Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/430

 according to  David,  God  surrounds  us  with  his  good-will, in order  to  save  us  from  all  the  assaults  of  our  enemies. Lord, thou  hast  crowned  us  with  a  shield  of  thy  good  will. Why, then,  do  we  not  abandon  ourselves  entirely  into  the hands of  this  good  Father? Would it  not  be  folly  in  a blind  man,  placed  in  the  midst  of  precipices,  to  reject the guidance  of  a  father  who  loves  him,  and  to  follow the way  suggested  by  his  own  caprice?

Happy the  soul  that  permits  itself  to  be  conducted  in the  way  in  which  God  leads  it. Father St.  Jure  relates that a  certain  young  man,  desirous  of  entering  the  Society of  Jesus,  was  rejected  because  he  had  only  one  eye. Who would  not  have  said  that  the  defect  was  a  great misfortune to  the  poor  young  man? But that  defect was the  occasion  of  the  happiest  end  that  he  could  meet; for on  account  of  it  he  was  received  into  the  Society only on  the  condition  that  he  would  consent  to  go  on the  Indian  mission. He went  to  India,  and  had  the happiness of  dying  for  the  faith. The Venerable  Balthazar Alvarez  used  to  say  that  "the  kingdom  of  heaven is  the  kingdom  of  the  lame,  the  tempted,  and  the  abject." Let us  then,  as  if  blind,  permit  ourselves  to  be  guided by God,  through  whatever  level  or  steep  road  by  which he may  be  pleased  to  conduct  us,  secure  of  finding  in  it eternal  salvation. St. Teresa  used  to  say,  "Our  Lord never  sends  a  cross  without  rewarding  it  with  some favor,  when  we  accept  it  with  resignation."

Oh, how  great  the  peace  of  the  soul  whose  will  is  in all  things  conformed  to  the  will  of  God! Because she wishes only  what  he  wills,  she  always  obtains  whatsoever she  desires;  for  all  that  happens  in  the  world,  happens by  the  will  of  God. Panormitano relates  that King Alphonsus,  called  the  Great,  being  asked  whom  he