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

Of the Trust and Confidence in God.

Chap. 3 (Book 3)

THe distrust of our selues, although in this battell it be so needfull as we haue said before, yet notwithstanding, if we haue but it onely, either we shall runne away from the battell, or abiding stil, be van∣quished & ouercome of our enemies. And therefore, be∣sides this, it is also necessary to haue our whole trust & con∣fidence in God, hoping and expecting from him alone, all good and helpe whatsoeuer. And this in like maner is ob∣tained three maner of wayes.

The first, in demanding it of his diuine maiestie.

The second, by consider∣ing & beholding with the eieof our faith, his omnipotencie and infinite wisedome, to the which nothing is impossible or difficult. And that his boun tie beeing without measure, with an vnspeakable desire he standeth ready, and prepared euery houre, yea euery mo∣ment, to giue vnto vs all that which is needefull for spiritu∣all life, and the entire victory of our selues. And how can it be possible, that our heauenly shepheard, who for the space of thirtie three yeeres folowed this strayed sheepe with so lowde cries, that there with he became as it were hoarce, and

that also by a way so laborious and thorny, that he shed al his pretious bloud, & finally, lost his life. Now when this same sheepe followeth him, calleth vpon him, and prayeth vnto him, hee wil not turne his eies of life vnto it, and heare it, and lay it vppon his diuine shoul∣ders, reioycing thereof with his neighbors and Angelles in heauen? And who can euer be leeue, that God who standeth continuallye knocking at the heart of man, desiring to en∣ter in, and to suppe with him, and communicate his guiftes vnto him; when man open∣eth his heart and inuiteth him, will then notwithstanding in good earnest turn a deafe eare vnto him, and refuse to enter?

The third meane to obtain this holy confidence & trust, is, to call to minde the veritie of the holy scriptures, which in so many places do teach vs, that he which trusted in God, was neuer confounded.

There maye bee added to these aforesaid another meane to obtain at one time both the distrust of our selues, and the confidence in God: and it is this. When thou takest anie thing in hand, before thou de∣termine it, and resolue to do it, consider thy owne debility, and the power and goodnesse of God, and then determine to beginne thy worke.

And if thou obserue not this order, although it seeme to thee, that thou dost all thy

actions virtually in the confi∣dence of God: yet thou shalt finde thy selfe very farr decei∣ued; for man of himselfe be∣ing very apt to presumption, the right way to woorke with the distrust of our selues, and with confidence in God, is, that the consideration of our owne nothing, and of Gods omnipotencie goe alway be∣fore our worke: And it is also to be obserued, that it shall of∣tentimes seeme vnto thee, that thou hast obtaind this distrust of thy selfe, and confidence in God, and yet it is not so: and the effect which will proceed of thy often fallinges, shall make this manifest vnto thee.

If therfore when by chance thou fallest, thou be vnquiet,

deiected, and perceiue thy self to bee brought to a kinde of despaire of beeing able to goe forward, and to doe well: it is an euident sign that thou did∣dest trust in thy selfe, and not in God: and if thy sadnes and distrust be great, great was thy confidence in thy selfe, & litle was thy trust in God. For hee that altogether distrusteth himselfe, and trusteth in God, when he falles he woondereth not at it, he is not deiected or discouraged, acknowledging that this doth happen throgh his owne weakenes: neyther doth diminish his confidence in God, but hating aboue all things the sinne which he is fallen into, with a quiet and a peaceable sorrowe for the of∣fence

of his diuine maiestie with lesse trust in himself, and greater confidence in God, & with greater corage thā before folows his enterprise, and pur∣sues his enemies euen to death.

Would to God that these things were wel considered of certaine persons, that pretend to be spiritual, who when they fall into any defect, can not nor wil not be in quiet, & som times by reason of this anxiety rather then for anye other re∣spect, wil needes out of hand go & seek their gostly father: vnto whome they ought to haue recourse principally to wash themselues from sin, and also to get strength against the same, by the most holy Sacra∣ment of the aultar.