graciouslyremember me, even after I pined away and perished? You have had mercy beyond all hope upon Your servant, and have showed Your grace and friendship beyond all deserving. What reward shall I render You for this Your grace? For it is not given to 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 You, whom every creature ought to serve? It ought not to seem a great thing to me to serve You; but rather this appears to me a great and wonderful thing, that You condescend to receive as Your servant one so poor and unworthy, and to join him to Your chosen servants.

3. Behold all things which I have are Yours. and with them I serve You. And yet truly it is You who servest me, rather than I You. Behold the heaven and the earth which You have created for the service of men; they are at Your bidding, and perform daily whatsoever You do command. Yea, and this is little; for You have even ordained the Angels for the service of man. But it surpasses even all these things, that You Yourself did graciouslyminister to man, and did promise that You would give Yourself to him.

4. What shall I render to You for all these Your manifold mercies? Oh that I were able to serve You all the days of my life! Oh that even for one day I were enabled to do You service worthy of Yourself! For truly You are worthy of all service, all honour, and praise without end. Verily You are my God, and I am Your poor servant, who am bound to serve You with all my strength, nor ought I ever to grow weary of Your praise. This is my wish, this is my exceeding great desire, and whatsoever is lacking to me, condescend You to supply.

5. It is great honour, great glory to serve You, and to despise all for Your sake. For they shall have great grace who of their own will shall submit themselves to Your most holy service. They who for Your 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 Your 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 maks man equal to the Angels, well-pleasing to 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!

Psalm xxxi. 21.

1. "My Son, you have still many things to learn, which you have not well learned yet."

2. What are they, Lord?

3. "To place your desire altogether in subjection to My good pleasure, and not to be a lover of yourself, but an earnest seeker of My will. Your desires often excite and urge you forward; but consider with yourself whether you are not more moved for your own objects than for My honour. If it is Myself that you seek, you will be well content with whatsoever I shall ordain; but if any pursuit of your own lies hidden within you, behold it is this which hinders and weighs you down.

4. "Beware, therefore, not to strive too earnestly after some desire which you have conceived, without taking counsel of Me; in case by chance it repent you afterwards, and that displease you which before pleased, and for which you did long as for a great good. For not every affection which seems 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, in case through importunity you fall into distraction of mind, in case through want of discipline you become a stumbling-block to others, or in case by the resistance of others you 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."

1. O Lord God, I see that patience is very necessary to 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. "You speake truly, My Son. For I will not that you seek such a peace as is without trials, and knows no adversities; but rather that you should judge yourself to have found peace, when you are tried with manifold tribulations, and proved by many adversities. If you will say that you are not able to bear much, how then will you sustain the fire hereafter? Of two evils we should always choose the less. Therefore, that you may escape eternal torments hereafter, strive on God's behalf to endure present evils bravely. Thinkest you that the children of this world suffer nought, or but little? You will not find it so, even though you find out the most prosperous.

3. "'But,' you will say, 'they have many delights, and they follow their own wills, and so they bear lightly their tribulations.'

4. "Be it so, grant that they have what they list; but how long, think you, 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 befalls 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. You therefore, my son, go not after your lusts, but refrain yourself from your appetites. Delight you in the Lord, and He shall give you your heart's desire.

5. "For if you want to truly find delight, and be abundantly comforted by Me, behold in the contempt of all worldly things and in the avoidance of all worthless pleasures shall be your blessing, and fulness of consolation shall be given you. And the more you withdrawest yourself from all solace of creatures, the more sweet and powerful consolations will you find. But at the first you will 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 you, but will be put to flight by prayer; moreover, by useful labour his entrance will be greatly obstructed."

Ecclesiastes xviii. 30. Psalm xxxvii. 4.

1. "My Son, he who strivs to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraws himself also from grace, and he who seeks private advantages, loss those which are common to 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 resists and murmurs. Learn therefore quickly to submit yourself to him who is over you, if you seek to bring your 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 you are to yourself, if you are not led by the Spirit. You must not altogether conceive contempt for yourself, if you want to prevail against flesh and blood. Because as yet you inordinately love yourself, therefore you shrinkest from yielding yourself to the will of others.

2. "But what great thing is it that you, who are dust and nothingness, yield yourself 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 your sake? I became the most humble and despised of men, that by My humility you might overcome your pride. Learn to obey, O dust! Learn to humble yourself, O earth and clay, and to bow yourself beneath the feet of all. Learn to crush your passions, and to yield yourself in all subjection.

3. "Be zealous against yourself, nor suffer pride to live within you, but so show yourself subject and of no reputation, that all may be able to walk over you, and tread you down as the clay in the streets. What have you, O foolish man, of which to complain? What, O vile sinner, can you answer those who speak against you, seeing you have so often offended God, and many a time have deserved hell? But Mine eye has spared you, because your soul was precious in My sight; that you might know My love, and might be thankful for My benefits; and that you might give yourself altogether to true subjection and humility, and patiently bear the contempt which you meritest."

1. You send forth Your judgments against me, O Lord, and shake all my bones with fear and trembling, and my soul trembls exceedingly. I stand astonished, and remember that the heavens are not clean in your sight. If You charge Your angels with folly, and did spare them not, how shall it be to 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 You O Lord, withdraw Your hand. No wisdom profits, if You leave off to guide the helm. No strength avails, if You cease to preserve. No purity is secure, if You protect it not. No self-keeping avails, if Your 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 You; we grow cold, but are rekindled by You.

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 Your 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 Your judgments against me.

4. What is all flesh in Your sight? For how shall the clay boast against Him that fashioned it? 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 has subdued; nor shall he be moved by the mouth of all who praise him, who has 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 endurs for ever.

Job xv. 15. Psalm xxix. 16. Psalm cxvii. 2.

1. "My Son, speak you so in every matter, 'Lord, if it please You, let this come to pass. Lord, if this shall be for Your honour, let it be done in Your Name. Lord, if you see it good for me, and approve it as useful, then grant me to use it for Your honour. But if you know that it shall be hurtful to 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 you to desire this or that, or whether you are moved by your own spirit. Many have been deceived at the last, who seemed at the beginning to be moved by a good spirit.

2. "Therefore, whatsoever seems to you desirable, you must always desire and seek after it with the fear of God and humility of heart, and most of all, must altogether resign yourself, and commit all to Me and say, 'Lord, you know what is best; let this or that be, according as You will. Give what You will, so much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, and as best shall please You, and as shall be most to Your honour. Place me where You will, and freely work Your will with me in all things. I am in Your hand, and turn me in my course. Behold, I am Your servant, ready for all things; for I desire to live not to myself but to You. Oh, that I might live worthily and perfectly.'"

A PRAYER TO BE ENABLED TO DO GOD'S WILL PERFECTLY

3. Grant me Your grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work in me, and persevere with me, even to the end. Grant that I may ever desire and wish whatsoever is most pleasing and dear to You. Let Your will be mine, and let my will always follow Yours, and entirely accord with it. May I choose and reject whatsoever You do; yea, let it be impossible for me to choose or reject except according to Your will.

4. Grant that I may die to all worldly things, and for Your sake love to be despised and unknown in this world. Grant to me, above all things that I can desire, to rest in You, and that in You my heart may be at peace. You are the true peace of the heart, You alone its rest; apart from You all things are hard and unquiet. In You alone, the supreme and eternal God, I will lay me down in peace and take my rest. Amen.

Psalm iv. 9.

1. 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, you can 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 you will have abundance of all good things in heaven. If you long too inordinately for the things which are now, you will lose those which are eternal and heavenly. Let temporal things be in the use, eternal things in the desire. You can not be satisfied with any temporal good, for you wast not created for the enjoyment of these.

2. Although you had all the good things which ever were created, yet could not you be happy and blessed; all your blessedness and your felicity lies in God who created all things; not such felicity as seems 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. 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 bears about with him his own Comforter, Jesus, and says to 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 Your consolation fail me, let Your will and righteous approval be always with me for the highest comfort. For You will not always be chiding, neither keepest You Your anger for ever."

Philippians iii. 20. Psalm cii. 9.

1. "My Son, suffer me to do with you what I will; I know what is expedient for you. You think as a man, in many things you judgest as human affection persuads you."

2. Lord, what You say is true. Greater is Your care for me than all the care which I am able to take for myself. For too insecurely does he stand who casts not all his care upon You. Lord, so long as my will stands right and firm in You, do with me what You will, for whatsoever You will do with me cannot be anything but good. Blessed be You if You will leave me in darkness: blessed also be You if You will leave me in light. Blessed be You if You graciouslycomfort me, and always blessed be You if You cause me to be troubled.

3. "My Son! even so you must stand if you desire to walk with Me. You must be ready alike for suffering or rejoicing. You must be poor and needy as willingly as full and rich."

4. Lord, I will willingly bear for You whatsoever You will have to come upon me. Without choice I will receive from Your hand good and evil, sweet and bitter, joy and sadness, and will give You thanks for all things which shall happen to 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.

1. "My Son! I came down from heaven for your salvation; I took upon Me your miseries not of necessity, but drawn by love that you might learn patience and might 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 You wast patient in Your life, herein most of all fulfilling the commandment of Your Father, it is well that I, miserable sinner, should patiently bear myself according to Your will, and as long as You will have it so, should bear about with me for my salvation, the burden of this corruptible life. For although the present life seems burdensome, it is nevertheless already made very full of merit through Your grace, and to those who are weak it becomes easier and brighter through Your example and the footsteps of Your 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 Your Passion and the ransom of Your holy Death, to enter the kingdom of heaven.

3. Oh what great thanks am I bound to give You, who have condescended to show me and all faithful people the good and right way to Your eternal kingdom, for Your way is our way, and by holy patience we walk to You who are our Crown. If You had not gone before and taught us, who would care to follow? Oh, how far would they have gone backward if they had not beheld Your glorious example! Behold we are still lukewarm, though we have heard of Your many signs and discourses; what would become of us if we had not such a light to help us follow You?

1. "What say you, My Son? Cease to complain; consider My suffering and that of My saints. You have not yet resisted to blood. It is little which you sufferest in comparison with those who have suffered so many things, have been so strongly tempted, so grievously troubled, so manywise proved and tried. You ought therefore to call to mind the more grievous sufferings of others that you might bear your lesser ones more easily, and if they seem not to you little, see that it is not your 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 you set yourself to bear patiently, so far you do wisely and are deserving of the more merit; you will also bear the more easily if your 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 has done me grievous harm and imputs 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 considers not the virtue of patience, nor by whom that virtue is to be crowned, but it rather weighs persons and offences against self.

3. "He is not truly patient who will only suffer as far as seems right to himself and from whom he pleases. But the truly patient man considers 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 happens to him, he gratefully accepts all from the hand of God and counts it great gain: for with God nothing which is borne for His sake, however small, shall lose its reward.

4. "Be you therefore ready for the fight if you want to have the victory. Without striving you can not win the crown of patience; if you will not suffer you refuse to be crowned. But if you desire to be crowned, strive manfully, endure patiently. Without labour you drawest not near to rest, nor without fighting come you to victory."

5. Make possible to me, O Lord, by grace what seems impossible to me by nature. You know how little I am able to bear, and how quickly I am cast down when a like adversity riss up against me. Whatsoever trial of tribulation may come to me, may it become to me pleasing and acceptable, for to suffer and be vexed for Your sake is exceeding healthful to the soul.

Hebrews xii. 4.

1. I will acknowledge my sin to You; I will confess to You, Lord, my infirmity. It is often a small thing which casts me down and maks me sad. I resolve that I will act bravely, but when a little temptation comes, immediately I am in a great strait. Wonderfully small sometimes is the matter whence a grievous temptation comes, 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 You. Be merciful to me, and draw me out of the mire that I sink not, in case I ever remain cast down. This is what frequently throws me backward and confounds me before You, 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 wearies me to live so 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 You, most mighty God of Israel, Lover of all faithful souls, would look upon the labour and sorrow of Your servant, and give him help in all things whereunto he strives. Strengthen me with heavenly fortitude, in case 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 goes, another comes, 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 has 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 conquers a mind given to the world, and thinks it happiness to be under the nettles because it savours not nor perceivs the sweetness of God nor the inward gracefulness of virtue. But they who perfectly despise the world and strive to live to 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 errs, and in how many ways it is deceived.

Psalm xxxii. 5. Psalm lix. 16. Job xxx. 7.

1. Above all things and in all things you will rest always 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 You 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 You can 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 You, O my God, are not.

2. For You, O Lord, my God, are best above all things; You only are the Most High, You only the Almighty, You only the All-sufficient, and the Fulness of all things; You only the All-delightsome and the All-comforting; You alone the altogether lovely and altogether loving; You 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 so it falls short and is insufficient whatsoever You give to me without Yourself or whatsoever You revealest or do promise concerning Yourself, whilst You are not seen or fully possessed: since truly my heart cannot truly rest nor be entirely content, except it rest in You, 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 You and find rest? Oh when shall it be given me to be open to receive You to the full, and to see how sweet You are, O Lord my God? When shall I collect myself altogether in You, that because of Your love I may not feel myself at all, but may know You only above every sense and measure, in measure not known to others. But now I often 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 You, nor enjoy that sweet intercourse which is always near at hand to the blessed spirits. Let my deep sighing come before You, and my manifold desolation on the earth.

4. O Jesus, Light of Eternal Glory, solace of the wandering soul, before You my mouth is without speech, and my silence speaks to You. How long will my Lord delay to come to me? Let Him come to 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 You shall be no joyful day or hour, for You are my joy, and without You is my table empty. I am miserable, and in a manner imprisoned and loaded with fetters, until You refresh me by the light of Your presence, and give me liberty, and show Your loving countenance.

5. Let others seek some other thing instead of You, whatsoever it shall please them; but for my part nothing else pleass or shall please, save You, my God, my hope, my eternal salvation. I will not hold my peace, nor cease to implore, until Your grace return, and until You speak to me within.

6. "Behold, here I am! Behold, I come to you, for you did call Me. Your tears and the longing of your soul, your humbleness and contrition of heart have inclined Me, and brought Me to you."

7. And I said Lord, I have called upon You, and I have longed to enjoy You, being ready to reject everything for Your sake. For You did first move me to seek You. Therefore, blessed be You, O Lord, who has wrought this good work upon Your servant, according to the multitude of Your mercy. What then has Your servant to say in Your presence, save to humble himself greatly before You, being always mindful of his own iniquity and vileness. For there is none like to You in all marvels of heaven and earth. Excellent are Your works, true are Your judgments, and by Your Providence are all things governed. Therefore praise and glory be to You, O Wisdom of the Father, let my mouth and my soul and all created things praise and bless You together.

1. Open, O Lord, my heart in Your law, and teach me to walk in the way of Your commandments. Grant me to understand Your will and to be mindful of Your benefits, both general and special, with great reverence and diligent meditation, that so I may be able worthily to give You thanks. Yet I know and confess that I cannot render You due praises for the least of Your mercies. I am less than the least of all the good things which You gave me; and when I consider Your majesty, my spirit fails 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 Your good gifts, and prove You, from whom we have received them all, to be good, gentle, and kind. Although one receivs many things, and another fewer, yet all are Yours. and without You not even the least thing can be possessed. He who has 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 ascribs least to himself, and in giving thanks is the humbler and more devout; and he who holds himself to be viler than all, and judgs himself to be the more unworthy, is the apter for receiving greater things.

3. But he who has 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 to You, and to greatly extol Your goodness, for You pourest forth Your gifts so richly, so freely and largely, without respect of persons. All things come of You; therefore in all things will you be praised. You know what is best to be given to each; and why this man has less, and that more, is not for us but for You to understand, for to You 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 considers 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 You, Lord, have chosen the poor and humble, and those who are poor in this world, to be Your friends and acquaintance. So give all Your apostles witness whom You have 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 Your Name's sake, and what things the world hates, they embraced with great joy.

5. Therefore ought nothing so much to rejoice him who loves You and knows Your benefits, as Your will in him, and the good pleasure of Your 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 Your will and the love of Your 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.

Acts v. 41.

1. "My Son, now will I teach you the way of peace and of true liberty."

2. Do, O my Lord, as You say, for this is pleasing to me to hear.

3. "Strive, My Son, to do another's will rather than your 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 you. Behold, such a man as this enters into the inheritance of peace and quietness."

4. O my Lord, this Your short discourse has 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 You, Who are Almighty, and always love progress in the soul, condescend more grace, that I may be enabled to fulfil Your exhortation, and work out my salvation.

A PRAYER AGAINST EVIL THOUGHTS

5. O Lord my God, be not You far from me, my God, haste You to help me, 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," says He, "will go before you, and make the crooked places straight." I will open the prison doors, and reveal to you the secret places.

7. Do, Lord, as You say; and let all evil thoughts fly away before Your face. This is my hope and my only comfort, to fly to You in all tribulation, to hope in You, to call upon You from my heart and patiently wait for Your loving kindness.

A PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE MIND

8. Enlighten me, Blessed Jesus, with the brightness of Your 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 You mightily for me, and drive forth the evil beasts, so call I alluring lusts, that peace may be within Your walls and plenteousness of praise within Your palaces, even in my pure conscience. Command You the winds and the storms, say to the sea, "Be still," say to the stormy wind, "Hold your peace," so shall there be a great calm.

9. Oh send forth Your light and Your truth, that they may shine upon the earth; for I am but earth without form and void until You give me light. Pour forth Your 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 Yourself by the inseparable bond of love, for You alone are sufficient to him that loves You, and without You all things are vain toys.

Psalm lxxi. 12. Isaiah xlv. 2. Psalm cxxii. 7. Psalm xliii. 3.

1. "My Son, be not curious, nor trouble yourself with vain cares. What is that to you? Follow you Me. For what is it to you whether a man be this or that, or say or do so or so? You have no need to answer for others, but you must give an answer for yourself. Why therefore do you entangle yourself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it stands with each one, what he thinks, what he wills, and to what end his thoughts reach. All things therefore are to be committed to Me; watch you yourself in godly peace, and leave him who is unquiet to be unquiet as he will. Whatsoever he shall do or say, shall come to him, for he cannot deceive Me.

2. "Trouble not yourself about the shadow of a great name, nor about the friendship of many, nor about the love of men towards you. For these things beget distraction and great sorrows of heart. My word should speak freely to you, and I would reveal secrets, if only you did diligently look for My appearing, and did open to Me the gates of your heart. Be sober and watch to prayer, and humble yourself in all things."

John xxi. 12. 1 Peter iv. 7.

1. "My Son, I have said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world givs give I to you. All men desire peace, but all do not care for the things which belong to true peace. My peace is with the humble and lowly in heart. Your peace shall be in much patience. If you heard Me, and did follow My voice, you should enjoy much peace."

2. What then shall I do, Lord?

3. "In everything take heed to yourself what you do, and what you say; and direct all your purpose to this, that you 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 you; and it may be that you will be disturbed little or rarely. Yet never to feel any disquiet, nor to suffer any pain of heart or body, this belongs not to the present life, but is the state of eternal rest. Therefore count not yourself to have found true peace, if you have felt no grief; nor that then all is well if you have no adversary; nor that this is perfect if all things fall out according to your desire. Nor then reckon yourself to be anything great, or think that you are specially beloved, if you are 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 does the profit and perfection of man consist."

4. In what then, Lord?

5. "In offering yourself with all your heart to the Divine Will, in not seeking the things which are your own, whether great or small, whether temporal or eternal; so that you remain with the same steady countenance in giving of thanks between prosperity and adversity, weighing all things in an equal balance. If you be so brave and long- suffering in hope that when inward comfort is taken from you, you even prepare your heart for the more endurance, and justify not yourself, as though you ought not to suffer these heavy things, but do justify Me in all things that I appoint, and do bless My Holy Name, then do you walk in the true and right way of peace, and will have a sure hope that you will again behold My face with joy. For if you come to an utter contempt of yourself, know that then you will enjoy abundance of peace, as much as is possible where you are but a wayfaring man."

John xiv. 27.

1. 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 You, my most merciful Lord God, preserve me from the cares of this life, in case I become too much entangled; from many necessities of the body, in case I be taken captive by pleasure; from all obstacles of the spirit, in case I be broken and cast down with cares. I say not from those things which the vanity of the world goes about after with all eagerness, but from those miseries, which by the universal curse of mortality weigh down and hold back the soul of your 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 draws me away from the love of eternal things, and wickedly allures 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 Your Spirit, and in place of carnal love, pour into me the love of Your 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 forbids; for otherwise the flesh would wax insolent against the spirit. In all these things, I beseech You, let Your hand guide and teach me, that I in no way exceed.

1. "My Son, you must give all for all, and be nothing of your own. Know you that the love of yourself is more hurtful to you than anything in the world. According to the love and inclination which you have, everything more or less cleaves to you. If your love be pure, sincere, well-regulated, you will not be in captivity to anything. Do not covet what you may not have; do not have what is able to hinder you, and to rob you of inward liberty. It is wonderful that you commit not yourself to Me from the very bottom of your heart, with all things which you can desire or have.

2. "Why are you consumed with vain sorrow? Why are you wearied with superfluous cares? Stand you by My good pleasure, and you will suffer no loss. If you seek after this or that, and will be here or there, according to your own advantage or the fulfilling of your own pleasure, you will never be in quiet, nor free from care, because in everything somewhat will be found lacking, and everywhere there will be somebody who opposes you.

3. "Therefore it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that which advantages you, but rather the despising it and cutting it by the root out of your heart; which you 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 avails little if the spirit of devotion is wanting; nor shall that peace stand long which is sought from abroad, if the state of your heart is without the true foundation, that is, if it abide not in Me. You may change, but you can not better yourself; for when occasion arises and is accepted you will find what you did fly from, yea more."

A PRAYER FOR CLEANSing OF THE HEART AND FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM

4. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Your 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. Oh how wise is he that considers so!

5. Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn to seek You above all things and to find You; to relish You above all things and to love You; and to understand all other things, even as they are, according to the order of Your wisdom. Grant me prudently to avoid the flatterer, and patiently to bear with him that opposes 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 so do we go safely on in the way we have begun.

Ecclesiastes ii. 11.

1. "My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think ill of you, and say of you what you are unwilling to hear. You ought to think worse of yourself, and to believe no man weaker than yourself. If you walkest inwardly, you will not weigh flying words above their value. It is no small prudence to keep silence in an evil time and to turn inwardly to Me, and not to be troubled by human judgment.

2. "Let not your peace depend upon the word of men; for whether they judge well or ill of you, you are not therefore any other man than yourself. Where is true peace or true glory? Is it not in Me? And he who seeks not to please men, nor fears to displease, shall enjoy abundant peace. From inordinate love and vain fear arises all disquietude of heart, and all distraction of the senses."

1. Blessed be your name, O Lord, for evermore, who have willed this temptation and trouble to come upon me. I cannot escape it, but have need to flee to You, that You may succour me and turn it to 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 lies 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 to this hour, that You might be glorified when I am deeply humbled and am delivered through You. Let it be Your pleasure to deliver me; for what can I do who am poor, and without You 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, Your 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 past and comfort return. Yet is Your 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 you has helped me, O God, my merciful God. And as much as this deliverance is difficult to me, so much is it easy to You, O right hand of the most Highest.

John xii. 27. Psalm xl. 16.

1. "My Son, I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble. Come to Me, when it is not well with you.

"This it is which chiefly hinders heavenly consolation, that you too slowly betake yourself to prayer. For before you earnestly seek to Me, you do first seek after many means of comfort, and refreshes yourself in outward things: so it comes to pass that all things profit you but little until you 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 you strong in the light of My mercies, for I am nigh, says 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 to one who says and does not? Where is your faith? Stand fast and with perseverance. Be long-suffering and strong. Consolation will come to you in its due season. Wait for Me; yea, wait; I will come and heal you. It is temptation which vexes you, and a vain fear which terrifies you. What does care about future events bring you, save sorrow upon sorrow? Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. 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 cares not whether he deceive and beguile by true means or false; whether he throw you down by the love of the present or fear of the future. Therefore let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Believe in Me, and put your trust in My mercy. When you think yourself far removed from Me, I am often the nearer. When you reckonest that almost all is lost, then often is greater opportunity of gain at hand. All is not lost when something goes contrary to your wishes. You ought not to judge according to present feeling, nor so to take or give way to any grief which befalls you, as if all hope of escape were taken away.

4. "Think not yourself totally abandoned, although for the time I have sent to you 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 you 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 your hidden thoughts: and that it is very needful for your soul's health that sometimes you be left without relish, in case perchance you be lifted up by prosperity, and desirous to please yourself in that which you are 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 your; for every good gift and every perfect gift is from me. If I shall have sent upon you grief or any vexation, be not angry, nor let your heart be sad; I am able quickly to lift you up and to change every burden into joy. But I am just and greatly to be praised, when I do so to you.

6. "If you rightly consider, and look upon it with truth, you ought never to be so sadly cast down because of adversity, but rather should rejoice and give thanks; yea, truly to count it the highest joy that I afflict you with sorrows and spare you not. As My Father has loved Me, so love I you; so have I spoken to My beloved disciples: whom I sent forth not to worldly joys, but to great strivings; not to honours, but to contempt; not to ease, but to labours; not to rest, but to bring forth much fruit with patience. My son, remember these words."

Nahum i. 7. Matthew vi. 34. John xiv. 27; Psalm xiii. 5. James i. 17. John xv. 9.

1. 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 keeps me back, I cannot freely fly to You. He desired eagerly so 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 desires nothing upon earth? Therefore must a man rise above every creature, and perfectly forsake himself, and with abstracted mind to stand and behold that You, the Creator of all things, have among Your creatures nothing like to Yourself. 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 knows, whatsoever even he has, it matters but little. He who esteems 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 flows 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 follows of necessity that our actions also are corrupt, being the index of a deficient inward strength. Out of a pure heart proceeds the fruit of good living.

5. We demand, how much a man has 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 looks upon the outward appearance of a man, grace turns its thought to the heart. The former frequently judges amiss; the latter trusts in God, that it may not be deceived.

1. "My Son, you can not possess perfect liberty unless you altogether deny yourself. 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 comes not of God shall perish. Hold fast the short and complete saying, 'Renounce all things, and you will find all things; give up your lust, and you will find rest.' Dwell upon this in your mind, and when you are full of it, you will understand all things."

2. O Lord, this is not the work of a day, nor children's play; truly in this short saying is enclosed all the perfection of the religious.

3. "My son, you ought not to be turned aside, nor immediately cast down, because you have heard the way of the perfect. Rather ought you to be provoked to higher aims, and at the least to long after the desire thereof. Oh that it were so with you, and that you had come to this, that you were not a lover of your own self, but were ready always to My nod, and to his whom I have placed over you as your father. Then should you please Me exceedingly, and all your life should go on in joy and peace. You have still many things to renounce, which if you resign not utterly to Me, you will not gain what you seek. I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, that is heavenly wisdom, which despises all base things. Put away from you earthly wisdom, and all pleasure, whether common to men, or your own.

4. "I tell you that you 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, does true heavenly wisdom appear, which thinks not high things of itself, nor seeks 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."

Revelation iii. 18.

1. "My Son, trust not your feeling, for that which is now will be quickly changed into somewhat else. As long as you livest you are subject to change, howsoever unwilling; so that you are 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, stands 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 so 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 waxes dim; for it quickly rests itself upon anything pleasant which occurrs, 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. 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 to Me."

John xii. 9.

1. 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 loves the Word, not the world, neither the things that are in the world. My God, my all! To him that understands, that word suffices, and to repeat it often is pleasing to him that loves it. When You are present all things are pleasant; when You are absent, all things are wearisome. You make the heart to be at rest, give it deep peace and festal joy. You make it to think rightly in every matter, and in every matter to give You praise; neither can anything please long without You but if it would be pleasant and of sweet savour, Your grace must be there, and it is Your wisdom which must give to it a sweet savour.

2. To him who tastes You, what can be distasteful? And to him who tastes You not, what is there which can make him joyous? But the worldly wise, and they who enjoy the flesh, these fail in Your wisdom; for in the wisdom of the world is found utter vanity, and to be carnally minded is death. But they who follow after You 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 to 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 Your 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 to You with rapture passing man's understanding. Oh when shall that blessed and longed-for time come when You will satisfy me with Your presence, and be to me All in all? So long as this is delayed, my joy shall not be full. Still, ah me! the old man lives in me: he is not yet all crucified, not yet quite dead; still he lusts fiercely against the spirit, wages inward wars, nor suffers the soul's kingdom to be in peace.

4. But You 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. Destroy them by Your power. Show forth, I beseech You, Your might, and let Your right hand be glorified, for I have no hope, no refuge, save in You, O Lord my God.

1 John ii. 15. Psalm lxviii. 30.

1. "My Son, you are never secure in this life, but your spiritual armour will always be needful for you as long as you livest. You dwell among foes, and are attacked on the right hand and on the left. If therefore you use not on all sides the shield of patience, you will not remain long unwounded. Above all, if you keep not your heart fixed upon Me with steadfast purpose to bear all things for My sake, you will not be able to bear the fierceness of the attack, nor to attain to the victory of the blessed. Therefore must you struggle bravely all your life through, and put forth a strong hand against those things which oppose you. For to him that overcomes is the hidden manna given, but great misery is reserved for the slothful.

2. "If you seek rest in this life, how then will you attain to the rest which is eternal? Set not yourself 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 you must willingly undergo all things, whether labours or sorrows, temptations, vexations, anxieties, necessities, infirmities, injuries, gainsayings, rebukes, humiliations, confusions, corrections, despisings; these things help to virtue, these things prove the scholar of Christ; these things fashion the heavenly crown. I will give you an eternal reward for short labour, and infinite glory for transient shame.

3. "Thinkest you that you will always have spiritual consolations at your will? My Saints had never such, but instead thereof manifold griefs, and various 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. Would you have that immediately which many have hardly attained to after many tears and hard labours? Wait for the Lord, quit yourself like a man and be strong; be not faint-hearted, nor go aside from Me, but constantly devote your body and soul to the glory of God. I will reward you plenteously, I will be with you in trouble."

Revelation ii. 17. Romans viii. 17. Psalm xci. 15.

1. "My Son, anchor your soul firmly upon God, and fear not man's judgment, when conscience pronounces you pious and innocent. It is good and blessed so to suffer; nor will it be grievous to the heart which is humble, and which trusts 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, yet nevertheless with him it was a very small thing that he should be judged by man's judgment."

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, in case his silence should become a stumbling-block to those who were weak.

3. "Who are you, that you should be afraid of a man that shall die? To-day he is, and to-morrow his place is not found. Fear God and you will not quail before the terrors of men. What can any man do against you by words or deeds? He hurts himself more than you, nor shall he escape the judgment of God, whosoever he may be. Have you God before your eyes, and do not contend with fretful words. And if for the present you seem to give way, and to suffer confusion which you have not deserved, be not angry at this, nor by impatience diminish your reward; but rather look up to Me in heaven, for I am able to deliver you from all confusion and hurt, and to render to every man according to his works."

1 Corinthians ix. 22. 1 Corinthians iv. 3.

1. "My Son, lose yourself and you will find Me. Stand still without all choosing and all thought of self, and you will ever be a gainer. For more grace shall be added to you, as soon as you resignest yourself, and so long as you do not turn back to take yourself 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 you be found naked in all things. Otherwise how can you be Mine and I your, unless you be inwardly and outwardly free from every will of your own? The sooner you do this, the better shall it be with you; and the more fully and sincerely, the more you will please Me, and the more abundantly will you 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 so 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 brings forth fruit stands not nor will stand.

5. "Many a time I have said to you, and now say again, Give yourself up, resign yourself, and you will have great inward peace. Give all for all; demand nothing, ask nothing in return; stand simply and with no hesitation in Me, and you will possess Me. You will have liberty of heart, and the darkness shall not overwhelm you. For this strive you, pray for it, long after it, that you may be delivered from all possession of yourself, and nakedly follow Jesus who was made naked for you; may die to yourself and live eternally to Me. Then shall all vain fancies disappear, all evil disturbings, and superfluous cares. Then also shall immoderate fear depart from you, and inordinate love shall die."

1. "My Son, for this you must diligently make your endeavour, that in every place and outward action or occupation you may be free within, and have power over yourself; and that all things be under you, not you under them; that you be master and ruler of your 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 to, 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 has left nought in His creation without aim and end.

2. "And if in any chance of life you stand not in outward appearances, nor judgest things which are seen and heard by the fleshly sense, but immediately in every cause enterest with Moses into the tabernacle to ask counsel of God; you will 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 ought you to fly to the secret chamber of your 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, but being too ready to listen to fair speeches, were deceived by pretended piety."

Joshua ix. 14.

1. "My Son, always commit your cause to Me; I will dispose it aright in due time. Wait for My arrangement of it, and then you will find it for your profit."

2. O Lord, right freely I commit all things to You; for my planning can profit but little. Oh that I did not dwell so much on future events, but could offer myself altogether to Your pleasures without delay.

3. "My Son, a man often strives vehemently after somewhat which he desires; but when he has obtained it he beginns 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 lies in self-denial, and a man who denies himself is free and safe. But the old enemy, opposer of all good things, ceases not from temptation; but day and night sets his wicked snares, if by chance he may be able to entrap the unwary. Watch and pray, says the Lord, lest ye enter into temptation.

Matthew xxvi. 41.

1. Lord, what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You visit him? What has man deserved, that You should bestow your favour upon him? Lord, what cause can I have of complaint, if You forsake me? Or what can I justly allege, if You refuse to hear my petition? In 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 to nothing. And unless I am helped by You and inwardly supported, I become altogether lukewarm and reckless.

2. But You, O Lord, are always the same, and endure for ever, always good, righteous, and holy; doing all things well, righteously, and in holiness, and disposing all in Your 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 becomes better when it so pleases You, and You put forth Your hand to help me; because You alone can aid without help of man, and can so strengthen me that my countenance shall be no more changed, but my heart shall be turned to You, and rest in You 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 You, seeing there is no man who can comfort me; then could I worthily trust in Your grace, and rejoice in the gift of new consolation.

4. Thanks be to You, from whom all comes, whenever it goes well with me! But I am vanity and nothing in Your 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 draws us away from the true glory, and robbs us of heavenly grace. For whilst a man pleases himself he displeases You; whilst he gapes after the praises of man, he is deprived of true virtues.

5. But true glory and holy rejoicing lies in glorying in You and not in self; in rejoicing in Your Name, not in our own virtue; in not taking delight in any creature, save only for Your sake. Let your Name, not mine be praised; let Your work, not mine be magnified; let Your holy Name be blessed, but to me let nought be given of the praises of men. You are my glory, You are the joy of my heart. In You will I make my boast and be glad all the day long, but for myself let me not glory save only in my infirmities.

6. Let the Jews seek the honour which comes from one another; but I will ask for that which comes from God only. Truly all human glory, all temporal honour, all worldly exultation, compared to Your eternal glory, is but vanity and folly. O God my Truth and my Mercy, Blessed Trinity, to You alone be all praise, honour, power, and glory for ever and for ever. Amen.

Psalm viii. 4. 2 Corinthians xii. 5. John v. 44.

1. "My Son, make it no matter of yours, if you see others honoured and exalted, and yourself despised and humbled. Lift up your heart to Me in heaven, and then the contempt of men upon earth will not make you sad."

2. O Lord, we are in blindness, and are quickly seduced by vanity. If I look rightly within myself, never was injury done to me by any creature, and therefore I have nought whereof to complain before You. But because I have many times and grievously sinned against You, all creatures do justly take arms against me. Therefore to me confusion and contempt are justly due, but to You 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 You.

1. "My Son, if you set your peace on any person because you have high opinion of him, and are familiar with him, you will be unstable and entangled. But if you betake yourself to the ever-living and abiding Truth, the desertion or death of a friend shall not make you sad. In Me ought the love of your friend to subsist, and for My sake is every one to be loved, whosoever he be, who appears to you good, and is very dear to you in this life. Without Me friendship has no strength or endurance, neither is that love true and pure, which I unite not. You ought to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends, that as far as in you lies, you would rather choose to be without any companionship of men. The nearer a man approaches to God, the further he recedes from all earthly solace. The deeper also he descends into himself, and the viler he appears in his own eyes, the higher he ascends towards God.

2. "But he who attributes anything good to himself, hinders the grace of God from coming to him, because the grace of the Holy Ghost ever seeks the humble heart. If you could make yourself utterly nothing, and empty yourself of the love of every creature, then should it be My part to overflow to you with great grace. When you set your eyes upon creatures, the face of the Creator is withdrawn from you. Learn in all things to conquer yourself for your Creator's sake, then will you be able to attain to divine knowledge. How small soever anything be, if it be loved and regarded inordinately, it holds us back from the highest good, and corrupts."

1. "My Son, let not the fair and subtle sayings of men move you. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. Give ear to My words, for they kindle the heart and enlighten the mind, they bring contrition, and they supply manifold consolations. Never read you the word that you may appear more learned or wise; but study for the mortification of your sins, for this will be far more profitable for you than the knowledge of many difficult questions.

2. "When you have read and learned many things, you must always return to one first principle. I am He that teaches man knowledge, and I give to 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 to 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, and the hidden things of darkness 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 said 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 informs 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 Corinthians iv. 20. Psalm xciv. 10. Zephaniah i. 12. 1 Corinthians iv. 5.

1. "My Son, in many things it behoves you to be ignorant, and to esteem yourself as one dead upon the earth, and as one to whom the whole world is crucified. Many things also you must pass by with deaf ear, and must rather think upon those things which belong to your peace. It is more profitable to turn away your eyes from those things that displease, and to leave each man to his own opinion, than to give yourself to discourses of strife. If you stand well with God and have His judgment in your mind, you will truly 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 passes away into forgetfulness, and we rarely recover it. That which profits little or nothing is looked after, and that which is altogether necessary is negligently passed by; because the whole man slides away to outward things, and unless he quickly recoveres himself in outward things he willingly lies down.

1. Lord, be you my help in trouble, for vain is the help of man. 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 You. Blessed be you, O Lord my God, in all things which happen to 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 trusts in You, O Lord, and seeks You with an unfeigned heart, does not so easily slip. And if he fall into any tribulation, howsoever he may be entangled, yet very quickly he shall be delivered through You, or by You shall be comforted, because You will not forsake him that trusts in You to the end. A friend who continues faithful in all the distresses of his friend is rare to be found. You, O Lord, You alone are most faithful in all things, and there is none other like to You.

3. Oh, how truly wise was that holy soul which said, "My mind is steadfastly fixed, and it is grounded in Christ." If so 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 You? You are the Truth, and deceivest not, nor can be deceived. And on the other hand, Every man is a liar, weak, unstable and frail, especially in his words, so that one ought scarcely ever to believe what seems to sound right on the face of it.

4. With what wisdom have you warned us beforehand to beware of men, and that a man's foes are they of his own household, and that we must not believe if one say to us Lo here, or Lo there. I have been taught by my loss, and O that I may prove more careful and not foolish hereby. "Be cautious," says some one: "be cautious, keep to yourself what I tell you." And whilst I am silent and believe that it is hid with me, he himself cannot keep silence concerning it, but immediately betrays me and himself, and goes 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 You 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 Your 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 has been grace preserved in silence in this frail life, which, as we are told, is all temptation and warfare.

Psalm lx. 11. St. Agatha. Psalm cxvi. 11; Romans iii. 4. Matthew x. 17, 36. Matthew xxiv. 23.

1. "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 you are guilty, think how you would gladly amend yourself; if you know nothing against yourself, consider that you will gladly bear this for God's sake. It is little enough that you sometimes have to bear hard words, for you are not yet able to bear hard blows. And wherefore do such trivial matters go to your heart, except that you are yet carnal, and regardest men more than you ought? For because you fearest to be despised, you are unwilling to be reproved for your faults, and seek paltry shelters of excuses.

2. "But look better into yourself, and you will know that the world is still alive in you, and the vain love of pleasing men. For when you fleest away from being abased and confounded for your faults, it is plain that you are neither truly humble nor truly dead to the world, and that the world is not crucified to you. But listen to My word, and you will not care for ten thousand words of men. Behold, if all things could be said against you which the utmost malice could invent, what should it hurt you if you were altogether to let it go, and make no more account of it than of a mote? Could it pluck out a single hair of your head?

3. "But he that has no heart within him, and has not God before his eyes, is easily moved by a word of reproach; but he who trusts in Me, and seeks 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 has been done; I know both the injurer and the bearer. From Me went forth that word, by My permission this has happened, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 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 deceives. My judgment is true; it will stand, and it shall not be overturned. It commonly lies hid, and only to few in certain cases is it made known; yet it never errs, 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, 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 considers that I am He who try the hearts and reins, 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 know the frailty and sinfulness of men, be You my strength and my whole confidence; for my own conscience suffices me not. You know 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 to me is Your abundant pity for the attainment of Your pardon, than the righteousness which I believe myself to have for defence against my conscience, which lies wait against me. Although I know nothing against myself, yet I am not hereby justified, because if Your mercy were removed away, in Your sight should no man living be justified.

Luke ii. 35. Proverbs xii. 21. Psalm vii. 9. 1 Corinthians iv. 4. Psalm cxliii. 2.

1. "My Son, let not the labours which you have undertaken for Me break you down, nor let tribulations cast you down in any wise, but let my promise strengthen and comfort you in every event. I am sufficient to reward you above all measure and extent. Not long will you labour here, nor always be weighed down with sorrows. Wait yet a little while, and you will see a speedy end of your evils. An hour shall come when all labour and confusion shall cease. Little and short is all that passes away with time.

2. "Do earnestly what you do; labour faithfully in My vineyard; I will be your 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, but light eternal, infinite clearness, steadfast peace, and undisturbed rest. You will not say then, Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? nor cry out, Woe is me, for my sojourning is prolonged, 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 you 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 you would immediately humble yourself even to the earth, and would desire rather to be in subjection to all, than to have authority over one; nor would you long for pleasant days of this life, but would more rejoice to be afflicted for God's sake, and would esteem it gain to be counted for nought amongst men.

4. "Oh, if these things were sweet to your taste, and moved you to the bottom of your heart, how should you 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 your 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."

Zechariah xiv. 7. Romans vii. 24. Psalm cxx.

1. Oh most blessed mansion of the City which is above! Oh most clear day of eternity which the night obscures 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 shines 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 You alone? When shall I rejoice in You 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 You? When shall I gaze upon the glory of Your kingdom? When will You be to me all in all? Oh when shall I be with You in Your Kingdom which You have prepared from the foundation of the world for them that love You? 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 You all my desire longs. For all is to me a burden, whatsoever this world offers for consolation. I yearn to enjoy You intimately, but I cannot attain to 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 to myself, while the spirit seeks 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 rushes upon me whilst I pray. My God, be not You far from me, nor depart in wrath from Your servant. Cast forth Your lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows, and let all delusions of my enemy be confounded. Recall my senses to Yourself, 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 to me, O Heavenly Sweetness, and let all impurity flee from before Your face. Pardon me also, and of Your mercy deal gently with me, whenever in prayer I think on anything besides You; 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. It readily occurs to me, which naturally delights, or pleases through custom.

6. Wherefore You, who are the Truth, have plainly said, Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 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 Your sake, O Lord, is willing to part from all creatures; who does violence to his fleshly nature and crucifies the lusts of the flesh by the fervour of his spirit, so that with serene conscience he may offer to You 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.

Psalm lxxi. 12. Matthew vi. 21.

1. "My Son, when you feelest the desire of eternal happiness to be poured into you from above, and long to depart from the tabernacle of this body, that you may contemplate My glory without shadow of turning, enlarge your heart, and take in this holy inspiration with all your desire. Give most hearty thanks to the Supreme Goodness, who deals with you so graciously, visits you so lovingly, stirs you up so fervently, raises you so powerfully, so as not to sink down through your own weight, to earthly things. For not by your own meditating or striving do you receive this gift, but by the sole gracious condescension of Supreme Grace and Divine regard; to the end that you may make progress in virtue and in more humility, and prepare yourself for future conflicts, and cleave to Me with all the affection of your heart, and strive to serve Me with fervent will.

2. "My Son, often the fire burns, but the flame ascends 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 your desire, when you have imagined it to be so earnest. For that is not pure and perfect which is tainted with your own self-seeking.

3. "Seek you not what is pleasant and advantageous to yourself, but what is acceptable and honourable to Me; for if you judgest rightly, you must choose and follow after My appointment rather than your own desire; yea, rather than anything that can be desired. I know your desire, and I have heard your many groanings. Already you long to be in the glorious liberty of the children of God; already the eternal home delights you, and the heavenly country full of joy; but the hour is not yet come; there remains still another season, even a season of warfare, a season of labour and probation. You desire to be filled with the Chief Good, but you can not attain it immediately. I AM that Good; wait for Me, until the Kingdom of God shall come.

4. "You must still be tried upon earth, and be exercised in many things. Consolation shall from time to time be given you, but abundant satisfying shall not be granted. Be strong therefore, and be you brave both in working and in suffering things which are against your nature. You must put on the new man, and be changed into another man. You must often do what you would not; and you must leave undone what you would do. What pleases others shall have good success, what pleases you shall have no prosperity. What others say shall be listened to; what you say shall receive no heed. Others shall ask and receive; you will ask and not obtain. Others shall be great in the report of men, but about you shall nothing be spoken. To others this or that shall be entrusted; you will be judged useful for nought.

5. "For this cause nature shall sometimes be filled with sadness; and it is a great thing if you 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 you have need to mortify yourself so much as in seeing things which are adverse to your will; especially when things are commanded you to be done which seem to you inexpedient or of little use to you. And because you darest not resist a higher power, being under authority, therefore it seems hard for you to shape your course according to the nod of another, and to forego your own opinion.

6. "But consider, My Son, the fruit of these labours, the swift end, and the reward exceeding great; and you will find it no pain to bear them then, but rather the strongest solace of your patience. For even in exchange for this trifling desire which you have readily forsaken, you will always have your will in Heaven. There truly you will find all that you would, all that you can long for. There you will have all good within your power without the fear of losing it. There your will, ever at one with Mine, shall desire nothing outward, nothing for itself. There no man shall withstand you, none shall complain of you, none shall hinder, nothing shall stand in your path; but all things desired by you shall be present together, and shall refresh your 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 repentnce shall rejoice, and humble subjection shall be crowned gloriously.

7. "Now therefore bow yourself humbly under the hands of all men; nor let it trouble you who said this or who ordered that; but take special heed that whether your superior, your inferior, or your equal, require anything from you, 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 you only in the contempt of yourself, and in Mine own good pleasure and glory. This is what you are to long for, even that whether by life or by death God may be ever magnified in you."

Philippians i. 20.

1. O Lord, Holy Father, be You blessed now and evermore; because as You will so it is done, and what You do is good. Let Your servant rejoice in You, not in himself, nor in any other; because You alone are the true joy, You are my hope and my crown, You are my joy and my honour, O Lord. What has Your servant, which he received not from You, even without merit of his own? Your are all things which You have given, and which You have made. I am poor and in misery even from my youth up, and my soul is sorrowful to 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 Your children do I beseech, for in the light of Your comfort they are fed by You. If You give peace, if You pour into me holy joy, the soul of Your servant shall be full of melody, and devout in Your praise. But if You withdraw Yourself as too often You are wont, he will not be able to run in the way of Your 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 Your candle shined upon his head, and he walked under the shadow of Your wings, from the temptations which beset him.

3. O Father, righteous and ever to be praised, the hour comes when Your servant is to be proved. O beloved Father, it is well that in this hour Your servant suffer somewhat for Your sake. O Father, evermore to be adored, as the hour comes which You foreknew from everlasting, when for a little while Your servant should outwardly bow down, but always live inwardly with You; 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 You in the dawn of the new light, and be glorified in the heavenly places. O Holy Father, you have ordained it so, and so have willed it; and that is done which You Yourself have commanded.

4. For this is Your favour to Your friend, that he should suffer and be troubled in the world for Your love's sake, how often soever, and by whomesoever and whosoever You have suffered it to be done. Without Your counsel and providence, and without cause, nothing comes to pass on the earth. It is good for me, Lord, that I had been in trouble, that I may learn Your statutes, and may cast away all pride of heart and presumption. It is profitable for me that confusion has covered my face, that I may seek to You for consolation rather than to men. By this also I have learned to dread Your unsearchable judgment, who afflictest the just with the wicked, but not without equity and justice.

5. Thanks be to You, because You have not spared my sins, but have 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 You only, O Lord my God, You heavenly Physician of souls, who do scourge and have mercy, who leadest down to hell and bring up again. Your discipline over me, and Your rod itself shall teach me.

6. Behold, O beloved Father, I am in Your hands, I bow myself under the rod of Your correction. Smite my back and my neck that I may bend my crookedness to Your will. Make me a pious and lowly disciple, as You were wont to be kind, that I may walk according to every nod of Yours. To You I commend myself and all that I have for correction; better is it to be punished here than hereafter. You know all things and each of them; and nothing remains hid from You in man's conscience. Before they are, you know that they will be, and You needest not that any man teach You or admonish You concerning the things which are done upon the earth. You know what is expedient for my profit, and how greatly trouble serves to the scrubbing off the rust of sin. Do with me according to Your desired good pleasure, and despise not my life which is full of sin, known to none so entirely and fully as to You 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 pleases You most, to esteem that which is precious in Your sight, to blame that which is vile in Your 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 Your 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 deceives 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 says, "What each one is in Your eyes, so much he is, and no more."

Psalm lxxxviii. 15. Job xxix. 3. Psalm xvii. 8. Psalm cxix. 71. Job xiii. 2.