Letter 140. To Father Gracian, Seville, Toledo, about November 1576

Father Gracian s enemies. His need of sleep,

I sent a letter last week by the courier of

Toledo in answer to what Paul says about the tongues. When I was speaking to Joseph, He told me to warn Paul that he has many enemies, visible and invisible, and must guard against them. That is why I do not wish him to trust so implicitly in the Egyptians' or the owls'. . . . On reading Paul's letter again, I find that he says that he sacrifices his sleep to think things over,' and I helieve he means on account of transports of prayer. He ought not to accustom himself to negleél so great a treasure except for the sleep that his body requires, for God bestows most precious gifts at such times and I am not astonished at the devil 's trying to deprive Paul of them. As this favour cannot be enjoyed at will, we must prize it when God bestows it. His Majesty then gives us more light as to how to serve Him than our intelledt could obtain if it forsook the favour it is enjoving, to search on its own account. But believe me, I have spoken the truth: follow my advice about sleep unless you have business of such importance on hand that it would keep you awake; but if sleep comes, there will be time enough afterwards to think about your work.

I read in some book that if we leave God when He seeks us, when we seek Him, we shall not find Him. . .

CLXVII