how ought I to esteem it as nothing, if I seem to have any good.

With what profound humility ought I to submit myself to Thine unfathomable judgments, O Lord; where I find myself to be nothing else than very nothing!

O weight that cannot be measured ! O sea that cannot be passed over, where I discover nothing of myself save only and wholly nothing!

Where then can glorying hide itself? Who can trust in his own virtue?

All vain-glorying is swallowed up in the deep of Thy judgments over me.

4. What is all flesh in Thy sight?

Shall the clay glory against Him that formed it!

How can he be lifted up with vain words, whose heart is truly subject to God?

He whom the Truth hath subjected unto itself, not all the world will make him proud: neither shall he, who hath firmly settled his hope in God, be moved by the tongues of flatterers.

For even they themselves who speak are all nothing, for they will pass away with the sound of their words; but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

CHAPTER XV.

IN EVERYTHING WHICH WE DESIRE HOW WE OUGHT TO STAND, AND WHAT WE OUGHT TO SAY.

Y son, say thou thus in everything; Lord, if this be pleasing unto Thee, so let it be.

"Lord, if it be to Thy honour, in Thy Name let this be done.

"Lord, if Thou see it to be expedient and profitable for me, then grant unto me that I may use this to Thine honour.

"But if thou know it will be hurtful unto me, and no profit to the health of my soul, take away the desire from me."

For every desire proceedeth not from the Holy Spirit, even though it seem unto a man right and good.

It is difficult to judge truly whether a good spirit or the contrary be urging thee to deŝire this or that; or whether by thine own spirit thou be moved thereunto.

Many have been deceived in the end, who at the first seemed to be led by a good spirit.

2. Therefore whatever seemeth to be desirable, must always be desired and prayed for in the fear of God and with humility of heart; and chiefly thou must commit the whole matter to Me with special resignation of thyself, and thou must say,

"O Lord, Thou knowest what is best for us, let this or that be done, as Thou pleasest.

"Give what Thou wilt, and how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt.

"Deal with me as Thou thinkest good, and as best pleaseth Thee, and is most for Thy honour.

"Set me where Thou wilt, and deal with me in all things just as Thou wilt.

"I am in Thy hand: turn me round, and turn me back again, as Thou shalt please.

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Behold, I am Thy servant, prepared for all things for I desire not to live unto myself, but unto Thee, and O that I could do it worthily and perfectly!"

A Prayer that the will of God may be fulfilled.

3. O MOST merciful JESUS, grant to me Thy grace, that it may be with me, and work with me, and continue with me even to the end.

Grant that I may always desire and will that which is to Thee most acceptable, and most dear.

Let Thy will be mine, and let my will ever follow Thine, and agree perfectly with it.

Let my will be all one with Thy will, and let me not be able to will, or forego anything, but what Thou willest or dost not will.

4. Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world, and for Thy sake love to be contemned, and not known in this generation.

Grant to me above all things to desire to rest in Thee, and in Thee to have my heart at peace.

Thou art the true peace of the heart: Thou its only rest; out of Thee all things are full of trouble. In this peace, that is, in Thee, the one chiefest eternal Good, I will lay me down and sleep. Amen.

CHAPTER XVI.

THAT TRUE COMFORT IS TO BE SOUGHT IN
GOD ALONE.

HATSOEVER I can desire or imagine for my comfort, I look for it not here but hereafter.

not long endure.

For if I could possess all the comforts of the world, and might enjoy all the delights thereof, it is certain that they could

Wherefore, O my soul, thou canst not be fully comforted, nor have perfect refreshment, except in God, the comforter of the poor, and the helper of the humble.

Wait a little while, O my soul, wait for the divine promise, and thou shalt have abundance of all good things in heaven. If thou inordinately desire the things that are present, thou shalt lose those which are heavenly and eternal.

Use temporal things, and desire eternal.

Thou canst not be satisfied by temporal goods, because thou art not created to enjoy them.

2. Although thou shouldst possess all created good, yet couldst thou not be happy thereby nor blessed; but in God, Who created all things, consisteth thy whole blessedness and felicity.

Not such as is seen and commended by the foolish lovers of the world, but such as the good and faithful servants of Christ wait for, and of which the spiritual and pure in heart, whose conversation is in heaven, sometimes have a foretaste. Vain and brief is all human consolation.

Blessed and true is the consolation which is received inwardly from the truth.

A devout man beareth every where about with him his own comforter JESUS, and saith unto Him, "Be Thou present with me, O Lord JESU, in every time and place.

“Let this be my comfort, to be willing to lack all human comfort.

"And if Thy comfort be wanting, let Thy will and just proving of me be unto me as the greatest comfort; for Thou wilt not always be angry, neither wilt Thou chide for ever."

CHAPTER XVII.

THAT ALL OUR ANXIETIES ARE TO REST
ON GOD.

Y son, suffer me to do with thee what I please.
I know what is expedient for thee.

Thou thinkest as man; thou judgest in many things as thy feelings persuade thee.

O LORD, what Thou sayest is true. Thy care for me is greater than all the care that I can take for myself.

For he standeth very unsafely, who casteth not all his care upon Thee.

O Lord, if only my will may remain right and firm towards Thee, do with me whatsoever it shall please Thee. For it cannot be any thing but good, whatsoever Thou shalt do with me.

2. If it be Thy will that I should be in darkness, be Thou blessed; and if it be Thy will that I should be in light, be Thou blessed again. If Thou vouchsafe to comfort me, be