Letter XXVIII. To a Lady

Human respect is blameworthy in matters of religion. Advice on interior drynesses.

I have no sooner seen your dear husband than I have learnt his departure from this town. This has been the cause, my clearest daughter, that I have not been able to give him this letter, by which I intend to answer, though in haste as usual, the last letter I have had from you.

Without doubt, my dearest daughter, we must not, another time, alter anything of the general practices by which we profess our holy religion on account of the presence of these troublesome Huguenots, and our good faith must not be ashamed to appear before their affectedness. We must in this walk simply and confidently.

Still your fault is not so great that you need afflict yourself about it after repentance: for it was not committed in a matter of special command, and contains no denial of truth, but simply an indiscreet respect. To speak clearly, there was in it no mortal sin, nor, as I think, venial, but a simple coldness, arising from disturbance and irresolution. Remain then in peace on that score.

My dearest daughter, you ever make too much consideration and examination about the cause of your drynesses: if they came from your faults still you would not have to be disquieted about them, but with a very simple and gentle humility to reject them, and then to put yourself back into the hands of our Lord, that he might make you bear the penalty of them or spare you it, as he might please. You must not be so curious as to want to know whence proceeds the diversity of the states of your life. You must be resigned to all that God ordains.

Well now! here is the dear husband off, my dear daughter, since his position and also his fancy give him the desire of making a show now and then: you must humbly recommend his departure and his return to our Lord, with confidence in his mercy that he will arrange about them unto his greater glory.

Live sweetly, humbly and tranquilly, my dearest daughter, and ever be all to our Lord, whose most holy blessing I wish with all my heart to you and to your little ones, but specially to my dear good little godchild, who is, I am told, all sugar. Your dear cousin is in her vintage, and I am told she is well; so is Madam de N., who I think, advances much with all her sisters, in the love of God. Your, &c.