Of the care the soul must take to pacify itself

CHAPTER II

Of the care the soul must take to pacify itself

Place, then, above and before all things, this peaceful watch upon your senses, and without any violence, yea, on the contrary, with much serenity and security, and it will carry you on to great achievements. With this peace, sent by God, you will be able to watch, pray, obey, and suffer all injuries without difficulty or the least repining; and though, till you arrive at this, for want of experience, you may encounter hardships enough, yet shall your soul find much consolation withal, and every day gain new advantages and acquire new skill to make a better defense in the future. If at any time you are in more than ordinary distress, so that this peace seems to have fled from you, have immediate recourse to prayer, and persevere there in imitation of Christ our Redeemer, who to give us an example prayed thrice in the garden to his Eternal Father, that we might not go about seeking any other remedy, or cease making use of this one till we find our wills entirely pacified and conformed to the will of God. And if the temptation or disorder found you employed in corporal exercise, be not too eager to persist or strive too much to finish the same in a set time, but proceed calmly and moderately, reflecting that it is your principle affair to have God always with great tranquillity before your eyes, with little regard to give content to any but him. And if any other consideration mingle and insinuate itself, you shall soon perceive the storm and disquiet it will raise in your soul; and by thus rising and falling you will come clearly to discover that all our misery is from self-love, whilst we covet to have all things our own way and discompose ourselves when we fail therein.