And, indeed, this treasure is close at thy doors. Turn from the images and distractions of earth, and quickly shalt thou find it with thee and learn what it is to be united to God without hindrance or impediment.
Then wilt thou gain an unshaken constancy, which will strengthen thee to endure all that may befall thee.
Thus was it with the martyrs, the Fathers, the elect, and all the blessed. They despised all and thought only of possessing in God eternal security for their souls.
Thus armed within and united to God by a good will, they despised all that is of this world, as though their soul had already departed from the body.
Learn from them how great is the power of a good will united to God.
By that union of the soul with God it becomes, as it were, cut off from the flesh by a spiritual separation, and regards the outward man from afar as something alien to it.
Then, whatever may happen inwardly or in the body will be as little regarded as though it had befallen another person or a creature without reason.
He who is united to God is but one mind with Him.
Out of regard, therefore, for His sovereign honour, never be so bold as to think or imagine in His presence what thou wouldst blush to hear or see before men.
Thou oughtest, moreover, to raise all thy thoughts to God alone, and set Him before thine inward gaze, as though He alone existed. So wilt thou experience the sweetness of Divine union and even now make a true beginning of the life to come.
IN WHAT MANNER WE SHOULD RESIST TEMPTATION AND ENDURE TRIALS
He who with his whole heart draws nigh unto God must of necessity be proved by temptation and trial.
When the sting of temptation is felt, by no means give thy consent, but bear all with patience, sweetness, humility, and courage.
If thou art tempted to blasphemy or any shameful sin, be well assured thou canst do nothing better than to utterly despise and contemn such thoughts. Blasphemy is indeed sinful, scandalous, and abominable, yet be not anxious about such temptations, but rather despise them, and do not let thy conscience be troubled by them. The enemy will most certainly be put to flight if thou wilt thus contemn both him and his suggestions. He is too proud to endure scorn or contempt. The best remedy is, therefore, to trouble no more about these thoughts than we do about the flies which, against our will, dance before our eyes. Let not the servant of Christ thus easily and needlessly lose sight of his Master's presence, nor let him grow impatient, murmur, or complain of these flies; I mean these light temptations, suspicions, sadness, depression, pusillanimity--mere nothings which a good will can put to flight by an elevation of the soul to God.