y son, My grace is precious; it will not be mingled with external things, nor with earthly consolations. If you desire to receive the infusion of grace, you must cast away all obstacles.
Seek a secret place, love to dwell alone, desire the conversation of none; but rather pour out devout prayer to God, that you may keep a contrite mind and a pure conscience. Esteem the whole world as nothing; prefer waiting on God before all outward things. For you will not be able to wait for Me, and at the same time take delight in transitory things. You ought to remove yourself from your acquaintances and dear friends,† and keep your thoughts void of all temporal comfort. The apostle Peter beseeches that the faithful of Christ keep themselves in this world strangers and pilgrims.†
What great confidence will he have at the hour of death, whom no affection to anything detains in the world! But what it is to have a heart so separate from all things,  the sickly mind does not as yet comprehend; nor does  the  natural  man  know the  freedom of the spiritual man.†  Nevertheless if he would be truly spiritual, he ought to renounce those who are far off,
