These newly converted souls at the beginning feel themselves to be very fervent and diligent in spiritual things and devout exercises, from this prosperity. Although it is true that holy things of their own nature, cause humility, there often comes to them, through their imperfections, a certain kind of secret pride, whence they come to have some degree of satisfaction with their works and with themselves. And from there comes to them also a certain desire, which is somehow vain, and at times very vain

 

This kind of people love to speak of spiritual things in the presence of others, and sometimes even to teach such things rather than to learn them. They condemn others in their heart when they see that they have not the kind of devotion which they themselves desire; and sometimes they even say this in words, herein resembling the Pharisee, who boasted of himself, praising God for his own good works and despising others, In these persons, the devil often increases the fervor that they have and the desire to perform these and other works more frequently, so that their pride and presumption may grow greater. For the devil knows quite well that all these works and virtues which they perform are not only valueless to them but even become vices in them. And such degree of evil of which this person want to reach, that they consider no one good, in deed and word, whenever the opportunity comes, they condemn others, beholding the sand in their brother's eye and not considering the stone which is in theirs. Sometimes when their spiritual masters, such as confessors and superiors, do not approve of their spiritual behavior, they consider that they do not understand them, or that their confessors are not spiritual. And so they immediately desire to find another confessor who will dance to their tone.

They desire to speak of spiritual matters with those who they think will praise and esteem what they do, and they flee, as they would from death, from those who correct them in order to lead them into a safe road, sometimes they even have bad intention against them. Presuming that, they want to resolve much and accomplish very little. Sometimes they act in a way in order that others should notice how spiritual and devout they are, to which end they occasionally give outward evidence thereof in movements, sighs, and other ceremonies; and at times they pretend to fall into certain ecstasies, in public rather than in secret, wherein the devil helps them, and they are pleased that this should be noticed, Such person desire to be the best of their confessors and to become intimate with them, as a result of which they beset them in continual occasions of envy. They are too much embarrassed to confess their sins nakedly, lest their confessors should think less of them, so they paint their sins and makes them appear less evil, and thus it is to excuse themselves rather than to accuse themselves that they go to confession.

And sometimes they seek another confessor to tell the wrongs that they have done, so that their own confessor shall think they have done nothing wrong at all, and thus they always take pleasure in telling him what is good, desiring that he may think them to be good, when it would be greater humility in them, as we shall say, to depreciate it, and to desire that neither he nor anyone else should consider them of account. Some of these beginners, too, make little of their faults, and at other times become over-sad when they see themselves fall into them, thinking themselves to have been saints already; and thus they become angry and impatient with themselves, which is another imperfection.

 

Often they beseech God, with great yearnings, that He will take from them their imperfections and faults, but they do this that they may find themselves at peace, and may not be troubled by them, rather than for God's sake; not realizing that, if He should take their imperfections from them, they would probably become prouder and more presumptuous still. They dislike praising others and love to be praised, sometimes they seek out such praise. Herein they are like the foolish virgins, who, when their lamps could not be lighted, sought oil from others. From these imperfections, some souls go on to develop many very grave ones, which do them great harm. But some have fewer and some more, and some, only the first, or little beyond these, and there are hardly any such beginners who, at the time of these signs of fervor. Fall not into some of these errors.