The activity of the natural selfish life, is the greatest obstacle to
your progress. Allow of nothing which gives sustenance to this life.
Be on your guard against applause. Applaud not yourself when you have
done well. Admit no reflections in regard to the good you have
accomplished, so that all that nourishes self-complacency may die.
Possess your soul in peace as much as possible; not by effort, but by
ceasing from effort; by letting go everything that troubles you. Be
quiet, that you may settle, as we leave water to settle when agitated.
When you discover your errors and sins, do not stop, under whatever
good pretext, to remedy them. Rather abandon yourself at once to God,
that he may destroy, in you, all that its displeasing to him. I assure
you, you are not capable of yourself, to correct the least fault. Your
only remedy is abandonment to God, and remaining quiet in his hands.
If you discovered the depth of inward corruption in your heart, your
courage would fail! On this account, God conceals from us, in part,
the view of our sins, and discovers them to us, only as he destroys
them.
Rest assured, God loves you. He will take care of you. Have faith in
his love and mercy. You will see farther by and by. When you are in
trouble, do not fail to write me. Have good courage, and all will be
well. You are very dear to me in our Lord.