If thou hast not the favour of men, be not grieved thereat: but let thy concern be, that thou dost not carry thyself so well and so circumspectly as it becomes a servant of God, and a devout religious man to demean himself.
It is oftentimes more profitable and more secure for a man not to have many comforts in this life; especially according to the flesh.
Yet, that we have not divine comforts, or seldom experience them, is our own faults: because we do not seek compunction of heart, nor cast off altogether vain and outward satisfactions.
4. Acknowledge thyself unworthy of divine consolation, and rather worthy of much tribulation.
When a man has perfect compunction, then the whole world is to him burdensome and distasteful.
A good man always finds subject enough for mourning and weeping.
For whether he considers himself, or thinks of his neighbour, he knows that no man lives here without tribulations; and the more thoroughly he considers himself, the more he grieves.
The subjects for just grief and interior compunction are our vices and sins, in which we lie entangled in such manner, as seldom to be able to contemplate heavenly things.
5. If thou wouldst oftener think of thy death, than of a long life, no doubt but thou wouldst more fervently amend thyself.