Book I, Chapter III

All things are comprised in these few words : Forsake all, and thou shalt find all

(On these words) — “ All things are comprised in these few words Forsake all, and thou shalt find all.” B. iii. c. 32.

Question. — How can we forsake all?

Answer. — In three ways principally;

1. First, by depriving ourselves thoroughly of all temporal goods, in order to follow literally the counsel of the Son of God Go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, fyc. Mark x. 21. This is done by ail who enter the cloister; they abandon their father and mother, quit their property, and put it out of their power ever to acquire or possess anything of their own.

The Apostles once said to the Saviour, Behold, we have forsaken ally what shall we have therefore? Matt. xix. 27. He replied that He would give everlasting life to them, and to all who should follow their example in ages to come. Whoever then renounces all, obtains all, for God Himself is his recompense. Thus, Saint Francis, having made himself poor, could say with truth, God is my portion, He is in Himself every thing to me. And, in fact, a man who strips himself of all external things, delivers himself from so many obstacles to his perfection; he deprives the evil one of the means of tempting him, and of drawing him into his nets; he empties his soul of creatures, and fills it with God.

It is not that if a Christian had all the riches of Abraham, he might not, like him, be devoted to God, and possess God; but it is difficult, and the Saviour did not without cause exhort His disciples to quit all things, that they might go freely to God. Most

HOW TO FORSAKE ALL. 15 of the saints have followed this course; and even those who have been constrained to return to the possession and control of those worldly goods which they had quitted, have done so only to dispense them in the service of God. Thus, so many holy prelates, taken almost by force from monasteries, and from poverty made rich against their own will, have disposed of their revenues, rather as stewards than as proprietors and masters. It is observable, too, that as soon as the Spirit of God makes a strong impression on the soul, and inspires her with a great aim at perfection, she deprives herself of all, that our Lord, ever a Lover of poverty, may come to her, and that she may have grace to possess Him.

Saint Francis Borgia, Duke of Candia, having quitted the great riches and the great honours which he enjoyed in the world, was so filled with God, that he said that if he had possessed all created goods, and had them for ever, he should not have tasted among them all so much sweetness as he felt in one Communion. And this happiness was not only that he believed with certainty in the Presence of his God, but because he truly enjoyed It within him. In this manner we may say boldly, u Forsake all, and you shall have all.” It is not then a little thing truly to renounce all the goods of this world, to restore them into the hands of the Lord, and to yield to Him all claim on them. Those who give up their present goods for the love of God, receive as a recompense the inestimable wealth of the faith, as the Apostle St. James says, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith? James ii. 5., rich in solid and eternal goods, in goods which they not only hope to possess one day, but enjoy now, and which make their happiness in this life, being spiritual goods, more capable of fully satisfying them than all the goods of the earth.

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16 HOW TO FOR8AKE ALL.

Saint Paul says, that the faithful are so full of the grace of God, which is given them by Jesus Christ, that they come behind in no gift. 1 Cor. i. 4. 7. This is, however, only a foretaste of the perfect possession of God; for in this world we do not see Him openly, though we feel His Presence, and being united to Him by love, “ we truly enjoy Him, and find rest in Him,” as our author says. He is far, however, from discovering and communicating Himself to the soul at the first step as afterwards, but however little He discovers Himself, it always feels the truth of this promise of the Saviour There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake and the GospeVs, but he shall receive an hundred fold, now in this time. Mark x. 29, 30.

2. There is a second way of forsaking all, when we not only abandon all that we have, and deprive ourselves of it, but when we feel no attachment to any thing, and can say without deceiving ourselves, that we love God Alone, and wish only to see His will done. A man, for example, who has this disposition, though he likes his place of abode, may say with boldness and sincerity, that he is ready to go wherever he is sent, as soon as he knows God’s will respecting it; he may say, also, that whatever pleasure he finds in the conversation of those with whom he has long lived and been acquainted, he has no difficulty in renouncing it.

For if he still feels a strong unwillingness to quit them, though resolved to do so, he may believe that he has a desire to do well; but this natural inclination to live with our friends, and this difficulty in leaving them, are a sign that he has not yet acquired the true spirit of interior destitution, and that his heart is not detached from all; for if this were the case, he would be equally satisfied with every place, and with all

HOW TO FORSAKE ALL. 17 sorts of persons: he would avoid all engagements and reject every thing which might diminish his freedom. For, to be wholly free, we must love no good, no employment, nor even any man soever, except with a view to the greater service of God. “ What thing more quiet than the single eye? ” says our author,

“ and what more free than he that desireth nothing on earth?" B. iii. c. 31. Can one who has not attained this perfect liberty, think himself in a state to enjoy the Presence of God, while the least mote is capable of troubling the eye, and hindering it from beholding its Object? Here is matter to occupy a man who aspires to eternal happiness. Let him often examine himself, that if he discovers any too human affection, any attachment, however slight, binding him to creatures, he may quickly rid himself of it, for otherwise his work will never be ended.

3. The third and last manner of forsaking all, is to forsake oneself; and this is a more perfect way than the others. Our author sets before us a man who seems to have abandoned all, and asks if he can do more. He replies, that " there is much wanting for he adds, “ having left all, he must forsake himself." B. ii. c. 11. You think, perhaps, that there was nothing to add to the second degree of renunciation; but you are mistaken; self-love must be overcome in the tenderest point, and that is, self-seeking even in spiritual things.

The mean of mortifying it is to put in practice this precept of our author “ Wherever you find yourself, quit yourself " that is to say, the moment you feel any secret attachment to your own will, your own opinion or taste, renounce it instantly. Represent to yourself our Lord addressing you in these words:

" Forsake thyself, and thou shalt find Me.” B. iii. c. 37* God is ever ready to enter a disinterested c 3!

HOW TO FORSAKE ALL.

J soul He delights in enriching her with His gifts; He makes her pass through trials which serve to purify and detach her from the world; so that thinking of God only, she desires and enjoys God Alone, and finds her whole happiness in Him; she so conjoins herself with God, as to find no pleasure but in doing what He requires.

It is this which prepares for her a Paradise, even here, from which she never departs, because she sees that all things are done as Providence ordains, and is infinitely better pleased than in doing her own will. She regards only the glory of God, seeks only to please Him, reposes sweetly on Him with a pure and disinterested love, possesses and embraces Him lovingly in her inmost heart, and in order to be more closely united with Him, detaches herself from all that might separate her from Him, so as to forget self, to despise health, life, and reputation, and to think of nothing temporal and passing, in order to devote herself wholly to that which concerns the honour, the service, and the will of God, the “ God of mercy and love.”

Then is accomplished what the Saviour, speaking of His beloved disciples, said to His Father I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one. John xvii. 23. One in themselves, and with us. The Father loves them in like manner as He loves His Son; He bears them in His Bosom, He gives Himself to them, they enjoy Him; and this is the effect of the promise of the Saviour Himself, Who said, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also (John xiv. 3.); that is, in the Bosom, in the very Heart of My Father, and that ye may dwell there for ever.

A holy soul, though enclosed in a mortal body, shares these advantages, which are the fruits of the Divine love that the Holy Spirit kindles in the

WHAT CONSOLATIONS WE MUST REJECT. 19 hearts of the righteous. But the Heavenly Spouse does not communicate Himself, and fill her with His favours till we have made great efforts to render ourselves pleasing in His eyes by stripping ourselves of every thing in the way above mentioned; for we cannot gain His Love without doing ourselves great violence; and though He gives to whomsoever pleaseth Him, it is certain that by overcoming ourselves nobly, we obtain great favours from Him. If a man love Me, said He, he will keep My words, and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John xiv. 23.