Page 104
CHAP. XV. Declaring when Spiritual and Corporal Pe∣nances ought to be used, and how hurtful they are, when they are done indiscreet∣ly according to ones own judgment and opinion.
110. IT is to be known, that there are some Souls, who, to make too great ad∣vances in Holiness, become much behind∣hand in it, by doing indiscreet Penances; like those who would sing more than their strength allows 'em, who strain themselves till they are tired, and instead of doing better, do worse.
111. Many have fallen into this Precipice, for want of subjecting their judgment to their spiritual Fathers; whil'st they have imagined, that unless they give themselves up to rigid Pe∣nances, they never can be Saints, as if sanctity did only consist in them. They say, that he that sows little, reaps little; but they sow no other seed, with their indiscreet Penances, than Self-love, instead of rooting of it up.
112. But the worst of these indiscreet Pe∣nances, is, that by the use of these dry and barren Severities, is begotten and naturalized a certain bitterness of heart towards themselves and their neighbours, which is a great stranger