Book V, Chapter IV

The more thou canst go out of thyself, so much the more wilt thou be able to enter into Me

(On these words) — “ The more thou canst go out of thyself, so much the more wilt thou be able to enter into Me.” B. iii. c. 56.

Question. — How can we go out of ourselves? i Answer. — In three manners particularly. First, by

combating self-love, that vicious or too merely natural love, which enters every where, and disguises itself

182 HOW WE MAY GO OUT OP OURSELVES.

[ by a thousand artifices. How many people do we see, who are reputed virtuous, and who, when called I on, do many good works, hut who yet cannot rid I themselves of a certain affection, a natural tenderness for what concerns themselves, and above all, for their own person They avoid every thing painful; they love their ease and repose; and if they feel ever so little pain, they cannot speak of it without bemoanings, and great signs of compassion for themselves. To combat this delicacy, so contrary both to the severity of evangelic precepts, and to the nobleness of the; true followers of the Cross, is to go out of ourselves,

I in order to draw nigh unto God. j

2. But we may also go out of ourselves in another manner, when we discharge our employments with- I out looking to ourselves in them, without becoming attached to them, being too much interested in them, and giving them too much application and care. For most people who have business to do, who are to speak in public, who are in high stations, or important employments, think of nothing else day or night they are uneasy about the success of their labours, and the judgment that will be formed of themselves; this i occupies their whole mind. j

Figure to yourself a Sister in a religious house, who, after having long been Superior, is deposed from her station, and reduced to a level with the others. She feels as if transported into a new world, or a great desert. This does not happen to Sisters alone; it happens also to men, who stand quite I amazed when they are removed from government, or from the management of affairs. The only cause of [ their trouble is too passionate a desire of succeeding in their employments: for their mind would be at rest, and they would be always tranquil, if they looked only to God because, being filled with God, i He would be always present with them, and they ]

HOW WE MAY GO OUT OF OURSELVES. 183 would enjoy His sweetness. It is, then, a means of going out of ourselves to try to fulfil our duties well, with the sole view of pleasing our Lord; and to do so, we must never propose to ourselves those low and human motives which self-love commonly suggests.; We must not be very anxious either to please men, or to receive their praise; we must despise all that the world can say, and desire nothing but to please God. This is indeed renouncing ourselves, and being truly interior.

3. But the third manner of going out of ourselves, and forsaking ourselves entirely, is undoubtedly the most difficult, and few have courage to embrace it. It consists in hating and maltreating the body by penitence, in order, as it were, to separate the soul from the flesh in which it naturally reposes. Many people, spiritual by profession, know not the value of this holy practice; and for want of exerting themselves to combat corrupt nature, they can neither leave; themselves, nor be united to God. i

When a man has quitted sin, and renounced all the natural satisfaction which he might find in his em* ployment, he has not yet wholly given himself up to God he must complete this going out of self by treating himself roughly, by forcing the soul, so to speak, to abandon the sweet repose that it finds in the flesh; i he must deal with his body as men do with certain animals which they wish to accustom to stay in some place where their master needs them they are beaten every where else; and when there, they are caressed, f and made to feel that it is their only place of rest.; In like manner, when we wish to constrain the soul to abide in the superior part, which is the spirit, we must persecute her in the inferior, which is the flesh, and give her no rest till, wearied with so hard and continual a war, she mounts at last to that lofty region where God calls her to gladden and comfort her.!

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184 TO WITHDRAW FROM ODEDIENCE

It is with this view that the most fervent practise great austerities. They seek to oblige the soul, by force of macerations, to quit the flesh, that she may 1 ascend towards God, Who, being a pure Spirit, takes pleasure in spirit alone \ We have already remarked, that many good persons are quite at rest with regard to this, because they think they stand well enough with God, and, contented with their state, they do not think a more austere manner of life ought to be required of them. But their fervour might go much further, and they would not stay there if, following the leading of Divine love, which is strong and courageous, they made war upon themselves by the mortification of the body, which the Saints esteemed so highly, which they praised so loudly, and of which i they tasted the fruits, sweeter than can be told, and to be known only by experience. To reduce this to practice, every man must offer himself to God as a burnt-offering, without seeking in any thing to flatter or spare himself, and must pray Him earnestly to make known to him His will respecting it. Having done this, he has reason to hope that our Lord will enlighten his mind, and give him the strength necessary for the execution of his good designs.