SPIRITUAL LETTERS, WRITTEN IN SPANISH, BY DON JUAN D'AVILA.

 

SPIRITUAL LETTERS.

 

LETTER 1

 

To a Friend. Showing how great Blindness it is to lose eternal Bliss for temporal.

 

 THE peace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, be ever with you. I received a letter of yours some days past, written at Seville; whereof though I were very glad, yet I should have rejoiced much more to be there to enjoy your conversation, which I have so long desired. I beseech CHRIST that we may see one another in heaven, where all our desires will be at an end; possessing him who is the true fulfilling of them all.

 

 Sir, I would extremely desire, that the smoke of these temporal things did not blind our hearts, and hinder us from the sight of such as are eternal. Woe be to that man who has more care of his goods than of his conscience; and who puts the soul in hazard, to secure the life of his body. Not so, O man! not so, but rather, as JOSEPH did, who to secure his chastity, left his upper garment in the hands of her who would have robbed him of that treasure it is the sentence of CHRIST our LORD, that if our right eye be an occasion to us of sin, we must pluck it out and cast it from us. The right eye is the love which we carry towards goods, or honor, or life; which, if it be an occasion of sin, we are to estrange ourselves from, and cut it off, lest we be estranged from GOD.

 

 We must love nothing so well that we may not tread it under foot, if it hinder us from being well with GOD. There is no holding friendship with that sovereign King, but by such a man as will confess that heaven is had very cheap, though it cost him his life. They who think to comply both with their own affections, and with the love of our LORD, are mightily deceived: For these men love not GOD, but as they love many other things; whereas God will be loved above them all.

 

 O error of the sons of men! Who has thus deceived them, and who shall, be able to unbeguile them Who has plucked out their eyes to lead them blind fold Men are content to be without virtue, so they may not be without money: And thus put they light in the place of darkness, and darkness in that of light. O that our LORD would open the eyes of these men! and how bitterly would they weep, seeing how bad exchangers they had been! Is not the friendship of GOD of more value than all things which can be wished Are not "the commandments of God more worthy to be desired than thousands of gold and silver" Where shall we find true scales to weigh every thing out, for just as much as it is, that we may not thus for ever live in lies. 

 

 The day will come, infallibly it will come, when GOD “will destroy them all that work iniquity;" and for what then will that serve, which they have so earnestly sought for O day of giving account for all the days of our lives, how little art you considered, and therefore how little art you feared! And men, in the mean time, run, with the bridle loose, and in their teeth, for the gathering of this little miserable flower which so quickly fades, and they see with their very eyes, that it is even slipping from between their fingers; and yet there is never want of somebody who Math a mind to hold fast this world, whilst still it is flying from him.

 

 Sir, our kingdom is not to be had in this world. What is this life, but a way from our own houses reaching to the place where thieves desire to cut our throats; since every day we walk on, and it is no whither else but towards death. Now who would be so absurdly inconsiderate, that when he was conducting to execution, he would fall into great affliction, because he were not sumptuously clad; or would busy himself about hearing some relation of the lives of

 

others, or delight himself with looking upon some public entertainment; or be angry that men put not off their hats to him And yet how many do we see, who (going, as we all do, to their graves, yea, and running faster thither than an arrow out. of a bow) yet detain themselves foolishly, some upon fine clothes, others upon paltry smoke of honor, and others who grow angry, because just that they desire is not done: And yet the things they desire, are neither such as help them to obtain true felicity, nor hinder them from falling into eternal misery.

 

 What in the name of God is this which has so blinded us, that we should make time of eternity, and eternity of time For so have men despised that eternal bliss, which God has prepared for them in heaven, as if it were but temporal; and so have they fixed their love upon this transitory world, as if this were the thing which is eternal. How few are there upon earth who pass through it like strangers; and who fasten their hearts upon the future, as upon their city, and true place of rest! Let the tongue say what it will, but our works proclaim us to be citizens of this world, since we extremely desire to be accommodated and exalted here, and take no care though we should be but as strangers in the next world. Perhaps we are of opinion, that the kingdom of heaven may be obtained without any great labor or care. But the truth is, that even they who take most pains, will find that they still have enough to do. And what then will become of the careless

 

person He will be sure to lose it! We are running a race, and the prize is no less than the kingdom of heaven. Yet not all they who run are to have the prize, but they only who run best. What a madman were he, who should shackle his feet, and then think to carry the prize

 

 God commands that to him who shall strike thee upon one of thy cheeks, you should turn the other; that not only you must not revenge thyself, but that you art to keep thy heart prepared to endure more; and still if another blow be offered, to turn the other cheek;" that is, to prepare thyself for enduring more and more, in such sort, that the other may be sooner weary of doing ill, than you of suffering it. But how shall he be able to make a speedy course in this way, who is fettered in the chains of worldly honor, which requires that we revenge the injuries which are done us. Indeed, no man feels the weight of dishonor, but he who loves honor. And if this love be not laid aside, how shall we be ever able to run

 

 Envy is a chain, anger is a chain, and the love of ourselves is a chain and root of all the rest. What a sottish thing is it therefore, for a man to think, that he who affects those things which his own will suggests, is able to run that career, wherein the servants of GOD must run; and who, because he contents himself, thinks that GOD will also be contented with it; and who, living after his own fashion, will yet conceive that he may live so with GOD!

 

 Away, away, let us awake at least, for the love of GOD let us awake before hell fire awake us; and let us know, that the GG kingdom of God is a hidden treasure;" and that be who finds it must bestow all that he has upon the purchase, esteeming himself more happy and rich in this alone than in all things else.

 

A man that has a mind to gain this kingdom, is not bound to be a beggar; but that which he needs is, that for the love of this kingdom, he cut off the love of riches and honor, and a delicate life, and in fine, of his own will.

 

 CHRIST our LORD will have us all naked, that so we may run a pace to him who died for us. That man is naked who holds his life and his honor in subjection to the will of CHRIST, doing what CHRIST wills, and not that which is suggested by pleasure or honor; and who makes as light of these things, as if he had them not; and is ready to cast them all into a light fire, rather than commit one sin. And though a man may attend to the improvement of his estate, it must not be out of love to it, but because GOD commands it. If he live, it must not be because he loves life, as making that the end of his care, but he must keep it for the service of GOD; and sooner throw it away than offend him. If he apparel himself, he must not take counsel with vanity how he may be esteemed for his clothes; but with the word of GOD which commands that we use them not with superfluity, but for the supply of just necessity. And this man does not hold himself to be his own,

 

but one who belongs wholly to GOD. He cares not for what himself desires, but for that which GOD commands. He lays all things, and himself withal, to be trodden under foot; so he may hold GOD above his head. GOD commands and he obeys; GOD directs and he submits; and as the shadow follows the body, so he follows the will of GOD. GG This is the generation of them who seek our LORD, and they shall find him." (Psalm 13:) Let us therefore go and run this race. For happy are those labors, which are endured for the obtaining of this crown. And, they shall soon pass away, but their reward is to last for ever. Let us lay up our treasure there. It will be enough for us to possess GOD; and let us not lose our time, for it was not given us to be lost. But let us live that we may ever live; and so we shall pass from reproach to glory, from poverty to plenty, from banishment to our own country; which we shall possess through all eternity. Amen.

 

LETTER 2

 

To a religious Person, encouraging him to the perfect Love of GOD.

 

REVEREND FATHER,

 

 SINCE our LORD JESUS CHRIST is not pleased that, at this time, I should be where I might enjoy your company, as I had wished, let his name be blessed for all, and in the mean time I must endure it with patience. Wherein yet I shall not be performing a small penance, for it is a hard thing to be divided from the persons we love. And in truth I did never so much desire to be assisted by you in some things as now; for I conceive, that it might have proved greatly to the service of our LORD. But yet since by one that loves, all things are well taken, I will speak a little to you in absence, till our LORD ordain that we may be present.

 

Sir, I much desire that we may seek GOD who is our total good,. and that not after any ordinary manner, but like one who seeks a great treasure, and for love whereof he sells all that he is worth; accounting himself rich in possessing that alone, instead of many other things, which he had before.

 

 O GOD, O LORD, O you true Repose of our souls, when shall we begin to love thee When, I say, shall we conceive a desire of thee, such as may be worthy of thee When shall truth be able to prevail more with us than vanity Beauty than deformity, Repose than restless care The Creator who is so richly full and all sufficient before the creature, which is so empty and poor LORD, who will open our eyes, that we may know there is nothing out of thee, which is able to give any true contentment to us Who will make some discovery of thee to us; that, being all enamored of thee, we may go, may run, may fly, and may remain eternally with thee

 

 Woe be to us, for we are far from GOD, and yet in so little pain for that distance, that we can scarce be said to feel it. What is become of, the tender sighs of those poor souls, which had tasted once of GOD, and were afterwards estranged a little from him What is become of that holy affection, wherewith DAVID said, If I shall give sleep to mine eyes, or slumbering to mine eye lids; till I have found a house wherein the LORD may dwell." (Psalm xxxi.) And this house we are when we destroy not ourselves, by scattering our hearts upon variety of things, but recollect them to one desire and one love. Then it is that we find ourselves, and are indeed the " houses of GOD."

 

 For my part, I believe, that he said true who affirmed the cause of our lukewarmness to be this, that he who has not tasted of GOD, does not know what it is either to have hunger or true satisfaction. And so we arc neither hungry after GOD, nor satisfied by creatures; but we remain as frozen, being neither here nor there, full of dullness, and fit to cause a vomit in his stomach, who loves not servants who are lukewarm, but desires to have them inflamed with the fire of love. This fire himself brought into the world, and desires nothing but that it may burn; and that it may do so, himself did burn, and was consumed upon the cross. And this he did that we might warm ourselves, and correspond with so great a lover by some love of ours; considering how just it is, that we should be wounded by the sweet dart of love; since we see him not wounded, but killed by it.

 

 Let us now resist him no longer, but yield ourselves conquered by his love, that we may ever live with him. He desires to burn us up, that so the " old man" being consumed, the " new man" may rise again by love. He desires to melt our hardness, that as upon metal which is made liquid by heat, that form is imprinted which is desired by the workman; so we (being softened by that love, which makes us melt by hearing our Beloved speak to us) may be ready without all resistance, that CHRIST our LORD may imprint upon us what figure shall be most pleasing to him.

 

 Now that figure which he desires to imprint, is no other than that of love. For CHRIST our LORD is very love itself; and he commanded that we should love one another, as he loved us. (John 15:) And ST. PAUL tells us, (Gal. 2:) that we must so love CHRIST our LORD as he loved us, and gave himself for us. So that unless we love, we are unlike" him; our countenance has no resemblance to his; but we are poor, naked, blind, deaf, and dumb, and dead. For love alone is that which quickens all things; and love is that which is the spiritual cure of our souls. For the soul without love is just as the body is without the soul. ,

 

Let us therefore love and we shall live; let us love and we shall grow like GOD; nay, we shall wound him who is to be wounded by love alone. Let us love, and all things shall be ours, since they are all to serve us. What have we of ourselves Let us hedge ourselves in GOT), and make no account of any thing else. Let not our own losses trouble us, but the losses of GOD, which are the souls who depart from him. Let us groan to GOD, from the very bottom of our hearts; for our tears even wound Almighty GOD, though they be so weak and soft, and though he be omnipotent.

 

 But above all, let us make our habitation in the wounds of CHRIST' our LORD, and particularly in his sacred side. For who can remain in fire and not grow warm, at least to some proportion O that we could dwell there, and how happy should we be therein!

 

If some little spark of fire be kindled in our hearts, let us take great care that the wind blow it not out. And we must’1 daily add some wood to it," (Lev. 6:) as God commanded his Priests to do. That signifies to us the doing good works, and the not losing any time. And above all things, we must approach to the true fire which may kindle and inflame us; and this is JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

 

 Let us open the mouth of our soul, which is our desire, and go to the Fountain of living water. Let us run after GOD, for we may be sure he will not fly from us. He is nailed upon the cross, and infallibly we shall find him there. Let us convey him into our hearts, and then shut the door, that he retire not thence.. Let us die to all visible things, since there will come a time when we must leave them per force.

 

 Let us be growing in the knowledge and love of CHRIST our LORD, who is the sovereign good. And all this is to be obtained by humble prayer and persevering endeavor. Therefore let us remove all impediments, and compose our hearts, expecting CHRIST our Lord there, who enters when the doors are shut, to visit and comfort his disciples; and so without doubt he will come to us. And since CHRIST our LORD is he who must work this in us, we have no reason to distrust, but taking courage in such a conductor, let us begin to run that course with fervor, which ends riot but in the obtaining of God.

 

 But then, on the other side, his express pleasure is, that we have confidence in him even in the greatest temptations; yea, though our little barks should be upon the very point to sink. Let us not therefore be disturbed or dismayed. Let us not put others to pain, for the trouble which this continual war gives us. Let us utterly distrust ourselves and confide in GOD; and let us begin in the name and power of the Omnipotent. And this beginning of ours shall behumility, and our end shall be love.

 

 So at the day of judgment we shall be received among the angels and saints, where we shall ever study the book of life, which is GOD himself, who will for ever stand open before our eyes that we may know him, and love him, and for ever be in possession of him. Our LORD JESUS remain ever with you.

 

LETTER 3

 

To one who had some Desire to serve GOD, but not the Courage to begin.

 

 I MUCH rejoice at the desires you have to please our LORD, but I am in pain to consider your backwardness in executing the same. For I hold it strange that one should presume to remain in the vanity of this life, and not presume to make a new match with GOD, confiding in the same GOD. For what man was there ever, who hoping in GOD, and desiring to live according to his command, was forsaken by him Who ever invoked him with an entire and persevering heart, and was not heard by him Nay, he goes seeking us, and inviting us to serve him. What possibility therefore is there, but that, since he is good, he must come forth to meet and cast his arms about our necks, when we make towards him He will, infallibly he will, and that far more completely than we know how to think.

 

 Begin, you servant of GOD, cast yourself upon him and confide that he who gave you the desire, will give you strength to work and courage to make an end. For he calls not upon such as sleep to awake them, but that he may do them many favors when they are awake. Begin with diligence and fervor, yea, and with a kind of strife; for there is not a worse thing than a faint beginner, who still takes care to regale himself and content the world. Shut your eyes against both human praises and dispraises, for you shall quickly see both the praiser and the praised turned into dust. And we shall all stand before the tribunal of our Lord, where " the mouth of wickedness shall be stopped," and virtue shall be highly exalted. In the mean time, lay fast hold on the cross, and follow him who was dishonored, and lost his life for you. And hide yourself in those wounds, that when our Lord comes for you, he may find you there; and may beautify you with his graces, and may give himself to you as your reward for having left all things, and yourself with them, for his sake.

 

 But O how little does he leave who leaves all! Since he leaves but that which he must quickly leave whether he will or no; yea and even the enjoying of it is a misery; since all that is not GOD, is but weight and sorrow to the soul.

 

 God only is sufficient for you; open therefore your heart and enjoy him; you shall find him more sweet, and much more full of love, than you could have thought.

 

 Sometimes I wonder how one can or does wish ill to another, since CHRIST our Lord is in the midst between them both. How can he be disgusted with the body who loves the head Do you not know that we cannot do, yea or even desire to hurt any body, but that it must first pass through him Conceive that your neighbors are a certain thing which nearly concerns CHRIST our Lord; that they are his images, and the creatures for which he gave his blood. And therefore say,’ How shall I wish ill to him whom my Lord loves How shall I desire death to him, to whom my LORD will give life My Lord died for those persons, and would yet again die for them if it were needful; and shall I then fail to love that man, who is so much beloved by him What dot], it import me, if they do me ill offices For I love them not for what they are, nor for any thing which they do to me; I love them for CHRIST'S sake; and what then have their ill deeds to do towards the making me take that love from them, which I carried to them for CHRIST'S sake I beseech God they may be great in his presence, and that they may enjoy him, and he them: That so there may be more temples wherein my Lord may dwell, more souls which may praise and serve him, and more hearts which may love him; for he deserves them all.' And whensoever you see them, say,’ O Lord, do you possess those souls, and let them be only thine. O Lord let them enjoy thee, for you have a mind to communicate thyself to all. O Lord, they are so many images of thee, make them like thee more and more, and both to them and me, and to all, give pardon, grace, and glory.'

 

 The scruples you mention, are a temptation wherewith the Devil torments you, and deprives you of the sweetness of your soul, and leaves you without life in the things of God. For he who is scrupulous, is not fit either to love GOD, or to confide in him; nor does he like the way which God holds with him, and then he goes to look other ways, which may please himself better. And himself is in fault, for he raises the storm where there was a calm; and he found it in his own way, and not in the way of GOD, which is very smooth and plain.

 

 Shall I be plain with you Make haste, make haste to love, and the scruples will fall away, which rise but from a fearful heart. For " perfect love casts out fear." Pray to our LORD and say, " My GOD, enlighten my; darkness." And confide in his mercy, that serving him he will be good to you; and will be daily giving you to understand your faults, that you may mend them.

 

 As to the temptation of vain glory, say to it,’ Neither will I do it, nor leave to do it for thee. O Lord, to thee it is that I offer whatsoever I can do, or say, or think.' And when vain glory comes again, say to it thus,’ You comest too late, for it is already given to GOD.' For conclusion, I recommend to you, that you cast all out of your, heart which is not GOD; and that in this world you love tears, solitude, humility, and repentance; and let your eyes be ever turned to our LORD, " that your feet may be delivered from the snare." Put the law of GOD in practice, and you shall see he will sweeten your way, and will cast your enemies under your feet. And by working you shall grow to understand that which you know not how to conceive, either by speaking or hearing. For in the way of GOD, these lukewarm talking people learn little; but they who are diligent in putting the hand to work learn much. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST goes before you; follow him here with your cross; and one day you shall be with him in heaven.

 

LETTER 4 To a Friend whom lee animates to serve GOD in earnest.

 

 MY SOUL is filled with comfort by your letter; for the words contained therein, give me a hope of somewhat which has reason to make me glad, and which, if it might once take full effect, would breed a joy in me so great, as would be equalled by few others.

 

 My good Sir, I desire to see that soul of yours unbeguiled and discharged from the many vanities, which are allowed in this world; and that you would believe your true repose consists not in any other, than in Him who created all things, and that you would go up and down full of care, in search after this good, and be so wounded, with the love of him, that all this world, with the beauty thereof, might seem but a smoke to you which vanishes as a shadow, which is indeed a mere device, to make men fools, making such as love it enemies of God.

 

 Was there ever seen any mischief so great as this Where are those eyes, which see not this And that heart which has no feeling of this And yet so great is our frailty, that if CIIRIST our Lord did not awake us, and make us understand this truth, it would be no more possible for us to be delivered from error, than it is possible in nature for a blind man to see, or a dead man to live. O you miserable man, who art worthy to be lamented with a flood of tears! who art so vehemently inclined to that which hurts thee most, and yet conceivest withal that it is good for thee! You thinkest that all has gone well, and that you art grown happy, when you art accommodated with the things of this life, and you have hardly any feeling, nor dost you think it worth the lamenting, to be in enmity with Almighty GOD. You knows how to value the honor of this world, which passes away at full speed, yea, and even whilst it lasts, makes not the owner thereof one hair's breadth the better in the high presence of GOD; and you have no care whether you be honored or dishonored in the court of that Divine Majesty. You fearest some little affront, which here threatens thee; but you seekest for no remedy against the high affront which is threatened at the latter dav, to all such as shall not have done honor to our Lord, with a lively faith and true obedience. You makest much account of thyself, and little of Almighty GOD; for you fulfillest thine own will, in despite of his. And any trifle which concerns thyself, offends thee much; and the while you have no care of that which highly concerns the honor of God.

 

The torment which is provided for sin will, one day, open the eyes of such persons, when there will be no remedy. The eyes which sin’shuts, pain opens. And therefore, Sir, if you love your soul, if you fear Almighty GOD, if your heart be not of flint, look carefully upon the shortness of this life, and how many you have known, who, being well accommodated here, GOD has commanded to go hence, complaining that the world had deceived them, and that for love thereof they had neglected the service of our Lord.

 

 That which they were, we are, and where they be arrived, we shall arrive, and the same earth must receive us all. For what therefore do we stay By what are we detained What is that which deceives us, and makes us so profoundly careless of a business which so highly imports us What makes us think that it concerns us little, notwithstanding nothing imports us at all, in comparison of this And if we confess it to be highly important, why do we labor so little for it Why do we spend so few hours about it

 

 Is it reason that any little time, which we employ about this, should seem so great a matter, whereas we never think much and are never weary, how much soever time we spend upon the business of this world

 

 The day will come, and that quickly, when those worldly persons will find themselves strangely disappointed, ana having lost all their labors, and leaving the fruits hereof behind them, shall be presented naked and poor, and in the extremity of confusion, before Him, who sent them hither, not to go fooling after vanities, but that they might pass through these temporal things, without staying or setting their hearts upon them, and that having their bodies here upon earth, their souls might be aspiring to heaven. And that though they live in flesh; yet they should not live according to the desires thereof, but like children who imitate their father, be pure, and true, and pious, and humble, and meek, and seek after the glory of God and the good of their neighbors.

 

 What will he be able to do at that day, who shall not have performed the thing for which he was sent into the world Who, forgetting the purity and perfection of a Christian life, whereby he was to imitate Almighty GOD, has defiled himself in the mud of earth, and has proceeded like some foolish boy, who, being sent about business, would stay to pass his time and play with other boys; or loiter, seeing of some vain show, neither did that which he was commanded, nor so much as remembered where he went, till returning hone at night, without any answer concerning his business, he is received with reproofs and stripes by him who sent him..

 

 Let us awake whilst we have time and have an eye to that which imports us most, and which is to last for ever. And let us leave vanity to vain persons; for both it and they shall perish. Let us raise our eyes towards him who gave us life and being, and afterwards gave his own life that we might not lose ours. And with great labor he taught us the way, whereby we were to walk; and by a death which was full of torments, did he encourage and strengthen us to virtue; and obtained grace for us, whereby we might be able to serve and please Almighty GOD.

 

 If our LORD have begun to visit your soul, you will understand what I say, and profit by it. If not, (which God forbid,) it will be but the hearing of a story which is instantly forgotten.

 

LETTER 5

 

To an dieted Lady whose Sickness hindered certain Devotions which she had been wont to use.

 

 THE best comfort in those afflictions which come upon us against our will, is, not to have committed any fault; which might occasion their coming. For a conscience which stands right, will easily bear any weight which you can lay upon it; but to a conscience which is impure, any little burden is intolerable. If men knew the means of true repose, they would not remain with the sole desire thereof. It is the express law of GOD, that they who have desires of any other thing than him, shall be subject to torment, whether the thing be obtained or not obtained. For supposing it be had, they cannot completely enjoy it; and if it cannot be had, they are pained by the disappointment.

 

 The pure desire of Gov is very contrary to this. For if DAVID says, " Let the heart of them rejoice, who seek the LORD," what kit rd of thing will it be to find hint If the hunger give them joy, what will being satisfied do He therefore who desires to find true repose, must resolve to forego his own appetites, and boldly and faithfully lodge himself in the will of our LORD; and so he shall neither be tumbled up and down in the dark, nor be afflicted by the arrival of strange events.

 

 But who will procure that the sons of men may attend to that which GOD exacts at their hands " How long will ye love vanity, and seek after lies" Who shall free them from their blindness, seeking peace and finding war Yea, and by the same way wherein they seek it, they lose it. Let the whole world understand, that as there is no more than one GOD, so is there no more that one true repose. And as, without the true GOD, there is no GOD; so out of his repose, there is no repose. This say they who, after they are wearied upon the experience of their own vain desires, know, at length, both what GOD is, and what he is to them who seek him.

 

 He who will lift his eyes up to him, and depend upon his hand; he who will be a beggar at his gate; he who will desire him and grow even faint through hunger after him, shall be refreshed by the abundance of him, which does as far exceed the satisfaction which creatures give, as GOD himself exceeds them. But out of GOD, let no man presume to desire any thing. For, as ST. AUGUSTINE says, ’Wheresoever flesh and blood shall expect to find a fullness amongst the creatures, it will find itself deceived.' So that a mar, may understand by experience what difference there is between the Creator and the creatures, and so being untied from them, (since in them he found not what he sought,) may go at last with an entire heart to him, who alone is able to impart more to the soul, than it is able to receive.

 

 Your Ladyship must riot therefore be carried away, by that great error which is embraced by many great ones of this world, who think that they are to abound as much more than others in desires, as they are more eminent in rank; but for my part I see not what they gather from hence, ’but greater torments: For according to the desire, is the pain; and, as ST. BERNARD says,’ Let our own will cease, and there will be no more hell.' And so we may say, Let this self will cease, and there will not be in the world either any sin or any sorrow. For that which comes to us, is not, in itself, the thing which gives us pain, but the coming of it when we would not have it come. And therefore does GOD require our hearts of us, that so he may free them from many miseries, and may give us in exchange his own, which is peaceable, reposed, and joyful in tribulation. And a gross fool is he who had rather live in his own straitness than in the latitude of Almighty GOD.

 

Much better it is for a sinner, that he should grow into pain by occasion of his sin, than into peace and rest. For, as ST. AUGUSTINE says,’ There is not a more woeful thing than the temporal felicity of a sinner.' And as for us, let us learn hereafter to give all our desires to GOD; as a stone falls downward, and fire flies upward, and every thing makes towards its proper place; so let our hearts fly at full speed towards the centre thereof, which is GOD.

 

 Let us not commit such a treason against such a LORD, as that hereafter any other desire enter into our hearts, but of him or for the love of him. And so will the sad clouds of these unprofitable melancholies, and these vain hopes and vain fears, fly from our hearts, and in their place a new morning will rise. It will be fit that your Ladyship do not think, to use the like exercises of mind, now you are subject to an unlike disposition of body. Many have ignorantly afflicted themselves, for not having been able to weigh what their strength and state would permit. It is clear that with this condition of body, you must not think of keeping the same method you held before, nor does our LORD ask any such things at your hands, since his will is very wise, and tempered also with great mercy, and demands nothing of us, but that for which he gives us means. You must not then be discomforted for that which you are hot able to perform, for you might as well put yourself to pain, because you have no wings wherewith to hy. Do not place the joy of your heart upon making long prayer, but upon the accomplishment of the will of our LORD. And since his pleasure is, that the time which before you spent in praying shall now be spent in vomiting, let it be so in the name of GOD; and let us more esteem that. he be pleased, than we would to possess heaven and earth. And if we think such a punishment came to us for our having committed such a sin, what have we more to do than to cast ourselves at his feet, desiring both correction and pardon. And our LORD will either give them both, or else the pardon without the correction, but never the correction without the pardon, if the fault be not our own. We must therefore take any tribulation, as an introduction to peace; and provided there may be peace between GOD and us, let any thing come which he will send.

 

 One only thing we have to fear in this case, which is, lest we should indulge negligence under the pretence, I can do no more. We must here look upon ourselves with many eyes; for this EVE, which lives within us, is so desirous to be cherished, that she wants not a thousand inventions to make reason believe, she demands nothing superfluous, but of mere necessity.

 

 There is need here of two things; the one that when we are able to perform our spiritual exercises, we do not omit them by any means. Be not faint in laboring for the love of our LORD, since true love knows not, what it is to be remiss, and as you are to be pious towards your beloved, so are you to be severe towards yourself. Your Ladyship shall do well to call to mind what heroical acts the love of CHRIST has wrought in this world, in those hearts where it has dwelt. It has made them endure prisons, torments, dishonors, and that with much joy, whilst the great worth of the beloved has been placed before their eyes: And since it has wrought so great effects in others, let it not be weak in you, as that it cannot enable you to pass through a little affliction, for the pleasing of so high a LORD; by whom you shall be so much the better accepted, as you shall come to him with more affliction. Yet our LORD is not desirous of pain, but only of our love; but the' truth of love is hardly known, unless in somewhat which puts its to pain. For the friend who stands fast in time of tribulation, he is the friend indeed. And though God do well know what we are, without making any particular experiment, yet he loves to try us, that we may know it too; that so we may have comfort in finding ourselves faithful to him, and so may live in hope, that we shall enjoy our beloved.

 

 So that this must be your method, when you are free from your pains, you may exercise your mind in spiritual things; and beseech our LORD to give you to know when it is the flattery of flesh and blood, and when it is just necessity which hinders: For he who uses the knowledge well which he has, shall obtain light for that which he knows not: But as for others, with what face can they ask new light, since it may be answered them thus, Why desirest you to know further what my will is, since in that which you knows already you compliest not

 

 And when you have any ease, though it be not much, let your mind also be in some exercise of spiritual things, recording your desires, and presenting yourself before our LORD.

 

 The woman of Samaria asked where she was to pray; and our LORD answered her, that it was every where to be done, and that in spirit. And so is the Christian to do, who in all his works is to pray to the LORD; not in the mountain or in the temple alone, but in eating, drinking, and sleeping, in health and in sickness, referring all to GOD, and joying in all things because he receives them from that holy hand.

 

 Your Ladyship is to have great care, that you straiten not the goodness of God. Do not think that you are to seek him, and to find him, only in such a place, or such a work. He is every where, and if you seek him every where, you shall every where be sure to find him. " I rejoiced," says the wise man, " in all things, because this wisdom went before me."

 

 And so does he also rejoice, who in all things beholds GOD, performing that which he commands, and ever keeping the heart in attention to him; and from the contrary flow sadness, and disgust, and dejection, which is to be avoided with much diligence: For it brings much hurt both to our body and to our soul, and to our neighbor; whereas joy and comfort give strength, cherish the SPIRIT of GOD, which dwells in such as are his servants; for his SPIRIT is cheerful.

 

And since the lodging which he takes up is in the heart, you are not to be in pain that your body is no better_ For though there may be some impediment why we cannot labor, yet there can be none why we may not love. So much the more must we love our Lord, who is desirous to give strength to that heart which seeks to love him; for this tends to the accomplishment of that very thing which he likes best of all others both in heaven and earth, and that is love. Wherewith 1 desire that your Ladyship may so abound on earth, that you may be lodged near our Lord in heaven. Amen.

 

LETTER 6

 

To the same Lady.

 

 My SOUL loves yours because God loves it, and because I am to have no little part in your happiness St. PAUL says, a that they to whom he preached, were his joy, his honor, and his crown;" in that, receiving the word of GOD from his mouth, they had begun to walk in. the way of GOD . For, besides, that he rejoiced in their good, he also hoped to receive a reward at the last day, for having been that instrument, by means whereof, God had gained those souls, and therefore did he call them "his crown." Because, as a crown does beautify and honor the head of such as put it on; so they who are saved by means of any man's preaching, will be a means of honoring and joying that man, as some beautiful crown of rich stones might do.

 

 Now this being so, I confess you owe me not many thanks, for my wishing well to your soul; because the good thereof is mine, in regard that Gov has done me the favor to bestow you upon me, for my spiritual child, and will impart you to me as one of the precious stones of that crown, which one day he will vouchsafe me, if I continue faithful in that vocation, by which he has called me. And now because you are a stone, which he will set in a crown, it is the pleasure of our Lord to work, and polish you well. For it is no way fit, to put such stones in a crown, as are either rough or of no worth; such as these will be thrown into hell, since they received not their being wrought and enamelled by the SPIRIT of our Lord. But those living stones, whereof the celestial Jerusalem is built, are wrought

 

here with so many blows, that it seems as if our Lord would break them; and he gives them new blows, even before the pain of the former be gone. But yet, he hash

 

no intention to break them, but to polish them not to destroy them, but to beautify them, and to make them such that the more they seemed to be ill handled here, the more brightly they may, shine at the latter day.

 

 O happy strokes, which are to end in such repose! O happy labor, which shall be paid by the embraces of GOD himself! Wound us here, O LORD, as much as you wilt, so that you cherish us there. Here make us weep, that there you may wipe away our tears. Discomfort us here in all things, so that we may enjoy thee, who art all things; and be rigorous to us here, so that there you have mercy for us. In this world, we are like banished men, and crowded up into a corner. Heaven is our country and our liberty; therefore, howsoever things happen, we will make a shift to pass it here, to the end that "when the glory of GOD shall appear, we also may appear in glory."

 

 Madam, you must give thanks to our Lord, for he treats you as he has treated, and as he means to treat, his best friends. And as for that "only begotten Son" of his, who is the principal stone of all stones, do but see what blows they gave him. For they wrought, and beat upon him, from head to feet. And so according to the place which every one is to have there, he must he wrought and polished here. Now if this be necessary, even for just persons, what shall become of us sinners, but only that we must bow down the head, and say, O LORD, you punishest me little in comparison of the punishment I deserve. All that I can suffer is little, though I alone should suffer all the afflictions of the whole world. For to him who deserves hell, what temporal pain can seem great

 

 Let us know, that God is full of pity towards us, even then, when he seems most rigorous; since whomsoever he punishes here, he will not punish, but comfort there. All which we endure, we deserve; but yet God is so very full of pity, that the stripes which he sends us, he accounts as a piece of service from us. Therefore, he who knows CHRIST, has no compassion of himself in this world, because he knows himself to be more fit for GOD, the more afflictions he endures for his sake. So says IGNATIUS, I Fire, cross, fury of beasts, cutting, quartering, breaking, and destroying of every part of my whole body, and the scourges of the Devil himself: Let all these things come upon me, and let me only enjoy CHRIST our LORD. There is nothing in this world, which can do me good; not even

 

a kingdom. It is more happiness for me to die for CHRIST our Lord, than to exercise dominion over the earth, from one end thereof to the other.'

 

 In this manner, I desire that you would encourage yourself to suffer the remedy of your sins; yea, and though you bad not committed sin, you should yet apply yourself to endure affliction, for the love of JESUS; who endured so great things for you, without having given the least cause himself. And I would have you say to him, that however you are bound to suffer what he will send, yet out of a free heart, you would gladly suffer, for the love of him, though you were not bound to it. And thus according to the intention of your heart, our LORD will accept it at your hands, as a token which you carry for his love. In the loves of this world, men use to make other tokens; but in the love of GOD, the token is suffering affliction. And he who is not of a strong heart to suffer much, let him

 

never tell me that he loves much. For in this world there is no love without grief. I hope in GOD, that as here he gives you grief and trouble; so he has provided a place of rest and joy for you in the other world. Though indeed the very suffering for such a LORD is reward enough; and as there is nothing so much to be desired in the other world, as to enjoy that kingdom with CHRIST our LORD, so neither is there any thing in this which may be compared to the excellency of suffering with him and for him. Suffer therefore with a good will, since you are to be crowned for the same. For the afflictions which you endure come to you but as a means, whereby you may obtain that crown.

 

LETTER 7 To his Friend, groan cold in the Way of Virtue.

 

 HE, WHO in time has seen his soul a proficient in virtue, and at the present finds it to be in decay, has much cause to be in pain, and to procure remedy, by all the means he may. For if a man be able to feel the diminution of his temporal goods; how much more ought we the decay of the goods of our soul But although this mischief be great, even for the present, yet it is greater by much, for the future loss, which may be feared. For a little fall in relation to a great one, lies as close as the eve does to the holy day; and as near as he is to be vomited out, who leads a life of lukewarmness.

 

 GOD, for his precious passion, keep every mortal man from that misery, which is so great as to make ST. PETER say, " that such men had better not have known our LORD, than, after they had known him, to have forsaken him." And that was not without great mystery, which our LORD said to the man who had been sick eight and thirty years Now you art whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing happen to thee." These words are to be weighed, for they contain a rigorous threat, and are delivered by the mouth of truth itself, and are wont many times to be executed upon such as fear not, nor take a course to prevent their falling into them.

 

There happens a worse thing to them, because the sins into which they fall afterward are more highly aggravated, and more deeply rooted, than the sins committed in former times. As there is difference between a man who has wit, and yet does the works of a fool, and another who has no wit at all; or between a man who owes his life to another, and another who had received no such honors.

 

 A great favor it is which God does to them, to whom he gives both the knowledge of their sins, and of his love. But yet withal he obliges them to much thereby, since according to the gift the account must be made: And if it be ill done, not to pay good with good; what will it be to render evil for good, and to answer with offences instead of services

 

 There happens a worse thing to them, since they are wont to sin more, and with more faulty circumstances than before; and they come by little and little, to dry themselves up, so that they do not the good which they did before God called them to his service. Then do they sigh to obtain a little spiritual good again, and they find it not: They find heaven is to them of brass, and the earth of iron; for there is not a drop of water to be found, which may soften their souls, or yield them any fruit, whereby they may be sustained. And they who in former times, were visited and watered, with many good inspirations, now desire one and cannot compass it.

 

 And it is not many miles from this hardness of heart to hell itself, the journey's end of those wicked sons, who, after they were received for sons, " forgot their Lord who possessed them, who made them, and who created them." He who trembles not at this, does already give testimony that he is hard hearted, and has reason to fear so much the more, as he fears the less.

 

 And therefore, Sir, let us consider these things, as signs of that which is like to follow. When we see the foundations of a wall fall away, it is time to apply some remedy. Let us greatly fear the going backward in spirit only one day, and let us not suffer a defect, though it may seem small, to pass without punishment. I say, though it seem small, for in very deed none is so, for the very least of them does us much hurt.

 

 This mischief proceeds from one of these two causes; either not being thankful for the good received, or being negligent in preserving it: The cause why God imparting great benefits to many, without asking, does yet deny them other inferior benefits which they asked afterwards, is, because they were ungrateful for those greater benefits; and thereby made themselves unworthy of the less. So that we must thank God for the benefits which we have received; and employ them well, lest we lose them all, and ourselves with them. Let us be remiss in other business, so we be attentive to this, with all our power. And he who has received blessings from heaven may content himself with growing rich in them,, though he be not so prosperous in this world. The world is so full of malignity, and our forces are so weak, that we are like a candle, in the midst of many winds, and if we fail to be very diligent to keep it in, they will blow it out.

 

 Account this your chief estate, your honor, your safety, your life; place your right eye upon this, and your left upon other things: If somewhat must be lost, let it be that which one day will be lost, whether we will or no. And let that remain, which if we do not lose, we shall be saved for ever.

 

It is better to have a good conscience than temporal riches; and to have credit with GOD, than with man: Let us then begin to lead a new life, with fresh courage, being much offended with ourselves, for having been so ungrateful to our great Benefactor, and so negligent in that which concerned us most. Give not over prayer, the reading of spiritual books, the sacraments, though you perform them but drily. But above all, let there be no want of humble prayer and of a wounded heart. For our merciful LORD who stands, expecting that, we should go towards him, to do us good, will come out upon the way to meet us, and will cover us with the mantle of his goodness. I beseech his divine Majesty, that he may so proceed with you, for the eternal glory of his goodness.

 

LETTER 8

 

To it great Lord, wherein he treats of the Knowledge of GOD, and of one's sell

 

 THE peace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be ever remaining with your Lordship. ST. AUGUSTINE desired two things of our LORD:’ Grant that I may know thee, and that I may know myself:' These are things which we must all desire, and no man is found without them, unless he be found without salvation.

 

This so high thing, the knowledge of GOD, is not to be obtained without the knowledge of one's self. It is certain, no man ever saw GOD, unless first he saw himself. Nor is it safe for any man to fly high, unless he have the counterpoise of knowing himself.

 

 When a man forgets himself, he becomes wanton, and not seeing his own faults and frailties, loses all holy fear and proves light and giddy, like a ship without ballast. I never saw any soul remain in safety, but by the knowledge of itself. No building can be sure without a deep foundation; and that time is well employed, which is spent upon the reproof of a man's own soul. It is full of profit towards the amendment of our faults, if we will examine them. What kind of thing is a man who examines not and knows not himself These are they who take such pains to understand the lives of others, and having shut their eyes to their own defects, have yet more than a hundred eyes open to watch over the error of other folks.

 

 These are they who observe and aggravate the errors of their neighbors, and neglect their own. I never yet saw a man, who was curious in the consideration of himself, who would not also easily pass over the fault of another; and whatsoever man is severe against another when he falls, gives strong evidence, that he considers not his own defects. So that if we desire to fly from this dangerous kind of blindness, we must be sure to view and review what ourselves are, that so, when we find how miserable we be, we may cry out for remedy to our LORD JESUS: Because, indeed, he is JESUS, that is to say a Savior; but yet of no other, than such as know and bewail their own miseries.

 

 Who is he that has not erred, in those things wherein he thought himself most sure Who has not desired and searched after things as good for him, which yet afterward he found to be for his hurt Who will presume to know any thing, since he has been deceived innumerable times What is more blind than a man who knows not so much as what he is to ask of GOD, as ST. PAUL tells us And this comes to pass, because we know not so much as is good for ourselves, as it happened even to the same ST. PAUL, who, begging of GOD that he would free him from a particular temptation, conceived that he had asked aright, but it was given him to be understood, that indeed he knew nor what he asked, nor so much as what was good for him. And now who will put confidence in his ability, to know even so much as what he should judge, and desire concerning himself, since he, whom the HOLY GHOST so inhabited, did ask that which was not good for him Certainly, our ignorance must be very great, since we err so often in those things, wherein it imports us so much not to err.

 

 But now though sometimes our LORD should teach us, to know what is good, yet who does not see how very great our weakness is, and how we fall flat upon our faces, in those things wherein it concerned us to stand upright To whorl has it not occurred many times, to propound the doing of some good thing, and yet find himself overthrown, and overcome by that wherein he took himself to be invincible To day we lament our sins with tears, and purpose to refrain them afterward, and yet, even whilst the same tears are wet upon our cheeks, some new occasion is offered, and we commit that very thing, for which we have cause to weep again. What is so weak and light, which changes so often upon the turning of all winds, as we Sometimes merry, and sometimes sad; now devout, and then distracted; now full of desire to heaven, and then dropping down to hell; now we abhor a thing, and instantly we love that which we abhorred.

 

What thing can there be, with such variety of colors in it as man What image can they paint with so many faces, and so many tongues How truly said JOB, " Man never remains in one state:" And the reason hereof is, because he is ashes or dust, and his life a wind. Now who would seek for any rest between dust and wind To how many several dispositions is one man subject, in one only clay! His whole life is a very mass of mutability and frailty; and that which the Scripture says, agrees well to him: " The fool is changeable as the moon."

 

 But now what remedy shall we find Certainly we can have none better than to know ourselves lunatics. And, as in former times, they carried the lunatics to our LORD JESUS CHRIST, so let us go for cure to him. O danger of hell, which is so mightily to be feared! And who is he, that will not watch with a thousand eyes, that he may not be put to welter in that profound lake; where he shall eternally bewail the temporal delight, which he has unlawfully enjoyed Who will not take care of his way, lest he be found wandering from all happiness Where are the eyes of that man, who sees not this Where are his ears, who hears it not Our sins are innumerable, our frailties are great, our enemies are stout, crafty, and many. That whereof we are in question, is either the gaining or losing GOD, for all eternity. How comes it then to pass, that in the midst of so many dangers, we can esteem ourselves secure; and under the weight of so many wounds, do not feel the pain thereof Why seek we not for some remedy, before the night steal upon us, and before the gates of all succor be shut against us, when these foolish virgins shall cry out, and it shall be answered, I know you not"

 

 Let us therefore know ourselves, and we shall be known by GOD. Let us judge ourselves, and so we shall be absolved by GOD. Let us. place our eyes upon our own faults, and so there will be mercy for us. Let us consider our own miseries, and we shall have pity upon those of others. If I see myself fall, I shall think it may happen so to my neighbor; and as I shall be glad to have my fault pitied, so will I have pity upon other men. If I be sad, I desire comfort; and my neighbor’s case is the same. 1 am troubled at an ill word which was spoken to me, and say,’ I am made of flesh, and not of iron;' my neighbor also is made of flesh, and feels the like affliction, upon the like occasion. And there is no better rule by which I may live with my neighbor, than to mark attentively, that which passes within myself, since you and I are one.

 

 Let us consider well, if we be deaf to the miseries of others, so will GOD be to ours. Let no man think that CHRIST will measure to us with any other measure, than we measure to others: Let no man think that he shall obtain pardon, if he afford not pardon. The untoward man shall meet with untowardness; the troublesome man, with troubles; the offensive man with injuries, and the charitable man with mercy: For to sow thorns with a man's neighbor, and to gather figs at the hands of GOD, is impossible.

 

 Let us therefore know ourselves, and let us be towards others, as we desire they should be towards us, and so let us pass on to the knowledge of God: And let us lift up our eyes to our LORD, who was placed upon the cross for our salvation, and in him we shall discern both more and greater blessings, than we discovered miseries in ourselves And if by thinking what we are, we grow sad, through the consideration of our grievous sins past, and through the dangers which are at band; we shall be refreshed by looking up to him, when we consider, both how truly, and how super abundantly he paid that which we owe, and purchased that strength for us, whereby we may subdue our enemies.

 

 And what, O LORD, shall he fear who follows thee At what shall he tremble, who loves thee Who shall be able to set upon that man, who takes thee for his defense How shall the Devil be able to carry him away, who is incorporated in thee How shall the eternal FATHER forbear to love that creature, whom he perceives to be in his SON, as the branch is in the vine Or, how shall the Son fail to love that man, whom he perceives to love him Or, how shall the HOLY GHOST forsake that creature, who is the temple which himself inhabits We possess greater benefits in CHRIST our LORD, than miseries in ourselves. Nor is there any comfort for such a one as is discomforted in himself, but to look up to JESUS upon the cross, whom GOD has ordained for the remedy of all such as should be wounded by the spiritual serpent. For as anciently GOD commanded that they should erect a serpent of brass; that all such as should behold it might be cured, so he who shall behold CHRIST our LORD, with faith and love, shall live, and he who beholds him not, shall die.

 

 He took the place of the accursed, in being tormented upon the cross, which was due to us, and we are admitted to the friendship of GOD, to be his sons, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, with a thousand other benedictions, which came from our blessed LORD, in whom they remain for ever. O wonderful exchange! that life should die, to the end that death may live. The sound man is wounded, that the wounded may be cured. The SON is treated as a slave, that the slave may be adopted for a son. They cruelly handle him who deserves all pity; and all the favor falls upon that person, who deserved hell. What shall we say Innocency is condemned, and the wicked man is justified: What did CHRIST our LORD choose for himself Our afflictions and miseries. What shall we say to such love as this; but praise and bless this LORD day and night, who has wrought our redemption by a way which put him to so much cost

 

 O you honor of men and angels! be you blessed without end. For all the honor, which all the race of mankind possesses, comes through thee: You gayest it by the conjunction of thyself to them, making thyself man, dying for men and exalting them to an equality with angels, if themselves will; and ordaining, that the sons of sinful ADAM may become the sons of GOD, and the heirs of thy FATHER, and co heirs with thee, as being thy brethren. You didst abase thyself, O LORD, to exalt us, you didst abase thyself below all men, that you might raise us above the angels.

 

 What shall we render to thee, O LORD, for so great favors If we have any thing, if we be fit for any thing, and if we be any way acceptable to GOD, it is wholly by thee; we must yield thee all praise, for that You, being what you art, wouldest vouchsafe to offer thyself to so great afflictions, for such wretched things as we are. They cursed thee, O LORD, and you blessedst us. Thy death gives us life, and thy affliction ease; since you wert contented to be judged, it is reason that you also be our Judge. Let us therefore rejoice, since he who loves us so much is to be our Judge; and we will go confidently to judgment, since the Judge is of our own flesh and blood.

 

 If we be changeable and weak. let us look upon this Author of our faith, and see how he is nailed to that cross, both hand and foot; and that immoveably, that by his grace we may be constant in well doing. He who will go to CHRIST for the cure of his inconstancy, shall obtain perseverance. He who dwells in CHRIST, does not wander hither and thither, but stands fast in goodness. For he who is in CHRIST, participates of CHRIST: And so as CHRIST is just, is he also just.

 

 All they who are in CHRIST, live by his SPIRIT, as thy members live by the head. And he who possesses this SPIRIT, is like CHRIST our LORD. And he who has not the SPIRIT of CHRIST, let him hearken to ST. PAUL, who says, "If any man has not the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is none of his."

 

Let a man therefore view himself, to see if he find a conformity of his soul with CHRIST; if he have it, it will be easy for him to keep the commandments of CHRIST. And if not, let him go to CHRIST, and beg his SPIRIT of him For it will profit me little, that CHRIST came into the world, if he come not into my heart. CHRIST brought down righteousness, peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST, with many other blessings; yet if I live in wickedness, CHRIST dwells not in my soul. And it is in effect, as if he had not come into the world at all, saving that it will turn to my greater misery; for I shall be punished so much the more, because I would not admit of that salvation which was offered me.

 

 This, my Lord, seemed sufficient to me, for the address of a person who has a mind to draw near to God: But because in your Lordship, there is the capacity of two persons, your Lordship will have need of two rules. That which is said, may suffice for your own particular person; but in respect you have a great charge over many others, it will be necessary for you to have more.

 

 And methinks there is no better glass, wherein a man who is a Lord over others ought to look, than upon that LORD of men and angels, whose person he represents. He who sits in the place of another, should have the properties of him whose place he holds. A Lord of vassals is a lieutenant of GOD, who ordains that some shall govern and others obey.

 

 Therefore let a man consider, what offices GOD exercises towards a man; and so he shall know how he is to carry himself towards his people. GOD chastises such as err, without any acceptance of persons, and in this he is so strict, that he has not any who is so great a favorite but’ that he shall pay for it, if he give just cause: Nay, he pardoned not his own SON, though he owed nothing for himself, but only because he obliged himself to pay for the sins of others. So there is nothing which should have power to make him who governs forbear the doing his duty, but he is to stand like the beam of a balance, which leans not either to the one scale or to the other.

 

 There is nothing to which great Lords ought to attend so much, as truly and cordially (like men who live in the presence of God) to remain ever faithful and firm to him, without leaning either to this way or that: And this will be easily performed by that great man, who attentively considers that he is but the minister of GOD, as one who but merely executes, and must not exceed the commission which is given him. GOD places not great Lords in the world to do what they list, but to execute the laws of his holy will; and though they are Lords, yet are they still under the LORD of all, in comparison of whom they are more truly vassals than their vassals are theirs, and their power is as truly limited as their vassals' power is. He then is to be more favored, who has most right on his side, and he is to be punished who deserves it most. And thus may any Lord resemble the true LORD of all, if without acceptance of persons he give to every one according to his works, yea, and if sometimes he punish most, such as are most favored by him, because reason would require, that they should offend him least.

 

 I beseech your Lordship, that as you are a particular man, you will look into yourself with a hundred eyes, and that you will look into yourself with a hundred thousand, as you are a person upon whom many look and many follow. And take care to manage both your person and your house, as the law of CHRIST requires, that he who shall imitate your Lordship, may also imitate CHRIST therein; and may meet with nothing to stumble at. And let this be the conclusion, That the more attentively a man shall consider and imitate JESUS CHRIST, so much the better man, and so much the better Lord he shall be.

 

LETTER 9

 

To a Lady whom he persuades to receive CHRIST, and to love him with fervent Love.

 

 How busy will your Ladyship be, in this holy time, preparing a lodging for that guest who is coming to you! Methinks, I see you as earnest as MARTHA, and yet as quiet as MARY, that so by your endeavors, both exterior and, interior, you may do him service, who is drawing near, since he is so worthy both of the one and of the other. O blessed time wherein is represented to us the coming of God in flesh to dwell amongst us, " to illuminate our darkness, and to guide our feet into the way of peace," to adopt us for his brethren, and to design us for the same inheritance with himself!

 

 It is not without cause, that you desire his coming, and that you prepare your heart for his habitation: For this LORD was desired long before he came, and the Prophet called him " the desire of all nations:" And indeed he gives himself to none, but such as desire him. God "hears the desire of the poor," for his ears are laid close to the sighing of our hearts, and he cares for nothing else in us but that. To such a heart he comes, and cannot deny himself.

 

 O celestial Bread, which descendest out of the bosom of thy FATHER, and art inviting as many as will, to come and enjoy thee, and feed upon thee! Who can with hold himself from going to thee, and from receiving thee, since you givest thyself, upon no harder condition, than only that we hunger after thee For dost you ask more of us, than only that a soul sigh for thee, and confessing her sins, receive and love thee

 

 Great is the misery of those, who, when bread comes to them in their own houses, choose rather to die of hunger, than to stoop to take it up. O sloth, what a deal of mischief you doest! O blindness, what a deal of blessing dost you lose! O sleepiness, what a deal of advantage dost you steal away! Since considering the promise, "that whosoever seeks shall find, and to him who knocks it shall be opened;" it is clear, if we prove not well, the fault is ours.

 

 But what! shall things pass still after this manner Though GOD himself is come to cure us, shall we continue sick He being at the gate of our heart, crying out, " Open to me, my friend, my spouse;" shall we, wrapt up in vanities, suffer him to stand calling there, and not open the gate

 

 O my soul, come hither, and tell me (for I ask thee on the part of GOD) what is it that detains thee from going, with all thy forces, after GOD What dost you love, if you do not love this Spouse of thine Why dost you not love Him, who did so mightily love thee He had no business on earth, but to attend to the love of thee, and to seek thy profit, with his own loss. And what have you to do in this world, but to exercise thyself, all, in love of this King of heaven Dost you not see, how all that you seest, must have an end, as also all that you hearest, which you touchest, which you tastest, and wherewith you dost converse Dost you not see, that all this is but cobwebs, which cannot clothe thee, and keep thee warm Where art You, if not in JESUS CHRIST What art you thinking, what account art you making, what dost you seek, out of that only, one, complete GOD

 

 Let us rouse up ourselves at last, and break off this bad sleep; let us awake, for it is broad day, since JESUS CHRIST, who is the light, is come: Let us do the works of light, since there is a time wherein we did the works of darkness. O that the memory of that time, wherein we knew not GOD, might make us run greedily after him! O that we could run, O that we could fly, O that we might burn, and be transformed into him! What must a creature do, when he sees his Creator made man, and all for love of him alone Who ever heard of such a love as this, that one loving another, should by love be converted into that other It is true, that GOD loved us, when he made us after his image; but a far greater work it was to make himself after our image. He aliases himself to us, that he may exalt us to him: He makes himself a man, that he may make us Gods: He descends from heaven, that he may carry us thither: In fine, he died, that he might give us life. And shall I he sleeping, and without any sense of gratitude for so great love O LORD, illuminate mine eyes, that they may not sleep in such a death as this. And you who has done us this great favor, give us also a right feeling of it. Otherwise, the greater the benefit is, the more hurt it will do us in the end.

 

 O LORD, open mine eyes, that they may consider thee, descending out of the bosom of thy FATHER. Make me able to humble myself for thee: Make me able to consider thee lying in a manger; and let me learn thereby to cast all delicacy far from me: Let thy tears and sighs show and sound themselves in mine ears, that they may mollify my heart, and it may deliver itself over, as wax, to every inclination of thy will. And do not you permit, that GOD should weep and man have no feeling of it.

 

 Seal up, O LORD, thy words in my soul, that I may never sin against thee. Let the blood which you didst shed for me, be gathered up into my heart, and be you my only love, that so you may not repent of all these great afflictions which you enduredst for me. It is I whom you soughtest, and whom you seekest still; and for me you have undergone all that cost. Let me never see my self belonging to any other than thee, since you have de served me so well.

 

 Come, Madam, let that heart of yours now prepare itself; for GOD is upon the point of being born: And see that you tend and treat him well, for he is the son of a great high King, and he is the son also of a virgin, and he takes much pleasure to lodge himself in the hearts of virgins: And because he has a great deal of poor people amongst his kindred, whom yet he loves dearly well, you must be also sure to love them, for they are the brethren of our Creator. As soon as he is born in your heart, you must take care to nurse him: Arid I beseech him to keep and save you, for his mercies' sake. Amen.

 

LETTER 1O

 

To some who were afflicted by a Persecution which was raised against them: He animates them to a love of the crass,

 

and the imitation of CHRIST.

 

 "BLESSED BE GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of mercies, and the GOD of all consolation, who comforts us in all our tribulation; so that we also are enabled to comfort them who are in any kind of affliction. And this we do in virtue of that consolation wherewith GOD comforts us; for as the tribulations of CHRIST abound in us; so through CHRIST our consolation also abounds."

 

 These are the words of the Apostle ST. PAUL. Three times he was scourged with rods, five times with whips, and once he was stoned in such sort as that he was left for dead, and persecuted by all the generations of mankind, and tormented with all sorts of afflictions and troubles: And in all these tribulations, he does not only not murmur, nor complain as weak persons are wont to do; but he praises our LORD in them, and gives thanks for them, as for an extraordinary blessing, esteeming himself happy,. to suffer for the honor of him, who suffered so great dishonors, that he might draw us out of that true dishonor wherein we were, being slaves to the baseness of sin; and he beautified and honored us " with his SPIRIT, and with the adoption of the sons of GOD," and gave us an earnest, and a pledge, that we should enjoy the kingdom of heaven.

 

 O my brethren, consider how great favor he does us, by that which the world thinks to be disfavor; and how high honor is reserved to us, for that abasement wherein now we are, and how delightful and dear arms our Lord extends towards us, to receive such as are wounded in the war for his sake: And if we have any true understanding, we shall conceive a vehement desire of these embraces.

 

 Know you for certain, that if you desire to enjoy heaven, there is no way more secure to it than that of suffering. This is that path whereby CHRIST our LORD, and all his servants, are gone before us. It is against all reason, that the SON of GOD, having gone by the way of dishonor, the sons of men should go by the way of honor,’1 since the disciple is not greater than his master, nor the servant than his LORD." And GOD forbid, that our soul should rest in any other thing; or should desire any other life, in this world, but only to suffer under the cross of CHRIST our LORD. Though yet I know not if I have said well, in calling that affliction which is suffered under that cross. For to my seeming, it is as the delight of a soft bed, full of roses.

 

 O you JESUS of Nazareth, how sweet is that odor of thee, which awakes in us those insatiable desires of eternity, and makes us forget the afflictions which we suffer here, whilst we consider for whom they arc endured, and with what reward they shall be paid! And who is he that, can love thee at all, and yet does not love thee crucified In that cross you didst seek me, you didst cure me, you didst deliver me, you didst free me, you didst love me, giving thy life and blood for me, by the hands of base and cruel wretches: And therefore in the cross will I seek thee, and upon that I find thee; and finding thee, you helpest me, and you deliverest me from myself, who am the creature which contradicts thy love, wherein mine own salvation does consist.

 

 But woe is me, what shame covers my face, and what sorrow seizes upon my heart, who, having been so much beloved by thee, yet loves thee so little, as may be seen by the little which I endure for thee. I easily confess, that all men deserve not so great happiness, as to be marked. out for thine with the mark of the cross; but yet consider what a sad thing it is for me to desire and not to obtain, to ask and not to receive: How much more, when I beg not delight and ease, but affliction for love of thee! 

 

 Tell me, since you wilt have me to be both thy herald, and thy ensign, who am to carry the flying colors of thy Gospel, why you dost not apparel rue, from head to foot, with thine own livery O how ill does the name of thy servant belong to me, who find myself naked of that garment wherewith you wast continually apparelled Tell us, O beloved JESUS, was there any one day when you didst put off that robe of suffering, to clothe thyself with. repose and ease O no; you wert far from resting, because you wert far from leaving to love, and this love made thee always suffer.

 

 And when they stripped thee of thy clothes, to nail thee upon the cross, there was no part of thee which was not dyed with thy most precious blood: The head crowned with thorns, the face loaden with buffets, the hand pierced with two nails, and the feet with one; a bitter one to thee, but dear to us; and all the rest of thy body embroidered over with so many stripes, that it was no easy thing to number them.

 

 He who, beholding thee, shall love himself and not thee, shall do thee an extreme wrong. He who, seeing thee in such a plight, shall fly from that which may make him like thee, does not know thee with perfect love.

 

 For my part, I am resolved to hold thee fast, though all other things be wanting, rather than I will remain of any other colour than you art, though otherwise the world wherein I live might be all mine. For all those things, which are not thyself, are rather affliction and burden, than true happiness; but in thy being ours, and our being thine, consists our true joy and riches; for you alone art all our true good.

 

 I had forgotten myself, my dear brethren, in that whereof I began to speak; and to beseech and admonish you, in the name of CHRIST our LORD, that you be not troubled at those persecutions, or rather the shadows thereof, which are come upon us. For this is the lesson which we have been learning continually, saying,’ We must suffer, we must suffer for the love of CHRIST.' Behold we are now at the very gates Let us not be troubled like children, who are not willing to repeat their lesson;; but comfort yourselves in the LORD, and in the strength of his power, who loves you and will defend you.

 

 Let not the menaces of them that threaten you, breed you any trouble. I, for my part, value not all their threats at the weight of one single hair: For I am in the hand of CHRIST, and I have great compassion of their blindness: For the Gospel of CHRIST our LORD, which I have preached in that town, is hid from their eyes. But I desire much, and I beg of our LORD, that he will have mercy on them, and heap benedictions upon them in lieu of the curses which they cast on me, and glory for the dishonor which they do me, or (to speak more truly) which they desire to do me: For I am fixed in this, there is no honor for a man upon earth, but to be dishonored for CHRIST our LORD.

 

 Do you also, my dear friends, after the same manner, consider in all your neighbors, that they are the creatures of GOD, and that GOD desires their salvation; and then you will take heed of wishing ill to that man, to whom GOD desires so much good. Remember how often you have heard from my mouth, that " we must love our enemies," and that with great repose of mind, and without speaking ill of any. Settle this truth in your hearts, that he whom you have followed is the LORD of heaven and earth, and of life and death; and that, though all the world should say nay, his truth must prevail. Labor you to follow that truth, and whilst you are doing so, fear not men, yea fear not devils, no nor even angels, if it were possible for them to be against you. Be very careful to be silent amongst men; but be sure that your hearts speak much in prayer to GOD: And if you suffer any thing by the tongues of evil men, take it as a particular favor from GOD, who will make you clean by the tongues of those evil men.

 

 But in the mean time, esteem not yourselves better than they. You know not how long yourselves may continue in doing well, nor they in doing ill. " Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;" and so hope that yourselves shall go to heaven, as not to judge that your neighbor is not to go thither; so value the favors which GOD has done you, that you touch not upon the imperfections of your neighbor. For you know what happened between the Pharisee and the Publican, by which example we must be warned.

 

 There is no sanctity assured, but in the holy fear of GOD, wherein I would have you grow old. We must not only fear GOD, when first we come to his service, but even to the end. This fear is no sad or irksome thing, but full of comfort; it takes away all levity of heart, and it makes a man not hasty to approve his own actions; but he leaves the judgment, both of himself, and of all the world, to Almighty GOD: As ST. PAUL said, " I judge not myself, but he who judges me is our LORD." This is he whom you must fear, if you will persevere in well doing, and if you will not have your building fall, but stand safe till it rise and reach to the most high GOD. But now this must be done by love, which I beseech our LORD JESUS CHRIST to give you. Amen. Pray for me cordially, as I believe you do: For I hope in GOD that he will hear you, and that he will give me to you, for your service, as in former times.

 

LETTER 11

 

To a Widow. He comforts her on. the Death of her Husband, and animates her to bear her Afflictions with Patience.

 

 I HAVE deferred to write to you, out of a belief that my letter would be of little power, towards the mitigating your sorrow: And I thought I should take a better course to utter myself to our LORD, who is the Lord of all comfort, and to recommend you to him, than to be speaking to you by my letters. But yet because they have been desired, and because our LORD has power to work even by dead letters, I would not fail to do as I was commanded, beseeching our LORD to breed that comfort in your heart which I desire.

 

 Our LORD has so disposed, as to have you taste affliction; let his name be blessed, and his will obeyed, since that which the creature owes to his Creator is all reverence and subjection, not only in those things which are delightful, but in those also which are most painful. Now to make trial of this obedience, GOD is wont to teach us, in that which lies next our hearts: To the end that we may understand, that for so great a LORD we must be content both to do and suffer great things.

 

 ABRAHAM bore a tender love to his son ISAAC, and GOD was pleased to try him in that. A great love it was which Jon carried to his seven sons, and yet God took them all away in one day. After this manner he is wont to proceed with such as he loves: For by this means both they are. capable of testifying their love to him, and he takes occasion to do them great favors. I know well, that flesh and blood have no understanding of this language, and that they only employ themselves in feeling the grief and loss which they sustain, without caring for other things: But if God be in us, we must restrain our sense, and make it obedient to reason, and to the will of the LORD. And though it trouble us much, yet must we not let this flesh of ours overcome, but remembering the anguish of our LORD, which made him sweat drops of blood, and say, 11. FATHER, not my will, but thy will be done," we are to say the same, if we mean to be known for his disciples; since he will know none for his companion in heaven, but the man who carries the cross, and who will follow him as the sheep his shepherd, though it should cost him his life.

 

 Should not adopted sons be content to endure that which the natural son endured;, Who was more beloved by GOD, than his first begotten SON And who was more loaden with variety of pains than be " He was the man of sorrow, and he knew by experience what belonged to affliction." And if you be able to count the drops of the sea, you may also count his sorrows. Will it then seem reason to you, that the SON of GOD, being all wounded with grief, even to the death, we should pass our lives without drinking once of the " vinegar and gall" What! should we let him suffer alone, and yet pretend to reign with him in heaven

 

Let all creatures at last know, that if the King of heaven entered into his kingdom by tribulations, we also must enter in by the same way. There is no other way but " CHRIST crucified;" and whosoever seeks any other, will not find it; and whosoever walks in any other, will lose himself. What is all this present prosperity, but a smoke which by little and little will be dispersed, so that we shall see nothing of it And what are all the years of our life, but a short sleep out of which when we awake, we find how we were abused

 

 Our LORD has visited you, that you may make more account of him, the more you see yourself in want; otherwise, do not conceive that God takes' pleasure in your pain, but because he is merciful, he has a tender feeling of your tears. Only he will put this wormwood into your cup, that so, being stripped of human comfort, you may have your leaning place upon him alone. God has taken one comfort from you, but it is to give you another. He has made you a widow, but it is that he may make himself your Father, since " Father of the forsaken" is his name. Many afflictions will not fail to offer themselves to you, in this widowhood; and in many things you will find the want of him, who was wont to remedy them. And in many of your friends, you shall find little help, and little fidelity, and less gratitude; but in all these things God will have you fly to him, and confer with him about the troubles you are in, and ease your heart with him. And if you trust yourself in his hands, infallibly you shall meet with a sure refuge in all your difficulties, and a perfect guide in all your ways:

 

 And many times without your knowing by whose means, or how it comes to pass, you shall find your business done to your hand, much better than you could have imagined; and you shall then understand by experience, how great a Friend GOD is to the afflicted, and how truly he dwells with them, and himself solicits their causes.

 

 And if at any time he does not give you that which you desire, it will be to give you that which is fit: For so does this celestial Physician proceed with them who go to him for their recovery, and who have a greater desire to be cured than that their taste be pleased. Depart not you from his hands, though it should put you to much pain: Desire him not to do what you will, but what he will: Let your weapons be your prayers and your tears, and they not lost tears for that which our LORD has taken from you, but living tears, that our LORD may be pleased to save you.

 

 But for what does that superfluous pain serve which they tell me you give yourself, but only for the adding of sin to pain You know, as we have no liberty to laugh idly, so neither have we any to weep superfluously; but both in the one and in the other, we must be obedient to the holy will of our LORD. Why do you complain Either you are a sinner, and then you must be brought to repentance by this affliction; or else you are a just person, and then you must be tried, that you may be crowned: Whether it be the one or the other, you must give thanks to our LORD with your whole heart, and resolve to love the end and reason of this correction, though the thing itself be unpleasing.

 

 Let not your time pass away in glutting your eyes with tears, but send your heart up to GOD, and so prepare yourself for that passage whereby you see others march before. It is enough that you have already made so large a feast to flesh and blood. Dry your eyes at last, and let not that time pass in bewailing death, which was granted you for the gaining life.

 

 You served our LORD with alacrity in the state of matrimony; serve him now in the state of widowhood, and in the trouble of that state, with patience: So if then you gained thirty fold, you may now gain sixty. But for the obtaining of this, you must demand grace of our LORD with prayers and tears, reading devout books, and receiving the most blessed sacrament; and so lift up your heart, and walk on. The jewel you expect is of so inestimable a value, (it being GOD himself,) that how much soever it cost, it can never be dear. And since you are one day to possess it, you are now to rejoice in the hope thereof. And complain not of your afflictions, but say,’ So great is the good for which I hope, that I feel not the misery which I have.' Let JESUS CHRIST our LORD accomplish all this in you, as I desire and beg of him. Amen.

 

LETTER 12

 

To a holy Woman, about a Book which she was desired to Publish:

 

He declares also how she is to carry herself in spiritual Things.

 

 THE grace and peace of JESUS CHRIST our LORD be ever with you. When I consented to read that book of yours, which was sent me; it was not so much out of any opinion, that I was able to judge of the things contained therein, as because I thought that myself might profit by them. And I thank CHRIST, that I was comforted thereby, and may also be benefited otherwise, if the fault be not mine own.. And now both the matter itself, and the person who commends it to me, require me to say what I think thereof.

 

 The book is not fit to come into the hands of many Some things may be` profitable to your spirit, which would not be so, if they should be followed by others. For the particular ways whereby GOD guides some, are not fit for all.

 

 The doctrine of your prayer, for the most part, is good; and you may very safely believe it, and practice it: In your ecstasies, I find the signs which true ecstasies have. To discern that they proceed not from our own spirit is easy; but to find whether they come from a good spirit, or from a bad, is more hard. Men give many rules, whereby to know if they be of our LORD; and one of them is, if they be spoken in some time of great spiritual necessity; or if a man profit much by them, whether it be by way of comforting him when he is in temptation, or for the preventing of any danger: For if even a wise good man will not speak a, word which is not of much weight, much less will Almighty God. Considering both this, and that the words must be agreeable to Holy Scripture, I am of opinion that these words which are mentioned in your book, or the greatest part of them, are of GOD.

 

 That whereof there is more doubt, are the visions whereof you speak. These must in no case be desired. Yet if the soul reap profit by them; and if the sight thereof induce it not to vanity, but to increase humility; if that which they say be agreeable to Scripture; I see no cause why we should fly them any longer. Though yet nobody is to trust his own private opinion herein; but he must instantly communicate the matter to some person who is able to give him light. This is the general course which must be taken in all these things; and we may well hope that whoever has humility to submit himself to the judgment of others, GOD will not suffer him to be deceived.

 

 No man should easily condemn those things, only because the persons to whom they are vouchsafed are not perfect. For it is no new thing for our LORD to draw men even out of sins, (and great ones,) by giving them very sweet consolations. And who shall limit the goodness of our LORD Though these things are vouchsafed sometimes to such as are most weak: For as they do not necessarily make a man more a saint,' than he was; so neither are they always given to the greatest saints.

 

 But yet they have no reason, who discredit such things as these, because they are very high; and for that it seems to them incredible, that so infinite a Majesty should abase itself to such communication with a poor creature. It is written,' God is love; and if he be love, he must be infinite love, and infinite goodness. And from the hand of such love, and such goodness, it is no marvel if some souls receive such excesses of love, as may trouble others, who understand them not. And though men may understand, that there are such things in the world, yet the particular experience of this proceeding, which GOD holds with whom he will: This, unless it be possessed, a man cannot understand to what degree or point it arrives. I have seen many scandalized at the vast love of GOD towards his creatures And because themselves are far from receiving those favors, they cannot think that God will do that to others, which they find him not to do towards them. And though it were reason, that even because it is such love as casts us into admiration, it should be a sign to think it were of GOD, (since he is wonderful in all his works, and much more in those of his mercy,) yet from thence they fetch reasons why they should not believe them, provided always that there be a concurrence of other circumstances, which show that the thing in itself is good.

 

 For your part, by what I can perceive in your book, you have resisted such things as these, even more than you should. They have profited your soul; they have made you know your faults, and enabled you to mend them; I find they have lasted long, and that they have always been with spiritual profit; they incite you to the love of GOD, and to the contempt of yourself. I see no reason why I should condemn them, but I incline to think they are right.

 

 But yet ever with this condition, that you use great caution, and that you go not with entire confidence, especially if that which happens be not usual with you, or when it requires you to do any particular thing which is subject to some question. In all these cases, you must suspend your belief, and instantly ask counsel.

 

I also think good to let you know, that, though these things be of GOD, yet the enemy may mingle somewhat with them; and therefore you must never be without care and fear in such things. Know farther, that though they be of GOD, you must not reflect upon them with too much estimation; because sanctity consists not in these things, but " in the humble love of GOD and your neighbor." As for the others, they are to be feared, even when they are right; and you must pass from the thought thereof, to the procuring of humility, and other virtues, with the love of our LORD. You must also be sure not to adore any of those visions, but only adore CHRIST our LORD. And if it be a vision of any saint, you must lift up your heart to heaven.

 

 I must also tell you, that these things happen to many in those times; and this, with great certainty, that they are from GOD; " whose hand is not shortened," to do that now, which he did in former ages; and this in the weaker sort of vessels, that so he may be glorified the more. Go you on in your way; but so as that you be ever in fear of thieves, and that still you be asking, if the way be right. And give thanks to our LORD, for that he has bestowed upon you the love of him, and the knowledge of yourself, and a love of the cross.. As for those other things, make no high account thereof; though yet on the other side, you must not despise them, because there are signs which show, that many of them are sent by our LORD; and even they which are not, cannot hurt you, if you ask counsel.

 

 I beseech you, even for the love of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, to lay it as a charge upon yourself to pray for me. I ask it, as being urged by great necessities; and I think this alone will suffice for the obliging you to do it. JESUS be glorified by all, and in all. Amen.

 

LETTER 13 To some of his spiritual Children at Ezra.

 

 THE PEACE of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be ever with you. Amen. Since I parted from you I have ever had you all with me in, my memory, for the love I bear you permits me not to do, otherwise. Give yourselves still to GOD, since you once gave yourselves to him, and I was a witness thereof, nor repent the having offered yourselves to him, since he offered himself to death for you. You shall be sure to have battles, and those sharp enough; for our enemies are in great multitude and full of rage. Be not therefore negligent; for if you be, you are undone. If they who watch best, have enough to do, to defend themselves; what do you think will become of careless persons, but that they will entirely be overcome

 

 Remember that the pleasure which sin presents is small and short, and the sorrow it leaves behind is very great, and the misery which grows to, us thereby is incomparably greater. What sorrow, how great soever it be, can equal our loss of ALMIGHTY GOD O misery, which should make us tremble, even in hearing it named! For if we delight in sin, we shall have no part in GOD. Let us therefore consider how we live; for we shall shortly be led before the throne of GOD, to give account of ourselves. Let not the uncleanness of the flesh, nor the vanity of the world, nor the subtlety of the Devil, deceive us: But let us behold CHRIST our LORD.

 

 Who ever looked after CHRIST, and was deceived Infallibly there was never any. Let us therefore never take our eyes off from him. He died for this, that we, by looking to him, might die to our sins. Let us approach his wounds; for by his, ours shall be cured. And if we think it a heavy thing to part from our sins, it was much more hard and heavy for his soul to part from his body, when he died that we might live.

 

 Let us therefore go on a pace after such a Captain as this, who leads us the way not only in doing, but in suffering. Let us crucify our flesh with him, that we may no longer live according to the desires of the flesh but of the spirit. If the world persecute us, let us hide ourselves in him; and we shall find those injuries as delightful to our hearts, as music is to the ear. So rude stones will be to us as precious jewels, and prisons will be palaces, and death itself will be converted into life. O JESUS CHRIST, how strong is that love of thine! And how truly does it convert all things to our good! Infallibly that man shall never die of hunger, who is fed by this love of thine; he shall feel no nakedness; he shall never find want of any thing which this world can give: For, possessing GOD by love, no good thing can be wanting to him.

 

 Let us therefore, my beloved brethren, go and see this vision of the bush which burns, and yet is not consumed; " that is, how they who love GOD, suffer injuries, and yet feel them not; how, in the midst of hunger, they are full fed; how they are cast off by the world, and yet not afflicted thereby; how they are assaulted by the fire of fleshly appetites, and yet not scorched by it; they are trodden under foot, and yet stand fast upright; they seem poor, and they are rich; they seem strangers, but they are citizens; they are not known to men, but they are to Almighty God. All this, and more, is brought to pass by the love of our LORD JESUS CHRIST in the heart where it is lodged. But no man can arrive unto this, unless " he put off his shoes," that is to say, his unmortified affections, which spring up out of self love: For this is the root of death, as the love of GOD IS the cause of life. He who loves CHRIST Our LORD, must abhor himself.

 

 Let us therefore give our all, that which we are, (which God knows is but a little all,) for that other great all, which is Almighty GOD. Let us give over following our own will, and with diligence follow the will of God. Let us esteem, all things as dung," so we may possess that "precious pearl," which is CHRIST our Lord. And to the end that we may see him in his beauty and glory, let us here be content to embrace dishonor and labor.

 

 He shall never find himself deceived, who makes such an exchange as this. But when GOD shall come with his saints, to reward every one according to his works, then will that appear to have been folly, which now is held in so great account; and then it will be their turn to lament, who shall have spent their mortal lives in delight: And he only will be avowed by CHRIST our Lord, who shall have lived according to his holy will. O how great shall the joy of good men be at that day, when receiving high honor at the hands of GOD, they shall be seated upon those thrones which were prepared for them from all eternity; and when in society of all the choirs of angels, they shall sing the praises of their LORD and their God! O how great will their joy be who shall behold the King in his beauty!" In comparison of this, all beauty is deformity, and the very brightness of the sun is darkness.

 

 O eternal GOD, you who art all things, and yet who art none of these things, when shall that day arrive wherein we may see thee When shall these chains be broken, which hinder us from flying up to thee, who art the true Repose Let us not, my brethren, look any other way, but only on Almighty God. Let us call upon him in our hearts, that he may never part from us; for woe be to us, wretched things, what shall we be able to do without him, but to turn again into nothing Let us now at last cast this world behind, and at last try how sweet our LORD is. Let us run after him, who came from heaven itself that he might carry us thither. Let us go to him who calls us, and who does it with so much love, from the top of that cross, with his flesh all torn. O that we might feed thereon! O that we might even be consumed thereby! O that we were all transformed! O that we could grow to he one spirit with God!

 

 Who is he that detains us, who is he that hinders us, who is he that deceives us so, that we cannot persuade ourselves to draw near to GOD If it be our goods, let us cast them away, if they be in our power; if they be not, let us keep them, though only as so much dung: If it be our wives, ST. PAUL lets us know, "that we must have wives, as if we had them not:" If it be our children, let us love them, but for the love of GOD. Let the tears of grief wash us, and the fire of love consume us; and so we shall grow to be those holy creatures which were offered tip to God with fire.

 

 O eternal GOD, who consumest our coldness, how sweetly dost you burn, and how dearly dost you inflame, and how delightfully dost you consume us! O that we all might altogether burn with thee! Then would all our powers cry out, and say, " O LORD, who is like to thee" For " whosoever he be that says he knows thee, and yet loves thee not, is a liar." Let us therefore love thee, and let us also know thee, since love grows from that knowledge: And let us possess thee; and possessing thee, let us be possessed by thee, and so let us employ ourselves, in praising thee, "since all the powers of the heavens confess and praise thee," GOD Three and One, the infinite King, wise, powerful, good, and beautiful, the Pardoner of them who believe in thee, and the Upholder of them who approach to thee, and the Glorifier of them who serve thee; that GOD, of whose perfection there is no end: For you surpassest all tongues, and all understanding; and you art only known in perfection by thyself. To thee be glory, through the eternity of all eternities. Amen.

 

LETTER 14 To a Lady who was in great Affliction.

 

 As soon as I received your letter, I offered thanks to our LORD for having given you a sign, that your vocation came from his hand, and this Sign is, that you have suffered tribulation. You must not be a little glad of this, since our LORD loves you. Nor yet must you be slack, since you are in the midst of many dangers; but carry your eyes towards him, who has called you with so great love. You must also have a strong heart, for he called you not with intention to give you over in the midst of your journey; but to guide you under his own wings, till he have conducted you to heaven, where you shall see his face. Let not the faith of CHRIST our Lord, nor the love you owe him, sleep in you; for he never sleeps when there is a time of doing you all good.

 

 These are tokens which he uses to send to whom he loves, to try if they also love him in their afflictions, and if they confide in him in their dangers.

 

It is enough for you, my good sister, to have known already by experience, how loving our LORD has been to you; by his having drawn you to the knowledge of

 

himself. And you must love our LORD, though he correct you must confide in him, though you feel no comfort from him. Seek him though he hide himself; suffer him not to rest, till you have waked him, and till he confess that you art faithful in his absence. And thus you shall find him return to you, with so much advantage, that when you enjoy him again, you will esteem your former affections well employed.

 

 Pray for courage to suffer; for after the rate of your sorrows, shall your comforts be. Be not a lover of yourself, but a lover of GOD; lose yourself, and so you shall be sure to find yourself. And if once you would but trust GOD, and offer yourself to him with true love, there could nothing happen which would fright you. Our LORD said, " Let not your hearts be troubled, and do not fear. You believe in GOD, believe also in me." So that faith and love are the cause of peace and quietness to the heart.

 

 There is nothing so necessary for you, that you may arrive at the end of that work, wherein GOD has placed you, as to confide in him with love. Our LORD has many proofs to make of you, and many tribulations shall grow where you look least for them; but if you stand armed with faith and love, you shall overcome them all.

 

 Our LORD has pleasure in such as fear him, and hope in his mercy. It is he who drew you out of the captivity of Egypt, when he inspired your heart with a desire of being his: And he leads you still through this desert, where sometimes you want the bread of doctrine; other times you want company which may speak of spiritual things, that so your way might be made the shorter. Now temptations rise against you from within, and then from without; now from strangers, and then from domestics. But attend you only to your business; for he who did that for you, which was more, can never fail to do that for you which is less. He who made you a friend of an enemy, will keep you now when you are his friend. He who did not abandon you, when you fled from him, will much less fly from you, when you follow him.

 

 Who is he that can say with any truth, that God did not help him if he were desired Have no fear, O servant of CHRIST, of any thing which may happen to you; but confide in him, who loved you so well as to die for you. It is true, that you have but one who protects you, but that one is of more power, than all who contradict you. Do not think how great the giants, and how strong the cities, with which you must encounter, for it is not you who must fight; "but hold your peace, and our Lord will fight for you." Do not fly from the war, nor abandon yourself, as one overcome; " and so you shall see the favor of our LORD towards you." For in this war, he Only loses the battle who quits the field It is true that you are weak, but in that weakness of yours God will show Iris strength. It is true that you know not much, but GOD himself will be your guide: By your miseries, Got) will make his mercies appear: Who are you, that you should be able to pass through such difficulties But yet say, with DAVID, " In the strength of my God I will leap over a wall." Who are you, that you should be able to fight But yet say with him again, " Though thousands should rise against me, yet my heart shall not fear." Believe, my good sister, that how much the harder this business is for you, so much the easier is it for Almighty God. Therefore you must have great distrust of your own weakness, but great confidence in GOD'S strength. Infallibly he will crown you, if you continue in his love, and if you confide, that by his race you shall obtain that crown. Forget not this promise of CHRIST Our Lord, "Him who confesses me before men, will I confess before my FATHER, who is in heaven; but him who denies me before men, will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." Can you think, that" one is to esteem that for affliction, which he endures for the confession of CHRIST our LORD, since it is to have so high a reward, as that he shall be avowed by him, at the day of judgment, before his Father Happy is that suffering, that dishonor, and poverty, to which so high an honor does succeed.

 

 What kind of joy will it be for you, to hear these words from the mouth of CHRIST, and that in presence of the whole world: " Come, you blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom which is prepared for you!" What will it be, when the angels shall sing to her who has been a faithful servant of that celestial King,’ Come, O spouse of CHRIST, receive the crown which our LORD has prepared for thee!' What will the spouses of our LORD conceive, when having passed through the sea of this life, and their enemies who disturbed us remaining drowned therein, they shall sing thus with great joy, for having run through this dangerous world, without being overwhelmed by the vices thereof " The snare is broken, and we are delivered: Our help is in the name of our LORD."

 

 Happy are you, if you be found faithful to the Spouse who chose you. Happy, if you have the courage to cast. away that which is present, for that which is future. Be confident in taking his word, for you are not the first to whom he Math passed it, and fulfilled it; neither shall you be she with whom that word shall want effect. He gave his word to innumerable others, and tell me now how completely he has performed it. They had the courage to despise the poor present world, and now they reign with God. They lived here in trouble, and they are now in the eternity of repose. Through how many combats did they pass, and they now enjoy the everlasting crowns of their conquest. They despised the earth, and they brought the King of heaven to be in love with them.

 

 If they had followed the trace of this world, their delight had been passed, and their memories forgotten; but they loved that which was eternal, therefore their felicities shall not die, and their memory shall not decay. They were written in the book of GOD, and therefore neither water, nor wind, nor fire, nor time, can make them waste; for that book is incorruptible, and so is the name which is written in it.

 

 Therefore have strong confidence towards GOD, who is your salvation, and do not think that he sells heaven dear, for you have not yet shed your blood for him. Our Lord treats you like a weak creature, and you should be ashamed to have given him such cause. If you had more faith, and more love to suffer for him, he would have procured you more afflictions, that you might have purchased richer crowns. Do not content yourself with suffering little, considering how great your reward shall be; and how much CHRIST our Lord suffered for you. He gave his life for you, and he was deeply tormented.

 

 How then come you thus to complain of the touch of a fly Do but love, and you will desire to suffer. Let your love be doubled, and you will suffer sorrows which are doubled. The love of our Lord makes such as possess it, more greedy of suffering, than the love of one's self, of reposing. It makes that any burden weighs light, for love is stronger than death. He who loves not, groans under the burden; but he who loves, runs and flies, and it suffers him not to feel the weight even of his own body, nor of whatsoever else they can lay upon it.

 

 It is not, my good sister, that the afflictions we suffer are greater, but that our love is little. The weight of a pound is no great weight; but yet lay it upon some little child, and he will say,’ O how heavy it weighs!' Whereas if a man took it up, he would scarce feel it. And so take you it for a sign, that if you love little, your afflictions will weigh upon you; but if you love much, you will scarce allow them to be afflictions.

 

 Do but love, and you shall not be subject to afflictions, but you shall be superior to them, and praise him who delivers you from them. If they threaten you with death, you will bid it welcome, that so you may enjoy true life!

 

 If with banishment, you will say,’ That you esteem yourself banished wheresoever you are, till you arrive to see the face of GOD; and that it imports you little, whether you go to heaven from this or that part of the earth; and that if you have GOD in your company, wheresoever you are, you shall be happy; and if not, your own country will give you misery enough.' If you see yourself contemned, say,’ CHRIST, our LORD, is my honor, and he honors me; let the world despise me, so he value me.'

 

 Do not afflict yourself about the necessity which you may sustain of other things; for of yourself you must despise them, through the desire which you have to live in conformity with CHRIST our LORD, who made himself poor for you. What is there in the world which ought to fright you If the love of CHRIST our LORD has wounded you, you will tread the Devil under foot; if you despise his threats, you will pass with courage through all your enemies.

 

 Put your trust in him, who loves his lovers. There is nothing which you will not be able to do, in him. Go and buy whatsoever you want of him, though he ask you all this world for it; and see that you be not found without the love of him, though it should cost you your life. " He is a hidden treasure, but he who finds him sells all to buy him." For in him alone he finds himself more rich, than in the multitude of all other things.

 

 See you love our LORD, and take no rest till he have granted you this gift. Love him with reverence; for that is the kind of love which he likes. Esteem not him the less, because he communicates himself to you; but wonder, how so great a Majesty as his, can stoop to such a worm as you. Bad servants value their masters less for vouchsafing to become familiar with them. But they who live in the true light, esteem their Lord so much the more, as he does more vouchsafe to diminish himself.

 

 The true love of CHRIST carries this badge with it, as it highly esteems the goodness of GOD, so it also profoundly disesteems the wickedness of man. Therefore love, adore, and serve our LORD with joy, but yet rejoice with trembling. Not a trembling as of a slave, in the midst of torments, but as of a true and tender hearted child, who highly fears to give any disgust to her father, how little soever it may be.

 

 Of yourself you can do none of these things; but if you humble yourself in the acknowledgment of your own miseries, if you present yourself often in prayer, before CHRIST our LORD, if you receive him spiritually by the communion, if you hear him speak to you in his word, and in fine, if you will but give him leave to help you, have confidence, that he will heal your soul, notwithstanding all the harsh encounters that may occur.

 

 Do not start out of his hands, though the cure put you to pain, for he will work the cure at the fittest time. And for the afflictions which he sends you, he will give you his own most plentiful delight; and you shall be in full joy for all eternity, without the want of any good, and without the fear of losing what you have. You shall there find yourself to be highly well content and paid; and more felicity shall be imparted to you, than yourself could tell how to desire. Which felicity is not a creature, but the Creator himself of all things, that true GOD who lives and reigns for eternity. Amen.