Neither is it an illusion, that sometimes thou art rapt into an extasy, and presently returnest to the accustomed fooleries of thy heart.
For these thou rather sufferest against thy will, than procurest: and as long as thou art displeased with them, and resistest them, it is merit and not loss.
4. Know, that the old enemy strives by all means to hinder thy desire after good, and to divert thee from every devout exercise; namely, from the veneration of the saints, from the pious meditation of my passion: from the profitable remembrance of thy sins, from keeping a guard upon thy own heart, and from a firm purpose of advancing in virtue.
He suggests to thee many evil thoughts, that he may tire thee out, and fright thee; that he may withdraw thee from prayer, and the reading of devout books.
He is displeased with humble confession: and, if he could, he would cause thee to let communion alone.
Give no credit to him, value him not, although he often lay his deceitful snares in thy way.
Charge him with it, when he suggests wicked and unclean things: and say to him:
Be gone, unclean spirit; be ashamed miserable wretch; thou art very filthy indeed to suggest such things as these to me.
Depart from me, thou most wicked impostor; thou shalt have no share in me; but my Jesus will be with me as a valiant warrior, and thou shalt stand confounded.
I had rather die, and undergo any torment whatsoever, than consent to thee.
Be silent, I will hear no more of thee, although thou often strive to be troublesome to me.
The Lord is my light, and my salvation: whom shall I fear?
If whole armies should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. The Lord is my helper, and my Redeemer. Psalms cvi.
5. Fight like a good soldier; and if sometimes thou fall through frailty, rise up again with greater strength than before, confiding in my more abundant grace. But take great care thou yield not to any vain complacence and pride.
Through this many are led into error, and sometimes fall into almost incurable blindness.
Let this fall of the proud, who foolishly presume of themselves, serve thee for a warning, and keep thee always humble.
My Son, it is more and more safe for thee to hide the grace of devotion and not to be elevated with it, not to speak much of it, not to consider it much; but rather to despise thyself the more, and to be afraid of it as given to one unworthy.
Thou must not depend too much on this affection, which may be quickly changed into the contrary.
When thou hast grace, think with thyself how miserable and poor thou art wont to be, when thou art without it.
Nor does the progress of a spiritual life consist so much in having the grace of consolation, as in bearing the want of it with humility, resignation, and patience; so as not to grow remiss in thy exercise of prayer at that time, nor to suffer thyself to omit any of thy accustomed good works.
But that thou willingly do what lies in thee, according to the best of thy ability and understanding; and take care not wholly to neglect thyself through the dryness or anxiety of mind which thou feelest.
2. For there are many, who, when it succeeds not well with them, presently grow impatient or slothful.
Now the way of man is not always in his own power; but it belongs to God to give, and to comfort when he will, and as much as he will, and whom he will, as it shall please him, and no more.
Some wanting discretion, have ruined themselves upon occasion of the grace of devotion; because they were for doing more than they could, not weighing well the measure of their own weakness, but following rather the inclination of the heart than the judgment of reason.
And because they presumptuously undertook greater things than were pleasing to God, therefore they quickly lost his grace.
They became needy, and were left in a wretched condition, who had built themselves a nest in heaven; to the end, that being thus humbled and impoverished, they may learn not to trust to their own wings, but to hide themselves under mine.
Those who are as yet but novices and unexperienced in the way of the Lord, if they will not govern themselves by the counsel of the discreet, will easily be deceived and overthrown.
3. And if they will rather follow their own judgment than believe others that have more experience, they will be in danger of coming off ill if they continue to refuse to lay down their own conceits.
They that are wise in their own eyes seldom humbly suffer themselves to be ruled by others.
It is better to have little knowledge with humility, and a weak understanding, than greater treasures of learning with a vain self-complacence.
It is better for thee to have less than much, which may puff thee up with pride.
He is not so discreet as he ought, who gives himself up wholly to joy, forgetting his former poverty, and the chaste fear of God, which apprehends the losing of that grace which is offered.
Neither is he so virtuously wise, who in the time of adversity, or any tribulation whatsoever, carries himself in a desponding way, and conceives and feels less confidence in me than he ought.
4. He, who is too secure in the time of peace, will often be found too much dejected and fearful in the time of war.
If thou couldst always continue humble and little in thy own eyes, and keep thy spirit in due order and subjection, thou wouldst not fall so easily into danger and offence.
It is a good counsel, that when thou hast conceived the spirit of fervour, thou shouldst meditate how it will be with thee when that light shall leave thee.
Which when it shall happen remember that the light may return again, which for a caution to thee, and for my glory, I have withdrawn from thee for a time.
5. Such a trial is oftentimes more profitable than if thou wert always to have prosperity according to thy will.
For a man's merits are not to be estimated by his having many visions of consolations; or by his knowledge of scriptures, or by his being placed in a more elevated station:
But by his being grounded in true humility, and replenished with divine charity: by his seeking always purely and entirety the honour of God; by his esteeming himself to be nothing, and sincerely despising himself; and being better pleased to be despised and humbled by others, than to be honoured by them.
1. I will speak to my Lord, I that am but dust and ashes. Genesis xviii.
If I think any thing better of myself, behold thou standest against me; and my sins bear witness to the truth, and I cannot contradict it.
But if I vilify myself, and acknowledge my own nothing, and cast away all manner of esteem of myself; and, as I really am, account myself to be mere dust, thy grace will be favourable to me, and thy light will draw nigh to my heart, and all self esteem, how small soever, will be sunk in the depth of my own nothingness, and there lose itself for ever.
It is there thou shewest me to myself, what I am, what I have been, and what I am come to: for I am nothing, and I knew it not.
If I am left to myself, behold I am nothing, and all weakness; but if thou suddenly look upon me, I presently become strong, and am filled with a new joy.
And it is very wonderful that I am so quickly raised up, and so graciously embraced by thee; I, who by my own weight am always sinking to the bottom.
2. It is thy love that effects this, freely preventing me, and assisting me in so many necessities; preserving me also from grievous dangers; and, as I may truly say, delivering me from innumerable evils.
For by an evil loving of myself, I lost myself; and by seeking thee alone and purely loving thee, I found both myself and thee, and by this love have more profoundly annihilated myself.
Because thou, O most sweet Lord, dost deal with me above all desert, and above all that I dare hope or ask for.
8. Blessed be thou, O my God; for though I am unworthy of all good, yet thy generosity and infinite goodness never ceaseth to do good even to those that are ungrateful, and that are turned away from thee.
O convert us to thee, that we may be thankful, humble, and devout; for thou art our salvation, our power and our strength.
1. My Son, I must be thy chief and last end, if thou desirest to be truly happy.
By this intention shall thy affections be purified, which too often are irregularly bent upon thyself, and things created.
For if in any thing thou seek thyself, thou presently faintest away within thyself, and growest dry.
Refer therefore all things principally to me, for it is I that have given thee all.
Consider every thing as flowing from the sovereign good: and therefore they must all be returned to me as to their origin.
2. Out of me both little and great, poor and rich, as out of a living fountain, draw living water; and they that freely and willingly serve me shall receive grace for grace.
But he that would glory in any thing else besides me, or delight in any good as his own [not referred to me] shall not be established in true joy, nor enlarged in his heart, but in many kinds shall meet with hindrances and anguish:
Therefore thou must not ascribe any thing of good to thyself, nor attribute virtue to any man; but give all to God, without whom man has nothing.
I have given all, I will have all returned to me again, and I very strictly require thanks for all that I give.
3. This is that truth, by which all vain glory is put to flight:
And if heavenly grace and true charity come in, there shall be no envy nor narrowness of heart, nor shall self-love keep its hold.
For divine charity overcomes all, and dilates all the forces of the soul.
If thou art truly wise, thou wilt rejoice in me alone, thou wilt hope in me alone: for none is good but God alone, (Luke xviii.) who is to be praised above all, and to be blessed in all.
1. Now will I speak, O Lord, and will not be silent; I will say in the hearing of my God, my Lord, and my king that is on high.
O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast hidden for those that fear thee! Psalms xxx. [USCCB: Psalms xxxi. 20.]
But what art thou to those that love thee? What to those that serve thee with their whole heart?
Unspeakable indeed is the sweetness of thy contemplation, which thou bestowest on those that love thee.
In this, most of all hast thou shewed me the sweetness of thy love, that when I had no being, thou hast made me; and when I strayed far from thee, thou hast brought me back again, that I might serve thee; and thou hast commanded me to love thee.
2. O fountain of everlasting love, what shall I say of thee?
How can I ever forget thee, who hast vouchsafed to remember me, even after that I was laid waste, and perished?
Thou hast beyond all hope shewed mercy to thy servant; and beyond all my desert bestowed thy grace and friendship on me.
What return shall I make to thee for this grace? for it is a favour not granted to all, to forsake all things and renounce the world, and chuse a monastic life.
Can it be much to serve thee, whom the whole creation is bound to serve?
It ought not to seem much to me to serve thee; but this seems great and wonderful to me, that thou vouchsafest to receive one so wretched and unworthy into thy service, and to associate him to thy beloved servants.
3. Behold all things are thine, which I have, and with which I serve thee;
Though rather thou servest me, than I thee.
Lo! heaven and earth, which thou hast created for the service of man, are ready at thy beck, and daily do whatever thou hast commanded them.
And this is yet but little, for thou hast also appointed the angels for the service of man.
But, what is above all this is, that thou thyself hast vouchsafed to serve man, and hast promised that thou wilt give him thyself.
4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of favours? Oh that I could serve thee all the days of my life!
Oh that I were able, if it were but for one day, to serve thee worthily!
Indeed thou art worthy of all service, of all honour, and of eternal praise.
Thou art truly my Lord, and I am thy poor servant, who am bound with all my strength to serve thee, and ought never to grow weary of praising thee.
This is my will, this is my desire; and whatever is wanting to me, do thou vouchsafe to supply.
5. It is a great honour, a great glory to serve thee, and to despise all things for thee;
For they who willingly subject themselves to thy most holy service shall have a great grace;
They shall find the most sweet consolation of the Holy Ghost, who for the love of thee have cast away all carnal delight:
They shall gain great freedom of mind, who for thy name enter upon the narrow way, and neglect all worldly care.
6. Oh pleasant and delightful service of God, which makes a man truly free and holy!
O sacred state of religious bondage, which makes man equal to angels, pleasing to God, terrible to the devils, and commendable to all the faithful!
Oh service worthy to be embraced and always wished for, which leads to the supreme good, and procures a joy that will never end.
1. Son, thou hast many things still to learn, which thou hast not yet well learned.
What are these things, O Lord?
That thou conform in all things thy desire to my good pleasure, and that thou be not a lover of thyself, but earnestly zealous that my will may be done.
Desires often inflame thee, and violently hurry thee on; but consider whether it be for my honour, or thy own interest that thou art more moved.
If thou hast no other view but me, thou wilt be well contented with whatever I shall ordain; but if there lurk in thee any thing of self-seeking, behold this is it that hinders thee, and troubles thee.
2. Take care then not to rely too much upon any desire which thou hast conceived before thou hast consulted me, lest afterwards thou repent, or be displeased with that which before pleased thee, and which thou zealously desiredst as the best.
For every affection [or inclination] which appears good, is not presently to be followed, nor every contrary affection at the first to be rejected.
Even in good desires and inclinations, it is expedient sometimes to use some restraint, lest by too much eagerness, thou incur distraction of mind; lest thou create scandal to others, by not keeping within discipline; or by the opposition which thou mayest meet with from others, thou be suddenly disturbed and fall.
3. Yet in some cases we must use violence, and manfully resist the sensual appetite, and not regard what the flesh has a mind for, or what it would fly from; but rather labour that, whether it will or no, it may become subject to the spirit.
And so long must it be chastised, and kept under servitude, till it readily obey in all things, and learn to be content with a little, and to be pleased with what is plain and ordinary, and not to murmur at any inconvenience.
1. O Lord God, patience, as I perceive, is very necessary for me; this life is exposed to many adversities:
For howsoever I propose for my peace, my life cannot be without war and sorrow.
2. So It is, Son; but I would not have thee seek for such a peace as to be without temptations, or to meet with no adversities.
But even then to think thou hast found peace, when thou shalt be exercised with divers tribulations, and tried in many adversities.
If thou shalt say, thou art not able to suffer so much, how then wilt thou endure the fire of purgatory?
Of two evils one ought always to choose the least.
That thou mayest therefore escape the everlasting punishments to come, labour to endure present evils with patience for God's sake.
Dost thou think the men of the world suffer little or nothing? Thou shalt not find it so, though thou seek out for the most delicate.
5. But, thou wilt say they have many delights, and follow their own wills; and therefore make small account of their tribulations.
4. Suppose it to be so, that they have all they desire: how long dost thou think this will last?
Behold, they shall vanish away like smoke that abound in this world, and there shall be no remembrance of their past joys.
Nay, even whilst they are living, they rest not in them, without bitterness, irksomeness, and fear.
For the very same thing, in which they conceive a delight, doth often bring upon them the punishment of sorrow.
It is just it should be so with them, that since they inordinately seek and follow their pleasures, they should not satisfy them without confusion and uneasiness.
Oh! how short, how deceitful, how inordinate and filthy, are all these pleasures!
Yet through sottishness and blindness men understand this not; but like brute beasts, for a small pleasure in this mortal life, they incur the eternal death of their souls.
But thou, my son, Go not after thy concupiscences, but turn away from thy own will. Ecclesiastes xviii.
[USCCB: Sirach xviii. 30.]
Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart. Psalms xxxvi.
[USCCB: Psalms xxxvii. 4.]
5. For if thou wilt be delighted in truth, and receive more abundant consolation from me, behold it is in the contempt of all worldly things: and the renouncing all those mean pleasures shall be thy blessing, and an exceeding great comfort to thy soul.
And the more thou withdrawest thyself from all comfort from things created, the more sweet and the more powerful consolation shalt thou find in me.
But thou shalt not at first attain to these without some sorrow and labor in the conflict.
The old custom will stand in thy way, but by a better custom it shall be overcome.
The flesh will complain, but by the fervour of the spirit it shall be kept under.
The old serpent will tempt thee and give thee trouble; but by prayer he shall be put to flight: moreover, by keeping thyself always employed in some useful labour, his access to thee shall be in a great measure stopt up.
1. Son, he who strives to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraws himself from grace; and he that seeks to have things for his own particular, loses such as are common.
If a man doth not freely and willingly submit himself to his superiors, it is a sign that his flesh is not as yet perfectly obedient to him; but oftentimes rebels and murmurs.
Learn then to submit thyself readily to thy superior, if thou desire to subdue thy own flesh;
For the enemy without is sooner overcome, if the inward man be not laid waste.
There is no more troublesome or worse enemy to the soul than thou art to thyself, not agreeing well with the spirit.
Thou must in good earnest conceive a true contempt of thyself, if thou wilt prevail over flesh and blood.
Because thou yet hast too inordinate a love for thyself, therefore art thou afraid to resign thyself wholly to the will of others.
2. But what great matter is it, if thou, who art but dust and a mere nothing, submittest thyself for God's sake to man; when I the Almighty, and the Most High, who created all things out of nothing, have for thy sake humbly subjected myself to man.
I became the most humble and most abject of all men, that thou mightest overcome thy pride by my humility.
Learn, O dust, to obey, learn to humble thyself thou that art but dirt and mire, and to cast thyself down under the feet of all men.
Learn to break thy own will, and to yield thyself up to all subjection.
3. Conceive an indignation against thyself, suffer not the swelling of pride to live in thee: but make thyself so submissive and little, that all may trample on thee, and tread thee under their feet, as the dirt of the streets.
What hast thou, vain man, to complain of?
What answer canst thou make, O filthy sinner, to those that reproach thee, thou that hast so often offended God, and many times deserved hell?
But mine eye hath spared thee, because thy soul was precious in my sight, that thou mightest know my love, and mightest be always thankful for my favours, and that thou mightest give thyself continually to true subjection and humility; and bear with patience to be despised by all.
1. Thou thunderest forth over my head thy judgments, O Lord, and thou shakest all my bones with fear and trembling, and my soul is terrified exceedingly.
I stand astonished, and consider that the heavens are not pure in thy sight.
If in the angels thou hast found sin, and hast not spared them, what will become of me?
Stars have fallen from heaven, and I that am but dust, how can I presume?
They, whose works seemed praiseworthy, have fallen to the very lowest; and such as before fed upon the bread of angels, I have seen delighted with the husks of swine.
2. There is then no sanctity, if thou O Lord, withdraw thy hand:
No wisdom avails, if thou cease to govern us:
No strength is of any help, if thou support us not:
No chastity is secure without thy protection:
No guard that we can keep upon ourselves profits us, if thy holy watchfulness be not with us:
For it we are left to ourselves, we sink and we perish; but if thou visit us, we are raised up and we live.
For we are unsettled, but by thee we are strengthened: we are tepid, but by thee we are inflamed.
3. O how humbly and lowly ought I to think of myself! how little ought I to esteem whatever good I may seem to have?
Oh! how low ought I to cast myself down under the bottomless depth of thy judgments, O Lord, where I find myself to be nothing else but nothing and nothing?
Oh! immense weight! Oh! sea, that cannot be passed over, where I find nothing of myself but just nothing at all.
Where then can there be any lurking hole for glorying in myself? where any confidence in any conceit of my own virtue?
All vain-glory is swallowed up in the depth of thy judgments over me.
4. What is all flesh in thy sight? shall the clay glory against him that formed it?
How can he be puffed up with the vain talk of man, whose heart in truth is subjected to God.
All the world will not lift him up, whom truth hath subjected to itself:
Neither will he be moved with the tongues of all that praise him, who hath settled his whole hope in God.
For behold, they also that speak are all nothing, for they shall pass away with the sound of their words; but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever. Psalms cxiv.
1. My Son, say thus in every occasion; Lord, if it be pleasing to thee, let this be done in this manner.
Lord, if it be to thy honour, let this be done in thy name.
Lord, if thou seest that this is expedient, and approvest it as profitable for me, then grant that I may use it to thy honour;
But if thou knowest that it will be hurtful to me, and not expedient for the salvation of my soul, take away from me such a desire.
For every desire is not from the Holy Ghost, though it seem to a man right and good.
And it is hard to judge truly, whether it be a good or bad spirit that pushes thee on to desire this, or that, or whether thou art not moved to it by thy own spirit.
Many in the end have been deceived, who at first seemed to be led by a good spirit.
2. Whatsoever therefore presents itself to thy mind as worthy to be desired; see that it is always with the fear of God, and the humility of heart that thou desire or ask for it;
And above all, thou oughtest with a resignation of thyself to commit all to me, and to say,
O Lord, thou knowest what is best; let this or that be done as thou wilt.
Give what thou wilt, how much thou wilt, and at what time thou wilt.
Do with me as thou knowest, and as best pleaseth thee, and is most for thy honour.
Put me where thou wilt, and do with me in all things according to thy will.
I am in thy hand, turn me round which way thou wilt.
Lo, I am thy servant, ready to obey thee in all things; for I dont desire to live for myself, but for thee: I wish it may be perfectly and worthily.
A Prayer
For the fulfilling of the Will of God.
3. Grant me thy grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and may labour with me, and continue with me to the end.
Grant me always to will and desire that which is most acceptable to thee, and which pleaseth thee best.
Let thy will be mine, and let my will always follow thine, and agree perfectly with it.
Let me always will or not will the same with thee; and let me not be able to will or not will any otherwise than as thou willest or willest not.
4. Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world; and for thy sake love to be despised, and not to be known in this world.
Grant that I may rest, in thee above all things desired, and that my heart may be at peace in thee.
Thou art the true peace of the heart, thou art its only rest; out of thee all things are hard and uneasy.
In this peace, in the self same (that is, in Thee, the one sovereign eternal Good) I will sleep and take my rest. (Psalms iv.) Amen.
1. Whatsoever I can desire or imagine for my comfort, I look not for it in this life, but hereafter.
For if I alone should have all the comforts of this world, and might enjoy all its delights, it is certain they could not last long.
Wherefore thou canst not, O my soul, be fully comforted, nor perfectly delighted, but in God, the comforter of the poor, and the support of the humble.
Expect a little while, my soul, wait for the divine promise, and thou shalt have plenty of all that is good in heaven.
If thou desirest too inordinately these present things, thou wilt lose those that are heavenly and everlasting.
Let temporal things serve thy use, but the eternal be the object of thy desire.
Thou canst not be fully satisfied with any temporal good, because thou wast not created for the enjoyment of such things.
2. Although thou shouldst have all created goods, yet this could not make thee happy and blessed: but in God, who created all things, all thy beatitude and happiness consists.
Not such a happiness as is seen or cried up by the foolish admirers of this world, but such as good Christians look for, and of which they that are spiritual and clean of heart, whose conversation is in heaven, have sometimes a foretaste.
All human comfort is vain and short.
Blessed and true is that comfort which is inwardly received from truth.
A devout man always carrieth about with him Jesus his Comforter, and saith to him, be with me, O Lord Jesus, in all places, and at all times.
Let this be my consolation, to be willing to want all human comfort.
And if thy comfort also be withdrawn, let thy will, and just appointment for my trial be to me as the greatest of comforts.
For thou wilt not always be angry, nor wilt thou threaten for ever. Psalms cii.
1. Son, suffer me to do with thee what I will: I know what is best for thee:
Thou thinkest as man: thou judgest in many things as human affection suggests.
Lord, what thou sayest is true, thy care over me is greater than all the care I can take of myself.
For he stands at too great a hazard that does not cast his whole care on thee.
Lord, provided that my will remain but firm towards thee, do with me whatsoever it shall please thee:
For it cannot but be good whatever thou shalt do by me.
2. If thou wilt have me to be in darkness, be thou blessed; and if thou wilt have me to be in light, be thou again blessed. If thou vouchsafe to comfort me, be thou blessed: and if it be thy will that I should be afflicted, be thou always equally blessed.
3. Son, it is in this manner thou must stand affected, if thou desire to walk with me.
Thou must be as ready to suffer as to rejoice; thou must be as willing to be poor and needy, as to be full and rich.
4. Lord, I will suffer willingly for thee whatsoever thou art pleased should befal me.
I will receive with indifference from thy hand good and evil, sweet and bitter, joyful and sorrowful; and will give thee thanks for all that happens to me.
Keep me only from all sin, and I will fear neither death nor hell.
Cast me not off for ever, nor blot me out of the book of life; and what tribulation soever befalleth me shall not hurt me.
1. Son, I came down from heaven for thy salvation, I took upon me thy miseries, not of necessity, but moved thereto by charity, that thou mightest learn patience, and mightest bear without repining the miseries of this life:
For from the hour of my birth, till my expiring on the cross, I was never without suffering.
I underwent a great want of temporal things; I frequently heard many complaints against me; I meekly bore with confusions and reproaches.
For my benefits I received ingratitude; for my miracles, blasphemies; and for my heavenly doctrine, reproaches.
2. Lord, because thou wast patient in thy life-time, in this chiefly fulfilling the commandment of thy Father, it is fitting that I a wretched sinner should, according to thy will, take all with patience; and as long as thou pleasest, support the burden of this corruptible life, in order to my salvation.
For though this present life he burthensome, yet it is become through thy grace, meritorious; and by the help of thy example, and the footsteps of thy saints, more supportable to the weak, and more lightsome.
It is also much more comfortable, than it was formerly under the old law, when the gate of heaven remained shut; and the way to heaven seemed more obscure, when so few concerned themselves to seek the kingdom of heaven.
Neither could they who were then just, and to be saved, enter into thy heavenly kingdom, before thy passion, and the payment of our debt by thy sacred death.
3. Oh! how great thanks am I obliged to return thee, for having vouchsafed to shew me and all the faithful, a right and good way to an everlasting kingdom!
For thy life is our way; and by holy patience we walk on to thee, who art our crown.
If thou hadst not gone before and instructed us, who would have cared to have followed?
Alas! how many would have staid afar off, and a great way behind, if they had not before their eyes thy excellent example?
Behold we are still tepid, notwithstanding all thy miracles and instructions which we have heard: what then would it have been, if we had not this great light to follow thee?
1. What is it thou sayest, my Son? Cease to complain, considering my passion, and that of other saints:
Thou hast not yet resisted unto blood:
What thou sufferedst is but little, in comparison of them who have suffered so much; who have been so strongly tempted, so grievously afflicted, so many ways tried and exercised.
Thou must then call to mind the heavy sufferings of others, that thou mayest the easier bear the little things thou sufferest.
And if to thee they seemed not little, take heed lest this also proceed from thy impatience.
But whether they be little or great, strive to bear them all with patience.
2. The better thou disposest thyself to sufferings, the more wisely dost thou act, and the more dost thou merit; and thou wilt bear it more easily, thy mind being well prepared for it, and accustomed to it.
Do not say, I cannot take these things from such a man, and things of this kind are not to be suffered by me, for he has done me a great injury, and he upbraids me with things I never thought on; but I will suffer willingly from another, and as far as I shall judge fitting for me to suffer.
Such a thought is foolish, which considers not the virtue of patience, nor by whom it shall be crowned; but rather weighs the persons, and the offences committed.
3. He is not a true patient man, who will suffer no more than he thinks good, and from whom he pleaseth.
The true patient man minds not by whom it is he is exercised, whether by his superior, or by one of his equals, or by an inferior; whether by a good and holy man, or one that is perverse and unworthy.
But how much soever, and how often soever any adversity happens to him from any thing created, he takes it all with equality of mind as from the hand of God, with thanksgiving, and esteems it a great gain.
For nothing, how little soever, that is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God.
4. Be thou therefore ready prepared to fight, if thou desirest to gain the victory.
Without fighting thou cannot obtain the crown of patience.
If thou wilt not suffer, thou refusest to be crowned; but if thou desirest to be crowned, fight manfully and endure patiently.