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From inordinate love and vain fear ariseth all disquietude of heart； and all
distraction of the senses。〃
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CHAPTER 64
How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God
Blessed by thy name； O Lord； for evermore； who hast willed this
temptation and trouble to come upon me。 I cannot escape it； but have
need to flee unto Thee； that Thou mayest succour me and turn it unto me
for good。 Lord； now am I in tribulation； and it is not well within my
heart； but I am sore vexed by the suffering which lieth upon me。 And
now； O dear Father； what shall I say？ I am taken among the snares。 Save
me from this hour； but for this cause came I unto this hour；（1） that Thou
mightest be glorified when I am deeply humbled and am delivered through
Thee。 Let it be Thy pleasure to deliver me；（2） for what can I do who am
poor； and without Thee whither shall I go？ Give patience this time also。
Help me； O Lord my God； and I will not fear how much soever I be
weighed down。
2。 And now amid these things what shall I say？ Lord； Thy will be
done。 I have well deserved to be troubled and weighed down。 Therefore
I ought to bear； would that it be with patience； until the tempest be
overpast and comfort return。 Yet is Thine omnipotent arm able also to
take this temptation away from me； and to lessen its power that I fall not
utterly under it； even as many a time past thou has helped me； O God； my
merciful God。 And as much as this deliverance is difficult to me； so
much is it easy to Thee； O right hand of the most Highest。
（1） John xii。 27。 （2） Psalm xl。 16。
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CHAPTER 65
Of seeking diving help and the confidence of obtaining grace
〃My Son； I the Lord am a stronghold in the day of trouble。（1） Come
unto Me； when it is not well with thee。
〃This it is which chiefly hindereth heavenly consolation； that thou too
slowly betakest thyself unto prayer。 For before thou earnestly seek unto
Me； thou dost first seek after many means of comfort； and refresheth
thyself in outward things； so it cometh to pass that all things profit thee but
little until thou learn that it is I who deliver those who trust in Me； neither
beside Me is there any strong help； nor profitable counsel； nor enduring
remedy。 But now； recovering courage after the tempest； grow thou strong
in the light of My mercies； for I am nigh； saith the Lord； that I may restore
all things not only as they were at the first； but also abundantly and one
upon another。
2。 〃For is anything too hard for Me； or shall I be like unto one who
saith and doeth not？ Where is thy faith？ Stand fast and with
perseverance。 Be long…suffering and strong。 Consolation will come
unto thee in its due season。 Wait for Me； yea； wait； I will come and heal
thee。 It is temptation which vexeth thee； and a vain fear which terrifieth
thee。 What doth care about future events bring thee； save sorrow upon
sorrow。 Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof。（2） It is vain and
useless to be disturbed or lifted up about future things which perhaps will
never come。
3。 〃But it is the nature of man to be deceived by fancies of this sort；
and it is a sign of a mind which is still weak to be so easily drawn away at
the suggestion of the enemy。 For he careth not whether he deceive and
beguile by true means or false； whether he throw thee down by the love of
the present or fear of the future。 Therefore let not thy heart be troubled；
neither let it be afraid。 Believe in Me； and put thy trust in My mercy。（3）
When thou thinkest thyself far removed from Me； I am often the nearer。
When thou reckonest that almost all is lost； then often is greater
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opportunity of gain at hand。 All is not lost when something goeth
contrary to thy wishes。 Thou oughtest not to judge according to present
feeling； nor so to take or give way to any grief which befalleth thee； as if
all hope of escape were taken away。
4。 〃Think not thyself totally abandoned； although for the time I have
sent to thee some tribulation； or have even withdrawn some cherished
consolation； for this is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven。 And without
doubt it is better for thee and for all My other servants； that ye should be
proved by adversities； than that ye should have all things as ye would。 I
know thy hidden thoughts： and that it is very needful for thy soul's health
that sometimes thou be left without relish； lest perchance thou be lifted up
by prosperity； and desirous to please thyself in that which thou art not。
What I have given I am able to take away； and to restore again at My good
pleasure。
5。 〃When I shall have given； it is Mine； when I shall have taken away；
I have not taken what is thine； for every good gift and every perfect gift（4）
is from me。 If I shall have sent upon thee grief or any vexation； be not
angry； nor let thy heart be sad； I am able quickly to lift thee up and to
change every burden into joy。 But I am just and greatly to be praised；
when I do thus unto thee。
6。 〃If thou rightly consider； and look upon it with truth； thou oughtest
never to be so sadly cast down because of adversity； but rather shouldst
rejoice and give thanks； yea； verily to count it the highest joy that I afflict
thee with sorrows and spare thee not。 As My Father hath loved Me； so
love I you；（5） thus have I spoken unto My beloved disciples： whom I sent
forth not unto worldly joys； but to great strivings； not unto honours； but
unto contempt； not unto ease； but to labours； not unto rest； but to bring
forth much fruit with patience。 My son； remember these words。〃
（1） Nahum i。 7。 （2） Matthew vi。 34。 （3） John xiv。 27； Psalm xiii。 5。
（4） James i。 17。 （5） John xv。 9。
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