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S. Basil says that God's will is made clear unto us
by his ordinances or commandments, and that then
there is no deliberation to be made, for we are
simply to do what is ordained; but that for the rest
we have freedom to choose what seems good according
to our liking; though we are not to do all that is
lawful but only what is expedient, and to clearly
discern what is expedient we are to follow the advice
of our spiritual father.
But, Theotimus, I am to warn you of a troublesome
temptation which often crosses the way of such souls
as have a great desire to do what is most according
to God's will. For the enemy at every turn puts them
in doubt whether it is God's will for them to do one
thing rather than another; as for example, whether
they should eat with a friend or no, whether they
should wear grey or black clothes, whether they
should fast Friday or Saturday, whether they should
take recreation or abstain from it; and in this they
lose much time, and while they are busy and anxious
to find out what is the better, they unprofitably let
slip the time for doing many good things, the
effecting of which would be far more to God's glory,
than this distinguishing between the good and the
better, which has taken up their time, could possibly
be.
We are not accustomed to weigh little money, but
only valuable pieces: trading would be too
troublesome and would devour too much time, if we
were to weigh pence, halfpence, farthings and
half-farthings. So we are not to weigh every petty
action to know whether it be of more value than
others; yea there is often a kind of superstition in
trying to make this examination; for to what end
should we puzzle to know whether it were better to
hear Mass in one church than in another, to spin than
to sew, to give alms to a man rather than a woman?
It is not good service to a master to spend as
much time in considering what is to be done, as in
doing the things which are to be done. We are to
proportion our attention to the importance of what we
undertake. It would be an ill-regulated carefulness
to take as much trouble in deliberating over a
journey of one day as over one of three or four
hundred leagues.
The choice of one's vocation, the plan of some
business of great consequence, of some work occupying
much time, of some very great expenditure, the change
of abode, the choice of society, and the like,
deserve to be seriously pondered, in order to see
what is most according to the will of God. But in
little daily matters, in which even a mistake is
neither of moment nor irreparable, what need is there
to make a business of them, to scrutinize them, or to
importunately ask advice about them?
To what end should I put myself upon the rack to
learn whether God would rather that I should say the
Rosary or Our Lady's Office, since there can be no
such difference between them, that a great
examination need be held; that I should rather go to
visit the sick in the hospital than to Vespers, that
I should rather go to a sermon than to a church where
there is an Indulgence? Commonly there is no such
importance in the one more than the other that it is
worth while to make any great deliberation.
We must walk in good faith and without minute
consideration in such matters, and, as S. Basil says,
freely choose as we like, so as not to weary our
spirit, lose our time, or put ourselves in danger of
disquiet, scruples, and superstition. But I mean
always where there is no great disproportion between
the two works, and where there is nothing of
consideration on one side more than on the other.
And even in matters of moment we are to use a
great humility, and not to think we can find out
God's will by force of examination and subtlety of
discourse; but having implored the light of the Holy
Ghost, applied our consideration to the seeking of
his good-pleasure, taken the counsel of our director,
and, perhaps, of two or three other spiritual
persons, we must resolve and determine in the name of
God, and must not afterwards question our choice, but
devoutly, peacefully, and firmly keep and pursue it.
And although the difficulties, temptations and the
variety of circumstances which occur in the course of
executing our design, might cause us some doubt as to
whether we had made a good choice, yet we must remain
settled, and not regard all this, but consider that
if we had made another choice we bad perhaps been a
hundred times worse; to say nothing of our not
knowing whether it be God's will that we should be
exercised in consolation or desolation, in peace or
war.
The resolution being once holily taken, we are
never to doubt of the holiness of the execution; for
unless we fail it cannot fail. To act otherwise is a
mark of great self-love, or of childishness, weakness
and silliness of spirit.
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