第一章

講述為了進入最後的居所而堅持不懈的重要性，以及魔鬼對我們發動的激烈戰爭。從我們旅程的一開始就走正確的道路是多麼重要。事實證明非常有效的行動方法。

1.第二重居所的靈魂。 2.他們的狀態。 3.他們的痛苦。 4.他們無法擺脫自己的缺陷。 5. 天主如何稱呼這些靈魂。 6. 堅持不懈至關重要。 7. 魔鬼的誘惑。 8. 塵世歡樂的錯覺。 9. 唯有天主才是被愛的。 10. 繼續旅程的原因。 11.魔鬼的戰爭票價。 12.選擇朋友的重要性。 13. 需要勇氣。 14. 假定先期待靈性的安慰。 15. 十字架就是力量。 16.跌倒後，我們應該會爬得更高。 17、信心和毅力。 18.回憶。 19. 為什麼我們必須練習祈禱。 20.默想點燃愛。

1. 1. 現在讓我們考慮一下哪些是進入第二重居所的靈魂，以及他們在那裡做什麼：我不想在這個問題上詳述，因為我已經在其他地方對此進行了非常充分的討論，⁶⁴因為我無法避免重複自己，因為我的記憶力很差。如果我能以另一種形式表達我的想法，你就不會感到厭倦，因為我們永遠不會厭倦閱讀關於這個主題的書籍，儘管它們數量眾多。 2. 在城堡的這一部分，發現了已經開始練習祈禱的靈魂；他們意識到不留在最初的居所的重要性，但往往缺乏通過避免犯罪來擺脫目前狀況的決心，這是一種非常危險的狀態。

3. 3. 然而，他們有時能夠逃離周圍的毒蛇和有毒生物，並了解避開它們的必要性，這真是一種恩典。在某種程度上，這些靈魂比第一座居所中的靈魂承受了更多的痛苦，儘管沒有那麼危險，因為他們開始了解自己的危險，並且有很大希望進一步進入城堡。我說他們受的苦更大，因為早期的人就像聾啞人，不會因為不能說話而苦惱，而其他能聽不能說話的人就更難受了。同時，最好不要充耳不聞，這對聽到對我們說的話有決定性的好處。

4. 4. 這些靈魂聽到我們的主呼喚他們，因為當他們接近陛下居住的地方時，他證明了他是一位慈愛的鄰居，儘管他們可能仍然從事這個世界的娛樂和生意、享樂和虛榮。在這種狀態下，我們不斷地陷入罪惡並再次崛起，因為我們居住的生物是如此有毒、如此惡毒、如此危險，幾乎不可能避免被它們絆倒。然而，我們這位主的憐憫和慈悲是如此強烈，祂如此渴望我們尋求祂並享受祂的陪伴，以至於祂以這樣或那樣的方式不斷呼召我們歸向祂。他的聲音如此甜美，以至於可憐的靈魂因無法立即聽從他的命令而感到沮喪，因此，正如我所說，比聽不到他的聲音更痛苦。

5. 5. 我的意思並不是說，在這座居所中收到的神聖溝通和靈感與我稍後將描述的相同；天主在這裡通過虔誠的人所說的話、佈道或好書以及許多其他類似的方式與靈魂說話。有時，他會透過疾病或麻煩來召喚靈魂，或透過祈禱時教導他們的某些真理，因為儘管他們尋求他的態度可能不溫不火，但天主非常珍惜他們。

6. 6. 姊妹們，不要輕視這最初的恩典，如果你們沒有立即回應主的聲音，也不要沮喪，因為陛下願意等待我們很多天甚至很多年，特別是當他看到我們心中的毅力和美好願望時。堅持是第一要義；有了這個，我們一定會受益匪淺。然而，魔鬼現在以千百種不同的方式猛烈地攻擊靈魂：它比以往任何時候都更加痛苦，因為以前它又聾又啞，或者至少聽不到什麼，並且提供了微弱的抵抗，就像一個幾乎失去了所有勝利希望的人一樣。

7. 7.然而，在這裡，理解更加警惕，權力更加警惕，我們無法避免聽到周圍的戰鬥和炮轟聲。現在，魔鬼把我們這些爬行動物放在了我們身上，也就是說，我們對世界及其歡樂的想法被他們想像為永無止境。它們讓我們想起人們對我們、我們的朋友和親戚的高度尊重；他們告訴我們，這座居所中的靈魂總是開始希望進行的苦行會如何損害我們的健康：總而言之，邪靈在路上設置了一千個障礙。

8. 8. 耶穌啊！魔鬼在可憐的靈魂中造成了何等的混亂！不知道是繼續前行，還是返回第一府，那感覺是多麼的不爽啊！另一方面，理性顯示它是高估世俗事物的錯覺，而信仰則教導只有什麼才能滿足其渴望。記憶提醒靈魂所有塵世的歡樂如何結束，回憶那些安逸生活的人的死亡；有些人如何突然死亡並很快被遺忘，其他人曾經如此繁榮，現在如何被埋在地下，人們經過他們所在的墳墓，成為蠕蟲的獵物，⁶⁵而頭腦卻回想起許多其他此類事件。

9. 9. 意志傾向於愛我們的主，並渴望回報他，他是如此和藹可親，他給予瞭如此多的愛的證明，特別是他不斷地與靈魂同在，這位忠實的愛人從未放棄，永遠伴隨著它，賦予它生命和存在。這種理解有助於表明，無論生命可以持續多少年，沒有人會希望有一個比天主更好的朋友；世界充滿了虛假，魔鬼所描繪的世俗快樂不過是偽裝的煩惱、憂慮和煩惱。

10. 10. 理性使靈魂相信，既然在其靈心城堡之外既找不到和平，也沒有安全感，它就應該停止在國外尋找另一個家，因為它自己充滿了可以隨意享受的財富。此外，並不是每個人都像它自己一樣，在自己的住所內擁有他所需要的一切，最重要的是，這樣的主人，他會給予它想要的一切，除非像浪子一樣，選擇誤入歧途並與豬一起餵養。 ⁶⁶當然，這些論點足以打敗魔鬼的詭計！但是，我的天主啊，世俗習慣的力量和其他實踐這些習慣的人的榜樣是如何毀掉一切的！我們的信仰是如此死氣沉沉，以至於我們不太相信它的教義，而是相信可見的東西，儘管事實上，我們看到世俗的生活除了不快樂之外什麼也沒有帶來。這一切都是我所描述的那些有毒思想的結果，除非我們非常小心，否則這些思想會使靈魂變形，就像毒蛇的叮咬使身體中毒並使身體腫脹一樣。

11. 11. 當這種情況發生時，顯然需要非常小心地治癒它，只有天主的仁慈才能防止其導致死亡。確實，靈魂在這個時候會經歷嚴峻的考驗，尤其是當魔鬼從一個人的性格和行為中察覺到她可能會取得很大的進步時，那麼所有的地獄都會聯合起來迫使她回頭。我的主啊！憑著祢的慈悲，何必阻止靈魂受騙而放棄美好的開始呢！啟發它，讓它看到它的幸福在於堅持正確的方式，並遠離壞夥伴。

12. 12. 對於初學者來說，與那些過著精神生活的人交往是至關重要的，⁶⁷不僅與那些與她住在同一座居所的人交往，而且與那些更深入城堡的人交往，他們會極大地幫助她並吸引她加入他們。靈魂應該堅定地決心永不屈服，因為如果魔鬼看到它堅定地決心失去生命和安慰以及他所能提供的一切，而不是回到第一座居所，他就會盡快離開它。

13. 13.基督徒要勇敢；讓他不要像那些在戰鬥時躺下來喝溪水的人一樣（我不記得什麼時候）。 ⁶⁸ 讓他決心前往與惡魔大軍作戰，確信沒有比十字架更好的武器。我已經說過，⁶⁹ 但它是如此重要，所以我在這裡重複一遍：不要讓任何人想到開始收穫的回報：這將是開始如此巨大而莊嚴的建築的一種非常不光彩的方式。如果建在沙上，它很快就會倒塌。 ⁷⁰這樣做的靈魂將不斷遭受沮喪和誘惑，因為在這些居所裡不會下嗎哪雨；⁷¹更進一步，靈魂對即將到來的一切感到滿意，因為它除了天主的旨意之外所別無所求。

14. 14. 這真是一場鬧劇！我們內心有一千個障礙、缺點和不完美，我們的美德如此新生，幾乎沒有力量去行動（願天主保佑它們存在！），但我們並不羞於期待祈禱的甜蜜並抱怨感覺乾燥。 ⁷²

15. 15. 姊妹們，不要這樣做；擁抱你配偶肩上的十字架；要知道你的座右銘應該是：「如果為了基督而受苦最多的人是最幸福的！」⁷³ 其他一切都應該被視為次要的：如果我們的主給了你，請向他表示感激的感謝。你可能會想像，如果天主給你內心的安慰，你會堅定地忍受外在的考驗：陛下最知道什麼對我們有好處；我們不需要建議他如何對待我們，因為他有權告訴我們我們不知道我們所求的是什麼。 ⁷⁴記住，這是最重要的－開始練習祈禱的唯一目標應該是忍受考驗，下定決心並盡最大努力使自己的意願符合天主的意願。 ⁷⁵一定要確定這就是精神生活中所能達到的最完美的境界，正如我稍後將解釋的那樣。誰能完美地實踐這一點，她就會從天主那裡得到最高的獎賞，並且在正確的道路上走得最遠。不要以為我們需要神秘的公式或任何其他神秘的東西來實現它，我們的全部福利在於遵行天主的旨意。如果我們從希望天主遵循我們的意願並以我們認為最好的方式引導我們的錯誤原則開始，那麼這座精神居所可以建立在什麼堅實的基礎上？

16. 16. 讓我們盡力而為：提防有毒的爬蟲類－也就是說，天主常常允許不良思想和乾旱來攻擊和折磨我們，使我們無法擊退它們。事實上，我們或許能感受到它們的刺痛！祂允許這件事教導我們將來要更加警惕，看看我們是否因為冒犯祂而感到悲傷。因此，如果你偶爾陷入罪中，不要灰心喪氣，停止努力前進，因為天主甚至會從我們的跌倒中汲取良善，就像賣毒藥的商人一樣，他先服用毒藥，然後服用毒藥，以證明他的長生不老藥的力量。 ⁷⁶如果我們以其他方式認識到自己的失敗，這場戰鬥就足以教導我們改正我們的習慣，並向我們展示我們從失敗中所受到的傷害。消散的一生。還有比我們在家裡發現的邪惡更嚴重的嗎？如果我們內心沒有平安，我們還能指望在別處找到什麼平安呢？有什麼朋友或親人可以像我們靈魂的力量那樣親密和親密，無論我們是否願意，它都必須永遠陪伴我們？這些人似乎在向我們發動戰爭，就好像他們知道我們的惡習會對他們造成的傷害一樣。 「平安，願你們平安，」我的姊妹們，正如我們的主所說，並多次向他的使徒宣告。 ⁷⁷相信我，如果我們在國內既不擁有也不努力獲得這種平安，我們將永遠無法在國外找到它。

17. 17.藉著我們的主為我們流的血，我懇求那些還沒有開始進入自己的人，停止這場戰爭：我懇求那些已經開始走上正確道路的人，不要讓戰鬥讓他們退縮。讓他們反思，舊病復發比跌倒更糟糕，看看會帶來什麼毀滅。他們應該信賴天主的仁慈，而不是相信自己；然後他們就會看到陛下將如何帶領他們從一處府邸到另一處府邸，並將他們安置在一個地方，讓這些野獸無法再接觸或騷擾他們，而只能完全聽從他們的擺佈，成為他們嘲笑的對象。那麼，即使在這一生，他們也會享受到比他們所能渴望的更大的幸福。

18. 18. 正如我在本書開始時所說的，我已經在其他地方解釋過⁷⁸當魔鬼如此騷擾你時你應該如何行事。我也告訴過你們，憶念的習慣不是靠武力來獲得的，而是用平靜來獲得的，這將使你們能夠練習更長的時間。 ⁷⁹我現在不再多說，只是我認為對於你們這些初學者來說，向有經驗的人諮詢是非常有幫助的，以免你們認為讓祈禱去履行任何必要的職責是在傷害自己。事實並非如此；我們的主會指導這些事情對我們有利，儘管我們可能沒有人給我們建議。 ⁸⁰放棄回憶習慣的唯一補救辦法就是重新開始它，否則靈魂將繼續每天越來越多地失去它，天主保佑它可能會意識到它的危險。

19. 19. 你可能會想，如果停止會造成這麼大的傷害，那還不如從不開始，留在城堡外面。但是，正如我一開始所說的，也正如天主親自宣告的：“熱愛危險的人必將死於危險”，⁸¹而我們進入這座城堡的大門就是祈禱。請記住，我們必須到達天堂，如果我們不有時退回到我們的靈魂中去了解自己，或者思考我們的失敗和我們欠天主的東西，或者經常懇求他的憐憫，那麼我們就可以做到這一點，那將是瘋狂的。我們的主也說，「若不藉著我，沒有人能到父那裡去」⁸²（我不確定這句話是否正確，但我認為是這樣），並且，「人看見了我，也就看見了父。」⁸³

20. 20. 如果我們從不仰望他，反思我們因他為我們而死而欠他什麼，我不明白我們如何能認識他，或在事奉他時行善。沒有行為的信心還有什麼價值呢？如果它們不與我們唯一的善──耶穌基督的功績結合起來，它們還有什麼價值呢？如果我們不想到我們的主，什麼會促使我們愛祂呢？願祂賜給我們恩典，讓我們明白我們為祂付出了多少代價；「僕人不能凌駕於主人之上」⁸⁴；如果我們要享受祂的榮耀，就必須為祂勞苦；祈禱是防止我們不斷陷入誘惑的必要條件。 ⁸⁵

TREATS OF THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF PERSEVERANCE IN ORDER TO ENTER THE LAST MANSIONS, AND OF THE FIERCE WAR THE DEVIL WAGES AGAINST US. HOW ESSENTIAL IT IS TO TAKE THE RIGHT PATH FROM THE VERY COMMENCEMENT OF OUR JOURNEY. A METHOD OF ACTION WHICH HAS PROVED VERY EFFICACIOUS.

1. Souls in the second mansions. 2. Their state. 3. Their sufferings. 4. They cannot get rid of their imperfections. 5. How God calls these souls. 6. Perseverance is essential. 7. Temptations of the devil. 8. Delusion of earthly joys. 9. God alone to be loved. 10. Reasons for continuing the journey. 11. War fare of the devil. 12. Importance of choice of friends. 13. Valour required. 14. Presumption of expecting spiritual consolations at first. 15. In the Cross is strength. 16. Our falls should raise us higher. 17. Confidence and perseverance. 18. Recollection. 19. Why we must practise prayer. 20. Meditation kindles love.

1.

1. Now let us consider which are the souls that enter the second mansions, and what they do there: I do not wish to enlarge on this subject, having already treated it very fully elsewhere,⁶⁴ for I could not avoid repeating myself, as my memory is very bad. If I could state my ideas in another form they would not weary you, for we never tire of reading books on this subject, numerous as they are. 2. In this part of the castle are found souls which have begun to practise prayer; they realize the importance of their not remaining in the first mansions, yet often lack determination to quit their present condition by avoiding occasions of sin, which is a very perilous state to be in.

3.

3. However, it is a great grace that they should sometimes make good their escape from the vipers and poisonous creatures around them and should understand the need of avoiding them. In some way these souls suffer a great deal more than those in the first mansions, although not in such danger, as they begin to understand their peril and there are great hopes of their entering farther into the castle. I say that they suffer a great deal more, for those in an earlier stage are like deaf-mutes and are not so distressed at being unable to speak, while the others, who can hear but cannot talk, find it much harder. At the same time, it is better not to be deaf, and a decided advantage to hear what is said to us.

4.

4. These souls hear our Lord calling them, for as they approach nearer to where His Majesty dwells He proves a loving Neighbour, though they may still be engaged in the amusements and business, the pleasures and vanities of this world. While in this state we continually fall into sin and rise again, for the creatures amongst whom we dwell are so venomous, so vicious, and so dangerous, that it is almost impossible to avoid being tripped up by them. Yet such are the pity and compassion of this Lord of ours, so desirous is He that we should seek Him and enjoy His company, that in one way or another He never ceases calling us to Him. So sweet is His voice, that the poor soul is disconsolate at being unable to follow His bidding at once, and therefore, as I said, suffers more than if it could not hear Him.

5.

5. I do not mean that divine communications and inspirations received in this mansion are the same as those I shall describe later on; God here speaks to souls through words uttered by pious people, by sermons or good books, and in many other such ways. Sometimes He calls souls by means of sickness or troubles, or by some truth He teaches them during prayer, for tepid as they may be in seeking Him, yet God holds them very dear.

6.

6. Do not think lightly, sisters, of this first grace, nor be downcast if you have not responded immediately to Our Lord’s voice, for His Majesty is willing to wait for us many a day and even many a year, especially when He sees perseverance and good desires in our hearts. Perseverance is the first essential; with this we are sure to profit greatly. However, the devils now fiercely assault the soul in a thousand different ways: it suffers more than ever, because formerly it was mute and deaf, or at least could hear very little, and offered but feeble resistance, like one who has almost lost all hope of victory.

7.

7. Here, however, the understanding being more vigilant and the powers more on the alert, we cannot avoid hearing the fighting and cannonading around us. For now the devils set on us the reptiles, that is to say, thoughts about the world and its joys which they picture as unending; they remind us of the high esteem men held us in, of our friends and relations; they tell us how the penances which souls in this mansion always begin to wish to perform would injure our health: in fine, the evil spirits place a thousand impediments in the way.

8.

8. O Jesus! What turmoil the devils cause in the poor soul! How unhappy it feels, not knowing whether to go forward or to return to the first mansion! On the other hand, reason shows it the delusion of overrating worldly things, while faith teaches what alone can satisfy its cravings. Memory reminds the soul how all earthly joys end, recalling the death of those who lived at ease; how some died suddenly and were soon forgotten, how others, once so prosperous, are now buried beneath the ground and men pass by the graves where they lie, the prey of worms,⁶⁵ while the mind recalls many other such incidents.

9.

9. The will inclines to love Our Lord and longs to make some return to Him Who is so amiable, and Who has given so many proofs of His love, especially by His constant presence with the soul, which this faithful Lover never quits, ever accompanying it and giving it life and being. The understanding aids by showing that however many years life might last, no one could ever wish for a better friend than God; that the world is full of falsehood, and that the worldly pleasures pictured by the devil to the mind were but troubles and cares and annoyances in disguise.

10.

10. Reason convinces the soul that as outside its interior castle are found neither peace nor security, it should cease to seek another home abroad, its own being full of riches that it can enjoy at will. Besides, it is not every one who, like itself, possesses all he needs within his own dwelling, and above all, such a Host, Who will give it all it can desire, unless, like the prodigal son, it chooses to go astray and feed with the swine.⁶⁶ Surely these arguments are strong enough to defeat the devil’s wiles! But, O my God, how the force of worldly habits and the example of others who practise them ruin everything! Our faith is so dead that we trust less to its teaching than to what is visible, though, indeed, we see that worldly lives bring nothing but unhappiness. All this results from those venomous thoughts I described, which, unless we are very careful, will deform the soul as the sting of a viper poisons and swells the body.

11.

11. When this happens, great care is evidently needed to cure it, and only God’s signal mercy prevents its resulting in death. Indeed, the soul passes through severe trials at this time, especially when the devil perceives from a person’s character and behaviour that she is likely to make very great progress, for then all hell will league together to force her to turn back. O my Lord! what need there is here that, by Thy mercy, Thou shouldst prevent the soul from being deluded into forsaking the good begun! Enlighten it to see that its welfare consists in perseverance in the right way, and in the withdrawing from bad company.

12.

12. It is of the utmost importance for the beginner to associate with those who lead a spiritual life,⁶⁷ and not only with those in the same mansion as herself, but with others who have travelled farther into the castle, who will aid her greatly and draw her to join them. The soul should firmly resolve never to submit to defeat, for if the devil sees it staunchly determined to lose life and comfort and all that he can offer, rather than return to the first mansion, he will the sooner leave it alone.

13.

13. Let the Christian be valiant; let him not be like those who lay down to drink from the brook when they went to battle (I do not remember when).⁶⁸ Let him resolve to go forth to combat with the host of demons, and be convinced that there is no better weapon than the cross. I have already said,⁶⁹ yet it is of such importance that I repeat it here: let no one think on starting of the reward to be reaped: this would be a very ignoble way of commencing such a large and stately building. If built on sand it would soon fall down.⁷⁰ Souls who acted thus would continually suffer from discouragement and temptations, for in these mansions no manna rains;⁷¹ farther on, the soul is pleased with all that comes, because it desires nothing but what God wills.

14.

14. What a farce it is! Here are we, with a thousand obstacles, drawbacks, and imperfections within ourselves, our virtues so newly born that they have scarcely the strength to act (and God grant that they exist at all!) yet we are not ashamed to expect sweetness in prayer and to complain of feeling dryness.⁷²

15.

15. Do not act thus, sisters; embrace the cross your Spouse bore on His shoulders; know that your motto should be: ‘Most happy she who suffers most if it be for Christ!’⁷³ All else should be looked upon as secondary: if our Lord give it you, render Him grateful thanks. You may imagine you would be resolute in enduring external trials if God gave you interior consolations: His Majesty knows best what is good for us; it is not for us to advise Him how to treat us, for He has the right to tell us that we know not what we ask.⁷⁴ Remember, it is of the greatest importance—the sole aim of one beginning to practise prayer should be to endure trials, and to resolve and strive to the utmost of her power to conform her own will to the will of God.⁷⁵ Be certain that in this consists all the greatest perfection to be attained in the spiritual life, as I will explain later. She who practises this most perfectly will receive from God the highest reward and is the farthest advanced on the right road. Do not imagine that we have need of a cabalistic formula or any other occult or mysterious thing to attain it our whole welfare consists in doing the will of God. If we start with the false principle of wishing God to follow our will and to lead us in the way we think best, upon what firm foundation can this spiritual edifice rest?

16.

16. Let us endeavour to do our best: beware of the poisonous reptiles—that is to say, the bad thoughts and aridities which are often permitted by God to assail and torment us so that we cannot repel them. Indeed, perchance we feel their sting! He allows this to teach us to be more on our guard in the future and to see whether we grieve much at offending Him. Therefore if you occasionally lapse into sin, do not lose heart and cease trying to advance, for God will draw good even out of our falls, like the merchant who sells theriac, who first takes poison, then the theriac, to prove the power of his elixir.⁷⁶ This combat would suffice to teach us to amend our habits if we realized our failings in no other way, and would show us the injury we receive from a life of dissipation. Can any evil be greater than that we find at home? What peace can we hope to find elsewhere, if we have none within us? What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company? These seem to wage war on us as if they knew the harm our vices had wrought them. ‘Peace, peace be unto you,’ my sisters, as our Lord said, and many a time proclaimed to His Apostles.⁷⁷ Believe me, if we neither possess nor strive to obtain this peace at home, we shall never find it abroad.

17.

17. By the blood which our Lord shed for us, I implore those who have not yet begun to enter into themselves, to stop this warfare: I beg those already started in the right path, not to let the combat turn them back from it. Let them reflect that a relapse is worse than a fall, and see what ruin it would bring. They should confide in God’s mercy, trusting nothing in themselves; then they will see how His Majesty will lead them from one mansion to another, and will set them in a place where these wild beasts can no more touch or annoy them, but will be entirely at their mercy and merely objects of ridicule. Then, even in this life, they will enjoy a far greater happiness than they are able even to desire.

18.

18. As I said at the beginning of this work, I have explained elsewhere⁷⁸ how you should behave when the devil thus disturbs you. I also told you that the habit of recollection is not to be gained by force of arms, but with calmness, which will enable you to practise it for a longer space of time.⁷⁹ I will say no more now, except that I think it very helpful for those of you who are beginners to consult persons experienced in such matters, lest you imagine that you are injuring yourselves by leaving your prayer to perform any necessary duties. This is not the case; our Lord will direct such things to our profit, although we may have no one to counsel us.⁸⁰ The only remedy for having given up a habit of recollection is to recommence it, otherwise the soul will continue to lose it more and more every day, and God grant it may realize its danger.

19.

19. You may think, that if it is so very injurious to desist, it would have been better never to have begun, and to have remained outside the castle. But, as I began by saying, and as God Himself declares: ‘He that loves danger shall perish by it,’⁸¹ and the door by which we must enter this castle is prayer. Remember, we must get to heaven, and it would be madness to think we could do so without sometimes retiring into our souls so as to know ourselves, or thinking of our failings and of what we owe to God, or frequently imploring His mercy. Our Lord also says, ‘No man cometh to the Father but by Me’⁸² (I am not sure whether this quotation is correct, but I think so), and, ‘He that seeth Me seeth the Father also.’⁸³

20.

20. If we never look up at Him and reflect on what we owe Him for having died for us, I do not understand how we can know Him, or perform good deeds in His service. What value is there in faith without works? and what are they worth if they are not united to the merits of Jesus Christ, our only good? What would incite us to love our Lord unless we thought of Him? May He give us grace to understand how much we cost Him; that ‘the servant is not above his lord’⁸⁴ ; that we must toil for Him if we would enjoy His glory; and prayer is a necessity to prevent us from constantly falling into temptation.⁸⁵