Of mortification of fear and scrupulosity, which is the most disquieting passion. What scrupulosity is.
Advices here given only belong to such as truly desire to lead internal lives.
Scrupulosity, though a pernicious passion, yet is only incident to the tenderest consciences. Souh at the beginning of a spiritual course are usually very tender and scrupulous. The order according to which the following advices are disposed. Yet fear respecting the evil in the imagination, and as yet unknown, apprehends it according as the imagination will represent it, which ordinarily is far greater than in reality it is, yea, as in a sort infinite. And, moreover, such an apprehension sets the understanding on work, either to contrive means to avoid it, or if that be difficult, to invent new motives of unquietness and anxiety, which is far greater in evils in which we are uncertain how great they may be, and how soon they may befall us.