CHAPTER IV.
CHARITY DEALETH NOT PERVERSELY.
(Charitas non agit perperam.)
He that loves Jesus Christ avoids Lukewarmness, and seeks Perfection; the Means of which are: 1. Desire; 2. Resolution; 3. Mental Prayer; 4. Communion; 5. Prayer.
St. Gregory, in his explanation of these words, "dealeth not perversely," says that charity, giving her self up more and more to the love of God, ignores whatever is not right and holy.[1] The Apostle had already written to the same effect, when he calls charity a bond that unites the most perfect virtues together in the soul. Have charity, which is the bond of perfection.[2] And whereas charity delights in perfection, she consequently abhors that lukewarmness with which some persons serve God, to the great risk of losing charity, divine grace, their very soul, and their all.
I.
Lukewarmness.
It must be observed that there are two kinds of tepidity or lukewarmness: the one unavoidable, the other avoidable.
I.—From the lukewarmness that is unavoidable, the saints themselves are not exempt; and this comprises all the failings that are committed by us without full con sent, but merely from our natural frailty. Such are, for example, distractions at prayers, interior disquietudes, useless words, vain curiosity, the wish to appear, tastes
