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Many are the benefits which come to the soul through
the withdrawal of its heart from this rejoicing; for,
besides preparing itself for the love of God and the
other virtues, it makes a direct way for its own
humility, and for a general charity toward its
neighbours. For, as it is not led by the apparent
good things of nature, which are deceitful, into
affection for anyone, the soul remains free and
able[596] to love them all rationally and
spiritually, as God wills them to be loved.
Here it must be understood that none deserves to
be loved, save for the virtue that is in him. And,
when we love in this way, it is very pleasing to the
will of God, and also brings great freedom; and if
there be attachment in it, there is greater
attachment to God. For, in that case, the more this
love grows, the more grows our love toward God; and,
the more grows our love toward God, the greater
becomes our love for our neighbour. For, when love is
grounded in God, the reason for all love is one and
the same and the cause of all love is one and the
same also.
2. Another excellent benefit comes to the soul
from its renunciation of this kind of rejoicing,
which is that it fulfils and keeps the counsel of Our
Saviour which He gives us through Saint Matthew. 'Let
him that will follow Me', He says, 'deny
himself.'[597] This the soul could in no wise do if
it were to set its rejoicing upon the good things of
nature; for he that makes any account of himself
neither denies himself nor follows Christ.
3. There is another great benefit in the
renunciation of this kind of rejoicing, which is that
it produces great tranquillity in the soul, empties
it of distractions and brings recollection to the
senses, especially to the eyes. For the soul that
desires not to rejoice in these things desires
neither to look at them nor to attach the other
senses to them, lest it should be attracted or
entangled by them. Nor will it spend time or thought
upon them, being like the prudent serpent, which
stops its ears that it may not hear the charmers lest
they make some impression upon it.[598] For, by
guarding its doors, which are the senses, the soul
guards itself safely and increases its tranquillity
and purity.
4. There is another benefit of no less importance
to those that have become proficient in the
mortification of this kind of rejoicing, which is
that evil things and the knowledge of them neither
make an impression upon them nor stain them as they
do those to whom they still give any delight.
Wherefore the renunciation and mortification of this
rejoicing result in spiritual cleanness of soul and
body; that is, of spirit and sense; and the soul
comes to have an angelical conformity with God, and
becomes, both in spirit and in body, a worthy temple
of the Holy Spirit. T
his cannot come to pass if the heart rejoices in
natural graces and good things. For this reason it is
not necessary to have given consent to any evil
thing, or to have remembrance of such; for that
rejoicing suffices to stain the soul and the senses
with impurity by means of the knowledge of evil; for,
as the Wise Man says, the Holy Spirit will remove
Himself from thoughts that are without understanding
-- that is, without the higher reason that has
respect to God.[599]
5. Another benefit of a general kind follows,
which is that, besides freeing ourselves from the
evils and dangers aforementioned, we are delivered
also from countless vanities, and from many other
evils, both spiritual and temporal; and especially
from falling into the small esteem in which are held
all those that are seen to glory or rejoice in the
said natural gifts, whether in their own or in those
of others. And thus these souls are held and esteemed
as wise and prudent, as indeed are all those who take
no account of these things, but only of that which
pleases God.
6. From these said benefits follows the last,
which is a generosity of the soul, as necessary to
the service of God as is liberty of spirit, whereby
temptations are easily vanquished and trials
faithfully endured, and whereby, too, the virtues
grow and become prosperous. |