PREFACE ——— Hearken, O Son, to the precepts of thy Master, and bend to Him the ear of thy heart: receive also with pleasure, and faithfully comply with the admonitions of a loving Father, that by pursuing the toilsome path of obedience, thou mayest return to Him, from whom thou hast departed, by following the broad and easy way of disobedience. To thee, therefore, I now direct my words, whosoever thou art, who, renouncing entirely thy own will, takest up the most powerful and brilliant armour of