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. IX. For the obtaining of Internal Peace, 'tis ne∣cessary for the Soul to know its mi∣sery.

90. IF the Soul should not fall into some faults, it would never come to understand its own misery, though it hears men speak and reads spiritual Books; nor can it ever obtain precious peace, if it do not first know its own miserable weakness: because there the remedy is difficult, where there is no clear knowledge of the defect. God will suffer in thee sometimes one fault, sometimes another, that by this know∣ledge of thy self, seeing thee so often fallen, thou may'st believe that thou art a meer no∣thing; in which knowledge and belief true peace and perfect humility is founded: and that thou may'st the better search into thy my∣stry and see what thou art, I will try to unde∣ceive thee in some of thy manifold imperfe∣ctions.

91. Thou art so quick and nice, that it may be if thou dost but trip as thou walkest or findest thy way molested, thou feelest even Hell it self: if thou art denied thy due or thy pleasure oppo∣sed, thou presently briskest up with a warm resentment of it. If thou spiest a fault in thy

neighbour, instead of pitying him, and thinking that thou thy self art liable to the same failing, thou indiscreetly reprovest him; if thou seest a thing convenient for thee and canst not compass it, thou growest sad and full of sorrow; if thou receivest a slight injury from thy neighbour, thou chidest at him and complainest for it: in∣somuch that for any trifle thou art inwardly and outwardly discomposed and losest thy self.

92. Thou would'st be penitent, but with a∣nother's patience; and if the impatience still continues, thou layest the fault with much pains upon thy companion, without considering, that thou art intolerable to thy self: and when the rancour is over, thou cunningly dost return to make thy self vertuous, giving documents and relating spiritual sayings with artifice of wit, without mending thy past-faults. Although thou willingly dost condemn thy self, reproving thy faults before others, yet this thou dost more to justifie thy self with him that sees thy faults, that thou may'st return again afresh to the for∣mer esteem of thy self, than through any effect of perfect humility.

93. Other times thou dost subtilly alledge, that it is not through fault but zeal of justice, that thou complainest of thy neighbour. Thou believest for the most part that thou art ver∣tuous, constant and couragious, even to the gi∣ving up thy life into the tyrant's hand, solely for the sake of divine love; yet thou canst scarce hear the least word of anger, but pre∣sently

thou dost afflict and trouble and disquiet thy self. These are all industrious engines of self-love and the secret pride of thy soul. Know therefore that self-love reigns in thee, and that from purchasing this precious peace, that is thy greatest hindrance.