Of those good things of the spirit which can be distinctly
apprehended by the understanding and the memory. Describes how the
will is to behave in the matter of rejoicing in them.
WE might spend much time here upon the multitude of the
apprehensions of the memory and the understanding, teaching how
the will is to conduct itself with regard to the joy that it may
have in them, had we not treated of this at length in the second
and the third book. But, since we there spoke of the manner
wherein it behoves these two faculties to act with respect to
them, in order that they may take the road to Divine union, and
since it behoves the will to conduct itself likewise as regards
rejoicing in them, it is unnecessary to go over this here; for it
suffices to say that wheresoever we there said that those
faculties should void themselves of this or that apprehension, it
is to be understood also that the will should likewise be voided
of joy in them. And in the way wherein it is said that memory and
understanding are to conduct themselves with regard to all these
apprehensions, the will must conduct itself likewise; for, since
the understanding and the other faculties cannot admit or reject
anything unless the will intervene therein, it is clear that the
same teaching that serves for the one will serve also for the
other.
2. It may there be seen, then, what is requisite in this
case, for the soul will fall into all the evils and perils to
which we there referred if it cannot direct the rejoicing of the
will to God in all those apprehensions.
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