Chapter 67

Wherein he prosecuteth the former exercise; and of the much light which our Lord is wont to give by means thereof, whereby they know the greatness of God, and as it were the Nothing of their littleness.

CONSIDER therefore, O Virgin, these words of S. Augustine with attention; & thou wilt see how fare off thou art to be, from ascribing any glory to thyself; not only of raising thyself from sin, but in determining thyself from returning to fall. For, as I told thee, if the hand of God should once retire itself from thee, thou wouldst instantly fall back, into that profound pit of being nothing, so if God should forbear to preserve thee, thou wouldst return to those, and more grievous sins than those, from which he delivered thee. Be therefore humble, and grateful to this Lord, of whom thou art, at all moments in so great necessity; & know, that thou art depending upon him; and that all thy good is to be derived from his holy hand, as David saith, In thy hand, O Lord, are my lees; for lets he calleth the grace of God, and the eternal predestination which cometh by the¹ goodness of God; and they are granted to such, as to whom he granteth them.

And, as if he should resume the being which he gave thee, thou wouldst again be nothing, so he retiring his grace from thee, thou wouldst return to be a sinner. I speak not this, that thou shouldest fall into any deep discouragement, or desperation, in that thou seest, how thou art hanging upon the hands of God; but to the end, that with so much the more security, thou mayst enjoy the good things which God hath given thee; &² mayst have confidence, that through his mercy, he will finish that in thee, which he hath begun. And that so much the more, as thou, with greater humility, and profound reverence, and holy fear, shalt cast thyself trembling, and prostrate at his feet; not relying any way upon thyself, but having a strong hope in him. For this is a great good sign, that his infinite goodness will not forsake thee, according to that, which that blessed, and³ humble, above all humble creatures Marry, did sing, when she said,⁴ His mercy is from generation, to generation, upon them that fear him.

And if our Lord be pleased to give thee this knowledge of thyself, which thou desirest; thou⁵ wilt find, coming into thy hart a certain heavenly light; and a kind of feeling into thy soul, whereby upon the driving away of all darkness, it findeth, and knoweth, that there is no being, nor good, nor strength, in any thing created; but that which the blessed and dear will of God, hath been pleased to give, and conserve. And then he knoweth, how true that part of the other canticle is, The heavens, and the earth, are full of thy glory. For in all, that is created, he seethe nothing good, the glory whereof, is not due to God. And he understandeth how truly God directed⁶ Moses, that he should say of him to men, He that Is, hath sent me to you; and that also which our Lord said, in the⁷ Gospel, There is none good, but God alone. For as all the being and all the good which things have, whether they be of free will, or of grace, is given, and preserved, by the hand of God, such a person will know, that God is more to be said to be in them, and to work that which is good in them, than they in themselves. Not⁸ but that they do also work, but because they work as second causes, being moved by God; who is the principal, and universal operator; and of whom they hold their power to work. And so looking upon them, he findeth there no handfast, nor resting place; but upon that infinite Essence, which upholdeth them; in comparison whereof, they do all (how great soever they be) appear but as a little needle, which is cast into an infinite sea.

From⁹ this knowledge of God, there doth result to the soul, which profits by it, a profound and loyal reverence, to the superexcellent divine majesty, which placeth in her, such a detestation of atributing any good thing to herself, or any other creature, that she will not so much as once think thereof. Considering, that as the chaste joseph, who (though he were solicited by the wife of his Lord) yet would not commit such a treason against him; so must not a man rise up, and rob God of his honour, which he resolveth to keep for himself, as the husband doth his wife; according as it is written, My glory I will not give to another. And then also grows a man to be so grounded in this truth, that although all the world should exalt him, yet would he not exalt himself. But, as a true, just person, he depriveth himself of that honour which he findeth not to be his own; and he giveth it to our Lord, whose it is. And in this light, he finds, that the more high he is, the more he hath received of God; and the more he oweth him; and the more poor, and base he is in himself. For¹⁰ he that doth truly grow in other virtues, doth so also, in humility, saying to God, Thou must increase in me, and I must decrease in myself, daily. And if, even with all these considerations already mentioned, thou find not the fruit of the contempt of thyself, which thou desirest, be not yet dismayed thereat. But call upon our Lord, with continuance of prayer; for he knoweth how, and he is accustomed, to teach, both interiorly, and by way of exterior comparisons, the little that all things created are to be esteemed. And in the mean time, till this mercy come, live in patience, and know thyself for proud; which is a kind of humility; as for one to hold himself humble, is a kind of pride.

Footnotes

1. The first grace of God is given upon no other ground, than his own mere goodness. ↩

2. Let this be the hope of any man, who by the goodness of God doth live less sinfully, than he was wont. ↩

3. The humility of our B. Lady, was above all the humilities, of all pure creatures. ↩

4. Luc. 1. ↩

5. The sweet and sublyme effects of holy humility. ↩

6. Exod. 3. ↩

7. Marc. 10. ↩

8. How God worketh in man; and how man worketh with, & under God. ↩

9. This is an inestimable jewel. but pray hard for it, and by the goodness of God, thou mayst purchase it. ↩

10. This is a most pure, and perfect truth. ↩