22. But the pleasure of the Creator, of which is written, “And from the river of Thy pleasure wilt Thou give them to drink,”61    Ps. xxxvi. 9 is of far other kind, for it is not, like us, a creature. Unless then its love be given to us from thence there is no source whence it may be in us. And consequently, a good will, by which we love God, cannot be in man, save in whom God also worketh to will. This good will therefore, that is, a will faithfully subjected to God,62    Phil. ii. 13 a will set on fire by sanctity of that ardor which is above, a will which loves God and his neighbor for God’s sake; whether through love, of which the Apostle Peter makes answer, “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee;”63    John xxi. 15 whether through fear, of which says the Apostle Paul, “In fear and trembling work out your own salvation;”64    Phil. ii. 12 whether through joy, of which he says, “In hope rejoicing, in tribulation patient;”65    Rom. xii. 12 whether through sorrow, with which he says he had great grief for his brethren;66    Rom. ix. 2 in whatever way it endure what bitterness and hardships soever, it is the love of God which “endureth all things,”67    1 Cor. xiii. 7 and which is not shed abroad in our hearts but by the Holy Spirit given unto us.68    Rom. v. 5 Whereof piety makes no manner of doubt, but, as the charity of them which holily love, so the patience of them which piously endure, is the gift of God. For it cannot be that the divine Scripture deceiveth or is deceived, which not only in the Old Books hath testimonies of this thing, when it is said unto God, “My Patience art Thou,” and, “From Him is my patience;”69    Ps. lxxi. 5; and lxii. 5 and where another prophet saith, that we receive the spirit of fortitude;70    Is. xi. 2 but also in the Apostolic writings we read, “Because unto you is given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but to suffer for Him.”71    Phil. i. 29 Therefore let not that make the mind to be as of its own merit uplifted, wherewith he is told that he is of Another’s mercy gifted.

CAPUT XXV.

22. Bona voluntas non nisi ex Deo. Voluptas autem Creatoris, de qua scriptum est, Et torrente voluptatis tuae potabis eos (Psal. XXXV, 9), longe alterius generis est: neque enim, sicut nos, creatura est. Nisi ergo amor ejus detur inde nobis, non est unde esse possit in nobis. Ac per hoc voluntas bona, qua diligitur Deus, in homine non potest esse, nisi in quo Deus operatur et velle (Philipp. II, 13). Haec igitur voluntas bona, id est, voluntas Deo fideliter subdita, voluntas sanctitate superni ardoris accensa, voluntas quae diligit Deum et proximum propter Deum; sive amore, de quo respondet apostolus Petrus, Domine, tu scis quia amo te (Joan. XXI, 15); sive timore, de quo dicit apostolus Paulus, in timore et tremore vestram ipsorum salutem operamini (Philipp. II, 12); sive gaudio, de quo dicit, Spe gaudentes, in tribulatione patientes (Rom. XII, 12); sive tristitia, qualem se dicit magnam habuisse pro fratribus suis (Id. IX, 2): quaecumque amara et aspera sufferat, charitas Dei est, quae omnia tolerat (I Cor. XIII, 7), quae non diffunditur in cordibus nostris, nisi per Spiritum sanctum qui datus est nobis (Rom. V, 5).

CAPUT XXVI.

Piorum patientia Dei donum. Schismaticorum patientia pro Christo an laudanda. Unde nequaquam dubitante pietate, sicut charitas sancte amantium, ita patientia pie tolerantium Dei donum est. Neque enim divina Scriptura fallit aut fallitur, quae non solum in veteribus Libris habet hujus rei testimonia, cum Deo dicitur, Patientia mea tu es (Psal. LXX 5); et, Ab ipso est patientia mea (Psal. LXI, 6); et ubi alius propheta dicit, accipere nos Spiritum fortitudinis: verum etiam in apostolicis Litteris legitur, Quia vobis donatum est pro Christo, non solum ut credatis in eum, sed ut etiam patiamini propter eum (Philipp. I, 29). Non ergo quasi de proprio faciat animum elatum quod sibi audit esse donatum.