Chapter LXV. His behaviour after prayer

99. When he came back from his private devotions (which changed him almost into another man) he strove his hardest to seem like other people, for fear that the gale of [human] favour might cause him to lose what he had gained, if his fervour showed itself. Moreover he often spoke thus to his familiar friends: "When a servant of God is visited at prayer by the Lord with some fresh consolation, he ought, before coming forth from prayer, to raise his eyes to heaven, and, clasping his hands, to say to God: ' O Lord, Thou hast sent this consolation and sweetness from heaven to me, an unworthy sinner, and I restore it to Thee that Thou mayest keep it for me, for that I am a robber of Thy treasure'. And again: ' Lord, take from me Thy good in this world, that Thou mayest keep it for me hereafter'. Such should be his language, in order that when he comes forth from prayer he may bear himself toward others as much after the manner of a poor sinner as if he had gained no fresh grace." He would also say: "For the sake of a trifling reward one may lose a priceless thing, and may easily provoke the giver not to repeat his gift". Finally it was his custom to rise for prayer so stealthily and gently that none of his companions noticed either that he was rising or that he was praying. But when late at night he went to bed he made a noise and almost a din, so that his going to rest might be heard by all.