But here consider this: I speak here of him who in tribulation
longeth to be comforted by God, and who referreth the manner of his
comforting to God. Such a man holdeth himself content, whether God
comfort him by taking away or diminishing the tribulation itself,
or by giving him patience and spiritual consolation therein. For if
he long only to have God take his trouble from him, we cannot so
well warrant that mind for a cause of so great comfort. For a man
may desire that who never mindeth to be the better, and also may he
miss the effect of his desire, because his request is haply not
good for him. And of this kind of longing and requiring, we shall
have occasion hereafter to speak further. But he who, referring the
manner of his comforting to God, desireth of God to be comforted,
asketh a thing so lawful and so pleasing to God that he cannot fail
to fare well. And therefore hath he, as I say, great cause to take
comfort in the very desire itself.
Another cause hath he to take of that desire a very great occasion
of comfort. For since his desire is good, and declareth to him that
he hath a good faith in God, it is a good token unto him that he is
not an abject, cast out of God's gracious favour, since he
perceiveth that God hath put such a virtuous, well-ordered appetite
in his mind.
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