The Institutes — Book IX

Our fifth struggle is against the spirit of dejection, and the harm it causes to the soul.

How our fifth combat is against the spirit of dejection, and of the harm which it inflicts upon the soul.

In our fifth combat we must resist the attacks of gnawing dejection. If this vice, through separate attacks made at random and through haphazard and casual changes, manages to gain control of our mind, it holds us back at all times from every insight into divine contemplation and completely ruins and depresses the mind that has fallen away from its full state of purity. It does not allow us to say our prayers with our usual gladness of heart, nor does it permit us to rely on the comfort of reading the sacred writings, nor does it let us be quiet and gentle with the brethren. It makes us impatient and rough in all our duties of work and devotion. And when all wholesome counsel is lost and steadfastness of heart destroyed, it makes our feelings nearly mad and intoxicated, crushing and overwhelming them with punishing despair.

In our fifth combat we have to resist the pangs of gnawing dejection: for if this, through separate attacks made at random, and by haphazard and casual changes, has secured an opportunity of gaining possession of our mind it keeps us back at all times from all insight in divine contemplation, and utterly ruins and depresses the mind that has fallen away from its complete state of purity. It does not allow it to say its prayers with its usual gladness of heart, nor permit it to rely on the comfort of reading the sacred writings, nor suffer it to be quiet and gentle with the brethren; it makes it impatient and rough in all the duties of work and devotion: and, as all wholesome counsel is lost, and steadfastness of heart destroyed, it makes the feelings almost mad and drunk, and crushes and overwhelms them with penal despair.

We must carefully treat the illness of dejection.

Of the care with which the malady of dejection must be healed.

Therefore, if we want to engage properly in our spiritual battle, we must take just as much care to heal this sickness as well. For just as a moth damages clothing and a worm damages wood, so dejection damages the human heart. The Holy Spirit has expressed the power of this dangerous and extremely harmful fault with complete clarity and appropriateness.

Wherefore if we are anxious to exert ourselves lawfully in the struggle of our spiritual combat we ought with no less care to set about healing this malady also. For as the moth injures the garment, and the worm the wood, so dejection the heart of man. With sufficient clearness and appropriateness has the Divine Spirit expressed the force of this dangerous and most injurious fault.

The soul that falls prey to the attacks of dejection may be compared to the following.

To what the soul may be compared which is a prey to the attacks of dejection.

For a garment that is moth-eaten no longer has any commercial value or useful purpose to which it can be put. Similarly, wood that is worm-eaten is no longer worth anything for decorating even an ordinary building, but is destined to be burned in the fire. In the same way, the soul that is a prey to the attacks of gnawing dejection will be useless for that priestly garment which, according to the prophecy of the holy David, the ointment of the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven assumes—first on Aaron's beard, then on his skirts—as it is said: "It is like the ointment upon the head which ran down upon Aaron's beard, which ran down to the skirts of his clothing." Nor can such a soul have anything to do with the building or decoration of that spiritual temple of which Paul, as a wise master builder, laid the foundations, saying: "You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you." What the beams of this temple are like, the bride tells us in the Song of Songs: "Our rafters are of cypress; the beams of our houses are of cedar." Therefore those kinds of wood are chosen for the temple of God which are fragrant and not liable to rot, and which are not subject to decay from age nor to being worm-eaten.

For the garment that is moth-eaten has no longer any commercial value or good use to which it can be put; and in the same way the wood that is worm-eaten is no longer worth anything for ornamenting even an ordinary building, but is destined to be burnt in the fire. So therefore the soul also which is a prey to the attacks of gnawing dejection will be useless for that priestly garment which, according to the prophecy of the holy David, the ointment of the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven, first on Aaron's beard, then on his skirts, is wont to assume: as it is said, It is like the ointment upon the head which ran down upon Aaron's beard, which ran down to the skirts of his clothing. Nor can it have anything to do with the building or ornamentation of that spiritual temple of which Paul as a wise master builder laid the foundations, saying, You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you: and what the beams of this are like the bride tells us in the Song of Songs: Our rafters are of cypress: the beams of our houses are of cedar. And therefore those sorts of wood are chosen for the temple of God which are fragrant and not liable to rot, and which are not subject to decay from age nor to be worm-eaten.

From what source and in what manner does dejection arise.

Whence and in what way dejection arises.

But sometimes it is found to result from the fault of previous anger, or to spring from the desire of some gain which has not been realized, when a person has discovered that he has failed in his hope of obtaining those things he had planned. But sometimes without any clear reason for our being driven to fall into this misfortune, we are by the scheming of our cunning enemy suddenly overcome with such great gloom that we cannot receive with normal courtesy the visits of those who are close and dear to us; and whatever topic of conversation they bring up, we regard it as poorly timed and inappropriate; and we cannot give them any courteous answer, since the bitterness of gall has taken possession of every part of our heart.

But sometimes it is found to result from the fault of previous anger, or to spring from the desire of some gain which has not been realized, when a man has found that he has failed in his hope of securing those things which he had planned. But sometimes without any apparent reason for our being driven to fall into this misfortune, we are by the instigation of our crafty enemy suddenly depressed with so great a gloom that we cannot receive with ordinary civility the visits of those who are near and dear to us; and whatever subject of conversation is started by them, we regard it as ill-timed and out of place; and we can give them no civil answer, as the gall of bitterness is in possession of every corner of our heart.

Disturbances arise in us not from other people's faults, but from our own.

That disturbances are caused in us not by the faults of other people, but by our own.

Therefore it is clearly proven that the pains of disturbances are not always caused in us by other people's faults, but rather by our own, since we have stored up within ourselves the causes of offense and the seeds of faults. As soon as a shower of temptation waters our soul, these immediately burst forth into shoots and fruits.

Whence it is clearly proved that the pains of disturbances are not always caused in us by other people's faults, but rather by our own, as we have stored up in ourselves the causes of offense, and the seeds of faults, which, as soon as a shower of temptation waters our soul, at once burst forth into shoots and fruits.

No one comes to ruin through a sudden fall, but rather is destroyed by falling through a long period of carelessness.

That no one comes to grief by a sudden fall, but is destroyed by falling through a long course of carelessness.

No one is ever driven to sin by being provoked through another person's fault unless he already has the fuel of evil stored up in his own heart. We should not imagine that a man has been deceived suddenly when he looks at a woman and falls into the abyss of shameful lust. Rather, the opportunity of looking at her has brought to the surface the symptoms of disease that were hidden and concealed in his inmost soul.

For no one is ever driven to sin by being provoked through another's fault, unless he has the fuel of evil stored up in his own heart. Nor should we imagine that a man has been deceived suddenly when he has looked on a woman and fallen into the abyss of shameful lust: but rather that, owing to the opportunity of looking on her, the symptoms of disease which were hidden and concealed in his inmost soul have been brought to the surface.

We should not abandon fellowship with our brothers in order to pursue perfection, but should instead continually cultivate the virtue of patience.

That we ought not to give up intercourse with our brethren in order to seek after perfection, but should rather constantly cultivate the virtue of patience.

God, the creator of all things, cares above all about the correction of His own work. Since the roots and causes of our sins are found not in others but in ourselves, He commands that we should not give up fellowship with our brothers or avoid those we think we have hurt or who have offended us. Instead, He tells us to make peace with them, knowing that perfection of heart is not achieved by separating from people but by the virtue of patience. When patience is firmly established, it can keep us at peace even with those who hate peace. But if we have not acquired it, it makes us constantly quarrel with those who are more perfect and better than we are. As long as we are living among people, there will always be opportunities for conflict—the very reasons we want to get away from those we are connected to. Therefore, we will not escape these difficulties altogether, but will only exchange the causes of distress that made us leave our former friends for new ones.

And so God, the creator of all things, having regard above everything to the amendment of His own work, and because the roots and causes of our falls are found not in others, but in ourselves, commands that we should not give up intercourse with our brethren, nor avoid those who we think have been hurt by us, or by whom we have been offended, but bids us pacify them, knowing that perfection of heart is not secured by separating from men so much as by the virtue of patience. Which when it is securely held, as it can keep us at peace even with those who hate peace, so, if it has not been acquired, it makes us perpetually differ from those who are perfect and better than we are: for opportunities for disturbance, on account of which we are eager to get away from those with whom we are connected, will not be wanting so long as we are living among men; and therefore we shall not escape altogether, but only change the causes of dejection on account of which we separated from our former friends.

If we have improved our character, it is possible for us to get along with everyone.

That if we have improved our character it is possible for us to get on with everybody.

We must then do our best to try to correct our faults and improve our behavior. And if we succeed in correcting them, we will certainly be at peace—not only with other people, but even with wild animals and beasts—as it says in the book of blessed Job: "For the beasts of the field will be at peace with you" (Job 5:23). We will not fear offenses coming from outside, nor will any external occasion for falling trouble us, if we do not allow the roots of such things to be admitted and planted within ourselves. For "they have great peace who love your law, O God, and they have no occasion of falling."

We must then do our best to endeavour to amend our faults and correct our manners. And if we succeed in correcting them we shall certainly be at peace, I will not say with men, but even with beasts and the brute creation, according to what is said in the book of the blessed Job: For the beasts of the field will be at peace with you; Job 5:23 for we shall not fear offenses coming from without, nor will any occasion of falling trouble us from outside, if the roots of such are not admitted and implanted within in our own selves: for they have great peace who love your law, O God; and they have no occasion of falling.

Concerning another kind of dejection which produces despair of salvation.

Of another sort of dejection which produces despair of salvation.

There is also another even more harmful kind of dejection, which produces in the guilty soul no improvement in life or correction of sins, but the most destructive despair. This kind did not make Cain repent after murdering his brother, nor did it cause Judas after his betrayal to hurry to find relief by making things right, but instead drove him to hang himself in despair.

There is, too, another still more objectionable sort of dejection, which produces in the guilty soul no amendment of life or correction of faults, but the most destructive despair: which did not make Cain repent after the murder of his brother, or Judas, after the betrayal, hasten to relieve himself by making amends, but drove him to hang himself in despair.

On the one thing in which dejection is useful to us.

Of the only thing in which dejection is useful to us.

We must recognize that dejection is useful to us in only one case: when we yield to it either in repentance for sin, or when inflamed with the desire for perfection, or when contemplating future blessedness. About this the blessed Apostle says: The sorrow which is according to God works repentance steadfast unto salvation, but the sorrow of the world works death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

And so we must see that dejection is only useful to us in one case, when we yield to it either in penitence for sin, or through being inflamed with the desire of perfection, or the contemplation of future blessedness. And of this the blessed Apostle says: The sorrow which is according to God works repentance steadfast unto salvation: but the sorrow of the world works death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

How we can determine what is beneficial sorrow according to God, and what is devilish and deadly.

How we can decide what is useful and the sorrow according to God, and what is devilish and deadly.

But the dejection and sorrow that produces repentance steadfast unto salvation is obedient, respectful, humble, kind, gentle, and patient, because it springs from the love of God. It extends itself tirelessly from the desire for perfection to every bodily hardship and spiritual sorrow. Somehow it rejoices and feeds on the hope of its own benefit, preserving all the gentleness of courtesy and forbearance, as it contains in itself all the fruits of the Holy Spirit which the same Apostle lists: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, benignity, faith, mildness, modesty" (Galatians 5:22-23). But the other kind is harsh, impatient, hard, full of bitterness and useless grief and destructive despair. It breaks down the person it has seized and prevents him from energy and wholesome sorrow, because it is unreasonable. It not only hinders the effectiveness of his prayers, but actually destroys all those fruits of the Spirit of which we spoke, which that other sorrow knows how to produce.

But that dejection and sorrow which works repentance steadfast unto salvation is obedient, civil, humble, kindly, gentle, and patient, as it springs from the love of God, and unweariedly extends itself from desire of perfection to every bodily grief and sorrow of spirit; and somehow or other rejoicing and feeding on hope of its own profit preserves all the gentleness of courtesy and forbearance, as it has in itself all the fruits of the Holy Spirit of which the same Apostle gives the list: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, benignity, faith, mildness, modesty. Galatians 5:22-23 But the other kind is rough, impatient, hard, full of rancour and useless grief and penal despair, and breaks down the man on whom it has fastened, and hinders him from energy and wholesome sorrow, as it is unreasonable, and not only hampers the efficacy of his prayers, but actually destroys all those fruits of the Spirit of which we spoke, which that other sorrow knows how to produce.

Except for that beneficial sorrow which arises in three ways, all sorrow and dejection should be resisted as harmful.

That except that wholesome sorrow, which springs up in three ways, all sorrow and dejection should be resisted as hurtful.

Therefore, except for that sorrow which is endured either for the sake of saving penitence, or for the sake of striving for perfection, or for desire of the future, all sorrow and dejection must equally be resisted as belonging to this world and being that which brings death, and must be completely expelled from our hearts just like the spirit of fornication and covetousness and anger.

Wherefore except that sorrow which is endured either for the sake of saving penitence, or for the sake of aiming at perfection, or for the desire of the future, all sorrow and dejection must equally be resisted, as belonging to this world, and being that which works death, and must be entirely expelled from our hearts like the spirit of fornication and covetousness and anger.

The ways by which we can uproot dejection from our hearts.

The means by which we can root out dejection from our hearts.

We should then be able to drive out this extremely harmful passion from our hearts so that through spiritual meditation we may keep our minds constantly focused on hope for the future and contemplation of the promised blessedness. In this way we will be able to overcome all kinds of dejection—whether those that come from earlier anger, or those that arise from disappointed hopes of gain or from some loss, or those that spring from a wrong done to us, or those that come from unreasonable disturbance of mind, or those that bring upon us a deadly despair—if, always joyful with insight into eternal and future realities and remaining steadfast, we are neither depressed by present troubles nor overly excited by prosperity, but view each condition as uncertain and likely to pass away soon.

We should then be able to expel this most injurious passion from our hearts, so that by spiritual meditation we may keep our mind constantly occupied with hope of the future and contemplation of the promised blessedness. For in this way we shall be able to get the better of all those sorts of dejection, whether those which flow from previous anger or those which come to us from disappointment of gain, or from some loss, or those which spring from a wrong done to us, or those which arise from an unreasonable disturbance of mind, or those which bring on us a deadly despair, if, ever joyful with an insight into things eternal and future, and continuing immovable, we are not depressed by present accidents, or over-elated by prosperity, but look on each condition as uncertain and likely soon to pass away.