Of four things which bring great peace
“My Son, now will I teach thee the way of peace and of true liberty.”
2. Do, O my Lord, as Thou sayest, for this is pleasing unto me to hear.
3. “Strive, My Son, to do another’s will rather than thine own. Choose
always to have less rather than more. Seek always after the lowest
place, and to be subject to all. Wish always and pray that the will of
God be fulfilled in thee. Behold, such a man as this entereth into the
inheritance of peace and quietness.”
4. O my Lord, this Thy short discourse hath in itself much of
perfectness. It is short in words but full of meaning, and abundant in
fruit. For if it were possible that I should fully keep it, disturbance
would not so easily arise within me. For as often as I feel myself
disquieted and weighed down, I find myself to have gone back from this
teaching. But Thou, Who art Almighty, and always lovest progress in the
soul, vouchsafe more grace, that I may be enabled to fulfil Thy
exhortation, and work out my salvation.
A PRAYER AGAINST EVIL THOUGHTS
5. O Lord my God, be not Thou far from me, my God, haste Thee to help
me,(1) for many thoughts and great fears have risen up against me,
afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through them unhurt? how shall I
break through them?
6. “I,” saith He, “will go before thee, and make the crooked places
straight.”(2) I will open the prison doors, and reveal to thee the
secret places.
7. Do, Lord, as Thou sayest; and let all evil thoughts fly away before
Thy face. This is my hope and my only comfort, to fly unto Thee in all
tribulation, to hope in Thee, to call upon Thee from my heart and
patiently wait for Thy loving kindness.
A PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE MIND
8. Enlighten me, Blessed Jesus, with the brightness of Thy inner light,
and cast forth all darkness from the habitation of my heart. Restrain
my many wandering thoughts, and carry away the temptations which strive
to do me hurt. Fight Thou mightily for me, and drive forth the evil
beasts, so call I alluring lusts, that peace may be within Thy walls
and plenteousness of praise within Thy palaces,(3) even in my pure
conscience. Command Thou the winds and the storms, say unto the sea,
“Be still,” say unto the stormy wind, “Hold thy peace,” so shall there
be a great calm.
9. Oh send forth Thy light and Thy truth,(4) that they may shine upon
the earth; for I am but earth without form and void until Thou give me
light. Pour forth Thy grace from above; water my heart with the dew of
heaven; give the waters of devotion to water the face of the earth, and
cause it to bring forth good and perfect fruit. Lift up my mind which
is oppressed with the weight of sins, and raise my whole desire to
heavenly things; that having tasted the sweetness of the happiness
which is from above, it may take no pleasure in thinking of things of
earth.
10. Draw me and deliver me from every unstable comfort of creatures,
for no created thing is able to satisfy my desire and to give me
comfort. Join me to Thyself by the inseparable bond of love, for Thou
alone art sufficient to him that loveth Thee, and without Thee all
things are vain toys.
(1) Psalm lxxi. 12. (2) Isaiah xlv. 2. (3) Psalm cxxii. 7. (4) Psalm
xliii. 3.