that hath beat down his own flesh then he that hath abounded in all pleasure and delight 32 Then shall the poor garment shine and glitter and the precious robes seem vile and contemptible then shall be more commended the poor cottage then the stately pallace 33 Then will constant patience more avail us then all earthly power and simple obedience be preferred before all worldly wisdome 34 Then shall a good and cleare conscience more rejoyce a man then the profound learning of phylosophy and the contempt of riches weigh more then all worldly treasures 35 Then wilt thou be comforted that thou hast praied devoutly then fared daintily and be more glad thou hast kept silence then thou hast talked much 36 Then will good works prevail more then godly words then a strict life and severe repentance will be more pleasing then all earthly delight 37 Prove first here what thou canst indure hereafter accustome thy selfe now to suffer a little that thou maist then be delivered from more grievous pains 38 If now thou canst indure so litle how wilt thou then be able to indure perpetuall torments if a litle suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire doe hereafter 39 Assure thy selfe thou canst not have two Paradises it is impossible to injoy delights in this world and after that raign for ever with Christ. 40 Suppose thou hadst hitherto lived alwaies in honour and delights what would all this avail thee if thou wert to die at this instant 41 All therefore is but vanity and texation of spirit besides the love of God and his alone service 42 For he that loyeth God with all his heart is neither afraid of death nor judgment nor of punishment nor of hell for perfect love gives secure accesse to God 43 But he that takes delight in sin what marveil is it if he be afraid both of Death and Iudgment Yet it is good although love be not of force to withhold thee from sinne that at least the feare of hell should restrain thee 44 But he that laieth aside the fear of God can never continue long in good estate but falleth quickly into the snares of the Divell CHAP. XXV Of the zealous amendment of our whole life BE watchfull and diligent in the service of God and often bethink thy selfe wherefore thou camest hither and why thou hast left the world 2 Was it not that thou mightst live to God and become a spirituall man be fervent then to come forward for shortly thou shalt receive a reward of thy labours 3 There shall not be then any fear or sorrow in thy coasts labour but now a litle and thou shalt find great rest yea perpetuall joy to thy soule 4 If thou continuest faithfull and fervent in doing good no doubt but God will be faithfull and full in rewarding thee 5 Thou oughtst to have a good hope in getting the victory but thou must not be seeme of it lest thou waxe either negligent or proud 6 When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wavering between fear and hope did once being very sorrowfull prostrate himselfe by praier in a Church before the Altar began to think thus with himselfe saying 7 O that I knew certainly I should persevere unto the end and presently heard this heavenly answer within him what if thou knâ—wst it what wouldst thou doe doe but so now as thou wouldst then doe and thou shalt be secure 8 And being straightway conforted and strengthned in mind he commited himselfe wholly to the will of God and so left off all carefull doubting 9 Neither would he curiously search what should become of him but rather applied himselfe to know the perfect and acceptable Will of God for the beginning and accomplishing of every good work 10 Put thy trust in the Lord and doe good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed with the plenty thereof 11 One thing there is that draweth men back from a progresse in good a thorough reformation of evill the horrour of the difficulty and the labour of the combate 12 For without doubt they especially above all others profit best in godlinesse who strive more manfully to overcome these things which are most grievous and averse from their own dispositions 13 For there a man profits more and obtaines greater grace where he more overcometh himselfe and mortifieth the inward man 14 But all have not alike to overcome and mortifie for although a man have stronger passions yet if he be zealous in the chase shall sooner overcome then he that hath fewer and is not so fervent 15 Two things especially much further any great amendment to witâ— to withdraw our selves violent 〈…〉 that to which our nature is vitiouâ—â—â—â—â—clined and earnestly to contend for the good we stand in need of 16 Be carefull also to avoid with greater diligence those things in thy selfe which doe most displease thee in others 17 Gather some profit to thy soul out of every occasion whosoever thou be so that if thou seest or hearest any good examples be kindled and provoked to doe the like 18 But if thou perceive any thing worthy of reproofe take heed of doing the same or if thou have done it labour quickly to amend it 19 As thou eyest other men so are other mens eies upon thee how sweet and pleasant a thing is it to see those that be fervent and zealous to be tractable and obedâ—ent 20 Again how sorrowfull and sad a spectacle is it to see men live dissolutely and disorderly not applying themselves to that whereunto they were called 21 How hurtfull and pernitious is it to neglect the chiefe intent and 〈…〉 of their callings and busie 〈…〉 in that which they have nothing to doe withall 22 Be mindfull of that profession thou hast taken upon thee and have alwaies in thy heart the remembrance of Christ Crucified 23 When thou lookst upon his life thou maist well be ashamed of thine own for though thou hast a long time professed christianity yet hast thou not endeavoured much to conform thy selfe to Christ. 24 A religious man who exerciseth himselfe attentively and devoutly in the life death of Christ shall there abundantly find all things necessary and profitable and out of Iesus he shal need to seek nothing 25 O if Iesus Christ and him Crucified would sink deep into our hearts how quickly and sufficiently learned should we prove 26 A religious man that is zealous taketh and endureth all well that is commanded him but he that is negligent and luke warme hath tribulation npon tribulation 27 Nay he is upon every side straightned and molested for he is void of inward consolation and forbidden to take any outward comfort 28 A religious man without discipline is in great danger of ruine he that seeketh liberty and ease shall ever live in disquiet for one thing or other will alwaies displease him 29 O that we had nothing else tâ— doe but alwaies with our mouth
spirit of contrition 25 And say with the Prophet feed me O Lord with the bread of tears and give me plenteousnesse of tears to drink CHAP. XXII Of the Consideration of humane misery MIserable thou art wheresoever thou be or whithersoever thou turnest unlesse thou turne thy selfe un to God 2 Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldst or desirest for who is he that hath all things accoording to his mind 3 Neither I nor thou nor any man upon the earth there is none in this world be he King or Pope without some tribulation or other 4 Who is then in the best estate or condition even he who for God's sake can suffer affliction 5 Many weake and fraile men can say O what an happy life hath such a one how wealthy how mighty he is in how great honour and credit 6 But lift up thine eyes to the riches of heaven and thou shall perceive that all the goods of this life are nothing so be accounted of 7 They are very uncertain rather burthensome then delightfull because they are never enjoyed without carefulnesse and feare 8 Mans happinesse consisteth not in having abundance of wealth but a meane estate should content him it is truly misery enough even to live upon the earth 9 The more a man hungreth after godlinesse the more he abhorreth this life because he seeth more cleerly and perceiveth more sensibly the defects of humane corruption 10 For to eat and to drink to sleep and to watch to labour and to rest and to be subject to other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a devout mind that would gladly be free and delivered from sinne 11 For the inward man is much oppressed with these outward and corporall necessities whilst we live in this world 12 Therefore the holy Prophet prayeth with great devotion to be delivered from them saying draw me O Lord out of my necessities 13 But woe be to them that know not their owne misery and a greater woe to them that take delight in this miserable and corruptible life 14 And some there be so much dote upon it although with great labour and paines they can scarce get bread to eat yet could they live here alwaies they would care but litle for the Kingdome of heaven 15 O how mad are these in their braines and faithlesse in their hearts who lie so deeply drowned in the earth that they can think of nothing but earthly things 16 But miserable wretches as they are they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile and vaine that was which they loved 17 Whereas the Saints of God and all the fast friends of Christ looke not on those things which pleased the flesh and flourished for a time but panted after everlasting rreasures with all greedinesse and desire 18 Their whole desire was carried upward to things durable and invisible that the desire of things visible might not draw them to things below 19 O Brother loose not thy confidence to come forward in godlinesse there is yet time the houre is not yet past 20 Why wilt thou deferre thine amendment from day to day arise and begin this very instant and say now is the time to be doing now is the time to be working now is the best time to amend my selfe 21 When thou art ill at ease and much troubled then is the time to profit best thou must passe through fire and water before thou comest to a place of refreshing 22 Vnlesse thou offer violence to thy selfe thou shalt never get the victory over sinne so long as we carry about us this fraile body of ours we can never be without sinne or live without sorrow 23 We could gladly be quiet and freed from all misery but seeing by sin we have lost our innocency we have by that also forfeited our felicity 24 Therefore we must hold our selves content and expect the mercy of God till this our iniquitie be put away and this mortality of ours be swallowed up of life 25 O how great is humane frailty which is alwaies prone to evill to day thou confessest thy sinnes and to morrow thou committest the very same thou hast confessed 26 Now thou art in the mind to looke well unto thy waies and within a while thou so behavest thy selfe as though thou hadst never any such mind at all 27 Good cause have we therefore to humble our selves and never to have any great conceit of our worth we are so fraile in our nature so inconstant in our courses 28 Besides that may quickly be lost by our owne negligence which by the grace of God and our owne great paines we have scarce at length obtained 29 What will become of us in the end who begiu to waxe cold so timely 30 Woe be unto us if we will now give our selves to ease as if all were in peace and safetie when yet there appeareeh no signe of sanctity in our conversations 31 We have need like young beginners be newly instructed againe to good manners if happily there be any hope of our future amendment and spirituall progresse CHAP. XXIII Of the meditation of Death THere will very quickly be an end of thee here therefore see what will become of thee hereafter To day a man to morrow none and out of sight out of mind 2 O the stupidity and hardnesse of mans heart who thinketh only upon the present and hath no care of the time to come 3 Thou shouldst so order thy selfe in all thy thoughts and actions as if to day yea this very moment thou we it ready to depart 4 Hadst thou a clear conscience thou wouldst not greatly feare death care not so much for the death of this body as the sinne of thy soule 5 If thou art not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow thou knowest not what will be to morrow and how knowest thou that thou shalt live till to morrow 6 What are we the better to live long if we prove not the better by long living for length of daies doth oftnes make our sinnes the greater then our lives the better 7 O that we had spent but one day well in this world 8 Many keepe in mind how long it is since their conversion and yet forget to fructifie in a holy conversation 9 If to die be accounted dreadfull to live long may prove more dangerous happy is he that hath his end before his eies and prepareth himselfe to die daily 10 If at any time thou hast seen an other man die make account thou must follow him he hath shewed thee but the way 11 When it is morning think thou maist die before night and when evening comes presume not upon next morning 12 Be thou therefore alwaies in a readinesse and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared 13 Many die suddenly and when they look not for it for the sonne of man will come when we think not of his comming 14
When thy last sand shall be runne out thou wilt have a farre diffetent opinion of thy whole life that is past and be exceeding sorry thou hast been so carelesse and remisse 15 O how wise and happy is he that now laboureth to be such a one in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death 16 To contemne the world perfectly to goe forward in vertue zealously to love reprose willingly to amend our lives seriously to obey superiors gladly to denie himselfe throughly and to suffer affliction for his sake patiently make us confident we shall die happily 17 Whilst thou art in health thou maist doe many good deeds but when thou art sick I see not what thou art able to doe 18 Few in the weaknesse of their bodies gather strength to their soules as they who are walking abroad are seldome setled at home 19 Trust not to freinds and kindred neither doe thou put off the care of thy soule till hereafter for men will sooner forget thee then thou art aware of 20 It is better to look to it betime and doe some good a fore hand then to trust to other mens curtesies 21 If thou dost not provide for thy selfe in this world who will have care of thee in that which is to come 22 The time that is now present is very precious now is the day of salvation now is the acceptable time 23 But alas that thou shouldst spend thy time so idlely here where thou mightst purchase to live eternally hereafter 24 The time will come when thou shalt desire one day or houre to amend in and 't is a great question whether it will be granted thee 25 O be loved from how great danger mightst thou deliver thy selfe from how great feare free thy selfe if thou wouldst be now fearfull and carefull how to die 26 Labour now to live so that at the houre of death thou maist rather rejoyce then fear learn now to die to the world that thou maist begin to live with Christ. 27 Learn now to contemn all earthly things that thou maist freely goe to Christ. 28 Chastise thy body now by Repentance that thou maist then have assured confidence 29 Ah foole why dost thou think to live long when thou canst not promise to thy selfe one day how many have been deceived and suddenly snatcht away 30 How often dost thou hear these reports such a man is slain another is drowned a third breaks his neck with a fall this man died eating and that man playing 31 One perished by fire another by the sword another of the plague and another was slain by theeves thus death is the end of all and mans life passeth away like a shadow 32 Who shall remember thee when thou art dead and who shall pray for thee when thou canst not help thy selfe 33 Doe doe now my beloved whatsoever thou art able to doe for thou knowest not when thou shalt die not yet what shall befall thee after thy death 34 Now whilst thou hast time heap unto thy selfe everlasting treasures think on nothing but the salvation of thy soule care for nothing but the service of thy God 35 Make now friends to thy selfe by honouring the Saints of God and imitating their vertues that when thou failest in this short life they may receive thee into everlasting habitations 36 Esteem thy selfe as a stranger and Pilgrime upon the earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertain 37 Keep thy heart free from the world and lifted up directly unto God because thou hast here no abiding city 38 Send thither thy daily praiers and sighes joyned with unfained tears that after death thy spirit may be happily commended into the hands of the Almighty CHAP. XXIIII Of Iudgment and the punishment of Sinnes IN all thy waies have a speciall aim to thy end for how canst thou be able to stand before a severe Iudge to whom nothing is hid 2 Who is not pacified with gifts nor admitteth any frivolous excuses but will judge according to right and equity 3 O wretched and foolish sinner who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry and ignorant man what answer wilt thou make to an angry and all-knowing God 4 Why dost not thou provide for thy selfe against that great day of Iudgment when no man can excuse or answer for another buâ— every one shall have enough to answer for himselfe 5 Now are thy paines profitable thy tears acceptable thy groans audible thy griefe pacifieth for thy sinnes and prepareth thy soule 7 The patient man hath a great and vvholesome purgatory who though he receive injuries yet grieveth more for the malice of an other then for his own wrongs 8 Who prayeth willingly for his adversaries and from his heart forgiveth their offences and delaieth not to aske forgivenesse of whomsoever he hath offended 9 Who is sooner moved to compassion then to anger who often offereth violence to himselfe and laboureth earnestly to bring the body into subjection to the spirit 10 It is better to purge our sinnes and offences here then keepe them to be purged and punished hereafter verily we doe but deceive our selves through an inordinate love of the flesh 11 What else will that fire consume but thy sins the more thou sparest thy selfe and followest thy pleasure now so much the more hereafter shall be thy punishment and a greater fewel added to that flame 12 In what thing a man hath sinned in the same shall he be punished there shall the sloathfull be pricked forward with burning goads and the gluttons vexed with great hunger and thirst 13 There shall the lascivious and loves of pleasure be bathed in burning pitch and stinking brimstone and the envious like mad doggs shall howle for very griefe 14 There is no fault but shall have its proper and peculiar torment there the proud shall be filled with all horrour and confusion the covetous shall be pinched with exceeding penury one houre of pain there shall be more bitter then a thousand years of the sharpest pennance here 15 There is no quiet no comfort for the damned there yet here we have some intermission of our labours and injoy the comfort of our friends 16 Be now solicitous and sorrowfull for thy sinnes that at the day of judgment thou maist be secure with the company of blessed soules 17 For then shall the righteous with great boldnesse stand against such as have vexed and oppressed them then shall he sit to judge men who is now content to be judged of men 18 Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence but the proud man shall be compassed with feare on every side 29 Then will it appeare that he was wise in this world who had learned for Christ to be a foole and despised 30 Then shall affliction patiently undergone delight us when the mouth of iniquity shall be stopped up then shall the devout rejoyce and the prophane mourne 31 Then shall he more rejoyce
to so much contemplation but because their whole care hath beene to mortify themselves and their earthly desires 5 And this hath made them able freely to attend their own affaires and with the whole strength of their soule to unite themselves to their God 6 But as for us we are too much carried away with our unbridled passions and too too sollicitous for temporall trash 7 We also seldome overcome any one vice as we should we are not enflamed to profit daily more and more and this makes us continue cold in devotion and luke-warme in Religion 8 Were we but once throughly dead unto our selves and not inwardly entangled in our owne soules then should we relish the things that are above and get some experience of heavenly contemplations 9 The greatest and indeed the only impediment is that we are in bondage to our passions and vile affections and labour not to follow the perfect footsteps of the faithfull 10 And when any small adversity befalleth us then we are very soone cast downe and betake our selves to the miserable comforters of this world Now if we would not give back but like valiant souldiers stand upon our guard doubtlesse the Lord would send us helpe from above 12 For he that gives occasion to fight to the end we may get the victory surely is ready to helpe those that fight manfully 14 If we place our progresse in religion onely in these outward observances then will our devotion come quickly to an end 15 Wherefore we must lay the Axe to the very roote that our unquiet affections being eradicated we may finde rest to our soules 16 If every yeare we did but root out one vice we should in a few yeares become perfect men 17 But we often finde it to bee cleane contrary that we were better and purer at the beginning of our conversion then we have been after many yeares of our profession 18 And whereas our fervour and forwardnesse should increase daily more and more we think it a great matter if a man retaine but some part of his first love 19 Did we but straine and force our selves a litle at the first then might we doe all things afterwards with ease and delight 20 I confesse indeed it is hard to leave old wonts and as hard yea harder to goe against our owne wills 21 If thou art not able to overcome these things that be litle and light how wilt thou be able to conquer those things that are more difficult 22 At the beginning therefore strive with thine owne inclination and unlearne if thou canst a naughty custome lest otherwise when thou wouldst thou canst not so easily and all that thou endeavourest will be but in vaine 23 O if thou didst but consider what peace thou should'st reape unto thy selfe and joy unto others by behaveing thy selfe well I suppose thou wouldst be more carefull of thy proficiency towards God and fearefull to give any offence unto man CHAP. 12. Of the profit gotten by adversity IT is good for us sometimes to suffer affliction and contradiction because they oftentimes call a man home unto himselfe 2 They make a man to know that he liveth here but in banishment and that he must not trust to any thing in this world 3 It is good for us sometimes to be crossed and contradicted yea to be ill spoken of and ill thought of although we both doe and mean well 4 These wonderfully increase in us the vertue of humility and strongly beat downe in us the vice of vain-glory 5 For then we more earnestly call God to witnesse in us and for us when men abroad dis-esteeme us and give no credit unto us 6 Therefore ought a man so wholly to depend upon God that he needeth not to seeke after many comforts amongst men 7 When a man of good meaning is troubled or tempted when he is vexed outwardly in body or inwardly in mind 8 The more he considereth he standeth in need of God's assistance without whose helpe he perceiveth he can doe nothing that is good 9 Then he sorroweth and greatly â—igheth and desireth to be delivered â—rom the miseries he endureth 10 Then is he weary of living any longer and wisheth death were at hand that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. 11 Then also he well perceiveth and is throughly perswaded that full security and perfect peace cannot be had in this world CHAP. XIII Of resisting Temptations SO long as we live in this wicked world we must look to be troubled with miseries and â—â—mptations 2 Hence we find it written in that holy Book of Iob The life of man upon earth is but a warfare and temptation 3 Therefore ought every one to be very carefull of his courses and that he be not led into temptation throughly arme himselfe with watching and praier 4 Lest the Devill find occasion to entrappe and deceive us who never slumbereth but rangeth about seeking whom he may devour 5 There is no man so holy or perfect but is tempted sometimes and to be utterly without them is altogether impossible 6 Though temptations seeme for the present to be grievous and troublesome yet are they often very profitable to us in the end 7 They are instructions purgations and humiliations unto us they instruct our lives they purge our affections and humble our soules 8 All the saints of God have profited in this life and passed unto a better through many tribulations and temptations 9 And those that have not beene able to endure these temptations have become reprobates in themselves and back-sliders from God 10 There is no order so sacred no place so secret where there is not either temptations to try thee or troubles to molest thee 11 There is no man whilst hee lives can be wholly free and secure from temptations 12 Though we had none without us we have enough within us being all of us borne in concupiscence and sinne 13. Temptations come upoÌ„ temptations miseries upon miseries having lost our first happinesse we have eversome unhappinesse or other to endure 14 Whilst many sèeke to avoid temptations they are plung'd into them deeper and some to shunne one trouble fall into a worse 15 By flying wee shew our selves not conquerors but cowards it is patient abideing and true humility that make us stronger then all our enemies 16 He that cuts off but the branches of temptations and plucks not up the roote from whence they spring shall be litle the better 17 For they will assaile him so much the sooner and make him worse then he was before 18 By litle and litle through Gods helpe by patience and longaniâ—ity thou shalt more easily get the mastery then by any sudden violence or â—turdy importunity 19 Often take good advise when thou thy selfe art tempted and deale not roughly with another that is tempted but minister unto him comfort as thou wouldst be comforted thy selfe 20 The very roote and originall of all evill temptations is the great
fulfilled and his name honoured in all his servants for he that can turne all things to the best can worke good out of evill 6 Endeavour thy selfe patiently to bear with any faults and infirmities of others for that thou thy selfe hast many things that must be borne withall by others 7 If thou canst not make thy selfe such a one as thou wouldst be how canst thou expect to have another to thy liking in all things 8 It is injustice to expect that in another which thou hast not in thy self to looke for perfection in others and yet not to amend imperfections in our selves 9 We will have others severely punisht and will not amend our selves the large liberty of others disliketh us and yet we will not have our desires deni'd us we will have rigorous Lawes imposed upon others but in no sort will we our selves be restrained 10 And thus it appeareth howseldome we weigh our neighbours in the same ballance with our selves If all men were perfect what then should we have to suffer at other mens hands for God's sake 11 But now God hath thus ordained that every man should have a burthen of his owne let us learne to support and beare one anothers burthens 12 For there is none without defect none without his burthen no man sufficient by himselfe no man wise enough of himselfe 13 But we ought to bear with onâ— another comfort one another equally helpe instruct and admonish one another 14 By occasion of adversity every man knoweth what great vertue is in himselfe for such occasions make thee not frail but shew thee what thou art CHAP. XVII Of solitary life THou must learne to breake thy selfe of thine owne will in many things if thou wilt keepe peace and concord with others 2 It is no small matter to lead aâ— contemplative or practicall life to live in either of those places without reproofe and to persevere therein faithfully unto the death 3 Blessed is he that hath there lived well and died as he ought to doeâ— 4 If thou wilt stand uprightly and perfect in vertue as thou oughtst carry thy selfe as a pilgrime and stranger upon the earth 5 Thou must be contented to be esteemed a foole for the love of Christ if thou wilt lead a religious and Christian life 6 The choice raiment and shorne head make litle to the purpose but change of manners and cutting of unruly passions make a man truly Religious 7 He that seeketh after any thing but God and his soules health shall be sure to find nothing but tribulation and griefe 8 Neither can he long injoy a peaceable and quiet mind who striveth not to be the least veriest abject of all 9 Thou art come hither not to be served but to serve know that thou art called to suffer and to labour not to loiter and live at ease 10 As gold in the furnace so are men tried in this world here none can stand upright but he that stoopeth in all humility heartily for the Lords sake CHAP. XVIII Of the example of the holy Fathers COnsider the lively examples of those holy Fathers who are dead who shined so bright in true perfection and Religion 2 You shall easily perceive how litle or nothing at all it is that we doe alas what is our life if you doe but compare it with theirs 3 Those holy men and freinds of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst in cold and nakednesse in labour and wearinesse in watching and fasting in praiers and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 4 O how many and grievous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessours Virgins and all the rest who endeavoured to follow Christâ— steps they hated their lives here that they might have life everlasting 5 O how strict and severe a life led those holy Fatherâ— in the wildernesse What long and grievous temptations did they endure How often were they vexed with our common enemy 6 What often and fervent praiers did they offer unto God How rigorous abstinency did they daily undergoe What fervent care and zeale had they to profit in the spirit How great and sharp a combate had they for the taming of their vices how pure an dright an intention had they to Godvvard They laboured all day praied all night although when they labroured with the body they prayed with the mind 7 In a word they spent all their time to their best advantage and thought the houre to soone at an end they imployed in God's service 8 For the great sweetnesse they found in heavenly contemplations they forgot the necessity of their corporall refection and for the food of their soules did not regard the reliefe of their bodies 9 As for all riches dignities honours friends and kinsfolkes they utterly renounced them all and desired to have nothing this world can afford 10 They could hardly be perswaded to take the necessary sustenance of their life and to yeeld to their body in that they must needs was with a great deale of repugnancy 11 They were very poore in outward goods but very rich in inward grace without they seemed needy but within they were refreshed with grace and heavenly consolation 12 They were meere strangers to the world but were neere and familiar friends to God in their owne eyes and in the sight of the world they were but abject and despised persons but in the eyes of God very pâ—etious and beloved 13 They were grounded in humility lived in obedience walked in charity and patience therefore did they daily profit in the spirit and obtained great favour at the hands of God 14 They were set out for examples to all righteous men and these few men should more provoke us to a spirituall progresse then the great number of luke-warme Christians to a remisnesse in behaviour 15 O how great was the fervour of all religious persons in the beginning of their holy institution 16 How great was their devotionâ— to praier how great emulation of vertue How exact discipline was set on â—oote how great reverence and obedience observed they in all things under the rule of their superiors 17 Their footsteps yet remaining do testifie that they were indeed holy and perfect men who fighting so stoutly trod the world under their feet 18 Now he is thought a jolly man that is not an open offender and can but patiently endure what he hath already undertaken 19 O the coldnesse and negligence of our time and state that we soone decline from our first fervour that by reason of our luke-warmnesse and sloath we are even weary of our lives 20 It is a signe that all proficiency in vertue is utterly dead in us when we follow not the examples of so many godly men before us CHAP. 19. Of the exercise of good religious persons THe life of a good religious person ought to excell in all kind of vertue that he may be such a one inwardly to God as he seemeth to be out wardly to men
commandement and appointment of of God but God is there the principal Author and invisible Worker to whom is subject all that he pleaseth and all that he commandeth doth obey 6 Thou oughtest therefore to give more credit to God Almighty in this most excellent Sacrament then to thine owne sense or to any visible signe And theresofore thou art to come unto this mystery with feare and reverence 7 Consider attentively with thy selfe and see what that is whereof the Ministry is delivered unto thee by the imposition of the hands of the Bishop 8 Behold thou art made a Priest and consecrated to officiate see now that in due time thou offer Sacrifice unto God faithfully and devoutly and carry thy selfe so as thou maist be without reproof 9 Thou hast not lightned thy burthen but are now bound with a straiter bond of discipline and art obliged to a more perfect degree of sanctity 10 A Priest ought to be adorned with all kind of vertues and to give example of good life to others 11 His conversation should not be according to the ordinary and common proceedings of men but like to the Angels in heaven or to perfect men on earth 12 A Priest clothed in sacred garments is the Vicegerent of Christ to pray humbly and with a prostrate mind unto God for himselfe and the whole people 13 And know that he is placed as a modiatour betweene God and the sinner Neither ought he to cease from praior and holy oblation till he obtaine grace and mercy 14 When a Priest doth celebrate he honoureth God rejoyceth the Angels edlfieth the Church helpeth the living and maketh himselfe partaker of all good deeds CHAP. VI. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion The voice of the Disciple VVHen I weigh thy greatnesse O Lord and mine unworthinesse I tremble and am confounded in my selfe 2 For if I come not unto thee I fly from life and if I unworthily intrude my selfe I incurre thy displeasure 3 What therefore shall I doe my God my Helper and my Counsellour in necessitie 4 Teach me the right way appoint me some briefe exercise sutable to this holy mystery of the sacred Communion 5 For it is good for me to know how I should reverently and devoutly prepare my heart unto thee for the profitable receiving of thy Sacraments or for the celebrating of so great and divine a Sacrifice CHAP. VII Of the discussing of our owne conscience and purpose of amendment The voice of the Beloved ABove all things the Priest of Goâ— ought to come to celebrate hanâ—dle and receive this Sacrament witâ— great humility of heart and lowly reverence with a full faith and a godly desire of the honour of the divine Majestie 2 Examine diligently thy conscience and to thy power purge clense it with true contrition and humble confession 3 So as there may be nothing in thee that may be burdensome unto thee or that may breed thee remorse of conscience and hinder thy free accesse to these heavenly mysteries 4 Repent thee of all thy sinnes in generall and in particular bewaile thy daily offences And if thou hast time confesse unto God in the secret of thy heart all the miseries of thy disordered passions 5 Lament and grieve that thou are yet so subject to sensualitie 6 So addicted unto the world 7 So unmortified in thy passions so full of the motions of concupiscence 8 So unwatchful over thy outward senses 9 So often entangled with many vaine fantasies 10 So vehemently inclined to all outward things 12 So wonderfull negligent in the interiour 13 So prone to laughter and inmodesty 14 So hard to teares and compunction 15 So prompt to ease and pleasures of the flesh 16 So dull to austeritic and fervour 17 So curious to heare newes and see vaine sights 18 So slack to imbrace that which tends to thine owne humiliation and contempt 19 So covetous of abundance so â—â—iggardly in giving 20 So fast in keeping 21 So inconsiderate in speech 22 So unbridled to silence 23 So loose in manners 24 So couragious in deeds 25 So greedy to meat 26 So deafe to the Word of God 27 So hasty to rest 28 So slow to labour 29 So watchfull to tales 30 So drowsy to watch in the service of God 31 So hasty to the end thereof 32 So inconstant in attention 33 So negligent in saying thy praiers 34 So undevout in celebrating the Communion 35 So dry in receiving 36 So quickly distracted 37 So seldome wholly recollected 38 So suddenly moved to an anger 39 So apt to take displeasure against another 40 So prone to judge 41 So severe to reprehend 42 So joyfull in prosperity 43 So weake in adversitie 44 So often purposing much good and performing litle 45 These and other thy defects confessed and bewailed with sorrow and great dislike of thine owne infirmity make a firme purpose alwaies to amend thy selfe and to goe forwards in vertue 46 Then with full resignation and with thy whole will offer thy selfe up to the honour of my name a perpetuall sacrifice in the Altar of thy heart 47 Faithfully committing thy body and soule unto me that so thou maist also obtain that favour to come worthily to offer sacrifice unto God and to receive profitably the Sacrament of my body 48 For there is no oblation worthy nor satisfaction greater for the washing away of sinnes then to offer up our selves unto God purely wholly in the holy Communion 49 And when a man shall have done what lyeth in him and shall be truly penitent as I live saith our Lord who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be converted and live and I will not remember hir sinnes any more but they shall be all forgiven him and fully pardoned CHAP. VIII Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selves The voice of the Beloved AS I willingly offered up my selfe unto God my Father with my hands stretched forth on the Crosse and my body naked for thy sinnes so that nothing remained in me that was not turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the divine wrath 2 So oughtest thou also to offer up thy selfe willingly unto me daily as a pure and holy oblation with thy whole force and desire in as hearty manner as thou canst 3 What doe I require of thee more then that thou resigne thy selfe wholly unto me 4 Whatsoever thou givest besides thy selfe is of litle accompt in my sight for I seeke not thy gift but thee 5 As it would not suffice thee to have all things whatsoever besides me so neither can it please me whatsoever thou givest if thou offerest not up thy selfe Offer thy selfe unto me and give thy selfe all that thou art for God and thy offering shall be gratefull 6 Behold I offered up my selfe wholly unto my Father for thee and gave my whole body and blood for thy food that I might be wholly thine and thou remain mine 7