A treatise of the loue of God. Written in french by B. Francis de Sales Bishope and Prince of Geneua, translated into English by Miles Car priest of the English Colledge of Doway

An explanation of that which hath bene saied touching the decease of our will. CHAPTER. XIV.

1. IT is credible that the most sacred virgine our Ladie, receiued so much content in car∣rying her little IESVS betwixt her armes, that de∣light beguiled wearinesse, or at least made it de∣lightfull: for if a branch of AGNVS CHAS∣TVS can solace and vnwearie Trauaillers, what solace did not the GLORIOVS MOTHER receiue in carrying the immaculate LAMBE of God? And though she permitted him now and then to rūne a foote by her, weelding him by the hand, yet was it not, that she would not rather haue had him hā∣ging about her necke and breasts; but it was to teach him to forme his steps, and walke alone. And we, THEO: as the little children of the heauenly Father, may walke with him in two sorts: for we may either take the steps of our owne will, which

we conforme to his, holding alwayes in the hand of our obedience his Diuine intention, and follo∣wing it wheresoeuer it shall leade vs, which God requires at our hands by the signification of his will: for since his will is that I should doe his or∣donance, his will is also that I haue a will to doe it. God hath signified vnto me that his will is, I should keepe holy the Saboth day, since therefore he will haue me to doe it, he will also that I haue a will to doe it, and for this end that I haue a will of myne owne, by which I follow his, by corres∣pondance and conformitie. But we may also walke with our Sauiour, without any will of our owne, by casting our selues simply vpon the Diuine plea∣sure, as a little child in his mothers armes, by a certaine admirable kind of consent, which may be termed VNION, or rather vnitie of our heart with Gods. And this is the way that we are to endeuour to comport our selues in GODS WILL OF GOOD PLEASVRE, for so much as the effects of this WILL OF GOOD PLEASVRE, doe proceede purely from his Prouidence and doe come vnto vs without our la∣bour. True it is we may desire their cōming, ac∣cording to Gods will, and this is a good desire; yet we may also receiue the euents of Heauens good pleasure, by a most simple tranquillitie of our will, while willing nothing, we doe in sim∣plicitie of heart giue way to all that God would haue done in vs, on vs, or by vs.

2. If one had asked the sweete IESVS when he was carried in his mothers armes, whither he went too! might he not with good reason haue answe∣red, I goe not, t'is my mother that goes for me.

And if one had saied to him, but at least doe not you goe with your mother? might he not reaso∣nably haue replied: no, I doe not goe, or if I goe whither my Mother carries me, I neither goe with her, nor by myne owne steps, but by my mothers, by her, and in her: But if one had yet gone fur∣ther with him, saying; surely ô most deare Diuine child, thy will is that thy sweete mother should carrie thee: no verily might he haue saied, I will none of all this; but as my entirely good mother walkes for me, so she wills for me. I leaue her the care as well to goe, as to will to goe for me, where she likes best. and as I goe not hut by her gate; so I will not but by her will: And from the instant I was first in her armes, I neuer gaue my attention either to will or nill, turning all other cares ouer to my mother, saue onely the care to liue in her bosome, to sucke her sacred Pappe, and to keepe my selfe close ioyned to her amiable necke, louing to kisse her with kisses of my mouth. And be it knowen vnto you, that while I am amongst the delights, of these holy huggings which surpasse all delights; I apprehend my mother as a tree of life, and my selfe in her, as the fruit; that I am her owne heart in the midst of her heart, or her soule in the heart of her heart, so that as her gate serues both her and me without my touching the ground; so her will serues vs both without producing any act of my will, about the businesse of going and cō∣ming. Nor doe I euer take notice whither she goe fast or fairely, hither or thither, nor doe I make any enquirie whither she tends, contenting my selfe with this, that goe she whither she please, I

goe still lock't vp in her bosome, close layed at her sugared dugges, where I feede as amōgst Lil∣lies. O Diuine child of Marie, permit my poore soule to take this straine of Loue! But goe then ô most amiable deare little babe, or rather goe not, but staie still so holily glewed to thy sweete mothers breast, goe alwayes in her, and by her, or with her, but neuer without her while thou re∣mainest a child; ô how blessed is the wombe that bore thee, and the dugges that gaue thee sucke! The Sauiour of our soules was endewed with the vse of Reason, from the instant of his Conception in his mothers wombe, and could make all these discourses: yea euen the glorious S. IOHN his Fore∣runner from the day of his holy Visitation. And though both of them, as well in that time, as in their infancie, were possessed of proper libertie to will or not to will; yet did they deferre the care of that which concerned their exteriour gouernemēt to their mothers, to doe and will for them what was requisite.

3. Such should we be, THEO: pliable and tra∣ctable to Gods good Pleasure, as though we were very waxe, not giuing our thoughts leaue to wan∣der in wishing and willing any thing, but leauing it to God to will and doe all for vs according to his goodnesse throwing vpon him all our sollicitude, because he hath care of vs, as the holy Apostle saieth; and note that he saieth: All our sollicitudes that is, as well those which concerne the euents, as those, which pertaine to willing or not willing: for he will haue a care of the issue of our affaires, and of willing that which is best for vs.

4. Meane while let vs affectionatly imploye our cares to blesse God in all his works, by Iobs example, saying; our Lord gaue, and our Lord hath taken away: the name of our Lord be blessed. Lord I will will no euents, but will let them be willed for me, euen as thou shalt please: yea in lieu of willing the euents, I will blesse thee, in that thou hast willed them. O THEO: what an ex∣cellent imployment of our will is this, when she leaues willing and choosing the effects of Gods good pleasure, to praise and thanke him for such effects.