Blessed are those ears that receive the whispers of the divine voice, and listen not to the whisperings of the world.

Blessed indeed are those ears that hearken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly, but unto the truth which teacheth inwardly.

Blessed are the eyes which are shut to outward things, but open to those that are internal. Blessed are they that delight to be at leisure for God, and rid themselves of all worldly impediments.

2. Consider these things, my soul, and shut up. the doors of thy sensual desires, that thou mayest hear what the Lord God speaketh in thee.

Christ.-I am thy Peace, thy Life, and thy Salvation. Keep thyself with me, and thou shalt find peace. Leave all transitory, and seek things everlasting. What are all temporal things, but snares? and what do all creatures avail thee, if thou be forsaken by thy Creator?

Forsake, therefore, all earthly things, and labour to please thy Creator, and be faithful unto him, that thou mayest attain true happiness.

CHAPTER II.

That Truth speaketh inwardly, without Noise of Words.

Christian.-SPEAK, Lord, for thy servant heareth. I am thy servant: grant me understanding, that I inay know thy testimonies.

Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth. Let thy speech distil as the dew.

The children of Israel said unto Moses, "Speak thou unto us, and we will hear thee: let not the Lord speak unto us, lest we die."

Not so, Lord, not so, I beseech thee; but rather with the prophet Samuel, I humbly and earnestly entreat, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

2. Let not Moses speak unto me, nor any of the Prophets; but do thou rather speak, O Lord God, the Inspirer and Enlightener of all the prophets : for thou alone, without them, canst perfectly instruct me; but they, without thee, can prophecy nothing.

They, indeed, may sound forth words, but they cannot give spirit. They speak well; but if thou be silent, they inflame not the heart. They teach the letter, but thou openest the sense. They bring forth mysteries, but thou unlockest the meaning of them.

They declare thy commandments, but thou helpest to fulfil them.

They show the way, but thou givest strength to walk in it.

They work only outwardly, but thou instructest and enlightenest the heart.

They water, but thou givest the increase.

They make a noise with words, but thou givest to understand them.

3. Let not, therefore, Moses speak unto me, but thou, my Lord God, the everlasting Truth; lest I die, and prove unfruitful, if I be warned outwardly only, and not inflamed within.

Let not the word heard and not fulfilled, known and not loved, believed and not observed, turn to my condemnation.

Speak, therefore, Lord; for thy servant heareth; for thou hast the words of eternal life.

Speak unto me to the comfort of my soul, and to the amendment of my whole life, and to thy praise, and glory, and everlasting honour.

CHAPTER III.

That the Words of God are to be heard with Humility, and that many weigh them not. Christ.-SON, hear my words, words of the greatest sweetness, excelling all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise men of this world.

My words are spirit and life, not to be weighed by the understanding of men.

They are to be heard with silence, and to be received with all humility and great affection.

Christian.-Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord, and shalt teach thy law: that thou mayest give him rest from the evil days, and that he be not destroyed upon the earth.

2. Christ. I have taught the prophets from the beginning, and cease not in these days to speak to every one; but many are hardened and deaf to my speech.

Most men more willingly listen to the world than to God; and follow sooner the desires of the flesh than the will of God.

The world promiseth temporal and small things, and is served with great eagerness: I promise high and eternal things, and the hearts of men are unmoved.

Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me, with such care as the world and the lords thereof, are served with.

Blush, therefore, slothful and complaining servant, that they are more eager for destruction, than thou for life.

They rejoice more in vanity, than thou in the truth. And yet they are often frustrated of their hope; but my promise deceiveth none, nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me.

What I have promised, I will give; I will fulfil what I have said, to him that remains faithful in love to the end.

I am the rewarder of all that are good, and try my servants with strong trials.

3. Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them; for they will be very necessary in the time of temptation.

What thou understandest not when thou readest, thou shalt know in the day of visitation.

I am wont to visit my elect two ways: with temptation and with comfort.

And I daily read two lessons unto them: one reprehending their vices, another, exhorting them to the increase of virtues.

He that hath my words, and despiseth them, hath him that shall judge him at the last day.

4. Christian.-O Lord, my God, thou art to me whatsoever is good. Who am I, that I dare speak unto thee? I am thy poorest servant, and a most vile worm, much poorer and more contemptible than I can express.

Yet remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing.

Thou alone art good, just, and holy; thou canst do all things; thou fillest all things; only the proud thou sendest empty away.

Remember thy mercies, and fill my heart with thy grace, thou who willest not that thy works should be empty.

5. How can I bear myself, unless thou strengthenest me with thy mercy and grace? Turn not thy face from me; delay not thy visitation; take not away thy comfort, lest my soul become as the thirsty land.

Lord, teach me to fulfil thy will, teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight, for thou art my Wisdom; thou dost truly know me, and didst know me before the world was made, and before I was born in the world.

CHAPTER IV.

That we ought to live in Truth and Humility before God.

Christ-SON, walk before me in truth, and ever seek me in simplicity of heart.

He that walketh before me in truth, shall be defended from evil; and the truth shall deliver him from seducers, and from the detractions of the wicked. If the truth shall have made thee free, thou shalt be free indeed.

Christian.-Lord, it is true. According as thou