Book I
CHAPTER I.--Sets down the first stanza. Describes two different nights through which spiritual persons pass, according to the two parts of man, the lower and the higher. Expounds the stanza which follows
CHAPTER II.--Explains the nature of this dark night through which the soul says that it has passed on the road to union
CHAPTER III.--Speaks of the first cause of this night, which is that of the privation of the desire in all things, and gives the reason for which it is called night
CHAPTER IV.--Wherein is declared how necessary it is for the soul truly to pass through this dark night of sense, which is mortification of desire, in order that it may journey to union with God
CHAPTER V.--Wherein the aforementioned subject is treated and continued, and it is shown by passages and figures from Holy Scripture how necessary it is for the soul to journey to God through this dark night of the mortification of desire in all things
CHAPTER VI.--Wherein are treated two serious evils caused in the soul by the desires, the one evil being privative and the other positive
CHAPTER VII.--Wherein is shown how the desires torment the soul. This is proved likewise by comparisons and quotations
CHAPTER VIII.--Wherein is shown how the desires darken and blind the soul
CHAPTER IX.--Wherein is described how the desires defile the soul. This is proved by comparisons and quotations from Holy Scripture
CHAPTER X.--Wherein is described how the desires weaken the soul in virtue and make it lukewarm
CHAPTER XI.--Wherein it is proved necessary that the soul that would attain to Divine union should be free from desires, however slight they be CHAPTER XII.--Which treats of the answer to another question, explaining what the desires are that suffice to cause the evils aforementioned in the soul
CHAPTER XIII.--Wherein is described the manner and way which the soul must follow in order to enter this night of sense
CHAPTER XIV.--Wherein is expounded the second line of the stanza
CHAPTER XV.--Wherein are expounded the remaining lines of the aforementioned stanza
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II.--Which begins to treat of the second part of cause of this night, which is faith. Proves by two arguments how it is darker than the first and then the third
CHAPTER III.--How faith is dark night to the soul. This is proved with arguments and quotations and figures from Scripture