Howbeit let no man for all this imagine, that hereby is excluded the particular labor, and study, that is to be used about every one of the other virtues, for that consideration is so great a help to obtain them. Forsomuch as general helps do not exclude the particular helps that be required in every thing. And the general helps required towards the obtaining of all virtues, are not only consideration, but also fasting, silence, prayer, hearing of Sermons, going to Confession, receiving of the blessed Sacrament of the altar, and devotion, with other the like virtues, which be general helps and provocations unto all virtues. But besides these general helps, that do give light to the understanding, and move the will to goodness, it is very requisite also to use the proper exercises of the same virtues, whereby to root, and make the habits of them more perfect by use, and to cause a man to have a more promptness, and facility, in the exercise of good works. For otherwise, like as the sword that never cometh out of the scabbard, is commonly very hard to be drawn out, at the time that a man hath need to occupy it: even so whosoever doth never exercise himself in the acts of virtues, shall never be prompt, or quick in doing them, when he shall have need to use them.
And although charity be the greatest, and most general help we have unto all virtues, yet consideration is, as it were, the general instrument of charity, whereby to attain unto all goodness, as we have here declared. And therefore like as the soul is the first beginning of all the works of man, and yet it useth natural heat as a general instrument unto all such things as it doth: even so is charity the beginning of all our good works, and yet charity useth consideration, and devotion, as general instruments to bring them to pass. So that it is no derogation to charity, to give this preeminence unto these virtues: forsomuch as this preeminence belongeth unto charity, as to the mistress, and principal agent, but to consideration, and devotion, as to her instruments, and helpers.
OF PRAYER AND MEDITATION 