PART IV.
CONTAINING VARIOUS EXERCISES PROFITABLE FOR THE
PURSUIT OF VIRTUES AND OF CHRISTIAN PERFECriON.
FOR WEDNESDAY.
A PREPARATORY PRAYER BEFORE ANY PIOUS READING.
Blessed is the man whom, thou shalt instruct, O Lord, and shalt teach him out of thy law; yes, O Lord, he is every way blessed, because he cannot go astray under thy guidance, for thou art the way; nor be deceived under thy teaching, for thou art the truth; nor perish under thy protection, for thou art the life. Teach me, therefore, goodness, discipline, and knowledge. For many indeed are the lessons of virtue and piety that I every where hear; I read much that has been piously and laboriously written by thy servants upon the means, the warnings, and the commands to obtain thy grace; but how shall I understand it, unless thou enlighten my understanding? And how shall I perform it, unless thou too inflame my affection? For to will is present with me, but I find not how to accomplish. I can do nothing indeed without thee, but in thee I can do all things; for from thee is all our sufficiency.
Therefore, while I read what is piously written in books, inscribe the same, I beseech thee, with thy finger on the tables of my heart. For things beautifully sail soothe the ear, but without thee they affect not the soul. In vain am I addressed by one that is a man like myself, let him speak ever so piously, learnedly or eloquently, unless thou, O Lord, speakest inwardly to my heart. Speak, then, Lord, for thy servant heareth; but if I hear not, then cause me to hear; for thou makest the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.
But make my heart also
