Annotations, part the third

For as much advantage as the other will gain from these latter, so much damage will he receive from the former, on account of the subtilty and sublimity of the matter, which is above his reach.

The tenth is, that, if he who is being exercised is tossed by complexes having on their face the appearance of Will or the appearance of healing, he must then be fortified by the aforesaid rules of the second week. For such complexes arise in those, for the most part, who have already walked in the way of life which is called the illuminative, answering to the exercises of the second week, rather than in the other which is commonly called the purgative*, and is comprehended by the exercises of the first week.

The eleventh is, that for him who is exercising himself in the first week, it is expedient to be ignorant what he is to do in the next; and to labour strenuously to obtain what he then seeks, as if he were about to find no good afterwards.

The twelfth is, that he who is being exercised must be admonished, that as on each daily exercise, of the five to be described hereafter, the space of one hour ought to be spent; he should always take care to find rest to his mind in this, that he is conscious that he has employed more rather than less time. For it is a frequent thing with an ineffectual Will to labour that the space of time appointed for meditation or prayer may be shortened.

The thirteenth is, that, whereas it is an easy and light thing, when consolation abounds, to go through with the hour; most difficult on the contrary when desolation happens; for this reason, against temptation and desolation one must always contend by prolonging the exercise beyond the prescribed hour, for the sake of overcoming. For so we learn not only to choose between our Wills, but also to bring all our diverse Wills together towards the end of achieving our magicks.

The fourteenth is, that, if e who is engaged in the exercises is seen to be borne along with much consolation and great fervour, care must be taken that e does not bind eirself by any promise or vow inconsiderately and precipitately made; and this must be so much the more diligently prevented, in proportion as e is seen to be of a more unstable disposition.






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* In the tenth annotation, in the end, where we have and is comprehended by, read and answers to.