Commit to God in all Circumstances

How a religious man should commit himself to God in all circumstances
whatsoever

I am now completely convinced that you will recognise from these
arguments that the more you strip yourself of the products of your
imagination and all worldly and created things, and are united to God
with your intellect by a good will, the closer you will approach the
state of innocence and perfection. What could be better? And what could
be more happy and joyful? Above all it is important for you to keep
your mind bare - without imaginations and images and free of any sort
of entanglement, so that you are not concerned about either the world,
friends, prosperity or adversity, or anything present, past or future,
whether in yourself or in others - not even your own sins. But consider
yourself with a certain pure simplicity to be alone with God outside
the world, and as if your mind were already in eternity and separated
from the body so that it will certainly not bother about worldly things
or be concerned about the state of the world, about peace or war, about
good weather or rain, or about anything at all in this world, but with
complete docility will turn to God alone, be empty for him and cleave
to him. So now in this way ignore your body and all created things,
present or future, and direct the high point of your mind and spirit
directly, as best you can, naked and unencumbered on the uncreated
light. And let your spirit be cleansed in this way from all
imaginations, coverings and things obscuring its vision, like an angel
(not) tied to a body, who is not hindered by the works of the flesh nor
tangled in vain and wandering thoughts. Let your spirit therefore arm
itself against all temptations, vexations, and injuries so that it can
persevere steadily in God when attacked by either face of fortune. So
that when some inner disturbance or boredom or mental confusion come
you will not be indignant or dejected because of it, nor run back to
vocal prayers or other forms of consolation, but only to lift yourself
up in your intellect by a good will to hold on to God with your mind
whether the natural inclination of the body wills it or not. The
religious-minded soul should be so united to God and should have or
render its will so conformed to the divine will that it is not occupied
with any created thing or cling to it any more than before it was
created, and as if nothing existed except God and the soul itself. And
in this way it should accept everything confidently and equally, in
general and in particular, from the hand of divine providence, agreeing
in everything with the Lord in patience, peace and silence. The thing
is that the most important thing of all for a spiritual life is to
strip the mind of all imaginations so that one can be united in one's
intellect to God by a good will, and conformed to him. Besides, nothing
will then be intermediary between you and God. This is obvious, since
nothing external will stand between you when by the vow of voluntary
poverty you will have removed the possession of anything whatsoever,
and by the vow of chastity you will have abandoned your body, and by
obedience you will have given up your will and your soul itself. And in
this way nothing will be left to stand between you and God. That you
are a religious person is indicated by your profession, your state, and
now your habit and tonsure and such like, but whether you are only a
religious in appearance or a real one, you will find out. Bear in mind
therefore how greatly you have fallen away and sin against the Lord
your God and all his justice if you behave otherwise and cling with
your will and love to what is created rather than to the Creator
himself, putting the created before the Creator.