and ftorms are hufhed into a profound calm.

CHAP. IX.

Of the Abfence of all Comfort.

T is no hard matter to defpife human comfort, when we have divine: But it is a great, yea a very great attainment, to be able to want both human and divine comfort at once; and for the glory of GoD willingly to bear defertion, and defolation of heart; and to seek himself in nothing, nor to entertain the least thought of his own merit. What extraordinary thing is it, if thou art chearful, and devout, whilst the light of God's countenance is lifted up upon thee: This is an hour welcome unto all. Smooth and pleasant is his journey, whom the grace of GOD conducts and carries. And what wonder, if he feel no burden, who is ftrengthened and fupported by the Almighty, and led by the fovereign Guide?

II. We would gladly have fome exterior confolation; and it is with pain and difficulty that a man divefts himself of himself. St. Laurence the Martyr overcame the world,

in trampling under foot all its charms, and pleafures, and in furmounting alfo the affection he bore to his good Bifhop, whilst for the love of Chrift, he patiently endured to be feparated from Pope Sixtus, whom he loved with an entire affection, and who was carried to execution without him. Thus his love of the Creator furmounted his love of the man; and all human confolation yielded to the divine will. In like manner do thou alfo learn to abandon, for the love of God, any the moft intimate, and dearest friend. And be not overmuch concerned neither, when thou art forsaken of a friend; as knowing that we must all fooner or later be separated from one another.

III. A man must have long and fharp conflicts with himfelf, before he learn entirely to fubdue himself, and to fix all his affections upon GOD. So long as a man refts upon himself and his own ftrength, he easily warps to human confolations. But a true lover of Chrift, and a zealous purfuer of the virtues, fteps not afide to these comforts, nor feeks fuch fenfible fweetneffes and delightful relishes; but finds a pleasure rather in the feverer exercises of mortification and self-denial, and delights to under

go

go great difficulties and hardfhips for the fake of Chrift.

IV. When therefore God fends down fpiritual confolation, receive it with thankfulness; but know withal that it is the gift of GOD, not thy own merit. Be not lifted up; rejoice not over much, nor vainly prefume: But become rather the more humble for the gift, the more watchful alfo and fearful in all thy deportment; because that happy hour will pafs away, and be fucceeded by temptation. When confolation is withdrawn, do not presently defpond, but with humility and patience wait the heavenly visitation; because GoD is able to restore to thee again more abundant confolation. This is no new nor strange thing to thofe that have experience in the way of God; for the ancient Prophets, and the greatest Saints have ftill found in themselves this interchange of confolation and desertion.

V. Whereupon the Royal Prophet (du-, ring the prefence of grace) exprefs'd himfelf thus: In my profperity, Ifaid, I shall never be caft down. But as foon as grace was withdrawn, upon the experience of

• Pfal. xxx. 6, c...
2

what

what he found in himself, he adds: Thou didft turn thy face from me and I was troubled. Yet in this difconfolate ftate he by no means despairs, but addreffes himself to GoD with more earneftness, and faith: Unto thee, O Lord, will I cry, and I will make my fupplication unto my GOD. Laftly, he receives the fruit of his prayer, and declares that he was heard, faying: The Lord bath heard me, and bath had mercy upon me: The Lord is become my helper. But wherein ? Thou haft turned, faith he, my mourning into joy, and haft compaffed me about with gladness. If thofe great Saints have been fo dealt withal, we poor feeble wretches fhould not defpond, if we find our felves, fometimes in a ftate of zeal and fervour, fometimes in a state of coldnefs and indifferency: Because the Spirit cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will. Whence bleffed Job faith: Thou vi fiteft him in the morning, and all of a fudden thou proveft him.

VI. In what therefore can I hope, or wherein ought I to put my confidence, except only in the great mercy of GOD, and in the hope alone of heavenly grace? For

the conversation of good and devout men, the company of faithful friends, the entertainment of holy books, and heavenly difcourfes, the melody of voice and inftrument, and the raptures of Pfalms and Hymns; all thefe things avail little, have little relifh, when I am deferted by grace, and abandoned to the poverty and deadness of my own dry and barren heart. At fuch a feafon the only remedy is patience, and a renouncing of my self in a perfect fubmiffion to the will of God.

... VII. I never yet met with any man fo religious and devout, but he fometimes found a withdrawing of grace, or was fenfible of an abatement of fervour. Never was there Saint fo highly rapt and illuminated, but first or laft he was tempted. For he is not worthy the fublime and rapturous contemplation of GOD, who for the fake of God hath not been exercised with fome tribulation. For a preceding temptation is wont to be the fign of an enfuing confolation: And fuch only as have been proved by temptations have a promife of this heavenly confolation. To him that overcometh, faith ho, will I give to eat of the tree of life".

b Rev. ii. 7.

VIII. Now