I02 SPIRITt7AL TORRENTS.

with the same method, who exercise themselves as they will on any subject which suggests itself to them, who are so well satisfied with themselves and their light, who expatiate upon the preparation and the methods for prayer, will make but little advance in it ; and after ten or twenty years of this exercise, will always remain the same.

Alas ! when it is a question of loving a miserable creature, do they use a method for that ? The most ignorant in such a matter are the most skilful. It is the same, and yet very diflferent, with divine love. Therefore, if one who has never known such religion comes to you to learn it, teach him to love God much, and to let himself go with a perfect abandon-ment into love, and he will soon know it. If it be a nature slow to love, let him do his best, and wait in patience till love itself make itself beloved in its own way, and not in yours.