Chap. X Of Gratitude for the Grace of God
1. Why seekest thou rest, since thou art born to labour?
Dispose thyself to patience, rather than consolation: and to bear the cross, rather than to rejoice.
For who is there amongst worldly people, that would not willingly receive comfort and spiritual joy, if he could always have it?
For spiritual consolations exceed all the delight of the world, and pleasures of the flesh.
For all worldly delights are either vain or filthy: but spiritual delights alone are pleasant and honest, springing from virtue, and infused by God into pure minds.
But these divine consolations no man can always enjoy when he will: because the time of temptation is not long away.
2. But what very much opposes these heavenly visits, is a false liberty of mind, and a great confidence in one’s self.
God does well in giving the grace of consolation: but man does ill in not returning it all to God with thanksgiving.
And this is the reason why the gifts of grace cannot flow in us: because we are ungrateful to the Giver: nor do we return all to the fountain’s head.
For grace is ever due to him that duly returns thanks: and what is wont to be given to the humble, will be taken away from the proud.
3. I would not have any such consolation as should rob me of compunction: nor do I wish to have such contemplation as leads to pride.
For all that is high, is not holy; nor all that is pleasant, good: nor every desire, pure; nor is every thing that is dear to us, pleasing to God.
I willingly accept of that grace, which makes me always more humble and fearful, and more ready to forsake myself.
He that has been taught by the gift of grace, and instructed by the scourge of the withdrawing of it, will not dare to attribute any thing of good to himself; but will rather confess himself to be poor and naked.
Give to God what is his, and take to thyself what is thine: that is, give thanks to God for his grace; but as to thyself be sensible that nothing is to be attributed to thee, but sin, and the punishment due to sin.
4. Put thyself always in the lowest place, and the highest shall be given thee: for the highest stands not without the lowest.
The saints that are highest in the sight of God, are the least in their own eyes: and the more glorious they are, the more humble they are in themselves.
Being full of the truth and heavenly glory, they are not desirous of vain glory.
They that are grounded and established in God, can by no means be proud.
And they that attribute to God all whatsoever good they have received, seek not glory from one another, but that glory which is from God alone: and desire above all things that God may be praised in themselves, and in all the saints, and to this same they always tend.
5. Be grateful then for the least, and thou shalt be worthy to receive greater things.
Let the least be to thee as something very great, and the most contemptible as a special favour.
If thou considerest the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem to thee little which is given by so great a God.
Yea, though he gives punishment and stripes, it ought to be acceptable: for whatever he suffers to befal us, he always does it for our salvation.
He that desires to retain the grace of God, let him be thankful for grace when it is given, and patient when it is withdrawn.
Let him pray, that it may return: let him be cautious and humble, lest he lose it.