Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth
than doth frequent reading
Lord, this is the work of a perfect man, never to slacken his mind from
attention to heavenly things, and among many cares to pass along as it
were without care, not after the manner of one indifferent, but rather
with the privilege of a free mind, cleaving to no creature with
inordinate affection.
2. I beseech Thee, my most merciful Lord God, preserve me from the
cares of this life, lest I become too much entangled; from many
necessities of the body, lest I be taken captive by pleasure; from all
obstacles of the spirit, lest I be broken and cast down with cares. I
say not from those things which the vanity of the world goeth about
after with all eagerness, but from those miseries, which by the
universal curse of mortality weigh down and hold back the soul of thy
servant in punishment, that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit, so
often as it would.
3. O my God, sweetness unspeakable, turn into bitterness all my fleshly
consolation, which draweth me away from the love of eternal things, and
wickedly allureth toward itself by setting before me some present
delight. Let not, O my God, let not flesh and blood prevail over me,
let not the world and its short glory deceive me, let not the devil and
his craftiness supplant me. Give me courage to resist, patience to
endure, constancy to persevere. Grant, in place of all consolations of
the world, the most sweet unction of Thy Spirit, and in place of carnal
love, pour into me the love of Thy Name.
4. Behold, food and drink and clothing, and all the other needs
appertaining to the support of the body, are burdensome to the devout
spirit. Grant that I may use such things with moderation, and that I be
not entangled with inordinate affection for them. To cast away all
these things is not lawful, because nature must be sustained, but to
require superfluities and things which merely minister delight, the
holy law forbiddeth; for otherwise the flesh would wax insolent against
the spirit. In all these things, I beseech Thee, let Thy hand guide and
teach me, that I in no way exceed.