SECTION V.--The Common Way of all Souls.
The soul that aims at union with God should value all the
operations of His grace, but should only attach itself to that of
the present moment.
It is by union with the will of God that we enjoy and possess
Him; and it is an illusion to endeavour to obtain this divine
enjoyment by any other means. Union with the will of God is
the universal means. It does not act by one method only, but
all methods and all ways are, by its virtue, sanctified. The divine
will unites God to our souls in many different ways, and that
which suits us is always best for us. All ways should be esteemed
and loved, because in each we should behold that which is
ordained by God accommodating itself to each individual soul, and
selecting the most suitable method of effecting by it the divine
union. The duty of the soul is to submit to this choice, and to
make none for itself; and this without dispensing itself from
esteeming and loving this adorable will in its work in others.
For instance, if this divine will should prevent me saying vocal
prayers, having sensible devotion, or receiving lights on
mysteries, I should still love and esteem the silence and bareness
induced by the sight of the faith of others; while for myself I
should make use of the present moment, and by it should become
united to God. I should not, as the Quietists do, reduce all
religion to personal inaction despising all other means; because
what makes perfection is obedience to the law of God which
always renders the means it applies suitable to the soul. No!
I should not admit of obstacles or bounds to the will of God,
neither should I take anything in place of it, but should welcome
it in whatever way it was made manifest to me, and should revere
it in whatever way it was pleased to unite itself to others. Thus
all ordinary souls have but one common way in which each is
distinct and different in order to form the variety of the mystical
robe of the Church. All these souls mutually approve of, and
esteem each other, and all say "We are going to the same goal by
different paths, and are all united in the same way, and by the
same means in the ordinance of God, which is so different in
each." It is in this sense that we must read the lives of the saints,
and other spiritual books, without ever making a change, and
forsaking our own path. For this reason it is necessary that we
should neither read spiritual books, nor hold spiritual conversation unless God so will; for, if He makes it the duty of the
present moment, the soul, far from making any change will be
strengthened in its way, either by what it finds in conformity with
its own method, or even by that in which it differs. But if the will
of God does not make this reading, or spiritual intercourse a
present duty it will cause nothing but trouble, and a confusion of
ideas; and a succession of changes will ensue; because without the
concurrence of God's will there cannot be order in anything.
Since when, therefore, have we busied ourselves with the pains
and anxieties of our souls which have nothing to do with our
present duty? When will God be all in all to us? Let creatures
act according to their nature, but let nothing hinder us, let us
go beyond all created things and live entirely for God.
