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

Of the manner how to resist the sodaine motions of Passions.

Chap. 10. (Book 10)

HE that is not yet accusto∣med to beate backe the suddaine blowes of iniuries, or other contrarie things, to obtaine the vse thereof, must accustome himselfe to foresee them, and to wish them often∣times, expecting them with a prepared mind.

The maner to foresee them is, that thine owne state and condition beeing weighed, thou consider also the persons and the places, where and with whom thou art to deale, wher∣by thou mayest easily conie∣cture that which may happen

vnto thee.

And if any other aduerse, or contrary thing not thought vpon before do happen vnto thee, besides the help which thou hast already gained, by preparing thy mind for other things which thou didst fore∣see, thou maist further help thy selfe with this other man∣ner.

Sodainely when thou be∣ginnest to feele the first tou∣ches of an iniurie, or other painesull thing, bee readie to enforce thy selfe, to lift vp thy mind to God, considering his ineffable bountie, and loue to∣ward thee, with which he sen∣deth this aduersitie, to the end that thou suffering it for his loue, may drawe more neare

and be vnited vnto him: and seeing how much it delighteth him, that thou suffer it, turne thee afterwards to thy selfe, in maner of reprehension, saying in thy mind: ah why wilt thou not suffer this crosse? which not these, or those men but thy heauenly father most louingly doth send thee. Afterwardes returne to the crosse, and im∣brace it with the greatest paci∣ence, and ioy that thou canst.

And if in the beginning thy passion so preuaile in thee, that thou canst not lift vp thy heart vnto God, but shouldst remaine wounded, seeke not∣withstanding this, to do it as if thou hadst not bin strooken. But for a true and effectuall remedie against these sodaine

motions, thou art to take away in time, the cause from whence they proceede.

For example, if by the affe∣ction which thou hast to any thing thou dost finde, that when thou art troubled in the same, thou art wont to fall into som sodain alteration of mind, the maner to prouide for that in time, is, that thou accustom thy selfe to take away the affe∣ction vnto the same, but if the alteration proceede not of the thing, but of the person in whom (because thou hast no liking of him) euery little acti∣on doth grieue & moue thee, the remedie is, that thou en∣force thy selfe to loue the same person, and to hold him deare.