What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company?

A beginner must look on himself as one setting out to make a garden for his Lord's pleasure, on most unfruitful soil which abounds in weeds. His Majesty roots up the weeds and will put in good plants instead. Let us reckon that this is already done when the soul decides to practice prayer and has begun to do so.

All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.

O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it.

If God should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.