Blanquerna

There was a sifter in the convent who had been a great sinner in the world, and had afterwards entered the life of religion: this sifter had committed certain deadly sins. One day she remembered the great juftice of God and the sins that she had committed, both in the world and in her order. So deeply did she think upon her sins, forgetting the mercy of God, and such remorse did she feel for them, above all for those that she had committed in the convent, that she began to despair of the forgiveness of God, and saad within herself that, whatever were the good deeds that she did she could not have the blessing of God.

a. While the sifter reflefted thus, her will was moved return to the sins of her former life; but through the Ta mw! ?tnan“ Which She had done> and trough the o k un V abblSS a"d the sifters> God was pleased o look upon her with eyes of mercy, and to call to her

OF HOPE

remembrance that which the abbess had ordained concern¬ ing hope and the other virtues. In chapter, before the abbess and the whole community, she confessed the temp¬ tation against hope which had assailed her, and begged forgiveness and counsel againft this temptation whereby she was so greatly vexed.

3. The abbess answered her in these words: “ The sin of despair is of such a kind that it causes man to think God to be more juft than merciful, and after this manner many a sinner falls into despair. And since God is merciful, and greater than any creature, it muft needs follow that man, who is a creature, cannot sin in the degree that the mercy of God can pardon. Wherefore it is a needful thing that when man thinks upon his many sins he should think also upon the great mercy of God, to the which they do honour and glory1 that make it equal to the great juftice of God. And through this honour and glory Mercy forgives man his mortal sins, giving him contrition and sorrow for

4. “ To remember the Conception of the Son of God and His Passion quickens hope and mortifies despair ; for if God willed to join and unite with His Nature our human nature, and if He willed to condemn to great suffering and to death that nature which He took that He might redeem us from the devil, it follows that He wills to pardon us if we truft in His pity and mercy. When a soul despairs, this is for lack of charity, because it remembers not the sacred humility which God showed in taking human nature, neither remembers His Passion: thence comes it that despair arises and conquers hope. But, when charity and hope unite againft despair and sin, they move God to pardon, forasmuch as they make man to love and truft. Wherefore for one that can use hope with charity in his remembrance, underftanding and will, it is a light thing that all his sins be forgiven him.”

1 Lit. hanrament 1 honor.

blanquerna

5. While the abbess spake these words, the cellaress' said to her that she herself sinned often against hope by thinking upon the expenses of the convent and doubting if their Store of money could suffice. The abbess answered that the virtue which is contrary to that sin which caused her to despair was an occasion to her how that she should remember the wealth and bounty of God, Who to so many creatures gives all things that they need ; for if God gives the means of life to beafts, birds and fishes that have no reason, and to men of the world that love a worldly life, it would be a wrongful thing if He gave not these likewise to themselves, who were gathered in that convent to flee from temporal delights, and who trusted in God. Where¬ fore (she said) is it virtue to think upon such things and to trust in God; and such virtue and such thought mull they have whensoever they were tempted by the sin afore¬ mentioned.