celestial manna for the daily food of their devotion. In it, in fine, every person of every state may learn how to appreciate the eternal truths and the mysteries of our holy faith; and also how to live well, if they will frequently read and meditate upon them."
To this eulogium little else need now ho added further, than that the "Meditations" of De Ponte constitute a most complete practical development of the science of mental prayer, framed on the model of the " Spiritual Exercises" of St. Ignatius.
The three "ways" or "states" through which the soul advances, as sketched out in that admirable hook, viz., the " Purgative," the "Illuminative," and the " Unitive," will be found to succeed each other in their due order, each one separately complete, and forming together a perfect and consecutive whole; so that the exercitant, whether he seek to go through the entire course in regular succession, or only to apply himself to a particular part, will be able equally to attain his object.
How the Venerable Author has treated each meditation, and made it bear on the scope of the division to which it belongs, can be tested only by diligent practice. Certain it is, that he has brought to the work all the knowledge of a profound theologian, the experience of a consummate master of spirits, and the light and unction of a soul in close and habitual intercourse with God. Hence, whilst the points of
