The Scale (or Ladder) of Perfection
Walter (d. 1396) Hilton's exploration of grace and love in Christian doctrine and practice.
66 Chapters
Table of Contents
1
CHAPTER I: GHOSTLY Sister in Christ Jesus, I pray thee that in the calling to
2
CHAPTER III: CONTEMPLATIVE life consisteth in perfect love and charity, felt
3
CHAPTER IV: CONTEMPLATIVE life hath three parts. The first consisteth in knowing
4
CHAPTER V: THE second part of Contemplation lieth principally in affection,
5
CHAPTER VII: THE higher degree of this part may not be had nor held but of them
6
CHAPTER IX: Contemplation
7
CHAPTER X: Feelings may be both good and evil
8
CHAPTER XI: bodily Senses and Feelings be good or evil
9
CHAPTER XIII: Love and Liking, or Affection
10
CHAPTER XIV: Now seeing virtues dispose us to Contemplation, it behoveth us to use
11
CHAPTER XV: SECTION I: What a Man should use and refuse by the Virtue of Humility
12
CHAPTER XVI: believe thereby
13
CHAPTER XV: THE third thing needful for thee to have in thy beginning was an entire
14
CHAPTER XVIII: made of them altogether to Jesus
15
CHAPTER I: SECTION I: Of Prayers and the several Sorts thereof
16
CHAPTER II: SECTION I: Of Meditation
17
CHAPTER III: desire and take a better when God giveth it
18
CHAPTER I: to Contemplation
19
CHAPTER II: THE soul of a man is a life consisting of three powers, Memory,
20
CHAPTER III: __________________________________________________________________
21
CHAPTER IV: __________________________________________________________________
22
CHAPTER V: __________________________________________________________________
23
CHAPTER VI: __________________________________________________________________
24
CHAPTER VII: his Heart
25
CHAPTER VIII: __________________________________________________________________
26
CHAPTER IX: them, and how they are to be ordered
27
CHAPTER XI: with a Portraiture of this dark Image of sin
28
CHAPTER XII: is to be dealt with
29
CHAPTER XIV: and how she for whom it was made was to make use of it
30
CHAPTER I: SECTION I: That a Man is the Image of God after the Soul and not after the
31
CHAPTER II: another in part
32
CHAPTER IV: Passion of Christ) this Image is reformed from Original Sin
33
CHAPTER V: Contrition, Confession and Satisfaction) this Image is reformed from Actual
34
CHAPTER VI: if our Conscience witness to us a full forsaking of Sin, and a true turning
35
CHAPTER VII: Church, and have their Faith enlivened with Love and Charity, be reformed by
36
CHAPTER VIII: Motions of sin while they live here. And how a Soul may know when she
37
CHAPTER IX: here, though it be reformed; and of the Differences of the secret Feelings
38
CHAPTER X: reformed only in Faith, and some both in Faith and Feeling
39
CHAPTER XI: likeness of divers Beasts, and they be called the Lovers of the World
40
CHAPTER XII: __________________________________________________________________
41
CHAPTER I: cannot be suddenly gotten, but in length of Time, by Grace, and much
42
CHAPTER II: __________________________________________________________________
43
CHAPTER III: a Soul should behave herself in intending and working that will come to this
44
CHAPTER IV: Spiritual Enemies, in their Spiritual knowing and going towards Jerusalem,
45
CHAPTER V: Love of the World is likened to an evil Day, and the love of God to a good
46
CHAPTER VI: slayeth all Motions of Sin, and enableth the Soul to perceive spiritual
47
CHAPTER VII: the Enemy, from the true Light of knowing that cometh out of Jesus, and by
48
CHAPTER VIII: into lightsome Darkness, and how a Man shall dispose himself if he will come
49
CHAPTER IX: is divided into four times, which are: Calling, Justifying, Magnifying and
50
CHAPTER X: profiting in Grace seem to have more Love, as to outward tokens thereof,
51
CHAPTER XI: a Man should set his Love in Jesus, God and Man in one Person
52
CHAPTER I: Feeling is to be understood; and in what Manner it is reformed, and how it
53
CHAPTER II: at once, but by divers times, and of three Manners of reforming of a Soul
54
CHAPTER III: WHAT then is Heaven to a reasonable soul? Verily nought else but Jesus
55
CHAPTER IV: bound to love Jesus much for our Creation; but more for our Redemption; and
56
CHAPTER V: own human Affections that are moved by Grace and by Reason. And how some
57
CHAPTER VI: worthy and most profitable. And how Jesus doth all that is well done in His
58
CHAPTER VII: stirrings of Pride; and maketh the Soul to lose the savour and delight in
59
CHAPTER VIII: and reformeth in the Soul the virtues of Peace and Patience, and of perfect
60
CHAPTER IX: fleshly delight and savour in all the five Bodily Senses, softly and easily,
61
CHAPTER X: inner eye into the gracious Beholding of Jesus, and how it cannot be gotten
62
CHAPTER XI: withdrawn sometimes from a Soul; and how a Soul is to behave herself in the
63
CHAPTER XII: Soul, and how stableness in Prayer is a secure work to stand in; and how
64
CHAPTER XIII: a gracious Love enabling to understand the Holy Scriptures, and how Jesus,
65
CHAPTER XIV: be known. And how all the gracious Illuminations made in a Soul be called
66
CHAPTER XV: __________________________________________________________________