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

Of the Distrust of our selues.

Chap. 2. (Book 2)

THe distrust of thy selfe is obtained three maner of waies. First, that thou ac∣knowledge and consider deep ly thine own vilenesse and no∣thing, and that indeede thou canst not obtaine any thing that is good of thy selfe: a man beeing no more able to doe anye good meritorious woorke, then a stone that (I may so say) is abl of it self to go vpwards; & we hauing noles inclination to euill, then the said stone to the centre of the earth.

The secondis, that thou with humble prayers demand

the same of God, for it is his gift; and to obtain it thou must first of all beholde thy selfe as bare and naked of the same and altogither vnable to attain vnto it of thy selfe: and hauing done this, then present thy self before the maiestie of God, with an assured hope, that his diuine bountie wil grant it vn∣to thee: and thus presenting thy self oftentimes before thy Lord, and with perseuerance expecting it from his liberall handes so long as shall seeme best to his diuine prouidence, without doubt thou shalt ob∣taine it.

The third way is, that as oft as thou shalt chaunce to fal in∣to any defect, thou sodainely

turne the eies of thy mind vn∣to thy afore saide weaknesse and vnablenesse to do good, which vntill it be knowne to the botome, and acknowled∣ged, thou shalt neuer cease to fall.

For euery one that will be vnited vnto t••at light and vn∣created veritie, the true know∣ledge of himselfe is necessarie: which knowledge the diuine clemency is accustomed com∣monly to giue to the prowde and presumptuous, by suffe∣ring them to fall, calling them by the same to true know∣ledge of their owne impoten∣cy and nothing. And so much God permitteth them to fall, more or lesse, by how much

their pride is greter or lesse; so that where there were no pre∣sumption or pride, (as in the blessed virgine. Mary there was not) there likewise there should be no fall. So that if at any time thou happen to fall, haue recourse presently with thy cogitations, to the humble acknowledging of thy selfe, and with earnest praier be∣seech thy Sauiour to giue thee true light that thou maist-per∣fectly know thy self, if thou be not willing to fall againe into more grieuous defaultes.