To him that shall overcome, saith our Lord, I will give to eat of the tree of life. Apoc. ii. [USCCB: Revelation ii. 7]
8. Now divine consolation is given that a man may be better able to support adversities.
And temptation follows, that he may not be proud of good.
The devil never sleeps, neither is the flesh yet dead: therefore thou must not cease to prepare thyself for battle, for on the right hand, and on the left, are enemies that never rest.
1. Why seekest thou rest, since thou art born to labour?
Dispose thyself to patience, rather than consolation: and to bear the cross, rather than to rejoice.
For who is there amongst worldly people, that would not willingly receive comfort and spiritual joy, if he could always have it?
For spiritual consolations exceed all the delight of the world, and pleasures of the flesh.
For all worldly delights are either vain or filthy: but spiritual delights alone are pleasant and honest, springing from virtue, and infused by God into pure minds.
But these divine consolations no man can always enjoy when he will: because the time of temptation is not long away.
2. But what very much opposes these heavenly visits, is a false liberty of mind, and a great confidence in one's self.
God does well in giving the grace of consolation: but man does ill in not returning it all to God with thanksgiving.
And this is the reason why the gifts of grace cannot flow in us: because we are ungrateful to the Giver: nor do we return all to the fountain's head.
For grace is ever due to him that duly returns thanks: and what is wont to be given to the humble, will be taken away from the proud.
3. I would not have any such consolation as should rob me of compunction: nor do I wish to have such contemplation as leads to pride.
For all that is high, is not holy; nor all that is pleasant, good: nor every desire, pure; nor is every thing that is dear to us, pleasing to God.
I willingly accept of that grace, which makes me always more humble and fearful, and more ready to forsake myself.
He that has been taught by the gift of grace, and instructed by the scourge of the withdrawing of it, will not dare to attribute any thing of good to himself; but will rather confess himself to be poor and naked.
Give to God what is his, and take to thyself what is thine: that is, give thanks to God for his grace; but as to thyself be sensible that nothing is to be attributed to thee, but sin, and the punishment due to sin.
4. Put thyself always in the lowest place, and the highest shall be given thee: for the highest stands not without the lowest.
The saints that are highest in the sight of God, are the least in their own eyes: and the more glorious they are, the more humble they are in themselves.
Being full of the truth and heavenly glory, they are not desirous of vain glory.
They that are grounded and established in God, can by no means be proud.
And they that attribute to God all whatsoever good they have received, seek not glory from one another, but that glory which is from God alone: and desire above all things that God may be praised in themselves, and in all the saints, and to this same they always tend.
5. Be grateful then for the least, and thou shalt be worthy to receive greater things.
Let the least be to thee as something very great, and the most contemptible as a special favour.
If thou considerest the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem to thee little which is given by so great a God.
Yea, though he gives punishment and stripes, it ought to be acceptable: for whatever he suffers to befal us, he always does it for our salvation.
He that desires to retain the grace of God, let him be thankful for grace when it is given, and patient when it is withdrawn.
Let him pray, that it may return: let him be cautious and humble, lest he lose it.
1. Jesus has now many lovers of his heavenly kingdom: but few that are willing to bear the cross.
He has many that are desirous of comfort, but few of tribulation.
He finds many companions of his table, but few of his abstinence.
All desire to rejoice with him: few are willing to suffer for him.
Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread; but few to the drinking the chalice of his passion.
Many reverence his miracles; but few follow the ignominy of his cross.
Many love Jesus as long as they meet with no adversity; many praise him and bless him as long as they receive consolations from him.
But if Jesus hide himself and leave them for a little while; they either fall into complaints, or excessive dejection.
2. But they that love Jesus for Jesus's sake, and not for any comfort of their own, bless him no less in tribulation and anguish of heart, than in the greatest consolation.
And if he should never give them his comfort, yet would they always praise him, and always give him thanks.
3. O! how much is the pure love of Jesus able to do, when it is not mixed with any self-interest or self-love!
Are not all those to be called hirelings, who are always seeking consolations!
Are they not convinced to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ, who are always thinking of their own profit and gain?
Where shall we find a man that is willing to serve God gratis?
4. Seldom do we find any one so spiritual, as to be stripped of all things.
For who shall be able to find the man that is truly poor in spirit, and naked of all things created? His value is (as of things that is brought) from afar and from the remotest coasts, Proverbs xxxi.
If a man gives his whole substance, it is yet nothing.
And if he do great penance, it is yet little.
And if he attain to all knowledge, he is far off still.
And if he have great virtue, and exceeding fervent devotion, there is still much wanting to him; to wit, one thing, which is chiefly necessary for him.
And what is that? That having left all things else, he leave also himself and wholly get out of himself, and retain nothing of self-love.
And when he shall have done all things which he knows should be done, let him think that he has done nothing.
5. Let him not make great account of that which may appear much to be esteemed: but let him in truth acknowledge himself to be an unprofitable servant: as truth itself has said, When ye shall have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants. Luke xvii.
Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit, and may say with the prophet, I am all alone, and poor. Psalms xxiv.
[USCCB: Psalms xxv, 16.]
Yet no one is indeed richer than such a man, none more powerful, none more free; who knows how to leave himself and all things, and place himself in the very lowest place.
1. To many this seems a hard saying: Deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow Jesus. Matthew xvi.
But it will be much harder to hear that last word: Depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire. Matthew xxv.
For they that at present willingly hear and follow the word of the cross, shall not then be afraid of eternal condemnation.
The sign of the cross will be in heaven, when the Lord shall come to judge.
Then all the servants of the cross, who in their life time have conformed themselves to him that was crucified, shall come to Christ their judge with great confidence.
2. Why then art thou afraid to take up thy cross, which leads to a kingdom?
In the cross is salvation: in the cross is life: in the cross is protection from thy enemies.
In the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness: in the cross is strength of mind: in the cross is joy of spirit.
In the cross is the height of virtue: in the cross is the perfection of sanctity.
There is no health of the soul, nor hope of eternal life, but in the cross.
Take up therefore thy cross and follow Jesus, and thou shalt go into life everlasting.
He is gone before thee, carrying his cross: and he died for thee upon the cross: that thou mayest also bear thy cross, and love to die on the cross.
Because, if thou die with him, thou shalt also live with him; and if thou art his companion in buffering, thou shalt also partake in his glory.
3. Behold the cross is all, and in dying [to thyself] all consists: and there is no other way to life, and to true internal peace, but the way of the holy cross, and of daily mortification.
Go where thou wilt, seek what thou wilt, and thou shalt not find a higher way above, nor a safer way below, than the way of the holy cross.
Dispose and order all things according as thou wilt; and as seems best to thee; and thou shalt still find something to suffer, either willingly or unwillingly, and so thou shalt still find the cross.
For either thou shalt feel pain in the body, or sustain in thy soul tribulation of spirit.
4. Sometimes thou shalt be left by God, other times thou shalt be afflicted by thy neighbour: and what is more, thou shalt often be a trouble to thyself.
Neither canst thou be delivered or eased by any remedy or comfort, but as long as it shall please God, thou must bear it.
For God would have thee learn to suffer tribulation without comfort, and wholly to submit thyself to him, and to become more humble by tribulation.
No man hath so lively a feeling of the passion of Christ, as he who hath happened to suffer such like things.
The cross therefore is always ready, and every where waits for thee.
Thou canst not escape it, whithersoever thou runnest: for whithersoever thou goest, thou carriest thyself with thee, and shall always find thyself.
Turn thyself upwards, or turn thyself downwards: turn thyself without, or turn thyself within thee: and every where thou shalt find the cross.
And every where thou must of necessity have patience if thou desirest inward peace, and wouldst merit an eternal crown.
5. If thou carry the cross willingly, it will carry thee, and bring thee to thy desired end; to wit, to that place where there will be an end of suffering, tho' here there will be none.
If thou carry it unwillingly, thou makest it a burden to thee, and loadest thyself the more: and nevertheless thou must bear it.
If thou fling away one cross, without doubt thou wilt find another, and perhaps a heavier.
6. Dost thou think to escape that which no mortal could ever avoid? What saint was there ever in the world without his cross and affliction?
Our Lord Jesus Christ himself was not one hour of his life without suffering: It behoved, saith he, that Christ should suffer, and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory. Luke xxiv.
And how dost thou pretend to seek another way than the royal way, which is the way of the holy cross.
7. The whole life of Christ was a cross, and a martyrdom: and dost thou seek rest and joy?
Thou errest, thou errest, if thou seekest any other thing than to suffer tribulations: for this whole mortal life is full of miseries, and beset on all sides with crosses.
And the higher a person is advanced in spirit, the heavier crosses shall he often meet with: because the pain of his banishment increases in proportion to his love.
8. Yet this man, thus many ways afflicted, is not without some allay of comfort for his ease: because he is sensible of the great profit which he reaps by bearing the cross.
For whilst he willingly resigns himself to it, all the burden of tribulation is converted into an assured hope of comfort from God.
And the more the flesh is brought down by affliction, the more the spirit is strengthened by inward grace.
And sometimes gains such force through affection to tribulation and adversity, by reason of loving to be conformable to the cross of Christ, as not to be willing to be without suffering and affliction: because such a one believes himself by so much the more acceptable to God, as he shall be able to bear more and greater things for him.
This is not man's power, but the grace of Christ, which can and does effect such great things in frail flesh, that what it naturally abhors and flies, even this through fervour of spirit it now embraces and loves.
9. It is not according to man's natural inclination to bear the cross, to love the cross, to chastise the body, and bring it under subjection; to fly honours, to be willing to suffer reproaches, to despise one's self, and wish to be despised; to bear all adversities and losses, and to desire no prosperity in this world.
If thou lookest upon thyself, thou canst do nothing of this of thyself.
But if thou confidest in the Lord, strength will be given thee from heaven, and the world and flesh shall be made subject to thee.
Neither shalt thou fear thine enemy the devil, if thou art armed with faith and signed with the cross of Christ.
10. Set thyself then like a good and faithful servant of Christ to bear manfully the cross of thy Lord, crucified for the love of thee.
Prepare thyself to suffer many adversities, and divers evils in this miserable life; for so it will be with thee, wherever thou art: and so indeed wilt thou find it, wheresoever thou hide thyself.
It must be so, and there is no remedy against tribulation and sorrow, but to bear them patiently.
Drink of the Chalice of the Lord lovingly, if thou desirest to be his friend, and to have part with him.
Leave consolations to God, to do with them as best pleaseth him.
But set thou thyself to bear tribulations, and account them the greatest consolations: for the sufferings of this life bear no proportion with the glory to come, although thou alone couldst suffer them all.
11. When thou shalt arrive thus far, that tribulation becomes sweet and savory to thee for the love of Christ: then think that it is well with thee, for thou hast found a paradise upon earth.
As long as suffering seems grievous to thee, and thou seekest to fly from if, so long will it be ill with thee, and the tribulation from which thou fliest will every where follow thee.
12. If thou set thyself to what thou oughtest; that is, to suffer and to die [to thyself], it will quickly be better with thee, and thou shalt find peace.
Although thou shouldst have been wrapped up to the third heaven with St. Paul, thou art not thereby secured that thou shalt suffer no adversity. I (said Jesus) will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name. Acts ix.
To suffer, therefore, is what waits for thee, if thou wilt love Jesus, and constantly serve him.
13. Would to God thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus! how great a glory would be laid up for thee, how great joy would it be to all the saints of God, and how great edification to thy neighbour!
All recommend patience; but, alas! how few are there that desire to suffer!
With good reason oughtest thou willingly to suffer a little for Christ, since many suffer greater things for the world.
14. Know for certain that thou must lead a dying life; and the more a man dies to himself, the more he begins to live to God.
No man is fit to comprehend heavenly things, who has not resigned himself to suffer adversities for Christ.
Nothing is more acceptable to God, nothing more wholesome for thee in this world, than to suffer willingly for Christ.
And if thou wert to chuse, thou oughtest to wish rather to suffer adversities for Christ, than to be delighted with many comforts: because thus wouldst thou be more like to Christ, and more conformable to all the saints.
For our merit and the advancement of our state, consists not in having many gusts and consolations: but rather in bearing great afflictions and tribulations.
15. If, indeed, there had been any thing better, and more beneficial to man's salvation, than suffering, Christ certainly would have shewed it by word and example.
For he manifestly exhorts both his disciples that followed him, and all that desire to follow him, to bear the cross, saying: If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Luke ix. So that when we have read and searched all, let this be the final conclusion, that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. Acts xix.
[USCCB: Acts xiv. 22.]
1. I will hear what the Lord God speaketh in me. Psalms lxxxiv.
[USCCB: Psalms lxxxv. 9.]
Happy is that soul, which heareth the Lord speaking within her: and from his mouth receiveth the word of comfort.
Happy ears, which receive the veins of the divine whisper, and take no notice of the whisperings of the world.
Happy ears indeed, which hearken to truth itself teaching within, and not to the voice which soundeth without.
Happy eyes, which are shut to outward things, and attentive to the interior.
Happy they who penetrate into internal things, and endeavour to prepare themselves more and more by daily exercises to the attaining to heavenly secrets.
Happy they who seek to be wholly intent on God, and who rid themselves of every worldly impediment.
Mind these things, O my soul, and shut the doors of thy sensuality, that thou mayest hear what the Lord thy God speaks within thee.
2. Thus saith thy Beloved: I am thy salvation, thy peace, and thy life: keep thyself with me, and thou shalt find peace.
Let alone all transitory things, and seek things eternal.
What are all temporal things, but deceit? and what will all things created avail thee, if thou be forsaken by the Creator?
Cast off then all earthly things, and make thyself agreeable to thy Creator, and faithful to him, that so thou mayest attain to true happiness.
1. Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. 1 Samuel iii.—I am thy servant, give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies. Psalms cxviii.
[USCCB: Psalms cxix. 27.]
Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth: let thy speech distil as the dew.
Heretofore the Children of Israel said to Moses, Speak thou to us, and we will hear: let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die. Exodus xx.
It is not thus, O Lord, it is not thus I pray; but rather with the prophet Samuel, I humbly and earnestly entreat thee, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
Let not Moses, nor any of the prophets speak to me; but speak thou rather, O Lord God, the inspirer and enlightener of all the prophets; for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me; but they without thee will avail me nothing.
2. They may indeed sound forth words, but they give not the spirit.
They speak well; but if thou be silent, they do not set the heart on fire.
They deliver the letter, but thou disclosest the sense.
They publish mysteries, but thou unlockest the meaning of the things signified.
They declare the commandments, but thou enablest to keep them.
They shew the way, but thou givest strength to walk in it.
They work only outwardly, but thou instructest and enlightenest the heart.
They water exteriorly, but thou givest the increase.
They cry out with words, but thou givest understanding to the hearing.
5. Let not then Moses speak to me, but thou O Lord my God, the eternal Truth, lest I die and prove fruitless, if I be only outwardly admonished, and not enkindled within.
Lest the word which I have heard and not fulfilled, which I have known and not loved, which I have believed and not observed, rise up in judgment against me.
Speak, then, O Lord, for thy servant heareth; for thou hast the words of eternal life. John vi.
Speak to me, that it may be for some comfort to my soul, and for the amendment of my whole life; and to thy praise and glory, and everlasting honour.
1. My Son, hear my words, words most sweet, exceeding all the learning of philosophers, and of the wise men of this world.
My words are spirit and life, and not to be estimated by the sense of man.
They are not to be drawn to a vain complacence, but are to be heard in silence, and to be received with all humility and great affection.
2. And I said, Blessed is the man, whom thou, O Lord, shalt instruct, and shalt teach him thy law; that thou mayest give him ease from the evil days, (Psalms xciii.); and that he may not be desolate upon earth.
[USCCB: Psalms xciv. 12-13.]
I (saith the Lord) have taught the prophets from the beginning, and even till now I cease not to speak to all; but many are deaf to my voice, and hard.
The greater number listen more willingly to the world, than to God; and follow sooner the desires of the flesh, than the good-will of God.
The world promises things temporal and of small value, and is served with great eagerness: I promise things most excellent and everlasting, and men's hearts are not moved!
Who is there that serves and obeys me in all things, with that great care, with which the world and its lords are served? Be ashamed, O Sidon, saith the sea.
And if thou ask why? hear the reason.
For a small living, men run a great way; for eternal life many will scarce once move a foot from the ground.
An inconsiderable gain is sought after; for one penny sometimes men shamefully quarrel; they are not afraid to toil day and night for a trifle, or some slight promise.
4. But, alas! for an unchangeable good, for an inestimable reward, for the highest honour and never-ending glory, they are unwilling to take the least pains.
Be ashamed then, thou slothful servant, that art so apt to complain, seeing that they are more ready to labour for death than thou for life.
They rejoice more in running after vanity, than thou in the pursuit of truth.
And indeed they are sometimes frustrated of their hopes; but my promise deceives no man, nor sends away empty him that trusts in me.
What I have promised, I will give; what I have said, I will make good; provided a man continue to the end faithful in my love.
I am the rewarder of all the good, and the strong trier of all the devout.
5. Write my words in thy heart, and think diligently on them; for they will be very necessary in the time of temptation.
What thou understandest not when thou readest, thou shalt know in the day of visitation.
I am accustomed to visit my elect [in] two manner of ways, viz. by trial and by comfort.
And I read them daily two lessons; one to rebuke their vices, the other to exhort them to the increase of virtues.
He that has my words, and slights them, has that which shall condemn him at the last day.
A Prayer,
To implore the Grace of Devotion.
6. O Lord my God, thou art all my good; and who am I that I should dare to speak to thee.
I am thy most poor servant, and a wretched little worm, much more poor and contemptible than I conceive or dare express.
Yet remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, I have nothing and can do nothing:
Thou alone art good, just and holy; thou canst do all things; thou givest all things; thou fillest all things, leaving only the sinner empty.
Remember thy tender mercies, and fill my heart with thy grace, thou who wilt not have thy works to be empty.
How can I support myself in this wretched life, unless thy mercy and grace strengthen me?
Turn not away thy face from me; delay not thy visitation; withdraw not thy comfort; lest my soul become as earth without water to thee.
O Lord, teach me to do thy will, teach we to converse worthily and humbly in thy sight; for thou art my wisdom, who knowest me in truth, and didst know me before the world was made, and before I was born in the world.
1. Son, walk before me in truth, and always seek me in the simplicity of thy heart.
He that walks before me in truth shall be secured from evil occurrences, and truth shall deliver him from deceivers, and from the detractions of the wicked.
If truth shall deliver thee, thou shalt be truly free, and shalt make no account of the vain words of men.
Lord, this is true: as thou sayest, so I beseech thee, let it be done with me. Let thy truth teach me, let thy truth guard me, and keep me till I come to a happy end.
Let the same deliver me from all evil affections, and all inordinate love, and I shall walk with thee in great liberty of heart.
2. I will teach thee (saith Truth) those things that are right and pleasing in my sight.
Think on thy sins with great compunction and sorrow; and never esteem thyself to be any thing for thy good works.
Thou art indeed a sinner, subject to and intangled with many passions.
Of thyself thou always tendest to nothing, thou quickly fallest, thou art quickly overcome, easily disturbed and dissolved.
Thou hast not any thing in which thou canst glory, but many things for which thou oughtest to vilify thyself; for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend.
3. Let nothing then seem much to thee of all thou doest:
Let nothing appear great, nothing valuable or admirable, nothing worthy of esteem: nothing high, nothing truly praise-worthy or desirable, but what is eternal.
Let the eternal truth please thee above all things, and thy own exceeding great vileness ever displease thee.
Fear nothing so much, blame and abhor nothing so much as thy vices and sins, which ought to displease thee more than any losses whatsoever.
Some persons walk not sincerely before me; but being led with a certain curiosity and pride, desire to know my secrets, and to understand the high things of God, neglecting themselves and their own salvation.
These often fall into great temptations and sins through their pride and curiosity, because I stand against them.
4. Fear the judgments of God, dread the anger of the Almighty; but pretend not to examine the works of the Most High, but search into thy own iniquities, how many ways thou hast offended, and how much good thou hast neglected.
Some only carry their devotion in their books, some in pictures, and some in outward signs and figures.
Some have me in their mouth, but little in their heart.
There are others, who being enlightened in their understanding, and purified in their affections, always breathe after things eternal, are unwilling to hear of earthly things, and grieve to be subject to the necessities of nature; and such as these perceive what the spirit of truth speaks in them.
For it teaches them to despise the things of the earth, and to love heavenly things; to neglect the world, and all the day and night to aspire after heaven.
1. I Bless thee, O Heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ; because thou hast vouchsafed to be mindful of so poor a wretch as I am.
O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, I give thanks to thee, who sometimes art pleased to cherish with thy consolations, me that am unworthy of any comfort.
I bless thee and glorify thee evermore, together with thy only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost the Comforter, to all eternity.
O Lord God, my holy lover, when thou shalt come into my heart, all that is within me will be filled with Joy.
Thou art my glory, and the joy of my heart:
Thou art my hope and my refuge in the day of my tribulation.
2. But because I am as yet weak in love, and imperfect in virtue; therefore do I stand in need to be strengthened and comforted by thee. For this reason visit me often, and instruct me in thy holy discipline.
Free me from evil passions, and heal my heart of all disorderly affections; that being healed and well purged in my interior, I may become fit to love, courageous to suffer, and constant to persevere.
3. Love is an excellent thing, a great good indeed: which alone maketh light all that is burthensome, and equally bears all that is unequal:
For it carries a burthen without being burthened, and makes all that which is bitter sweet and savoury.
The love of Jesus is noble and generous, it spurs us on to do great things, and excites to desire all that which is more perfect.
Love will tend upwards, and not be detained by things beneath.
Love will be at liberty, and free from all worldly affection, lest its interior sight be hindered, lest it suffer itself to be entangled with any temporal interest, or cast down by losses.
Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth: for love proceeds from God, and cannot rest but in God, above all things created.
4. The lover flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free, and is not held.
He gives all for all, and has all in all; because he rests in one sovereign good above all, from whom all good flows and proceeds.
He looks not at the gifts, but turns himself to the giver, above all goods.
Love often knows no measure, but is fervent above all measure.
Love feels no burthen, values no labours, would willingly do more than it can; complains not of impossibility, because it conceives that it may and can do all things.
It is able therefore to do any thing, and it performs and effects many things, where he that loves not faints and lies down.
5. Love watches, and sleeping slumbers not.
When weary, is not tired; when straitened, is not constrained; when frighted, is not disturbed; but like a lively flame, and a torch all on fire, mounts upwards, and securely passes through all opposition.
Whosoever loves knows the cry of this voice.
A loud cry in the ears of God is the ardent affection of the soul, which saith; O my God, my love: thou art all mine, and I am all thine.
6. Give increase to my love, that I may learn to taste with the interior mouth of the heart how sweet it is to love, and to swim, and to be melted in love.
Let me be possessed by love, going above myself through excess of fervour and amazement.
Let me sing the canticle of love, let me follow thee my Beloved on High, let my soul lose herself in thy praises, rejoicing exceedingly in thy love.
Let me love thee more than myself, and myself only for thee: and all others in thee, who truly love thee, as the law of love commands, which shines forth from thee.
7. Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, and delightful; strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, courageous, and never seeking itself; for where a man seeks himself, there he falls from love.
Love is circumspect, humble, upright, not soft, not light, nor intent upon vain things; is sober, chaste, stable, quiet, and keeps a guard over all the senses.
Love is submissive and obedient to superiors, in its own eyes mean and contemptible, devout and thankful to God, always trusting and hoping in him, even then when it tastes not the relish of God's sweetness; for there is no living in love without some pain or sorrow.
8. Whosoever is not ready to suffer all things, and to stand resigned to the will of his Beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover.
He that loves must willingly embrace all that is hard and bitter for the sake of his Beloved, and never suffer himself to be turned away from him by any contrary occurrences whatsoever.
1. My son, thou art not as yet a valiant and prudent lover.
Why, O Lord?
Because thou fallest off from what thou hast begun upon meeting a little adversity, and too greedily seekest after consolation.
A valiant lover stands his ground in temptations, and gives no credit to the crafty persuasions of the enemy.
As he is pleased with me in prosperity, so I displease him not when I send adversity.
2. A prudent lover considers not so much the gift of the lover, as the love of the giver.
He looks more at the good-will than the value, and sets his Beloved above all his gifts.
A generous lover rests not in the gift, but in me above every gift.
All is not lost, if sometimes thou hast not that feeling [of devotion] towards me or my saints, which thou wouldst have.
That good and delightful affection, which thou sometimes perceivest, is the effect of present grace, and a certain foretaste of thy heavenly country.
But thou must not rely too much upon it, because it goes and comes.
But to fight against the evil motions of the mind which arise, and to despise the suggestions of the devil, is a sign of virtue and of great merit.
3. Let not therefore strange fancies trouble thee of what subject soever they be that are suggested to thee.
Keep thy resolution firm, and thy intentions upright towards God.