He shall humbly consider that he hath nothing of his own save his
misery, and shall say with resignation and self-abandonment the same
words which were spoken by holy Job: “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” And in all things he
shall yield up his own will, saying and thinking in his heart, “Lord,
I am as willing to be poor and without all those things of which Thou
hast deprived me, as I should be ready to be rich, Lord, if Thy will
were so, and if in that state I might further Thy glory. It is not
my natural will which must be done, but Thy will and the will of my
spirit. Lord, I am Thine, and I should be Thine as gladly in hell as
in heaven, if in that way I could advance Thy glory. So then, O Lord,
fulfil in me the good pleasure of Thy will.” Out of all sufferings and
all renunciations the man will draw for himself an inward joy; he will
resign himself into the hands of God, and will rejoice to suffer in
promoting God’s glory. And if he perseveres in this course, he will
enjoy secret pleasures never tasted before; for nothing so rejoices
the lover of God as to feel that he belongs to his Beloved. And if
he has truly risen to this height in the path of virtues, it is not
necessary that he shall have passed through the different states which
we have pointed out in previous chapters, for he feels in himself, in
work, in humble obedience, and in patience and resignation, the source
of every virtue. This method has therefore an everlasting certainty.
At this season the sun enters into the sign of Libra, for the day and
night are equal, and light and darkness evenly balanced. Even so for
the resigned soul Jesus Christ is in the sign of Libra; and whether He
grants sweetness or bitterness, darkness or light, of whatever nature
His gift may be, the man retains his balance, and all things are one
to him, with the exception of sin, which has been driven out once
for all. When all consolation has been withdrawn from these resigned
ones, so that they believe they have lost all their virtues, and are
forsaken of God and of every creature; then, if they know how to reap
the various fruits, the corn and wine are ripe and ready.