A Short Exercise of Spiritual Joy.

What is my joy in this wilderness, O my God, save in Thee, Who art every good thing? but alas! I see Thee afar off and away from me, and yet near and within me, and behold Thee through a glass darklyo. How then, and of what kind, can there be joy to me, who sit in this darkness, and see not Thy light, O Sun of righteousness?? Yet will I greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; because after darkness I look for light. O that my heart and my flesh may rejoice in Thee, the living God! For every where, even in this vale of tears, there is unto me occasion of rejoicing. For the whole creation is subject unto me, and the heavens declare Thy glory, and shew forth unto me Thy love. I see the walls of the heavenly Jerusalem placed in sight, that I may not forget Thee, or my own country. Let my tongue cleave unto the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember Thee. Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy works, and I will rejoice in the operations of Thine hands; and since I find it written, Delight thou in the Lord, and He shall give thee thy heart's desire, wilt Thou not give me mine, which is, to rejoice in Thee, my Lord, alway, to triumph in Thee,-in Thy glory and because every knee boweth to Thee? O that I may so rejoice, that I may resolutely put back from me the joys of this life, and may enjoy Thee; and may bear wearinesses manfully, and whatsoever shall seem good unto Thee; for I am Thine; and like as the hart desireth the water brooks, so longeth my soul after Thee, O God.

Concerning the Affection of Love, and the method of
exercising it.

OUT of every creature, out of every blessing, out of every mystery of the life of Christ, may this be made to flow. To this affection, however, it will conduce, if thou set thyself, with body and mind both at rest, in the presence of God, and behold His countenance, Who is the Chief and Universal Good. Secondly, to rejoice in Him; and whatever is, that to desire as His will. Thirdly, to esteem Him above all things, and despise the creature. Fourthly, to rejoice in His perfections. And in the fifth place, to desire that all men may know and love them, and to grieve that neither the world nor thyself do so as He deserves. In the sixth place, to resign thine own will entirely to Him. Seventhly, to resolve to observe all His precepts and counsels. Eighthly, to hope to be able to do this in order to obtain union with Him.

o 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

r See Tobit, ch. v. Vulgate.

A Short Exercise of Lobe.

O Love, O my God, give me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments, whether Thou speakest to my heart by Thy Word, or by Thy Works. For whatsoever I learn unto salvation, Thou, most present with me teachest me, with inmost love, O Thou my Health, and Medicine of my soul. And how great, how great the love wherewith Thou teachest me;—me, who am nothing in Thy sight. Are then my goods any thing unto Thee, that, with such free love, Thou shouldst prevent me with so many goods, and with Thy charity? For so, Eternal Father, hast Thou loved the world, that Thou gavest Thine Only-begotten Son; and so, most bountiful Jesu, Son of God, hast Thou loved it, that Thou hast given Thy soul for me unto death: and can Thy precepts or Thy counsels be grievous unto me? I will therefore love these commandments (here name particularly) and Thee, O God my strength: O how good is it to hold me fast by Thee. What, then, shall be able to separate me from Thy love? shall distress, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or persecution, or sword? for Thy love is strong as death, and, as I trust, many waters cannot quench love, the fire, which Thou camest to send upon the earth, and wouldst should be vehemently kindled.

q Cant. viii. 6, 7.

IMAGE THE TWENTY-NINTH.

LEARN WHERE IS WISDOM, WHERE IS STRENGTH, WHERE IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THOU MAYST KNOW ALSO WHERE IS LENGTH OF DAYS, AND LIFE; WHERE IS THE LIGHT OF THE EYES AND PEACE; WHO HATH FOUND OUT HER PLACE? OR WHO HATH COME INTO HER TREASURES?

There be many who say, who will shew us any good? Behold, He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice;-(and if by frequent examination we judge ourselves as this holy man of God (A), we shall not be judged of the Lord;)—and to love mercy, by bearing patiently the infirmities of others; and to walk humbly with thy God,—even with thy Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath come down from Heaven to be with thee (B)? To these add also frequent meditation on the Passion of Christ (C) and divine contemplation (D), with the renewal of repentance and often partaking of the most holy Sacrament (E). To all of which add most especially the love of God and our neighbour (F), after the example of that love which, like the Pelican in the wilderness, feedeth her young with her own life-blood, and dwelleth in solitary places. By these means thou shalt arrive at true tranquillity of mind, and that place where there is light of the eyes, and the peace which passeth all understanding: especially if, in solitude of heart, thou wilt by pious exercises adorn thy soul.