Letter 85. To a certain Preacher
Do not, Sir, I beseech you, conceive any unkindness at my hands, but forgive me as S. Paul saith; since God hath forgiven the offences, which we have committed against him. You know already, how full of faults I am, which might suffice to make any man fail in the service, which he owes. Sometimes I have wanted a messenger, as I did, where I have been of late, and do yet remain; For if no body bring me word of any, I know not, where I am to seek him. I beseech you, Sir, believe, that in a matter of more importance I will have love enough for the doing you service.
I hold this distrust of Salvation, to which you tell me, you are subject, for a most plain temptation, Nay, I hold it, not only to be certain, but sottish also. For it deserves no better name, then that, if it will not be discharged, by the consideration of those benefits, which we possess in Christ our lord, as if this business, were the work of our hands, or the reward of our merits; and not by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ. You must therefore enlarge your little hart, towards the immenseness of that love, wherewith the Father gave us his Son, and with him, gave us himself, and the Ho●i●-Ghost, and all things. Receive this grace, with giving of thankes▪ and enjoy you God, since he bestows himself upon you. And if your demeritts fright you, remember, that one of the benefits, which the Father imparts to us in Christ our lord; is the payment of our debts: and the sweetening, and appeasing of that wrath, which our sins deserved.
Why do you doubt of a pardon, since you doubt not of that Passion, which he endured for our sins?
. Pet. 2. What doth it profit you, to confess, that Christ our lord died for us (be who was lust, for us, that were unjust) if you believe not, that his death killed our sins: and now, if they be dead, why do you fear them? For the Children of Israel, whom our lord drew out of Egypt, seeing that their enemies were drowned in the sea, did not fear, but sung praises to our lord: taking occasion thereof, from those very enemies, who had persecuted them before; and whom formerly they had feared. And though we have not so assured Faith, that our sins are pardoned, as we are sure, that our lord, died for them, (because we do not so certainly know, that his merits are applied to us) yet the new hart, which God gave us, when he called us to himself, may be a good sign of his friendship, and pardon, whereby we may well hope that our sins also are forgiven. And besides that spirit of being his children, which he gave us, when he imparted his love, as the love of a Father to us, may well be taken for a particular assurance, that in the hart of God, we are esteemed as his sons, since in our hearts, we esteem him as our Father. For it is blasphemy to affirm, that I loving God, he should not love me: since that love wherewith I love him, is never given me, but by his hand.1
I beseech you, think not of our lord, with a short hart, & a strait, but in great belief of his goodness, as we are commanded. And cast up your eyes, to that sign of our salvation, Curist our lord; who is the assurance of our hope; and who is so acceptable to his Father, and by whose participation, we are also made, acceptable to him, and we have assured hope, through his blood, to enjoy eternal life, before the Throne of God.2
And if it seem to you, that your works are weak, and poor, it is reason you should think so still. But what reason is this, why you should lose your confidence? By Christ our lord, we were made friends of enemies; and by him we are conserved in his friendship. We had greater impediments to be well with God, when, we were subject to our sins, before we knew God: then now we have, by the defects, into which we fall. So that, if our former sins, could not hinder that grace, which was communicated to us in Christ our lord: much less shall our present faults, be able to break of this friendship, we being now incorporated in Christ, who is beloved by his Father.
A good thing it is for us to feel our poverty, and misery: but yet it must be with condition, that withal, we believe highly of the bounty, and riches of the mercy of God. And let us glorify his goodness in our wickedness: since with so much love he tolerates his children, who are so faulty, so weak, and so miserable. Why should you deprive God of the glory, to have great latitude of love towards his children? For by reason of the faith, and love, which we carry to his son, he hath patience, with the faults, which we commit; when once we have bewailed them, and done true penance for them.
Believe therefore now at length, that as there is goodness enough in God, to make you love him: so there is merit enough in Christ our lord, to make you be beloved for his sake: and live you with gratitude, for the benefits, which you have received, as also for the pardon of those errors, which you daily commit. And be daily accepting of all good occasions, and fight the wars of our lord with joy: as that judas Machabeus did. And God giving you, that which he gives, you may hope, you shall enjoy his kingdom, though perhaps you may be put to suffer in temporal fire, for the hay, and straw, and wood, which shall be found in your soul.
Be you ever breathing more and more towards Profitt in spirit: but yet so, as that it may be accompanied with quietness, grounded upon Confidence. For though it should grow to be no more, than now it is, even that being carefully kept, will suffice for your salvation. But if you look only upon yourself, we are all so full of faults, that your soul will never be without dismay: nor will you perceive, that you are greatly beloved by our lord. And then proceeding after such a manner as that, how will you be able to serve him, and give gust, to his holy spirit, which is dwelling in you. For this spirit is cheerful: and we check it, by our anguish, and dismay: against which S. Paul thus dissuades us, saying. That we must not contristate the holy spirit of our lord. The sum of all is this, that you must know, and consider your faults: and that they must seem very great in your eyes: and you must bewail and lament them by Confession and Penance. But yet still you must consider, that those benefits, which we possess in Christ our lord, are greater: by reason whereof, you must confide yourself to be beloved: and you must do it with much thankfulness. And if God do no more, but continue that to you, which you have already, even that may suffice, as hath been said, to make you hope for eternal life.
Footnotes
Chapter 33 of 57