Grace

Little by little, with patience and fortitude, and with the help of God, you will sooner overcome temptations than with your own strength and persistence.
(p. 45)

The way that a man shall walk in this world is found not in himself, but in the grace of God.
(p. 54)

Grace is always given to those ready to give thanks for it, and therefore it is wont to be given to the humble man, and to be taken from the proud man.
(pp. 90-91)

It behooves you constantly to seek the grace of devotion, without ceasing to ask for it, patiently and faithfully to await it, thankfully to receive it, humbly to keep it, zealously to work with it, and wholly to commit to God the time and manner of His heavenly vistitation until it be His pleasure to come to you.
(p. 230)

When spiritual comfort is sent to you by God, take it humbly and give thanks meekly for it. But know for certain that it is the great goddness of God that sends it to you, and not because you deserve it. See to it, then, that you are not lifted up to pride because of the comfort, and that you do not rejoice too much in it or presume vainly in it; instead, seek to be more humble for so noble a gift, and the more watchful and fearful in all your works. That time of comfort will pass away, and the time of temptation will follow shortly after.

When comfort is withdrawn, do not be cast down, but humbly and patiently await the visitation of God. He is able and powerful to give you more grace and more spiritual comfort than you first had. Such alteration of grace is no new thing and no strange thing to those who have had experience in the way of God. Such alteration was found many times in the great saints and the holy prophets, and so the prophet David says:

"I have said in my abundance, I shall not be moved forever."

That is to say, when David had abundance of spiritual comfort, he said to our Lord that he trusted he would never be deprived of such comfort. But afterwards, when grace withdrew itself, David said:

"You have withdrawn your face from me, and I am perturbed." (Ps. 69:17)

That is to say: O Lord, You have withdrawn Your spiritual comfort from me, and I am left in great trouble and depression. Yet David did not despair because of this, but prayed heartily to our Lord and said:

"To You shall I cry, O Lord, and I shall make petition to my God."

That is, I shall busily cry to You, O Lord, and I shall humbly pray for Your grace and comfort. And soon he had the effect of his prayer, as he himself bears wintess, saying:

"Our Lord has heard my prayer and has had mercy on me and has now again sent me spiritual help and comfort."

And therefore he said afterwards:

"Lord, You have turned my joy into sorrow, and You have encompassed me about with heavenly gladness."
(pp. 88-89)

©1999 by Deb Platt