On Sadness.
_The sadness which is according to God_, says Saint Paul, _worketh repentance unto salvation; and the sadness of the world worketh death._ Sadness, then, may be good or bad, according to the diverse effects it produceth in us. It is true that it hath more bad than good effects; for it hath only two that are good, namely, mercy and repentance; whereas it hath six that are bad, namely, anguish, sloth, indignation, jealousy, envy, and impatience: which maketh the Wise Man say, that _sadness killeth many, and there is no profit in it_; for, of the two good streams that flow from the source of sadness, there are six that are very evil.
The enemy maketh use of sadness to exercise the perseverance of the good; for, as he endeavoureth to make the wicked rejoice in their sin, so doth he endeavour to make the good sad in their good works; and as he can attract them to evil only by making it seem pleasant, so can he turn them from good only by making it seem wearisome. The devil desireth nothing but sadness and melancholy, and, as he himself is sad and melancholy, and shall be so eternally, he would have everyone to be like him.
Bad sadness troubleth the soul, filleth it with disquiet, giveth it inordinate fears, maketh it weary of prayer; it benumbeth and overwhelmeth the brain; it deprives the soul of counsel, resolution, judgment, and courage, and utterly abateth its strength. In short, it is like a harsh winter which effaceth all the beauty of the earth and benumbeth all the animals; for it deprives the soul of all consolation, and striketh it with impotence in all its faculties.
_The sadness which is according to God_, says Saint Paul, _worketh repentance unto salvation; and the sadness of the world worketh death._ Sadness, then, may be good or bad, according to the diverse effects it produceth in us. It is true that it hath more bad than good effects; for it hath only two that are good, namely, mercy and repentance; whereas it hath six that are bad, namely, anguish, sloth, indignation, jealousy, envy, and impatience: which maketh the Wise Man say, that _sadness killeth many, and there is no profit in it_; for, of the two good streams that flow from the source of sadness, there are six that are very evil.
The enemy maketh use of sadness to exercise the perseverance of the good; for, as he endeavoureth to make the wicked rejoice in their sin, so doth he endeavour to make the good sad in their good works; and as he can attract them to evil only by making it seem pleasant, so can he turn them from good only by making it seem wearisome. The devil desireth nothing but sadness and melancholy, and, as he himself is sad and melancholy, and shall be so eternally, he would have everyone to be like him.
Bad sadness troubleth the soul, filleth it with disquiet, giveth it inordinate fears, maketh it weary of prayer; it benumbeth and overwhelmeth the brain; it deprives the soul of counsel, resolution, judgment, and courage, and utterly abateth its strength. In short, it is like a harsh winter which effaceth all the beauty of the earth and benumbeth all the animals; for it deprives the soul of all consolation, and striketh it with impotence in all its faculties.
If it should ever happen to you, Philothea, to be afflicted with this evil sadness, practise the following remedies. _Is any among you afflicted?_ saith Saint James, _let him pray._ Prayer is a sovereign remedy, for it raiseth the spirit to God, Who is our only joy and sole consolation; but in praying, make use of affections and words, whether inward or outward, which tend to confidence in and love of God, such as: O God of mercy! O my most good Master! my sweet Saviour, my life, my joy, my hope; O dear Spouse and Beloved of my soul! and others like them.
Strive vigorously against the inclinations of sadness, and though it seem to you that all you do at such a time is done coldly, sadly, and faint-heartedly, yet do not cease to do it; for the enemy, who seeks to disgust us with good works through sadness, seeing that we do not cease to perform them, and that, though done reluctantly, they are all the better for it, will cease to afflict us.
Sing spiritual hymns; for the devil hath often ceased his workings by this means: witness the evil spirit that tormented Saul, whose violence was restrained by the sweet strains of David’s harp.
It is good to occupy oneself in outward works, and to vary them as much as one can, in order to turn the soul from the cause of its sadness, and to purify and warm the spirits; for sadness is a passion of a cold and dry temperament.
Strive vigorously against the inclinations of sadness, and though it seem to you that all you do at such a time is done coldly, sadly, and faint-heartedly, yet do not cease to do it; for the enemy, who seeks to disgust us with good works through sadness, seeing that we do not cease to perform them, and that, though done reluctantly, they are all the better for it, will cease to afflict us.
Sing spiritual hymns; for the devil hath often ceased his workings by this means: witness the evil spirit that tormented Saul, whose violence was restrained by the sweet strains of David’s harp.
It is good to occupy oneself in outward works, and to vary them as much as one can, in order to turn the soul from the cause of its sadness, and to purify and warm the spirits; for sadness is a passion of a cold and dry temperament.
Perform outward acts of fervour, even though you do them without relish, embracing the image of the crucifix, pressing it to your breast, kissing its feet and hands, lifting your hands and eyes to heaven, sending your voice up to God with words of love and trust, such as these: _My beloved is mine, and I am His; my beloved is like a bundle of myrrh upon my heart; my eyes are spent in gazing upon Thee, O my God! I cease not to say: When wilt Thou comfort me?_ O Jesus! be Jesus to me, long live Jesus! and my soul shall live. _Who shall separate me from the love of my God?_ and other things of the like sort.
The moderate use of the discipline is a good remedy against sadness, because this outward affliction, willingly endured, obtains inward consolation, and the soul, feeling the pains without, thinks no more of those within. Frequent communion is also an excellent means; for this heavenly bread strengthens the heart and gladdens the spirit.
Humbly and faithfully disclose to your director all the feelings and suggestions that come to you from sadness; seek the company of cheerful and devout persons, and frequent them as much as you can during that time. Finally, place yourself in God’s hands, preparing to suffer this wearisome sadness patiently as a just punishment for your vain joys, and doubt not at all that God, after having tried you, will deliver you from your affliction.
The moderate use of the discipline is a good remedy against sadness, because this outward affliction, willingly endured, obtains inward consolation, and the soul, feeling the pains without, thinks no more of those within. Frequent communion is also an excellent means; for this heavenly bread strengthens the heart and gladdens the spirit.
Humbly and faithfully disclose to your director all the feelings and suggestions that come to you from sadness; seek the company of cheerful and devout persons, and frequent them as much as you can during that time. Finally, place yourself in God’s hands, preparing to suffer this wearisome sadness patiently as a just punishment for your vain joys, and doubt not at all that God, after having tried you, will deliver you from your affliction.