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The Reformation · written c. 1592–1608; published 1609

The Rule of Perfection

Benet of Canfield · 1562–1610

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What it is

The will of God in three degrees — exterior, interior, and essential — taught by an English Capuchin who directed much of the French spiritual revival.

Why it lasted

A key text behind the whole French school of spirituality, and its third book was placed on the Index while the first two were praised.

Where to read it

Public domain and free to read in full, though not held here. The archives below have it.

These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.

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