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death_n	grace_n	life_n	soul_n	9,111	5	5.0304	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13694	The follovving of Christ Diuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man, Thomas a Kempis, canon-regular of the order of S. Augustine. Whereunto also is added the golden Epistle of S. Bernard. And also certaine rules of a Christian life, made by Iohn Picus the elder, Earle of Mirandula. Translated into English by B.F.; Imitatio Christi. English.	Hoskins, Anthony, 1568-1615.; Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153. Epistola de perfectione vitae. English.; Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494, Regulae duodecim portim excitantes portim dirigentes hominem in pugna spirituali. English. aut; Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name.; Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555?	1615 (1615)	STC 23988; ESTC S111535	135,170	483

experience they haue of themselues in their earthly affections so they frame an imagination of heauēly things But there is an incōparable distance betweene the things which the imperfect frame in their conceits and those which illuminated persons do see by reuelation from aboue 7 Beware therefore my Sonne that thou treat not curiously of these things which exceed thy knowledg but rather so apply thy endeauours that thou maist at least haue the meanest place in the Kingdom of heauē Eccles 3. And if any one did know which of the Saints exceeded others in sanctity or is esteemed greater in the kingdom of heauen what would this knowledge auaile him vnlesse he should thereby humble himselfe the more in my sight and stirre vp his minde to praise my name with greater feruour His labour is much more acceptable vnto God that thinketh of the greatnes of his sins and his want of vertues and how far off he is from the perfection of the Saints then he that disputeth of their greatnes It is better to pray to the Saints with deuotion and teares and to craue their glorious suffrages with an humble mind then to search their secrets with a vaine curiositie 8 They are well and right well contented if men could content thēselues and refraine from these vaine discourses They glory not of their own merits for they ascribe no good vnto themselues but attribute all to me who of my infinite charity haue bestowed my blessings vpon them They are replenished with so great loue of my Godhead and so superabundant joy that there is no glory nor happines that is or can be wanting vnto them All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselues and neerer and dearer vnto me And therefore thou hast it written That they did cast their crownes before God and fel downe vpon their faces before the Lambe and adored him that liueth for euer Apocal. 4. 9 Many enquire who is greatest in the Kingdome of God that know not whether they shall euer be numbred there amongst the least It is no small matter to bee euen the least in heauen where all are great for that all there shall be called and shall be indeed the Sonnes of God The least there shall bee great among thousands and the sinner of an hundred yeares shall die For when the Disciples asked who was the greater in the Kingdome of heauen they receiued this answere Matth. 18. Vnlesse you be conuerted and become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen Whosoeuer therefore shall humble himselfe as this little childe he is the greater in the Kingdome of heauen 10 Woe be vnto them that disdaine to humble themselues willingly with little children Mat. 6. For the low gate of the Kingdom of heauen wil not giue them entrance And wo be to the rich that haue their comforts heere for whilst the poore enter into the Kingdom of God they shall be waiting without Reioyce you that be humble and you that bee poore be you glad for yours is the Kingdome of God if you walke according vnto truth Mat. 5. CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone THE SERVANT LOrd what trust haue I in this world Or what is the greatest comfort that all things vnder heauen doe yeeld mee Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number Where hath it beene well with mee without thee Or when could it bee ill with mee when thou wert present I had rather bee poore for thee then rich without thee I rather choose to be a Pilgrime in earth with thee then to possesse heauen without thee Where thou art there is heauen and there is death and hell where thou art not Thou art my desire and therefore it behoueth mee to send forth deep sighes from my heart and crie and pray vnto thee For I haue none to trust vnto none that can help mee in time of necessitie but thee alone my God Thou art my hope and my trust thou art my comforter and most faithfull vnto mee in all my distresses 2 All men seeke their owne gaine thou only seekest my saluation and my profit and turnest all things to my good Phil. 2. Although thou permittest many temptations to assault me and many aduersities to befall me yet thou ordainest all this to my good and profit who art wont to proue thy beloued seruants a thousand wayes In which proofe thou oughtest no lesse to bee loued and praised then if thou diddest replenish me with heauenly comforts 3 In thee therfore my Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I finde all to be weake and vnconstant whatsoeuer I behold out of thee For neither can many friends auaile nor forcible helpers aide nor wise counsellers giue profitable answere nor the bookes of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliuer nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy selfe dost not assist helpe comfort instruct and keepe vs. 4 For all things that seeme to be ordained for the rest and solace of man when thou art absent are nothing and doe bring indeed no joy nor comfort at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the light of life the depth of wisdome and the most forcible comfort of thy seruants is to trust in thee aboue all things To thee therefore do I lift vp mine eyes In thee my God the Father of mercies I put my whole trust Blesse and sanctifie my soule with thy heauenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternall glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy greatnes that may offend the eyes of thy Maiestie According to the greatnes of thy goodnes and multitude of thy mercies take pitie vpon mee and heare the prayer of thy poore seruant who is farre exiled from thee in the land of the shadow of death Protect and keepe the soule of thy seruant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by the assistance of thy grace direct it in the way of peace to the Countrey of euerlasting light AMEN The end of the third Booke OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE FOVRTH BOOKE A deuout Exhortation vnto the blessed Sacrament The voice of Christ COme vnto mee all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you saith our Lord. Matth. 11. The bread which I will giue is my flesh for the life of the world Ioh. 6. Take yee and eate this is my body that shall be deliuered for you Matth. 26. Doe this for the commemoration of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud remaineth in me and I in him 1. Cor. 11. The words which I haue spoken vnto you are Spirit and life Ioh. 6. CHAP. I. With how great reuerence Christ ought to be receiued THese are thy words O Christ euerlasting Truth

thou wilt not be angry alwaies neither wilt thou threaten for euer Psal 102. CHAP. XVII That all our care is to be placed in God OVR LORD SOnne suffer mee to doe with thee what I please I know what is expedient for thee Thou thinkest as man thou judgest in many things as humane affection perswadeth thee SER. Lord what thou sayest is true Thy solicitude for me is greater then all the care that I can take for my selfe Matth. 6. Ioh. 6. For he standeth at too great a hazard that casteth not his whole care vpon thee Lord so that my will may remaine right and firme in thee doe with me whatsoeuer it shall please thee For it cannot be but good whatsoeuer thou doest with me 2 If it be thy will I should be in darknes be thou blessed and if it be thy will I should be in light be thou againe blessed If thou vouchsafest to comfort me be thou blessed and if thou wilt afflict mee be thou also euer blessed LORD Sonne so thou oughtest to be as ready to suffer as to receiue joy Thou oughtest to be as willing to be poore and needy as plentifull and rich SER. 3 Lord I wil willingly suffer for thee whatsoeuer thy pleasure is shall befall me I will receiue indifferently from thy hand good and euill sweete and sower delightfull and sorrowfull and giue thee thanks for all that hapneth vnto me Iob 2. Keepe me from all sinne and I will neither feare death nor hell so as thou doest not for euer cast me from thee and blot me out of the booke of life what tribulation soeuer befall me shall not hurt me Psal 22. CHAP. XVIII That temporal miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently OVR LORD SOnne I descended from heauen for thy health I took vpon me thy miseries my charity and not any necessitie drawing me thereunto that thou mightest learne patience not refuse to beare temporall miseries Ioh. 8. For from the houre of my birth vntill my death on the Crosse I was not without suffring of griefe Esa 53. I suffered great want of temporall things I often heard many complaints against me I bare patiently shame and reproches for benefits I receiued ingratitude for miracles blasphemies for heauenly doctrine reprehensions Luk. 2. SER. 2 Lord for that thou wert patient in thy life-time chiefly in fulfilling the commandment of thy Father it is reason that I miserable sinner should haue patience in al things according to thy will and for mine own health beare the burden of this corruptible life as long as thou wilt Ioh. 5. For although this present life be burdensome yet notwithstanding it is now by thy grace made very meritorious by thy example and the foot-steps of thy Saints more plaine tolerable to the weak Yea much more comfortable also then it was in times past in the olde Law when the gate of heauen remained shut and the way also to heauen seemed darker when so few tooke care to seeke after thy Kingdom Neither they also that then were just were ordained to be saued could enter into the heauenly glory before thy Passion and the debt of thy sacred death was discharged Mat. 7. 3 O how great thanks am I bound to giue thee that thou hast vouchsafed to shew vnto me and to al faithful soules a direct sure way to thy euerlasting Kingdome For thy life is our way and by holy patience we go vnto thee that art our Crowne If thou hadst not gone before vs and taught vs who would haue takē care to follow Alas how many would stay behind remaine far off if they beheld not thy excellent examples Behold we are yet cold although we haue heard of so many of thy wonders thy heauēly documēts What would become of vs if we had not so great light to follow thee Ioh. 12. CHAP. XIX Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truely patient OVR LORD WHat is it thou sayest Son Cease to complain considering my passion and that of my other Saints Thou hast not yet made resistance to the shedding of bloud Heb. 12. It is but little thou suffrest in comparison of them that haue suffered so much so strongly tempted so grieuously afflicted so many wayes tried and exercised Heb. 11. Thou oughtest therfore to call to minde the heauy sufferings of others that thou mayest easier beare the little aduersities which thou sufferest And if they seeme not little beware lest thy impatience be cause thereof Yet whether they be little or great endeauour to beare all patiently 2 How much the better thou disposest thy selfe to suffering so much the more wisely thou doest and so much the more dost thou merit thou shalt more easily also endure it if thy minde be prepared and thy selfe accustomed thereunto Doe not say I cannot suffer these things of such a one at the hands of such a person nor such things are not to be suffred by mee for hee hath done me great wrong and vpbraided me with those things which I neuer thought of but of another I wil willingly suffer and as I shall see cause Such a thought is foolish it considereth not the vertue of patience nor by whom it shall be crowned but rather weigheth the persons and the iniuries offered 3 He is not truly patient that wil not suffer but as much as he thinketh good and by whom he listeth But he that is indeed patient mindeth not by whom he is exercised whether by his superiour or some of his equals or by his inferior whether by a good and holy man or by a peruerse and vnworthy person But indifferently from al creatures how much soeuer or how often soeuer any aduersitie happeneth vnto him hee taketh all thankefully as from the hands of God and esteemeth it a great gaine for that nothing before God how little soeuer so it be suffred for God can be without merit 4 Be thou therefore alwaies prepared for the fight if thou wilt haue the victory Without combate thou canst not attaine vnto the crowne of patience If thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned But if thou desirest to be crowned fight manfully and endure patiently without labour there is no comming to rest nor without fight can the victory be obtained 2. Tim. 2. SER. Lord let that bee made possible to me by thy grace which seemeth impossible to me by nature Thou knowest that I can suffer little and that I am quickly dismayed when a small aduersitie ariseth Let all exercise of tribulation be made pleasing vnto me and be welcome for thy name for to suffer and to be troubled for thee is very profitable for my soule CHAP. XX. Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity and of the miseries of this life THE SERVANT I Will confesse against me my iniustice I will confesse vnto thee O Lord my infirmitie Oftentimes it is a smal matter that discomforteth and grieueth me Psal 31. I

that wee had spent one day well in this world Many doe reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to die perhaps it will be more dangerous for thee to liue long Blessed is hee that hath alwayes before his eyes the houre of hia death and disposeth himselfe daily therunto Eccl. 7. If thou hast at any time seen a man die thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3 When it t s morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy selfe the next morning Heb. 9. Be alwaies ready so order thy selfe that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Many die suddenly for the Sonne of Man will come when we least think of it Luk. 21. When that last houre shal come thou wilt begin to thinke far otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast beene so slack and negligent Matth. 24. Luk. 12. 4 O how wise and happy is hee that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of penance the readines of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou mayest doe much good whilest thou art wel but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to doe I know not Few doe grow better and amend themselues with sicknesse as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5 Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou doest imagine Esay 30. 31. Hier. 17. 48. It is better now to prouide in time and doe some good before thou goest then to trust in the helpe of others when thou art gone Mat. 6. If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee hereafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6 O my dearest brother from how great danger mayest thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maeyst thou bee freed if thou doest now liue fearefull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to die to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earthly things that thou mayest then freely go to Christ Chastise now thy body with pennance that thou mayst then haue assured confidence 1. Cor. 9. 7 Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luk. 12. How many haue been deceiued and taken out of this world on a sudden when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddenly slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his necke another died at his meate another when hee was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another died by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of al and the life of man passeth away like a shadow 8 Who will remember thee and vvho vvill pray for thee after thy death Iob 14 Do now beloued brother doe novv vvhat thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt die nor what shall befall thee after thy death Now whilest thou hast time heape together eternall riches Matth. 1. Luk. 11. Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Luk. 16. Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receiue thee into their euerlasting dwellings Hebr. 11. 9 Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertaine 1. Pet. 2. Keepe thy heart free and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citie Heb. 13. Send thither thy prayers daily with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happinesse to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgement and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge from whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with gifts nor admitteth excuses but judgeth according to justice Heb. 10. O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest sometimes the countenance of an angry man what answer wilt thou make to God to whō al thy wickednes is known Iob 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy selfe against that rigorous day of Iudgement in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden enough to himselfe Luk. 16. Now thy paines are profitable thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. Cor. 6. 2 The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iam. 1. who receiuing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice then for his owne wrongs Luk. 23. prayeth willingly for his aduersaries and from his hart forgiueth their offences Act. 7. delayeth not to aske forgiuenesse of whomsoeuer hee hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sinnes and vices now then to reserue them for Purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceiueth vs. 3 What other thing shal that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished hereafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe-same wherin a man hath sinned shall he be more grieuously punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwards with burning goads There shall the Gluttons be tormented with insatiable hunger and thirst There shall the lasciuious and the louers of pleasures be couered ouer vvith burning pitch and brimston The enuious like raging dogs shall there howle for griefe 4 There is no vice that shall not haue his proper torment The proud shall be full of all shame and confusion The couetous shall be in miserable want One houre of paine there shall be

things more which thou hast not yet well learned SER. What are those Lord LORD That thou frame thy desire wholy according to my pleasure and be not a louer of thy selfe but a diligent follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes doe stirre thee vp and driue thee forwards with violence but consider whether thou art mooued rather for my honour then for thine owne profit If I bee the cause thou wilt bee well content with whatsoeuer I shal ordaine but if there lurke in thee any selfe inclination behold this is it that hindreth thee and weigheth thee downe Phil. 2. 2 Beware therefore thou incline not too much vpon any desire that commeth to thy minde before thou aske my counsaile lest perhaps afterwards it repent thee and that thou beginne now to dislike that which before did please thee and vvhich thou earnestly desiredst as the best For euery affection that seemeth good is not presently to be-followed nor euery contrary affection at the first to be fled It is expedient sometimes to vse a restraint euen in good desires and endeauours lest by importunitie thou incurre distraction of minde and by euill example become a scandall vnto others or being gaine-said by others thou bee suddenly troubled and fall 3 Yet sometimes thou oughtest to vse violence and resist manfully thy sensuall appetites Philip. 2. and respect not what thy bodie vvould or vvould not but rather to labour that euen perforce it bee subiect to the spirit Rom. 8. and 2. Cor. 4. And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced vnder seruitude 2. Cor. 10. vntill it readily obey in all things and learne to bee content with a little and to be pleased with ordinary things and not to murmure against any inconuenience 1. Cor. 9. CHAP. XII Of the effect of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence THE SERVANT LOrd God I perceiue patience is very necessary vnto me for that many aduersities doe happen in this life Heb. 10. Howsoeuer I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without warre and affliction Iob 7. LORD So it is Son And my wil is not that thou seek after that peace which is void of temptation or that feeleth no contrarieties but then thinke that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations and tried in many aduersities Iam. 1. 2 If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the fire of Purgatory Of two euils the lesse is alwayes to be chosen That thou maist therefore auoid euerlasting punishments in the next world endeauour to suffer patiently for God the present euils of this Doest thou thinke that men of this world suffer little or nothing Thou art deceiued Looke into the life euen of them that liue in greatest delicacies and thou shalt finde it otherwise But thou wilt say they haue many delights and follow their own wills and therefore they make small account of their tribulations Be it so that they haue whatsoeuer they will but how long dost thou thinke it will last 3 Behold the vvealthy of this world vanish away like smoke and there shall bee no memory of their joyes past Psal 67. Yea euen while they liue also they rest not in them without griefe irksomnes and feare For the selfe-same thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes the cause of sorrow vnto them and much affliction They haue their desert who for that they immoderately seeke and follow delights they do not obtaine them but with shame and sorrow 4 O how short and deceitfull how inordinate and filthy are those pleasures Yea so senselesse and blind are men that they vnderstand it not but like dumbe beasts for a little pleasure of a corruptible life they incur the eternall death of their soule Doe not thou therefore my Sonne follow the disordinate inclinations of thy corrupt nature but forsake thine owne will Delight in our Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thy heart Eccls. 28. Psal 36. 5 If thou desire true light and to be more plentifully comforted by me behold in the contempt of all worldly things and in the cutting off of all base delights shall be thy blessing aboundant comfort shall be giuen thee And how much the more thou withdrawest thy selfe from all comfort of creatures so much the sweeter and more forcible consolations shalt thou finde in me But at first thou canst not attaine vnto them without a certaine griefe labour and strife The old custome wil make resistance and thou must ouercome it with another custome that is better Thy flesh will murmure but thou must bridle it with feruour of spirit The olde Serpent will sting and trouble thee but by prayer hee shall be put to flight and with profitable labour thou shalt shut the dore against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ OVR LORD SOnne hee that endeauoureth to withdraw himself from obedience withdraweth himselfe from grace And hee that seeketh to haue things in priuate shall lose the common Mat. 16. He that doth not willingly and freely submit himselfe to his Superiour it is a signe that his flesh is not yet perfectly obedient vnto him but oftentimes rebelleth and murmureth against him Learne therfore readily to submit thy selfe to thy Superiour if thou desirest to subdue thine owne passions For the outward enemy is sooner ouercome if the inward man be in good estate There is no worse enemy nor more troublesome to the soule then thou vnto thy selfe not agreeing well with the spirit Thou must of necessity haue a true contempt of thy selfe if thou wilt preuaile against flesh and bloud 2 Because thou louest thy selfe as yet too inordinatly therfore thou art afraid to resigne thy selfe wholly to the will of others But what great matter is it if thou that art dust and nothing submittest thy self to a man for God when I the Almighty and highest soueraigne who created all things of nothing humbly submitted my selfe vnto man for thee Luk. 2. Ioh. 12. I became the most humble and abiect of all men that thou mightest ouercome thy pride with my humility Learne to obey thou that art dust Learne to humble thy selfe thou earth and clay and put thy self vnder th● feet of all men Learne to breake thine owne will and to yeeld thy selfe to all subiection 3 Take courage against thy selfe and suffer not pride to liue in thee but humble and submit thy selfe to all that euery one may go ouer thee and treade thee as dirt of the streets vnder their feet Vaine man what canst thou complaine of what canst thou answere foule sinner to them that reproue thee who hast so often offended God and so many times deserued hell But mine eye hath spared thee because thy soule was precious in my sight that thou mightest know my loue and alwaies remaine gratefull for my benefits that thou mightest continually giue thy selfe to true subiection

created mee to thy Image and likenesse Genes 1. graunt mee this grace which thou hast shewed to bee so great and so necessary to saluation that I may ouercome my wicked nature which draweth me to sinne and to the losse of my soule For I feele in my flesh the law of sinne contradicting the law of my minde and leading mee captiue to obey sensuality in many things neither can I resist the passions thereof vnlesse thy holy grace feruently infused into my heart doe assist me Rom. 7. 2 Thy grace O Lord and great grace is needfull that nature may be ouercome which is euer prone to euil from her youth For by Adam the first man in falling and being corrupted by sinne the penalty of this staine hath descended vpon all mankind in such sort that Nature it self which by thee was created good and without defect is now accounted for vice and for the infirmitie of a corrupted nature for that the motion thereof left vnto it selfe draweth to euill and abiect things For the little force which remaineth is like a certaine sparke lying hidden in ashes This is naturall reason it self compassed about with great darknesse still retaining power to discerne good and euill and the distance betweene true and false although it be vnable to fulfill all that it approueth and enioyeth not now the full light of truth nor the former integrity of her affections 3 Hence it is my God that according to my inward man I delight in thy law knowing thy Commandements to bee good just and holy reprouing also all euill and sin and doe know that it is to be fled Rom. 7. But in my flesh I serue the law of sin whilest I rather obey sensualitie then reason Hence it is that I haue a will to doe good but know not how to performe it For this cause I often purpose many good things but for that I want grace to helpe my infirmity for a light resistance I go backe and faint I know the way of perfection see clearely enough what I ought to do but pressed with the waight of mine owne corruption I rise not vnto it 4 O Lord how needfull is thy grace for me to beginne any good worke to go forward and to accomplish it Ioh. 13. For without it I can do nothing but in thee I can doe all things when thy grace doth comfort me O heauenly grace without which our owne merits are nothing and no gifts of nature are to bee esteemed Arts riches beautie and strength wit or eloquence are of no worth with thee O Lord without thy grace For gifts of nature are common to good and euill but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and loue wherewith being marked they are esteemed worthy of euerlasting life This grace so much excelleth that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles nor any speculation how high soeuer is of any esteeme without it Neyther faith nor hope nor other vertues are acceptable vnto thee without charitie and grace 1. Cor. 13. 5 O most blessed grace that makest the poore in spirit rich with vertues and the rich in many blessings humble in heart come downe vnto me replenish mee in the morning with thy comfort lest my soule should faint with wearines and wither away with drines of mind I beseech the Lord that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace sufficeth though other things that nature desireth be wanting Psal 22. If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I will not feare euils whilest thy grace is with me shee is my strength she giueth aduice and help she is stronger then all enemies and wiser then all the wise 6 Thy grace is the mistresse of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the heart the solace in affliction she driueth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of deuotion the bringer foorth of teares What am I without it but a rotten peece of wood and an vnprofitable stalke only meet for the fire Let thy grace therefore Lord alwaies preuent me and follow mee and make mee euer diligent in good workes through Iesus Christ thy Son Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse OVR LORD SOnne looke how much thou canst goe out of thy selfe so much mayest thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of externall things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selues joyneth vs internally to God I will haue thee learne the perfect leauing of thy selfe vnto my will without contradiction and complaint Follow me I am the way the truth and the life Ioh. 14. Without the way there is no going without truth there is no knowledge without life there is no liuing I am the way which thou oughtest to follow the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope I am the way which cannot lead amisse the truth which cannot erre the life which cannot end I am a most strait way a supreme truth a true life a blessed life an increated life if thou remaine in mee thou shalt know the truth and truth shall deliuer thee and thou shalt apprehend euerlasting life 2 If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandements if thou wilt know the truth beleeue me Mat. 19. If thou wilt be perfect sell al. If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe Luk. 9. If thou wilt possesse a blessed life deny this present life Ioh. 12. If thou wilt be exalted in heauen humble thy selfe vpon earth Luk. 14. If thou wilt raigne with me beare the Crosse with mee For onely the seruants of the Crosse finde the way of blisse and true light SER. 3 Lord Iesus for as much as thy way is narrow strait and contemptible vnto the world grant me grace to imitate thee in suffring willingly all worldly contempt For the seruant is not greater then his Lord nor the Disciple aboue his Master Mat. 7. Let thy seruant be exercised in thy holy life for there is the health and the true sanctitie of my soule whatsoeuer I reade or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully Luk. 6. LORD 4 Sonne now that thou knowest and hast read these things happie shalt thou be if thou fulfill them Hee that hath my Commandements and keepeth them hee it is that loueth me and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him and wil make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father SER. Lord Iesus as thou hast said and promised so giue mee grace to deserue that it be fulfilled I haue receiued the Crosse I haue receiued it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it vpon me Truely the life of a good religious person is the Crosse and it is a sure guide to heauen It is now begunne it is not lawfull to go backe neither is it fit to leaue that which I haue vndertaken 5 Let vs then