they desire; if they suffer poverty, they wish to be poor; in short, they will all things just as they happen, and therefore they lead a blessed life. Let come what will, cold or heat, or loss, or persecution, or sickness, or death, he who is united to God's will says, "I wish for this." He who rests upon the Divine will, and who is pleased with whatsoever the Lord may do, is like one placed above the clouds, who sees the tempests roll with so great rage below: but they do not touch him, neither hurt nor disturb him. It is of this peace that the Apostle says that it "passeth all understanding," (Phil. iv. 7,) which exceeds all the joys of the world, and is moreover such firm peace, that it allows of no change. " The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon." (Ecclus. xxvii. 11.) The fool, that is to say, the sinner, "is changed as the moon;" he increases today, he lessens tomorrow; today he laughs, tomorrow he cries; today he is bright and altogether cheerful, tomorrow he is afflicted and morose; in short, he changes as things prosperous or adverse happen to him. But the righteous, like the sun, is ever equal and uniform in his tranquillity in all things that may happen, for his peace rests in his conforming himself to the Divine will.
We cannot fail to feel, in the inferior part of our soul, some stings from adverse things; but in the superior part, peace will ever reign, when our will is united with that of God. " Your joy no man taketh from you." (S. John xvi. 22.) But how great is the foolishness of those who resist the will of God, since what He wills must without fail be fulfilled. " Who hath resisted His will?" (Rom. ix. 19.) Whence these miserable ones have to suffer indeed the cross, but without fruit and without peace. "Who hath hardened himself against Him, and hath prospered?" (Job ix. 4.)
What else does God will, if not your good? " This is the will of God, even your sanctification." (i Thess. iv. 3.) He wills to see us holy, by seeing us happy in this life, and blessed in the next. Let us consider that all the crosses which come to us from God " work together for good." (Rom. viii. 28.) Punishments even are not sent for our destruction, but that we may amend, and thus gain eternal happiness. God so loves
