Chapter 3. On the Subjects for Prayer and Meditation

1.—Having seen the abundant fruit to be gathered from prayer and meditation, and the ‘different parts into which they should be divided, let us consider the various subjects proper for meditation.

2.—Here it may be remarked that inasmuch as this holy exercise is ordained to create in our hearts the love and fear of God and obedience to his commandments, that will be the best subject which most tends to realize those objects. And though it is true that the whole creation and the whole of the Sacred Scriptures tend to this, yet generally speaking, the mysteries of Faith contained in the Creed are the most efficacious and advantageous for this, because in the Creed are set out the bounty of God, the final judgment, the pains of hell, and the*glory of heaven, powerful stimulants to

-move our hearts to the love and fear of God; in it also are mentioned the life and passion of Christ our Saviour, in which all our good is centred. These two subjects are speci- — ally mentioned in the Creed, and are those on which we ordinarily meditate. On this account it is very properly said, that the Creed is the most appropriate subject for this holy exercise, although that also may be the best for each one which most excites his heart to the fear and love of God.

3.—Accordingly, for the use of beginners who are new to the business, and before whom should be set food easy of mastication and digestion, I will here set out two kinds of meditation for every day of the week, one for night and one for morning, chiefly selected from the mysteries of our faith, im order as twice a day we take food for the support of the body, we may do the same for that of the soul, the food of which is meditation and the contemplation of divine things. Some of these meditations are on the sacred passion and resurrection, the rest on the mysteries we have mentioned. Those who have not time for retirement twice a day, may at least meditate one week on one set of mysteries, and during the following’ week on the other set, or may only make use of those on the passion and life of Jesus Christ our Saviour, they being the chief one’s, though it is not advisable to omit the others at the beginning of their conversion, as they are most appropriate then, when the fear of God, and sorrow and detestation for sin, are most required,