Title Page

THE FIRST BOOK. ADMONITIONS PROFITABLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

CHAPTER I Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities

CHAPTER II Of thinking humbly of oneself

CHAPTER III Of the knowledge of truth

CHAPTER IV Of prudence in action

CHAPTER V Of the reading of Holy Scriptures

CHAPTER VI Of inordinate affections

CHAPTER VII Of fleeing from vain hope and pride

CHAPTER VIII Of the danger of too much familiarity

CHAPTER IX Of obedience and subjection

CHAPTER X Of the danger of superfluity of words

CHAPTER XI Of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress

CHAPTER XII Of the uses of adversity

CHAPTER XIII Of resisting temptation

CHAPTER XIV On avoiding rash judgment

CHAPTER XV Of works of charity

CHAPTER XVII Of a religious life

CHAPTER XVIII Of the example of the Holy Fathers

CHAPTER XIX Of the exercises of a religious man

CHAPTER XX Of the love of solitude and silence

CHAPTER XXI Of compunction of heart

CHAPTER XXII On the contemplation of human misery

CHAPTER XXIII Of meditation upon death

CHAPTER XXIV Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked

CHAPTER XXV Of the zealous amendment of our whole life

THE SECOND BOOK. ADMONITIONS CONCERNING THE INNER LIFE

CHAPTER I Of the inward life

CHAPTER II Of lowly submission

CHAPTER III Of the good, peaceable man

CHAPTER V Of self-esteem

CHAPTER VI Of the joy of a good conscience

CHAPTER VII Of loving Jesus above all things

CHAPTER VIII Of the intimate love of Jesus

CHAPTER IX Of the lack of all comfort

CHAPTER X Of gratitude for the Grace of God

CHAPTER XI Of the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus

CHAPTER XII Of the royal way of the Holy Cross

THE THIRD BOOK. ON INWARD CONSOLATION

CHAPTER I Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul I will hearken what the Lord God shall say within me.(1) Blessed is the soul which heareth the Lord speaking within it

CHAPTER II What the truth saith inwardly without noise of words

CHAPTER III How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many consider them not

A PRAYER FOR THE SPIRIT OF DEVOTION

CHAPTER IV How we must walk in truth and humility before God

CHAPTER V Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love

CHAPTER VI Of the proving of the true lover

CHAPTER VII Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility

CHAPTER VIII Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God

CHAPTER IX That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end

CHAPTER X That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God

CHAPTER XI That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed

CHAPTER XII Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil desires

CHAPTER XIII Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ

CHAPTER XIV Of meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we may not be lifted up because of our well-doing

CHAPTER XV How we must stand and speak, in everything that we desire

CHAPTER XVI That true solace is to be sought in God alone

CHAPTER XVII That all care is to be cast upon God

CHAPTER XVIII That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of Christ

CHAPTER XIX Of bearing injuries, and who shall be approved as truly patient

CHAPTER XX Of confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life

CHAPTER XXI That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts

CHAPTER XXII Of the recollection of God's manifold benefits

CHAPTER XXIII Of four things which bring great peace

CHAPTER XXIV Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another

CHAPTER XXV Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist

CHAPTER XXVI Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth than doth frequent reading

CHAPTER XXVII That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good

A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM

CHAPTER XXVIII Against the tongues of detractors

CHAPTER XXIX How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God

CHAPTER XXX Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace

CHAPTER XXXI Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found

CHAPTER XXXII Of self-denial and the casting away all selfishness

CHAPTER XXXIII Of instability of the heart, and of directing the aim towards God

CHAPTER XXXIV That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things

CHAPTER XXXV That there is no security against temptation in this life

CHAPTER XXXVI Against vain judgments of men

CHAPTER XXXVII Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart

CHAPTER XXXVIII Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God in dangers

CHAPTER XXXIX That man must not be immersed in business

CHAPTER XL That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory

CHAPTER XLI Of contempt of all temporal honour

CHAPTER XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men

CHAPTER XLIII Against vain and worldly knowledge

CHAPTER XLIV Of not troubling ourselves about outward things

CHAPTER XLV That we must not believe everyone, and that we are prone to fall in our words

CHAPTER XLVI Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us

CHAPTER XLVII That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life

CHAPTER XLVIII Of the day of eternity and of the straitnesses of this life

CHAPTER XLIX Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised to those who strive

CHAPTER L How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God

CHAPTER LI That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to those that are lofty

CHAPTER LII That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more worthy of chastisement

CHAPTER LIII That the Grace of God doth not join itself to those who mind earthly things

CHAPTER LIV Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace

CHAPTER LV Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace

CHAPTER LVII That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some faults

CHAPTER LVIII Of deeper matters, and God's hidden judgments which are not to be inquired into

CHAPTER LIX That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone

THE FOURTH BOOK. OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR

A devout exhortation to the Holy Communion The Voice of Christ

CHAPTER I With how great reverence Christ must be received

CHAPTER II That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the Sacrament

CHAPTER III That it is profitable to Communicate often

CHAPTER IV That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate devoutly

CHAPTER V Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest

CHAPTER VI An inquiry concerning preparation for Communion

CHAPTER VII Of the examination of conscience, and purpose of amendment

CHAPTER VIII Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of self

CHAPTER IX That we ought to offer ourselves and all that is ours to God, and to pray for all

CHAPTER X That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted

CHAPTER XI That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most necessary to a faithful soul

CHAPTER XII That he who is about to Communicate with Christ ought to prepare himself with great diligence

CHAPTER XIII That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament

CHAPTER XIV Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and Blood of Christ

CHAPTER XV That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial

CHAPTER XVI That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require His Grace

CHAPTER XVII Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ

CHAPTER XVIII That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith