Make me a devout and humble Difciple, according as thou art wont, and knoweft right well how to do; to the end I may walk obedient to every beck of thy divine pleasure. I fubmit my felf, and all that is mine, to thy correction: Better is it to be chaftifed here, than hereafter. Thou knoweft all things in general, and every thing in particular, and nothing is hid from thee in the confcience of man. Thou knoweft the things that will be, before they come to pafs; and needeft not that any fhould inform, or admonifh thee of what is done upon earth. Thou knoweft what is expedient for my advancement in holiness, and how exceeding ferviceable tribulation is, to fcour off the ruft of vice. Fulfil in me thy whole good pleasure, and defpife me not for my finful life, to none better, nor more clearly known, than to thee alone.

VII. Grant me, O Lord, to know what ought to be known; to love what ought to be loved; to praise what is moft pleafing to thee; to value that which appears precious unto thee; and to defpife that which is vile in thy fight. Suffer me not to judge according to the fight of the outward eyes, nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men; but to dif

cern

cern both of vifible, and fpiritual things with a true judgment, and above all things, ever to fearch after thy good will and pleasure.

VIII. Men, who form their judgments upon fense, are often deceived; the lovers of the world alfo are often deceived, in loving only visible things. How is a man one whit the better, for being greatly esteemed by another man? When one man exalts another, the cheat impofes upon the cheat; the vain puffs up the vain; the blind mifleads the blind; the weak fupports the weak, and in reality rather fhames, and brings reproach upon him, by his empty undeferved commendations. For how much every one is in thy eyes, fo much is he, and no more, faith humble St. Francis.

CHAP.

CHAP. LI.

That we should apply our felves to meaner and lower Exercifes, when we are indifpofed for, and not able to raise our felves to thofe that are more exalted.

SON

1.S

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, it is not poffible for thee to perfevere always in a state of extraordinary fervour, and zeal for virtue; nor to maintain thy felf in a high pitch of Contemplation for a conftancy: But thou wilt be obliged fometimes, by reafon of original Corruption, to stoop to inferior things; and to bear, with reluctancy and pain, the load of this corruptible Life. As long as thou carriest a mortal body, thy fpirit will feel it self aggriev'd and opprefs'd with a tirefome weight. Wherefore whilft thou art in the Flefh, thou oughteft frequently to groan under the load thereof; for this reafon because thou art hinder'd thereby from cleaving inceffantly to fpiritual exercises, and divine contemplation.

II. At fuch times it is expedient for thee to have recourfe to low and exterior wotks,

and

and to feek recreation in good actions, and bodily exercises: To expect with an assur'd confidence, my return and heavenly Visitation: Patiently to endure thy own Banishment, and the dry and barren state of thy foul, till thou art again vifited by me, and deliver'd from all thy anxiety and difquietude of fpirit. For I will cause thee to forget thy pains, and to enjoy an inward repofe and tranquillity. I will lay open before thee the fpacious Plains of Scripture, that with an enlarg'd heart thou mayst begin to run the way of my commandments. And thou fhalt fay: The fufferings of this prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed

in usb.

a Pfai. cxix. 5.

Rom. viii. 18.

CHAP.

CHAP. LII.

That a Man ought not to esteem himself worthy of Confolation, but rather of Correction.

1.

L

THE SOUL.

ORD, I am not worthy of thy confolation, nor of any fpiritual Vifitation: And therefore thou dealeft righteously with me, when thou leaveft me poor, and defolate. For could I fhed a Sea of tears, yet fhould I not be worthy of thy confolation: Yea, rather ftripes and chastisement only are my juft due; because I have grievoufly, and often offended thee, and in many things greatly tranfgreffed. Wherefore all things duly confider'd, I deferve not fo much as the least confolation. But thou, a gracious, and merciful God, who wouldest not that the works of thine hands fhould perifh, to make known the riches of thy goodness to the veffels of mercy, notwithItanding all his unworthinefs, vouchfafest to comfort thy fervant in a manner infinitely paffing that of men. For thy confolations are not like human confabulations.

Rom. ix. 23.

II. What