Part III, Chapter XXVI

Of Discourse; and, First, How We Must Speak of God

As physicians discover the health or sickness of a man by looking on his tongue, so our words are true indications of the qualities of our souls. “By thy words,” says our Saviour (Matthew 12:37), “thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” We readily move our hand to the pain that we feel, and the tongue to the love we entertain.

If, then, Philothea, you are in love with God, you will often speak of him, in your familiar discourses with those of your household, your friends, and your neighbors: “For the mouth of the just will meditate on wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment.” (Psalms 36:30) As bees, with their little mouths, touch nothing but honey; so should your tongue be always sweetened with its God, and find no greater pleasure than in the sweet praises and blessings of his name flowing between your lips, like St. Francis, who used to apply his tongue to his lips, after pronouncing the holy name of the Lord, to draw thence the greatest sweetness in the world.

But speak always of God as of God; that is, reverently and devoutly; not with ostentation or affectation, but with a spirit of meekness, charity, and humility, distilling as much as you can, as it is said of the Spouse in the Canticles (Canticle of Canticles 4:11), the delicious honey of devotion and of the things of God, imperceptibly, into the ears sometimes of one, and sometimes of another, and pray secretly to God, in your soul, that it would please him to make this holy dew sink deep into the heart of those that hear you.

Above all things, this angelical office must be done meekly and sweetly; not by way of correction, but inspiration; for it is surprising how powerfully a sweet and amiable manner of proposing good things attracts the hearts of the hearers.

Never therefore, speak of God, or devotion, in slight or thoughtless manner, but rather with the utmost attention and reverence. I give you this advice, that you may avoid that remarkable vanity which is found in many false devotees, who upon every occasion speak words of piety and godliness by way of entertainment, without ever thinking of what they say, and afterwards falsely imagine themselves to be very devout.

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