love causeth oftentimes greater matters in the minds of men, that it makes them mad. What! shall we attribute Jess efficacy to grace than unto nature and sin? When, therefore, the soul shall feel this operation of divine love, in what part of prayer soever it happeneth, let him never refuse it; although he spent all the time of this exercise in it, without any manner of consideration at all, for that point be purposed to meditate upon: (except he be specially obliged unto it) for, as St. Augustine saith, vocal prayer ought to be left, if it hurteth devotion; so, meditation ought to be deferred, if it hurteth contemplation. But as it is necessary to leave meditation for this affection, and to ascend from the lesser to the greater, so, oftentimes, this contemplation is to be left for meditation, when it is so vehement that the corporal health receiveth some damage thereby. This oftentimes happeneth to those who, taken with the pleasure of this divine sweetness, give themselves too indiscretly to these exercises, and use them too immoderately, to whom (as a certain doctor saith,) this will be the best remedy; — that they desist from contemplation, turning their minds to some other good affection; as of compassion in meditating on the sufferings of our Saviour; or about the sins and miseries of this world, to exonerate the heart, diverting it from that too much intension.
