Unedited Reprint of the 1882 Edition. Originally published in 1609. "This work is based on the material which he collected for his spiritual exhortations to his brethren, and published at the request of his superiors. Although the book thus written was primarily intended for the use of his religious brethren, yet he destined it also for the profit and edification of other Religious and of Laymen in the world. It is a book of practical instructions on all the virtues which go to make up the perfect Christian life, whether lived in the cloister or in the world." (Catholic Encyclopedia 1912)
Excerpt from The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection, Vol. 3 of 3 The matters I have treated of in the first and second volume, regard a religious life in general, but these I now treat of, regard it in particular; and therefore I have entitled this third volume "Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection." - Things are so disposed in it, that they do not only suit all other religious orders as well as our own, but also that they may be very profitable to all secular persons, who aspire to perfection. For, though the first treatise, for example, speaks of the end and institution of our Society in particular, yet it omits not to treat of several general matters; such as good example, zeal for the salvation of souls, diffidence in ourselves, and confidence in God, fraternal correction, manifestation of conscience to our confessor and spiritual father, all which are subjects interesting to every one. And generally all the virtues I treat of, in this last volume, are proper to all sorts of persons; because every one may either embrace and practice them in desire, if the obligation of their state hinders them from observing them in effect; or they may make use of them to resist and overcome the contrary inclinations which nature causes in them. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection by John Wesley is about the theory of perfection according to Christian theology. Excerpt: "1. WHAT I purpose in the following pages is, to give a plain and distinct account of the steps by which I was led, during the course of many years, to embrace the doctrine of Christian Perfection. This I owe to the serious part of mankind; those who desire to know all the truth as it is in Jesus. And these only are concerned with questions of this kind. To these I would nakedly declare the thing as it is, endeavoring all along to show, from one period to another, both what I thought, and why I thought so."
Excerpt from The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection, Vol. 1 of 3 Iiaving, contrary to the ordinary practice, translated this work from the French copy, rather than from the original itself, it is proper to inform the reader, that I do so, yielding to the reasons and authority of competent judges, who under stand perfectly the French, Spanish, and English languages. They told me. Were they to translate ltonmouez, they would be better pleased to follow the French copy of mons. Des marais, than the Spanish original.-lst, Because the style of M. Des marais' translation is more even than that of the Spanish original, a eir nmstance which indeed cannot be won dered at, as the author wrote at different and distant periods. 2dly, Because the French approaches nearer than the Spanish to the English idiom. It is to the observations of those com petent judges I am indebted, not only for the first idea I con ceived of undertaking this work, but likewise for the prefer ence I gave the French copy. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Excerpt from The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection, Vol. 2 of 3 XIV. L'hat we ought to mortif'y ourselves chiefly in that vme or passion which predominates Ill us, and causes us to fall into the greatest faults. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Excerpt from The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection, Vol. 2 of 3 Though this work is composed principally for religious, yet it is very useful to all Christians; and this second part, in particular, is so disposed, as to be of very great advantage to all secular persons who desire to give themselves entirely to God's service. For their first duty is to subdue their hearts by mortifying their passions, by subjecting their senses, (especially their tongue, ) and by humbling themselves before God, in order that those virtues and good works which they have planted in their souls, may spring up and bring forth such fruit as should be expected. It is for this reason that I treat first of mortification, then of modesty and silence, and afterwards of humility; which are the virtues a Christian ought chiefly practise in the beginning of his conversion. And because the Holy Ghost would have those that enter into God's service, remain in fear, and prepare themselves for temptation, I therefore speak in the fourth treatise, of the profit and advantage of temptations, and point out the means of overcoming them. In the fifth and sixth treatises, I show the obstacles that occur in the paths of virtue, and of how great advantage it is to walk always in these paths with joy and liberty. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
