2. The practice of this mortification, like to death, we will set down in this meditation, the end of which shall be the imitation of death itself. And in that we proceed by the affections of fear, which are most proper to the purgative way, yet of themselves those of love are most effectual; of which it is said, that it " is strong as death," and " hard as hell," [1] because it kills, buries, and defeats all that is contrary to its beloved; as we shall see hereafter.
By the way also, in this meditation we will put in practice a very profitable manner of meditating, [2] by spiritualising exterior things that are perceived by the senses, applying them to interior, and collecting out of them rules and counsels of perfection.
POINT I.
1. The first point shall be to consider what my body will be after it is dead and abandoned by the soul, pondering especially three miseries.
i. First, that it loses the use of its members and senses, without ever more being able to see, hear or speak, or move to one side or the other, or to enjoy the goods of this mortal life. Now no beautiful things, nor sweet music, nor pleasing odours, nor savoury meats, nor things that are soft, anywise affect it: all this is to it as if it were not. For it has lost the organs by which it could enjoy it, and all that it has enjoyed serves it to little profit.
ii. The second misery is, to remain discoloured, disfigured, deformed, horrible, stiff, stark, and stinking, hastening rapidly to corruption. In such a manner that which a little before charmed the eye with its beauty now raises horror in it with its deformity.
iii. From whence proceeds the third misery, that all leave it alone in the chamber, in possession of those that are to shroud
