which they performed very
imperfectly, by reason of their human or selfish regards.

That the most excellent method he had found of going to GOD, was that
of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men,[1] and
(as far as we are capable) purely for the love of GOD.

That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought
to differ from other times: that we are as strictly obliged to adhere
to GOD by action in the time of action, as by prayer in the season of
prayer.

That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD,
his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love:
and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no
difference, because he still continued with GOD, praising and blessing
Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy;
yet hoped that GOD would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should
grow stronger.

That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD,
and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would
not deceive us.

That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of
GOD, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with
which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning,
we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a
habit, which will naturally produce its acts in us, without our care,
and to our exceeding great delight.

That the whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity; by
the practice of which we become united to the will of GOD: that all
besides is indifferent, and to be used as a means that we may arrive
at our end, and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity.

That all things are possible to him who _believes_--that they are less
difficult to him who _hopes_--that they are more easy to him who
_loves_, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of
these three virtues.

That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this
life, the most perfect worshippers of GOD we can possibly be, as we
hope to be through all eternity.

That when we enter upon the spiritual life, we should consider, and
examine to the bottom, what we are. And then we should find ourselves
worthy of all contempt, and not deserving indeed the name of
Christians: subject to all kinds of misery and numberless accidents,
which trouble us and cause perpetual vicissitude