A short treatise of the quiet of the soul. How necessary a thing it is, and how it may be atttained [sic]. Composed by the reverend father John de Bovilla, an observant frier of the holy order of St. Francis. Permissu superiorum

CHAP. IX. That the Soul must not seek any com∣fort or delight, but in God alone.

THOU must always make choice of afflictions, and be glad to be there where least Friendship is shewed unto thee, and where thou art to be most in subjection. Finally all things are to serve thee as occasions of going forward towards God, so that nothing stay thee from advancing thy self in this way, and in this thou must rejoyce, that all things seem troublesome unto thee, to the end our Lord be thy content, in whom thou must always rest.

Address all thy Labors to thy

Lord, who is Mediator between God and Man. Love this Lord, and impart thy heart freely unto him, for he will resolve thy doubts, and will lift thee up when thou shalt fall; he will absolve, and com∣municate thee spiritually, when thou makest thy self ready; for he is an Eternal Priest: When thy Ghostly Father shall cast thee off, and will not Minister thee the Sa∣craments as often as thou desirest, come then thirsty unto this Lord, who though he hath given Power to St. Peter, yet hath not deprived himself of the same: He will grant thee a Jubilee so often as thou dost come unto him; and finally if thou dost love him, thou shalt want nothing.

Offer thy self to God as a Sacri∣fice in all peace and quietness of Spirit. And to the end thou go the better in this way, and that thou pass over this journey with∣out heaviness or weariness, it is ex∣pedient

thou make ready thy Soul at every step by enlarging thy Will, and making it fit that Gods Holy Will be fulfilled in thee; for if thou hast a great deal of room to hold much, thou shalt receive much. And let thy purpose be se∣conded by works, to the end it befall not thee as it befel St. Peter, who resolutely said that he would die with Christ, but failed very soon, for that his determination came from himself, and from his own Will, and desire; which al∣though it be good, (as in this Ex∣ample it was) yet it is dangerous, and the beginning of a great fall, if our Will begin to think or desire any thing without the help of God, Desire always, and yet desire no∣thing; that is, let thy desire and Will be free on every side, as alrea∣dy we have said; and as I say a∣gain, always and upon every occa∣sion, determine with thy self with all thy forces, to be conformable

with God; and never determine with thy self in any thing which is not to be done in that instant in which thou workest; but keep thy self at Liberty.

Yet note hereby, that none are forbidden to use a prudent care in things necessary and belonging to their state; for that operation is in God and according to God; and thereby the peace, and the true spi∣ritual profit is not hindred.

In all things purpose and per∣form speedily what by thy self in∣wardly may be done, and out∣wardly desire nothing.

In this present Instant, what thou art to do, is nothing else but to of∣fer thy will to God, and further∣more to desire or seek nothing: Be like unto a poor man, who of himself knoweth he is unable, and thou shalt always be joyful.

To conclude. This Liberty of Spirit is the Key of thy perfection and perseverance, which in sub∣stance

is nothing else, than that the inward man doth consist with∣in himself, and that he enlarge not himself to wish, desire or pro∣cure any outward thing; and so long as one shall remain in this manner, he shall enjoy a Divine, and pleasant Bondage.