ÿWPCê ØE†.Œ¯ÔL Ž â× `<®ÙÜìš‘Š£ ˜Õ´À¯<[Ú¦óW8+…²-}bÑU³OYÄßä3l7inxLÖˆ¥;îxn L¤¦–Gº‹ö¥¤ry&QÂÃZ€Sñ@îæÈv¿Y5þ¶UªˆÙÿ7ê6;'è Háú–ÆßÊs@%ÏV 2; þä.aU³d¼þeë¹K†DoôëÕŒcö71ÀàIq’&â‹atb RÄMõž*éOz6º© xÎݧcG›4èwÅL°o–ÿõÑúÀ…—hêj€ºlˆ½(˜Èjžªùcçõ‰ñ/ž¥$j`äùу‰éSßyeL©ÍŽ6xîŸ>ì­aB-qЙ¶´œKï ÿŠ.ÖŒ}õq r¶DÙ}ây3Ï~”ʰÐF™³va-À·4˜K.ÿKw|P±HDN 2áè*ýî3ª’Dà¡ûwo;z"\N ‡ÊãeÚ‹¬à¶\2‘F.:&Í·bZéh7Áç~G¢š…²¬ÒŒË^Zvìm\`À1Ög3æÞFüfGÈÂÓ”_ß›ÕcÊ+Pà—G²Þý¤¤çT9ûÛeYŒ%v˜^égòºNªp«Ï–‹hì‚Z=9Ùõq8# UxN %i 0(ow@—4×ëúElE 0 DIkJøMBB=jÌi6 Ÿ jŸ 0D URM DŸ Bã £% dÈ , Sh2 T š T¤ UN¤ 0Dò £6 BmÙ UNö £DDDDDD AQçÆ8 0Dþ 0DB D/† BµjÒj<<<<<< 0D¦˜Acrobat PDFWriterPDFWRITR((((((((0nL$Ò(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ §g¨E©dª«ˬ­Ë®˯D°D¡¦T#3|x° ;Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  ÝòòÓ  ÓTo€the€Reader.óó(3¯$§§Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý aÝ ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  Ýà@ìàòòconcerning€Daily€Communion.óóˆà€(#(#K(#à @Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓThe€Author€to€the€Reader. CÝ ƒ¯(ÝÝ  Ýà@hh"ìàòòA€short€Treatiseóó 3Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓThe€PREFACE. `Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  Ýà@ÐÐ!ìàòòThe€Spiritual€Guideóóˆà€ ! !D(#àLib.€2. _Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  ÝLib€I.à@ÐÐ!ìàòòThe€Spiritual€Guideóóˆà€(#(#K(#à `Ý ƒ¯(ÝÝ  Ýà@ÐÐ!ìàòòThe€Spiritual€Guideóóˆà€@!@!D(#àLib.€I.(3¯$¨¨Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý64(Û qZ ‹:Lucida Calligraphy Italic :Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  Ýà@èè$ìàTHE€CONTENTS. 8Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  Ýà@ZZ%ìàTHE€PREFACE ™Ý ƒ7¯)ÝÝ  Ýà@˜ìàÔ‡ôèàôXXÔÚ  Ú1Ú  Úà@@ìì*ìàÔ#†X5MXôôèà-#Ô ZÝ ƒ¯(ÝÝ  ÝLib.€2.à@ÞÞ!ìàThe€Spiritual€Guideˆà€(#(#K(#àHLþÿ#Ú2C:\SWB´#6þÿ &Þ÷GXöÆN “Þ;X þÿ\j“o®½³¿Ð}í¦BþÿµÅQ/êB½lÆÁY'¯qfþÿþI >k«uü©GbÛ®Ü(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý ™Ý ƒ7¯)ÝÝ  Ýà@˜ìàÔ‡#ôˆ¹ôXXÔÚ  Ú1Ú  Úà@@ìì*ìàÔ#†#X•HXôôˆ¹-#Ô d(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ™Ý ƒ7¯)ÝÝ  Ýà@ÂÂ*ìàÔ‡ôÈÀôXXÔÚ  Ú1Ú  Úà@@ìì*ìàÔ#†XU3XôôÈÀ-#Ô+, -.Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó//'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd `Ý ƒ ¯'ÝÝ  Ýà@ÐÐ!ìàòòThe€Spiritual€Guideóóˆà€ ! !D(#àLib.€3. `Ý ƒ¯(ÝÝ  ÝLib.€3.à@ÐÐ!ìàòòThe€Spiritual€Guideóóˆà€(#(#K(#à(3¯$©©Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýò òñªññ¬ñÖ€$ÿÿÖñ¬ññ¬ñÖ€!ÿÿÖñ¬ññªññªñÖ€ÿÿÖñªñÑ ý ÑÌßA€" ) °°xdE°›xAßÐ œì ÐÌßA€" ) °°xdE°–xAßÐ —ç ÐÌÓ  ÓTHE̛̜Ô‡°&*°XXÔSpiritual›€œGUIDEÔ#†XU3X°°&*T#ÔÔ‡èQâèXXU3ÔÐ j º Л̜Ô#†XU3XèèQâ§#ÔÔ‡¼^m¼XXU3ÔWHICHÔ#†XU3X¼¼^m#ÔÐ Æ   ЛÌÔ‡èQâèXXU3ÔDisentangles€the€œSoulÔ#†XU3XèèQâ_#Ô,Ð Æ  Л̜Ô‡¼^m¼XXU3ÔANDÔ#†XU3X¼¼^mÐ#ÔÐ 6†  ЛÌÔ‡èQâèXXU3ÔBrings€it€by€the€Inward€œWayÔ#†XU3XèèQâ,#ÔÐ 6† Л̜Ô‡¼^m¼XXU3ÔTO€THEÔ#†XU3X¼¼^m¢#ÔÔ‡èQâèXXU3ÔÐ ¦ö ЛÌGetting€of€Perfect€œContemplation̛̜Ô#†XU3XèèQâê#ÔÔ‡¼^m¼XXU3ÔAND€THE›€œÔ#†XU3X¼¼^mh#ÔÔ‡èQâèXXU3ÔÐ F– Л̜Ô‡èð· èèQâÔRich›€Treasure€of€Internal€œPeaceÔ#†èQâè Lèð·ë#Ôó óÔ#†XU3XèèQâ´#ÔÔ‡ –Ñ XXU3ԛРÞ. МÓAÓÌ›ßA€" ) °°xdE°) xAßÐ * z ÐÌÓ  ÓWritten€by€Dr.€òòMichael€de€Molinosóó,€PriestÐ q!Á ÐWith€a€short€Treatise€concerning€Daily€Communion,Ìby€the€same€œAuthor›ÌœÓÓßA€" ) °°xdME°%xAߛР%i  МòòÓ  ÓÌTranslated›€from€theóó€Italian€òòCopyóó,Ð `&°!  ÐòòPrinted€at€óóVenice,€œ1685.Ð ˜'è"! ÐÓÓßA€" ) °°xdE°Ï(xAߛРÐ( $" МÌÓ  ÓPrinted›€in€the€Year,€œMDCLXXXVIIIÔ#†XU3X  –Ñt#ÔÐ *g%$ ÐÓÓÌßA€" ) °°xdE°:,xAßÐ ;,‹'& ÐÌ›ßA€" ) °°xdE°5-xAßÐ  6-†((ý Мò òÑ ý ÑÌÌÌÌThis€document€is€a€transcription€of€an€English€translation€ofÌà  àThe€Spiritual€GuideÌbyÌà  àMiguel€de€MolinosÌÌÌThe€English€translation€was€published€in€London,€in€1688,€and€is€a€translation€of€an€ItalianÏedition€published€in€Venice,€in€1685.€€The€English€translation€has€the€author€as€ð ðDr.ÏMichael€de€Molinosðð.ÌÌÌThe€transcription€was€performed€in€November€and€December€of€1997,€from€a€microfilmedÏcopy€of€the€1688€English€translation.ÌÌÌThe€microfilmed€copy€was€produced€byÌà  àUniversity€Microfilms€InternationalÌà  àAnn€Arbor,€Michigan€48106€U.S.A.Ìand€is€catalogued€asÌà  àM2387€€Molinos,€Miguel€de.€€The€spiritual€guide.Ìà  à[London],€printed,€1688.€8ð$ð.Ð Ð  ÐÌÌThe€transcription€was€performed€by€Art€DððAdamo€(dadamo@voicenet.com,Ïhttp://www.voicenet.com/~dadamo).€Corrections€and€comments€appreciated.ÌÌÌNote:€The€pagination€of€the€original€was€not€reproduced.Ð  D!”ý Ðó ó›ÌÓ  ӜԇîUîXXU3ÔAN›Ð œì МÔ#†XU3XîîU #ÔÔ‡èQâèXXU3ÔACCOUNT›Ô#†XU3XèèQâr #ÔÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔÐ À ÐOf€the€following€ÌœÔ#†XU3XîîU¼ #ÔԇܜŒÜXXU3ÔBOOK›Ô#†XU3XÜÜœŒ&#ÔÐ l ¼ ÐÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔTo€all€sorts€of€œReaders.Ô#†XU3XîîU‚#ԛР¸  ÐÓ ÓÌÌÌThe€Book€that€is€here€œpresented€ye,›€is€a€Translation€from€the€òòItalianóó€Copy,€Printed€at€òòVeniceóó€inÐ  ð  Ð1685.€The€first€Man€that€got€it,€with€difficulty,€out€of€the€œAuthourððs›€hands,€and€then€had€it€PrintedÏat€òòRomeóó€in€1675,€with€all€the€solemnity€of€approbations,€was€Fryer€òòJohnóó€of€St.€òòMaryóó,€who€stylesÐ xÈ  Ðhimself€Provincial;€and€he€speaks€very€fine€things€of€it,€and€he€had€so€heartily€read€it€over,€that€theÏimpression€which€it€made€in€his€Mind,€gave€him€the€exact€cue€and€knack€of€that€sort€of€LanguageÏwhich€the€Author€uses,€when€he€throws€himself€headlong€into€darkness€and€obscurity:€And€whenÏthis€Man€had€recommended€the€Book€to€the€sincere€Reader,€after€his€way;€the€next€that€appearsÏto€give€a€Grace€to€it,€is€no€less€a€Man,€than€the€Most€Illustrious€and€most€Reverend€Lord,€theÏArchbishop€of€òòRhegiumóó,€who€tells€us€how€many€great€Offices€in€the€Church€he€had€passððdÐ P Ðthrough;€he€says€in€his€Approbation€of€the€Book,€that€ððtis€a€hard€matter€to€make€a€judgement€of€it,Ïwithout€some€experience€of€the€things€contained€in€it:€And€that€how€high€soever€the€secret€of€it€beÏabove€all€humane€Discourse,€yet€they€are€not€only€not€contrary€to€the€right€dictates€of€Reason,€butÏaltogether€conformable€to€it:€Which€is€as€fitting€a€Preface€to€some€things€in€the€Book,€as€any€manÏin€the€World€could€have€œmade›€with€the€Study€of€Seven€Years:€First,€to€say€that€these€sovereignÏSecrets,€which€the€Book€treats€of,€are€above€all€human€Discourse;€and€then€in€the€very€nextÏwords,€to€say€they€are€conformable€altogether€to€the€dictates€of€Reason:€as€if€the€dictates€ofÏReason€and€human€Discourse€had€entered€into€a€Combination€never€to€come€to€a€rightÏunderstanding€of€one€another.€He€that€would€be€further€satisfied€of€the€fitness€of€thisÏArchbishopððs€Character€to€the€Book,€will€be€gratified,€by€reading€patiently€some€things€of€theÏNineteenth€and€Twentieth€Chapters€of€the€Third€Book:€But€ððtis€enough,€that€this€great€ManÏspeaks€well€of€his€Countryman€òòMolinosððsóó€Doctrine,€that€ððtis€according€to€the€judgment€of€the€holyÐ "` ÐFathers,€and€the€usual€way€of€Mystical€Divines,€he€says€again,€that€the€Author€of€this€Book,€doesÏnot€speak€his€own€Capricios,€but€follows€the€footsteps€of€the€Ancients,€and€builds€upon€theirÏPrinciples,€and€spiritual€Foundations,€that€he€reduces€ððem€to€a€right€and€clear€Method,€bringingÏforth€(says€he)€out€of€his€Treasures,€things€new€and€old;€And€for€the€œStile›€of€the€Book,€he€allowsÏit€to€be€clear,€œeasie,›€plain,€and€full€in€such€crabbed€hard€and€lofty€Subject;€adding€withal,€that€theÏMan€doth€not€decline€Proofs€of€Scripture,€Doctrines€of€the€Fathers,€Decrees€of€Councils,€nor€theÏPrinciples€of€Morality,€and€therefore€he€judges€it€to€be€a€useful€Piece,€and€very€worth€to€beÏPrinted:€and€what€can€be€said€more€to€set€any€Book€off.Ìà  àNext€to€the€Archbishopððs€Approbation,€in€comes€that€of€œFryer›€òòFrancis„Maryóó,€MinisterÐ \*¬%& ÐGeneral€of€the€whole€òòFranciscanóó€Order,€given€from€his€Convent€of€òòAra€œCóóð§ðòòlióó,›€who€speaks€mightyÐ H+˜&' Ðkindly€and€favourably€of€the€Book,€&€recommends€it€to€the€Press.Ð 4,„'( Ðà  àThen€appears€the€Approbation€of€œFryer›€òòDominicóó€of€the€most€holy€Trinity,€Qualifier€andÐ d МÖ€ ÿÿÖ›Counsellour€of€the€holy€Office€of€òòMaltaóó,€and€of€the€òòInquisitionóó€of€òòRomeóó,€Rector€of€the€College€ofÐ Pì ÐòòMissionariesóó,€at€St.€òòPancraceóó,€and€he€blesses€himself€as€he€sits€in€judgement€upon€it,€and€gives€hisÐ <Ø Ðsense€&€liking,€as€formally€as€the€rest.Ìà  àAfter€this€comes€a€famous€òòJesuiteóó,€another€Qualifier€of€the€òòRoman€Inquisitionóó,€and€heÐ  ° Ðtakes€it€to€be€a€Book€of€singular€esteem€and€use,€and€recommends€it€to€others€with€as€muchÏcordial€kindness,€as€he€fancied€he€had€received€good€by€it.Ìà  àAnd€next€to€him€a€great€òòCapucineóó,€that€could€not€forbear€(either€for€the€credit€of€theÐ Ø t ÐBook,€or€himself)€to€tell€the€World,€that€he€had€been€no€less€than€four€several€times,€Provincial€ofÏòòAndaluziaóó,€and€was€at€present€Definitor€General€of€all€his€Order;€and€expresses€himself€muchÐ °L  Ðtaken€with€the€Book,€and€as€a€good€proof€of€so€being,€discourses€upon€it€in€that€Mystical€Way,Ïand€would€by€no€means€have€it€kept€from€being€Published.Ìà  àAll€this€is€òòRomanóó€Approbation€which€signifies€but€little€to€a€Book,€that€must€be€Printed€inÐ t  ÐòòVeniceóó;€and€therefore€the€Reformers€of€the€University€of€òòPaduaóó,€who€License€Books€receiving€aÐ `ü  ÐCertificate€from€their€Secretary,€that€the€Book€had€nothing€in€it€against€Princes,€or€good€Manners,Ïgave€leave€to€a€Stationer€of€òòVeniceóó€to€Print€it€again€there,€in€1676,€upon€the€Authority€of€whichÐ 8Ô  ÐLicense€it€came€out€once€more,€in€1685;€which€was€the€Copy,€that€this€Translation€goes€by.€SoÏthat€this€Book,€it€seems,€has€been€sufficiently€dispersed€in€the€World,€by€all€these€Impressions:ÏAnd€who€can€say€any€thing€more€for€it,€than€such€men€as€these,€that€have€Read€and€Censurððd€it€soÏCandidly,€and€Kindly?€If€what€has€since€happened€to€the€Author€and€his€Reputation,€do€make€hisÏVouchers€wish€that€they€had€not€been€so€free€of€their€Courtesie,€let€them€look€to€that:€But€whilððstÏthe€poor€Man€is€so€harassed€in€òòRomeóó,€it€would€become€the€Mercy€of€this€religious€Nation,€to€hearÐ À\ Ðhim€speak€his€Mind€by€an€Interpreter:€What€has€stung€the€Court€of€òòRomeóó€may€be€partly€guessed€atÐ ¬H Ðby€this€Book:€Till€we€know€further€of€the€Author,€there€is€no€more€to€be€said€of€him€than€thatÏsometimes€he€lights€upon€shrewððd€Truths,€and€very€excellent€Thoughts,€as€well€as€mere€Trash€andÏœFoppery.›€Do€but€pardon€him€his€rich€Vein€of€Enthusiasm€and€Gibberish,€and€give€him€leave€nowÏand€then€to€speak€further€than€you€can€see€or€apprehend,€and€you€will€find€things€enough€to€makeÏyou€think€and€attend€to€what€he€œsays:›€But€withal€let€me€tell€you,€that€tis€a€Blessing€to€you€to€liveÏin€a€Country,€where€the€Ministers€of€Religion€do€not€use€to€put€Tricks€up€on€your€UnderstandingÏnor€lead€you€blindly€you€know€not€whither.€And€so€I€rest.ÌÌÓ  ÓòòIn€Molinosððs€Style,óóÐ ø"” ÐÓÇ'ÓÓ  Ӝր ìÖNo„BODY.›Ð  ä#€  ÐÓ  ӜԇîUîXXU3ÔßA€" ) °°xdE°¯xAßÐ ° ÐÌßA€" ) °°xdE°âxAßÐ ã3 ÐÌTHEÌ›ÌÔ#†XU3XîîUa(#ÔÔ‡„)•„XXU3ÔSpiritual€œGuide,Ô#†XU3X„„)•W)#ÔÐ ^ ® ЛÌÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔWhich€disentangles€the€Soul,€and€by€the€Ð ª ú Ðinward€way,€leads€it€to€the€Fruition€of€ÌPerfect€Contemplation,€and€of€the€Ìrich€Treasure€of€Internal€Peace.Ô#†XU3XîîUÁ)#ÔÐ f  МÌßA€" ) °°xdE°%xAßÐ &v  Л̜Ô‡îUîXXU3ÔTheÐ !q  ÐAuthor›€to€the€œReader.Ô#†XU3XîîU+#ԛРE• ÐÓT(ÓÌÓ  ÓòòThere€is€nothing€more€difficult,€than€to€please€all€People,€not€more€œeasie›€and€common€than€toÐ U¥ Ðcensure€Books€that€come€abroad€in€the€World.€All€Books,€without€exception,€that€see€the€light,Ïrun€the€common€Risk€of€both€these€inconveniences,€though€they€may€be€sheltered€under€the€mostÏsublime€Protection,€what€will€become€of€this€little€Book€then,€which€hath€no€Patronage?€TheÏSubject€whereof€being€mystical,€and€not€well„seasoned;€carries€along€with€it€the€commonÏcensure,€and€will€seem€insipid?€Kind€Reader,€if€you€understand€it€not,€be€not€therefore€apt€toÏcensure€the€same.Ìà  àThe€Natural€Man€may€hear€and€read€these€œSpiritual›€Matters,€but€he€can€neverÏcomprehend€them,€as€St.óó€Paul€òòsaithóó;€(I€œCor.c.2›)€The€Natural€Man€receiveth€not€the€things€of€theÐ µ ÐSpirit€of€God.€òòIf€you€condemn€it,€you€condemn€your€self€to€the€number€of€the€wise€men€of€thisÐ ¡ñ ÐWorld,€of€who€St.óó€Denis€òòsays,€that€God€imparts€not€this€Wisdom€to€them,€as€he€does€to€the€simpleÐ Ý Ðand€humble,€though€in€the€opinion€of€Men€they€be€ignorant.Ìà  àMystical€knowledge€proceeds€not€from€Wit,€but€from€Experience;€it€is€not€invented,€butÏproved;€not€read,€but€received;€and€is€therefore€most€secure€and€efficacious,€of€great€help€andÏplentiful€in€fruit;€it€enters€notóó€(œMat.II.›)€òòinto€the€Soul€by€Ears,€nor€by€the€continual€Reading€ofÐ ="  ÐBooks,€but€by€the€free€Infusion€of€the€Holy€Ghost,€whose€Grace€with€most€delightful€intimacy,€isÏcommunicated€to€the€simple€and€lowly.Ìà  àThere€are€some€Learned€Men,€who€have€never€read€these€Matters,€and€some€SpiritualÏMen€that€hitherto€have€hardly€relished€them€and€therefore€both€condemn€them,€the€one€out€ofÏIgnorance,€and€the€other€for€want€of€Experience.Ìà  àBesides,€it€is€certain,€that€he€who€hath€not€the€experience€of€this€sweetness,€cannot€pass€aÏœJudgement›€upon€these€Mysterious€Secrets;€nay,€rather€heððll€be€Scandalized€(as€many€are)€whenÏhe€hears€of€the€Wonders€which€the€Divine€Love€is€wont€to€work€in€œSouls,›€because€he€finds€noÏœsuch›€Rarities€in€his€own.€Who€shall€limit€the€goodness€of€God,€whose€Arm€is€not€shortened,€butÏthat€he€can€do€now€what€he€hath€wrought€at€other€times?€God€calls€neither€the€strongest€nor€theÏrichest€for€their€Merit;€but€calls€rather€the€weakest€and€most€wretched,€that€his€infinite€mercyÐ a,±'+ Ðmay€shine€forth€the€more.̜ր Ö›à  àThis€Science€is€not€Theoretical,€but€Practical,€wherein€Experience€surpasses€the€mostÏrefined€and€ingenious€Speculation.€€Hence€it€was€that€St.óó€œTiresia›€òòadmonished€her€Ghostly€Father,Ð <Ø Ðthat€he€should€not€confer€about€Spiritual€Matters,€but€with€Spiritual€Menóó;€Because,€òòsaid€sheóó,€ifÐ ( Ä Ðthey€know€but€one€way,€or€if€they€have€stopped€œmid„way,›€there€is€no€success€to€be€expected.Ìà  àòòIt€will€soon€appear€that€he€hath€no€experience€of€this€practical€and€mystical€Science,€whoÐ  œ Ðshall€condemn€the€Doctrine€of€this€Book,€and€who€hath€not€read€St.óó€Dennis,€òòSt.óó€Austin,€òòSt.óóÐ ì ˆ ÐGregory,€òòSt.óó€Bernard,€òòSt.óó€Thomas,€òòSt.óó€Bonaventure,€òòand€many€other€Saints€and€Doctors€approvedÐ Ø t Ðby€the€Church,€who€like€expert€men,€approve,€œcommend,›€and€teach€the€Practice€of€this€Doctrine.Ìà  àIt€is€to€be€taken€notice€of,€that€the€Doctrine€of€this€Book€instructs€not€all€sorts€of€Persons,Ïbut€those€only€who€have€the€Senses€and€Passions€well€mortified,€who€have€already€advanced€andÏmade€progress€in€Prayer,€and€are€called€by€God€to€the€inward€way,€who€encourages€and€guidesÏthem,€freeing€them€from€the€obstacles€which€hinder€the€course€to€perfect€Contemplation.Ìà  àI€have€taken€care€to€have€the€Style€of€this€Book€devote,€chaste,€and€useful,€without€theÏornament€of€polite€Sentences,€ostentation€of€Eloquence,€or€Theological€Niceties,€my€only€scopeÏwas€to€teach€the€Naked€Truth,€with€humility,€sincerity€and€perspicuity.Ìà  àIt€is€not€to€be€wondered€at€that€new€Spiritual€Books€are€every€day€published€in€the€World,Ïbecause€God€hath€always€new€Light€to€communicate,€and€Souls€stand€always€in€need€of€theseÏInstructions.€€All€things€have€not€been€said,€nor€every€thing€written,€hence€it€is€that€there€will€beÏWriting€to€the€end€of€the€World.€€Wonderful€were€the€Lights€that€God€Almighty€communicated€toÏhis€Church€by€means€of€the€Angelical€Doctor€St.óó€œThomas,›€òòand€at€the€hour€of€his€Death,€heÐ Ôp Ðhimself€said€that€the€Divine€Majesty€had€at€that€instant€communicated€to€him€so€much€light,€thatÏall€he€had€before€written€came€short€of€it.€€God€has,€then,€and€always€will€have€new€Lights€toÏcommunicate,€without€any€diminution€to€his€own€Infinite€Wisdom.Ìà  àThe€many€and€grievous€pains€and€difficulties€of€the€inward€way€ought€not€to€make€a€SoulÏdespond,€because€it€is€but€reasonable€that€a€thing€of€great€value€should€cost€dear.€€œBe›€of€goodÏcomfort,€and€believe,€that€not€only€those€which€are€here€represented,€but€many€others€also€willÏbe€overcome€with€the€Grace€of€God€and€internal€Fortitude.Ìà  àIt€was€never€my€design€to€treat€of€Contemplation,€nor€in€œdefence›€of€it,€as€many€have€doneÏwho€have€learnedly€and€speculatively€published€whole€Books,€full€of€efficacious€Reasons,ÏDoctrines€and€Authorities€of€Saints€and€of€the€Holy€Scripture,€for€confuting€the€Opinion€of€thoseÏwho€without€any€ground€have€condemned,€and€do€condemn€it.Ìà  àThe€Experience€of€many€œYears›€(by€reason€of€the€many€Souls€who€have€trusted€to€myÏinsufficiency,€for€their€conduct€in€the€inward€way,€to€which€they€have€been€called)€hathÏconvinced€me€of€the€great€necessity€they€are€in€of€having€the€obstacles€taken€out€of€their€way,€theÏinclinations,€affections€and€allurements€removed,€which€wholly€hinder€the€course€and€obstructÏthe€way€to€perfect€Contemplation.Ìà  àThis€whole€Practical€Book€tends€chiefly€to€this€end,€because€it€is€not€enough€to€ascertainÏthe€inward€way€of€Contemplation,€if€the€obstacles€be€not€taken€out€of€the€way€of€those€Souls€thatÏare€called€and€assured,€which€hinder€their€progress€and€œspiritual›€flight;€For€which€end€I€haveÏmade€use€rather€of€what€God€œout›€of€his€infinite€mercy€hath€inspired€into€me,€and€taught€me,€thanÏof€any€thing€that€the€œspeculative›€reading€of€Books€has€œsuggested›€unto€me,€or€furnished€me€with.Ð 0,Ì%) Ðà  àSometimes€(though€very€seldom)€I€quote€the€Authority€of€some€practical€and€œexperiencððd›ÏAuthor,€to€show€that€the€Doctrine€which€is€here€taught€is€not€singular€and€rare.€€It€hath€been€myÏfirst€scope€then,€not€to€ascertain€the€inward€way€but€to€disentangle€and€œunpester›€it;€My€next€hathÏbeen€to€instruct€the€Spiritual€œDivertors›,€that€they€may€not€stop€those€Souls€in€their€course€whichÏare€called€by€these€secret€Paths€to€internal€Peace€and€Supreme€Felicity.€€God€of€his€infiniteÏMercy€grant,€that€an€end€so€much€desired€may€be€obtained.Ìà  àI€hope€in€God,€that€some€of€those€Souls,€whom€his€Divine€Majesty€calls€to€this€œknowledg,›Ïwill€find€profit€from€what€I€have€writ;€for€whose€sake€I€shall€reckon€my€pains€very€well€employed.€ÏThis€has€been€the€only€But€of€my€desire,€and€if€God€(as€certainly€he€will)€accept€and€approveÏthose€pure€desires,€I€shall€be€content€and€have€my€reward.óóÐ ü L  ÐÌÖ€ ìÖà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àœFarewellÌÌßA€" ) °°xdE°«xAߛР¬ü  МР »  ÐÓ  ÓÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔÑ n ÑßA€" ) °°xdE°¯xAßßA€" ) °°xdE°¯xAßÐ ° ÐÌßA€" ) °°xdE°âxAßÐ ã3 ÐÌÖ€ÔÖThe›ÌœÔ#†XU3XîîUkI#ÔÔ‡°&*°XXU3ÔPREFACE.Ô#†XU3X°°&*ÄJ#ԛР:Š Ð̜ԇîUîXXU3Ôò òFirst›€œAdvertisementó óÔ#†XU3XîîU&K#Ô.›Ð þ N ÐÌÓ_IÓœòòà0  àà ° àBy›€two€ways€one€may€go€to€God,€œthe›€first€by€Meditation€and€Discourse€or€œReasoning;€the›€secondÐ  Z  Ðby€pure€Faith€and€œContemplation.óó›Ðö F (#(# М̛Ì1.€There€are€two€ways€of€going€to€God,€the€one€by€Consideration€and€Mental€Discourse,€and€theÏother€by€the€Purity€of€Faith,€an€indistinct,€general€and€confused€knowledge.€The€first€is€calledÏMeditation,€the€second€Internal€Recollection,€or€œacquirððd›€Contemplation.€The€first€is€of€Beginners,Ïthe€second€of€Proficients.€The€first€is€sensible€and€material,€the€second€more€naked,€pure€andÏinternal.Ìà  à2.€When€the€Soul€is€already€accustomed€to€discourse€of€Mysteries,€by€the€help€ofÏimagination,€and€the€use€of€corporal€Images;€being€carried€from€Creature€to€Creature,€and€fromÏœKnowledg›€to€œKnowledg›€(though€with€very€little€of€that€which€it€wants)€and€from€these€to€theÏCreator;€Then€God€is€wont€to€take€that€Soul€by€the€hand€(if€rather€he€calls€it€not€in€the€veryÏbeginning,€and€leads€it€without€ratiocination€by€the€way€of€pure€Faith)€making€the€Intellect€pass€byÏall€considerations€and€œreasonings›,€draws€it€forward,€and€raises€it€out€of€this€material€and€sensibleÏstate,€making€it€under€a€simple€and€obscure€knowledge€of€Faith,€wholly€aspire€to€its€BridegroomÏupon€the€wings€of€Love,€without€any€farther€necessity€of€the€œperswasions›€and€œinformations›€of€theÏIntellect,€to€make€it€love€him,€because€in€that€manner€the€Soulððs€love€would€be€very€scanty,€muchÏdependent€on€Creature,€stinted€to€drops,€and€these€œtoo›€but€falling€with€pauses€and€intervals.Ìà  à3.€By€how€much€less€it€depends€on€Creatures,€and€the€more€it€relies€on€God€alone,€and€hisÏsecret€documents,€by€the€mediation€of€pure€Faith,€the€more€durable,€œfirm,›€œand›€strong€will€thatÏLove€be.€After€the€Soul€hath€already€acquired€the€œknowledg›€which€all€the€meditations€andÏcorporal€Images€of€Creatures€can€give€her;€it,€now,€the€Lord€raise€her€out€of€that€state,€byÏstripping€her€of€ratiocination,€and€leaving€her€in€divine€darkness,€to€the€end€she€may€march€in€theÏœstreight›€Way,€and€by€pure€Faith,€let€her€be€guided,€and€not€love€with€the€scantiness€and€tenuityÏthat€these€direct;€but€let€her€suppose€that€the€whole€World,€and€all€that€the€most€refinedÏconceptions€of€the€wisest€œunderstandings›€can€tell€her,€are€nothing,€and€that€the€goodness€andÏbeauty€of€her€œbeloved,›€infinitely€surpasses€all€their€œknowledg,›€being€œperswaded›€that€all€CreaturesÏare€too€rude€to€inform€her,€and€to€conduct€her€to€the€true€œknowledg›€of€œGod.Ì›à  à4.€She€ought€then€to€advance€forward€with€her€love,€leaving€all€her€understanding€behind.ÏLet€her€love€God€as€he€is€in€himself,€and€not€as€her€imagination€says€he€is,€and€frames€him€to€her;ÏAnd€if€she€cannot€know€him€as€he€is€in€himself,€let€her€love€him€without€knowing€him€under€theÏobscure€veils€of€Faith;€in€the€same€manner€as€a€Son€who€hath€never€seen€his€Father,€but€fullyÏbelieving€those€who€have€given€him€information€of€him,€loves€him,€as€if€he€had€already€seen€him.œÌà  à€›5.The€Soul,€from€which€Mental€Discourse€is€taken,€ought€not€to€strain€her€self,€norÐ b,²'+ Ðsolicitously€seek€for€more€clear€and€particular€knowledge,€but€even€without€the€supports€ofÏsensible€consolations€or€notices,€with€poverty€of€spirit,€and€deprived€of€all€that€the€natural€appetiteÏrequires;€continue€quiet,€firm€and€constant,€letting€the€Lord€work€his€work,€though€she€may€seemÏto€be€alone,€exhausted€and€full€of€darkness:€and€though€this€appear€to€her€to€be€idleness,€it€is€onlyÏof€her€own€sensible€and€material€activity,€not€of€Godððs,€who€is€working€true€œknowledg›€in€her.œÌ›à  à6.€Finally,€the€more€the€Spirit€ascends,€the€more€it€is€taken€off€of€sensible€Objects.€ManyÏare€the€Souls€who€have€arrived€and€do€arrive€at€this€gate,€but€few€have€passed€or€do€pass€it,€forÏwant€of€the€experimental€guide,€and€those€who€have€had,€and€actually€have€it,€for€want€of€a€trueÏsubjection€and€œintire›€submission.œÌ›à  à7.€Theyððll€say,€that€the€œWill€will›€not€love;€but€be€œunactive›,€if€the€Intellect€understand€notÏclearly€and€distinctly,€it€being€a€received€Maxim,€œthat€that›€which€is€not€known,€cannot€be€loved.ÏTo€this€it€is€answered,€that€thoðð€the€Intellect€understand€not€distinctly€by€ratiocination,€Images€andÏConsiderations,€yet€it€understands€and€knows€by€an€obscure,€general€and€confused€Faith;€whichÏœknowledg,›€thoðð€so€obscure,€indistinct,€and€general,€and€being€supernatural,€hath€nevertheless€aÏmore€clear€and€perfect€cognition€of€God,€than€any€sensible€and€particular€notice,€that€can€beÏformed€in€this€life,€because€all€corporal€and€sensible€representation€is€infinitely€distant€from€God.œÌ›à  à8.€We€know€God€more€perfectly€(says€St.€òòDenisó󀄀Mystic.€œTheol›.€œc.I.ðð.2›)€by€Negatives,Ð $À Ðthan€by€Affirmatives.€We€think€more€highly€of€God,€by€knowing€that€he€is€incomprehensible,€andÏabove€all€our€capacity,€than€by€conceiving€him€under€any€image€or€created€beauty,€according€toÏour€rude€understanding.€A€greater€esteem€and€love€then€will€flow€from€this€confused,€obscure€andÏnegative,€than€from€any€other€sensible€and€distinct€way;€because€that€is€more€proper€to€God,€andÏabstracted€from€creatures;€and€this,€on€the€contrary,€the€more€it€depends€on€creatures,€the€less€itÏhath€of€God.œÐ  ¬H ÐÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔÓ  ÓÑ n ÑThe›€œPREFACE.›Ð ° МÌßA€" ) °°xdE°÷xAßÐ øH ЛÌSecond€œAdvertisement.›ÌÌÓ¸`ÓœòòÔ#†XU3XîîU™`#Ôà0  àà ° àDeclaring›€what€Meditation€and€Contemplation€œare,€and›€the€difference€that€is€betwixt€them.óóÐs Ã(#(# ÐÌœÌ9.›€St.€òòJohn€Damasceneóó€(Lib.€3.€œde›€fide,€œc.24.)›€and€other€Saints€say,€that€Prayer€is€a€sallying€out€orÐ 7 ‡  Ðelevation€of€the€Mind€to€God.€God€is€above€all€creatures,€and€the€Soul€cannot€see€him,€norÏconverse€with€him,€if€it€raise€not€it€self€above€them€all.€This€friendly€conversation,€which€the€SoulÏhath€with€God,€thatððs€to€say,€in€Prayer,€is€divided€into€Meditation€and€œContemplation.Ì›à  à10.€When€the€Mind€considers€the€Mysteries€of€our€holy€Faith€with€attention,€to€know€theÏtruth€of€them,€reasoning€upon€the€particulars,€and€weighing€the€circumstances€of€the€same,€for€theÏexciting€of€affections€in€the€Will;€this€mental€discourse€and€pious€Act€is€properly€calledÏœMeditation.Ì›à  à11.€When€the€œSoul›€already€knows€the€truth€(either€by€a€habit€acquired€through€reasoning,Ïor€because€the€Lord€hath€given€it€particular€light)€and€fixes€the€eyes€of€the€Mind€on€theÏdemonstrated€truth,€beholding€it€sincerely€with€quietness€and€silence,€without€any€necessity€ofÏconsiderations,€ratiocinations,€or€other€proofs€of€conviction,€and€the€will€loves€it,€admiring€andÏdelighting€it€self€therein;€This€properly€is€called€the€Prayer€of€Faith,€the€Prayer€of€Rest,€InternalÏRecognition€or€Contemplation.œÌ›à  àœWhich›€òòSt.€Thomasóó€(œ2.2.q.180›.€Art.€3.€œp.4)›€with€all€the€mystical€Masters€says,€òòis€a€sincere,Ð o Ðsweet,€and€still€view€of€the€eternal€truth€without€ratiocination,€or€œreflexion›óó.€But€if€the€SoulÐ  [ Мrejoyces›€in,€or€eyes€the€effects€of€God€in€the€creatures,€and€amongst€them,€in€the€humanity€of€ourÏLord€Christ,€as€the€most€perfect€of€all,€this€is€not€perfect€œContemplation,›€as€òòSt.€Thomasóó€(œibidem.)›Ð ã3 Ðaffirms,€since€all€these€are€means€for€knowing€of€God€as€he€is€in€himself:€And€although€theÏhumanity€of€Christ€be€the€most€holy€and€perfect€means€for€going€to€God,€the€chief€instrument€ofÏour€salvation,€and€the€channel€through€which€we€receive€all€the€good€we€hope€for,€neverthelessÏthe€humanity€is€not€the€chief€good,€which€consists€in€œseeing›€God;€but€as€Jesus€Christ€is€more€byÏhis€divinity€than€his€humanity,€so€he€that€thinks€and€fixes€his€contemplation€always€on€GodÏ(because€the€divinity€is€united€to€the€humanity)€always€thinks€on,€and€beholds€Jesus€Christ,Ïespecially,€the€contemplative€man,€in€whom€Faith€is€more€sincere,€pure€and€exercised.œÌà  à›13.€As€often€as€the€end€is€obtained,€the€means€cease,€and€when€the€Ship€arrives€in€theÏœHarbour›€the€voyage€is€over.€So€if€the€œSoul›€after€it€hath€been€toiled€and€carried€by€means€ofÏmeditation,€arrives€at€the€stillness,€tranquility,€and€rest€of€œContemplation,›€it€ought€then€to€cut€offÏall€œreasonings›,€and€rest€quiet€with€an€amorous€attention,€and€simple€Vision€of€God;€seeing€andÏloving€him,€sweetly€rejecting€all€the€imaginations€that€present€themselves,€calming€the€Mind€in€thatÏDivine€Presence,€recollecting€the€Memory,€and€fixing€it€wholly€on€God,€being€contented€with€aÏgeneral€and€confused€knowledge,€which€is€had€by€the€Mediation€of€Faith,€applying€the€whole€WillÏto€love€him,€wherein€consists€all€their€fruit€of€enjoyment.œÌà  à›14.€òòSt.€Denisóó€(œMyst›.€œTheol›.)€says,€òòAs€for€you,€most€dear€Timothy,€in€applying€your€self€toÐ £+ó&* ÐMystical€Speculations,€abstract€from€the€Senses€and€Operations€of€the€Intellect;€from€all€sensibleÏand€intelligible€Objects,€and€Universally€from€all€things€that€are,€and€are€not;€and€in€anÏunknown€and€inexpressible€Way,€as€much€as€lies€in€the€power€of€Man,€raise€your€self€to€theÏUnion€of€him,€who€is€above€all€Nature€and€Knowledgeóó.€Thus€far€the€Saint.œÐ ( Ä Лà  à15.€It€concerns€us€then,€to€forsake€all€created,€sensible,€intelligible€and€affected€Beings;Ïand€in€short,€every€thing€that€is,€and€is€not,€that€we€may€cast€our€selves€into€the€loving€Bosom€ofÏGod,€who€will€restore€to€us€as€much€as€we€have€left,€increasing€in€us€strength€and€power€to€loveÏhim€more€ardently,€whose€love€will€maintain€it€self€within€this€Holy€and€Blessed€Silence,€which€isÏof€more€worth€than€all€Acts€joined€togetherÌà  à16.€òòSt.€Thomasóó€(Quest.€27.€œ2.ad›€œsecuedum›€œar.)›€says,€òòIt€is€the€least€thing,€that€theÐ °L  ÐUnderstanding€can€know€of€God€in€this€Life,€but€much€what€the€Will€can€have€of€Loveóó.Ð œ8  Ðà  à17.€When€the€Soul€attains€to€this€state,€it€ought€wholly€to€retreat€within€it€self,€in€its€ownÏpure€and€profound€œCenter;›€where€the€Image€of€God€is,€there€is€amorous€attention,€silence,€theÏforgetfulness€of€all€things,€the€application€of€the€Will,€with€perfect€resignation,€hearing€and€talkingÏwith€God€hand€to€hand,€and€in€such€manner,€as€if€there€was€no€other€but€them€two€in€the€World.Ìà  à18.€Good€reason€have€the€Saints€to€say,€that€Meditation€operates€with€œtoyl,›€and€with€fruit;ÏContemplation€without€œtoyl,›€with€quiet,€rest,€peace,€delight,€and€far€greater€fruit.€MeditationÏsows,€and€Contemplation€reaps;€Meditation€seeks,€and€Contemplation€finds;€Meditation€chews€theÏFood,€Contemplation€œtasts›€and€feeds€on€it.Ìà  à19.€All€this€was€said€by€Mystical€òòBernardóó,€upon€these€Words€of€our€Savior;€òòœQuerite›€&Ð è„ Мinvenietis›;€pulsate€&€œaperietur›€vobis.€œLectio›€œopponit›€œori›€solidum€œcibum›,€œMeditatio›€œfrangit›;ÏOratio€œjaporem›€œconciliat›,€œContemplatio›€est€ipsa€œdulcedo›€œque›€œjucundat›€&€œresicit›.óó€Thus€ye€have€anÐ À\ Ðaccount€what€Meditation€and€Contemplation€are,€and€the€difference€that€occurs€betwixt€them.œÐ  ¬H ÐÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔÓ  ÓÑ n ÑThe€PREFACE.Ð ° ÐÌßA€" ) °°xdE°÷xAßÐ øH ÐÌThird€Advertisement.ÌÓxÓÌòòÔ#†XU3XîîUüw#Ôà0  àà ° àWhat›€is€the€Difference€betwixt€the€Acquired€and€Active€œContemplation,€and›€the€Infused€andÐ s à МPassive.€With›€the€Signs€whereby€it€is€known,€when€God€will€have€the€œSoul€to›€pass€fromÏMeditation,€to€Contemplation.œóóÐK ›(#(# ÐÌ20.›€There€are€moreover€two€ways€of€Contemplation:€The€one€is€Imperfect,€Active€and€Acquired;ÏThe€other€Infused€and€Passive.€The€Active€(whereof€we€have€treated€hitherto)€is€that€which€mayÏbe€attained€to€by€our€Diligence,€assisted€with€Divine€Grace;€we€gathering€together€the€FacultiesÏand€Senses,€and€preparing€our€selves€by€every€way€that€God€would€have.€So€says€òòœBoias›óó€andÐ ç7  ÐòòœArnaia›óó.œÐ Ó#  Ðà  à›21.€òòSt.€Bernardóó€œ(Psal.€85)€recommends›€this€Active€Contemplation,€discoursing€upon€theseÐ ¿ ÐWords,œ€òòAudiam€quid€loquatur€in€me€Deusóó.€And€he€says€òòOptimam€partem€elegit€Maria,€licet€nonÐ «û Ðminoris€(fortasse)€meriti€sit€apud€Deum€humilis€conversatio€Marth,€sed€de€electione€MariaÏlaudatur:€quoniam€illa€omnino€(quo€ad€nos€spectat)€eligenda,€hc€vero€si€injungitur€patienterÏest€toleranda.óóÐ o¿ Ðà  à›22.€In€like€manner€òòSt.€Thomasóó€(œSecund.q.182›.€art.€2.&3.)€inculcates€this€acquiredÐ [« Ðcontemplation€in€the€following€wordsœ;€òòQuanto€homo€animam€suam,€vel€alterius€propinquius€deoÐ G— Ðconjungit,€tanto€sacrificium€est€deo€magis€acceptum,€unde€magis€acceptum€est€deo€quod€aliquisÏanimam€suam€&€aliorum€applicet€contemplationi€quam€actionióó.€Very€clear€Words€to€stop€theÐ o ÐMouth€of€those€who€condemn€acquired€contemplation.Ìà  à23.€›How€much€the€nearer€a€man€approaches€his€own€Soul,€or€the€Soul€of€another€to€God,Ïso€much€the€more€acceptable€is€the€Sacrifice€to€God;€from€whence€it€is€inferred€(concludes€theÏsame€Saint)€that€the€application€of€a€manððs€own€Soul,€or€the€procuring€that€of€œanothers›€toÏœContemplation,›€is€more€acceptable€to€God,€than€the€applying€of€the€same€to€Action.€It€cannot€beÏsaid,€that€the€Saint€speaks€here€of€infused€Contemplation,€because€it€is€not€in€the€power€of€man,€toÏapply€himself€to€the€infused,€but€to€the€acquiredœ.Ìà  à24.€›Though€it€be€said,€that€we€may€with€the€Lordððs€help,€set€our€selves€to€acquiredÏcontemplation;€nevertheless,€no€man€ought€of€his€own€Head€to€be€so€bold,€as€to€pass€from€theÏstate€of€Meditation€to€this,€without€the€counsel€of€an€expert€Director,€who€shall€clearly€knowÏwhether€his€Soul€be€called€by€God€to€this€inward€way;€or€for€want€of€a€Director,€the€Soul€it€self€isÏto€know€it€by€some€Book,€that€treats€of€these€Matters,€sent€to€him€by€Divine€Providence,€forÏdiscovering€that,€which€without€knowing€what€it€was,€he€experimentally€felt€within€his€own€Heart.ÏBut€though€by€means€of€the€light€which€that€Book€gives€him€he€may€obtain€assurance€enough,€toÏleave€Meditation€for€the€quiet€of€contemplation,€yet€his€œSoul›€will€still€retain€an€ardent€desire€ofÏbeing€more€perfectly€instructedœ.Ìà  à25.€›And€to€the€end€it€may€receive€good€Instruction€in€order€to€that€point,€Iððll€here€give€itÏthe€Signs€whereby€it€shall€know€that€call€to€contemplation.€The€first€and€chief€is,€an€inability€toÏmeditate,€and€if€the€Soul€meditate,€it€will€perform€it€with€much€disquiet€and€œirksomness›,€providedÐ £+ó&* Ðthat€proceed€not€from€the€indisposition€of€Nature,€or€a€melancholy€œHumour›,€or€a€Dryness,Ïspringing€from€the€want€of€Preparationœ.Ìà  à26.€›It€will€be€known€not€to€be€any€of€these€defects,€but€rather€a€true€call,€when€that€SoulÏpasses€a€Day,€a€Month;€nay,€and€many€Months,€without€being€able€to€discourse€in€Prayer.€òòTheÐ ( Ä ÐLord€guides€the€Soul€by€Contemplationóó€(says€the€holy€Mother€Teresa)€òòand€the€Mind€finds€it€selfÐ  ° Ðmuch€disabled€from€meditating€the€Passion€of€Christ,€since€Meditation€is€nothing€else€but€aÏseeking€of€God;€the€Soul€once€finding€him,€and€retaining€the€Custom€of€seeking€him€of€new,€byÏthe€operation€of€the€Will,€it€will€not€be€baffled€with€the€Intellect.óó€Thus€far€the€Saint.œÐ Ø t Ðà  à27.€›The€second€Sign€is,€that€though€it€is€wanting€in€sensible€Devotion,€yet€it€covetsÏSolitude,€and€avoids€conversation.Ìà  àThe€third,€that€the€reading€of€godly€Books€is€usually€tedious€to€it,€because€they€speak€notÏof€the€Internal€Sweetness€that€is€in€its€Heart,€thoðð€it€know€it€not.Ìà  àThe€fourth,€that€though€it€find€it€self€destitute€of€ratiocination,€yet€it€hath€a€firm€purpose€ofÏpersevering€in€Prayer.€The€fifth€is,€that€it€will€experience€a€sense€(with€great€confusion)€of€it€self,Ïabhorring€guilt,€and€entertaining€a€higher€esteem€of€God.œÌà  à28.€The€other€òòContemplationóó€is€perfect€and€infused.€òòWhereinóó€(as€St.€Teresa€says)€òòGodÐ 8Ô  Ðspeaks€to€a€man,€›sequestratingœ€his€intelect,€questioning€his€thought,€and€seizing€(as€they€say)€theÏword€in€his€mouth;€so€that€if€he€would,€he€cannot€speak,€but€with€great€pain.€He€understands,Ïthat€without€the€nosie€of€words,€the€Divine€Master€is€instructing€him,€suspending€all€his€powersÏand€faculties,€because€if€at€that€time€they€should€operate,€they€would€do€more€hurt€than€good.ÏThese€rejoyce,€but€know€not€how€they€rejoyce;€the€Soul€is€inflamed€with€love,€and€conceives€notÏhow€it€loves;€it€knows€that€it€enjoys€what€it€desires,€and€knows€not€the€manner€of€that€enjoyment;Ïwell€it€knows,€that€that€is€not€enjoyment€which€the€intellect€longs€for.€The€Will€embraces€it,Ïwithout€understanding€how;€but€being€unable€to€understand€any€thing,€perceives€it€is€not€thatÏgood,€which€can€be€merited€by€all€the€labours€put€together€which€are€suffered€upon€earth€forÏgaining€it.€It€is€a€gift€of€the€Lord€of€the€Soul,€and€of€Heaven,€who€in€the€end€gives€as€he€is,€and€toÏwhom€he€pleases€as€he€pleases:€Such€is€his€Majesty€in€this,€that€it€does€every€thing,€and€hisÏoperation€is€above€our€nature.óó€All€this€we€have€from€holy€Mother,€in€her€òòWay€to€Perfectionóó,Ð Hä Ðchap.€25.€From€whence€it€follows,€that€this€òòContemplationóó€is€infused,€and€freely€given€by€the€LordÐ 4 Ð Ðto€whom€he€pleases.Ð   !¼ ÐÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔÓ  ÓÑ t ÑThe€PREFACE.Ð ° ÐÌFourth€Advertisement.ÌÓf‘ÓÌÔ#†XU3XîîUG‘#Ôòòà0  àà ° àThe€Burden€of€this€Book€consisting€in€rooting€out€the€Rebellion€of€our€own€Will,€that€we€mayÐ @  Ðattain€to€internal€Peace.óóÐ, |(#(# ÐÌ29.€›The€way€of€inward€Peace,€is€in€all€things€to€be€conform€to€the€pleasure€and€disposition€of€theÏDivine€Willœ.€(Hugo€Cardinalisin€Pf.€13.)€òòIn€omnibus€debemus€subjicere€volis€tatem€nostramÐ ð @ Ðvoluntatis€divine€hc€est€enim€pax€voluntati€nostra€ut€sit€per€omnia€confirmis€voluntati€divineóó.Ð Ü ,  ЛSuch€as€would€have€all€things€succeed€and€come€to€pass€according€to€their€own€fancy,€are€œnotÏcome€to€know›€this€way,€òòœViam›€œpacis›€non€œcognos›€œverunt›óó,€and€therefore€lead€a€harsh€and€bitter€life,Ð ´  Ðalways€restless€and€out€of€œhumour›€without€treading€the€way€of€Peace,€which€consists€in€a€totalÏconformity€to€the€will€of€Godœ.̛րìÖà  à30.€This€conformity€is€the€sweet€yoke€that€introduces€us€into€the€regions€of€internal€PeaceÏand€serenity.€Hence€we€may€know,€that€the€rebellion€of€our€Will€is€the€chief€occasion€of€ourÏdisquiet;€and€that€because€we€will€not€submit€to€the€sweet€yoke€of€the€Divine€Will,€we€suffer€soÏmany€œstreights›€and€perturbations.€O€Soul!€œif›€we€submitted€our€own€to€the€Divine€Will,€and€to€allÏhis€Disposition,€what€tranquility€should€we€feel!€what€sweet€peace!€what€inward€serenity!€whatÏsupreme€felicity€and€earnest€of€bliss!.€This€then€is€to€be€the€burden€of€this€Book:€May€it€pleaseÏGod€to€give€me€his€Divine€Light,€for€discovering€the€secret€Paths€of€this€Inward€Way,€and€chiefÏFelicity€of€perfect€Peaceœ.Ð  ì< ÐÔ‡„)•„XXU3ÔÓ  Óñ¨ñÑ ýo Ññ¨ññ©ñÑ  n Ññ©ñßA€" ) °°xdE°¯xAßÐ ° ÐßA€" ) °°xdE°¾xAßÐ ¿ ÐÌñ§ñßA€" ) °°xdE°-xAßñ§ñÐ .~ ÐÖ€ÿÿÖÌÖ€ÖTHEÌÔ#†XU3X„„)•[˜#ÔÔ‡°&*°XXU3ÔSpiritual€GuideÔ#†XU3X°°&*š#ÔÐ ýM ЛÌÔ‡îUîXXU3ÔWhich€leads€the€Soul€to€the€fruition€of€Inward€œPeace.Ð Á  ЛÌßA€" ) °°xdE°xAßÐ  Y  ÐThe€First€œBook.ÌßA€" ) °°xdE°;xAߛР<Œ  ÐÌOf€the€Darkness,€Dryness,€and€Temptations€wherewith€God€purges€œSouls,›€andÏof€Internal€œRecollection.Ô#†XU3XîîU{š#ÔÐ “ã  ÐÌ›ßA€" ) °°xdE°¢xAßÐ £ó ÐÓz˜ÓÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€œI.›ÌÓ­œÓÌœòòà0  àà ° àTo›€the€end€God€may€rest€in€the€Soul,€the€Heart€is€always€to€be€kept€peaceable€in€whatsoeverÐ vÆ ÐDisquiet,€Temptation€and€Tribulationóó.Ðb²(#(# ÐÌ1.€Thou€art€to€know,€that€thy€Soul€is€the€Center,€Habitation,€and€the€Kingdom€of€God.€ThatÏtherefore,€to€the€end€œthe›€Sovereign€King€may€rest€on€that€œThrone›€of€thy€œSoul,›€thou€ought€to€takeÏpains€to€keep€it€clean,€quiet,€void€and€peaceable;€clean€from€guilt€and€defects;€quiet€from€fears;Ïvoid€of€affections,€desires,€and€thoughts;€and€peaceable€in€temptations€and€tribulations.Ìà  à2.€Thou€ought€always€then€to€keep€thine€Heart€in€peace;€that€thou€may€keep€pure€thatÏTemple€of€God,€and€with€a€right€and€pure€intention,€thou€art€to€work,€pray,€obey€and€suffer,Ïwithout€being€in€the€least€moved,€whatever€it€pleases€the€Lord€to€send€unto€thee.€Because€it€isÏcertain,€that€for€the€good€of€thy€œSoul,›€and€for€thy€spiritual€profit,€he€will€suffer€the€envious€enemyÏto€trouble€that€City€of€Rest,€and€Throne€of€Peace,€with€temptations,€suggestions€and€tribulations,Ïand€by€the€means€of€creature,€with€painful€troubles€and€grievous€persecutionsœ.Ìà  à3.€›Be€constant,€and€cheer€up€thine€heart€in€whatsoever€disquiet€these€tribulations€mayÏcause€to€thee.€Enter€within€it,€that€thou€may€overcome€it;€for€therein€is€the€Divine€Fortress,€whichÏdefends,€protects,€and€fights€for€thee.€If€a€man€hath€a€safe€Fortress,€he€is€not€disquieted,€thoughÏhis€enemies€pursue€him;€because,€by€retreating€within€it,€these€are€disappointed€and€overcome.ÏThe€strong€Castle,€that€will€make€thee€triumph€over€all€thine€enemies,€visible€and€invisible,€andÏover€all€their€snares€and€tribulations,€is€within€thine€own€Soul,€because€in€it€resides€the€Divine€AidÏand€Sovereign€œSuccour›.€Retreat€within€it€and€all€will€be€quiet,€secure,€peaceable€and€œcalm.Ìà  à4.€›It€ought€to€be€thy€chief€and€continual€exercise,€to€œpacifie›€that€Throne€of€thy€Heart€thatÏthe€Supreme€King€may€rest€therein.€The€way€to€œpacifie›€it,€will€be,€to€enter€into€thy€self€by€meansÏof€internal€recollection;€all€thy€protection€is€to€be€Prayer€and€a€loving€recollection€in€the€DivineÏPresence.€When€thou€œseest›€thy€self€more€sharply€assaulted,€retreat€into€that€region€of€Peace,Ð ª+ú&,  Ðwhere€œthouððlt›€find€the€Fortress.€When€thou€are€more€faint„œhearted›,€betake€thy€self€to€this€refuge€ofÏPrayer,€the€only€Armor€for€overcoming€the€enemy,€and€mitigating€tribulation:€thou€ought€not€toÏbe€at€a€distance€from€it€in€a€Storm,€to€the€end€thou€œmayest,›€as€another€òòNoahóó,€experienceÐ <Ø Ðtranquility,€security€and€serenity,€and€to€the€end€thy€will€may€be€resigned,€devote,€peaceful€andÏcourageousœ.Ìà  à5.€›Finally,€be€not€afflicted€nor€discÔ% € Ôouraged€to€see€thy€self€faint„œhearted›,€he€returns€to€quietÏthee,€that€still€he€may€stir€thee,€because€this€Divine€Lord€will€be€alone€with€thee,€to€rest€in€thyÏœSoul,›€and€form€therein€a€rich€Throne€of€Peace;€that€within€thine€own€heart,€by€means€of€internalÏrecollection,€and€with€his€heavenly€Grace,€œthou›€may€look€for€silence€in€tumult,€solitude€inÏcompany,€light€in€darkness,€forgetfulness€in€pressures,€œvigour›€in€despondency,€courage€in€fear,Ïresistance€in€temptation,€peace€in€war,€and€quiet€in€tribulation.œÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°sxAßÐ t  ÐÔ& ` ÔÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€IIÌÓªÓÌòòà0  àà ° àThough€the€Soul€perceive€it€self€deprived€of€Discourse,€or€Ratiocination,€yet€it€ought€toÐ Gã  Ðpresevere€in€Prayer,€and€not€be€afflicted,€because€that€is€its€greater€Felicityóó.Ð3Ï(#(# ÐÌ6.€Thoulððt›€find€thy€self,€as€all€other€Souls€that€are€called€by€the€Lord€to€the€inward€way,€full€ofÏÔ'`ƒªÔconfusion€and€doubts,€because€in€Prayer€thou€hast€failed€in€œDiscourse:›€It€will€seem€to€thee€thatÏGod€does€no€more€assist€thee€as€œformerly,›€that€the€exercise€of€Prayer€is€not€in€thy€power;€thatÏthou€œlosest›€time,€whilstœ€hardly€and€with€great€trouble€thou€canst€make€one€single€Ejaculation€asÏthou€wast€wont€to€do.Ìà  à7.€›How€much€confusion,€and€what€perplexities€will€that€want€of€enlarging€thy€self€inÏmental€œDiscourse›€raise€in€thee?€And€if€in€such€a€juncture€thou€hast€not€a€ghostly€Father,€expert€inÏthe€Mystical€Way,€œthoulððt›€certainly€conclude€that€thy€Soul€is€out€of€order,€and€that€for€the€securityÏof€thy€Conscience,€thou€standest€in€need€of€a€general€confession;€and€all€that€will€be€got€by€thatÏcare,€will€be€the€shame€and€confusion€of€both.€O€how€many€Souls€are€called€to€the€inward€way,Ïand€the€spiritual€Fathers€for€want€of€Understanding€their€case,€instead€of€guiding€and€helping€themÏforwards,€stop€them€in€their€Course,€and€ruin€themœ.Ìà  à8.€›Thou€ought€then€to€be€œperswaded,›€that€thou€may€not€draw€back,€when€thou€œwantest›Ïexpansion€and€discourse€in€Prayer;€that€it€is€thy€greatest€happiness,€because€it€is€a€clear€sign,€thatÏthe€Lord€will€have€thee€to€walk€by€Faith€and€Silence€in€his€Divine€Presence,€which€is€the€mostÏprofitable€and€easiest€Path;€in€respect,€that€with€a€simple€view,€or€amorous€attention€to€God,€theÏSoul€appears€like€a€humble€Supplicant€before€its€Lord,€or€as€an€innocent€Child,€that€casts€it€selfÏinto€the€sweet€and€safe€Bosom€of€its€dear€Mother.€Thus€did€òòœGerson›óó€express€it,€òòThough€I€haveÐ ·&S $ Ðspent€œFourty›€Years€in€Reading€and€Prayer,€yet€I€could€never€find€any€thing€more€efficacious,€norÏcompendious,€for€attaining€to€Mystical€Theology,€than€that€our€œSpirit›€should€become€like€aÏyoung€Child€and€Beggar€in€the€presence€of€God.œóóÐ {)#' Ðà  à9.€›That€kind€of€Prayer€is€not€only€the€easiest,€but€the€most€secure;€because€it€is€abstractedÏfrom€the€operations€of€the€Imagination,€that€is€always€exposed€to€the€Tricks€of€the€Devil,€and€theÏextravagancies€of€Melancholy,€and€Ratiocination,€wherein€the€Soul€is€easily€Distracted,€and€beingÐ ?,Û%* Мwrapt›€up€in€speculation,€reflects€on€it€selfœ.Ìà  à10.€›When€God€had€a€mind€to€instruct€his€own€Captain€òòMosesóó,€and€give€him€the€twoÐ Pì ÐTablets€of€the€Law€(Exod.€œ24.),›€written€in€Stone,€he€called€him€up€to€the€Mountain,€at€what€timeÏGod€being€there€with€him,€the€Mount€was€Darkened€and€environed€with€thick€Clouds,€òòMosesóóÐ ( Ä Ðstanding€idle,€not€knowing€what€to€think€or€say.€Seven€days€after€God€commanded€òòMosesóó,€toÐ  ° Ðcome€up€to€the€top€of€the€Mountain,€where€he€œshowððd›€him€his€Glory,€and€filled€him€with€greatÏConsolationœ.Ìà  à11.€›So€in€the€Beginning,€when€God€intends€after€an€extraordinary€manner,€to€guide€theÏSoul€into€the€School€of€the€divine€and€loving€Notices€of€the€internal€Law,€he€makes€it€go€withÏDarkness,€and€Dryness,€that€he€may€bring€it€near€to€himself,€because€the€Divine€Majesty€knowsÏvery€well,€that€it€is€not€by€the€means€of€ones€œone›€Ratiocination,€or€Industry,€that€a€Soul€drawsÏnear€to€him,€and€understands€the€Divine€Documents;€but€rather€by€silent€and€humble€Resignation.Ìà  à12.€The€Patriarch€òòNoahóó€gave€a€great€instance€of€this;€who€after€he€had€been€by€all€menÐ t  Ðreckoned€a€Fool,€floating€in€the€middle€of€a€raging€Sea,€wherewith€the€whole€World€wasÏoverflowed,€without€Sails€and€Oars;€and€environed€with€wild€Beasts,€that€were€shut€up€in€the€Ark,Ïwalked€by€Faith€alone,€not€knowing€nor€understanding€what€God€had€a€mind€to€do€with€him.œÌà  à13.€›What€most€concerns€thee,€O€redeemed€Soul,€is€Patience,€not€to€desist€from€the€PrayerÏthou€art€about,€though€thou€œcanððst›€not€enlarge€in€Discourse.€Walk€with€firm€Faith,€and€a€holyÏSilence,€dying€in€thy€self,€with€all€thy€natural€Industry,€trusting€that€God€who€is€he€who€is,€andÏchanges€not;€neither€can€err,€intends€nothing€by€thy€good.€It€is€clear€that€he€who€is€at€dying,€mustÏneeds€feel€it,€but€how€well€is€time€employed,€when€the€Soul€is€dead,€dumb,€and€resigned€in€theÏpresence€of€God,€there€without€any€clutter€or€distraction,€to€receive€the€Divine€Influencesœ.Ìà  à14.€›The€Senses€are€not€capable€of€divine€Blessings;€hence€if€thou€would€be€Happy€andÏWise;€be€Silent€and€Believe;€Suffer€and€have€Patience;€be€Confident€and€Walk€on;€it€concerns€theeÏfar€more€to€hold€thy€Peace,€and€to€let€thy€self€be€guided€by€the€hand€of€God,€than€to€enjoy€all€theÏGoods€of€this€World.€And€though€it€seem€to€thee,€that€thou€does€nothing€at€all,€and€art€idle€beingÏso€Dumb€and€Resigned;€yet€it€is€of€infinite€fruit.œÌà  à15.€›Consider€the€blinded€Beast€that€turns€the€Wheel€of€the€Mill,€which€though€it€see€not,Ïneither€know€what€it€does,€yet€does€a€great€Work€in€grinding€the€Corn,€and€although€it€taste€notÏof€it;€yet€its€Master€receives€the€fruit,€and€tastes€of€the€same.€Who€would€not€think,€during€so€longÏa€time€that€the€Seed€lies€in€the€Earth,€but€that€it€were€lost?€Yet€afterwards€it€is€seen€to€spring€up,Ïgrow€and€multiply.€God€does€the€same€with€the€Soul,€when€he€deprives€it€of€Consideration€andÏRatiocination:€œWhilððst›€it€thinks€it€does€nothing,€and€is,€in€a€manner€undone,€in€time€it€comes€to€isÏself€again,€improved,€disengaged,€and€perfect,€having€never€hoped€for€so€much€œfavour.Ìà  à16.€›Take€care€then€that€thou€afflict€not€thy€self,€nor€draw€back,€though€thou€œcanððst›€notÏenlarge€thy€self,€and€discourse€in€Prayer;€suffer,€hold€thy€peace,€and€appear€in€the€presence€ofÏGod;€persevere€constantly,€and€trust€to€his€infinite€Bounty,€who€can€give€unto€thee€constant€Faith,Ïtrue€light,€and€divine€Grace.€Walk€as€if€thou€were€blindfolded,€without€thinking€or€reasoning;€putÏthy€self€into€his€kind€and€paternal€hands,€resolving€to€do€nothing€but€what€his€divine€Will€andÏâ âPleasureœ€is.Ð X*ô#' ÐÔ& o Ôâ ââ ââ âÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°OxAßÐ Pì ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€IIIÌÌA€Sequel€of€the€same€Matter.ÌÓrÃÓÌ17.€›It€is€the€common€opinion€of€all€the€holy€Men€who€have€treated€of€the€Spirit,€and€of€all€theÏÔ'odðÂÔMystical€œMatters:›€That€the€Soul€cannot€attain€to€perfection€and€an€union€with€God,€by€means€ofÏMeditation,€and€Ratiocination:€Because€that€is€only€good€for€beginning€the€spiritual€Way,€to€theÏend€one€may€acquire€a€habit€of€œKnowledg,›€of€the€beauty€of€œVertue,›€and€ugliness€of€Vice:€whichÏhabit€in€the€opinion€of€Saint€òòTeresaóó,€may€be€attained€to€in€Six€Months€time€and€according€to€S.Ð «G  ÐòòBonaventureóó€(In€œprolp›.€œde›€Mist.€œTheol›.€œpage›€655)€in€two.Ð —3  Ðà  à18.€O€how€are,€in€a€manner€infinite€numbers€of€Souls€to€be€pitied,€who€from€the€beginningÏof€their€Life€to€the€end,€employ€themselves€in€œmeer›€Meditation,€constraining€themselves€toÏReason,€although€God€Almighty€deprive€them€of€Ratiocination,€that€he€may€promote€them€toÏanother€State,€and€carry€them€on€a€more€perfect€kind€of€Prayer,€and€so€for€many€years€theyÏcontinue€imperfect,€and€in€the€beginning,€without€any€progress€or€having€as€yet€made€one€step€inÏthe€way€of€the€Spirit;€beating€their€Brains€about€the€frame€of€the€Place,€the€choice€of€the€Minutes,ÏImaginations,€and€strained€œReasonings›,€seekingœ€God€without,€when€in€the€mean€time,€they€haveÏhim€within€themselves.Ìà  à19.€òò›St.€Austinóó€(œSoliloq›.€C.€31)€complained€of€that,€in€the€time€when€God€led€him€to€theÐ ã ÐMystical€Way,€saying€to€his€Divine€œMajestie,›€òòI,€Lord,€went€wandering€like€a€strayed€Sheep,Ð Ïk Ðseeking€thee€with€anxious€Reasoning€without,€œwhilððst›€thou€wast€within€me,€I€wearied€my€selfÏmuch€in€looking€for€thee€without€and€yet€thou€hast€thy€habitation€within€me;€If€I€long€andÏbreathe€after€thee,€I€went€round€the€Streets€and€Places€of€the€City€of€this€World,€seeking€thee€andÏfound€thee€not;€because,€in€vain€I€sought€without€for€him,€what€was€within€my€self.œóóÐ  Ðà  à20.€›The€Angelical€Doctor€St.€òòThomasóó,€for€all€he€was€so€circumspect€in€his€Writings,€mayÐ k Ðseem€yet€to€jeer€those,€who€go€always€in€search€of€God,€without€by€means€of€Ratiocination,€whenÏthey€have€him€present€within€themselves.€òòThere€is€great€Blindness,€and€excessive€Folly€in€some,óóÐ C ß Ð(says€the€Saint€„€œOcuse›.€6.€C.€3.€œinfin.)›€òòwho€always€seek€God,€continually€sigh€after€God,€oftenÐ /!Ë Ðlong€for€God,€œinvocate›€and€call€upon€God€daily€in€Prayer;€they€themselves€(according€to€theÏApostle)€being€the€living€Temple€of€God,€and€his€true€Habitation,€since€their€œSoul›€is€the€Seat€andÏThrone€of€God,€where€he€continually€rests.€Who€then,€but€a€Fool,€will€look€for€an€InstrumentÏabroad,€when€he€knows€he€has€it€fast€shut€up€within€Doors?€Or€who€can€refresh€himself€with€theÏFood€he€desires,€and€yet€not€taste€it?€Such€exactly€is€the€Live€of€some€just€men,€always€seeking,Ïand€never€enjoying,€and€therefore€all€their€Works€are€imperfect.œóóÐ ·&S $ Ðà  à21.€›It€is€certain,€that€Our€òòLord€Christóó€taught€Perfection€to€all,€and€ever€will€have€all€to€beÐ £'?!% ÐPerfect,€particularly€the€Ignorant€and€Simple.€He€clearly€manifested€this€Truth,€when€for€hisÏApostles,€he€chose€the€Smallest€and€most€Ignorant,€saying€(œMatth›.€œII.)›€to€his€Eternal€Fatheròò,€IÐ {)#' Ðthank€thee,€O€Father,€Lord€of€Heaven€and€Earth,€because€thou€hast€hid€these€things€from€theÏWise€and€Prudent,€and€hast€revealed€them€unto€Babes.óó€And€it€is€certain,€that€these€cannot€acquireÐ S+ï$) ÐPerfection,€by€acute€Meditations,€and€subtle€œReasonings›,€though€they€be€as€capable€as€the€mostÐ ?,Û%* ÐLearned,€to€attain€to€Perfection,€by€the€affections€of€the€Will,€wherein€principally€it€consists.œÌà  à22.€›St.€òòBonaventureóó,€teaches€us€not€to€form€Conceptions€of€any€thing,€no€not€of€God,Ð Pì Ðbecause€it€is€Imperfection€to€make€Representations,€Images,€and€Ideas,€how€subtle€or€ingeniousÏsoever,€either€of€the€Will,€or€of€the€Goodness,€Trinity,€and€Unity;€nay,€of€the€Divine€Presence€itÏself:€In€respect€that,€though€all€these€Representations€appear€òòœDeiform›óó,€yet€are€they€not€God,€whoÐ  ° Ðadmits€of€no€Image,€nor€Form.œ€òòNon€ibióó€(says€the€Saint€„€Mist.€Theol.€p.2.,€Vn.€p.€685.)€òòoportetÐ  œ Ðcogitare€res€de€creaturis€nec€de,€Angelis,€nec€de€Trinitate,€quia€hc€sapientia€per€affectusÏdesideriorum,€non€per€meditationem,€óóprviamòò€debet€consurgere.óó€›We€must€not€here€think€anyÐ Ø t Ðthing€of€Creature,€of€Angles,€nor€of€God€himself,€because€that€Wisdom€and€Perfection,€is€notÏacquired€by€nice€and€quaint€Meditation,€but€by€the€desire€and€affection€of€the€Willœ.Ìà  à23.€›The€holy€man€cannot€speak€more€clearly;€and€thou€œwouldððst›€disquiet€they€self,€andÏleave€off€Prayer,€because€thou€œknowððst›€not,€or€œcanððst›€not€tell€how€to€enlarge€therein,€though€thouÏœmayððst›€have€a€good€Will,€good€Desire,€and€pure€Intention?€If€the€young€Ravens€forsaken€of€theÏold,€because€seeing€them€without€Black€Feathers,€they€think€them€Spurious,€are€by€the€Dew€ofÏHeaven€fed€that€they€may€not€perish;€what€will€he€do€to€redeem€Souls,€though€they€cannot€speakÏnor€reason,€if€they€believe,€trust,€and€open€their€Mouths€to€Heaven,€declaring€their€wants:€It€is€notÏmore€certain€that€the€Divine€Bounty€will€provide€for€them,€and€give€them€their€necessary€Food?œÌà  à24.€›Manifest€it€is,€that€it€is€a€great€Martyrdom,€and€no€small€Gift€of€God,€for€the€Soul,Ïfinding€it€self€deprived€of€the€sensible€Pleasures€it€had,€to€walk€by€holy€Faith€only,€through€theÏdark,€and€œdesart›€Paths€of€Perfection,€to€which,€notwithstanding,€it€can€never€attain€but€by€thisÏpainful,€though€secure€means.€Wherefore€œendeavour›€to€be€constant,€and€not€draw€back,€thoughÏDiscourse€be€wanting€to€thee€in€Prayer,€believe€at€that€time€firmly,€be€quietly€silent,€and€patientlyÏpersevere€if€thou€wouldest€be€happy,€and€attain€to€the€Divine€Union,€eminent€rest,€and€to€theÏœSupream›€Internal€Peace.œÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°oxAßÐ p  ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€IV.ÌÓ±ÛÓÌòòà0  àà ° àThe›€Soul€is€not€to€afflict€it€self,€nor€intermit€Prayer,€because€it€sees€it€self€encompassed€withÐ C ß Ðdryness.œóóÐ/!Ë(#(# ÐÌ25.€›Thou€shalt€know€that€there€are€two€œsorts›€of€Prayer,€the€one€tender,€delightful,€amicable,€andÏfull€of€sentiments;€the€other€obscure,€dry,€desolate,€tempted,€and€darksome.€The€first€is€ofÏBeginners,€the€second€of€Proficients,€who€are€in€the€progress€to€Perfection.€God€gives€the€first€toÏgain€Souls,€the€second€to€œpurifie›€them.€With€the€first€he€uses€them€like€Children;€with€the€secondÏhe€begins€to€deal€with€them€as€with€strong€men.œÌà  à26.€›This€first€Way€may€be€called€the€Animal€Life,€and€belongs€to€them€who€go€in€the€tractÏof€the€sensible€Devotion,€which€God€uses€to€give€to€Beginners,€to€the€end€that€being€endowedÏwith€that€small€relish,€as€the€natural€man€is€with€the€sensible€Object,€they€may€addict€themselves€toÏthe€spiritual€Life.€The€second€is€called€the€Life€of€men,€and€belongs€to€those,€who€not€mindingÏsensible€Pleasures,€fight€and€war€against€their€own€Passions,€that€they€may€conquer€and€obtainÏPerfection,€the€proper€employment€of€men.Ð ?,Û%* Ðà  à27.€Assure€thy€self,€that€dryness€or€aridity€is€the€Instrument€of€thy€Good,€because€it€isÏnothing€else€but€a€want€of€sensibility,€that€Remora,€which€puts€a€stop€to€the€flight€of€almost€allÏSpiritual€Men,€and€makes€them€even€draw€back,€and€leave€off€Prayer:€as€may€be€seen€in€manyÏSouls,€which€only€persevere€œwhilððst›€they€taste€sensible€Consolation.œÌà  à28.€›Know€that€the€Lord€makes€use€of€the€Veil€of€Dryness,€to€the€end€we€may€not€knowÏwhat€œhe›€is€working€in€us,€and€so€be€humble;€because€if€we€felt€and€knew€what€he€is€working€in€ourÏSouls,€satisfaction€and€presumption€would€get€in,€imagining€that€we€were€doing€some€good€thing,Ïand€reckoning€our€selves€very€near€to€God;€which€would€be€our€œundoing.Ìà  à29.€›Lay€this€down€as€a€firm€ground€in€thine€Heart,€that€for€walking€in€the€inward€Way,€allÏœsensibilitie›€should€first€be€removed;€œand›€that€the€means€God€uses€for€that€is€œdriness›.€By€that€alsoÏhe€takes€away€œreflection›,€or€that€view,€whereby€the€Soul€Eyes€what€it€is€doing,€the€onlyÏimpediment€that€obstructs€the€œadvancing›€forward,€and€God€communicating€himself,€and€operatingÏin€it.œÌà  à30.€›Thou€œoughtest›€not€then€to€afflict€thy€self,€nor€think€that€thou€œreapest›€no€fruit,€becauseÏin€coming€from€a€Communion€or€Prayer,€thou€hast€not€the€experience€of€many€sentiments,€sinceÏthat€is€a€manifest€Cheat.€The€Husbandman€Sows€in€one€time€and€Reaps€in€another:€So€God,€uponÏoccasions,€and€in€his€own€due€time,€will€help€them€to€resist€Temptations,€and€when€least€thouÏœthinkest›,€will€give€thee€holy€purposes,€and€more€effectual€desires€of€serving€him.€And€to€the€end€,Ïthou€mayest€not€suffer€thy€self€to€be€transported,€by€the€violent€suggestion€of€the€Enemy,€who€willÏenviously€œperswade›€thee,€that€thou€œdoððst›€nothing,€and€that€thou€œlosest›€time,€that€so€thou€mayestÏneglect€Prayer:€Iððll€declare€to€thee€some€of€the€infinite€fruits,€that€thy€Soul€reaps€from€that€greatÏdryness.œÌà  à›31.€The€first€is€to€persevere€in€Prayer,€from€which€fruit€springs€many€other€advantages.Ìà  àII.€Thouððlt€find€a€loathing€of€the€things€of€the€World,€which€by€little€and€little€tends€to€theÏstifling€of€the€bad€desires€of€thy€past€Life,€and€the€production€of€other€new€ones€of€serving€God.Ìà  àIII.€Thouððlt€reflect€upon€many€failings€on€which€formerly€thou€didst€not€reflect.Ìà  àIV.€Thouððlt€find,€when€thou€are€about€to€commit€any€evil,€œan›€œadvertency›€in€thy€Heart,Ïwhich€restrains€thee€from€the€execution€of€it,€and€at€other€times€from€Speaking.€Lamenting,€orÏRevenging€thy€self;€thatððll€take€thee€off€from€some€little€earthy€Pleasure,€or€from€this€or€œtððother›ÏOccasion,€or€Conversation,€into€which€formerly€thou€was€running€in€great€Peace€and€Security,Ïwithout€the€least€Check€or€Remorse€of€Conscience.œÌà  à›V.€After€that€through€frailty,€thou€hast€fallen€in€to€some€light€fault,€œthouððlt›€feel€a€ReproofÏfor€it€in€thy€Soul,€which€will€exceeding€afflict€thee.Ìà  àVI.€Thouððlt€feel€within€thy€self,€desires€of€suffering,€and€of€doing€the€will€of€God.Ìà  àVII.€An€inclination€to€Virtue,€and€greater€ease€in€overcoming€thy€self,€and€conquering€theÏdifficulties€of€the€Passions,€and€Enemies€that€hinder€thee€in€the€way.Ìà  àVIII.€œThoulððt›€know€thy€self€better,€and€be€confounded€also€in€thy€self,€feel€in€thee€a€highÏesteem€of€God€above€all€created€Beings,€a€contempt€of€Creatures,€and€a€firm€Resolution€not€toÏabandon€Prayer,€though€thou€œknowest›€that€it€will€prove€to€thee€a€most€cruel€Martyrdom.œÌà  àIX.€›Thoulððt€be€sensible€of€greater€Peace€in€thy€Soul,€love€to€Humility,€confidence€in€God,Ïsubmission,€and€abstraction€from€all€Creatures;€and€finally€the€Sins€thou€hast€omitted€since€theÏtime€that€thou€exercised€thy€self€in€Prayer,€are€so€many€signs,€that€the€Lord€is€working€in€thy€Soul,Ð 0,Ì%) Ð(though€thou€knowest€it€not)€by€means€of€dry€Prayer;€and€although€thou€feelest€it€not€whilst€thouÏart€in€prayer,€thouððlt€feel€it€in€his€due€time,€when€he€shall€think€it€fit.œÌà  à32.€›All€these€and€many€other€fruits€are€like€new€Buds€that€spring€from€the€Prayer,€whichÏthou€wouldððst€give€over,€because€it€seems€to€thee€to€be€dry,€that€thou€seest€no€Fruit€of€it,€norÏreapest€no€advantage€therefrom.€Be€constant€and€œpersevere›€with€Patience,€for€though€thouÏœknowest›€it€not,€thy€Soul€is€profited€thereby.œÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°× xAßÐ Ø t ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€V.ÌÌòòÓ  Óà0  àà ° àTreating€of€the€same€thing,€declaring€how€many€ways€of€Devotion€there€are,€and€how€theÐ «G  Ðsensible€Devotion€is€to€be€disposed;€and€that€the€Soul€is€not€idle,€though€it€reason€not.óóЗ3 (#(# ÐÓòÓÌÓ  Ó33.€›There€are€to€be€found€two€sorts€of€Devotion,€the€one€essential€and€true;€the€other€accidentalÏand€sensible.€The€essential,€is€a€promptitude€of€mind€to€do€well,€(1)€(œòòS.Thom›.œ2.2.q.82›.œart.I.óó›)€fulfilÐ [÷  Ðthe€commands€of€God,€and€to€perform€all€things€belonging€to€his€service,€though,€through€humaneÏfrailty,€all€be€not€actually€done€as€is€desired.€(2)€òò(œSuar.t.2.de.Pel.l.2.c.6.n.16›&18.óó)€This€is€trueÐ 3Ï ÐDevotion,€though€it€be€not€accompanied€with€pleasure,€sweetness,€delight,€nor€tears,€but€rather€itÏis€usually€attended€with€temptation,€dryness,€and€darkness.œÌà  à34.€›Accidental€and€sensible€Devotion€is,€(3)€(òòœSt.Bern.Ser.I.de›€œNat.Dom.Suarez›€in€œMolin›Ð ÷“ Ðde€œOration.€c.6.óó)›€when€good€desires€are€attended€with€a€pleasant€softness€of€heart,€tenderness€ofÐ ã Ðtears,€or€other€sensible€affections.€This€is€not€to€be€sought€after,€nay,€it€is€rather€more€secure€toÏwean€the€will€from€it,€and€to€set€light€by€it;€because€besides€that€it€is€usually€dangerous,€it€is€aÏgreat€obstacle€to€progress,€and€the€advancement€in€the€internal€way.€And€therefore€we€ought€onlyÏto€embrace€the€true€and€essential€Devotion,€which€is€always€in€our€power€to€come€by,€seeingÏevery€one€doing€his€duty€may€with€the€assistance€of€the€Divine€Grace€acquire€it.€And€this€may€beÏhad€with€God,€with€Christ,€with€the€Mysteries,€with€the€Virgin,€and€with€the€Saints.œÌà  à35.€›Some€think€that€when€Devotion€and€sensible€Pleasure€are€given€them,€they€areÏœFavours›€of€God,€that€thence€forward€they€have€him,€and€that€the€whole€life€is€to€be€spent€inÏbreathing€after€that€delight;€but€it€is€a€cheat,€because€it€is€no€more,€but€a€consolation€of€nature,Ïand€a€pure€œreflexion›,€wherewith€the€Soul€beholds€what€it€does,€and€hinders€the€doing,€orÏpossibility€of€doing€any€thing,€the€acquisition€of€the€true€light,€and€the€making€of€one€step€in€theÏway€of€perfection.€The€Soul€is€a€pure€Spirit€and€is€not€felt;€and€so€the€internal€acts,€and€of€the€will,Ïas€being€the€acts€of€the€Soul€and€spiritual,€are€not€œsensible:›€Hence€the€Soul€knows€not€if€it€liveth,Ïnor,€for€most€part,€is€sensible€if€it€œacteth›.œÌà  à36.€›From€this€thou€mayest€infer,€œthat€that›€Devotion€and€sensible€Pleasure,€is€not€God,€notÏSpirit,€but€the€product€of€Nature;€that€therefore€thou€œoughtest›€to€set€light€by,€and€despise€it,€butÏfirmly€to€persevere€in€Prayer,€leaving€thy€self€to€the€conduct€of€God,€who€will€be€to€thee€light€inÏaridity€and€darknessœ.Ìà  à37.€›Think€not€that€when€thou€art€dry€and€œdarksom›€in€the€presence€of€God,€with€faith€andÏsilence,€that€thou€œdoððst›€nothing,€that€thou€œlosest›€time,€and€that€thou€are€idle,€because€not€to€waitÏon€God,€according€to€the€saying€of€St.€òòBernardóó€(òòTom.œ5.in›€œFract›.€œde›€œvit›.€œsolit.c.8.p.›€œ90.óó),›€is€theÐ ?,Û%* Ðgreatest€idleness:€òòœOtiosum›€non€est€œvacare›€œDeo›;€œinimo›€negotiorum€omnium€hoc€estóó;€AndÐ d Ðelsewhere€he€œsayeth›,€œthat€that›€idleness€of€the€Soul€is€the€business€of€the€businesses€of€God.€òòHocÐ Pì Ðnegotium€magnum€est€negotium.óóÐ <Ø Ðà  à38.€It€is€not€to€be€said,€that€the€Soul€is€idle;€because€though€it€operate€not€òòActivelyóó,€yet€theÐ ( Ä ÐHoly€Ghost€operates€in€it.€Besides,€that€it€is€not€without€all€activity,€because€it€operates,€thoughÏspiritually,€simply,€and€intimately.€For€to€be€attentive€to€God,€draw€near€to€him,€to€follow€hisÏinternal€inspirations,€receive€his€divine€influences,€adore€him€in€his€own€intimate€center,€reverenceÏhim€with€the€pious€affections€of€the€will,€to€cast€away€so€many€and€so€fantastical€imaginations,Ïand€with€softness€and€contempt€to€overcome€so€many€temptations:€all€these,€I€say,€are€true€actsÏthough€simple,€wholly€spiritual,€&€in€a€manner€imperceptible,€œthrough›€the€great€tranquility,Ïwherewith€the€Soul€exertsœ€them.ÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°sxAßÐ t  ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€VI.ÌÓåÓÌòòà0  àà ° àThe›€Soul€is€not€to€be€disquieted,€that€is€sees€it€self€encompassed€with€darkness,€because€that€is€anÐ Gã  Ðinstrument€of€its€greater€felicity.óóÐ3Ï(#(# ÐÌ39.€There€are€two€sorts€of€darkness€:€some€unhappy,€and€others€œhappy€:›€the€first€are€such€as€ariseÏfrom€sin,€and€are€unhappy,€because€they€lead€the€Christian€to€an€eternal€precipice.€The€second€areÏthose€which€the€Lord€suffers€to€be€in€the€Soul,€to€ground€and€settle€it€in€œvertue›;€and€these€areÏhappy,€because€they€enlighten€it,€œfortifie›€it,€and€cause€greater€light€therein,€so€that€thou€œoughtest›Ïnot€to€grieve€and€disturb€thy€self,€nor€be€disconsolate€in€seeing€thy€self€obscure€and€œdarksom›,Ïjudging€that€God€hath€failed€thee,€and€the€light€also€that€thou€formerly€had€the€experience€of;€thouÏœoughtest›€rather€at€that€time€persevere€constantly€in€Prayer,€it€being€a€manifest€sign,€that€God€ofÏhis€infinite€mercy€intends€to€bring€thee€into€the€inward€path,€and€happy€way€of€Paradise.€O€howÏhappy€wilt€thou€be,€if€thou€embrace€it€with€peace€and€resignation,€as€the€instrument€of€perfectÏquiet,€true€light,€&€of€all€thy€spiritual€good.œÌà  à40.€›Know€then€that€the€œstreightest›,€most€perfect€and€secure€way€of€proficients,€is€the€wayÏof€darkness:€because€in€them€the€Lord€placed€his€own€Throne;€And€(òòPsalm€18.óó)€òòHe€madeÐ /!Ë Ðdarkness€his€secret€placeóó.€By€them€the€supernatural€light€which€God€infuses€into€the€Soul,€growÐ "· Ðand€increases.€Amidst€them€wisdom€and€strong€love€are€begotten,€by€darkness€the€soul€isÏannihilated,€and€the€òòspeciesóó,€which€hinder€the€right€view€of€the€divine€truth,€are€consumed.€By€thisÐ ó#! Ðmeans€God€introduces€the€Soul€by€the€inward€way€into€the€Prayer€of€Rest,€and€of€perfectÏcontemplation,€which€so€few€have€the€experience€of.€Finally;€by€darkness€the€œLord›€œpurgest›€theÏsenses€and€sensibility,€which€hinder€the€mystical€progress.Ìà  à41.€See€now€if€darkness€be€not€to€be€esteemed€and€embraced.€What€thou€œoughtest›€to€doÏamidst€them,€is€to€believe,€that€thou€art€before€the€Lord,€and€in€œhis›€Presence;€but€thou€œoughtest›€toÏdo€so,€with€a€sweet€and€quiet€attention;€not€desire€to€know€any€thing,€nor€search€after€delicacies,Ïtenderness€or€sensible€devotions,€nor€do€any€thing€but€what€is€the€good€will€and€pleasure€of€God;ÏBecause€otherwise€thou€wilt€only€make€circles,€all€thy€life€time,€and€not€advance€one€step€towardÏperfection.œÐ ?,Û%* ÐÔ& G ÔÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°OxAßÐ Pì ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€VII.ÌÓ2 ÓÌòòà0  àà ° àTo›€the€end€the€Soul€may€attain€to€the€supreme€internal€peace,€it€is€necessary,€that€God€purge€itÐ # ¿ Ðafter€his€way,€because€the€exercises€and€mortifications€that€of€it€self€it€sets€about,€are€notÏsufficient.óóÐû —(#(# ÐÌ42.€So€soon€as€thou€shalt€firmly€resolve€to€œmortifie›€thy€external€senses,€that€thou€œmayððst›€advanceÏÔ'G dÎ Ôtowards€the€high€mountain€of€perfection,€and€union€with€God;€His€divine€Majesty€will€set€his€handÏto€the€purging€of€thy€evil€inclinations,€inordinate€desires,€vain€complacency,€self„love€and€pride,Ïand€other€hidden€vices,€which€thou€œknowest›€not,€and€yet€reign€in€the€inner€parts€of€thy€Soul,€andÏhinder€the€divine€union.Ìà  à43.€œThouððlt›€never€attain€to€this€happy€state,€though€thou€tire€thy€self€out€with€the€externalÏacts€of€mortifications€and€resignation,€until€this€Lord€purge€thee€inwardly,€and€discipline€thee,Ïafter€his€own€way,€because€he€alone€knows€how€secret€faults€are€to€be€purged€out.€If€thouÏpersevere€constantly,€heððll€not€only€purge€thee€from€affections€and€engagements€to€natural€andÏtemporal€goods,€but€in€his€own€time€also€he€will€œpurifie›€thee€with€the€supernatural€and€sublime,Ïsuch€as€are€internal€communications;€inward€raptures€and€œextasies›,€and€other€infused€graces,€onÏwhich€the€Soul€rests€and€enjoys€it€self.œÌà  à›44.€God€will€do€all€this€in€thy€Soul€by€means€of€the€cross,€and€dryness,€if€thou€freely€givethÏthy€consent€to€it€by€resignation,€and€walking€through€those€œdarksom›€and€œdesart›€ways.€All€thouÏhast€to€do,€œis›€to€do€nothing€by€thy€own€choice€œalone.›€The€subjection€of€thy€liberty,€is€that€whichÏthou€œoughtest›€to€do,€quietly€resigning€thy€self€up€in€every€thing€whereby€the€Lord€shall€think€fitÏinternally€and€externally€to€œmortifie›€thee:€because€that€is€the€only€means,€by€which€thy€Soul€canÏbecome€capable€of€the€divine€influences,€œwhilððst›€thou€œsufferest›€internal€and€external€tribulation,Ïwith€humility,€patience,€and€quiet;€not€the€penances,€disciplines€and€mortifications,€which€thouÏœcouldest›€impose€upon€thy€self.Ìà  à45.€The€husbandman€sets€a€greater€esteem€upon€the€plants€which€he€sows€in€the€ground,Ïthan€those€that€spring€up€of€themselves,€because€these€never€come€to€seasonable€maturity.€In€theÏsame€manner€God€esteems€and€is€better€pleased€with€the€œvertue›,€which€he€sows€and€infuses€intoÏthe€Soul€(as€being€sunk€into€its€own€nothingness,€calm€and€quiet,€retreated€within€its€own€center,Ïand€without€any€election)€than€all€the€other€œvertues›€which€the€Soul€pretends€to€acquire€by€its€ownÏelection€and€œendeavours›.Ìà  à46.€It€concerns€thee€only€then,€to€prepare€thine€heart,€like€clean€paper,€wherein€the€divineÏœwisdom›€may€imprint€characters€to€his€own€liking.€O€how€great€a€work€will€it€be€for€thy€Soul€to€beÏwhole€hours€together€in€Prayer,€dumb,€resigned,€and€humble,€without€acting,€knowing,€or€desiringÏto€understand€any€thingœ.Ìâ âÐ {)#' ÐßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°cxAßÔ& ƒ Ôâ ââ ââ âÐ d ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€VIII.ÌÓŒÓÌÓ  ÓòòA€Sequel€of€the€same.óóÐ 7 Ó ÐÓµÓÌ47.€›With€new€efforts€thoulððt€exercise€thy€self,€but€in€another€manner€than€œhitherto,›€giving€thyÏÔ'ƒdLÔconsent€to€receive€the€secret€and€divine€operations,€and€to€be€polished,€and€purified€by€this€Lord,Ïwhich€is€the€only€means€whereby€thou€will€become€clean€&€purged€from€thine€ignorance€andÏdissolutions.€Know,€however,€that€thou€art€to€be€plunged€in€a€bitter€sea€of€sorrows,€and€ofÏinternal€and€external€pains,€which€torment€will€pierce€into€the€most€inward€part€of€thy€Soul€andÏBody.Ìà  à48.€Thoulððt€experience,€that€the€creatures€will€forsake€thee,€nay,€those€too€from€whichÏthou€hopedððst€for€most€favour€and€compassion€in€œthy›€streights;€the€brooks€of€thy€faculties€will€beÏso€dried€up,€that€thou€shaltðð€not€be€able€to€form€any€ratiocination,€nay,€nor€so€much€as€to€conceiveÏa€good€thought€of€God.€Heaven€will€seem€to€thee€to€be€of€brass,€and€thou€shalt€receive€no€lightÏfrom€it.€Nor€will€the€thought€comfort€thee,€that€in€times€past€so€much€light€and€devote€consolationÏhave€rained€into€thy€Soul.œÌà  à49.€›The€invisible€enemies€will€pursue€thee€with€scruples,€lascivious€suggestions,€andÏunclean€thoughts,€with€incentives€to€impatience,€pride,€rage,€cursing€and€blaspheming€the€Name€ofÏGod,€his€Sacraments,€and€holy€Mysteries.€Thouððlt€find€a€great€lukewarmness,€loathing,€andÏwearisomness€for€the€things€of€God;€and€obscurity€and€darkness€in€thy€understanding;€a€faintness,ÏConfusion€and€narrowness€of€heart;€such€a€coldness€and€feebleness€of€the€will€to€resist,€that€aÏstraw€will€appear€to€thee€a€beam.€Thy€desertion€will€be€so€œgreat,›€that€thouððlt€think€there€is€noÏmore€a€God€for€thee,€and€that€thou€are€rendered€incapable€of€entertaining€a€good€desire:€so€thatÏthouððlt€continue€shut€up€betwixt€two€walls,€in€constant€streights€and€anguish,€without€any€hopesÏof€ever€getting€out€of€so€dreadful€an€oppression.œÌà  à50.€›But€fear€not:€all€this€is€necessary€for€purging€thy€Soul,€and€making€it€know€its€ownÏmisery,€and€sensibly€perceive€the€annihilation€of€all€the€passions,€and€œdisordinate›€appetites,Ïwherewith€it€œrejoyced›€it€self.€Finally,€to€the€end€the€Lord€may€refine€and€œpurifie›€thee€after€his€ownÏmanner€with€those€inward€torments,€wilt€thou€not€cast€the€òòJonasóó€of€sense€into€the€sea,€thatÐ /!Ë Ðthereby€thou€mayest€procure€it?€With€all€thy€outward€disciplines€and€mortifications,€œthouððlt›€neverÏhave€true€light,€nor€make€one€step€towards€perfection:€so€that€thou€wilt€stop€in€the€beginning,€andÏthy€Soul€will€not€attain€to€the€amiable€rest,€and€œsupream›€internal€peace.œÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°Ê%xAßÔ& o ÔÐ Ë%g# ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€IX.ÌÓx$ÓÌòòà0  àà ° àThe›€Soul€ought€not€to€be€disquieted,€nor€draw€back€in€the€spiritual€way,€because€it€finds€it€selfÐ ž(:"' Ðassaulted€by€temptations.œÐ (#(# ÐóóÌ›51.€Our€own€nature€is€so€base,€proud€and€ambitious,€and€so€full€of€its€own€appetites,€its€ownÏÔ'oË%V$Ôjudgements€and€opinions,€that€if€temptations€restrained€it€not,€it€would€be€undone€without€remedy.€Ð N,ê%+ ÐThe€Lord€then€seeing€our€Misery€and€perverse€inclination,€and€thereby€moved€to€compassion,Ïsuffers€us€to€be€assaulted€by€divers€thoughts€against€the€Faith,€horrible€temptations,€and€by€violentÏand€painful€suggestions€of€impatience,€pride,€gluttony,€luxury,€rage,€blasphemy,€cursing,€despair,Ïand€an€infinite€number€of€others,€to€the€end€we€may€know€our€selves€and€be€humble.€€With€theseÏhorrible€temptations,€that€infinite€goodness€humbles€our€pride,€giving€us€in€them€the€mostÏwholesome€medicine.œÌà  à52.€€òòAll€our€righteousness€(as€Isaiah€óósaithòò)€are€as€filthy€ragsóó,€(Chap.€64.€6.)€through€theÐ ì ˆ Ðstñ°ñrñ°ñains€of€vanity,€conceitedness,€and€self„love.€€It€is€necessary€they€be€purified€with€the€fire€ofÏtribulation€and€temptation,€that€so€they€may€be€clean,€pure,€perfect€and€agreeable€to€the€eyes€ofÏGod.Ìà  à›53.€€Therefore€the€Lord€purifies€the€Soul€which€he€calls,€and€will€have€for€himself,€with€theÏrough€file€of€temptation,€with€which€he€polishes€it€from€the€rust€of€pride,€avarice,€vanity,€ambition,Ïpresumption,€and€self„conceitedness.€€With€the€same,€he€humbles,€pacifies€and€exercises€it,€makingÏit€to€know€its€own€misery.€€By€means€thereof€he€purifies€and€strips€the€heart€to€the€end€all€itsÏoperations€may€be€pure,€and€inestimable€value.œÌà  à›54.€€Many€Souls€when€they€suffer€these€painful€torments,€are€troubled,€afflicted,€andÏdisquieted,€it€seeming€to€them,€that€they€begin€already€in€this€life€to€suffer€eternal€punishments;Ïand€if€by€misfortune€they€go€to€an€unexperienced€Confessor,€instead€of€comforting€them,€heÏleaves€them€in€greater€confusion€and€perplexitiesœ.Ìà  à›55.€€That€thou€mayest€not€lose€internal€peace,€it€is€necessary€thou€believe,€that€it€is€theÏgoodness€of€divine€mercy,€when€thus€it€humbles,€afflicts€œand›€œtrys€thee;€since€by€that€means€thyÏSoul€comes€to€have€a€deep€knowledge€of€itself,€reckoning€it€self€the€worst,€most€impious€andÏabominable€of€all€Souls€living,€and€hence€with€humility€and€lowliness€it€abhors€it€self.€€O€howÏhappy€would€Souls€be,€if€they€would€be€quiet€and€believe,€that€all€these€temptations€are€caused€byÏthe€Devil,€and€received€from€the€hand€of€God,€for€their€gain€and€spiritual€profit.Ìà  à56.€›But€thouððlt€say,€that€it€is€not€the€work€of€the€Devil,€when€he€molests€thee€by€means€ofÏcreatures,€but€the€effect€of€thy€neighbours€fault€and€malice,€in€having€wronged€and€injured€thee.ÏKnow€œthat€that€is€another€cunning€and€hidden€temptation,€because€though€God€wills€not€the€sin€ofÏanother,€yet€he€wills€his€own€effect€in€thee,€and€the€trouble€which€accrues€to€thee€from€anotherððsÏfault,€that€he€may€see€thee€emproved€by€the€benefit€of€paticnce.Ìà  à57.€›Doest€thou€receive€an€injury€from€any€man?€there€are€two€things€in€it,€the€sin€of€himÏthat€does€it,€and€the€punishment€that€thou€œsufferest›;€the€sin€is€against€the€will€of€God,€andÏdispleases€him,€though€he€permit€it;€the€punishment€is€conform€to€his€will,€and€he€wills€it€for€thyÏgood,€wherefore€thou€œoughtest›€to€receive€it,€œas›€from€his€hand.€The€Passion€and€Death€of€our€LordÏChrist,€were€the€effects€of€the€wickedness€and€sins€of€òòPilateóó,€and€yet€it€is€certain,€that€God€willedÐ ¼%X" Ðthe€death€of€his€own€œSon›€for€our€redemption.Ìà  à58.€Consider€how€the€Lord€makes€use€of€anotherððs€fault€for€the€good€of€thy€Soul.€O€theÏgreatness€of€the€Divine€Wisdom,€who€can€pry€into€the€depth€of€the€secret€and€extraordinaryÏmeans,€and€the€hidden€paths€whereby€he€guides€the€Soul,€which€he€would€have€purgedœ,Ï›transformed€and€deified.œÌâ âÐ D+à$( ÐßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°cxAßÔ& ƒ Ôâ âÐ d ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€X.ÌÓØ4ÓÌÓ  Óòò›Wherein€the€same€Point€is€handledóó.Ð 7 Ó ÐÓþ4ÓÌ59.€That€the€Soul€may€be€the€habitation€of€the€celestial€King,€it€is€necessary,€that€it€should€be€pureÏÔ'ƒd¬4Ôand€without€any€blemish;€wherefore€the€Lord€purifies€it€as€gold€in€the€furnace€of€terrible€andÏgrievous€temptations.€Certain€it€is,€that€the€œSoul›€never€loves,€nor€believes€more,€than€when€it€isÏafflicted€and€baited€with€such€temptations;€because€those€doubtings€and€fears€that€beset€it,Ïwhether€it€believe€or€not;€whether€it€consent€or€not,€are€nothing€else€but€the€quaintnesses€of€love.Ìà  à60.€The€effects€that€remain€in€the€Soul€make€this€very€clear;€and€commonly€these€are€aÏloathing€of€it€self€with€a€most€profound€acknowledgment€of€the€greatness€and€omnipotence€ofÏGod,€a€great€confidence€in€the€Lord,€that€he€will€deliver€it€from€all€risk€and€danger;€believing€andÏconfessing€with€far€greater€vigour€of€faith,€that€it€is€God€who€gives€it€strength€to€bear€theÏtorments€of€these€temptations,€because€it€would€naturally€be€impossible,€considering€the€force€andÏviolence€wherewith€sometimes€they€attack,€to€resist€one€quarter€of€an€hour.œÌà  à61.€›Thou€art€to€know€then,€that€temptation€is€thy€great€happiness,€so€that€the€more€itÏbesets€thee,€the€more€thou€oughtest€to€rejoyce€in€Peace,€instead€of€being€sad,€and€thank€God€forÏthe€favour€he€does€thee.€In€al€these€temptations,€and€odious€thoughts,€the€remedy€that€is€to€work,Ïis€to€despise€them€with€a€stayed€neglect,€because€nothing€more€afflicts€the€proud€Devil,€than€toÏsee€that€he€is€slighted€and€despised,€as€are€all€things€else€that€he€suggests€to€us.€And€thereforeÏthou€art€to€tarry€with€him,€as€one€that€perceives€him€not,€and€to€possess€thy€self€in€thy€peaceÏwithout€repining,€and€without€multiplying€Reasons€and€Answers;€seeing€nothing€is€moreÏdangerous,€than€to€vie€in€reasons€with€him€who€is€ready€to€deceive€thee.œÌà  à62.€›The€Saints€in€arriving€at€holiness,€passed€through€this€doleful€valley€of€temptation,€andÏthe€greater€Saints€they€were€the€greater€temptations€they€œgrapled›€with.€Nay€after€the€Saints€haveÏattained€to€holiness€and€perfection;€the€Lord€suffers€them€to€be€tempted€with€brisk€temptations,Ïthat€their€Crown€may€be€the€greater,€and€that€the€spirit€of€Vain„glory€may€be€checked,€or€elseÏœhindred›€from€œentring›€in€them,€keeping€them€in€that€manner€secure,€humble,€and€œsollicitous›€of€theirÏcondition.œÌà  à63.€›Finally€thou€art€to€know,€that€the€greatest€Temptation€is€to€be€without€Temptation;Ïwherefore€thou€oughtest€to€be€glad€when€it€assaults€thee,€and€with€Resignation,€Peace€andÏConstancy€resist€it:€Because€if€thou€wilt€serve€God,€and€arrive€at€the€sublime€Region€of€InternalÏPeace;€thou€must€pass€through€that€rugged€Path€of€Temptation;€put€on€that€heavy€Armor;€fight€inÏâ âthat€fierce€and€cruel€War,€and€in€that€burning€Furnace,€polish,€purge,€renew,€and€purifie€thyœ€self.Ð Ë%g# ÐÔ& G Ôâ âÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°OxAßÐ Pì ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XI.ÌÓ÷@ÓÌòòà0  àà ° àDeclaring›€the€Nature€of€internal€Recollection,€and€instructing€the€Soul€how€it€ought€to€behave€itÐ # ¿ Ðself€therein,€and€in€the€Spiritual€Welfare,€whereby€the€Devil€endeavours€to€disturb€it€atÏthat€time.óóœÐû —(#(# ÐÌ64.›€Internal€Recollection€is€Faith,€and€Silence€in€the€Presence€of€God.€Hence€thou€œoughtest›€to€beÏÔ'G du@Ôaccustomed€to€recollect€thy€self€in€his€Presence,€with€an€affectionate€attention,€as€one€that€is€givenÏup€to€God,€and€united€unto€him,€with€Reverence,€Humility€and€Submission,€beholding€him€in€theÏmost€inward€recess€of€thine€own€Soul,€without€Form,€Likeness,€Manner,€or€Figure;€in€the€viewÏand€general€nature€of€a€loving€and€obscure€Faith,€without€any€distinction€of€Perfection€orÏAttribute.œÌà  à65.€›There€thou€art€to€be€with€attention,€and€a€sincere€regard,€with€a€sedate€heedfulness,Ïand€full€of€Love€towards€the€same€Lord,€resigning€and€delivering€thy€self€up€into€his€hands,€to€theÏend€he€may€dispose€of€thee,€according€to€his€good€Will€and€Pleasure;€without€reflecting€on€thyÏself;€nay,€nor€on€Perfection€it€self.€Here€thou€art€to€shut€up€the€Senses,€trusting€God€with€all€theÏcare€of€thy€Welfare,€and€minding€nothing€of€the€affairs€this€Life.€Finally,€thy€Faith€ought€to€beÏpure,€without€Representations€or€Likeness:€Simple€without€œReasonings›,€and€Universal€withoutÏDistinctions.œÌà  à66.€›The€Prayer€of€Internal€Recollection€may€be€well€typified€by€that€Wrestling,€which€theÏholy€Scripture€says,€the€Patriarch€òòJacobóó€had€all€Night€with€God,€until€Day€broke,€and€he€BlessedÐ »W Ðhim.€Wherefore€the€Soul€is€to€persevere,€and€wrestle€with€the€difficulties€that€it€will€find€in€internalÏRecollection,€without€desisting,€until€the€Son€of€internal€Light€begin€to€appear,€and€the€Lord€giveÏit€his€Blessing.œÌà  à67.€›No€sooner€wilt€thou€have€given€thy€self€up€to€thy€Lord€in€this€inward€Way,€but€all€HellÏwill€conspire€against€thee,€seeing€one€single€Soul€inwardly€retired€to€its€own€Presence,€makesÏgreater€War€against€the€Enemy,€than€a€thousand€others€that€walk€externally;€because€the€DevilÏmakes€an€infinite€advantage€of€an€internal€Soul.œÌà  à68.€›In€the€time€of€the€recollection,€Peace€and€Resignation€of€thy€Soul,€God€will€moreÏesteem€the€various€impertinent,€troublesome€and€ugly€thoughts€that€thou€hast,€than€the€goodÏpurposes,€and€high€sentiments.€Know€that€the€effort,€which€thou€thy€self€mayest€make€to€resistÏThoughts,€is€an€impediment,€and€will€leave€thy€Soul€in€greater€œanxitie›.€The€best€thing€that€is€to€beÏdone,€is€sweetly€to€œdispise›€them,€to€know€thine€own€wretchedness,€and€peacefully€make€anÏOffering€to€God€of€the€Trouble.œÌà  à69.›€Though€thou€canst€not€get€rid€of€the€anguish€of€Thoughts,€hast€no€Light,€Comfort,€norÏspiritual€Sentiment:€Yet€be€œnot›€afflicted,€neither€leave€off€recollection,€because€they€are€the€SnaresÏof€the€Enemy:€Resign€thy€self€at€the€time€with€œVigour›,€endure€with€Patience,€and€persevere€in€hisÏPresence;€for€œwhilððst›€thou€œperseverest›€after€that€manner,€thy€Soul€will€be€internally€œemproved›.œÌà  à70.€›Doest€thou€believe€that€when€thou€comest€away€from€Prayer€dry,€in€the€same€mannerÏas€thou€began€it;€œthat€that›€was€because€of€want€of€Preparation,€and€that€hath€done€thee€no€good:Ð ?,Û%* ÐThat€is€a€Fallacy:€Because€the€fruit€of€true€Prayer€consists€not€in€enjoying€the€Light,€nor€in€havingÏKnowledge€of€spiritual€things,€since€these€may€be€found€in€a€speculative€Intellect,€without€trueÏVirtue€and€Perfection;€it€only€consists€in€enduring€with€Patience,€and€persevering€in€Faith€andÏSilence,€believing€that€thou€art€in€the€Lordððs€Presence,€turning€to€him€thy€Heart€with€tranquillity,Ïand€purity€of€Mind.€So€whilst€thou€œperseversest›€in€this€manner,€œthouððlt›€have€the€only€PreparationÏand€disposition€which€at€that€time€is€necessary,€and€shalt€reap€infinite€fruit.œÌà  à71.€›War€is€very€usual€in€this€internal€Recollection,€which€on€the€one€hand€will€deprive€theeÏof€sensibility,€to€try,€humble,€and€purge€thee.€On€the€other,€invisible€Enemies€will€assault€thee€withÏcontinual€Suggestions,€to€trouble€and€disquiet€thee.€Nature€her€self,€apparently,€will€torment€thee,Ïshe€being€always€an€Enemy€to€the€Spirit,€which€in€depriving€her€of€sensible€Pleasures,€remainsÏWeak,€Melancholy,€and€full€of€œIrksomness›,€so€that€it€feels€a€Hell€in€all€Spiritual€Exercises,Ïparticularly€in€that€of€Prayer,€hence€it€grows€œextreamly›€impatient€to€be€at€an€end€of€it,€through€theÏuneasiness€of€Thoughts,€the€lassitude€of€Body,€importunate€Sleep,€and€the€not€being€able€to€curbÏthe€Senses,€every€one€of€which€would€for€it€own€share,€follow€its€own€Pleasure.€Happy€art€thou€ifÏthou€canst€persevere€amidst€this€Martyrdom!œÌà  à74.€›That€great€œDoctoress›,€and€Mystical€Mistress,€òòSanta€Teresaóó,€confirms€all€this€by€herÐ 8Ô  Ðheavenly€Doctrine,€in€the€Letter€she€wrote€to€the€Bishop€of€òòœOsmia›óó,€to€instruct€him,€how€he€was€toÐ $À Ðbehave€himself€in€Prayer,€and€in€the€variety€of€troublesome€thoughts,€which€attack€us€at€that€time,Ïwhere€she€œsays€(òò8.€Of€her€Epistolary.óó):›€òòThere€is€a€necessity€of€suffering€the€trouble€of€a€Troop€ofÐ ü˜ ÐThoughts,€importune€Imaginations,€and€the€impetuosities€of€natural€Notions,€not€only,€of€theÏSoul€through€the€dryness€and€disunion€it€hath,€but€of€the€Body€also,€occasioned€by€the€want€ofÏsubmission€to€the€Spirit,€which€it€ought€to€have.óóœÐ À\ Ðà  à73.€›These€are€called€œdrynesses›€in€Spirituals,€but€are€very€profitable,€if€they€be€embracedÏand€suffered€with€Patience.€Who€so€shall€accustom€himself€to€suffer€them€without€repining,€willÏfrom€that€œlabour›€draw€vast€advantage.€It€is€certain,€that€in€recollection€the€Devil€frequentlyÏcharges€the€Soul€more€fiercely€with€a€Battalion€of€Thoughts,€to€discomfit€the€quiet€of€the€Soul,Ïand€alienate€it€from€that€most€sweet€and€secure€internal€Conversation,€raising€œhorrours›,€to€the€endÏit€may€leave€it€off,€reducing€it€most€commonly€to€such€a€state,€as€if€it€were€lead€forth€to€a€mostÏrigorous€Torment.œÌà  à74.€òò›The€Birds,€which€are€the€Devils,€knowing€thisóó€(said€the€Saint€in€the€above€cited€Letter)Ð  !¼ Ðòòpricks€and€molest€the€Soul€with€Imaginations,€troublesome€Thoughts,€and€the€InterruptionsÐ  "¨ Ðwhich€the€Devil€at€that€time€brings€in,€transporting€the€Thought,€distracting€it€from€one€thing€toÏanother,€and€after€he€hath€done€with€them€attacking€the€Heart,€and€it€is€no€small€fruit€of€Prayer,Ïpatiently€to€suffer€these€Troubles€and€Importunities.€That€is€an€offering€up€of€ones€self,€in€aÏwhole€burnt€Sacrifice,€thatððs€to€say,€to€be€wholly€consumed€in€the€Fire€of€Temptation,€and€noÏpart€spared.óó€See,€how€this€heavenly€Mistress€encourages€to€suffer€and€endure€Thoughts€andÐ ¨&D # ÐTemptations;€because,€provided€they€be€not€consented€to,€they€double€the€profitœ.Ìà  à75.€›As€many€times€as€thou€œexercisest›€thy€self,€calmly€to€reject€these€vain€Thoughts,€soÏmany€Crowns€will€the€Lord€set€upon€thy€Head,€and€though€it€may€seem€to€thee€that€thou€dostÏnothing,€be€œundeceivððd›,€for€a€good€desire€with€firmness€and€œstedfastness›€in€Prayer,€is€very€pleasingÏto€the€Lord.œÌà  à76.€›òòWherefore€to€be€thereóó€(concludes€the€Saint)€òòwithout€sensible€profit,€is€not€lost€time;Ð 0,Ì%) Ðbut€of€great€gain,€œwhilððst›€one€toyls€without€Interest,€and€meerly€for€the€glory€of€God;€and€thoughÏit€may€seem€to€be€toyling€in€vain,€yet€it€is€not€so,€but€it€is€as€with€Children,€who€toyl€and€labourÏunder€the€power€of€their€Father:€though€in€the€evening€they€receive€not€the€wages€for€their€dayððsÏwork,€yet€at€the€yearððs€end€they€enjoy€all.óó€In€fine,€you€see€how€the€Saint€confirms€our€documentÐ ( Ä Ðwith€her€precious€Doctrineœ.ÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°ë xAßÐ ì ˆ ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XII.ÌÓ5`ÓÌÓ  ÓòòA€Sequel€of€the€same€Matter.óóÐ ¿[  ÐÓ]`ÓÌ77.€›God€loves€not€him€who€does€most,€who€hears€most,€nor€who€shows€greatest€affection,€butÏwho€suffers€most,€if€he€pray€with€faith€and€reverence,€believing€that€he€is€in€the€divine€presence.ÏThe€truth€is€to€take€from€the€Soul€the€prayer€of€the€Senses,€and€of€Nature,€is€a€rigorousÏmartyrdom€to€it,€but€the€Lord€rejoyces,€and€is€glad€in€its€peace,€if€it€be€thus€quiet€and€resigned.ÏUse€not€at€that€time€vocal€Prayer,€because€however€it€be€good€and€holy€in€it€self,€yet€to€use€itÏthen,€is€a€manifest€temptation,€whereby€the€enemy€pretends,€that€God€speaks€not€to€thy€heart,Ïunder€pretext€that€thou€had€not€sentiments,€and€that€thou€losest€time.œÌà  à78.€›God€hath€no€regard€to€the€multitude€of€words,€but€to€the€purity€of€the€intent.€HisÏgreatest€content€and€glory€at€that€time,€is€to€see€the€Soul€in€silence,€desirous,€humble,€quiet,€andÏœresigned.€›Proceed,€persevere,€pray,€and€hold€thy€peace;€for€where€thou€findest€not€a€sentiment,Ïthouððlt€find€a€door€whereby€thou€mayest€enter€into€thine€own€nothingness;€knowing€thy€self€to€beÏnothing,€that€thou€canððst€do€nothing,€nay,€and€that€thou€hast€not€so€much€as€a€good€thoughtœ.Ìà  à79.€›How€many€have€begun€this€happy€practice€of€Prayer,€and€Internal€Recollection,€andÏhave€left€it€off,€pretending€that€they€feel€no€pleasure,€that€they€lose€time,€that€their€thoughtsÏtrouble€them,€and€œthat€that›€Prayer€is€not€for€them,€œwhilððst›€they€find€not€any€sentiment€of€God,€norÏany€ability€to€reason€or€discourse;€whereas€they€might€have€believed,€been€silent,€and€hadÏpatience.€All€this€is€no€more,€but€with€ingratitude€to€hunt€after€sensible€pleasures,€sufferingÏthemselves€to€be€transported€with€self„love,€seeking€themselves,€and€not€God,€because€theyÏcannot€suffer€a€little€pain€and€dryness,€without€reflecting€on€the€infinite€loss€they€sustain,€whereasÏby€the€least€act€of€reverence€towards€God,€amidst€dryness€and€sterility,€they€receive€an€eternalÏreward.œÌà  à80.€›The€Lord€told€the€venerable€Mother€òòFrancesca€œLopez›óó€of€òòœValenza›óó,€and€a€religious€ofÐ ó#! Ðthe€third€Order€of€St.€òòFrancisóó,€three€things€of€great€light€and€consequence€in€order€to€internalÐ ß${" Ðrecollection.€òòIn€the€first€place,€that€a€quarter€of€an€hour€of€Prayer,€with€recollection€of€the€sensesÐ Ë%g# Ðand€faculties,€and€with€resignation€and€humility,€does€more€good€to€the€Soul€than€five€days€ofÏpenitential€exercises,€hair€œcloaths›,€disciplines,€œfastings›,€and€sleeping€on€bare€boards,€becauseÏthese€are€only€mortifications€of€the€body,€and€with€recollection€the€Soul€is€purifiedóó.Ð (+"& Ðà  à81.€òòSecondly,€That€it€is€more€pleasing€to€the€Divine€Majesty,€to€have€the€Soul€in€quietÐ {)#' Ðand€devote€Prayer€for€the€space€of€an€hour,€than€to€go€in€great€Pilgrimages;€because€that€inÏPrayer€it€does€good€to€it€self,€and€to€those€for€whom€it€prays,€gives€delight€to€God,€and€merits€aÏhigh€degree€of€glory,€but€in€pilgrimage,€commonly,€the€Soul€is€distracted,€and€the€SensesÐ ?,Û%* Ðdiverted,€with€a€debilitation€of€œvertue,›€besides€many€other€dangers.óóœÐ d Ðà  à82.€òòThirdly,€That€constant€Prayer€was€to€keep€the€Heart€always€right€towards€God,€andÐ Pì Ðthat€a€Soul€to€be€internal,€ought€rather€to€act€with€the€affection€of€the€Will,€than€the€toyl€of€theÏIntellect.óó€All€this€is€to€be€read€in€her€Life.Ð ( Ä Ðà  à83.€›The€more€the€Soul€rejoyces€in€sensible€love,€the€less€delight€God€has€in€it;€on€theÏcontrary,€the€less€the€œSoul›€rejoyces€in€this€sensible€love,€the€more€God€delights€in€it.€And€knowÏthat€to€fix€the€Will€on€God,€restraining€thoughts€and€temptations,€with€the€greatest€tranquillityÏpossible,€is€the€highest€pitch€of€Praying.œÌà  à84.›€Iððll€conclude€this€Chapter€by€undeceiving€thee€of€the€vulgar€œerrour›€of€those€who€say,Ïthat€in€this€internal€Recollection,€or€Prayer€of€Rest,€the€faculties€operate€not,€and€that€the€Soul€isÏidle€and€wholly€œunactive›.€This€is€a€manifest€fallacy€of€those€who€have€little€experience,€becauseÏalthough€it€operate€not€by€means€of€the€memory,€nor€by€the€second€operation€of€the€Intellect,Ïwhich€is€the€judgment,€nor€by€the€third,€which€is€discourse€or€ratiocination,€yet€it€operates€by€theÏfirst€and€chief€operation€of€the€intellect,€which€is€simple€apprehension,€enlightened€by€holy€Faith,Ïand€aided€by€the€divine€gifts€of€the€holy€Spirit.€And€the€Will€is€more€apt€to€continue€one€act,€thanÏto€multiply€many;€so€that€as€well€the€act€of€the€Intellect,€as€that€of€the€Will€are€so€simple,Ïimperceptible,€and€spiritual,€that€hardly€the€Soul€knows€them,€and€far€less€reflects€upon€themœ.ÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°ûxAßÐ ü˜ ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XIII.ÌÓNsÓÌÓ  ÓòòWhat€the€Soul€ought€to€do€in€Internal€Recollection.óóÐ Ïk ÐÓwsÓÌ85.€›Thou€oughtest€to€go€to€Prayer,€that€thou€mayest€deliver€thy€self€wholly€up€into€the€hands€ofÏGod,€with€perfect€resignation,€exerting€œan›€act€of€Faith,€believing€that€thou€art€in€the€divineÏPresence,€afterwards€setling€in€that€holy€repose,€with€quietness,€silence€and€tranquility;€andÏendeavouring€for€a€whole€day,€a€whole€year,€and€thy€whole€life€to€continue€that€first€act€ofÏContemplation,€by€faith€and€loveœ.Ìà  à›86.€It€is€not€your€businesses€to€multiply€these€acts,€nor€to€repeat€sensible€affections,Ïbecause€they€hinder€the€Purity€of€the€spiritual€and€perfect€act€of€the€Will,€œwhilððst›€besides€that€theseÏsweet€sentiments€are€imperfect,€(considering€the€reflection€wherewith€they€are€made,€the€self„¼content,€and€external€consolation€wherewhith€they€are€fought€after,€the€Soul€being€drawnÏoutwards€to€the€external€faculties)€there€is€no€necessity€of€renewing€them,€as€the€mystical€òòFalconóóÐ ó#! Ðhath€excellently€expressed€it€by€the€following€similitude.œÌà  à87.€›òòIf€a€Jewel€given€to€a€friend€were€once€put€into€his€hands,€it€is€not€necessary€to€repeatÐ Ë%g# Ðsuch€a€donation€already€made,€by€daily€telling€him,óó€(Sir,€I€give€you€that€Jewel,€Sir,€I€give€youÐ ·&S $ Ðthat€Jewel,€òòbut€to€let€him€keep€it,€and€not€take€it€from€him,€because€provided€he€take€it€not,€orÐ £'?!% Ðdesign€not€to€take€it€from€him,€he€hath€surely€given€it€him.óóœÐ (+"& Ðà  à88.›€In€the€same€manner,€having€once€dedicated,€and€lovingly€resign€thy€self€to€the€will€ofÏGod,€there€is€nothing€else€for€thee€to€do,€but€to€continue€the€same,€without€repeating€new€andÏsensible€acts,€provided€thou€takest€not€back€the€Jewel€thou€hast€once€given,€by€committing€someÏnotable€fault€against€his€divine€Will,€tho€thou€oughtest€still€to€exercise€thy€self€outwardly€in€theÐ ?,Û%* Ðexternal€works€of€thy€calling€and€state,€for€in€so€doing€thou€dost€the€Will€of€God,€and€walkest€inÏcontinual€and€virtual€oration:€òòHe€always€praysóó€(said€òòTheophylactóó)€òòwho€does€good€works,€nor€doesÐ Pì Ðhe€neglect€Prayer,€but€when€he€leaves€off€to€be€just.óóœÐ <Ø Ðà  à89.€›Thou€oughtest€then€to€œslight›€all€those€sensibilities,€to€the€end€thy€Soul€may€beÏestablished,€and€acquire€a€habit€of€internal€recollection€which€is€so€effectual,€that€the€resolutionÏonly€of€going€to€Prayer,€awakens€a€lively€presence€of€God,€which€is€the€preparation€to€the€PrayerÏthat€is€about€to€be€made;€or€to€say€better,€is€no€other€than€a€more€efficacious€continuation€ofÏcontinual€Prayer,€wherein€the€contemplative€person€ought€to€be€settled.œÌà  à90.€›O€how€well€did€the€venerable€Mother€of€òòCantalóó,€the€spiritual€daughter€of€St.€òòFrancisóóÐ Ä ` Ðof€òòSalesóó,€practice€this€Lesson,€in€whole€Life€are€the€following€words,€written€to€her€Master:€òòMostÐ °L  Ðdear€Father,€I€cannot€do€any€act,€it€seems€to€me€always€that€this€is€the€most€firm€and€secureÏdisposition:€my€spirit€in€the€upper€part,€is€in€a€most€simple€unity;€it€is€not€united,€because€when€itÏwould€perform€acts€of€union€(which€it€often€sets€about)€it€finds€difficulty,€and€clearly€perceivesÏthat€it€cannot€unite,€but€be€united.€The€œSoul›€would€make€use€of€this€union,€for€the€service€ofÏMattins,€the€holy€Mass,€preparation€for€the€Communion,€and€œthanksgiving;›€and€in€a€word,€itÏwould€for€all€things€be€always€in€that€most€simple€unity€of€spirit,€without€reflecting€on€any€thingÏelse.óó€To€all€this€the€holy€Father€answered€with€approbation,€perswading€her€to€persist,€and€puttingÐ $À Ðher€in€mind,€that€the€repose€of€God€is€in€peace.œÌà  à91.€›Another€time€she€wrote€to€the€same€Saint€these€words:€œòòEndeavouring›€to€do€someÐ ü˜ Ðmore€special€acts€of€my€simple€intuition,€total€resignation€and€annihilation€in€God,€his€divineÏgoodness€rebuked€me,€and€gave€me€to€understand,€œthat€that›€proceeded€only€from€the€love€of€myÏself,€and€that€thereby€I€offended€my€Soul.óóœÐ À\ Ðà  à92.€›By€this€thou€wilt€be€undeceived,€and€know€what€is€the€perfect€and€spiritual€way€ofÏPraying,€and€be€advised€what€is€to€be€done€in€Internal€recollection:€œThouððlt›€know€that€to€the€endÏLove€may€be€perfect€and€pure,€it€is€expedient€to€retrench€the€multiplication€of€sensible€and€ferventÏActs,€the€Soul€continuing€quiet€and€resting€in€that€inward€Silence.€Because,€tenderness,€delight,Ïand€sweet€sentiments,€which€the€Soul€experiences€in€the€Will,€are€not€pure€Spirits,€but€ActsÏblended€with€the€sensibility€of€Nature.€Nor€is€it€perfect€Love,€but€sensible€Pleasure,€whichÏdistracts€and€hurts€the€Soul,€as€the€Lord€told€the€venerable€Mother€of€òòœCantal›óó.œÐ 4 Ð Ðà  à93.€›How€happy€and€how€well€applied€will€thy€Soul€be,€if€retreating€within€it€self,€it€thereÏshrink€into€its€own€nothing,€both€in€its€Center€and€superiour€Part,€without€minding€what€it€does;Ïwhether€it€recollect€or€not,€whether€it€walk€well€or€ill;€if€it€operate€or€not,€without€heeding,Ïthinking,€or€minding€any€sensible€thing?€At€that€time€the€Intellect€believes€with€a€pure€Act,€and€theÏWill€loves€with€perfect€love,€without€any€kind€of€impediment,€imitating€that€pure€and€continuedÏAct€of€Intuition€and€Love,€which€the€Saints€say€the€Blessed€in€Heaven€have,€with€no€otherÏdifference,€than€that€they€see€one€another€there€Fact€to€Face,€and€the€Soul€here,€through€the€VeilÏof€an€obscure€Faith.œÌà  à94.€›O€how€few€are€the€œSouls,›€that€attain€to€this€perfect€way€of€Praying,€because€theyÏpenetrate€not€enough€into€this€internal€recollection,€and€Mystical€Silence,€and€because€they€stripÏnot€themselves€of€imperfect€reflection,€and€sensible€pleasure!€O€that€thy€Soul,€without€thoughtfulÏœadvertency›,€even€of€it€self,€might€give€it€self€in€Prey€to€that€holy€and€spiritual€Tranquility,€and€sayÏwith€St.€òòAustinóó€(òòIn€his€œConfess.›€œlib.›€9.€œcap.›€10.óó),òò€œSileat›€anima€mea,€&€œtranseat›€œse›,€non€œse›Ð 0,Ì%) Мcogitando›!óó€Let€it€be€silent€and€do€nothing,€forget€it€self,€and€œplung›€into€that€obscure€Faith:€HowÐ d Ðsecure€and€safe€would€it€be,€though€it€might€seem€to€it€that€thus€œunactive›€and€doing€nothing€itÏwere€undone.œÌà  à95.€›Iððll€sum€up€this€doctrine€with€a€Letter€that€the€Illuminated€Mother€of€òòœCantal›óó€wrote€to€aÐ ( Ä ÐSister,€and€great€Servant€of€God:€òòDivine€Bountyóó€(said€she)€òògranted€me€this€way€of€Prayer,€thatÐ  ° Ðwith€a€single€View€of€God,€I€felt€my€self€wholly€dedicated€to€him,€œabsorpt›€and€reposed€in€him;€heÏstill€continued€to€me€that€Grace,€though€I€opposed€it€by€my€Infidelity,€giving€way€to€fear,€andÏthinking€my€self€unprofitable€in€that€state;€for€which€cause,€being€willing€to€do€something€on€myÏpart,€I€quite€spoil€all;€and€to€this€present€I€find€my€self€sometimes€assaulted€by€the€same€Fear,Ïthough€not€in€Prayer,€but€in€other€Exercises€wherein€I€am€always€willing€to€employ€my€self€aÏlittle,€though€I€know€very€well,€that€in€doing€such€acts,€I€come€out€of€my€Center,€and€seeÏparticularly€œthat€that›€simple€View€of€God,€is€my€only€remedy€and€help€still,€in€all€troubles,Ïtemptations,€and€the€events€of€this€Lifeœ.óóÐ t  Ðà  à96.€òò›And€certainly,€would€I€have€followed€my€internal€Impulse,€I€should€have€made€use€ofÐ `ü  Ðno€other€means€in€any€thing€whatsoever,€without€exception;€because€when€I€think€to€œfortifie›€myÏSoul€with€Arts,€œReasonings›€and€Resignations,€then€do€I€expose€my€self€to€new€temptations€andÏstraights:€Besides€that,€I€cannot€do€it€without€great€violence;€which€leaves€me€exhausted€and€dry,Ïso€that€it€œbehoves›€me€speedily€to€return€to€this€simple€Resignation,€knowing€that€God,€in€thisÏmanner,€lets€me€see,€that€it€is€his€Will€and€Pleasure,€that€a€total€stop€should€be€put€to€theÏoperations€of€my€Soul,€because€he€would€have€all€things€done€by€his€own€divine€Activity;€andÏhappily€he€expects€no€more€of€me,€but€this€only€View€in€all€œspiritual›€Exercises,€and€in€all€theÏpains,€temptations€and€afflictions€that€may€œbefal›€me€in€this€life.€And€the€truth€is,€the€quieter€IÏkeep€my€Spirit€by€this€means,€the€better€all€things€succeed€with€me;€and€my€crosses€andÏafflictions€suddenly€vanish.€Many€times€hath€my€blessed€Father€St.óó€Frances€òòofóó€Sales,€òòassured€meÐ ˜4 Ðof€this.œóóÐ „  Ðà  à97.€›òòOur€late€Mother€œSuperiour›,€encouraged€me€firmly€to€persist€in€that€way,€and€not€toÐ p  Ðfear€any€thing€in€this€simple€View€of€God:€She€told€me,€œThat€that›€was€enough,€and€that€theÏgreater€the€nakedness,€and€quietness€in€God€are,€the€greater€sweetness€and€strength€receivethÏthe€Soul,€which€ought€to€œendeavour›€to€become€so€pure€and€simple,€that€it€should€have€no€otherÏsupport,€but€in€God€alone.óóœÐ  !¼ Ðà  à98.€òò›To€this€purpose€I€remember,€that€a€few€days€since,€God€communicated€to€me€anÐ  "¨ ÐIllumination,€which€made€such€an€impression€upon€me,€as€if€I€had€clearly€seen€him;€and€this€itÏis,€That€I€should€never€look€upon€my€self,€but€walk€with€eyes€shut,€leaning€on€my€Beloved,Ïwithout€striving€to€see€nor€know€the€way,€by€which€he€guides€me,€neither€fix€my€thoughts€on€anyÏthing,€nor€yet€beg€œFavours›€of€him,€but€as€undone€in€my€self,€rest€wholly€and€sincerely€on€him.óóÐ ¼%X" ÐHitherto€that€Illuminated€and€Mystical€Mistress,€whose€Words€do€Credit€and€Authorize€ourÏœDoctrine.Ìâ âÐ €("% ÐßA€" ) °°xdE°cxAßÔ& o Ôâ âÐ d ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XIV.ÌÓ_™ÓÌòòà0  àà ° àDeclaring›€how€the€Soul€putting€it€self€in€the€Presence€of€God,€with€perfect€Resignation,€by€theÐ 7 Ó Ðpure€act€of€Faith,€walks€always€in€virtual€and€acquired€contemplation.œÐ (#(# ÐóóÌ99.€›Thou€wilt€tell€me€(as€many€Souls€have€told€me)€that€though€by€a€perfect€Resignation€thou€hastÏÔ'od3™Ôput€thy€self€in€the€Presence€of€God,€by€means€of€pure€Faith,€as€hath€been€already€hinted,€yet€thouÏdoest€not€merit€nor€œemprove›,€because€thy€thoughts€are€so€distracted,€that€thou€canst€not€be€fixedÏupon€God.œÌà  à100.€›Be€not€disconsolate,€for€thou€doððst€not€lose€time,€nor€merit,€neither€desist€thou€fromÏPrayer;€because€œit€›is€not€necessary,€that€during€the€whole€time€of€recollection,€thou€shouldððstÏactually€think€on€God;€it€is€enough€that€thou€hast€been€attentive€in€the€beginning;€provided€thouÏdiscontinue€not€thy€purpose,€nor€revoke€the€actual€attention€which€thou€hadst.€As€he,€who€hearsÏMass,€and€says€the€Divine€Office,€performs€his€Duty€very€well,€by€œvertue›€of€that€primary€actualÏattention,€though€afterwards€he€persevere€not,€in€keeping€his€thoughts€actually€fixed€on€God.œÌà  à101.€›This€the€Angelical€Doctor€St.€òòThomasóó€confirms,€in€the€following€wordsÐ 3Ï Ð(òòœ2.2.óóqustòò.82.art.€13.€ad€I.›óó):€òòThat€first€intention€only€and€thinking€of€God€when€one€Prays,€hasÐ » Ðforce€and€value€enough€to€make€the€Prayer,€during€all€the€rest€of€the€time€it€continues,€to€beÏtrue,€œimpetratory›€and€meritorious,€though€all€that€while€there€be€no€actual€contemplation€onÏGod.óó€See€now€if€the€Saint€could€speak€more€clearly€to€our€purpose!œÐ ã Ðà  à102.€›So€that€(in€the€Judgement€of€that€Saint)€the€Prayer€still€continues,€though€theÏImagination€may€ramble€upon€infinite€numbers€of€thoughts,€provided€one€consent€not€to€it,€shiftÏnot€Place,€intermit€not€the€Prayer,€nor€change€the€first€Intention€of€being€with€God.€And€it€isÏcertain,€that€he€changes€it€not,€whilððst€he€does€not€leave€his€Place.€Hence€it€follows€in€soundÏDoctrine,€that€one€may€persevere€in€Prayer,€though€the€Imagination€be€carried€about€with€variousÏand€unvoluntary€thoughts.€òòHe€prays€in€œSpirit›€and€Truthóó€(says€the€Saint€in€the€fore„cited€place)Ð k Ðòòwhoever€goest€to€Prayer€with€the€Spirit€and€Intention€of€Praying,€though€afterwards€throughÐ Wó ÐMisery€and€Frailty€his€Thoughts€may€straggle.óó€œEvagatio›€œvero›€mentis€œqu›€fit€œprter›€œpropositum›,Ð C ß Мorationis›€œfructum›€non€œtollit›.œÌà  à103.€›But€thouððlt€say,€at€least,€art€thou€not€to€remember€when€thou€art€in€the€presence€ofÏGod,€and€often€say€to€him,€òòLord€abide€within€me;€and€I€will€give€my€self€wholly€up€to€thee?óó€IÐ #£  Ðanswer€that€there€is€no€necessity€for€that,€seeing€thou€hast€a€design€to€Pray,€and€for€that€endÏwentððst€to€that€place.€Faith€and€Intention€are€sufficient,€and€these€always€continue;€nay,€the€moreÏsimple€that€remembrance€be,€without€words,€or€thoughts,€œthe›€more€pure,€spiritual,€internal,€andÏworthy€of€God€it€is.œÌà  à104.€›Would€it€not€be€impertinent€and€disrespectful,€if€being€in€the€Presence€of€a€King,€thouÏœshouldððst›€ever€now€and€then€say€to€him,€òòSir,€I€believe€Your€Majesty€is€here?óó€Itððs€the€very€sameÐ (+"& Ðthing.€By€the€eye€of€pure€Faith€the€Soul€sees€God,€believes€in€him,€and€is€in€his€Presence,€and€soÏwhen€the€Soul€believes,€it€has€no€need€to€say,€òòMy€God€thou€art€here;óó€but€to€believe€as€it€doesÐ g*$( Ðbelieve,€seeing€when€Prayer„time€is€come,€Faith€and€Intention€guide€and€conduct€it€to€contemplateÏGod€by€means€of€pure€Faith,€and€perfect€Resignation.œÐ ?,Û%* Ðà  à105.€›So€that,€so€long€as€thou€œretractest›€not€that€Faith,€and€Intention€of€being€resigned,Ïthou€œwalkest›€always€in€Faith€and€Resignation,€and€consequently€in€Prayer,€and€in€virtual€andÏacquired€Contemplation,€although€thou€perceive€it€not,€remember€it€not,€neither€œexertest›€new€ActsÏand€Reflections€thereon;€after€the€example€of€a€Christian,€a€Wife,€and€a€Monk;€who,€though€theyœÏ›exert€us€new€Acts€and€Remembrances,€the€one€as€to€his€Profession,€saying,€òòI€am€a€Monkóó,€theÐ  ° Ðother€as€to€her€Matrimony,€saying€òòI€am€a€Wifeóó,€and€the€third€as€to€his€Baptism,€saying,€òòI€am€aÐ  œ ÐChristianóó,€they€cease€not€for€all€that€from€being,€the€one€Baptized,€the€other€Married,€and€theÐ ì ˆ Ðthird€Professed.€The€Christian€shall€only€be€obliged€to€do€good€Works€in€Confirmation€of€hisÏFaith;€and€to€believe€more€with€the€Heart,€than€with€the€Mouth:€The€Wife€ought€to€giveÏdemonstrations€of€the€Fidelity€which€she€promised€to€her€Husband:€And€the€Monk€of€theÏObedience€which€he€made€profession€of€to€his€œSuperiour›.œÌà  à106.€›In€the€same€manner,€the€inward€Soul€being€once€resolved€to€Believe,€that€God€is€in€it,Ïand€that€it€will€not€desire€nor€act€any€thing€but€through€God,€ought€to€rest€satisfied€in€that€FaithÏand€intention,€in€all€its€Works€and€Exercises,€without€forming€or€repeating€new€Acts€of€the€sameÏFaith,€nor€of€such€a€Resignation.œÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°#xAßÐ $À ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XV.ÌÓ®ÓÌòòÓ  Ó›A€Sequel€to€the€same€matter.óóÐ ÷“ ÐÓC®ÓÌ107.€This€true€Doctrine€serves€not€only€for€the€time€of€Prayer,€but€also€after€it€is€over,€by€NightÏand€by€Day,€at€all€Hours,€and€in€all€the€daily€Functions€of€thy€Calling,€thy€duty€and€Condition.ÏAnd€if€thou€tell€me,€that€many€times€thou€œforgettest›€during€a€whole€day,€to€renew€thy€resignation,ÏI€answer,€that€though€it€seem€to€thee,€that€thou€are€diverted€from€it,€by€attending€the€dailyÏoccupations€of€thy€Vocation,€as€Studying,€Reading,€Preaching,€Eating,€Drinking,€doing€Business,Ïand€the€like;€thou€art€mistaken;€for€the€one€destroys€not€the€other,€nor€by€so€doing€doest€thouÏneglect€to€do€the€Will€of€God,€nor€to€proceed€in€virtual€Prayer,€as€St.€òòThomasóó€says.œÐ Wó Ðà  à108.€›Because€these€occupations€are€not€contrary€to€his€Will,€nor€contrary€to€thyÏResignation,€it€being€certain,€that€God€would€have€thee€to€Eat,€Study,€take€Pains,€do€Business,Ï&c.€So€that€to€perform€these€Exercises,€which€are€conformððd€to€his€Will€and€Pleasure,€thouÏdepartest€not€out€of€his€Presence,€nor€from€thine€own€Resignation.œÌà  à109.€›But€if€in€Prayer,€or€out€of€it€thou€œshouldððst›€willingly€be€diverted€or€œdistracted,›Ïsuffering€thy€self€deliberately€to€be€transported€into€any€Passion;€then€it€will€be€good€for€thee€toÏrevert€to€God,€and€return€into€his€Divine€Presence,€renewing€the€purest€of€Faith€and€Resignation.ÏHowever€it€is€not€necessary€to€exert€those€Acts,€when€thou€œfindest›€thy€self€in€dryness,€becauseÏdryness€it€good€and€holy,€and€cannot,€how€severe€soever€it€be,€take€from€thy€Soul€the€DivineÏPresence,€which€is€established€in€Faith.€Thou€œoughtest›€never€to€call€dryness€distraction,€because€inÏbeginners€it€is€want€of€sensibility,€and€in€proficient€abstractedness,€by€means€whereof,€if€thou€bearÏit€out€with€constancy,€resting€quiet€in€thine€own€emptiness,€thy€Soul€will€become€more€and€moreÏinward;€and€the€Lord€will€work€wonders€in€it.œÌà  à110.€›Strive€then€when€thou€comest€from€Prayer,€to€the€end€thou€mayst€return€to€it€again,Ð ?,Û%* Ðnot€to€be€distracted,€nor€diverted;€but€to€carry€thy€self€with€a€total€resignation€to€the€Divine€Will,Ïthat€God€may€do€with€thee€and€all€thine,€according€to€his€heavenly€pleasure,€relying€on€him€as€onÏa€kind€and€loving€Father.€Never€recal€that€œIntention,›€and€though€thou€beest€taken€up€about€theÏAffairs€of€the€Condition€wherein€God€hath€placed€thee,€yet€œthouððlt›€still€be€in€Prayer€in€theÏPresence€of€God,€and€in€perpetual€Resignation.€Therefore€St.€òòJohn€œChrysostomóó›€said€òò(Super,€5.€œad›Ð  ° МThessolon›.óó),€òòA€just€man€leaves€not€off€to€Pray,€unless€he€leaves€off€to€be€Just.€He€always€prays,Ð  œ Ðwho€always€does€well;€the€good€desire€is€Prayer,€and€if€the€desire€be€continued,€so€is€also€theÏPrayer.óóœÐ Ø t Ðà  à111.€Thouððlt›€understand€all€that€has€been€said,€by€this€clear€Example,€when€a€man€begins€aÏJourney€to€òòRomeóó,€every€step€he€makes€in€the€Progress€is€voluntary,€and€nevertheless€it€is€notÐ °L  Ðnecessary,€that€at€every€step€he€should€express€his€desire,€or€exert€a€new€act€of€the€Will,€saying,€òòIÐ œ8  Ðam€going€toóó€Rome,€òòI€go€toóó€Rome:€Because,€by€œvertue›€of€that€first€intention€he€had€of€œtravelling›€toÐ ˆ$  ÐòòRomeóó,€the€same€Will€still€remains€in€him;€so€that€he€goes€on€without€saying€so,€though€he€does€notÐ t  Ðwithout€intending€so;€youððll€clearly€find,€besides,€that€this€œTraveller›,€with€one€single€and€explicit€ofÏthe€Will€and€Intention,€travel,€speaks,€hears,€sees,€reasons,€eats,€drinks,€and€does€several€otherÏthings,€without€any€interruption€to€his€first€intention,€not€yet€of€his€actual€œjournying›€to€òòRomeóóœ.Ð 8Ô  Ðà  à112.€›It€is€just€so€in€the€contemplative€Soul:€A€man€having€once€made€the€resolution€ofÏdoing€the€Will€of€God,€and€of€being€in€his€Presence,€he€still€perseveres€in€that€act,€so€long€as€heÏœrecals›€not€the€same,€although€he€be€taken€up€in€hearing,€speaking,€eating,€or€in€any€other€externalÏgood€work€or€function€of€his€Calling€and€Quality.€St.€òòThomas€Aquinasóó€œexpresseth›€all€this€in€fewÐ è„ Ðwordsœ€(òòContra€Gentiles;€l.3.c.I38.Vn€2.óó),€›òòNon€œenim€Oportet€quod€qui€propter€deum€aliquod€iterÐ Ôp Ðarripuit,€in€qualibet€parte€itineris€de€Deo€cogitet€actuóó.Ð À\ Ðà  à113.€›Thouððlt€say,€that€all€Christians€walk€in€this€Exercise,€because€all€have€Faith,€and€mayÏalthough€they€be€not€internal€fulfil€this€Doctrine€especially€such€as€go€in€the€external€Way€ofÏMeditation€and€œRetiocination›.€It€is€true,€all€Christians€have€Faith,€and€more€particularly€they€whoÏMeditate€and€Consider:€But€the€Faith€of€those€who€advance€by€the€inward€Way,€is€much€different,Ïbecause€it€is€a€lively€Faith,€universal€and€indistinct,€and€by€consequent,€more€practical,€active,Ïeffectual,€and€illuminated;€insomuch€as€the€Holy€Ghost€enlightens€the€Soul€that€is€best€disposed,Ïmost,€and€that€Soul€is€always€best€disposed,€which€holds€the€Mind€recollected;€so€proportionablyÏto€the€Recollection€the€Holy€Ghost€Illuminates.€And€albeit€is€be€true,€that€God€communicatesÏsome€light€in€Meditation,€yet€it€is€so€scanty€and€different€from€that€which€he€communicates€to€theÏMind,€recollected€in€a€pure€and€universal€Faith,€that€the€one€to€the€other,€is€no€more€than€like€twoÏor€three€Drops€of€Water€in€respect€of€an€Ocean:€since€in€Meditation€two€or€three€particular€TruthsÏare€communicated€to€the€Soul;€but€in€the€internal€Recollection,€and€the€Exercise€of€pure€andÏuniversal€Faith,€the€Wisdom€of€God€is€an€abundant€Ocean€which€is€communicated€in€that€obscure,Ïsimple,€general€and€universal€Knowledge.œÌà  à114.€›In€like€manner€Resignation€is€more€perfect€in€these€Souls,€because€it€springs€from€theÏinternal€and€infused€Fortitude,€which€grows€as€the€internal€Exercise€of€pure€Faith,€with€SilenceÏand€Resignation,€is€continued:€In€the€manner€that€the€Gifts€of€Godððs€Spirit€grow€in€contemplativeÏSouls;€for€though€these€divine€Gifts€are€to€be€found€in€all€those€that€are€in€a€State€of€Grace,Ïnevertheless,€they€are,€as€it€were,€dead,€without€strength,€and€in€a€manner€infinitely€different€fromÏthese€which€reign€in€contemplative€Persons,€by€reason€of€their€illustration,€vivacity€and€efficacy.œÐ 0,Ì%) Ðà  à115.€›From€all€which,€be€œperswaded›,€that€the€inward€Soul,€accustomed€to€go€daily€atÏcertain€hours€to€Prayer,€with€the€Faith€and€Resignation€I€have€mentioned€to€thee,€walksÏcontinually€in€the€Presence€of€God.€All€holy,€expert€and€mystical€Masters,€teach€this€true€andÏimportant€Doctrine,€because€they€have€all€had€one€and€the€same€Master,€who€is€the€Holy€Ghost.œÌÌßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°ÿ xAßÐ  œ ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XVI.ÌÓÉÓÌòòà0  àà ° àA›€Way€by€which€one€may€enter€into€internal€Recollection,€through€the€most€Holy€Humanity€ofÐ Ó o  ÐLord€Christ.óóœÐ¿[ (#(# ÐÌ116.€›There€are€two€sorts€of€Spiritual€Men€Diametrically€contrary€one€to€another:€The€one€say,ÏThat€the€Mysteries€of€the€Passion€of€Christ,€are€always€to€be€considered€and€Meditated€upon:€TheÏothers€running€to€the€opposite€extreme,€teach,€That€the€Meditation€of€the€Mysteries€of€the€Life,ÏPassion,€and€Death€of€our€œSaviour›,€is€not€Prayer,€nor€yet€a€Remembrance€of€them;€but€the€exaltedÏElevation€to€God,€whose€Divinity€Contemplates€the€œSoul›€in€quiet€and€silence,€ought€only€to€beÏcalled€Prayer.œÌà  à117.€›It€is€certain€that€our€Lord€Christ€is€the€Guide,€the€Door,€and€the€Way;€as€he€himselfÏhath€said€in€his€own€Words€(òòJohnóó€14.):€òòI€am€the€way,€the€truth,€and€the€life.óó€And€before€the€SoulÐ  § Ðcan€be€fit€to€enter€into€the€Presence€of€the€Divinity,€and€be€united€with€it,€it€is€to€be€washed€withÏthe€precious€Blood€of€a€Redeemer,€and€adorned€with€the€rich€robes€of€his€Passion.œÌà  à118.€›Our€Lord€Christ€with€his€Doctrine€and€Example,€is€the€Mirror,€the€Guide€of€the€œSoul,›Ïthe€Way€and€the€only€door€by€which€we€enter€into€those€Pastures€of€Life€Eternal,€and€into€the€vastÏOcean€of€the€Divinity.€Hence€it€follows,€that€the€Remembrance€of€the€Passion€and€Death€of€ourÏœSaviour›€ought€not€wholly€to€be€blotted€out:€nay,€it€is€also€certain,€that€whatsoever€high€elevationÏof€Mind€the€Soul€may€be€raised€to,€it€ought€not€in€all€things€to€separate€from€the€most€holyÏHumanity.€But€then€it€follows,€not€from€hence€neither,€that€the€Soul€accustomed€to€internalÏrecollection,€that€can€no€longer€ratiocinate,€should€always€be€meditating€on,€and€considering€(asÏthe€other€Spiritualists€say)€the€most€holy€œMisteries›€of€our€Saviour.€It€is€holy€and€good€toÏMeditate;€and€would€to€God€that€all€men€of€this€World€practiced€it.€And€the€Soul,€besides€thatÏmeditates,€reasons€and€considers€with€facilitie;€ought€to€be€let€alone€in€that€state,€and€not€pushedÏon€to€another€higher,€so€long€as€in€that€of€Meditation€it€finds€nourishment€and€profit.œÌà  à119.€›It€belongs€to€God€alone,€and€not€to€the€spiritual€Guide,€to€promote€the€Soul€fromÏMeditation€to€Contemplation;€because,€if€God€through€his€special€Grace,€call€it€not€to€this€state€ofÏPrayer,€the€Guide€can€do€nothing€with€all€his€Wisdom€and€Instructions.œÌà  à120.€›To€strike€a€secure€means€then,€and€to€avoid€those€two€so€contrary€œextreams›,€of€notÏwholly€blotting€out€the€remembrance€of€the€Humanity;€and€of€not€having€it€continually€before€ourÏeyes;€we€ought€to€suppose,€that€there€are€two€ways€of€attending€to€the€Holy€Humanity;€that€oneÏmay€enter€at€the€Divine€Port,€which€is€Christ€our€well€being,€The€first€is€by€considering€theÏMysteries,€and€meditating€the€Actions€of€the€Life,€Passion,€and€Death€of€our€œSaviour›.€The€secondÏby€thinking€on€him,€by€the€application€of€the€Intellect,€pure€Faith,€or€Memory.œÌà  à121.€›When€the€Soul€proceeds€in€perfecting€and€œinteriorizing›€it€self,€by€means€of€internalÐ ?,Û%* Ðrecollection,€having€for€sometime€meditated€on€the€Mysteries€whereof€it€hath€been€alreadyÏinformed;€then€it€retains€Faith€and€Love€to€the€Word€Incarnate,€being€ready€for€his€sake€to€doÏwhatever€he€inspires€into€it,€walking€according€to€his€Precepts,€although€they€be€not€alwaiesÏbefore€its€Eyes.€As€if€it€should€be€said€to€a€Son,€that€he€ought€never€to€forsake€his€Father,€theyÏintend€not€thereby€to€oblige€him,€to€have€his€Father€alwaies€in€sight,€but€only€to€have€him€alwaiesÏin€his€Memory,€that€in€time€and€place,€he€may€be€ready€to€do€his€Duty.œÌà  à122.€›The€Soul€then€that€is€entered€into€internal€recollection,€with€the€opinion€andÏapprobation€of€an€expert€Guide,€hath€no€need€to€enter€by€the€first€door€of€Meditation€on€theÏMysteries,€being€alwaies€taken€up€in€meditating€upon€them;€because€that€is€not€to€be€done€withoutÏgreat€fatigue€to€the€Intellect,€not€does€it€stand€in€need€of€such€ratiocinations;€since€these€serveÏonly€as€a€means€to€attain€to€believing,€that€which€it€hath€already€got€the€possession€of.œÌà  à123.€›The€most€noble,€spiritual€and€proper€way€for€œSouls›€that€are€Proficients€in€internalÏrecollection,€to€enter€by€the€Humanity€of€Christ€our€Lord,€and€entertain€a€remembrance€of€him€isÏthe€second€way;€eying€that€Humanity,€and€the€Passion€thereof€by€a€simple€Act€of€Faith,€loving€andÏreflecting€on€the€same€as€the€Tabernacle€of€the€Divinity,€the€beginning€and€end€of€our€Salvation,ÏJesus€Christ€having€been€Born,€Suffered,€and€died€a€shameful€Death€for€our€sakes.œÌà  à124.€›This€is€the€way€that€makes€internal€œSouls›€profit,€and€this€holy,€pious,€swift,€andÏinstantaneous€remembrance€of€the€Humanity,€can€be€no€obstacle€to€them€in€the€course€of€internalÏrecollection,€unless€if€when€the€Soul€enters€into€Prayer,€it€finds€it€self€drawn€back;€for€then€it€willÏbe€better,€to€continue€recollection€and€mental€excess.€But€not€finding€it€self€drawn€back,€theÏsimple€and€swift€remembrance€of€the€Humanity€of€the€Divine€Word,€gives€no€impediment€to€theÏhighest€and€most€elevated,€the€most€abstracted€and€transformed€Soul.œÌà  à125.€›This€is€the€way€that€òòSanta€Teresaóó€recommends€to€the€contemplative,€rejecting€theÐ ¬H Мtumultuary›€Opinions€of€some€School„men.€This€is€the€strait€and€safe€way,€free€from€Dangers,Ïwhich€the€Lord€hath€taught€to€many€Souls,€for€attaining€to€repose,€and€the€Holy€Tranquility€ofÏContemplation.œÌà  à126.›€Let€the€Soul€then,€when€it€enters€into€recollection,€place€it€self€at€the€Gate€of€DivineÏMercy,€which€is€the€amiable€and€sweet€remembrance€of€the€Cross€and€Passion€of€the€Word€thatÏwas€made€Man,€and€Died€for€Love;€let€it€stand€there€with€Humility,€resigned€to€the€Will€of€God,Ïin€whatsoever€it€pleases€the€Divine€Majesty,€to€do€with€it;€and€if€from€that€holy€and€sweetÏremembrance,€it€soon€fall€into€forgetfulness,€there€is€no€necessity€of€making€a€new€repetition,€butÏto€continue€silent€and€quiet€in€the€presence€of€the€Lord.œÌà  à127.€›Wonderfully€does€St.€òòPaulóó€favour€this€our€Doctrine,€in€the€Epistle€which€he€wrote€toÐ ä#€  Ðthe€òòColossiansóó,€wherein€he€exhorts€them€and€us,€that€whether€we€Eat,€Drink,€or€do€anything€else,Ð Ð$l! Ðwe€should€do€it€in€the€Name,€and€for€the€Sake€of€Jesus€Christœ.€òòOmne€quod€cumq;€faritis€inverbo,Ð ¼%X" Ðaut€in€opere,€omnia€in€nomine€Jesu€Christi€facite,€gratias€agentes€Deo€&€Parti€per€ipsum.óó€›GodÐ ¨&D # Ðgrant€that€we€may€all€begin€by€Jesus€Christ,€and€that€in€him,€and€by€him€alone,€we€may€arrive€atÏperfection.œÌâ âÐ l)#& ÐßA€" ) °°xdûÿE°cxAßÔ& ƒ Ôâ ââ ââ âÐ d ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAP.€XVII.ÌÓïãÓÌòòÓ  Ó›Of€Internal€and€Mystical€Silence.óóÐ 7 Ó ÐÓäÓÌ128.€There€are€three€kinds€of€silence;€the€first€is€of€Words,€the€Second€of€Desires,€and€the€third€ofÏÔ'ƒd¯ãÔThoughts.€The€first€is€perfect;€the€second€more€perfect;€and€the€third€more€perfect.€In€the€first,Ïthat€is,€of€words,€Virtue€is€acquired;€in€the€second,€to€wit,€of€Desires,€quietness€is€attained€to;€inÏthe€third€of€Thoughts,€Internal€Recollection€is€gained.€By€not€speaking,€not€desiring,€and€notÏthinking,€one€arrives€at€the€true€and€perfect€Mystical€Silence,€wherein€God€speaks€with€the€Soul,Ïcommunicates€himself€to€it,€and€in€the€Abyss€of€its€own€Depth,€teaches€it€the€most€perfect€andÏexalted€Wisdom.Ìà  à129.€He€calls€and€guides€it€to€this€inward€Solitude,€and€mystical€Silence,€when€he€œsaies›,ÏThat€he€will€speak€to€it€alone,€in€the€most€secret€and€hidden€part€of€the€Heart.€Thou€art€to€keepÏthy€self€in€this€mystical€Silence,€if€thou€wouldest€hear€the€sweet€and€divine€Voice.€It€is€not€enoughÏfor€gaining€this€Treasure,€to€forsake€the€World,€nor€to€renounce€thine€own€Desires,€and€all€thingsÏcreated;€if€thou€wean€not€thy€self€from€all€Desires€and€Thoughts.€Rest€in€this€mystical€Silence,€andÏopen€the€Door,€that€so€God€may€communicate€himself€unto€thee,€unite€with€thee,€and€transformÏthee€into€himself.œÌà  à130.€›The€perfection€of€the€Soul€consists€not€in€speaking€nor€in€thinking€much€on€God;€butÏin€loving€him€sufficiently:€This€love€is€attained€to€by€means€of€perfect€Resignation€and€internalÏSilence,€all€consists€in€Works:€The€love€of€God€has€but€few€Words.€Thus€St.€òòJohnóó€the€EvangelistÐ Ïk Ðconfirms€and€inculcates€it.€(Epist.€I.€Chap.€3.€œv.›€18)€òòMy€little€Children,€let€us€not€love€in€Word,Ð »W Ðneither€in€Tongue,€but€in€Deed€and€in€Truth.óóÐ §C Ðà  à131.€Thou€art€clearly€convinced€now,€that€perfect€Love€consists€not€in€amorous€Acts,€norÏtender€Ejaculations,€nor€yet€in€the€internal€Acts,€wherein€thou€œtellest›€God,€that€thou€hast€anÏinfinite€Love€for€him,€and€thou€lovest€him€more€than€thy€self.€It€may€be€that€at€that€time€thouÏœseekest›€more€thy€self,€and€the€love€of€thy€self,€than€the€true€Love€of€God,€òòBecause€Love€consistsÐ Wó Ðin€Works,€and€not€in€fair€D