Letter 38. To a Lady, Involved in Legal Affairs

My very Dear Daughter, Sept, 19, 1610.

I HAVE heard of all your troubles, and I have com* mended them to our Lord, asking Him to bless them with that sacred benediction which He gives His chosen servants, so that they may all turn to the sanctification of His Holy Name, and of your soul.

I must confess that to my mind, of all afflictions and evils, lawsuits excite my pity most, because they axe so dangerous to the souL How many people I have seen bearing the sting of sickness or the loss of friends patiently, who yet have lost their inward peace under the harass of legal affairs or lawsuits 1 The reason, or more correctly the cause, is this; — ^we are not ready to believe that God makes use of such a trial to prove us, because it seems to come direct from the hand of man; and while we dare not kick against an All-wise, All-good Providence, we do kick against the fellow-creatures who trouble us, and are wrath with them, not without great risk of a. loss of charity, the only loss we need really fear in this life. Well now, my dear daughter, when can we better testify our faithfulness to our Saviour, than on such occasions? What fitter time for bridling heart, judgment, and tongue, than when we are toiling along such crooked paths, and going so near the edge of a precipice? For God^s Sake, my dear daughter, do not let slip a time so eminently calculated for spiritual progress without laying in a fresh store of patience, humility, gentleness, and love of abjection. Remember that our Lord never spoke one word against those that condemned Him; He did not judge them; but, although unjustly condemned. He was gentle as a lamb, and His only revenge was prayer for His enemies. But we judge every one, — our antagonists and our judges; — we brisUe with complaints and

Letters.

reproaches. Believe me, dear daughter, we must be stedfast in loving our neighbour — I say this with my whole heart, without any consideration as to your individual opponents or anything concerning the matter, caring for nothing save your perfection. But I must stop, nor did I mean to say so much. You have God always with you, if you will Does not that make you rich enough? May His Will be your rest. His Cross yoiu: glory. I am, ever yours, &c.

r«3.1 XL.