Chapter 18

Of another suare all contrary to the former, which is Despair, whereby the Devil procureth to conquer Man; and how we shall carry ourselves against him.

ANOTHER invention wholly contrary to the former, is used by the Devil; which is not by blowing up the hart, but by beating it down, and by dismaying it so fare, as thereby to drive it upon despair. He contriveth this, by bringing to memory, the sins which a man hath committed; and by aggravating them as much as may be; that so being frighted, he may fall afflicted, as under the weight of a heavy burden, without hope of help. Thus did he proceed with judas; from¹ whose sight he took the grievousness of the sin, when he was to commit it; but afterwards he represented to his mind, what a huge crime it was, to have sold his master; and for so mean a price; and to such a death. And thus he blinded his eyes by the greatness of the sin, and made him fast in the snare, and from thence he carried him into hell.

So that, as he blindeth some by their good works, letting them see the same, and removing their sins out of sight, (that so he may deceive them through pride) so, from others, he hideth the memory of the mercy of God, and the good deeds, which, by his grace, they have performed: and he brings their sins into their remembrance, and so pulls them down by desperation. But² as the remedy of the former was, That when he would vainly hoist us up into the air, we were to fasten ourselves to the earth; not considering our peacock's feathers, but the dirty feet of our sins, which we had committed, or should commit, if it were not for the help of God; so in this other deceit, our remedy must be, to transfer our eyes, from our sins, and to lodge them upon the mercy of God; and upon the good deeds, wherein, by his grace, we have employed ourselves. For when our sins do strive to make us despair, it willbe very well done, to call the good deeds to mind which we have done, or do perform; according to the example which we see in job, and King E●echias. But³ this must not be done, for the placing of confidence in our own good works, in as much as they are ours; (for fear, that least, when we are flying from one snare, we fall into another) but to the end, that we may hope, in the mercy of God; that since he did us so much favour, as to make us, by his grace, to do well, he will reward it in us, yea even to a cup of cold water, which we gave for his sake. And that, for as much as he hath placed us, in the course of doing him service, he will not leave us, in the half way; since his works are perfect, as himself is; and it was a greater matter for him, to draw us formerly out of enmity against him, then to conserve us now, in amity with him.

This⁴ S Paul doth teach us, saying, If when we were enemies, we were made friends with God, by the death of his Son; much more, now that we are made friends shall we be saved in his life. It is most certain, that since his death was of power to raise the dead; his life will be as able, to preserve life, in them that live. If he loved us when we loved him not, he will not unlove us, since now we love him. So that we may presume to say, with⁵ S. Paul, That he, who began this good work in us, will continue it, even to the day of Jesus Christ. And if the Devil procure to trouble us, by laying those sins before us, which we have committed; let us consider, that he is neither the party offended; nor yet the judge, who is to give any sentence concerning us. It is God whom we offended, when we sinned; and he it is, that must judge, both men and Devils. Therefore let not that trouble us, which this accuser doth object against us; but let us be comforted, in that he, who is the true judge, doth pardon, and absolve us, by⁶ means of Penance, and of his Priests, and Sacraments.

This is that, which⁷ S Paul saith; If God be for us, who shallbe against us; he that pardoned not his own Son, but delivered him up for us. And how then shall it be possible, that he, having given us his Son, shall not, with him, have given us all things? Who shallbe able to accuse the elect of God? It is God that iustifyeth, who shall condemn? All this saith S. Paul And this, being considered, aught to give us great strength of hart; and to hope well for that which is to come; since we have such tokens, for what is past. Nor let us be frighted by our sins, since the eternal Father did punish his only Son for them; that so man might have his pardon (who deserved to be chastised) if he would dispose himself to sue it out. And since he is pleased to forgive us, what can the Devil get, by crying out, in demand of justice.. The justice due for all the sins of the world, was once done, upon the Cross; and it fell upon the innocent Lamb, Jesus Christ our Lord; that so every sinful person, that would, might approach to him; and might enjoy the benefit, of high, redemption, when⁸ he should be pardoned, by doing penance.

What kind of justice would it therefore be to punish the sins of a penitent man, a second time in hell; they having been sufficiently punished once before, upon the person of Jesus Christ our Lord? I say punished with hell (for I speak of a penitent, who is already baptised; and who hath now (by means of the Sacrament of penance) ●eceaned pardon, and grace, which was lost) because, to such a one, the punishment of hell, which is eternal, is changed into temporal; which is either satisfied in this life with good works, or in⁹ Purgatory, by suffering those other pains. Yet¹⁰ let no man conceive, that the not taking totally away the pain, proceeds from any want in the redemption of our Lord; whose virtue is, and worketh in the Sacraments, * Psalm. 129. For his redemption is abundant, as David saith; but this happeneth, by the fault of the penitent, who wanted disposition to receive more. And such grief, & shame he may have for his sins; that he may rise from the feet of his Confessor, fully pardoned as well of all the pain, as of all the guilt; no less than if he had then received holy Baptism; For in Baptism all that, is taken away, in them who are, but even moderately disposed, to the receiving of it.

Let all men know, that the Oil which our great Elizaus, Jesus Christ our Lord, did give us, (when he gave us his passion; and which doth work in his most precious¹¹ sacraments) is that we may, thereby, be able to pay all our debts; & to live here, in the life of grace, and afterwards in that, of Glory. But it is necessary, that like the other Widow, we do walk on, maintaining good dispositions in ourselves; according to which every one shallbe sure to receive the effect of his sacred passion; which in itself, is most sufficient, yea and superaboundant.

Footnotes

1. This is the usual trick of the Devil. ↩

2. A most profitable advice. ↩

3. Note this, for it is a most comfortable, and withal a most safe doctrine. ↩

4. Philip. 1. ↩

5. Philip. 1. ↩

6. God absolveth us from our sins by means of the sacraments which are ministered by his true Priests. ↩

7. Rom. ●. ↩

8. Not by saith alone, but accompanied, with P●un●nce, shall we be saved, if we have sinned. ↩

9. They who have not satisfied in this life, nor will believe a Purgatory where they may satisfy in the next, shallbe ●a●e, to do it in Hell. ↩

10. Note this, and thereby learn to answer the objection which is made, by Protestant's ↩

11. The benefit of the Passion of our Lord jesus, is conveyed to our souls by the Sacraments of the Holy Church. ↩