To purchase this peace the soul must renounce all other comforts

CHAPTER IV

To purchase this peace the soul must renounce all other comforts

That this important foundation of humility may be solidly and durably laid, you must endeavor to embrace with open arms and sisterly affection all tribulations, desiring to be condemned and vilified by all the world, and to have no comforter but only God. The judgement and maxim which must take firm root and absolute possession of your soul is this: That God alone is all your joy and welfare; all things else to you no other than thorns and briers. Accustom your soul to entertain itself with God. Think, if you were being borne along to receive some affront or confusion, with what content and alacrity you would go suffering with joy in his presence and for his love, valuing and seeking no other honour whatsoever, but to suffer for him and his glory. When any reprehension, injury, or contempt befalls you, cherish it as a hidden and an unknown treasure, as a purifying expiation for all your former transgressions. Desire not in this life the affection or esteem of any creature. Let nobody make any account of you, or so much as take notice that there is such a person in existence as yourself, but as the greatest of kindnesses leave you to suffer with Christ crucified. And above all, defend yourself against your self as against the worst of enemies; never follow your own will, judgement, or inclination, unless you willfully seek your own ruin; and when your affection or inclination leads you to anything, though it be ever so holy, represent it purely, with profound humility, in the sight of God, beseeching him to bring to pass his own holy will in it as he sees good, and this with sincerity and with fervor of heart, without any mixture of self-love, knowing that of yourself you are nothing, have nothing, nor can secure yourself against those desires and judgements which have the appearance of sanctity, peace, and indiscreet zeal, of which our Lord saith: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in the clothing of sheep, but are in reality ravening wolves; by their fruits shall you know them. (Matt. vii 15) The fruit of such temptation is to leave in the soul disquiet and dissatisfaction. Whatsoever withdraws from humility, from internal peace and tranquility, be the pretext never so specious, is a false prophet and a ravenous wolf, which, under the cover of the sheep’s skin, comes to deprive you of the virtues most essential to your advancement, and in a moment devour what with much time and industry you have amassed. By how much more appearance of sanctity the thing hath, so much the more strictly doth it require to be examined, but still without violation of your interior peace and tranquility, as hath been said. And if at any time you fail in these directions, trouble not, but rather humble yourself before our Lord, acknowledging your own weakness, and take heed for the future; perhaps it was permitted to abase and quell some secret pride which you were not aware of. And if, moreover, the sparks of extinct vices or concupiscences revive now and then and threaten your soul, be not dismayed, but redouble your watch, and gently withdraw your spirits and settle them in peace, neither afflicting yourself, nor rejoicing, nor growing angry, but preserving your soul pure and calm for the operation of God, whom you will certainly find within your own breast, and be by him convinced that the divine aim is always at your good and profit, though you have never so much difficulty to apprehend it in the aforesaid cases.