Colloquy. — Therefore, O my soul, fly from pride, if it be but to avoid thy damage, and embrace humility, though it but for thy own profit. For it is a general law, from which thou shalt not be excepted, that whosoever is proud shall be humbled, and that "whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted." Comply with that which belongs to thee, humbling thyself for thy sins, and God will perform what belongs to Him, exalting thee with His gifts.
3. Lastly, I will examine what degree of pride predominates in my heart, and which of those vices above mentioned holds it in subjection, and that I will manfully endeavour to mortify, exercising the contrary acts, taking away the occasions of stumbling, and applying that particular examen which we shall hereafter set down, beginning by mortification and humiliation in exterior things, which is the most easy; for, as glorious St. Bernard says, " Nihil facilius est volenti, quam humiliare semetipsum [1] " There is nothing more easy to him that hath a will than to humble himself; n for if I would make myself great, many will contradict me, but if I humble myself there will be none to contradict me, and by humbling myself I shall come to be humble; for humiliation is the only means to estrange me from pride, and to obtain the virtue of humility.
MEDITATION XIX.
ON GLUTTONY AND TEMPERANCE.
POINT I.
1. Gluttony is an inordinate appetite of eating and drinking, and we may sin by it five different ways. [2] i. By eating meats prohibited by the Church, or by breaking fasts,
