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 sired end. With this intention we may confidently desire of God internal consolation, as we have said before. This did the prophet David, when he said: "Redde mihi Domini Isetitiam salutaris tui, et spiritu principali conjirma me:" " Give me, O Lord, the joy of thy salvation, and confirm me with thy principal spirit."

Hence it is manifest what end every one ought to prefix to himself in these exercises, and how they should esteem and measure their own and other's profit; not according to the multitude of flowing consolations, but according to those things they have constantly .suffered for God, partly in fulfilling his divine pleasure, partly in renouncing their own proper wills.

And that this ought to be the end of all our prayer and reading, it appeareth by that one psalm of the prophet David which beginneth "Beali irnmaculatl in via, qui ambulant in lege Domini;" " Blessed are the immaculate in the way, which walk in the law of the Lord;" which is the longest psalm in the psalter, notwithstanding, there is not one verse in it, in which there is not mention of (he law of God, and keeping his commandments: which the Holy Ghost hath so ordained, that men may learn to direct all prayer and reading to this end and scope. From which they that do decline, cast themselves into the secret snares of the enemy, who with his subtle craft persuadeth them, that is, some great matter which, indeed, is nothing; and (or this cause men, most exercised in spiritual matters, do af-