On Comfort
XLVI. On comfort
1. God is the comfort of men through <the> concordance
between <His> goodness, greatness, power and duration,
wisdom, truth, virtue, glory <and> love.[1]
2. Comfort requires great faithfulness,
patience, justice, humility,
which are very much to God’s liking.
3. God comforts men who, at their death,
feel very great contrition
at the fact that they have committed any wrong against Him.
4. God comforts man when the latter undergoes trials,
insofar as He causes him to remember the grievous Passion
He wished to endure for the sake of our redemption.
5. God comforts virtuous love in men
by means of virtuous understanding and virtuous remembering,
as well as by means of the great desire He has to show forgiveness.
6. God comforts men who are sinners
when He leads them to repent and to shed tears,
and they propose forever to be His servants.
7. God comforts great love by means of magnifying,
and virtuous love by means of bonifying,
and the courageous man by means of hope.
8. Whoever loses little yet makes a great gain,
commits wrong and a sin against that <great> gain
should he become dismayed at a small loss.
9. Let he who wishes to be very brave,
frequently recall illustrious deeds
and disregard any possible dangers.
10. Comfort has greater effect upon a man obliged
to stand strong against wickedness,
than does pleasure upon an honourable man.