Chapter 105

That the dignity of this State, must not dismay Virgins; for as much as their Spouse, who is our Lord, doth give them that, which is necessary for it. And of the advice, by which they are to undertake it; and of the cheerfulness, wherewith they are to undergo it: and of the great blessings which are contained in it.

BUT take heed, thou be not dismayed, by the consideration of that great sanctity, which thy state requires, by having more fear, then joy therein. When thou hearest men advice thee, to such high things as these; thou must not deject, but encourage thyself. For as the obligation, and undergoing the charge, which is incident to marriage, doth not chief rest upon the wife's shoulders; but she complyeth with her duty, if she keep that well which her husband hath gotten (especially if she also labour, according to the little strength she hath) so¹ do not think, that our Lord took thee for his spouse, so to leave upon thine own shoulders, the labour of keeping thy soul alive; for neither wouldst thou be able to effect it; nor will he be content, that the honour, of thy being that which thou oughtest to be,² shallbe thine. I beseech God, that thou mayst know, how to give him thy hart: and to answer the inspirations which he will send thee; & that thou mayst not, either by tepidity, or negligence, or indiscreet fervours, or pride, pollute that pure water, which he will rain down upon thy soul. And as for the rest, let thy hart repose, not in the confidence of thyself, but of thy spouse; who hath skill, and power, and will, to maintain thee well; if voluntarily thou wilt not leave his house. Yea, & concerning those things, which before I said that thou wert to do; do not expect them of thyself alone; but beseech our Lord that he will help thee. For in all things, thou shalt find him, to be both a piteous Father, and a tender Spouse.

The³ state of virginity, which thou hast embraced, ought not to he lightly undertaken, upon every fit of devotion, which may happen; nor yet, because thou knowest not, where to find a husband. But as a thing of mighty importance, it must be considered of, with much advice; and experience is to be taken, of ones self; and one must practise first, the service of Christ; and must have recommended it to God, and that very cordially, both days, and years; lest that be negligently performed, which was not groundedly entertained. But when it is once undertaken, both in that manner, and for the end that is fit; the person who embraceth it, is to grow cheerful upon it; because it is a state of incorruption, & yet a state also it is, of fertility. For, as the Blessed Virgin Mary, (who through her excellent, and incomparable pure Virginity, is called the Virgin of Virgins, and is the patroness of Virgins) did both give fruit, and yet retained the flower of her purity; so other Virgins, if indeed they be true Virgins, do give fruit in their souls; and yet have en●iernesse in their bodies. For this celestial spouse of Christ Jesus, is not like them of this world, who despoil their spouses, of their true beauty, and integrity; but he is so truly a conserver of their beauty; and so great a lover of their purity, as that they may say to him, with⁴ S. Agnes; To him alone, do I keep my Faith; to him alone do I recommend myself, with entiere devotion; whom when I love I am chaste when I touch him, I am pure; and when I receive him, I am a Virgin.

Nor will there be wanting children, as the fruit of such marriages as these; whereof, they are delivered without torment, and their fruitefullnes is every day increased. And this did S. Agnes say, as one who had tasted the suavity of this celestial espousal. And⁵ a confusion, (and that no small one) it ought to be, to a Virgin, who calleth herself the spouse of Christ, to have no more taste of the qualities, and sweet condition of her spouse, then if she were a mere stranger to him.

O how many afflictions doth virginity prevent; how many cares, how much unquietness? Some, which the very state itself of Matrimony, between persons who are made of flesh & blood, doth necessarily bring with it; and others, which grow from that untoward disposition, which is so often found, either in the husband, or in the wife. Others again, from the ill proof of the children. But⁶ in our case, all the children, are, joy, Charity, Peace, and such others (like to these), which are recounted by⁷ S. Paul. This spouse, is full of goodness; he is peaceable, rich, wise, beautiful; and, as his fellow Spouse, saith in the⁸ Canticles, He deserveth, to be wholly desired. Doth it not therefore seem to thee, that this King, doth an incomparable favour, to the person whom he taketh, I say not for a slave, or servant, but for a spouse? Doth it not seem to thee, a good exchange, of a birth with torment, into a birth with joy; of Children, which afflict with care; to Children, which are full of comfort; yea, and such as bring their dowry in their hands, which is, both honour, and pleasure. Verily, (said S. Hierome, (when he was speaking to the mother of a certain virgin) I cannot understand the reason, why thou shouldst be angry with thy daughter; for refusing to be the wife of a particular Cavallier, that so she might be espoused, to a⁹ King; by means whereof, she hath made thee, the mother-in law, of Christ.

It doth therefore now, but remain, O Virgin, that thou take comfort, in the state, which our Lord, of his goodness, hath called thee to. And that thou have care, to be that very thing to him, which thou shouldest be. And be no more fearful, of thine own weakness, than thou art confident in our Lord; that he will perfect that in thee, which he hath begun. That¹⁰ so, neither the favour that he hath done thee, do intoxicate thee, with any giddy kind of gladness; nor yet, the thought, of the much thou owest him, draw thee down into any dismay. But walk thou on, between fear, and hope; till the fear be taken away, by that perfect love, which is found in heaven. And hope also, may be then dismissed, when we shall have¹¹ that thing present with us, which here we hoped for; and so, as that we have no more fear, to lose it.

Footnotes

1. We cannot confide too little in our own strength, nor too much in the goodness of God. ↩

2. Make thou this prayer, to our Lord jesus, from thy very hart, and he will make thee happy. ↩

3. Perpetual chastity must not be vowed but with maturity, and after good experience of ones self; especially by such as still do live in the world; for as for such Religious as are enclosed, the means of keeping chastity are so great, as that they may sooner undertake that course, though still great prudence must be used heerin. ↩

4. The sweet S. Agnes, virgin & Martyr said so, when she was but 13 years of age. ↩

5. It is a shame to Virgins if they aspire not to the embracement of their heavenly Spouse. ↩

6. The great difference between a spiritual & corporal marriage. ↩

7. Gal. 5. ↩

8. Cant. ●. ↩

9. Christ our Lord. ↩

10. The middle way is the right way between fear and hope, till we arrive to the journeys end which is perfect love. ↩

11. The very vision of God, and that for ever. ↩