Letter, number unidentified. To a disciple of his

He treats of the security, which is greater when God is served in the way of affliction, then when, in the way of Consolation.

I Have received some of your letters, & I have paid my thankes to our Lord, both for having given you health, and his blessed help withal, to be in favour with him, continuing that good, which already he had begun in you; and so you must confide, that he will do even to the end, for his works are perfect. This which he will do for you, is a favour of his, and no merit of yours. Nor will he leave the care, and government of you in your own hands; But he, for his glory, will take the business of your salvation to himself. Now this he doth as a most wise Physician, sometimes by making much of you, sometimes by showing signs of disgust; giving you sometimes, the light of comfort, and at other times the wormwood of sorrow; Now hiding himself from you for the trial of your faith, and then showing himself to you, for the increase thereof. And by a thousand other means which he knows how to use, he will give you your soul saved, without, in a manner your perceiving how you come by it, till you have it.

Be not disordered in your judgement▪ either by way of valuing yourself the more, when you think your business goes well, or yet, on the other side, must you give sentence of condemnation against yourself, conceiving that all is already lost, when you conceive that you have reason, to be disgusted with yourself. The hart of man is wicked, and cannot be searched, and sifted, but by the wisdom of God himself: and to him, and to his judgement, you must remit the sentence concerning the case in which you stand. And you must walk on, both with great confidence of his mercy, and with a religious fear, of his high majesty. Depart neither to the right hand nor to the left. Do not believe that there is any Sanctity at all, where there is any want of this chaste, and holy fear, which makes a man grow humble. For thereby he knows, that the good, which he hath, depends upon another and it makes him hang, as it were, upon the ears of God, beseeching him with continual prayer, that though he may, without injustice deprive him of the good he gave him, yet that through his goodness, he will not do it.

Nor must you believe any Spirit, which by means of any temptations, or Spiritual discomforts, may come to you: nor yet if any darkness or anguish, which may be conveyed into your soul, shall pretend to dismay you, or persuade you to disconfidence in our Lord, who love's you. But tell that Spirit, that if it had wished you to disconfide in yourself, it should have had all reason, because you are nothing, but mere weakness. But, in saying that you must not hope for safety at his hands who is the common salvation of all the world: tell him he lies, and therein you shall but say a truth.

Christ our Lord love's you more than you can think: only it is fit sometimes, that he hide it from you. For perhaps, if you knew it, you might fall into a greater occasion, and danger of vanity, than the suspicion you have of your not being beloved by him, may be of your despair; for without doubt they are fewer who can enjoy prosperity, without any mixture of vanity, or inordinate delight, in the sweet meats which are given them: then there are, who can bear, the bitterness of tribulation, without despair. Conceive you therefore that our Lord, keeps you safe, in the haven of security, under the sharp rock of tribulation: to the end you may not putrify, with too much sweetness: but be preserved by the bitterness of myrrh. And at this, you are not to be troubled. For of yourself you should make election of that, which will be good for you in Eternity, rather than of that, which may afford you some little temporal gust. Yea and even in spiritual consolations, we reap not sometimes so much profit, as we do delight. Nor will you be demanded at the last day, what comforts you shall have enjoyed: but what discomforts, you have suffered, without failing, either in point of faith, or love And believe you, that God receives that for service which being contrary to your sensuality, and self will, you did yet accept, as being conquered by his love, and not that which a man how sensual soever he might be, would be glad to enjoy. For if to be regaled by Almighty God were to do true service to his divine Majesty, he would not have so few servants: since there are so many, who by this way, & that way, and every way are seeking comforts. But they understand not, how fare it is from God, to be able to abstain from comforting his afflicted, and dejected servants, when it is best for them. And as far also he is, from liking them, who taking of their eyes, from his tormenting Cross, send them in search after Comforts as conceiving that the more they have thereof, the more beloved, and more happy they are. And they never consider, how poor they shall be found, at that day, when God will sift jerusalem with the light of Lamps, & when he will call us to account, whether we love him from the profoundest part of our hearts, and ourselves for him, & in him, and through him: or else whether we have loved him for ourselves, & to our own use. And then will many of those works appear to have been carnal, & infected with, self love, and interest, which shined like so much fine gold, in their eyes who performed them. You are therefore more secure from interest, or complacence, when such things come to you as cause bitterness. But then let the love of God alone, persuade you to endure them, till he provide otherwise. In whom you must have so much strength of the holy Ghost, as may make you abound in charity, and peace, and joy: treading your passions under foot, and having your soul, even all enbalmed with grace. Yet when you shall be in joy, do not enjoy it for yourself: but employ it with greater strength, upon him who gave it: fetching also reason from thence, why it should make your love increase.¹

I beseech that Lord, who remembered you when you forgot him, to give strength unto your inward man that so you may know how, to adore, obey, and love him; and that he will send his holy Spirit into your heart, that it may guide you into that land of Eternal light. Amen.

Footnotes

1. Soph. 1. ↩