Chapter 27

That the conquest of these temptations, doth consist more in having patience to bear them; and in the hope of the favour of our Lord; then inprocuring forcibly that they may not come.

THE conquest, whereof we have spoken, proceedeth more from the stratagem of having patience, at that which cometh upon us; then in the force which we can use in procuring that it may not come. And for this, did the spouse say in the Canticles, Catch me those little foxes, which spoil our vineyards, for our vine hath s●orished. The vineyard of Christ is our soul, which was planted by his hand, and watered by his blood. It doth flourish, when, the time of sterility being past, it beginneth to lead a new life, and yieldeth fruit to him that planted it. But because in such beginnings, both these and other temptations of the crafty Devil, do lie in wait for us; therefore doth the noble spouse admonish us, that (since our soul, which is his vineyard, is in flower) we should procure to hunt those foxes out. By which word, it is given us to understand, that it must be done in the¹ morning, as hath been said. By saying that they were foxes, we are as good as told, that they come disguised, to deceive us; & seeming to bite on the onesyde, they wound on the other; and in saying that they are little, he telleth us, that they are not so much to be feared, by him that knoweth them; for the knowing them, is to weaken them, if not to overcome them out right. In saying that they destroy the vines, he signifieth that they do men much mischief, who know them not. For being frighted, and not confiding to go through with their business, in the sight of God, they leave their way; and (following a lamentable persuasion,) they give themselves openly to sin; conceiving that they enjoy more peace, in the broad way of perdition, then by the straight one, of virtue, which leadeth to life.

The end of such persons, if they return not first, to the right way, many times is such, as that it carrieth most certain tokens of eternal perdition, as the Scripture saith; He² that passeth from justice to sin, God hath prepared him, for the instrument of justice, that is, for hell. They³ should consider that as the Gabaonites were besieged, and persecuted by their enemies, for having made peace with⁴ joshua; and that joshua (being called upon, by them, to give them secure) did relieve and free them; (making their case his own, because they were persecuted by their enemies, in regard of the peace they made with him) so they, who (beginning to serve God) do enrol themselves in his band, grow instantly to be persecuted by the Devils, which they were not before; and this doth evidently appea●e to be so, because, by forsaking the party of Christ, the persecution which is made against them would cease; and if they continue to suffer, they suffer for holding up the party of Christ. Now this, is a most particular favour, which God doth, as S. Paul⁵ affirmeth. To you it is given by Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. And if the Angels of heaven, were capable of envying earthly creatures,⁶ it would be for this, that they suffer for God. And although, by the word of God, a Crown is promised to that man who suffereth⁷ temptations, & is proved by them, which reward it shallbe fit for us to consider, and desire, thereby to get more spirit, that we be neither tepid in working, nor weak in suffering, (as it is said both of Moses, and of David also, that they had an eye to the reward) yet the true and perfect lover of our crucified Lord, doth so much esteem, a being in conformity with him, that he receiveth even the very suffering itself, as a great favour and reward; for, as Saint Augustine saith, A happy injury is that, whereof God is the cause. And since there is not a man, who will not secure another, that suffereth by coming to his service; much more may this be expected from that divine goodness. And that he will make that man's cause his own, as David thus desired that he would; Rise up o Lord, and judge thy cause, & remember the injurious words, with the fool hath uttered against thee, all the day long. That business belongeth to God, which is pretended to, by such a one as serveth him; & therefore God cometh out to his succour, with great fidelity; and in this hope, and not in any thing of our own, we are to set upon the enterprise, of God's service.