Chap. LI That We Must Practise Ourselves in Humble Works, When We Cannot Attain to High Things
1. Son, thou must not always continue in the most fervent desire of virtues, nor stand in the highest degree of contemplation; but it must needs be that thou sometimes descend to lower things, by reason of original corruption; and that thou bear the burden of this corruptible life, even against thy will, and with irksomeness.
As long as thou carriest about with thee thy mortal body, thou shalt feel trouble and heaviness of heart.
Thou oughtest therefore, as long as thou art in the flesh, oftentimes to bewail the burden of the flesh; for that thou canst not without intermission be employed in spiritual exercises and divine contemplation.
2. At these times it is expedient for thee to fly to humble and exterior works, and to recreate thyself in good actions; to look for my coming and heavenly visitation with an assured hope; to bear with patience thy banishment, and the aridity of thy mind, till thou be visited again by me, and delivered from all anguish.
For I will make thee forget thy pains, and enjoy eternal rest.
I will lay open before thee the pleasant fields of the scriptures, that thy heart being dilated, thou mayest begin to run the way of my commandments.
And that thou shalt say, the sufferings of this time have no proportion with the future glory, which shall be revealed in us. Romans viii.