on the great hurt our original sin has done us. For it is from our
first fall that all this has come to us that we so wander from God, and
are so often utterly incapable of God. But it is not so much Adam's sin
as my own that works in me all this alienation and inability and aridity.
Methinks I love God; but my actions, and the endless imperfections I see
in myself, cause me great fear, and deep and inconsolable distress.

(5) _Prayer after Sin_.--Never let any one leave off prayer on any
pretence: great sins committed, or any other pretence whatsoever. For by
leaving off prayer the soul will be finally lost, while every return to
prayer is new life and new strength, as I am continually telling you. I
tell you again that the leaving off of prayer was the most devilish and
the most deadly temptation I ever met with.

(6) _Meditation in Prayer_.--He who prays should often stop to think with
whom he speaks: who he himself is who speaks: who Jesus Christ is through
whom he speaks: what that country is to which he aspires: how he may best
please Him who dwells there: and what he is to do so that his character
and disposition may suit with God's disposition and character. Mental
prayer, as I am wont to call it, is the constant meditation of such
things as these. And mental prayer ought to be endeavoured after by all,
though they have no virtues, because it is the beginning of them, and
therefore the one interest of all men is at once to begin such prayer.
But it will be exercised with no little difficulty unless the steady
acquisition of the virtues accompanies it. In prayer it is far best to
be alone; as, for our example and instruction, our Lord always was when
He prayed. For we cannot talk both to God and man at the same moment.
And, if we feel too much alone, and must have company, no company is
comparable to Christ's company. Let us picture and represent Christ to
ourselves and to His Father as always at our side. Those who pray with
proper preparation: that is, with much meditation on the whole life and
death of our Lord: on their own death: on the last day, or such like, our
Lord will bring all such to the port of light. Meditate much on the
Sacred Humanity of our Lord: what He was on earth: what He said: what He
did, and what He suffered. Because this life of ours is long and uphill,
which to pass well through needs the constant presence with us of our
great Exemplar, Jesus Christ.

(7) _The Presence of G