it is not the labour of a professed writer, but the fruit of a protracted sickness; and thus it will make its appearance from the very date of its publication -clothed, if I may so express it, with the sanction of experience;-and this, to all judicious readers, will doubtless be a recommendation in its favour.

CONTENTS.

PART THE FIRST.

OF SUBMISSION TO THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN THE

CHAPTER

AFFLICTIONS OF THIS LIFE.

I. Afflictions come from God

II. The afflictions of this life are an effect of the

wisdom and of the love of God -

PAGE

I

21

III. Afflictions are sent to us by God for our

great good

IV. Afflictions lose their bitterness, and become

sweet, when we see the love with which

God sends them

PART THE SECOND.

OF THE HAPPINESS OF AFFLICTIONS.

22

36

I. The afflictions of this life are of an inestim-

able value-

II. The afflictions of this life are a pledge of

50

65

75

88

IV. Afflictions raise us to a high degree of perfec-

tion

V. The necessity and advantages of afflictions

b

CHAPTER

PART THE THIRD.

OF PATIENCE IN AFFLICTIONS.

PAGE

I. Of the excellence of the virtue of patience - 118

II. The consideration of our sins inspires us with

patience

III. The thought of hell ought to inspire us with

patience

IV. The thought of heaven renders our afflictions

light -

V. Of the patience of Jesus

130

- 159

- 177

IV. The benefits of God should inspire us with

the greatest confidence

V. Texts of Scripture, which may serve as points

of meditation or as ejaculatory prayers

- 266

254

PART THE FIFTH.

OF THE PEACE OF THE SOUL IN AFFLICTIONS.

I. Precious advantages of the peace of the soul 278

II. Means of preserving the peace of the soul in

-

afflictions

III. The peace of the soul consists in being per-

fectly content with the state in which we

actually are

CHAPTER

IV. The peace of the afflicted should be founded

on a filial abandonment into the hands of

Divine Providence

-

-

PAGE

- 325

V. Texts from Holy Scripture, which may serve

as subjects of meditation, and ejaculatory

prayer for those who are in affliction

- 340

PART THE SIXTH.

OF THE LOVE OF GOD IN AFFLICTIONS.

I. Excellence of the love of God in sufferings

II. Resignation in suffering is a continual exer-

cise of the love of God

-

351

362

III. It is only by always suffering that we can

always love God

IV. We never give more joy to God than when we

live without joy

V. Thoughts and texts taken from the Holy

Scripture for meditation and ejaculatory

prayer for the use of the afflicted

400

416