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 But all  perfection  and  sanctity  consists  in  doing  the  will of God. In a  word,  the  divine  will  is  the  rule  of  all goodness and  virtue. Because it  is  holy,  it  sanctifies  all, even the  most  indifferent  actions,  when  they  are  done  to please  God. The will  of  God  is  your  sanctification;  says the Apostle. The accomplishment  of  the  divine  will  is the  sanctification  of  your  souls.

I know  well  that  men  cheerfully  conform  to  the  will of God  in  prosperity,  but  are  afterwards  unwilling  to submit  to  it  in  adversity. But this  is  great  folly;  for they thus  suffer  doubly  and  without  merit  from  the evils that  befall  them,  since,  whether  they  wish  or  wish not, the  will  of  God  shall  be  accomplished. My counsel shall  stand,  and  all  my  will  shall  be  done.  When,  then,  a person  in  sickness  does  not  accept  his  pains  with  patience, but gives  way  to  anger,  and  complains  of  every  one, what does  he  do? Does he  by  his  impatience  get  rid  of his  pains? No: on  the  contrary,  he  increases  them,  because by  resisting  the  will  of  God  he  loses  his  peace, and still  endures  the  same  pains. Who hath  resisted  him, and  hath  had  peace?  But  were  he  to  embrace  his  sufferings in  peace,  he  would  feel  his  pains  less  sensibly,  and would derive  consolation  from  the  thought  of  pleasing God, by  accepting  crosses  from  his  divine  hands.

Oh! what pleasure  does  he  give  to  the  Lord,  who  in the  time  of  tribulation  says  with  David:  I  was  dumb,  and I  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou  hast  done  it.  My  God, I have  shut  my  mouth,  and  have  not  dared  to  speak,  because I  know  that  Thou  hast  done  it. No; there  is  no one  that  is  better  able  than  God  to  promote  our  welfare, or that  loves  us  more  than  our  Creator. And let  us  be