CONTENTS.
BOOK I.
Chap. page
I. Of the Imitation of Christ, and Contempt of the World and of all its Vanities 1
II. Of Humility in respect to one's own Knowledge 3
III. Of the Teaching of the Truth 5
IV. Of Prudence in our Actions 9
V. Of Reading the Scriptures 10
VI. Of Inordinate Affections 11
VII. Of Avoiding vain Hope and Self-esteem 12
VIII. That excessive Familiarity should be Avoided 14
IX. On Obedience and Subjection15
X. Of Talking too much 16
XI. Of acquiring Peace, and of earnest Desire for growth in Grace 18
XII. Of the Profitableness of Adversity 21
XIII. Of Resisting Temptations 22
XIV. Of Avoiding Rash Judgment 26
XV. Of Works done from Charity 27
XVI. On Bearing with the Defects of Others 29
XVII. Of a Life apart from the World 31
XVIII. Of the Examples of the Holy Fathers 32
XIX. On Religious Exercises 35
XX. On the Love of Solitude and Silence 39
XXI. Of Compunction of Heart 44
XXII. Of the State of Human Misery 47
XXIII. Of Meditation on Death 51
XXIV. On Judgment, and the Punishments of Sinners 56
XXV. Of Earnest Amendment of our Whole Life 61
BOOK II.
I. Of the Inner Life 68
II. Of Humble Submission 73
III. Of a Good, Peaceful Man 74
IV. Of a Pure Mind and a Simple Intention 76
V. Of the Consideration of One's Self 78
VI. Of the Joy of a Good Conscience 80
VII. Of Loving Jesus above All Things 82
VIII. Of Familiar Friendship with Jesus 84
IX. Of the Absence of All Consolation 87
X. Of Gratitude for the Grace of God 91
XI. Of the Small Number of the Lovers of the Cross 94
XII. Of the Royal Way of the Holy Cross 97
BOOK III.
I. Of Christ's speaking inwardly to the Faithful Soul 106
II. That Truth speaks inwardly without the sound of Words 107
III. That the Words of God are to be Heard with Humility, and that many do not Ponder them 109
IV. That we ought to Walk before God in Truth and Lowliness 103
V. Of the wonderful Effect of Divine Love 115
VI. Of the Test of a true Lover 130
VII. Of hiding Grace under the guard of Humility 133
VIII. Of a Low Estimation of one's self in the sight of God 127
IX. That all things are to be referred to God, as to their Last End 129
X. That to serve God, when you have Despised the World, is Sweet 130
XI. That the Desires of the Heart are to be Examined and Restrained 133
XII. Of cultivating Patience, and of striving against Lusts 135
XIII. Of the Obedience of humble subjection after the Example of Jesus Christ 138
XIV. Of the consideration of God's Secret Judgments, in order that we may not be Puffed up by any thing good in us 140
XV. What we ought to Do or Say with regard to everything we Desire 142
XVI. That True Comfort must be sought in God Alone 144
XVII. That all Cares should be cast upon God 146
XVIII. That temporal Miseries are to be borne patiently, after the Example of Christ 148
XIX. On bearing Injuries, and of the proof of a truly Patient Man 150
XX. Of the Acknowledgment of our own Infirmity ; and of the Miseries of this Life 152
XXXIX. That a Man must not be over Eager about his Affairs 196
XL. That a Man has nothing Good of Himself, nor any thing whereof to Glory 197
XLI. Of the Contempt of all Worldly Honour 200
XLII. That our Peace must not depend on Man 201
XLIII. Against Vain and Worldly Learning 202
XLIV. Of not taking up the Outward Things which come in our Path 204
XLV. That we must not Trust every one, and that it is a common thing to Slip with the Tongue 206
XLVI. Of Confidence in God when Words are Darted at us 209
XLVII. That all Things, however grievous, are to be borne for the sake of Eternal Life 213
XLVIII. On the Day of Eternity, and this Life's Distresses 215
XLIX. Of the Desire of Eternal Life, and how great are the Rewards which are Promised to those who Strive for them 219
L. How one in Desolation ought to Resign Himself into God's hands 224
LI. That a Man must occupy himself with humble Works when he is unable to attain to Things which are Highest
LII. That a Man ought to consider himself more worthy of Chastisement than of Consolation
LIII. That the Grace of God does not mingle with the Worldly-minded
LIV. Of the different Motions of Nature and Grace
LV. On the Corruption of Nature, and the Efficacy of Divine Grace
LVI. That we ought to Deny Ourselves, and to Imitate Christ by the Cross
LVII. That a Man should not be too Dejected at Failures or Trial 247
LVIII. That Things beyond our reach, and the Secret Judgments of God, are not to be Scrutinized 249
LIX. That all Hope and Trust is to be fixed in God Alone 255
BOOK IV.
I. With how great Reverence Christ ought to be Received 258
II. That the great Goodness and Love of God are made manifest to Man in this Sacrament 265
III. That it is Profitable to Communicate often 269
IV. That many Benefits are granted to those who Communicate Devoutly 272
V. Of the Dignity of the Sacrament, and of the Priesthood 276
VI. An Enquiry as to the Way to Prepare for Communion 279
VII. Of the Examination of our own Conscience, and of the Resolution to Amend 279
VIII. Of the Oblation of Christ on the Cross, and of Resignation of Ourselves 282
IX. That we ought to Offer Ourselves and all that we have to God, and to Pray for All 284
X. That the Holy Communion is not for a Slight Thing to be Abstained from 287
XI. That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most necessary to the Faithful Soul 291
XII. That he who is about to Communicate ought to use Great Diligence to Prepare himself for Christ 296
XIII. That with the whole Heart the Devout Soul ought to seek Union with Christ in the Sacrament 299
XIV. Of the ardent Desire of some Devout Persons for the Body and Blood of Christ 301
XV. That the Grace of Devotion is obtained by Humility and Self-denial 303
XVI. That we ought to lay open our Necessities to Christ, and to seek His Grace 305
XVII. Of ardent Love for, and vehement Desire to Receive Christ 307
XVIII. That a Man should not be a curious Searcher into the Sacrament, but a humble Follower of Christ, submitting his senses to the Sacred Faith 310

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