how farre off he is from the perfection of the Saints ehen he that disputeth of their greatnesse 27 It is better to labour after the piety devotion of the Saints and with an humble mind to imitate their glorious examples then to search their secrets with vaine curiosity 28 They are wel right wel contented if men could content themselves and refrain from these vain discourses 29 They glory not of their owne merits for they ascribe no good unto themselves but attribute all to me who of my infinite charity have bestowed my blessings upon them 30 They are replenished with so great love of my Godhead and so superabundant joy that there is no glory that is nor happinesse that can be wanting unto them 31 All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselves nearer and dearer unto me 32 And therefore thou hast it written that they did cast their Crownes before God and fell downe upon their faces before the Lambe and adored him that liveth for ever and ever 33 Many inquire who is the greatest in the Kingdome of God that know not whether they shall ever be numbered there amongst the lest 34 It is no small matter to be even the lest in heaven where all are great for that all there shall be called and shall be indeed the Sons of God The lest there shall be great among thousands and the sinner of a hundred yeaes shall die 35 For when the Disciples asked who was the greatest in the Kingdome of heaven they received this answer unlesse you be converted and become as litle children you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven 35 Whosoever therefore shall humble himselfe as this litle child hee is greater in the Kingdome of heaven 37 Woe be unto them that disdaine to humble themselves willingly with litle children For the low gate of the Kingdome of heaven will not give them entrance 28 And woe be to the rich thâ—â— have their comforts here for whilst the poore enter into the Kingdome of God they shall be lamenting without 39 Rejoyce you that be humble and you that be poore be you glad for yours is the Kingdome of God if you walke according unto truth CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone LOrd what trust have I in this world or what is the greatest comfort that all things under heaven doe yeeld me Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number 2 Where hath it beene well with me without thee Or when could it be ill with me when thou were present I had rather be poore for thee then rich without thee 3 I had rather choose to be a Pilgrim in earth with thee then to possesse heaven without thee Where thou art there is heaven and there is death and hell where thou art not 4 Thou art my desire and therefore it behoveth me to send forth deep sighes from my heart and cry and pray unto thee 5 For I have none to trust unto none that can help me in time of necessitie but thee alone my God Thou art my hope and my trust thou art my comfort and most faithfull unto me in all my distresses 6 All men seeke their own gaine thou only seekest my salvation and my profit and turnest all things to my good 7 Although thou permittest many temptations to assault me and many adversities to befall me yet thou ordainest all this to my good and profit who art wont to prove thy beloved servants a thousand waies 8 In which proofe thou oughtest no lesse to beloved and praised then if thou didst replenish me with heavenly comforts 9 In thee therefore my Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation anguish for I find all to be weake and unconstant whatsoever I behold out of thee 10 For neither can many friends availe nor forcible helpers aide nor wise counsellours give profitable answer nor the books of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliver nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy selfe doest not assist help comfort instruct and keepe us 11 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 11 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 servants is to trust in thee above all things 12 To thee therefore doe I lift up mine eyes In thee my God the Father of mercies I put my whole trust 13 Blesse and sanctifie my soule with thy heavenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the â—eate of thy eternall glory and that noâ—hing may be found in the Temple of â—hy greatnesse that may offend the eyes of thy Majesty 14 According to the greatnesse of â—hy goodnesse and the multitude of thy mercies take pitty upon me and heare the praier of thy poore servant who is â—arre exiled from thee in the land of the â—hadow of death 15 Protect and keepe the soule of thy servant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by the assistance of thy grace direct it in the way of peace to the country of everlasting light Amen The end of the third book OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST THE FOVRTH BOOK A devout exhortation unto the blessed Sacrament The Voice of Christ. COme unto me all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you saith our Lord. 2 The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world 3 Take yee and eate that is my Body that shall be delivered for you doe this in remembrance of me 4 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh by blood dwelleth in me and I in him 5 The words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and life CHAP. I. With how great reverence Christ ought to be received The voice of the Disciple THese are thy words O Christ everlasting Truth though not spoken all at one time nor written in one and the selfe same place because therefore they are thine and true they are all of them thankfully and faithfully to be received by me 2 They are thine and thou hast spoken them and they are mine also because thou hast spoken them for my salvation I willingly receive them from thy mouth that they may be the deeper imprinted in my heart 3 These devout words so full of sweetnesse and love doe stirre me up but mine owne offences doe amaze me and my impure conscience driveth me back from the receiving of so great mysteries 4 The sweetnesse of thy words doth incourage me but the multitude of my sinnes doe oppresse me 5 Thou commandest me to come confidently unto thee if I will have part with thee and to receive the food of immortality if I desire to obtaine everlasting
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
me 10 Keepe me from all sinne and I wil neither feare death nor hell so as thou doest not for ever cast me from thee and blot me out of the Book of life what tribulation soever befall me shall not hurt me CHAP. XVIII That temporall miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently SOnne I descended from Heaven for thy health I tooke upon me thy miseries my charity and not any necessity drawing me thereunto that thou mightest learne patience and not refuse to beare temporall miseries 2 For from the houre of my birth until my death on the Crosse I was not without suffering of griefe I suffered great want of temporall things I often heard many complaints against me 3 I beare patiently shame and reproaches for benefits I received ingratitude for miracles blasphemies for heavenly doctrine reprehensions 4 Lord for that thou wert patient in thy life time chiefly in fulfilling the commandement of thy Father 5 It is reason that I miserable sinner should have patience in all things according to thy will and for mine owne health beare the burthen of this corruptible life as long as thou wilt 6 For although this present life be burdensome yet notwithstanding it is now by thy grace made very easy and by thy example and footsteps of thy Saints more plaine and tolerable to the weake 7 Yea much more comfortable also then it was in times past in the old Law when the gate of heaven remained shut and the way also to heaven seemed darke when so few tooke care to seeke after thy Kingdome 8 Neither they also that then were just and ordained to be saved could enter into the heavenly glory before thy Passion the debt of thy sacred death was discharged 9 O how great thanks am I bound to give thee that thou hast vouchsafed to shew unto me and to all faithful soules a direct and sure way to thy everlasting Kingdome 10 For thy life is our way and by holy patience we goe unto thee that art our Crowne 11 If thou hadst not gone before us and taught us who would have taken care to follow 12 Alas how many would stay behind and remain farre off if they beheld not thy excellent examples 13 Behold we are yet cold although we have heard of so many of thy wouders and thy heavenly documents what would become of us if we had not so great light to follow thee CHAP. XIX Of suffering of injuries and who is proved to be truly patientâ— VVHat is it thou saiest Sonneâ— Cease to complaine considering my passion and that of my other Saints thou hast not yet made resistance unto blood 2 It is but litle thou sufferest in comparison of them that have suffered so much so strongly tempted so grievously afflicted so many waies tried exercised 3 Thou oughtest therefore to call to mind the heavy suffrings of others that thou maist the easier beare the litle adversities which thou sufferest 4 And if they seem not litle beware lest thy impatience be cause thereof Yet whether they be litle or great endeavour to beare all patiently 5 How much the better thou disposest thy selfe to suffering so much the more wisely thou dost and so much the more favour doest thou procure 6 Thou shalt more easily also endure it if thy mind be prepared and thy selfe accustomed thereunto 7 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 suffered by me 8 For hee hath done mee great wrong and upbraided me with those things which I never thought of but of another I will willingly suffer and as I shall see cause 9 Such a thought is foolish it considereth not the vertue of patience noâ— by whom it shall be crowned but rather weigheth the persons and the injuries offered 10 He is not truly patient that will not suffer but as much as he thinketh good and by whom he listeth 11 But he that is indeed patient mindeth not by whom he is exercised whether by his superiour or some of his equalls or by his inferior whether by a good and holy man or by a perverse and unworthy person 12 But indifferently from all creatures how much soever or how often soever any adversity happeneth unto him he taketh all thankfully as from the hands of God and esteemeth it a great gaine 13 For that nothing with God how little soever so it be suffered for God can be without reward 14 Be thou therefore alwaies prepared for to fight if thou wilt have the victory Without combat thou canst not attaine unto the Crowne of patience 15 If thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned but if thou desirest to be crowned fight manfully and endure patiently 16 Without labour there is no comming to rest nor without fight can the victory be obtained 17 Lord let that be made possible to me by thy grace which seemeth impossible to me by nature 18 Thou knowest that I can suffer litle and that I am quickly dismayed when a small adversity ariseth 19 Let all exercise of tribulation be made pleasing unto mee 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 I Will confesse against me my injustice I will confesse unto thee O Lord my infirmity Oftentimes it is a small matter that discomforteth and grieveth me 2 I purpose to resist with courage but when a small temptation cometh if bringeth me into very narrow straits 3 It is sometimes a very trifle from whence great temptations doe proceed And whilest I think my selfe somewhat safe when I least expect it I finde my selfe sometimes overcome with a small blast 4 Behold therefore Lord my humility my frailty every way known unto thee 5 Have mercy on me and deliver me out of the mire of my infirmities that I stick not fast therein let me not for ever remain dejected 6 This is that which oftentimes beareth me back and confoundeth me in thy sight for that I am so subiect to fall and weak in resisting of my passions 7 And though I doe not altogether consent yet their continuall assaults are troublesome and grievous unto me and it is tedious and a very irksome thing to live thus daily in strife 8 Hereby my infirmity is made known unto me for that wicked fancies doe alwaies much more easily enter in upon me then they can be cast out againe 9 O mighty God of Israel the zealous lover of faithfull soules let it please thee to consider the labour sorrow of thy servant and assist him in all whatsoever he undertaketh 10 Strengthen me with heavenly force lest my old man my miserable flesh not fully as yet subject to the spirit prevaile and get the upper hand against which I ought to fight as long as I breath in this miserable life
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
it be subject to the spirit 12 And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced under servitude untill it readily obey in all things and learne to be content with a litle and to be pleased with ordinary things and not to murmure against any inconvenience CHAP. XII Of the effect of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence LOrd God I perceive Patience is very necessary unto me for that many adversities doe happen in this life 2 Howsoever I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without warre and affliction 3 So it is Sonne and my will is not that thou seeke after that peace which is void oftemptations or that feeleth no contrarieties 4 But then think that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations and tried in many adversities 5 If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the fire of hell Of two evils the lesse is alwaies to be chosen 6 That thou maist therefore avoid everlasting punishments in the next world endeavour to suffer patiently for God the present evils of this 7 Doest thou think that men of this world suffer litle or nothing Thou art deceived look into the life even of them that live in greatest delicacies and thou shalt find it otherwise 8 But thou wilt say they have many delights and follow their own wils and therefore they make smal accompt of their tribulations 9 Be it so that they have whatsoever they will but how long doest thou think it will last 10 Behold the wealthy of this world vanish away like smoke and there shall be no memory of their joyes past 11 Yea even while they live also they rest not in them without griefe irksomnesse and feare 12 For the selfe same thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes the cause of sorrow unto them and muâ—h affliction 13 They have their desert who for that they immoderately seeke and follow delights they doe not obtaine them but with shame and sorrow 14 O how short and deceiptfull how inordinate and filthy are all those pleasures 15 Yea so senselesse and blind are men that they understand it not but like dumbe beasts for a litle pleasure of a corruptible life they incurre the eternall death of their soule 16 Doe not thou therefore my Sonne follow thy inordinate concupiscence but forsake thine owne will delight thou in the Lord and he will give thee thy hearts desire 17 If thou desire true delight 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 and aboundant comfort shall be given thee 18 And how much the more thou withdrawest thy selfe from all comfort of creatures so much the sweeter and more forcible consolations shalt thou find in me 19 But at first thou canst not attaine unto them without a certaine griefe labour and strife 20 The old custome will make resistance and thou must overcome it with another custome that is better Thy flesh will murmure but thou must bridle it with fervour of spirit 21 The old Serpent will sting and trouble thee but by praier he shall be put to flight and with profitable labour thou shalt shut the doore against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a subject according to the example of Christ. SOnne hee that endeavoureth to withdraw himselfe from obedience withdraweth himselfe from grace And he that seeketh to have things in private shall loose the common 2 He that doth not willingly and freely submit himselfe to his Superior it is a signe that his flesh is not yet perfectly obedient unto him but oftentimes rebelleth and murmureth against him 3 Learne therefore readily to submit thy selfe to thy Superior if thou desirest to subdue thine owne Passions 4 For the outward enemy is sooner overcome if the inward man be in good estate 5 There is no worse enemy not more troublesome to the soule then thou unto thy selfe not agreeing well with the spirit 6 Thou must of necessity have a true contempt of thy selfe if thou wilt prevaile against flesh and blood 7 Because thou lovedst thy selfe as yet too inordinately therefore thou art afraid to resigne thy selfe wholly to the will of others 8 But what great matter is it if thou that art dâ—st and nothing submittest thy selfe to man for God's sake 9 When I the Almighty and highest Soveraigne who created all things of nothing humbly submitted my selfe unto man for thee 10 I became the most humble and abject of all men that thou mightst overcome thy pride with thy humility 11 Learne to obey thou that art dust Learne to humble thy selfe thou earth and clay and put thy selfe under the feet of all men Learne to breake thine own will and to yeeld thy selfe to all subjection 12 Take courage against thy selfe and suffer not pride to live in thee but humble and submit thy selfe to all that every one may goe over thee and tread thee as dirt of the streets under their feet 13 Vaine man what canst thou complain of what canst thou answer foule sinner to them that reprove thee who hast so often offended God and so many times deserved hell 14 But mine eye hath spared thee because thy soule was precious in my sight that thou mightest know my love and alwaies remaine gratefull for my benefits 15 That thou mightest continually give thy selfe to true subjection and humility and mightest beare patiently the contempt of thy selfe CHAP. XIIII Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered lest we be extoâ—â—ed in our good deeds THou thundrest thy Iudgments over me Lord and shakest all my bones with feare and trembling and my soule is fore afraid 2 I stand astonished and consider for that the heavens are not pure in thy sight If thou hast found wickednesse in Angels and hast not pardoned them what shall become of me 3 Starres fell from heaven and what doe I presume that am dust They whose workes seemed laudable fell into the lowest 4 And I have seene them that did eate the bread of Angels to be delighted with the husks of swine 5 There is no sanctity if thou O Lord withdrawest thy hand no wisdome availeth if thou ceasest to govern 6 No strength helpeth if thou leavest to defend no chastitie secure if thou doest not protect it 7 No custodie of our owne profitable if thy sacred watchfulnesse be not present 8 For if thou leavest us we sink and perish but if thou vouchsafest to visit us wee are raised up and do enjoy life 9 We are inconstant but by thee we are strengthened we waxe cold but by thee we receive heate 10 O how meanly and basely ought I to think of my self how litle yea nothing ought I to esteem it if I seeme to have any good 11 O Lord how ought I to submit my selfe under thy unsearchable Iudgments where I find my selfe to be nothing