Chapter VI. Further advice as to obtaining this Distrust of Self and Trust in God

INASMUCH as our whole strength for conquering our enemies principally depends upon distrust of self and trust in God, I would furnish you with further counsels, that through the help of God you may attain this grace.

Concerning distrust in self, it is above all important that you should know and be fully persuaded that not all gifts, whether natural or acquired, nor all graces freely given, nor the knowledge of all Scripture, nor long and habitual exercise in God's service, are sufficient to enable you to do His Will; unless in every good work which has to be done, in every temptation which has to be conquered, in every danger which has to be avoided, and in every cross which has to be borne according to His Will, our heart is uplifted and sustained by His especial assistance, and His mighty Hand is outstretched to help us.

Therefore we ought to bear this in mind throughout our whole life—every day, every hour, every moment; and never allow the thought that there are any grounds for confidence in ourselves.

But with reference to trust in God, consider that it is as easy for God to overthrow many enemies as to overthrow few, and as easy for Him to conquer enemies old and experienced as to conquer the weak and unskilful.

Therefore suppose a soul to be heavy laden with sins; to have committed all possible sins, and to be full beyond description of all deformities; let such a soul have made every effort, have resorted to every possible means and spiritual exercise in order to rise above sin and acquire virtues, and yet have failed in making the least progress; nay, on the contrary, have been borne more than ever towards evil; yet that soul ought still to trust in God, and never to lay aside its spiritual weapons and exercises, but to continue strenuously to face the foe; for no one loses in this battle but he who ceases to fight and to trust in God.

He never ceases to help His soldiers, although He sometimes suffers them to be wounded. Only fight, for all depends on this. There are remedies at hand for healing the wounds of those warriors who look to God and to His help with confidence; and, when they least expect it, they shall find their enemies dead.