The spiritual guide which disintangles the soul, and brings it by the inward way, to the getting of perfect contemplation, and the rich treasure of internal peace. / Written by Dr. Michael de Molinos, priest : with a short treatise concerning daily communion, by the same author. Translated from the Italian copy, printed at Venice, 1685.

CHAP. III. The indiscreet Zeal of Souls, and the disordi∣nate Love of our Neighbour, disturb in∣ternal Peace.

13. THere is not a more accepta∣ble Sacrifice to God, * 1.1 (says St. Gregory) than the ardent Zeal of Souls: For

that Ministery, the eternal God sent his own Je∣sus Christ into the World, and ever since it hath been the most noble and sublime of Offices. But if the zeal be indiscreet, it brings a notable ob∣stacle to the progress of the Spirit.

14. No sooner does thou find in thy self any new and fervent light, but thou would'st lay thy self wholly out for the good of Souls; and in the mean time, it's odds, but that that is self-love, which thou takest to be pure zeal. This uses sometime to put on a garb of a disordinate de∣sire, of a vain complacency, of an industrious affection, and proper esteem; all Enemies to the peace of the Soul.

15. It is never good to love thy Neighbour, to the detriment of thine own spiritual good. To please God in purity, ought to be the only scope of thy Works; this ought to be thy only desire and thought; endeavouring to moderate thy dis∣ordinate fervour, that tranquility and internal peace may reign in thy Soul. The true zeal of Souls, which thou oughtest to strive for, should be the true love of thy God. That is the fruit∣ful, efficacious, and true zeal, which doeth wonders in Souls, though with dumb Voices.

16. St. Paul recommended to us first the care of our own Souls, before that of our Neighbour. * 1.2 Take heed unto thy self, and unto thy Doctrine, said he in his Canonical Epistle. Struggle not to over-do; for when it is time convenient, and thou canst be any way useful to thy Neighbour, God will call thee forth, and put thee in the employment

that will best suit with thee: That thought be∣longs only to him, and to thee, to continue in thy rest, disengaged, and wholly resigned up to the Divine Will and Pleasure. Do'nt think that in that condition thou art idle: He is busied e∣nough, who is always ready waiting to perform the Will of God. Who takes heed to himself for God's sake, does every thing; because, one pure Act of internal Resignation, is more worth than a hundred thousand exercises for ones own Will.

17. Though the Cistern be capable to con∣tain much Water, yet it must still be without it, till Heaven favour it with Rain. Be at rest, blessed Soul, be quiet, humble and resigned, to every thing that God shall be pleased to do with thee, leave the care to God, for he as a loving Father, knows best what is convenient for thee; conform thy self totally to his Will, perfection being founded in that, inasmuch as he who do∣eth the Will of the Lord, * 1.3 is his Mo∣ther's Son, and Brother of the Son of God himself.

18. Think not that God esteemeth him most, that doeth most. He is most beloved who is most humble, most faithful and resigned, and most correspondent to his own internal Inspira∣tion, and to the divine Will and Pleasure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In Ezechiel, Hom. 12.
• * 1.2

  1 Timoth. 4.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 12.