examination of the heart 236 After Holy Communion 1. “And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). You can deem the arrival of the Holy Spirit and what preceded it as astonishing: 1) because of the sadness of the heart that preceded it, according to the words of the Lord: [f.57r] “Sorrow will fill your heart” (cf. Jn 16:6); 2) because an enormous sound was heard upon its arrival; 3) and because it was coming from nowhere else but Heaven. And this is the way to recognize the Spirit of God: Namely, if a trial precedes Him. For this is a peculiar sign of the divine grace being poured into man’s soul, according to someone’s saying: “We almost never have God nearer to us, than when we find ourselves in a difficult situation.”97 And Nahum says: “His way is in whirlwind and storm” (Nah 1:3). The Holy Spirit comes to a man with a loud clamor and sound, when the soul is disturbed, frightened, and worn out. Finally, He comes from Heaven, sent by Christ the Lord from that immortal ark of the triumphant heavenly Sovereign. For the inspirations proceeding from the infernal marsh (namely, the whisperings of the evil spirits) seductively approach the soul and gently caress it; but on their departure they leave a thousand vexations of conscience, a thousand stings, and a thousand severe pains. On the contrary, it is clear that the Spirit of the Lord (preceded by anguish) comes in a whirlwind and with noise. However, signs of joy, a thousand consolations, a thousand fruits and a thousand goods immediately follow Him. If, therefore, you were tormented before the Sacred Banquet because of your imperfections, or because of a desire to regain divine grace, or for any other pious reason, believe that you 97 Hieremias Drexelius, Gymnasium Patientiae: Pars. I, Cap. IV — § II. Sagittæ, in: Opera omnia, vol. II, Ioannis Cnobbari, Antverpiae 1643, p. 10. Follows the quotation given here from Nahum, introduced by: “For that reason the prophet Nahum.”
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