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Chapter 20

Of some means, which the Devil useth against the remedy that is spoken of, whereby to fright us; and how for this, we must not faint; but animate ourselves the more, considering the infinite mercy of our Lord.

BUT I already hear, O Man, that which thy weakness answereth to what is said. What1 doth it profit thee (sayest thou), that Christ died for thy sins, if the pardon thereof, be not applied to thee? And though Christ died for all men, yet many of them are in hell; not through any fault of his redemption, which is abundant, but for want of their disposition to receive it. From hence therefore groweth thy despair. To this I answer; That although it be true which thou sayest, yet dost thou not serve thyself well thereof. S Bernard telleth us, that towards 2 having the testimony of a good conscience, which may give a man the joy of a good hope; it sufficeth not, to be●eeu● in general, That sins are pardoned by the death of Christ; but it is also necessary, to have confidence and good conjectures, that this pardon is applied in particular to such a man, by means of2 those dispositions, which the Church doth teach. For though he believe the first part, he may yet despair; but that he cannot do, if he believe the second; for how can he despair, if he live in hopes But3 indeed, thou oughtest to consider, that it is high reason, that when thou seest even those bowels of the heavenly Father all open, for the giving to thee his son, as he gave him; & seeing that he was at such cost therein, and that the divine Lamb is already dead, to the end that thou mayst feed upon him, and not dye; thou art to drive from thee, all pusillanimity and sloth; & procure to serve thyself of this Redemption, with confidence that God will help thee to it. And since, for thy being pardoned, there is no cause why Christ should put himself to new pains, or to suffer hereafter more, or less, or to dye for thee any more; why shouldest thou think it, to be any desire of his, that since he hath been at the charge of such a feast, there should be want of guests to sit thereat. But it is far from this; nor is it his will, That the sinner should dye, but that he should be converted, and live. And to the end that he might do so, himself left his life upon the Cross. And do not thou believe, that it is needful for thee, towards the enjoying of this Redemption, to do any impossible thing; yea or even so hard, as that thou shouldst despair to go through with it, even when thou art considering thy weakness. Send but one cordial sigh to God, for having offended such a Father, and have thou a purpose of amendment; and manifest thy sins to a Priest, who may absolve thee; and the ears, even of thy flesh, and blood shall, for thy4 greater consolation, hear the sentence which is given, upon the ending of thy suit. Which shall certify thee in this manner, I absolve thee from all thy sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost.

And5 although it should seem to thee, that thy grief for thy sins were not so complete as it ought to be; and that therefore, thou art afraid of thyself; yet art thou not6 to be afflicted thereat; because the desire which our Lord hath of thy salvation is so great, that he supplieth our wants, by the privilege which he gave his Sacrament; which maketh a man, of attrite, contrite. And7 yet again, if it seem to thee that thou art not able to do even so much, I tell thee once for all, that thou must not presume to do it of thyself; but call upon thy heavenly Father; and beseech him by his Son Christ Jesus, that he will help thee, both to grieve for thy life past; and to purpose an amendment for the time to come; and to confess thyself well, and lastly for all that, whereof thou hast need. And8 he is of such a nature, as that there is no cause, why, we should expect any other thing at his hands, than sweetness and succour since he, who giveth the pardon, is the same, who doth first inspire us, with a disposition to demand it. And if, withal this, thou do not find comfort even after having heard the sentence of absolution; yet9 be not thou dismayed thereat; nor give over that, which thou hast begun. For if in one confession, thou hadst no comfort, thou shalt be sure of it in others; and that shallbe fulfiled in thee, which was said by that penitent King10 David, Thou shalt give joy, and comfort to mine ears; & my bones which are humbled, shall rejoice.

It is certainly so, that although the words of sacramental absolution, do not give a man such a certainty of pardon, as that he can believe11 it by faith, or know it by express evidence; yet do they give such repose and consolation, as wherewith the powers of our soul may be recreated, which by sin were humbled, and oppressed. And let no man give over to ask pardon; for if he persist in his desire, the Father of mercies will go out to meet his prodigal son; and will give him pardon, and will him with the heavenly garment of grace; and he will take pleasure to see him so recovered by penance, who was lost by sin. Nor12 let any man think it to be incredible, that God should live with sinners, under the laws of so great tenderness, & sweetness, which are penned by his own goodness, & most faithful love; since he executed laws of so great rigour, upon his Son, as that (loving him as he loved himself; and being the person that he was; and paying for the iniquity but of others) he did not yet acquit him, of any one only sin, for which his justice was to be satisfied. And for this reason, as13 a Lion (who how fierce soever he be, if he yet be satisfied and fully fed, doth no harm to inferior creatures, which yet he would swallow up, if he were hungry) so the justice of God, being satisfied with that which was paid by Jesus Christ, that di●ine lamb he doth them no hurt, whom he findeth ●o approach towards him, that so they may be incorporated to his body; nor doth he hinder his mercy from working in them, according to his custom. And from hence it groweth, that instead of being an angry judge to us, he becometh a Father full of pa●ty.

Footnotes

  1. A shrewd objection, but mark the answer, for it satisfyeth. ↩

  2. Contrition, Conse●●ie and S●●●ofaction. ↩

  3. Behold the solution. ↩

  4. It is a picture in little, of the joys of heaven, which no man knows, but he that feels th●●●. ↩

  5. Note. ↩

  6. So that yet thou be sorrv, (though imperfectly) for that which is past; and have a firm purpose to avoid the like in time to come. ↩

  7. Note. ↩

  8. Deus, cutus n●t●●a bonita●● cutus Voluntas, potentia. cu●us opus, mis●r● or d●● 〈◊〉 S. Leo. ↩

  9. In the service of God, a man must have a patiented, & noble courage. ↩

  10. Psal. ●0. ↩

  11. Not as an article of Faith. ↩

  12. Note. ↩

  13. A comparison which is both significant, & sweet. ↩

Chapter 22 of 115