When, therefore, spiritual comfort is given by God, receive it with giving of thanks, and know that it is the gift of God, not thy desert. Be not lifted up, rejoice not overmuch nor foolishly presume, but rather be more humble for the gift, more wary and more careful in all thy doings; for that hour will pass away, and temptation will follow. When comfort is taken from thee, do not straightway despair, but wait for the heavenly visitation with humility and patience, for God is able to give thee back greater favour and consolation. This is not new nor strange to those who have made trial of the way of God, for with the great saints and the ancient prophets there was often this manner of change.
Wherefore one said when the favour of God was present with him, “I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved,” but he goeth on to say what he felt within himself when the favour departed, “Thou didst turn Thy face from me and I was troubled.” In spite whereof he in no wise despaireth, but the more instantly entreateth God, and saith, “Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, and will pray unto my God;” and then he receiveth the fruit of his prayer, and testifieth how he hath been heard, saying, “The Lord heard me and had mercy upon me, the Lord was my helper.” But wherein? “Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy, Thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.” If it was thus with the great saints, we who are poor and needy ought not to despair if we are sometimes in the warmth and sometimes in the cold, for the Spirit cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of His will. Wherefore holy Job saith, “Thou dost visit him in the morning, and suddenly Thou dost prove him.”
Whereupon then can I hope, or wherein may I trust, save only in the great mercy of God, and the hope of heavenly grace? For whether good men are with me, godly brethren or faithful friends, whether holy books or beautiful discourses, whether sweet hymns and songs, all these help but little, and have but little savour when I am deserted by God’s favour and left to mine own poverty. There is no better remedy, then, than patience and denial of self, and an abiding in the will of God.