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

How sacred Loue containes the 12. fruits of the holy Ghost, together with the 8. beatitudes of the Ghospell. CHAPTER. XIX.

1. THe glorious S. PAVLE saieth thus; Now the Fruit of the holy Ghost is Charitie

Ioye, Peace, Patience, Benignitie, Goodnesse, Longanimitie, Mildnesse, Modestie, Faith, Continencie, Chastitie. But marke, THEO: how this holy Apostle showing these 12. fruits of the holy Ghost, puts them for one onely fruit: for he saieth not, the fruits of the holy Ghost, are Charitie, Ioye &c. but onely the fruit of the Holy Ghost, is Charitie, Ioye. And behold the secrete of this manner of speach. The Charitie of God is poured forth into our hearts, by the holy Ghost which is giuen vs. Certes Charitie is the onely fruit of the holy Ghost, but because this one fruit hath an infinitie of excellent proprieties, the Apostle about to represent some of them, by way of a scantling, he speakes of this onely fruit, as of many, by reason of the multitude of proprieties which it containes in its vnitie, and speakes againe of all these fruits as of one onely, by reason of the vnitie, in which it is comprised in this varietie. So he that should saie that the fruit of the vine, is ripe grapes, greene grapes, wine, aqua vitae, the liquour that doth reioyce the heart of man, the drinke that doth comfort the stomake, would not saie that they were fruits of diuers SPECIES: but onely, that though they be but one onely fruit, yet hath it many different proprieties, accor∣ding as it is diuersly vsed.

2. The Apostle therefore would saie no other thing, but onely, that Charitie is the fruit of the holy Ghost, which is ioyfull, peaceable, patient, benigne, good, longanimous, sweete, faithfull, modest, continent, chast, that is to saie, that the Diuine Loue doth giue vs an inward ioye and cō∣solation,

together with a great peace of mind, which in aduersitie is conserued by Patience, and which makes vs benigne and gracious in succou∣ring our neighbour, by a cordiall goodnesse to∣wards him, a goodnesse which is not variable, but Constant and perseuerant, giuing vs a courage of great extent, by meanes whereof, we become mild, affable and condescendant to all, supporting their humours and imperfections, and standing perfectly loyall vnto them, testifying a simplicitie accompanied with confidence, as well in our words as actions, liuing modestly and humbly, cutting off all superfluities, and disorders in meate drinke, apparell, bed, plaie, pastimes and such other voluptuous desires by a holy continencie, repressing especially the inclinations and seditions of the flesh, by a diligēt chastitie, so that our whole man may be occupied in holy Loue as well inte∣riourly by Ioye, Peace, Patience, Longanimitie, Goodnesse, and Fidelitie, as also exteriously, by benignitie, mildnesse, modestie, continencie, and Chastitie.

3. Now Charitie is called a fruit in so much as it doth delight vs, ād in so much as we doe enioye its delicious sweetenesse, as being a true aple of Pa∣radice, gathered from the tree of life, which is the holy Ghost, graffed in our humane hearts, and dwelling in vs by his infinite mercy. But when we doe not onely reioyce in this heauenly Loue, and enioye its delicious sweetenesse, but euen place all our glorie therein, as in the crowne of our honour, then it is not a fruit onely delightfull to our palate but it is a beatitude and a most wishfull felicitie,

not onely because it assures vs the felicitie of the next life, but euen in that it doth enrich vs in this life, with a contentment of an inestimable price, a contentement which is so strong, that all the waters of tribulation, and the floodes of persequution cannot extinguish it, yea it is not onely not extinguished, but it waxeth rich a∣midst pouertie, is aduanced by abiections, and humiliations, reioyceth in teares, gaines strength by being forsaken by Iustice; and by being depri∣ued of the helpe thereof, while begging for it, it is deneyed of all: compassion and commiseration doe recreate it, while it is enuironed with the iniurious and neede: It is delighted in the renun∣ciation of all sorts of sensuall and earthly delightes, to obtaine the puritie and cleanenesse of heart, the vse of its valour is to lay a sleepe warrs, iarrs and dissentions, and to spurne temporall ad∣uancements and reputation, by all kinds of suffe∣rance it waxeth strong, and holds, that its true life consisteth in dying for the well-beloued. So that in a word, THEO: holy Charitie is a vertue, a Gift, a Fruit, and a Beatitude; as it is a vertue, it makes vs obedient to exteriour inspiratiōs, which God hath giuē vs by his Cōmādemēts ād Coūsells, in the execution whereof, all vertues are practi∣sed, whence Charitie is the VERTVE OF VERTVES.

4. In qualitie of a gift, Charitie makes vs ma∣nigable and tractable by interiour inspirations, which are as Gods secreete Commandements and Counsells, in the execution whereof the 7. giftes of the holy Ghost are imployed, so that Charitie is the GIFT OF GIFTS. As it is a Fruit it giues vs

an extreame gust and pleasure in the practise of a deuote life, which is felt in the 12. fruits of the holy Ghost, and thence it is the FRVIT OF FRVITS. In qualitie of Beatitude, it makes vs repute the af∣fronts, calumnies, rebukes, reuilings which the world heapes vpon vs for greatest fauours, and singular honours; and withall makes vs forsake, renounce and reiect all other kinds of glorie, saue that which comes from the beloued Crucifix, for which we glorie in the abiection, abnegation and annihilation of our selues, admitting of no other marke of Maiestie, then our crucified Maister's crowne of thornes, his scepter of a Reed, his robe of scorne which they put vpon him, and the Throne of his Crosse, vpon which the sacred Louers had more content, ioye, glorie and felici∣tie, then euer Salomon had in his Iuerie Throne.

5. So is Loue often times represented by the Pomegranate, which taking proprieties from the Pome-granate-tree, may be saied to be it's vertue, as also the gift thereof which out of Loue it offers to man; and its fruit, sith that it is eaten, to refresh m••ns taste, and finally it is as it were its glorie and Beatitude, bearing the crowne and diademe.