Volume I, Treatise VIII, Chapter IX

Of Some Other Helps that Will Make This Practice of Conformity More Sweet and Easy to Us

Tuav this exercise of conforming ourselves to the will of God may become more easy and pleasant to us, we must, in the first place, set continually before our eyes the principle we established in the beginning of this treatise, that nothing painful can happen to us which has not first passed through the hands of God, and been decreed and determined by his holy will and pleasure. Jesus Christ himself teaches us this truth, not only by his words, but alsn by his example. For when, in the night of his passion, he commanded St. Peter to put up his sword into the scabbard, he added these words: “Will you not let me drink the chalice my Father has given me?” (John 18:11) He says not, the chalice prepared for me by Judas, or by the Scribes and Pharisees. Because he knew they only executed the will of his Eternal Father; and what they perpetrated through hatred and malice was ordained him from all eternity, by the goodness and wisdom of his Eternal Father, for the redemption of man. So, when Pilate said he had power to crucify him, or power to deliver him, he answered, “You would not have any power over me, if it were not given you from above.” (John 19:11) Which is as much as to say, as the saints explain it, if the divine Providence had not ordered it so. So that everything comes from above, and is an effect of the disposition and ordination of God.,

St. Peter takes notice of this admirably well in the Acts of the Apostles, where, explaining this passage of the Psalmist: “Why did the Gentiles rage, and people meditate vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes assembled together against our Lord, and against his Christ. (Psalms 2:1) We see,” says he, “clearly that Herod and Pontius Pilate assembled together with the Gentiles and Israelites in this city, against your holy Son Jesus, upon whom you have poured forth your holy unction, and that they were met together to execute what your eternal power and providence has decreed.” (Acts 4:27) The princes and great persons of the earth are combined together against our Divine Saviour, to execute only what was resolved on in the sacred assembly of the most Blessed Trinity; for their power was of no more extent. And in effect we see that Herod’s power, and all the stratagems he used to destroy Jesus in his infancy, were not capable of depriving him of his life; since it was not the will of God he should die. To murder all the children of those parts, who were under the age of two years, availed this tyrant but little. He could never amongst them all — find him whom he sought; because our Saviour’s hour, prescribed by himself, was not then come, Would not the Jews and Pharisees have laid hands several times upon him, and put him to death? The people of Nazareth once led him out of the town

to precipitate him down a great rock, upon which their city was built; and the holy Scripture says, “He passed through the midst of them and retired.” (Luke 4:30) He passed safely through the midst of them, because having not.determined upon this sort of death, it was not in their power to inflict it upon him. At another time those of Jerusalem would have stoned him, and had even the stones ready, and their hands lifted up; but he, unconcerned, only answered them, “I have done you many good works in the name of my Father; and for which of all these is it would you stone me?” (John 10:32) And by this means he tied their hands, and permitted them not to execute their design; “because his hour was not yet come.” (John 7:30) But no sooner was it come, as he had before marked out to himself, but they had all power and force to handle and treat him after the manner he had resolved to suffer; because it was his holy will, and he gave them permission. ‘“This is your hour,” said he to them, when they assaulted him at first, “and this the time of the powers of darkness.” (Luke 22:53) I was daily with you in the temple, and you seized me not, because this hour was not come. But now it is come, here you have me, do with me in whatever the eternal providence of my Father has commissioned you. Did not Saul use the like endeavours to take David? What arts and stratagems did he not practise to arrest him? What pains and labours did not this great and potent king undergo to destroy one particular person, and “‘catch,” as David himself said, “one little flea” (1 Kings 26:20) Notwithstanding he could never compass his designs; and the reason the holy Scripture gives is, that “our Lord had not delivered David into his hands.” (Ibid. 23:14) It is for this reason that. St. Cyprian, writing upon these words, “and lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13), says, that in all our temptations and adversities we ought to turn all our attention, and all our apprehension and fear to God; because neither the devil nor anything whatsoever can hurt us in the least, unless God gives previous permission.

But though this truth, being once well imprinted in our hearts, may effectually suffice to oblige us to an absolute conformity to the will of God; nevertheless we are not to content ourselves with this single consideration, but we must proceed farther, even to the knowledge of another truth, which is deduced from the former, and which is very particularly inculcated to us by the saints. It is, that considering all things as sent us from the hand of God, we are to consider, at the same time, that they are sent us for our good. The pains of the damned in hell come from God; and yet they are not sent for their good, but purely for their punishment. But as to the pains which either the just or sinners suffer in this life, we are always to presume so far upon the infinite goodness and mercy of God, as to assure ourselves they happen for their greater good, and they are positively such as are most proper, and most conducive to their salvation. So that, when Judith harangued the citizens of Bethulia, besieged by Holofernes, and reduced to extremity, “‘ Let us be convinced,” said she, “that all this has happened for our amendment, not for our destruction.” (Judith 8:27) In reality, the intention of God is so good, and his love so tender, that we may safely confide, what he does is for the best; and what he orders is what is most expedient for us; as we shall demonstrate more at large m the sequel of this treatise.

It is not, for all this, sufficient that we know by mere speculative knowledge, that all things come from the hand of God; nor that we believe it in general terms, because faith teaches us so, or because we have read it, or heard it delivered m sermons. But to derive more advantage from this truth, and by this means to arrive to a perfect conformity to the divine will, we must in the third place have a strong and lively belief, and so apply this belief to whatever can happen to us, that we accept it, as if we beheld our Saviour Jesus Christ who spoke thus to us:—Receive this, my son; itis I send it you; and it is 1 who would have you do this, or suffer this and that difficulty. So that, in this manner, it will be exceedingly easy and pleasant to conform ourselves in all things to the divine will. For if Jesus Christ himself should appear to you, and say, Consider, my son, it is J who request this of you; it is I would have you undergo this affliction or this sickness for the love of me: it is I who would have you serve me in such a function, or such a charge or employ—and although what he demanded were the most painful and difficult task imaginable, would you not, I do not say only submit yourself most willingly te execute it during your whole life, but even look upon yourself happy, that God would please to accept of your service P Would you not in this case easily persuade yourself, that whatsoever he appointed you was for the best, and of the greatest advantage to your salvation? And would you, even for a moment, entertain a doubt or a thought contrary to this persuasion?

‘We must, in the last place, endeavour in our prayers to reduce, by frequent acts, this exercise to practice, and never cease searching this rich vein of God’s fatherly providence over us, till we have found the inestimable treasure of a perfect conformity to his holy will.

About ReligiousBookshelf.com · A Supernerd Media project