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Of sensible Deuotion, and of Ariditie, or Drie∣nesse.
SEnsible Deuotion procee∣deth sometimes of nature, sometimes of the diuell, and sometimes of grace; by the fruits thou shalt know from whence it commeth: for if there folownot in thee amend ment of life, thou art to doubt lest it be of the diuell, or els of nature: and so much the more,
by how much it shalbe accom∣panied with greater taste of sweetnesse.
And therefore when thou shalt perceiue thy mind to be sweetned with spirituall taste, stand not to dispute, from whence it commeth, nor leaue vnto it, neither let thy selfe be drawne from the knowledge of thy nothing: and with grea∣ter diligence, & hatred of thy self, remoue from thy heart, all affectiō of what thing soeuer, desiring God onely, and his pleasure: for by this meane, whether it be of nature, or of the diuel, it wil become to thee as of grace.
Ariditie or Drienesse may proceed in like manner from the three aforesayde causes:
from the diuell, for to make thy minde luke-warme, and draw it back from the spiritu∣al exercise, to worldly delights, of our selues through our fault and negligence: of grace, ei∣ther to admonish vs, that we bee more dilligent to leaue e∣uery occupation that is not of God, and that tendeth not to him: or to vnite our selues more nearely vnto him, with a full resignation of our selues euen in spirituall delights, to the end that our affection be∣ing fastned to these things, we may not diuide our hart which he would haue wholy to him∣selfe.
Therefore if thou feele thy selfe drie or cold, enter into thy selfe, & see for what defect
the sensible deuotion is with∣drawne from thee, and wage batle against that, not to reco∣uer the sensibility of grace, but to take away that which disple∣seth the eies of God. And see that in no sort, thou leaue off thy spiritual exercise; but con∣tinue them with all thy force, though they seeme vnto thee neuer so vnprofitable, and be willing to drinke of that bit∣ter cup which that drines pre∣senteth vnto thee; the which although it should be some∣times accompanied, with so many obscurities, and such thicke darknesse of mind, that thou knowe not whither to turne thee, nor what course to take, yet neuerthelesse, con∣tent thy selfe with present de∣solation,
and stand firme in thy crosse, farre off from all earthly delights, although they should be offered vnto thee, by the world, or by creatures, conceale thy passion from any person, except thy ghostly fa∣ther (if thou may haue accesse vnto him) vnto whom thou shalt discouer it, not to haue comfort, but to be instructed how to support it according to the pleasure of God. As for thy receiuing, prayers, and other spirituall exercises, or what other thing soeuer, vse them not to ease thy paine, but to receiue strength to suffer it: and if thou be not able through the confusion of thy mind, to helpe thy selfe with thy vnderstanding, to pray,
supplie with a good will and with iaculatorie prayers, and lifting vppe thy minde oft to God: and aboue al, suffer the burden of thy Aridity thy dri∣nesse with patience and hum∣ble resignation, for this a∣boue all others is praier most acceptable to God. Thus if thou wilt doe, thou shalt bee truly deuout, true deuotion being a readinesse of will, to follow Christ with thy crosse on thy shoulder, by which way soeuer hee inuiteth and calleth vs vnto him, and to will God for God; and some∣times to leaue God for God. And if by this many spirituall persons, and especially wo∣men would measure their pro∣fite, and not by sensible deuo∣tion,
they would not grieue so vnprofitably, & also vngrate∣fully at this good turne which our Sauiour doth sometimes vnto them, and they would at∣tend with more feruor to fol∣low his diuine will, which wholy woorketh to our bene∣fit.
And in this also they much deceiue themselues, but parti∣cularly women, that when they are molested with feare∣ful thoughts, they are confoun ded and discoraged, beleeuing that they are wholy forsaken of god (not vnderstāding, that in a mind full of such thoghts, his diuine spirit can dwell) and they remaine much deiected, and almost become desperat, easily leauing off all good ex∣ercise:
whereby they shew themselues little gratefull to GOD, who permitteth this temptation in them to bring them to a more cleare know∣ledge of themselues: and that they like distressed persons might draw neare vnto him.
That which thou oughtest to do in such a case, is this, that thou enter into a deep consi∣deration of thy wicked incli∣nation, the which God would haue thee to know, to be so rea dy to all euill, that without his helpe thou woulst fall down headlong.
Afterward begin to receiue hope and confidence, seeing that thy God by this danger which he doth shew thee, would draw thee more neare
him, with prayer and with re∣course to him, for which thou art bounde to render him humble thankes.
And vnderstand, that such thoughts are better driuen a∣way, with a skilfull and pati∣ent sufferance▪ then with an anxious resistance.