Volume II, Treatise II, Chapter VII

That Modesty, Recollection, and Silence, Do not Make Us Melancholy, but Rather Pleasant and Agreeable

THE consequence which ought to be drawn from the preceding ‘discourse is very remarkable, which is, that this retired way of living, in which we have our eyes modestly cast down, in which nothing but mere necessity forces us to speak, or to hear others; in which the love of God makes us blind, deaf, and dumb, is not an uneasy, melancholy life, but is so much the more sweet and pleasant, as the conversation with God, to which it exalts us, is above all the satisfaction and charms that human conversation can impart. “Let others think what they please,” says St. Jerom, “for miy part, the world is a prison to me, but solitude a paradise.”— (Ep. v. ad Rust. Mon.) St. Bernard showed himself to be of the same mind when he said; “I am never less alone, than when alone,” (Ad frat. de mon. Dei,) for it was then he found the best company, and was most of all contented; God being still with him, who alone can give the most solid comfort to a soul. Those persons that are unacquainted with these private entertainments and conversations with God, and have never yet relished the sweets of prayer, and of a spiritual life, will meet with a greal deal of discontent and sadness in this sort of life; but a good religious man will find therein much comfort and content of mind.

From what has been said, we may discover how great is the error. of those, who, judging other persons by themselves, and seeing one of their brethren grave and modest, walking with his eyes fixed upon the ground, without stopping to talk with all he meets, presently conclude that he is troubled with some temptation or other, or is in some great affliction. And by frequently mentioning these their suspicions, they sometimes cause the parties to become so uneasy, that several, through an imprudent bashfulness, have afterwards never dared to observe that silence and modesty they were even obliged to, and which otherwise they would have observed. We ought to be extremely careful in this particular, that the indiscretion and want of recollection in one, may not turn to the prejudice of many. When you yourself find no satisfaction in modesty and silence, you presently think your brother to have a similar disposition; or perhaps it may also happen, that you have no mind to suffer these good qualities in another, because they are a continual censure on your own conduct. But do not trouble yourself, nor disturb your brother in so holy a practice, since he feels more content in it than you; for his joy is interjor, and truly spiritual. Hence the apostle takes notice, that the servants of God “carry indeed a kind of sorrowfulness in their looks, but always possess a joy in their hearts.” (2 Corinthians 6:10) Their outward appearance seems the more sad and full of sorrow, because their sole delight lies hid within. Heathens as well as Christians are of opinion, that there is no joy so true and lasting as that which is interior. That gold which is found upon the surface of the earth, is not comparable to that which lies deep and hid within the veins and bowels thereof; nor is that content true and solid, which shows itself only in words and exterior signs, wherein the soul has no part.or share at all. True and solid joy lies low in the bottom of the heart; and this true contentment can only be found in the peace of a good conscience, in a generous disdain of all perishable and fading objects, and in a mind that soars above the earth, and above all goods that are transitory.

About ReligiousBookshelf.com · A Supernerd Media project