The spiritual conflict writen in Italian by a deuout seruant of God ; and lately translated into English out of the same language.

What wee ought to doe when the superior Will seemeth to be ouercome, and wholy suffocated.

Chap. 8. (Book 8)

ANd if sometimes it seeme vnto thee that the supe∣rior wil is not able to preuaile against the inferior, because thou dost not feele in thy self, a certaine effectual will: not∣withstanding stand fast, and giue not ouer the fight, for thou must account thy selfe superior, till manifestly thou dost see thy selfe to haue yeel∣ded. For our superior will ha∣uing no need of the concourse of the inferior wills, although in these it findeth al maner of

resistance, yet may it notwith∣standing will, what thing soe∣uer, and as often, and for what end it seemeth best, howsoe∣uer nature in the meane time doth kicke and resist; howso∣euer the world doth murmur, and the diuell rage.

And if these ennemies at sometimes should assaile thee and as it were hold thee fast with so great violence, that thy will as it were suffocated or choaked (that I may so say) should seeme to want breath, and haue no power to bring forth any act of contrary wils; in this case, help thy selfe with thy tongue, and defend thee, saying: I yeeld not vnto thee, I will none of thee; after the ma∣ner of him, that hauing his e∣nemie

vpon his backe, hol∣ding him downe, not being able to thrust at him with the point, doth smite him with the pummell of his sword. And as a man in this case will assay to leape backeward, that he may bee able to giue him the thrust, so thou being retired into the knowledge of thy self, (that thou art nothing, and can do nothing) and with confi∣dence in God, that can doe all things; giue a blow to this ene mie thy passion, with saying, helpe me O Lord, helpe mee my God, help me sweet Iesu, and blessed Mary.

Thou maiest also when thy enemy giueth thee any time, helpe the weakenesse of thy will, with recourse vnto thy

vnderstanding, considering diuers poynts; by considera∣tion whereof, it commeth to passe, that thy will may take breath, and force against her enemies, As for example, if thou be in any persecution or trauell so assailed by impati∣ence, that thy will may seeme not to be able, or at least is not willing to beare it, thou shalt then helpe thy selfe with con∣sideration of these poynts fol∣lowing, or some other.

First, thou shalt consider whether thou haue not deser∣ued this persecution, or trauel; and if thou deseruedst it, ha∣uing euen occasion vnto the same: then all equitie and iu∣stice requires, that thou beare the blow which thy own pro∣per

hand hath giuen.

Secondly, but if thou find thy self not to be faulty in that particular matter, then turne thy thoghts to thy other sins, for the which God hath not as yet chasticed thee, nor thou thy selfe as thou oughtest hast punished them. And seeing that his mercy hath chaunged the punishment of them, that should haue bin eternall, or at the least temporall (but that of purgatory) with a little pre∣sent affliction, it is thy part to receiue it willingly, and wyth thankesgiuing.

Thirdly, and if perhappes thou shouldest seeme to thy selfe to haue doone great pen∣nance already, and to haue lit∣tle offended the maiestie of

God, (which thing notwith∣standing thou neuer oughtest to beleeue) thou must consi∣der, that into the kingdome of God none doe enter, but by the gate of denying them∣selues, and of patience; for by this way also the Sonne of God did enter, and all his o∣ther members.

Forthly, if thou couldst enter by any other way, yet for the lawe of loue, thou oughtest not to desire it, seeing that the Sonne of God himselfe wyth all his followers are entred by the waye of thornes and cros∣ses.

Lastly, remember that the greatest and principall consi∣deration whiche thou art to vse, not onely in this, but in

euerye other occasion to giue force vnto thy will, is this: that thou turne thy thoughtes to the delight and contentmēt which almightie God (for the loue he beareth thee) is to re∣ceiue by euery acte of vertue, and by the mortification of a∣ny sensuall appetite, which he shall perceiue thee to labour in, like a noble warriour, in the battle which thou hast vndertaken for his sake.