Table of Contents
The First Treatise. Of an Internal Life in General.
First Section. Of a Contemplative Life.
Chapter I. The Nature and End of an Internal Life
Chapter II. Of Natural Propensions to Devotion
Chapter III. Of a State Contemplative and Active
Chapter IV. Of the Necessity of a Strong Resolution
Second Section. God is the Guide and Director.
Chapter I. Two Internal Guides in all Christians
Chapter II. Of an External Director
Chapter III. Of reading Spiritual Books
Chapter IV. Of immediate Divine Inspirations
Chapter V. Impediments to Divine Inspirations
Chapter VI. How God communicates Internal Light
Chapter VII. How to obtain Light in Doubtful Cases
Third Section. The School of Contemplation, viz. Solitude and a Religious Profession.
Chapter I. All Conditions capable of Contemplation
Chapter II. These Instructions Profitable to Seculars
Chapter III. The Great Advantages of a Religious State
Chapter IV. A State of Introversion is the end of Religion
Chapter V. How Far Ignorance will excuse Religious Persons
Chapter VI. The Contemplation of the Primitive Monks
Chapter VII. The Special Duties of Religious Persons
Chapter VIII. The Duties of Superiors
The Second Treatise. Of the First Instrument of Perfection, viz., Mortification.
First Section. Of Mortifications in General.
Chapter I. All duties contained in Mortification and Prayer
Chapter II. Mortification of an Affection to Venial Sins
Chapter III. Absolute Necessity of Mortification
Chapter IV. General Rules of Mortification
Chapter V. Of Mortifications, Voluntary and Necessary
Second Section. Certain Special Mortifications of the Passions.
Chapter I. Of Special Mortifications
Chapter II. Of the Mortification of Love
Chapter III. The Nature and Acts of Divine Charity
Chapter IV. Of Purity of Intention
Chapter V. The Order and Degrees of Charity to others
Chapter VI. Of Temperance in Refection
Chapter IX. Of Scruples arising from Inward Sources
Chapter X. Of Scruples concerning External Duties
Chapter XI. Of Scruples concerning Confession
The Third Treatise. Of Prayer.
First Section. Of Prayer in General.
Chapter I. The Excellency of Prayer in General
Chapter III. The Excellency of Internal Affective Prayer
Chapter IV. Of Prayer without Ceasing
Chapter V. Of Sensible Devotion
Chapter VII. The Doctrine of Fr. Baltazar Alvarez, S.J. Defended
Second Section. Of the first degree of Internal Prayer, viz., Meditation.
Chapter I. The degrees of Prayer
Chapter III. How Meditation is to be Exercised
An Advertisement to the Reader
Certain Patterns of Devout Exercises of Immediate Acts and Affections of the Will.