Letter, number unidentified. To a Cavalier
FOR what do spurs serve, if the beast be so lazy, as I am? And then adding to this the burden, which lies upon me, of little health; it is no marvel, if I neither writ, nor answer. This letter is written in such straits of time, that I know not, whether it can be good for any thing, or no. I have rejoiced much, that the Infant is weaned; though some dye at that age; as not having strength, to eat the bread, with the crust. But since our Lord takes you, for a Child of promise;
as he did Isaac, I hope in Jesus Christ, that you will not dye of it, though you should be put to eat stones; but that you will feed upon them; as Christ our Lord, fed upon the wine, with myrrh.1
God will deliver you from consenting to sin, and your temptations shall serve you, in steed of the torment of the Cross, for his glory, who died upon it. And though our enemies may bid us come down, we will rather choose to confess Christ our Lord, by continuing upon it; then to put ourselves into ease, by denying him. You are acquainted already, with that supreme omnipotent goodness of our Celestial Father, whose power is such, as to draw good out of evil, and heat out of cold. And therefore be not dismayed, though you see yourself absent, from the protection of your spiritual Father, on earth; and though you find barrenness, where you expected plenty, and abundance.
Be not afraid to be alone with Christ our Lord, not that you are to undervalue help, when it may be had, by means of his servants; but we must obey his ordinance, whensoever he shall be pleased, that we remain in this world, without succour. Because our Lord is usually wont in such cases to do more visible, and greater favours, immediately, than he did before by means of his servants. And such a man comes to learn, that, Non sum solus, quia Pater mecum est.
John: 16. I am not alone, because my Father is with me. Then, Faith begins to increase, and Prayer dilates itself by Love; which is set forward, by seeing, how the soul is beloved. And thus it increases by that, by which it seemed, and it was feared, that it would be diminished. And he finds society, when he is alone; and he hath learned to walk without a staff, though he be but weak.
Let there be no want of care, to receive him, who is all our good; and be you ever saying, and that with truth: Loquere Domine, quia audit seruus t●us, Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears thee. Shutt up yourself in the castle of your hart, which, though it be as weak, as glass, yet he, who comes to dwell there, will make it so strong, that all that, shall prove glass, which can assault it; and itself shall remain more firm, then st●ele. And for lack of doing this, the soul is full of weakness, and it may say, that, which is written: Divisum est cor eorum, nunc interibunt. Their hart is divided, and they shall instantly perish.23
There is no place secure, where your hart may rest, but in that secret place of retreat, that most hidden corner, where none can enter, but Christ our Lord, ●anuis clausis, the doors being shut.
John. 20. For if it depart from thence, it runs as great hazard, as some light young maid might do amongst dissolute men. And if some just punishment, were imposed, & well executed, for every time, that the hart should be gadding up and down the street, perhaps we should take warning by ourselves, as even a very horse, or mule will do. Though indeed a man, who watches himself well, shall instantly be able to find a punishment, which comes down from heaven, ●re. 14. upon the very hart itself, quando diligit movere pedes, when it hath a nunde to be gadding; and then that, which follows, is this: & Domino non placuit.
This gift of recollection, must be gotten with much practice. For afterward the hart will stay within, even of itself, though we open the door, to let it out; as a tame bird, will stay in a cage. And this is the root of all our spiritual profit, and at the feet of Christ our Lord, we must have it, if we mean, that it shall be true profit. Christ Jesus be with us all. Amen.
Footnotes
Chapter 57 of 57