Contents.
Alas! some tepid and dissolute people are willing to put off their confession, and desire that their communion should be deferred, lest they should be obliged thereby to keep a stricter watch over themselves.
5 Ah! how little is their love of God, how weak is their devotion who so easily put by the sacred communion?
How happy is he, and acceptable to God, who so liveth, and keepeth his conscience in such purity, as to be ready and well disposed to communicate every day, if it were permitted, and he might do it without note.
If sometimes a person abstains out of humility, or by reason of some lawful impediment, he is to be commended for his reverence.
But if sloth steal upon him, he must stir up himself, and do what lieth in him; and God will assist his desire, for his good will, which he chiefly regards.
6. And when he is lawfully hindered, he must yet always have a good will and a pious intention to communicate, and so he shall not lose the fruit of the sacrament.
For every devout man may every day and hour receive Christ spiritually without any prohibition, and with profit to his soul.
And yet on certain days, and at the time appointed, he ought to receive sacramentally with an affectionate reverence the body of his Redeemer, and rather aim at the honour of God, than seek his own comfort.
For he communicates mystically, and is invisibly fed, as often as he devoutly calleth to mind the mystery of the incarnation of Christ, and his passion; and is inflamed with the love of him.
7. He that prepareth not himself, but when a festival draweth near, or when custom compelleth him thereunto, shall often be unprepared.
Blessed is he that offereth himself up as an holocaust to the Lord, as often as he celebrates or communicates.
Be neither too long, nor too hasty in celebrating, but observe the good common manner of those with whom thou livest.
Thou oughtest not to be tedious and troublesome to others, but to keep the common way, according to the appointment of superiors; and rather suit thyself to the profit of others, than to thine own devotion or affection.
Chap. XI.
That the body of Christ and
the holy scripture
are most necessary to a
faithful soul.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. O Sweetest Lord Jesus, how great sweetness hath a devout soul that feasteth with thee in thy banquet; where there is no other meat set before her to be eaten but thyself her only beloved, and most to be desired above all the desires of her heart!
And to me indeed it would be delightful to pour out tears in thy presence, with the whole affection of my heart, and like the devout Magdalen to wash thy feet with my tears.
But where is this devotion? Where is this so plentiful shedding of holy tears?
Surely in the sight of thee, and of thy holy angels, my whole heart ought to be inflamed, and to weep for joy.
For I have thee in the sacrament truly present, though hidden under another form.
2. For to behold thee in thine own divine brightness, is what my eyes would not be able to endure, neither could the whole world subsist in the splendour of the glory of thy Majesty.
In this therefore thou condescendest to my weakness, that thou hidest thyself under the sacrament.
I truly have and adore him whom the angels adore in heaven; but I as yet in faith, they by sight and without a veil.
I must be content with the light of true faith, and walk therein till the day of eternal brightness break forth, and the shades of figures pass away.
But when that which is perfect shall come, the use of the sacraments shall cease: for the blessed in heavenly glory stand not in need of the remedy of the sacraments.
For they rejoice without end in the presence of God, beholding his glory face to face; and being transformed from glory into the glory of the incomprehensible Deity, they taste the Word of God made flesh, as he was from the beginning, and as he remaineth for ever.
3. When I call to mind these wonders, even every spiritual comfort becomes grievously tedious to me; because as long as I behold not my Lord openly in his glory, I make no account of whatsoever I see and hear in the world.
Thou art my witness, O God, that not one thing can comfort me, nor any thing created give me rest, but only thou, my God, whom I desire for ever to contemplate.
But this is not possible whilst I remain in this mortal life.
And therefore I must frame myself to much patience, and submit myself to thee in all my desires.
For thy saints also, O Lord, who now rejoice with thee in the Kingdom of heaven, whilst they were living, expected in faith and great patience the coming of thy glory. What they believed, I believe; what they hoped for, I hope for; and whether they are come, I trust that I also through thy grace shall come.
In the mean time I will walk in faith, strengthened by the example of thy saints.
I shall have moreover for my comfort, and the direction of my life, thy holy books; and above all these things, thy most holy body for a singular remedy and refuge.
4. For in this life I find there are two things especially necessary for me, without which this miserable life would be insupportable.
Whilst I am kept in the prison of this body, I acknowledge myself to need two things, to wit, food and light.
Thou hast therefore given to me, weak as I am, thy sacred body for the nourishment of my soul and body, and thou hast set thy Word as a light to my feet. Psalms cxviii.
Without these two I could not well live, for the Word of God is the light of my soul, and thy sacrament is the bread of Life.
These also may be called the two tables set on the one side, and on the other, in the store house of the holy church.
One is the table of the holy altar, having the holy bread, that is the precious Body of Christ.
The other is that of the divine law, containing holy doctrine, teaching the right faith, and firmly leading even within the veil, where are the holies of holies:
Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus, Light of eternal Light, for the table of holy doctrine which thou hast afforded us by the ministry of thy servants, the prophets and apostles, and other teachers.
5. Thanks be to thee, O thou Creator and Redeemer of men, who, to manifest thy love to the whole world, hast prepared a great supper, wherein thou hast set before us to be eaten, not the typical lamb, but thy most sacred body and blood: rejoicing all the faithful with thy holy banquet, and replenishing them with the cup of salvation, in which are all the delights of paradise; and the holy angels do feast with us, but with a more happy sweetness.
6. O how great and honourable is the office of priests, to whom it is given to consecrate with sacred words the Lord of Majesty; to bless him with their lips, to hold him with their hands, to receive him with their own mouth, and to administer him to others!
Oh! how clean ought those hands to be, how pure that mouth, how holy that body, how unspotted the heart of a priest, into whom thou the Author of Purity so often enters!
From the mouth of a priest nothing but what is holy, no word but what is good and profitable ought to proceed, who so often receives the sacrament of Christ.
7. His eyes ought to be simple, and chaste, which are used to behold the Body of Christ; his hands pure and lifted up to heaven, which use to handle the Creator of heaven and earth.
Unto the priest especially it is said in the law, Be you holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus xix. 20.
8. Let thy grace, O Almighty God, assist us, that we, who have undertaken the office of priesthood, may serve thee worthily and devoutly in all purity and good conscience.
And if we cannot live in so great innocency as we ought, grant us at least duly to bewail the sins which we have committed; and in the spirit of humility, and the resolution of a good-will, to serve thee more fervently for the time to come.
Chap. XII.
That he who is to
communicate ought to prepare himself for
Christ with great diligence.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. I Am the lover of purity, and the giver of all holiness.
I seek a pure heart, and there is the place of my rest.
Make ready for me a large upper room furnished, and I will make the pasch with thee, together with my disciples. Mark xiv. Luke xxii.
If thou wilt have me come to thee, and remain with thee; purge out the old leaven, and make clean the habitation of thy heart;
Shut out the whole world, and all the tumult of vices; sit like a sparrow solitary on the house top, and think of thy excesses in the bitterness of thy soul.
For every lover prepareth the best and fairest room for his dearly beloved; and hereby is known the affection of him that entertaineth his beloved.
2. Know nevertheless, that thou canst not sufficiently prepare thyself by the merit of any action of thine, although thou shouldst prepare thyself a whole year together, and think of nothing else.
But it is of my mere goodness and grace that thou art suffered to come to my table; as if a beggar should be invited to dinner by a rich man, who hath nothing else to return him for his benefit, but to humble himself, and to give him thanks.
Do what lieth in thee, and do it diligently; not for custom, nor for necessity; but with fear, and reverence, and affection, receive the body of thy beloved Lord, thy God, who vouchsafeth to come to thee.
I am he that have invited thee, I have commanded it to be done, I will supply what is wanting in thee, come and receive me.
3. When I bestow the grace of devotion give thanks to thy God, not for that thou art worthy, but because I have had mercy on thee.
If thou hast it not, but rather findest thyself dry, continue in prayer, sigh and knock, and give not over, till thou receivest some crum or drop of saving grace.
Thou hast need of me, not I of thee.
Neither dost thou come to sanctify me, but I come to sanctify and make thee better;
Thou comest that thou mayest be sanctified by me, and united to me; that thou mayest receive new grace, and be inflamed anew to amendment.
Neglect not this grace, but prepare thy heart with all diligence, and bring thy beloved into thee.
4. But thou oughtest not only to prepare thyself to devotion before communion, but carefully also to keep thyself therein after receiving the sacrament; neither is the carefully guarding of thyself afterwards less required than the devoutly preparing thyself before: for a good guard afterwards is the best preparation again for the obtaining of greater grace.
For what renders a man very much indisposed is, if he presently pour himself out upon exterior comforts.
Beware of much talk, remain in secret, and enjoy thy God; for thou hast him whom all the world cannot take from thee.
I am he to whom thou oughtest to give thy whole self; so that thou mayest henceforward live, without all solicitude, not in thyself, but in me.
Chap. XIII.
That a devout soul ought to
desire with her whole heart to be united to
Christ in the sacrament.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. Who will give me, O Lord, to find thee alone, that I may open my whole heart to thee, and enjoy thee as my soul desireth; and that no one may now despise me, nor any thing created move me or regard me; but thou alone mayest speak to me, and I to thee; as the Beloved is wont to speak to his Beloved, and a friend to banquet with his friend.
This I pray for, this I desire, that I may be wholly united to thee, and may withdraw my heart from all created things; and by the holy communion, and often celebrating, may more and more learn to relish heavenly and eternal things.
Ah! Lord God, when shall I be wholly united to thee, and absorpt in thee, and altogether forgetful of myself:
Thou in me, and I in thee; and so grant us both to continue in one.
2. Verily thou art my Beloved, the choicest amongst thousands, in whom my soul is well pleased to dwell all the days of her life:
Verily, thou art my peace-maker, in whom is sovereign peace and true rest; out of whom is labour and sorrow, and endless misery:
Thou art in truth, a hidden God, and thy counsel is not with the wicked; but thy conversation is with the humble and the simple.
Oh! how sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, who, to shew thy sweetness towards thy children, vouchsafest to feed them with the most delicious bread which cometh down from heaven!
Surely, there is no other nation so great, that hath their God so nigh to them, as thou our God art present to all thy faithful; to whom, for their daily comfort, and for the raising up their hearts to heaven, thou gavest thyself to be eaten and enjoyed.
3. For what other nation is there so honoured as the Christian people!
Or what creature under heaven so beloved as a devout soul, into whom God cometh, that he may feed her with his glorious flesh?
Oh! unspeakable grace! Oh! wonderful condescension! Oh! infinite love, singularly bestowed upon man!
But what return shall I make to the Lord for this grace, and for so extraordinary a charity?
There is nothing that I can give him that will please him better, than if I give up my heart entirely to God, and unite it closely to him.
Then all that is within me shall rejoice exceedingly, when my soul shall be perfectly united to my God:
Then will he say to me, If thou wilt be with me, I will be with thee; and I will answer him: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to remain with me, and I will willingly be with thee.
This is my whole desire, that my heart may be united to thee.
Chap. XIV.
Of the ardent desire of some
devout persons
to receive the body of
Christ.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. Oh! how great is the abundance of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee. Psalms xxx.
When I remember some devout persons, who come to thy sacrament with the greatest devotion and affection, I am often confounded and ashamed within myself, that I approach so tepidly and coldly to thy altar, and to the table of the holy communion;
That I remain so dry, and without affection of heart; that I am not wholly set on fire in thy presence, O my God; nor so earnestly drawn and affected, as many devout persons have been, who, out of a vehement desire of communion, and a sensible love in their hearts, could not contain themselves from weeping;
But with their whole souls eagerly thirsted to approach, both with the mouth of their heart and of their body, to thee, O God, the living Fountain; being in no wise able to moderate or satisfy their hunger, but by receiving thy body with all joy and spiritual greediness.
2. Oh! true ardent faith of these persons, being a probable argument of thy sacred presence!
For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread, whose heart burneth so mightily within them, from Jesus his walking with them. Luke xxiv.
Such affection and devotion as this, so vehement a love and burning, is often far from me.
Be thou merciful to me, O good Jesus, sweet and gracious Lord; and grant me, thy poor beggar, to feel, sometimes at least, in the sacred communion, some little of the cordial affection of thy love, that my faith may be more strengthened, my hope in thy goodness increased, and that my charity, being once perfectly enkindled, and having tasted the Manna of heaven, may never decay.
3. Moreover, thy mercy is able to give me the grace I desire, and to visit me in thy great clemency with the spirit of fervour, when it shall please thee:
For though I burn not at present with so great a desire as those that are so singularly devoted to thee; yet, by thy grace, I desire to have this same great inflamed desire; praying and wishing that I may be made partaker with all such thy fervent lovers, and be numbered in their holy company.
Chap. XV.
That the grace of devotion
is
obtained by humility and self-denial.
1. Thou oughtest to seek the grace of devotion earnestly, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and confidently, to receive it thankfully, to keep it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to commit to God the time and manner of this heavenly visitation, until it shall please him to come unto thee.
Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thyself, when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion; and yet not to be too much dejected, nor to grieve inordinately.
God often giveth, in one short moment, what he hath a long time denied:
He giveth sometimes in the end, that which in the beginning of prayer he deferred to grant.
2. If grace were always presently given, and ever at hand with a wish, it would be more than man's infirmity could well bear:
Therefore the grace of devotion is to be expected with a good hope and humble patience. Yet impute it to thyself, and to thy sins, when it is not given to thee, or when it is secretly taken away.
It is sometimes a little thing that hinders or hides grace from us; if that may be called little, and not rather great, which hindereth so great a good:
But if thou remove this same, be it small or great, and perfectly overcome it, thou shalt have thy desire.
3. For as soon as ever thou hast delivered thyself up to God with thy whole heart, and neither seekest this nor that for thine own pleasure or will, but wholly placest thyself in him, thou shalt find thyself united and at peace; for nothing will relish so well, and please thee so much, as the good pleasure of the divine will.
Whosoever therefore with a single heart shall direct his attention upwards to God, and purge himself of all inordinate love or dislike of any created thing, he shall be the most fit to receive grace, and worthy of the gift of devotion:
For the Lord bestows his blessing there where he finds the vessels empty.
And the more perfectly one forsakes these things below, and the more he dies to himself by the contempt of himself, the more speedily grace cometh, entereth in more plentifully, and the higher it elevateth the free heart.
4. Then shall he see and abound, he shall admire, and his heart shall be enlarged within him, because the hand of the Lord is with him, and he has put himself wholly into his hand for ever. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that seeketh God with his whole heart, and taketh not his soul in vain.
Such a one as this, in receiving the Holy Eucharist, obtains a great grace of divine union; because he looks not towards his own devotion and comfort, but, above all devotion and comfort, regards the honour and glory of God.
Chap. XVI.
That we ought to lay open
our necessities to Christ, and crave his
grace.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. O Most sweet and loving Lord, whom I now desire to receive with all devotion, thou knowest my weakness, and the necessity which I endure; in how great evils and vices I am immersed; now often I am oppressed, tempted, troubled, and defiled;
To thee I come for remedy; I pray to thee for comfort and succour.
I speak to him that knows all things, to whom all that is within me is manifest, and who alone can perfectly comfort and help me.
Thou knowest what good I stand most inn need of, and how poor I am in virtues.
2. Behold, I stand before thee poor and naked, begging thy grace, and imploring thy mercy:
Feed thy hungry beggar; inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love; enlighten my blindness with the brightness of thy presence;
Turn all earthly things to me into bitterness; all things grievous and cross into patience; all things below and created, into contempt and oblivion:
Lift up my heart to thee in heaven, and suffer me not to wander upon earth:
Be thou only sweet to me from henceforth for evermore; for thou only art my meat and my drink, my love and my joy, my sweetness and all my good.
3. Oh! that with thy presence thou wouldst inflame, burn, and transform me into thyself, that I may be made one spirit with thee, by the grace of internal union, and by the melting of ardent love!
Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and dry; but deal with me in thy mercy, as thou hast dealt wonderfully with thy saints.
What marvel if I should be wholly set on fire by thee, and should die to myself; since thou art a fire always burning, and never decaying; a love purifying the heart, and enlightening the understanding.
Chap. XVII.
Of fervent love and
vehement desire
to receive Christ.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. With the greatest devotion and burning love, with all the affection and fervour of my heart, I desire to receive thee, O Lord; as many saints and devout persons, who were most pleasing to thee in holiness of life, and most fervent in devotion, have desired thee when they have communicated.
O my God, my eternal love, my whole good, and never-ending happiness, I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire, and most worthy reverence, that any of the saints ever had or could feel.
2. And though I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, yet I offer to thee the whole affection of my heart, as if I alone had all those highly pleasing inflamed desires;
Yea, and whatsoever a godly mind can conceive and desire, all this, with the greatest reverence and most inward affection, I offer and present to thee:
I desire to reserve nothing to myself, but freely and most willingly to sacrifice myself, and all that is mine, to thee.
O Lord, my God, my Creator and Redeemer, I desire to receive thee this day with such affection, reverence, praise, and honour; with such gratitude, worthiness, and love; with such faith, hope, and purity, as thy most holy Mother, the glorious Virgin Mary, received and desired thee, when she humbly and devoutly answered the angel, who declared to her the mystery of the incarnation; Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to thy word. Luke i.
3. And as thy blessed forerunner, the most excellent among the saints, John the Baptist, in thy presence leaped for joy through the Holy Ghost, whilst he was as yet shut up in his mother's womb; and afterwards seeing Jesus walking amongst men, humbling himself exceedingly, said with devout affection, The friend of the bridegroom that standeth and heareth him, and rejoiceth with joy for the voice of the bridegroom. John iii. So I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires, and to present myself to thee with my whole heart:
Wherefore I here offer and present myself to thee the excessive joys of all devout hearts, their ardent affections, their extasies and supernatural illuminations, and heavenly visions; together with all the virtues and praises which are or shall be celebrated by all creatures in heaven and earth; for myself and all such as are recommended to my prayers, that by all thou mayest be worthily praised and glorified for ever.
4. Receive my wishes, O Lord, my God, and my desire of giving thee infinite praise and immense blessing, which, according to the multitude of thy unspeakable greatness, are most justly due to thee.
These I render, and desire to render to thee every day and every moment: and I invite and entreat all the heavenly spirits, and all thy faithful, with my prayers and affections, to join with me in giving thee praises and thanks.
5. Let all people, tribes, and tongues praise thee, and magnify thy holy and sweet name, with the highest jubilation and ardent devotion.
And let all who reverently and devoutly celebrate thy most high sacrament, and receive it with full faith, find grace and mercy at thy hands, and humbly pray for me, a sinful creature.
And when they shall have obtained their desired devotion and joyful union, and shall depart from thy sacred heavenly table, well comforted, and wonderfully nourished, let them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul.
Chap. XVIII.
That a man be not a
curious searcher into this sacrament, but a
follower of Christ, submitting his sense to
holy faith.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. Thou must, beware of curious and unprofitable searching into this most profound sacrament, if thou wilt not sink into the depth of doubt.
He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by glory. Proverbs xxv. God is able to work more than man can understand.
A pious and humble inquiry after truth is tolerable, which is always ready to be taught, and studies to walk in the sound doctrine of the Fathers.
2. Blessed is that simplicity that leaveth the difficult ways of disputes, and goeth on in the plain and sure path of God's commandments.
Many have lost devotion, whilst they would search into high things.
It is faith that is required of thee, and a sincere life; not the height of understanding, not diving deep into the mysteries of God.
If thou dost not understand nor comprehend those things that are under thee, how shouldst thou comprehend those things that are above thee?
Submit thyself to God, and humble thy sense to faith, and the light of knowledge shall be given thee, as far as shall be profitable and necessary for thee.
3. Some are grievously tempted about faith and the sacrament; but this is not to be imputed to them, but rather to the enemy.
Be not thou anxious, stand not to dispute with thy thoughts, nor to answer the doubts which the devil suggests, but believe the words of God, believe his saints and prophets, and the wicked enemy will fly from thee.
It is often very profitable to the servant of God to suffer such things;
For the devil tempteth not unbelievers and sinners, whom he already securely possesseth; but the faithful and devout he many ways tempteth and molesteth.
4. Go forward therefore with a sincere and undoubted faith, and with an humble reverence approach to this sacrament; and whatsoever thou art not able to understand, commit securely to God, who is Omnipotent.
God never deceiveth, but he is deceived that trusts too much to himself:
God walketh with the simple, and revealeth himself to the humble; he giveth understanding to little ones, openeth the gate of knowledge to pure minds, and hideth his grace from the curious and proud.
Human reason is weak and may be deceived; but true faith cannot be deceived.
5. All reason and natural search ought to follow faith, and not to go before it, nor oppose it;
For faith and love are here predominant, and work by hidden ways in this most holy and super-excellent sacrament.
God, who is eternal and incomprehensible, and of infinite power, doth great and inscrutable things in heaven and earth, and there is no searching out his wonderful works.
If the works of God were such as might be easily comprehended by human reason, they could not be called wonderful and unspeakable.
The End.
Erratum, page , line 2, for likely read lightly.
[Transcriber's note: This correction has been applied.]
Contents.
Chap.
Book I.
Page.
i.
Of following Christ and despising all the vanities of the world
3
ii.
Of having an humble sentiment of one's self
6
iii.
Of the doctrine of truth
8
iv.
Of prudence in our doings
13
v.
Of the reading the holy scriptures
14
vi.
Of inordinate affections
16
vii.
Of flying vain hope and pride
17
viii.
Of shunning too much familiarity
19
ix.
Of obedience and subjection
20
X.
Of avoiding superfluity of words
21
xi.
Of acquiring peace and zeal of spiritual progress
23
xii.
Of the advantage of adversity
26
xiii.
Of resisting temptation
28
xiv.
Of avoiding rash judgment
33
xv.
Of works done out of charity
34
xvi.
Of bearing the defects of others
36
xvii.
Of a monastic life
38
xviii.
Of the examples of the holy fathers
40
xix.
Of the exercises of a good religious man
44
xx.
Of the love of solitude and silence
49
xxi.
Of compunction of heart
54
xxii.
Of the consideration of the misery of man
58
xxiii.
Of the thoughts of death
63
xxiv.
Of judgment and the punishment of sins
69
XXV.
Of the fervent amendment of our whole life
75
Book II.
i.
Of interior conversation
83
ii.
Of humble submission
89
iii.
Of a good peaceable man
90
iv.
Of a pure mind and simple intention
93
v.
Of the consideration of one's self
95
vi.
Of the joy of a good conscience
97
vii.
Of the love of Jesus above all things.
100
viii.
Of familiar friendship with Jesus
102
ix.
Of the want of all comfort
106
X.
Of gratitude for the grace of God
111
xi.
Of the small number of the lovers of the cross of Jesus
115
xii.
Of the King's highway of the Holy Cross
119
Book III.
i.
Of the internal speech of Christ to a faithful soul
129
ii.
That truth speaks within us without noise of words
131
iii.
That the words of God are to be heard with humility, and that many weigh them not
133
A prayer to implore the grace of devotion
136
iv.
That we ought to walk in truth and humility in God's presence
138
v.
Of the wonderful effect of divine love
141
vi.
Of the proof of a true lover
146
vii.
That grace is to be hid under the guardianship of humility
150
viii.
Of the mean esteem of one's self in the sight of God
155
ix.
That all things are to be referred to God, as to our last end
157
X.
That it is sweet to serve God, despising this world
159
xi.
That the desires of the heart are to be examined and moderated
163
xii.
Of learning patience, and of fighting against concupiscence
165
xiii.
Of the obedience of an humble subject after the example of Jesus Christ
168
xiv.
Of considering the secret judgments of God, lest we be puffed up by our good works
171
xv.
How we are to be disposed, and what we are to say when we desire any thing
173
A prayer for the fulfilling of the will of God
175
xvi.
That true comfort is to be sought in God alone
177
xvii.
That we ought to cast all our care upon God
179
xviii.
That temporal miseries are to be borne with patience after the example of Jesus Christ
181
xix.
Of supporting injuries, and who is proved to be truly patient
183
xx.
Of the confession of our own infirmity, and of the miseries of this life
186
xxi.
That we are to rest in God above all goods and gifts
190
xxii.
Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God
195
xxiii.
Of four things which bring much peace
198
A prayer against evil thoughts
200
A prayer for the enlightening of the mind
201
xxiv.
That we are not to be curious in enquiring into the life of others
202
xxv.
In what things the firm peace of the heart and true progress doth consist
204
xxvi.
Of the eminence of a free mind, which humble prayer better procures than reading
207
xxvii.
That self love chiefly keeps a person back from the sovereign good
209
A prayer for the cleansing of the heart and the obtaining of heavenly wisdom
211
xxviii.
Against the tongues of detracters
212
xxix.
How in the time of tribulation God is to be invoked and blessed
213
xxx.
Of asking the divine assistance, and of confidence of recovering grace
215
xxxi.
Of disregarding all things created, that so we may find the Creator
220
xxxii.
Of the denying ourselves, and renouncing all cupidity
224
xxxiii.
Of the inconstancy of our heart, and of directing our final intention to God
226
xxxiv.
That he that loves God relishes him above all things, and in all things
228
xxxv.
That there is no being secure from temptation in this life
231
xxxvi.
Against the vain judgments of men
234
xxxvii.
Of a pure and full resignation of ourselves, for the obtaining freedom of heart
236
xxxviii.
Of the good government of ourselves in outward things, and of having recourse to God in dangers
238
xxxix.
That a man must not be over eager in his affairs
240
xl.
That man hath no good of himself, and that he cannot glory in any thing
242
xli.
Of the contempt of all temporal honour
245
xlii.
That our peace is not to be placed in men
246
xliii.
Against vain and worldly learning
248
xliv.
Of not drawing to ourselves exterior things
251
xlv.
That credit is not to be given to all men; and that men are prone to offend in words
252
xlvi.
Of having confidence in God when words arise against us
256
xlvii.
That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting
260
xlviii.
Of the day of eternity, and of the miseries of this life
263
xlix.
Of the desire of eternal life, and how great things are promised to them that fight
268
l.
How a desolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God
274
li.
That we must practise ourselves in humble works, when we cannot attain to high things
280
lii.
That a man ought not to esteem himself worthy of consolation, but rather guilty of stripes
282
liii.
That the grace of God is not communicated to the earthly-minded
285
liv.
Of the different motions of nature and grace
288
iv.
Of the corruption of nature, and of the efficacy of divine grace
295
lvi.
That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by the cross
300
lvii.
That a man should not be too much dejected when he falls into some defects
303
lviii.
Of not searching into high matters, nor into the secret judgments of God
306
lix.
That all hope and confidence is to be fixed in God alone
314
i.
With how great reverence Christ is to be received
319
ii.
That the great goodness and charity of God is shewed to man in this sacrament
328
iii.
That it is profitable to communicate often
333
iv.
That many benefits are bestowed on them who communicate devoutly
337
v.
Of the dignity of the sacrament, and of the priestly state
342
vi.
A petition concerning the exercise proper before communion
345
vii.
Of the discussion of one's own conscience, and of a resolution of amendment
346
viii.
Of the oblation of Christ on the cross, and of the resignation of ourselves
350
ix.
That we must offer ourselves, and all that is ours, to God, and pray for all
352
x.
That the holy communion is not lightly to be forborne
356
xi.
That the body of Christ and the holy scriptures are most necessary to a faithful soul
361
xii.
That he who is to communicate ought to prepare himself for Christ with great diligence
367
xiii.
That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart to be united to Christ in this sacrament
371
xiv.
Of the ardent desire of some devout persons to receive the body of Christ
374
XV.
That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and self-denial
376
xvi.
That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ, and crave his grace
379
xvii.
Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ
382
xviii.
That a man be not a curious searcher into this sacrament; but an humble follower of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith
386
Keating, Brown and Co. Printers, 38,
Duke-street, Grosvenor-Sq. London.