arrived at this low opinion of himself, nor attained to such a depth of humility, had he not been sorely tried, and forced as it were to it by these extraordinary temptations.
There is one favour which God confers on the soul in this life which has placed itself back and given itself up into His Hands, and that is, to give it whatever medicine He pleases, and to administer that which He in His perfect knowledge sees the soul stands in need of for its health and well-being.
Again, besides this fruit, which our souls gain from such trials as lack of devotion, there are many others; thus, he who is so afflicted, is as it were constrained to have recourse to God, and to seek to do good works, as a remedy for his distress; and in the same way, in order to free himself from such torture, he sets about examining his heart, avoiding all sin, and every thing which seems to be imperfect, or which may in any way place him at a distance from God. And thus this trial, which in his judgment appeared to be so adverse and hurtful, served for a lash to make him run towards God with greater fervour, and keep away from every thing which he thinks is not in conformity with the Divine Will. And lastly, all these trials, and all the toil and travail the soul endures, whilst braving these temptations and withdrawals of spiritual delight, are but a
