Those who are possessed of a bad sadness have their souls troubled with ever so many horrors, errors, and useless fears, with dread of being abandoned by God, of being in His disfavour, of being unfit to appear before Him in order to ask pardon. Every thing seems to go contrary to their salvation; they are like Cain, who thought every one he should meet would kill him. They think that God is unjust towards them, and will be severe to them even to eternity, and that it is all in their regard alone, while the rest of the world is perfectly happy at their expense: all which proceeds from a secret pride, persuading them that they ought to be better and more fervent than others, more perfect than any one else.
But good sadness discourses in this manner: "I am a miserable, vile, and abject creature, and therefore God will show me mercy; for power is made perfect in infirmity, and there is nothing astonishing in being poor and miserable."
--St. Francis de Sales, Consoling Thoughts
