Book IV, Chapter VIII

If it were well with thee, and thou wert well purified from sin, all things would fall out to thee for good, and to thy advancement in holiness

(On these words) — “ If it were well with thee, and thou i wert well purified from sin, all things would fall out to thee for good, and to thy advancement in holiness.” B. ii. c. i.

Question. — Of whom may we say that he is entirely purified?

Answer. — Of him who has past through all the ways and all the trials by which God leads a soul to perfect purity.

Question. — What are these ways and trials?

Answer. — We may form a just idea of them by representing to ourselves the way in which a house infected with the plague is cleansed. All impurities are removed, and incense and other perfumes are

WAYS BY WHICH GOD PURIFIES THE SOUL. 167 burnt; it is whitened; a fire is lighted, which consumes the bad air; lastly, it is furnished, and then it is considered clean, and no one fears to inhabit it. God does something resembling this in a carnal and worldly man, when He is pleased to convert him. The man illuminated by the Divine Light, is careful first to cleanse his soul well by penitence, and by a general confession, accompanied with bitter regret for his faults; then he tries to take away the odour of sin by many good thoughts, by different pious considerations, and above all, by the recollection of the good example of the Saints; afterwards, he whitens it by the exercises of an austere and penitent life; lastly, he completes its purification by the fire of Divine Love, which, being thoroughly lighted in his heart, drives out the pestiferous air of worldliness and vice;

’ after which, the soul becomes perfectly clean. Those who saw her sullied with crimes, have no difficulty in perceiving the change; she sees and feels it herself,

• humble as she is, and is not unconscious of the mira- culous effect which the Holy Spirit has designed to work in her by His Grace. This gives her that inward peace which accompanies her everywhere, and which she never loses.

Souls may also be purified in another excellent manner, which resembles that in which plate is

I cleaned.. Ashes and water are taken, it is rubbed and soiled with them in such a manner, as seems only intended to make it dirtier. Yet the very contrary is intended; for on being washed with fresh water, it appears more beautiful and bright than ever, i God sometimes deals in like manner with the souls that He is pleased to raise to a high degree of purity.

He permits them to receive from the evil spirit, or from corrupt nature, violent suggestions of all kinds I of wickedness; the temptation is often so extreme, ’ and the feeling so lively, that they dare not assure r—

I 168 WAYS BY WHICH GOD PURIFIES THE SOUL.

I themselves that they have not consented. There I arise in them furious movements of pride, hatred, im- purity, anger, and sometimes even of despair, with such thick darkness, that they do not know themselves, but think themselves very unpleasing to God, and, at last, become unendurable to themselves.

By this knowledge of evil, which does not go so far as consent, and which serves only to purify them more and more, they return to that happy state of perfect innocence in which they were after Baptism. Who, seeing the plate rubbed with ashes, would not say, that it was done on purpose to dirty it more? Yet it is but in order to make it more clean. Who would not think, in like manner, that a soul filled with abominable thoughts and feelings, must resemble the evil spirit who inspires them? Yet this very thing serves to purify her, because, loving God truly, and having always in the depths of her heart that Divine love, which is hidden and kept alive under the ashes, the more she is pressed by temptation, the more violence she does herself to surmount it. As opposite qualities gain strength by combating and clashing with one another, so the ardour of the celestial flame, with which she burns, inwardly augments in proportion to the opposition she meets with.

Nothing, then, contributes more to purify a soul thoroughly, than the great efforts which she is obliged to make, and constantly to reiterate, in order to resist the enemy, who uses all means to induce her to sin. From these attacks of the evil one she gains also a great advantage, that of satisfying the Divine justice for all her past faults; for*, can we doubt that violent temptations, nobly endured, serve even I in this world to purify those whom God tries so severely?

ALL THINGS PROFIT THE PURIFIED SOUL. 169

Question. — What then befalls a soul which God has been pleased to purify in this manner?

Answer. — The reward of its patience and fidelity in the troubles of this life, the fruit of so many confessions made, so many penances and good works done, above all, of so many acts of love to God performed, is, that all things issue to its advantage; for when we see people exceedingly fearful of the evils which seem to menace them, and irresolute through anxiety and trouble, we may be sure that the cause of their disquiet and dejection is, that they are not yet completely purified from their sins and vices.

A man who shrinks from being in a certain place, or with some person to whom he has an aversion, shows plainly that he is not master of his unregulated emotions; for when his interior is once well regulated, that which formerly was to him a cause of vexation, becomes a subject of joy; and he often wonders to see that Providence has so well disposed all things, that he profits wonderfully by those which formerly caused him nothing but trouble. Thus in all circumstances, good and evil, sweet and bitter, contribute to his salvation; and then it is manifest that the great Apostle said rightly, that all things work together for good to them that love God. Rom. viii. 28. This is a powerful motive for the devout to aspire to perfect purity of heart, and to grudge nothing in order to its attainment.