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The movement toward consent is compared to marriage. We are married to the intent of the urgings of Grace through initial inspiration, acceptance of the inspiration, and, then, consent to the inspiration.
Still, De Sales later notes a last stage, beyond consent.
Once the consent has been given, you must diligently procure its effects and hasten to put the inspiration into practice. This is the height of true virtue. To have consent in your heart without putting it into effect is like planting a vine with no intention that it bear fruit.
We know futility of good intentions alone; likewise, good consent alone is futile. This would be like standing at the altar with the bride, following a mutual consent to marry, and not being able to say "I do."
Still, the good news is that Grace might work with us for some time with a single inspiration, while we seem unable to move to action. Then, suddenly, we find ourselves ready to act. The act or change itself can be the result of gradual dissolving of resistance to moving beyond a consent.
Certainly, then, we can be thankful when we are struggling with a consent, for, at least, we are at the point of consent. The Holy Spirit will patiently work in ways, among them internal and through others and by life circumstances, to prepare us to move to prompt and full action.
Our Scripture speaks of a man, having walked to the dwelling of his loved one, urges her to respond to his invitation for a tryst. The man, looking through latticed window on his loved one (v. 9), summons her to "rise up" two times (vv. 10, 13).
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De Sales, like many Christian writers, interprets the Song of Songs as an allegory of God and the human soul. Here, he sees God calling to us, and the calling is the inspirations of Grace. Like the dearly loved, we are summoned from simply hearing, to accepting, to agreeing, and, then, to acting. This is the consummation of the marriage we engage in with the movements of the holy Spirit upon our hearts and minds.
What is this marriage? The marriage is the full commitment in affection and act to the inner urgings of the holy Spirit upon our souls. This sacred procession from summons to arising is Grace lovingly influencing us inwardly so that our will discerns and acts in agreement to the inner transformations and outward actions that God wills for us. This marriage is Love initiating love, and love responding to Love.
After all, Scripture affirms: "We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments" (I John 5.2, NLT). Love, both for our kin in God and God, is linked with acting on His inspirations.
Likewise, Scripture tells us: "But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him" (I John 2.5, NLT). We testify to others of our love for God and assure ourselves of our union with God by obedience to the urgings of the Spirit.
Jesus, in Matthew, says: "“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter" (Matthew 7.21, NLT).
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