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 doth spread it's worth through all the other vertues, which by that meanes are perfected. CHAPTER. V.

1. I Haue seene, saieth PLINIE, a tree at TYVO∣LY graffed in all the fashions, that one can

graffe, which bore all sorts of fruite, for vpon one branch there were nuts, cherries vpon another, vpon a third raysins, figues, pome-granades, aples and generally all kinds of fruite. This was admi∣rable, THEO: yet more admirable to see in a Chri∣stian man heauēly Charitie, wherevpon all vertues are graffed in such sort, that as one might haue saied of this tree, that it was a Cherri-tree, an Aple-tree, a Nut-tree, a pom-granad-tree; so may one saie of Charitie, that she is patient, milde, generous, iust: or rather, that she is Patience, mildnesse, and Iustice it selfe.

2. But the poore Tree of Tyuoly was not of long continuance, as the same PLINIE doth wit∣nesse: for these diuers productions did presently drie vp its HVMIDVM RADICALE, that it withered away, and dyed; whereas contrariwise Charitie is fortified and made stronge, to produce abun∣dance of fruit in the exercise of all the vertues, yea as our holy Fathers haue obserued, she is insa∣tiable in her desires of bringing forth fruit, and neuer ceaseth to presse the heart wherein she in∣habits, as Rachel did her husband, saying giue me children or else I die.

3. Now the fruits of graffed-trees, doe alwayes follow the graffe: For if the graffe be of an aple-tree, it will haue aples, if of a cherri-tree, it brings forth cherries, yet so as the fruit doth alwayes taste of the stocke. In like manner, THEOT: our acts take their name and SPECIES from the particular vertues whence they sprung, but they draw the taste of their Sanctitie from holy Charitie, which is the roote and source of all Sanctitie in man, and

as the stocke doth communicate it's taste to all the fruit which spring from the graffe, yet so as that euery fruit reserues the naturall propertie of the graffe whence it sprung: euen so Charitie, pou∣ers out in such sort her excellencie and dignitie vpon the acts of other vertues that she doth not depriue them of the particular worth and good∣nesse which they haue by their owne naturall con∣dition.

4. All fllowres loose their luster and grace amidst the nights obscuritie; but the Sunne in the morning making them againe visible and agreea∣able, doth not yet make their beautie and grace equall; and though its light be equally spred ouer them all, yet doth it make them bright and glitte∣ring with inequalitie, as it finds them more or lesse capable of its brightnesse. And let the Sunne shine neuer so equally vpō the Violet and the Rose, yet shall it neuer make that so faire as this, or make a Marigold as gracious as a Lilie. Howbeit if the Sunne should shine clearely vpon the Violet, and throwe a mist onely vpon the Rose, then with∣out doubt the Violet would be more agreeable to the view thē the Rose. So, my THEO: if one with an equall Charitie should suffer the death of martyr∣dome, and another the hungar of a fast, who doth not see that this fast shall not be so much prized as this Martyrdome? No, THEO: for who dare be bould to affirme, that Martyrdome is not more excellent in it selfe then fasting? Which being more excellent in it selfe, and Charitie not depriuing it of its naturall excellencie, but perfecting it, doth consequently leaue it in the aduantages which it

naturally hath ouer fasting. Surely none in his right senses will equalize nuptiall chastitie to vir∣ginitie, nor the good vse of riches, to the entire abnegation of the same. Or who will also dare to saie; that Charitie accompaning these vertues doth depriue them of their properties and priui∣leges; since it is not a vertue which doth destroye and impouerish, but doth a better, qu••cken, and enrich all the good that she finds in the soules, which she rules; yea so farre is she from bereauing the other vertues of their naturall preeminences and dignities, that contrariwise, hauing this qua∣litie to perfect the perfections which she meetes withall, as it finds greater perfections, it doth great lier perfect them; like as suggar doth so sea∣son conserued fruits with its sweetnesse, that sweetening them all, it leaues euery of them different in relish and sweetenesse, as they haue a diuers taste in their owne nature. Nor doth it euer render the Peech, and the Nut, so sweete and pleasing, as the Appricot and the Myrabolan plumme.

5. True it is notwithstanding, that if the Loue be ardent, powerfull, and excellent in a heart, it will also more enrich and perfect all the vertuous workes which shall proceede from it. One may suffer death and fire for God without Charitie, as S. PAVLE presupposeth and I declare elswhere; by better reason may one suffer them hauing a little charitie. Now I saie, THEO: that it may come to passe, ••hat a very little vertue may be of greater value in a soule, where sacred Loue doth feruently raigne, then Martyrdome it selfe, in a soule where

Loue is languishing, feeble and slow. As the least vertues in our B. Lady, in S. IOHN, in other great Saints, were of greater price before God, then the greatest of diuers inferiour Saints: as many little eiaculations of Loue in Seraphins, are more infla∣med, then the greatest in the Angels of the last orders; as the singing of a young Nightingale, is incomparably more harmonious, then that of the finest Goldfinch.

6. PIRCIVS towards the end of his dayes pain∣ted onely in little formes, and trifeling things, as Barbar's and Cobler's shops, little Asses loaden with grasse, and the like triuiall toyes; which he did, as PLINIE coniectures, to lay his great re∣nowne, whence in the end he was called the Pain∣ter of small wares; and yet the greatnesse of his art did so appeare in his small workes, that they were sould at a higher rate, then others greatest peaces. Euen so THEO: the little simplicities, ab∣iections and humiliations, in which the great Saints tooke so great content to hide themselues, and put their hearts into Harbour against vaine glorie, hauing bene practised with a great excellencie of the Art and ardour of heauenly Loue, were found more gratefull in the sight of God, then the great and illustrious workes of diuers others which were performed with little Charitie and deuo∣tion.

7. The sacred Spouse doth wound her Spouse with one of her head haires, of which he makes so great accompt, that he compares them to the flockes of the Goates of GALAAD; and hath no sooner commended the eyes of his deuote Louer,

which are the most noble parts of the face, but presently he fals a praising her head haire, which is the most fraile, vile an abiect. That we might learne thereby, that in a soule taken with holy Loue, actions that seeme very poore are highly agreeable to the Diuine Maiestie.