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Chapter 24

Of two remedies for the getting of Hope, in the way of our Lord and that we must not turn coward, although the remooue of the temptation be differred; and how there be certain hearts, which know not how to be humbled, but by the knocks of tribulation; and therefore, that they must so, be cured.

THE conclusion that thou must draw out of all this, is, That since it doth so much import to go on comforted, with a good hope, and with alacrity, in the service of God, thou must procure two things towards it. The one, is the consideration of his divine goodness, and love, which he hath manifested by giving us Christ Jesus, for our own. The other, that castng off, all slackness and sloth, thou serve our Lord with diligence; and when thou fallest into any fault, be not dejected with disconfidence, but procure remedy, and hope for mercy. And if many times thou fallest, procure thou many times to rise. For1 no discourse of reason will endure, that thou shouldest be weary of ask pardon, since God is never weary of giving it. And since he commanded us to pardon our neighbours, not only2 seven times in the day, but seaventy times seven; (which signifieth, that we must do it, without limitation) much, and much better, will our Lord grant us pardon, as often as it shallbe asked; since his goodness is greater, and is placed before us for an example, which we are to follow. And if integrity of life, and the remedy which thou desirest, do not come so soon as thou couldst wish, let not that make thee conceive that it will never come. Nor3 be thou like them that said, If God send not remedy, within five days, we will give ourselves up to our enemies; For the holy4 judith reprehended such men as these, with great reason; and she said, who are you, that will thus tempt our Lord? For such words as these, are not to move him to mercy, but rather to stir up his wrath, and to kindle his fury. Have you perhaps appointed a time, wherein our Lord is to show mercy; and have you set down the day, according to your own mind? Learn to hope in our Lord, till his mercy come; and be not weary of suffering, since patience importeth you, as much as life.

And5 if the straits be great, which weaken thy hope; even6 those very straits, should in reason give thee courage; because they use to be the very Eve and introduction of the remedy. For the hour, wherein our Lord delivereth, is when the tribulation hath lasted long, and at the present afflicteth most. As it appeareth plainly in the case of his disciples; (*) Luc. 5. Whom he permitted to suffer, during three parts of the night; and in the last, he gave them comfort. He also delivered his people, out of the captivity of Egypt, when the tribulation which they suffered, was grown up to the highest; & so will he do with thee, when thou thinkest not of it. And if thou conceive, that thou wouldst feign lead a holy life, and perfect life, and which all, might be to the glory of God; thou7 art to know, that there are some so proud, and lofty, that there is no humbling of them, but upon the price of temptations, discomfortes, and falling into sin; and so weak they are withal, that they will not go on in the way of God with diligence, if they be not ridden upon the spur; and their hart is so hard, as that they must be hammered upon, with a great deal of misery. Nor have they any caution or discretion, but upon the experience of many of their own errors. In fine, they have a mind, which is filled, and puffed up with a few graces; and they have need of many afflictions, to make them proceed with humility, in the sight of God, and of their neighbours.

Thou seest already, that the cure of these inconveniences, cannot be wrought but with8 burning irons; and by Gods permitting men to fall into desolations, obscuritics of mind, and even, into sins; that so, being much afflicted, they may humble themselves, and then be freed from their miseries. The Prophet Micheas saith, Thou9 shalt go as fare as Babylon; and there thou shalt be delivered, and God will redeem thee, from the hand of thine enemies. For by the confusion of this kind of life, and by these falls in to sin, a man useth to be humbled; and both to seek remedy of God, and to find it; which, if he had not fallen he might perhaps have lost by pride, or not have sought with diligence, and grief.

Eternal thankes be given to thee10 O Lord; who out of such prejudicial miseries, art wont to draw these celestial benefits; and that thou art glorified as well in pardoning sinners, as thou art, in making, and keeping them just; and who savest, by the way of a contrite and humbled hart, him who was not in disposition, to serve thee with a hart of innocency; and who makest a man's sins give him occasion, of being humble, diligent, and advised; that so (as thyself did say,) He11 to whom more is forgiven, may love more; that so it may be fulfilled, which the Apostle saith, Mercy in justice, maketh that justice of thine, appcare more glorious, as it maketh thy goodness seem more in pardoning, and saving such, as have sinned, and return to thee. In another place he also saith, That12 all things prove to the good of such, as love God. Yea so do13 the very sins themselves, which they have committed, as S. Augustine saith. But14 yet this must not be taken, as a ground for thy tepidity or facility in sinning, to build upon; for that must in no case be done. But to the end that if thou fall into so great misfortune as to offend our Lord, thou do not yet commit a greater sin, then that can be, by despairing of his mercy.

Footnotes

  1. If this be not true, what is? ↩

  2. Matt. ●●. ↩

  3. Take heed, that such a thought as this, do not once enter into thy hart. ↩

  4. jud. 7. ↩

  5. Note. ↩

  6. A comfortable consideration for English Catholics; which ought to fill our souls with patience, and with an humble, & peaceful expectation of the good will of God. ↩

  7. Examine thy consciéce by this light; and see if the case be not thine. ↩

  8. If gentler pnisicke be not able to cure us, we must be cotent that God do play the Surgeon with us. ↩

  9. Mich. 4. ↩

  10. Amen. ↩

  11. Luc. 7. ↩

  12. Room 8. ↩

  13. Infinite goodness of our God. ↩

  14. Abs●●. ↩

Chapter 26 of 115