8. Agreeably with this, we ought to understand that God, though He give not to our will, doth give for our salvation. For sup pose the thing thou have asked be to thine hurt, and the Physician knows that it is to thine hurt; what then? It is not to be said that the physician does not give ear to thee, when, perhaps, thou askest for cold water, and if it is good for thee, he gives it immediately, if not good, he gives it not. Had he no ears for thy request, or rather, did he give ear for thy weal, even when he gainsaid thy will? Then let there be in you charity, my brethren; let it be in you, and then set your minds at rest: even when the thing ye ask for is not given you, your prayer is granted, only, ye know it not. Many have been given into their own hands, to their own hurt: of whom the apostle saith, “God gave them up to their own hearts’ lusts.”330    Rom. i. 24. Some man hath asked for a great sum of money; he hath received, to his hurt. When he had it not, he had little to fear; no sooner did he come to have it, than he became a prey to the more powerful. Was not that man’s request granted to his own hurt, who would needs have that for which he should be sought after by the robber, whereas, being poor, none sought after him? Learn to beseech God that ye may commit it to the Physician to do what He knows best. Do thou confess the disease, let Him apply the means of healing. Do thou only hold fast charity. For He will needs cut, will needs burn; what if thou criest out, and art not spared for thy crying under the cutting, under the burning and the tribulation, yet He knows how far the rottenness reaches.331    Enarr. in Ps. cxxx. sec. 1; Serm. cccliv. 7. Thou wouldest have Him even now take off His hands, and He considers only the deepness of the sore; He knows how far to go. He does not attend to thee for thy will, but he does attend to thee for thy healing. Be ye sure, then, my brethren, that what the apostle saith is true: “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered: for He maketh intercession for the saints.” 332    Rom. viii. 26, 27. How is it said, “The Spirit itself intercedeth for the saints,” but as meaning the charity which is wrought in thee by the Spirit? For therefore saith the same apostle: “The charity of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.”333    Rom. v. 5. It is charity that groans, it is charity that prays: against it He who gave it cannot shut His ears. Set your minds at rest: let charity ask, and the ears of God are there. Not that which thou wishest is done, but that is done which is advantageous. Therefore, “whatever we ask,” saith he, “we shall receive of Him,” I have already said, If thou understand it to mean, “for salvation,” there is no question: if not for salvation, there is a question, and a great one, a question that makes thee an accuser of the apostle Paul. “Whatever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do these things that are pleasing in His sight:” within, where He seeth.

8. Secundum hoc intelligere debemus quia Deus etsi voluntati nostrae non dat, saluti dat. Quid si enim hoc petieris quod tibi obest, et medicus novit quia obest tibi? Non enim non te exaudit medicus, quando forte tu frigidam aquam petis, et si prodest, statim dat; si non prodest, non dat. Non exaudivit, an potius ad sanitatem exaudivit, quia voluntati contradixit? Sit ergo in vobis charitas, fratres; sit in vobis, et securi estote: et quando non vobis datur quod petitis, exaudimini; sed nescitis. Multi dati sunt in manus suas malo suo: de quibus dicit Apostolus, Tradidit eos Deus in desideria cordis eorum (Rom. I, 24). Petiit aliquis magnam pecuniam; accepit malo suo. Quando illam non habebat, parum timebat; habere illam coepit, praeda factus est potentiori. Nonne malo suo exauditus est, qui voluit habere unde a latrone quaereretur, quem pauperem nemo quaerebat? Discite rogare Deum, ut medico committatis, quod ipse novit faciat. Tu morbum confitearis, ille medicamentum adhibeat. Tu tantum charitatem tene. Nam ille secare vult, urere vult; tu si clamas, et non exaudiris in sectione, in ustione et tribulatione, novit ille quousque putre est. Tu jam vis revocet manus, et ille vulneris sinum attendit; scit quo usque perveniat. Non te exaudit ad voluntatem, sed exaudit ad sanitatem. Certi ergo estote, fratres mei, quia quod ait Apostolus verum est: Quid enim oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus; sed ipse Spiritus interpellat gemitibus inenarrabilibus, quia ipse interpellat pro sanctis (Id. VIII, 26, 27). Quid est, Ipse Spiritus interpellat pro sanctis, nisi, ipsa Charitas quae in te per Spiritum facta est? Ideo enim dicit idem apostolus: Charitas Dei diffusa est in cordibus nostris per Spiritum sanctum qui datus est nobis (Id. V, 5). Charitas ipsa gemit, charitas ipsa orat; contra hanc aures claudere non novit qui illam dedit. Securus esto, charitas roget; et ibi sunt aures Dei. Non fit quod vis, sed fit quod expedit. Ergo quidquid postulaverimus, inquit, accipiemus ab eo. Jam dixi, si ad salutem intelligas, nulla quaestio est: si non ad salutem, quaestio est, et magna, quae te calumniatorem facit Paulo apostolo. Quidquid postulaverimus, accipiemus ab eo; quia mandata ejus servamus, et quae placent illi, in conspectu ejus facimus. In conspectu ejus, intus ubi videt.