not holde it But if you could not hold it confesse that you receaued it from aboue And therefore ascribe all the honor to the mercie of God and openlie confesse how without mee you can doo nothing Consider both in what steede I stand you and how able also I am to confirme you in all goodnes Where were you before I called you but weltering in sin and wickednes And now how would you wander if I directed you not Yea and when also went it well with you if you had not my fauor S. And I said At no time sweete Lord. Thou alone art my singular good freend in all things and aboue all most faithfull L. Whie then did you purpose so wickedlie with your selfe to go after strange louer What misliked you in mee was it either my maiestie or my bewtie S. Ah Lord there is none comparable to thee either for bewtie or for glorie or for riches or for auctoritie neither in heauen nor in earth is anie like vnto thee For thou onlie art most hie ouer all creatures The heauens are thine the earth also is thine thou hast laide the foundation of the world and all that therein is Much it is that thou hast imparted vpon thy creatures by which thy bewtie wisedome and goodnes doth appeere but yet in comparison of thy blessed and glorious presence it is nothing So that by experience I haue learned now that I cannot lack thy companie one houre together but with much griefe to my soule L. Returne therefore vnto mee thou hast hetherto wandered enough about Let not hence-forth to be more staied and milde and faithfull yea and to trust in mee not onlie in the daie of my gratious visitation but much more in the night of tentation I haue let you slip that beeing wearied you might returne vnto mee the more speedelie and beeing frustrate of outward comfort at length vnderstand how much you are bound vnto mee that so often haue called vnto you And therefore liften now at the last for it is not without cause that sometime you are forsaken that you are cold sometime in zeale that it irketh you that you are ouer-wearied with tentations that on all sides you are afflicted that you can neither finde anie counsaile nor feele comfort but are enforced to endure anguish and miserie at all times and in all places I am absent to the end you may knowe how needfull it is that I bee present with you not onlie in one matter or in a speciall cause but in euerie action in all places and times so well earlie as late wheresoeuer you shall become goe or stand For this will teach you to walke warelie with your freend to absteine from vanities and to take heede of offenses I doo leaue you that you maie well vnderstand how much you are bound to loue mee that is that you maie see a manner how to loue mee in deede It is verie true you thought your selfe more stout and happie than in truth you were but when I did once withdraw mine aide from you a litle it then appeered to the world how you were verie poore and miserable How shall your loue be knowen vnlesse you beare my yoake with patience Sometime I see you to waxe sluggish and therefore I doo hide my selfe for an houre like a freend standing behinde the wall that you maie be stirred vp the more zelouslie to seeke mee I knowe for my part and I see all things but troublous trials which are good for manie causes doo make you the more heedie and wise in all your actions Moreouer if you loue mee you will not waxe the more sluggish in seeking mee for all this if you like mee you will seeke mee What Wot you not how riches painfullie come by are kept most carefullie Who so wisheth rest as the wearied man Who loueth so kindlie as hee which hath sighed most heauelie And is not that iewell which was lost and is found againe much more esteemed than before it was So euen so is the ioie duble and the mirth dubled at the long wished presence of the beloued And therefore it is much for your profit that I withdrawe my selfe because I doo it not for anie ill will to you-wards but vpon verie good cause so do I dallie with my freends Let it suffice you at this time that you haue bin in my fauor to heare so much at my mouth Besides when you haue neede returne vnto mee and feare not For I neuer shut mine eares against that person which humblie and earnestlie crieth for mine assistance CHAP. 18. 1. The confidence of a true Christian 2. God iustifieth the vngodlie 3. giueth whatsoeuer good is to man 4. will haue no man to despeire 5. but that all sinners should flie vnto his mercie MY Lord God will helpe mee therefore shall I not be confounded S. Let it grieue no bodie though I loue much to speake with my Lord God whose goodnes hath allured and inflamed mee both to praie and to meditate in such sort that me thinks I should be too hard and vnkinde if I made none answere vnto his woords But happelie some one will saie against mee Therefore neither doo you feare God seeing you are a foule sinner vnworthie euen to liue in this world Whence is it that you dare so presume in your hart And being the least and vilest of all others with what face can you thrust forth your selfe so to talke with your Lord God Whome doo you make your selfe Oah my louing Lord doo thou answere on my behalfe For the mouth of the wicked is opened vpon mee If I would iustifie my selfe mine owne mouth shall condemne mee And though I were cleane yet did not my soule knowe so much Oah Lord thou knowest my follie and my shamefastnes Speake thou on my behalfe and I full gladlie will keepe silence L. Giue thou none heede to the woords of the wicked but rather doo thou remember how I haue saide I came not to call the righteous but the sinners vnto repentance Am not I to doo what I will Who maie resist my pleasure If I thinke it good to showe fauor to thee-ward though little thou deserue the same at mine hands who shall reprooue me therefore Hee that is without sin let him throwe the first stone at thee But if theie all the pack of them are sinners with what face can theie finde fault with my fauor to thee-ward You haue not chosen mee but my mercie did preuent you Dareth anie yet murmure against you for comming vnto me Comfort thy selfe his murmure is not against thee but flatlie against my person because it is I that receaue and â—eate with sinners And whie ought you not to chaâ—enge mine acquaintance the which 〈◊〉 reioice to offer rather than to withdrawe from anie one S. Oah gratious Lord laie not this â—in to their charge but to mee and to
I punished and pinched at the verie harte euen because I am vnable to answere thy benefits so great and so manifold Oah that I could euen but once worthelie and thoroughlie thanke thee for all these things But what maie proceede from him in whome nothing is An emptie vessell can minister no drinke What then shall I doo Something I must giue For it is not lawfull to come before God with an emptie hand Because the Lord abhorreth the vngratefull man Oah that I could finde something in this world to giue you that might be acceptable in your sight Oah my Lord whome in hart I loue what would you that I should giue you As for anie good thing of mine you neede it not And whie then exact you a gift at mine hands For riches none is comparable to you and yet require you some-what of mee L. That which I demaunde is euen your selfe wholie For so it is expedient if you would purchase my fauour I will giue grace to you and you shall showe grace to mee and so loue shall be continued betweene vs. Giue mee your selfe and you haue giuen euen all S. O good Iesus the fountane of all goodnes the fountane of life the fountane of grace the fountane of sweetenes the verie fountane of aie lasting wisdome powre vpon mee euen at this instant I beseech thee the gift of thy celestiall grace and teach mee to be gratefull and to giue my selfe before all thinges wholie vnto you for this is the deerest thing that I can render This I doo knowe and acknowledge Therefore receaue mee lo I am wholie thine and all that mine is is thine Onlie one thing there is which I cannot giue and that is my sin which is mine indeede properlie and therefore not to be imputed vnto thee Sinne mine is and all defaultes within me are to be ascribed to me onlie but glorie and for all thy benefits thankes be vnto thee But nowe in calling thy benefits into minde of manie I gather onlie a fewe and those which doo most of all moue mee and appeere in my mind For neither wil the time suffer to recite neither can my thoughtes comprehend them all Because for number theie are infinite for greatnes incomprehensible and inestimable for goodnes For bought theie cannot bee because theie are freelie giuen And therefore onlie thankes be required for them otherwise all shall be taken awaie as from that vngratefull one First therefore and afore all things I thanke thee ô Lord my God creator of all things for making mee a man after thine image and similitude and for placing mee ouer the workes of thine hands This is the great and first benefit bestowed vpon mee and that of thy meere goodnes For I made not my selfe but thine handes did fashion mee theie brought me into this world through my parents whome thy will was should serue thee herein And lo I am better than other creatures exalted aboue the beastes of the fielde and birdes of the aër in that I am facioned after thine image endued with eternall wisedome and naturallie participate of the light vncreate and of the vnchangeable truth Wherefore for my beeing liuing and vnderstanding I giue thee euerlasting praise wishing and desiring herewithall that all creatures both in heauen and earth maie euerlastinglie commend thy glorious and most excellent name I blesse thee ô Father Lord of heauen and earth who of nothing through thy onlie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ in the holie Ghost hast created all things Yea al things thou hast made not of necessirie compelled but of pure and special loue moued therunto therby to showe thy power vnto the sons of men and by thine inuisible and coëternall wisedome with thee thou hast most perfectlie disposed this visible world Let all thy creatures subiect in all things to thee and ordeined for the vse of man blesse thee For at thy commandement both raine falleth from heauen and fructe springeth from the earth The sunne shineth brightlie in the daie time the starres giue light by course in the night The fountanes spring the riuers flowe and fishes of diuers kindes doo swim The birdes not onlie flie but sing also and the goates the coltes and hartes doo spring vpon the mountaines The sheep and other cattell dop ioie in good pasture and diuers other liuing creatures doo run about the groaues The ground waxeth greene the fieldes prosper and trees of the wood doo yeeld both bowes and fructe O Lord which onlie doost woonderous things euen all these are thy woorkes Another benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee is the mysterie of incarnation the worke of my redemption the price of our saluation euen the fructe of thy passion and death O greate worke of mercie Oah worke of moste excellent loue moste abiect humilitie of moste rare patience No man could merit nor Angel procure this thing The Prophets haue wondered at it the Apostles haue seene taught it the faithfull haue embraced it and the elect especiallie doo loue and call it into minde The due consideration of this benefit stirreth vp good desires inflameth the harte nurisheth deuotion inlighteneth the minde purgeth the affection draweth on to heauen-ward with-draweth from the world driueth vnto God and vniteth the soule with Christ. This benefit far excelleth the aboue mentioned yet there is one which gaue each and hath bestowed both of them vpon vs euen our Lord Iesus Christ. For what the better had I bin for my life if I had not bin redeemed with the pretious blood of my Sauior Christ Therefore the grace and mercie of God grewe vpon me and plenteous redemption was made for the corrupted nature of man without the aide of God his maker could neuer haue bin repared O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thou to redeeme thy damned seruant hast giuen thine onlie Sonne to the death O wonderfull I kindnes of thine to vs ward vnto which neither the wit of man nor the vnderstanding of Angels can attaine But alone sweete Christe who art the beginning and the ende of our saluation and alone couldst helpe the miserable and damned thou alone art priuie to the same For thou didest vouchsafe to appeere vnto the world in the likenes of a most vile seruant and for mortall wormes euen of meere pittie receauedst with a willing minde the iudgement of a cruell death O good Iesus thou which art the fountaine of mercie the light of aie lasting glorie the pure glasse without spot of God his maiestie kindle mine harte with the meditation of this vnspeakeable benefit bestowed vpon mee and vpon all mankinde But this as was the former is generall sufficient to saue all but not effectual in all by reason of the incredulitie and malice of manie howbeit it saueth and is profitable to all the elect for whose sake all things
Soliloquium Animae The sole-talke of the Soule Or A spirituall and heauenlie Dialogue betwixt the Soule of Man and GOD. Which for the great affinitie it hath with other bookes of the Auctor published heeretofore in our natiue tongue is now entituled The fourth booke of the Imitation of Christ. Translated and corrected by THOMAS ROGERS Neuer before published ¶ At London Printed And are to be solde in the Royall Exchange at the Shop of Andrew Maunsell 1592. To the Christian Reader BEing much and earnestlie requested heere-vnto I haue published in our vulgar tongue another of Malleolus alià s Thom. de Kempis or Kempisius workes not that I confesse which of some well weening though not so well deeming persons was commended vnto mee I meane that in the old English translation and in some Latine copies too called The fourth Booke of the Imitation of Christe which in deede is altogether De sacramento altaris and so entitled but the next to that in Kempisius workes namelie the Soliloquium animae This I haue tearmed for the great affinitie it hath with the bookes of Kempisius by mee heeretofore diuulged The fourth booke of the Imitation of Christ. In the dooing whereof I haue as little as might bee varied froÌ„ the auctors words and phrazes and no where from the sense but where himselfe hath varied from the truth of God and I doubt not would haue redressed had hee liued in these daies of light as he did in the time of most palpable blindnes And this haue I doon with the greater alacritie because I finde and thou maist reade it also in the Auctors owne Preface that hee not onlie doubted that hee might vtter some things both fonde and offensiue but also wished to haue some godlie corrector of his faultes and praied vnto almightie God gratiouslie to reueale such thinges offensiue either vnto himselfe or vnto some other Whose godlie praier God hath heard and discouered those things for thy benefit and testification besides howe Kempisius the Auctor howsoeuer liuing in a Popish time was yet in hart no Papist but would like well of that which is doon as I trust thou wilt whose aedifieng and spirituall comforting I haue onlie aimed at And reaping this comfort to thy soule by the reading or hearing of this treatise bee thankefull vnto thy God that giueth thee some taste of the caelestiall ioies in this miserable and all-trooblesome world to whose gratious protection I doo most humblie commend thee and my selfe The Aucthors Preface I Haue gathered together into a little booke for my comfort sake certaine deuoute sentences the better so to commit them to memorie I haue also disposed them as into a plesant orchard set out with all sorts of trees and bewtified with al varieties of goodlie flowres where-into I might now and then enter both for to chuse and behold at my neede such matter as my hart desires for the refreshing of the minde grieued at anie time and ouerwhelmed with pensiuenes Now the more cleerlie and readilie to finde vnder which arbor I might repose my selfe or which floure were best to be culled out I haue made the heads of euery Chapter to glitter as it were with red titles I haue likewise with varietie of words as nowe talking nowe reasoning praieng nowe nowe conferring now in mine owne now in another mans person bewreathed about the text with a sweete and delightsome stile Wherefore I entreate them whosoeuer shall reade it first that they be not moued with indignation at that which the writer hath doon for it was his minde wholie to talke with his God Next that theie wil pardon the imperfectioÌ„ and plainnes of the stile considering that God is more delighted with words that be simple and pure than with those that be artificiall And if happelie the sense in anie place appeare either not sounde or not cleere enough my desire is to haue a godlie corrector of the same telling him withall that what fonde matter soeuer he shall espie it hath escaped from me not of purpose but rather for that I was not heedie enough in marking what I writ Moreouer forasmuch as man in that iudgement of his which is most probable maie be deceaued vnto thee ô God almightie and father of lightes doo I thine humble disciple make recourse and this Sole-talke of mine doo present before thy diuine Maiestie to the ende that thou maist both approue the things well said and disproue what is doon amisse and insinuate also either into my selfe or some other faithfull seruaut of thine more rightlie to obserue whatsoeuer things are offensiue My request is also holie Father that I thy poore seruant may obtaine at thy hands both time and space to abide in the all plentifull pastures of the Scriptures which be and shall be my chiefest comfort vntill that daie of aeternitie appeere and the shadowe of mortalitie doo decline awaie And therefore withdrawe thou fro me all vnprofitable cares worldlie desires hurtfull affections and what else may hinder mee fro my desired leisure For he must haue a free minde and a quiet that would meditate of hidden and heauenlie matters Wherefore that I maie be worthie to attaine my sute vouchsafe thou my God to endue and fill me with the grace of thine heauenlie ioie that I maie speake to thy glorie and to some comfort of my owne soule The fourth Booke of the Imitation of Christ. CHAPTER 1. 1. A longing of the soule after God 2. The incomprehensible maiestie of the Lord. 3. An exhortation to the loue of God SOVLE AS for mee it is good to drawe neere vnto God O short and ô sweete saieng embracing God and abandoning the vniuersall world What more can be said And what more-ouer is to be desired Would it not suffice if that were performed which now is spoken And were other yea many other things vttered should not all in the end be reduced vnto this one thing Therefore my soule saie thou with the Prophet As for mee it is good to drawe neere vnto God O my God thou art mine onlie felicitie thou alone art good and sweet vnto mee To speake of thee it delighteth the louer to thinke of thee it liketh the religious whose hart is not fixed vpon the world but hidden with thee in the heauens to the end that both thou alone maiest be his true peace and inmost ioie and he not vexed dailie in this world where false concupiscence doth prouoke vnto sin O my God how is hee affected which is inflamed with thy loue How doth hee reioice that hath no pleasure in anie vaine creature Are not these the words of such a man in that Psalme whereout the beginning of my speech was taken euen these his words Whome haue Iâ—in heauen but thee and I haue desired none in the earth with thee MAN O holie soule ô zealous soule so longing after God! What is that I heare what is that thou saiest Are the
and comfort is and resteth in the price of thy pretious blood wherein I doo wholie repose my selfe and deeme it requisite that I should doo so together with all which I haue doon offended deserued and omitted And therefore behold most gratious Iesu my basenes and humilitie consider the affection of mine hart which I beare toward thee not for my merits but for thy mercie sake which vouchsafest to be loued euen of the vnworthie In respect of mine vnworthines I am greatlie ashamed to come in thy presence but I am drawen-on and emboldened through your wonderfull goodnes and humilitie which hast in perfect good wil yeelded not onlie to become man but also to suffer die and to be buried for my sake and therefore vnto thee doo I make recourse for I finde no goodnes in my selfe Supplie that for my sake which of my selfe I cannot performe Thou hast giuen mee a desire to praie vnto thee to praise to blesse thee because thou art mine hope and my portiō in the land of the liuing Al my desire is to be with thee in the kingdom of heauen but inasmuch as my time is not yet come I will waite vntill the night approch In the meane while this maie bee my comfort in the place of my pilgrimage that I am mindfull of thy name and of thine exceeding great loue and that I behold thee in this life by the eies of my faith To liue in this world and yet to repose no trust in thee ô Lord were a thing intollerable to my soule I doo not consent to reioice with the world and that I maie not abide without ioie and comfort I haue determined to place my ioie in thee Much and often should I goe astraie greatlie should I be tossed in cogitations did I not reteine thee fast in my minde and thoughts And for somuch as I am vnable to sound the depth of thy diuinitie I thinke it best for mee to turne vnto the deedes and saiengs of thine humanitie because being in these cogitations I swarue not altogether from thy diuinitie Thankes bee to thee good Iesu sweete and louelie Iesu for vouchsafing to become my brother to take my flesh and bones vpon thee Thankes I saie to thee for entering into the wombe of good Marie thy Mother of whose maidenlie flesh thou tookest the holie members of thy bodie which thou didest vnite to thy diuine nature CHAP. 23. A godlie Praier and commendation of our Sauior Christ. NOtwithstanding I am wicked and guiltie of manifold sins yet haue I great hope of saluation because of thy suffering and merits whereof as I haue a good minde to consider so graunt ô my Lord Christ that I maie with good leaue so doo For who am I to approch nigh vnto thee vnlesse I haue licence I knowe mine vnwoorthines to appeare in his presence whome the verie angels doo worship with great reuerence saieng Who is this that commeth out of the wildernes of this world so abunding in pleasure Therefore ô moste blessed Sauiour I am far vnmeete to thinke of thy glorie and honor of thy bewtie and magnificence because I am earth and ashes yea more base am I then earth and ashes because I am sinfull and proane vnto all wickednes But thou beeing made hier than heauen hast the whole world vnder thy feete and art worthie to be praised and honored for euermore Howbeit of thine vnspeakeable goodnes which passeth all vnderstanding I am drawen in affection vnto thee because thou art the comfort of the comfortlesse and vsest most willinglie to helpe most miserable sinners I acknowledge how I am not onlie destitute of all comforrt especiallie of thy fauor but also verie vnable to doo good vnto my selfe But mercifull Iesus wouldest thou vouchsafe to consider my basenes then should I both be aided and comforted most plentifullie in this my trooble Therefore I see well whensoeuer I am compassed about with affliction and tentation I am straight-waie and without feare to flie vnto thee for where mercie is moste readie there grace is in greatest plentie And when I haue a good minde to consider of thy most glorious estate and to commend thee in moste honorable manner I must come foorth with a much purer affection and maie not goe forwarde with-out the conduction of Gods heauenlie light Assuredlie he shall haue no glorie but shame that presumeth without all reuerence to approch vnto thy gate And he which commeth thereinto must proceede with all reuerence and humilitie ioined with good hope that hee maie finde grace to be admitted Wherefore both humblie and reuerendlie and deuoutlie and boldlie I goe to thee-ward Let the godlie louer of thy name listen then what I saie The heauen reioiceth the earth woondereth when by faith mine hart saith Christ is my Sauior Satan flieth hell trembleth when my conscience crieth Christ is my Sauior The world waxeth vile and the flesh humble when as a Christian dooth saie Christ is my Sauior Sorowe departeth newe comfort approacheth when my minde pronounceth Christ is my Sauior Slothfulnes vanisheth mine hart through loue fainteth when zelouslie I can saie Christ is my Sauior Zeale encreaseth compunction ariseth hope groweth comforte waxeth strong when my soule soundeth Christ is my Sauior Mine harte is iocund mine affection becommeth sounde when in truth I do saie Christ is my Sauior For such is the force of these words vttered of a faithfull soule that no man is able to expresse the same in wordes but still it resteth more hie and excellent than maie be reached vnto by the wit of man Which maketh mee once againe most humblie to bowe my knees vnto thee ô blessed Sauior and still I saie ô Christ my Sauior O most gratious Iesu receaue my praier and mee with it that I maie finde some-what that maie like thee well and embolden mee and kindle my zeale and keepe mee euermore in continuall praising of thine holie Name Oah that for the satisfieng my desire to praise and to praie vnto thee from the verie bottome of mine hart both all my members were forthwith conuerted into tongues and those tongues into firie voices that I might finde a waie to glorifie thee my Sauiour world without ende Oah that for all my sins wherewith I haue deserued thine indignacion offended greeuouslie thy Father and dishonored thee with all the hoste of heauen I might once so thoroughlie bewaile and repent that I might heereafter take a newe trade of life to thy glorie and the comforte of my soule Oah that thou woldest assist mee in well doing seeing my life fraile and I all subiect to offending Oah pardon and forgiue all my sins either wilfullie or negligentlie committed all my vaine thoughtes my vngodlie speech my abhominable deedes O most gratious Iesu I saie doo thou both defend mee from doing anie wickednes hereafter and forgiue I praie thee all my sins forepast so shall I be both the more deuout the more
mercie and in louing O Sauior to whome none is to be compared thou art aboue all to be loued and to be worshipped O Sonne of God by whome wee are also the sonnes of God and of whome we are called Christians thou art of all good men to be serued most religiouslie and aboue all O freend of all freends King of heauen and earth Lord of angels conqueror of diuels drawe mee after thee least I fall and so rest vnder the heauie burden of sin Poure out thy grace send mee thy comfortable dewe from aboue that trulie I maie perceaue how thou art the procurer and the open fountance of all mercie L. I am in deede the spring of holie loue and of chaste and religious feare of godlie conference and of sweete consolation Therefore when you doo heare my name reioice with your whole hart and magnifie the goodnes of your God In honoring mee you honor the Father which is God as I am For I am Iesus the Sonne of God and this name shal I haue while the world endureth But what is Iesus euen the Sonne of the liuing God the Sauior of the world the King of heauen and earth the Lord of Angels the redeemer of the faithfull and the iudge of quick and dead And what is Iesus the hope of the godlie the comfort of the desolaâ—e the peace of the meeke the riches of the poore the glorie of the humble the strength of the weake the waie of such as wander the light of such as see not the staff of such as walke not the oile of such as feele not the staie of the oppressed the helpe of the troobled and the singular refuge of all good men Blesse the Sonne with the Father and so God will blesse you Giue honor also and glorie to the Father whensoeuer you praise mee His glorie is my ioie and my praise is his worship Place mee and the Father as a seale vpon thine hart and as a token vpon thine arme Therefore sit you or stand you or praie or reade or wright or worke you let my name Iesus and God be often reuerendlie in your mouth but continuallie in your harte S. O grante it maie be so good Iesus and let all people tribes and tonges serue thee and let all creatures bowe at thy presence Let heauen saie Raigne thou Iesus let the earth make answere yea for euer and euer let him raigne Yea let all Sanctes confesse thy glorious Name and all good people reioice before the Father and thee his lambe and our Lord Iesus Christ Amen CHAP. 25. That for God his benefits we are to thanke him BLessed be the glorious Name of the Lord for euermore O Lord my God let all my dooings all my reading all my wrighting my thoughtes words and vnderstanding tend vnto the aduancement of thine honor Yea let mee both begin my busines in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing That which thou hast giuen that receaue againe and from whence the streames doo flowe thether let them returne It neuer goeth better with mee neither dooth it realish better to my soule than when vnfeinedlie I doo ascribe all to thee whatsoeuer I haue either doon or thought as I should My desire is to render thankes which I then doo as I ought when for that I haue receaued and thou hast giuen I ascribe all praise to thee and nothing to my selfe For what can I a wicked and vnprofitable seruant render vnto thee my God Alas all that I can doo yea if I should doo all which thou commandest to be doon it is to none effect So that I am brought vnto nothing and rightlie humbled And in deede it is verie well that I am so brought downe that thou alone maist bee iustified and haue the praise of all and that vile dust maie at no time glorie in it selfe Howbeit I minde not to surcesse but will extoll thee both with hart and mouth For albe I discharge not my dutie therein as I ought yet ought I to speake of thy goodnes and not be silent O my God thou art my glorie my praise shall alwaies be of thee He that would but a little consider of thy glorie and knowe what it is to glorie in the Lord how would he despise all outward glorie He that would euen but a little taste of thy sweetnes how quicklie would he loath as most bitter the pleasure of this world He which would receaue euen but a small sparcle of loue into his breaste howe would hee burne in affection For full gladlie would hee contemne all thinges to haue thy freendship and would count it all sweete and easie to be borne whatsoeuer he should doo or suffer for thy loue sake Hee that would consider in his minde thy goodnes to man-ward how would he reioice and run after thee Hee would seeke nothing so charelie he would keepe nothing so warelie he would pursue nothing so egerlie as to serue thee For in louing he would feele no burden because loue would beare all burdens So then theie which complaine of the burden doo plainlie declare how theie haue litle true loue in them To serue of loue is of all others the greatest pleasure and comfort in labor True loue dooth neither respect commoditie nor feare damage but in all things seeketh that which may please thee Oah Christ how sweete is thy loue how well dooth it sound how sweetlie dooth it enter how stronglie dooth it binde Oah that it would fast binde mee to thy continuall seruice oah that it would wholie take me and wholie subdue me and wholie and altogether make me to be thine For then and not before am I free when I am taken of thy loue and vtterlie depriued from all that mine is O my Lord I am thy seruant yea thy seruant am I because thou hast redeemed mee I am thy seruant with a verie good will and am not ashamed to be properlie thine I wish not to be mine owne man againe and therefore Lord helpe mee that I maie be freed from that which naturallie is mine Oah blowe and kindle and inflame the fire of my zeale so shall mine hart boile and become pure cleare and pleasant for thy loue expelleth vice and consumeth sin Laie thou fast hold vpon the band of loue and I shall stand and continue in thy seruice Full well I wot no good can my seruice doo you Lord but all the benefit redoundeth to my selfe if I doo that which I knowe is acceptable in thy sight Would I did and hid not that I reuealed and concealed not thy workes Lord When shall I be able worthelie to consider the manifold benefits conferred vpon mee of God! Mercifullie hast thou delt with thy seruant ô Lord but alack I neuer thanked thee for the same as thou deseruedst And therefore am
what in the ende will become of mee seeing dailie I doo offend When shall I amend my life as I ought to doo When will it be better with mee When shall I waxe strong And when shall I ouercome I am cast head-long into the deep pit of filthines Who can thinke there is yet hope left to arise againe to amend to goe forward and to come vnto the ende Surelie touching my selfe I am out of all hope ah that mine hope were stronger in thee I greatlie dâ—o despeire because my weakenes encreaseth through long troubles and I see no ende of my sorow and sinne And though I saie lo nowe I will begin to amend lo it is nowe time I will doo my best to reforme my selfe straight-waie alas sinne standeth before mee the enimie lifteth vp himselfe against mee and wicked custome keepeth mee back with might and maine contrarie to my minde O Lord behold howe I am cast downe and troden vnder foote behold the troubles which I doo endure Lift vp thy right hand and deliuer mee fro my persecutors for they are too strong for mee My wisedome is perished and my strength hath failed mee Mine arme is broken neither can my swoord saue mee I see not vnto whome I may flie and that will receaue and heale me I knowe none Thou alone continuest my refuge but I dare not approch for shame because I haue offended thee I haue sinned ô God forgiue mee I am sorie yea hartelie sorie that euer I did transgresse thy lawes Giue mee that which seemeth right in thine eies and bee mercifull Thou didest iustlie in forsaking mee and iustlie thou didest commit mee into the hands of mine aduersarie But Lord remember that which thou hast made amende that which is decaied for of it selfe it can neuer stande Marke my groaning and my troubles let the paine and griefe of mine heart at no time be out of thy remembrance O mercifull Father cast an eie vpon my thraldome and imprisonment vpon the miserie and crueltie which I doo endure and bring mee out that am bound from the prison-house and wretched bondage Though a man should liue manie yeares what will hee bee the better thereby And who knoweth whether hee shall amend his wicked life or be worse and worse Man woteth not howe hee shall proceede and ende and his continuance is verie doubtfull because of the manifold chances of euils and dangerous tentations Manie at their first conuersion from sinne are good and humble which afterward become froward and rebellious At the first they were modest and deuoute zelous and silent and in the ende prooued carelesse and dissolute bablers and barbarous And they which at the beginning did bridle their wicked affections at the length had scarse anie care at all either what they said or did And so by little and little wickednesse taketh roote and encreaseth while it is not preuented at the beginning Who therefore but should feare and be circumspect seeing such vnluckie chances doo come vnto the good and modest Againe who thoroughlie doth knowe whether hee bee elected or hath strength to beare all things Wee are all to be tried and who is sure that hee shall not be burned seeing tentation is a fire So that all must feare and hope alike of the better but none is rashlie to presume nor yet prowdlie to bee secure In deed the gold which is tried shall be preserued but I aduise thee ô man to consider well of what metall thou art The celestiall purger will purge hee will fine the sonnes of Leui euen all that are his seruants It is not alwaies gold which hath the color of gold neither is it alwaie stuble or naughtie siluer which endureth beating and beareth the flaile For God beholdeth the verie cogitations and the hearts by them most commonlie working woonders which in the opinion of manie are but castawaies O Lord God what ioie can I haue in this world when I thinke vpon the vncertaintie and frailtie of all things vnder heauen Notwithstanding this am I sure of that thou art good and that thy mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare thee For thine infinite goodnes and mercie is greater than all my sins And this shall be my comfort while thou giuest me space to amend my life CHAP. 5. 1. Of the shortnes and miserie of this present life 2. A praier for grace to renounce the world and the vanities of the same LEt mee vnderstand the shortnes of my daies So long as I am in this world I am wicked and while I continue vpon the earth I am poore a stranger and a pilgrime I brought nothing into the world and certaine it is I can carrie nothing thereout for naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thether againe As a shadow which passeth awaie and as a fether which is tossed vp and downe with the winde and as a ghest of one night so suddenlie shall I passe awaie All the time wee haue heere to liue is but as the shortest night Fewe and euill are my daies and after a little while they shall ende and bee as though they had neuer been And when man is dead what is in man but filthines Who will haue anie care of a stinking carkas Or who will enquire of the absent being dead whereas beeing aliue hee was accounted of A small while is man remembred either of his freends or of strangers but vndoubtedlie the righteous shall be had in euerlasting remembrance because hee shall be euerlastinglie linked to God who is alwaies the same and shall neuer die Therefore happie is hee which putteth no trust in man nor yet reioiceth in anie worldlie thing but hath his hart fixed in heauen for what soeuer is in this world is transitorie and vane Call into thy minde those which haue liued since the world began vntill nowe and tell I praie thee where they bee And those whome you see and heare to liue now how long thinkest thou will they endure Saie therefore of all Euerie man that liueth is but vanitie O miserable and wretched life ô fraile and lamentable life which good men doo suffer rather than desire and wicked men albe they desire it yet can they not long enioie the same Oah vanitie of this world when wilt thou haue an ende when wilt thou cesse Yet the time will come when all the elect shall be set free from the bondage of corruption though now they doo lament because they are estranged from the kingdome of Christ Would to God the whole world would euen wither vp in mine hart and my Lord God euen mine immortall spouse seeme sweete vnto my soule Vndoubtedlie the fleeting ioie of this present life is but a false and a most bitter potion Let them drinke thereof that list for afterward they shall feele a most bitter flixe And the more one hath
in exile that I haue not deserued to enioie thee nor to see thee face to face Grant mee to enioie the long desired ioie which no time shall ende nor troubles ouershadowe Show mee thy countenance which the angels continuallie do behold Let thy voice bee heard in mine eares which they without cessing doo heare Come Lord Iesu and take mee out of this forreine contrie call mee wretch home vnto my contrie and restore mee a sinner vnto my former puritie Come gratious Redeemer make mee partaker of thine eternall glorie It is hie time that I returne vnto thee it is now time that I commend my bodie to the earth whereout it was taken The matter is not great where the bodie be laide or how it be handled if so be the soule be safe and come vnto thee Let my spirit doo well which I commend into thine hands and let my flesh rest in hope to be raised vp againe in the last daie For wheresoeuer it be buried it can neuer bee far or hid from thee Remooue mee from the companie of men and ioine mee to the societie of thy saincts For this temporall life is irkesome to mee but to thinke of the daie of eternall glorie reioiceth mine heart Oah let not the olde serpent withstand mee at my departure out of Aegypt let not the enimie barke against mee in the gate let neither Satan with his ouglie sight terrefie nor the horror of death trooble mee but let thine holie angels faithfullie assist stoutlie aide valiantlie protect louinglie receiue and ioiefullie bring mee vnto the euerlasting felicitie of thy celestiall paradise And mercifull louelie and blessed Iesu doo thou gratiouslie I beseech thee behold mee and cast mee not out of the number of thy seruants but remember ô Sonne of God how thou hast redeemed mee with thy pretious blood Receaue mee into glorie and that in thy mercie and goodnes because greatlie haue I wished to solemnize a passeouer with thee Oah happie daie of my desired reward Come blessed houre of blessed passage which long I haue desired and kept before mine eies What now haue the troobles and afflictions in the world hurt mee What am I the woorsse for the contempt labor and humiliation for thy name sake Thou hast bin my life and now death will be to me an aduantage and to be with thee in thy kingdome will be absolute felicitie Now praise and glorie be to thee who art the life of such as liue the hope of those which die the saluation and rest of all which trust in thee CHAP. 8. A meditation of one dead vnto the world yet aliue in Christ. TVrne awaie mine eies from regarding vanitie Oah Iesu which art the true life which neuer shall haue an ende geue mee grace that through loue of thee I may bee consumed through loue wounded through loue killed that the flesh preuaile not ouer mee I am not as yet thoroughlie dead to the world but the old man yet liueth in mee raising vp within me much contention and desires of manifold euils and making the nightes bitter and the daies tedious vnto mee Oah when will it fall out that boldlie I may saie I thought my selfe as a dead man For hee which dead is doth waie neither the praises of men nor the reproches of the malignant because he is dead Hee which touching the flesh is dead neither speaketh nor smelleth nor tasteth nor exerciseth anie worke yea he neither heareth also the vanitie of this world againe he regardeth not curious and bewtifull things enticing vnto the loue of some vile thing vpon earth And hee which is dead to the world is not in the world but in God to whome hee liueth euen as Paule to the beloued disciples doth saie yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God This man doth so speake so thinke so behold things without as though they were not For the things which are seene are temporall and vane but the things which are not seene are eternall Hether doth hee cast his eie hether doth hee hasten hether is his desire for these things doth hee labor to attaine these things is all his studie These things hee wisheth these things hee loueth these things hee seeketh these things hee sauoreth euen which are within and secret to wit great good things soueraigne and eternall things of which hee cannot thinke too often because theie are exceeding pretious and sweete and delectable and more than vtterable This man is far estranged from present things and breatheth altogether after things eternall hauing the dominion ouer the sensuall appetite For the flesh seeketh outward desireth pleasant loueth present loatheth absent flieth all sharp and bitter things which notwithstanding are good for the soule Whence it commeth that it will not suffer the spirit to be at rest but laieth before it sundrie phantasies which are scarse to be spoken and in truth not to be accompted of But hee which is endued with the grace of spirituall fortitude maie with more ease subdue the insolent motions of the flesh singing in the word of the diuine power The Lord is with mee therefore I will not feare what flesh can doo vnto mee Therefore albeit this sensualitie doth moue battell and the voice of the flesh doth secretlie murmur yet doth not the spirituall man easelie consent for greater is the force of the diuine loue which inwardlie doth comfort This man now and then so sweetlie so stronglie and so earnestlie is drawen rauished and in loue with God that scarselie hee doth see and perceaue the things about him and be heard in the world because he is not there but else-where not belowe but aloft euen with God and in God which moueth the spirit within him and erecteth and as it were carrieth it awaie in a firie chariot that at the length it maie enioie him in an happie and holie and long wished desire of his hart This man is sildome found idle abroade because his freende hath borne him awaie There quietlie and alone hee heareth his speech euen the speech of his beloued and greatlie doth reioice to heare the voice of his vnsuspected spouse Neither straight-waie doth he cas◠his phiall vpon the ground to draw◠vp vanitie but hideth the founde◠treasure and shutteth it vnder loc◠and keie that the foote of pride com◠not in and so all virtue doo perish◠For thus he saith to him Set mee a◠a seale on thine heart and so forth as i◠followeth in that place It is good to seale the heart and to keepe it least the beloued goe back and flie awaie because hee seeketh and visiteth aboue all a pure and an humble heart These things hee thinketh with himselfe and is astonished at that good thing which passeth all sense and gifts Yea still hee wandereth and enquireth diligētlie what thing is this and exceedinglie reioiceth for
and neuer turneth aside the eies of his heart from his Sauiour but continuallie seeketh the things which are pleasing in his eies For hee shall walke in peace and equitie and no stranger shall participate of his pleasure Hee shall well perceaue that his rest is good and taste how sweete his Lord God is in whome hee trusteth Hee shall set him far from outward tumults and with hartie desire expect his prosperous comming Lo thus worketh the Lord in his elected vessels Hee which commeth vnto him shall not returne emptie awaie for cheerefullie hee bestoweth vpon the thirstie drinke and bread vpon the hungrie O my God when thou enterest into the house of the soule which loueth thee wilt thou not feede her with thy milke yea and bring her sometime beside her selfe through thine abundant sweetnes to the taking of thee without anie corporall similitude O truth truth of what force and power is loue Then wilt thou speake thy word to her all secretlie and show the things that shall bee and haue bin in most happie charitie and fruition where the words of man shall no more bee heard From thenceforth thou wilt cause her no whit to doubt anie more of eternall rest and of the felowship of sancts but now by differring the token of speciall grace thou makest her the more able to hope for the things she seeth not and to despise present things which by sense shee comprehendeth O mercifull God bee mindfull of mee a poore begger euen of thy great mercie and send the true bread from heauen thy good word so full of comfort and grace CHAP. 11. 1. That all comfort and pleasures are in God 2. A praier that all people may glorifie the Lord. 3. The blessed state of good men 4. That wee are to be readie against the comming of our Sauiour Christ. ALl my bones shall saie Lord who is like vnto thee There is one and like to him there is none euen my GOD it is to whome whatsoeuer is compared is nothing My God is entirelie to be loued and a most faithfull frend which neâ—er forsaketh the soule that loueth â—im but continuallie abideth with â—er for companie And if sometime â—e hide himselfe and suffer her to be â—roobled it is not doon of him to deâ—troie but to trie her to purge her and to instruct her So that euen â—hen he forsaketh not but the more â—iselie instructeth that euerie one maie see what hee is of himselfe and how far hee is come forward in religion O my beloued thou art all faire and louelie but not to the flesh but to the minde not to the eie or sense but to the faithfull soule to him which hath a pure heart to him which is altogether addicted vnto things inuisible and spirituall So that who so desireth to be vnited to thee by a religious affection he must of necessitie mortifie in himselfe all fleshlie motions and aboue all reteine a pure conscience For thou art much displeased then when a man doth goe vnto fraile crreatures to seeke consolation And therefore thou callest me inwardlie to loue thee and thou commandest that I wait for thee for then I shall finde thee when I doo humble my selfe and wish that which thou wilt And this shall be all my felicitie euen freelie to serue thee neither dreading anie losse nor seeking anie gaine because thou allowest that soule which pure lie dooth loue Oah blessed is hee which both in life and death sticketh onlie to thee But as for mee I am far-awaie cast oftentimes from thy fauor by louing and that both inordinatelie and vndiscreetelie transitorie things But that I maie not perish with them I with all speede will returne and behold in them thy glorie and direct all my cogitations to thee wâ—rd O my Lord and God which of nothing hast made all things giue mee grace for all things to praise thy name For all power wisedome goodnes and mercie is thine thine also is euerlasting glorie and maiestie Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages Thou orderest all things both things aboue and things in earth Thou knowest all things and possessest all things nothing dooth resist or trouble thee but quietlie thou rulest the world and makest the rebellious to stoup and to serue Thou art priuie of all things which are doon in the world and before theie were doon thou knewest their endes Thou art the God both of heauen and earth the creator of things visible and inuisible the gouernor of the whole world and the disposer of the seasons O blesse thy seruants I beseech thee dispersed far and wide ouer the world yet seruing thee most religiouslie Make them constantlie to sound forth thy praise and in all places with one voice to glorifie thy name Stir vp their harts firmelie to loue thee and grante that all their enterprises maie take a good ende Oah how gratious and how good art thou to such as loue thee how sweete art thou to them which taste thee Theie which haue felt thy sweetnes knowe thereby the better how both to thinke and speake For thy sweetnes surpasseth all sweetnes and thy pleasures doo sweeten all bitternes O Lord my God holie men haue spoken and Prophets haue talked of thee All the godlie from the worlds beginning haue beleeued in thee haue serued thee haue glorified thee both with sacrifices and oblations theie haue praised and blessed thine holie name because theie haue both acknowledged thee to bee the creator and maker of the vniuersall world and also trusted in thee aboue all things Theie haue knowen thee in their visions for thou hast reuealed thy name to them and beside thee they knewe no God Theie obserued the lawe of thy commandements which thou gauest them Theie folowed not the foolish imaginations of false Gods but they worshipped thee which liuest for euer the creator of all things Theie lifted vp their voice to thee with thankesgeuing because from on high thou soundest in their eares saieng I am that I am Before mee there was no God formed neither shall there bee after mee I haue ordained the things which shall be and I forget not whatsoeuer is past This when theie heard and vnderstood theie cast the eies of their faith a far off beleeuing that God will saue vs and that he which shall come will come and will not tarie Knowing these things afore hand theie were not a litle comforted and maruelouslie astonished at the presence of the glorie to come theie fainted But afterward comming by litle and litle to themselues and with ioie beholding the power of God approching theie said Hee is euen hee is the Lord our God and wee haue none other Hee hath taken vs and hee will saue vs. Hee cannot denie himselfe
thing is but one thing I loue but one thing I require but one thing and this one thing is better to mee than all other things either in heauen or earth If thou hast founde such a good thing my counsell is that you hold and keepe it for whoâ—e sake you haue contemned all things For hauing that it shall not grieue you to want other things naie you will iudge it reason for the getting thereof that you doo both giue and suffer all things Now therefore ô my soule seeke thou after so singular and superexcellent a good thing So long as you liue in the flesh you are of necessitie to seeke because that cannot too carefullie be sought for which can at no time sufficientlie be comprehended But then shall you cesse seeking when the houre of enioieng is once come For then shal he be all in all euen he which alone is all sufficient for all and euerie man And although there too hee must be sought where he is continuallie sound yet is hee not there sought with labor as in this world but with surpassing pleasure and loue What he is in this life to the godlie it maie be declared by his manifold titles and such as haue experience of his goodnes knowe verie well how it maie be showen Notwithstanding consider what the names of God are as I haue learned them in the schoole of experience I will recite a few but the grace of his spirit maie put you in minde of manie mo beside Lo hee is a spouse to such as loue but to such as still serue him in feare a dreadfull Lord Hee is a father to good children but to the obstinatelie wicked a seueare iudge To the sick he is a physition and to the whole wholesome foode To the ignorant a teacher and to the obedient an euerlasting Sauiour Hee is the waie for beginners the truth for proceeders the life for the absolute performers of his holie will Hee is the hope of repenters and a surpassing comforter of the righteous Hee is a crowne for the humble and a punishment for the proude In darkenes hee is a light and in the night a lanterne Hee giueth medicine to the diseased soules and much wine of comfort to the sorowfull With such as stand to the battell hee standeth with such as proceede in their iornie he walketh with such as feruentlie make haste hee runneth with such as mount in diuine contemplation he flieth Doo you praie hee is present with you Doo you reade hee is talking with you Doo you meditate hee is still with you One and the same God worketh in all these things showing himselfe to euerie one euen as hee thinketh good in his words there is no fault and his works are past finding out For great and vnsearchable are his iudgements and no man is tâ— saie vnto him whie doost thou soâ— or whie doost thou chuse this maâ— rather than that man It is follie for a man to reason aâ—gainst the almightie and all the will of Adams children is vane anâ— to no purpose How like you these things and how dooth God sauor vnto you S. Hee seemeth sweete vnto mee neither am I offended at his works Hee is righteous and who can rebuke him of ill dealing Hee that so dooth dooth set himselfe against God and shal be reprooued of his irreprehensible light M. But what thou hast heard what is it in his presence scarse vndoubtedlie so much as a sparcle without that which is hidden within Aske you what that is I must saie I knowe it not it is altogether aboue my capacitie euen as a certaine cloude far off whose beginning and ende are vnknowen And therefore meditate rather and thinke more often vpon the base humanitie of Iesus and doo not mount vp too high least of his glorious maiestie you be confounded But forsomuch as burning loue dooth now and then forget all reuerence and feare you are in that respect the more to be borne withall if sometime being extreemelie set on fire with the loue of Iesus you doo consider not onlie how hee cried in the manger and how hee hanged vpon the crosse but also how hee raigneth nowe in heauen all gloriouslie and ruleth all things vnder heauen most wonderfullie S. O most louelie Iesu gladlie doo I folow thee in earth but more gladlie would I folow thee vnto heauen Where my treasure is there would mine hart be also Oah thou art my treasure thou which art at the right hand of the father art deerer to mee than anie creature For my sake thou wast incarnate for my sake thou wast eleuate Thou diddest leaue thy selfe an example vpon earth thou keepest thy selfe for a reward in the heauens Vpon thee therefore mine eies are fixed and after thee doo my feete trace To thee mine hart saith my face seeketh thee ô Lord I will continualie seeke thy face O Lord how long wilt thou hide the sight of thy glorie Whie hiâ— est thou thy face and takest mee for thine enemie Thou knowest right well my mind wil be distracted hether and thâ—ther and be diuerslie beate vntill it be fast ioined to thee her freende in the heauens For the force of loue knoweth not how to be quiet but vnceâ—santlie maketh enquirie of her louer sendeth forth messengers and dobleth praiers neither doth it so giue ouer because loue will altogether possesse that which it desireth Therefore drawe mee that I maie begin zelouslie to run after thee I had neede to be drawen and with great force to be drawen For vnlesse thou drawe none wil come none will folow because euerie one is naturallie inclined to himselfe-ward But if thou once drawe lo then I doo hasten then I run then I waxe hot But if thou doo not drawe I doo neither run nor seeke yea scarse haue I anie desire at all to folowe If thou reach out thine hand I doo run so much the more swiftlie as thou forceablie doost drawe This is the voice of my louer drawing And when I am â—ift vp from the earth I will drawe all men vnto mee O sweete Iesu drawe mee after thee and then not I onlie but all shal run after thee by the sauor of thine ointments First therefore drawe mee after thee then let others folow seeing an example of good life But that we maie not waxe proude it is good that we marke this withall howe that wee began to run not through our owne strength but by the sauor of thine ointments This is the heauenlie drawing without which no man can go forward no not so much as begin as likewise thou didest saie No man can come vnto mee except my father drawe him So that whome the father draweth he foloweth thee and forsaketh himselfe He seemed to be well drawen that said Master I will folow thee
whether soeuer thou goest But euerie one hath not the gift to be so affected neither is it a weake stomach that can so readelie folowe thee vnto all things M. What let hast hou ô my soule that thou doost not forsake all for Iesus sake Whie so vnwillinglie doo you depart from vane and transitorie things What good can these worldlie things doo you Behold while you passe by mortall things and visible creatures willing to delight your self in them you forget better things While you so doo you seuer your selfe from the soueraigne good thing and turne your minde from the true blessed and eternall life And therefore you shall continue miserable and wretched full of griefe and vexation For turne your selfe on which side you will and you shall finde matter of continuall sorow and much tediousnes vntill you turne againe vnto thy creator because he is thy peace and secure quietnes But if thou neither make staie in earthlie things nor fasten thy foote in the mire but rather beholde and worship in the glasse of worldlie creatures not the figure which passeth awaie but him whose image and superscription it is blessed art thou and shalt neuer die For when thou seekest after these visible things not to enioie them but beholdest them to the ende to glorifie the name of thy creatour by making to thy selfe of his best and basest woorkes a kinde of ladder wherewithall thou maist ascend thou shalt be deliuered so from the filthie bowels of this world and thoroughlie bee coopled to thy desired ende which is aboue all things the blessed God for euer and euer CHAP. 13. 1. How and when the soule and God are vnited together 2. The miserie where God is not present MY Soule cleaueth vnto thee O my God the true comforter thou knowest how thou likest me well and how I take pleasure dailie to be talking with thee secretlie alone But where maie I seeke thee if happelie I do misse thee for an hour who shall bring mee vnto thee Thou art God aboue all things and I beneath all things a miserable man Thou art in heauen and I in the world Thou art most high but I am poore and a begger Who euer hath measured the distance betweene heauen and earth Far asunder be theie but farder art thou fro mee ô God Who therefore shall vnite mee to thee either thou must doo it or none can But if thou wilt it maie speedelie be doon And thou knowest how of my selfe I maie easelie fall but that I doo stand and go forward it is of thy goodnes So that my soule dependeth vpon the grace of thy spirit and of the infusion of thy speciall fauor I◠thou command it shall be lifted vp from earth but if thou turne awaie thy face it shall be greatlie troobled But of thy woonted fauor and mercie receaue mee and let thy right hand guide mee wonderfullie vnto thee Heare this all yee people giue eare all yee that dwell in the world for it is an easie thing with God to bring it to passe as it is written that the rich and poore maie be all one I am poore and lack manie things but this my God is rich and wanteth nothing And although no great experience yet I haue an vndoubted testimonie to prooue that the soule through grace maie be vnited to God My beloued is mine saith he and I am his he feedeth among the lilies This is the testimonie of the frende and his dearling of the bridegroome and the spouse and it is a verie fit and a strong testimonie of the holie lawe The next is like to this I will that theie all maie be one as thou ô father art in mee and I in thee Behold the notable testimonies of two bookes whereby it plainelie appeareth that the soule through speciall grace from aboue maie bee linked familiarlie vnto God And although it rarelie come so to passe yet is it deerelie to be accompted of and not altogether vnknowen to the louer And againe though verie hardlie yet may it fall out The soule therefore so conioined to God let no man dare to separat or to trooble If thou doost woonder at this maruelous vnion woonder thou and maruell at the excellencie of his goodnes and at the strange and singular vniting of the humane bodie to his Godhead Hee maie doo what he will which onlie dooth great woonders If thou lookest for merits you shall finde it is his good pleasure to haue it so O sweete societie with Christ and vnder the wings of Christ O gratious coniunction full of loue and sweetenes of the holie Ghoste the which is perceaued better than vttered These things belong vnto the soule that is estranged from all worldlie matters and is not delighted with this present life but is carried aloft in godlie meditation The more the louer knoweth this the more am I ignorant Notwithstanding gladlie would I bee in presence when the deuout soule is in such an happie case And then is she so when the spouse and she is together at the noone daie But then it fareth ill with her and that verie ill too if it happen that Iesus bee awaie if the perfumes of grace run not from aboue if no pleasure she take in the holie Bible if it bee irksome for her to continue in praier and godlie meditation if the cloudes of the hart be so thick and hurtfull cogitations doo so preuaile that theie cannot be restrained but do labor to ouerwhelme in a manner all the former good things O Lord God whie doost thou so What plaie is this O blessed Iesus what meane you heereby If it were not offensiue to thine honor I could wish to haue farther communication betweene thee and thy beloued Forsomuch as she is so greatlie desirous of thy gratious presence whereby she may be nourished with chaste delightes I doo much muse whie sometime you suffer her to fit so desolate Thou passest by and goest thy waie as though she had no desire vnto thee But she is alone all pensiue For thus she saith in effect With my soule haue I desired thee in the night It is night with her when thou the true light art not present So that she praieth for thy presence that the darkenes of sinne comprehend her not For she feeleth manifold discommodities when thy gratious visitation is taken from her For had she not suffered somewhat she had neuer so earnestlie cried vnto thee Another also which was before said cried thus My soule cleaueth vnto thee But I thinke no trouble is or seemeth so troublesome to her as the want of thy presence And no maruell if through this want the waieward soule doo languish awaie in sorow For thou art verie hardlie found at anie time and being found she reioiceth at thy returne hoping to spend the daie merelie with thee but thinking little of thy departure she suspecteth no aduersitie to come But handling another matter secretlie
ouer mine hart which forthwith driueth out the cloudes of all wicked cogitations whereby I doo enioie the long desired cleerenes of God his light Because no vncleane nor filthie thing can stand where he entereth in for hee loueth puritie and is the ingraffer of the same so that of necessitie all satanicall illusion together with the pomps of this world must be packing Therefore my passions and tentations which I did endure being supprised I began both the more euidentlie to knowe and the more earnestlie to loue and the more hartelie to praise him for vouchsafing at the length to beate back the damned crewe of the wicked from assailing mee For theie doo disturbe my peace and sin dooth so shut vp my mouth that I am ashamed to speake vnto my welbeloued But in vaine doo theie bend themselues against his power and wisedome because euen in a moment he can slide downe into mine hart and poure in secretlie good motions that I maie both contemne and vtterlie neglect all their priuie whisperings O my faithfull and all happie freend take mee so vnto thee whensoeuer thou shalt perceaue mine affections to be either pressed downe at anie time with the waight of sin or to be held with vnnecessarie busines that I maie not wander far astraie from thee after the swarme of wicked cogitations and so ouerhastelie be depriued of thy grace without which I shall not be able to enioie thy freendship For thou art my Lord and my God which by thy word doost both heale and sanctifie which holdest my soule in life and sufferest not my feete to slip but deliuerest mee from the euill daie and from the snares of death Oah how manie haue bin cast off and vtterlie perished that haue bin much more innocent than I am And therefore my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within mee blesse his holie Name My soule I saie praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits It is all too little and far vnsufficient whatsoeuer thou shalt either thinke or speake or promise to his praise For hee exceedeth all praise and is much sweeter than anie musick Wherefore my soule cleaueth to thee alone and loueth thee aboue all other gifts notwithstanding it be exceedinglie beutifull and sweete which of meere good will thou hast sent vnto mee For thou alone art the spouse as for all things else theie are gifts and arguments of loue In steed of thee I will not loue them neither will I beleeue that anie thing or all things in the world can suffice mee if I haue not thee for in so dooing I maie perchance forgoe thee with them too Thou giuest me leaue to vse manie things for thy sake but I maie not enioie so much as one thing in thy steed And therefore ô Christ my sweete spouse I haue preferred thee afore all other things and my care hath bin aboue all things to loue thee Wherefore grant that blessedlie I maie enioie thee and in that vnion euerlastinglie to triumph in happines together with thee But how far am I come I haue lengthened my speech more than perhaps you would But pardon me good freend For I haue bin carried aloft through the loue of mine especiall and onlie freend and would to God it would please him still to lift vp both mee and you too in contemplation Let him prouide an heauenlie ascension but let vs not keepe a base going downe M. Aske you mee whether I am forsaken at anie time of my beloued S. Yea I saie so M. But how doo you behaue your selfe in trooble S. I take all things as patientlie as I can expecting his comming Naturalie I am grieued but as touching my spirit I haue inward patience that my griefe prooue not incurable For I forget not how hee that loueth liueth in paine I liue by faith I beleeue the holie Scriptures I giue credit to the words of comfort And although I endure affliction yet I doubt not neither in deede ought I to doubt but that God when it pleaseth him can send mee ease For true and to be credited are those woordes which are declared Because the verie sancts themselues haue bin exercised in manie and proued in like things Nature continuallie dooth wish for quietnes and seeketh to be comforted in some thing but the spirit notwithstanding is readie to sustaine whatsoeuer the wil of God is I should endure If therefore I shall be lesse zelous and lesse willing to doo good my punishment shall be the more greuous Though he slaie me saith the wiseman yet will I trust in him If I loue virtues patience is a great virtue therefore let patience euermore bee retained For the more praise we purchase the more paines we take in bringing things to passe And that our virtue maie be proued and made the more glorious we are commonlie exercised by contrarie euents Therefore whensoeuer anie such triall shal happen be not out of hart neither fall downe but reteine thou patience and extoll the righteousnes of God The Lord is not so hard and pittilesse that he can suffer you to abide long vncomforted Onlie haue a care that you neither lament immoderatlie nor yet murmur against the righteous and iust God because you are forsaken least the wicked spirit doo send vnto you more greeuous tentations of your faith whereby being ouerfearefull you shall extreemelie bee afflicted Wherefore beare a little and suppresse your sorowe although the griefe both of your hart and bodie be neuer so great Abide constant in that good purpose which at the first you intended to keepe For it is good especiallie at such an extremitie to cast all confidence vpon the beloued Looke thou patientlie for God his heauenlie comfort so shall you speedelie perceaue a speciall fauor and sight of God Lo you haue a faithfull witnesse saieng I waited patientlie for the Lord and hee inclined vnto mee and heard my crie And that in your neede you maie finde the like fauor I doo wish you both earnestlie to praie your selfe and desire others to praie for you also and so commit your selfe wholie and is priuie vnto the things to come Euen I the Lord which haue doon all things in measure number and weight I am the creator both of heauen and earth the ruler of this world the knower of hidden things the reuealer of secrets the possessor of the whole world and the beholder of the causes of all particulars I am God and change not who haue continuallie with me the causes of all changes in the world I am God the almightie whose power is inuincible I am God the most high whose highnes can not bee attained I am God the most righteous whose beeing can not be conceaued I am for my presence euerie-where and yet no where to be seene I am the most spirituall and farthest from the senses of man I
zelous and the more carefull in saieng thou Christ art my Sauior both in mine hart and with my mouth in companie and in my chamber and in the garden and in the field and in all places wheresoeuer I shall bee And now what more shall I aske of thee ô Christ my Sauior What is better or more profitable or more necessarie especiallie for mee a great sinner than to finde fauor in thy sight ô Christ my Sauior And therefore it is that I haue desired and still do craue euen that by thine intercession and meanes I maie haue the grace of God thy Father who as both thy selfe hast said and the Apostle doth witnesse hast all power giuen thee both in heauen and earth There is no praier more welcome to thee than this is nor anie thing more necessarie for mee than the grace and fauor of God If I haue the grace of God whatsoeuer else I do wante I am rich enough For what is all mine endeuoring if I lâ—ck that Againe what can I not doo if I be assisted and holpen thereby I see that manie and diuers are my wicked affections but yet against all passions the grace of God is a most effectuall medicine and if once it come it will mitigate them all I doo also stand in neede of spirituall wisedome and knowledge but the grace of God is a most excellent teacher and instructor of heauenlie knowledge and is able euen suddenlie to instruct mee in whatsoeuer things are necessarie vnto saluacion For to require more than is necessarie or to desire to vnderstand more than is lawfull to be knowen is against the will of God whose pleasure is that wee should be humbled vnder his hand and contented with his grace Wherefore obteine this grace for mee ô Christ which is so noble and pretious that in deed I ought neither to desire or craue any other thing than grace for grace CHAP. 24. A Praier for comfort vnto Iesus Christ. GRace is poured into thy lips Oah my Lord I beseeche thee at the length now vouchsafe to speake vnto mee ô Christ. Open thy mouth in thine owne name who art full of all spirituall graces L. I am the fountaine of mercie full of loue and sweetnes I am the ladder for sinners the hope and pardon of the guiltie I am the comfort of the sorowfull and the speciall ioie of all sanctes Come vnto mee so manie as loue mee and fill your selues at the breasts of my comfort because I am good and mercifull to all which crie vnto mee Come vnto mee both righteous and sinners I will sue vnto the Father for you I will entreate him to bee good vnto you and to fill you with the holie Ghost I call euerie one I looke for all I desire to haue all to come vnto me I despise no sinner but with the angels in heauen I reioice exceedinglie ouer that sinner which repenteth and so commeth into the fauor of God for no one drop of my blood which I shed for the world is in vane Therefore come vnto mee yee sonnes of men consider and behold my zeale for you vnto God my Father Lo I haue taken his wrath vpon my selfe I haue borne his displesure yea and continuallie doo I make supplication for you vnto him whome you knowe right well you haue greeuouslie offended Turne then and approch repent and of my woord you shall haue pardon For lo I stand betweene heauen and earth betweene God and sinners and that this world perish not I obteine through my praiers Wherefore abuse not my goodnes and mercie but beware of offending least when you litle thinke thereof indignation be powred vpon you and intolerable vengeance I doo forewarne you as children I beseech you as freends be you perfect as your heauenlie Father is perfect Forget not mee who haue bin and am and will be mindfull of you For I do both pittie such as are in miserie and I do entreate for those which crie vnto mee S. O gratious speech and full of all comforte O heauenlie voice sweetelie dropping froÌ„ heauen to the comforting of sinners reioicing of the righteous O celestiall musick howe sweetelie doost thou resounde in a desperate conscience Whence is it that the Sauior of mankinde will thus talke with mee Blessed art thou ô Christe and blessed are the wordes of thy mouth For honie is vnder thy tongue and the sauor of thy speech excelleth all sweetenes My soule was mollefied so soone as thou spakest ô Christ. Behold no sooner did thy voice sounde in mine eares but my soule within did spring for ioie For my spirit reuiued within mee and all mine entralls were filled with newe comforte because good and ioiefull thinges are tolde mee this daie by you I was dolefull but now I am iocund because of your wordes For your voice is sweete in mine eares I was grieued and desolate but now I am reuiued and made merrie For thou hast sent thine hande from on hie and touched mee whereby of weake I am become strong Scarse could I speake but now I haue a good minde to sing and to praise thee highlie I was loth to liue and now I am willing to die because I haue thee Christ for mine aduocate with the Father to whose mercie I commend my selfe euen from this time for euer and euer For since first you began to speake vnto the harte of thy desolate orphane I haue bin changed into a better state and greatlie comforted in my minde I was almost at the doore of desperation but thy comfort came and lifted mee vp with these woordes L. What is the matter Sonne and who are they which would hurt thee Feare not I will see vnto thee my sonne I doo liue with God my Father and I sit at his right hand beeing a faithfull hie Priest and an intercessor for thy sinns In mee thou shouldest repose thy trust because I doo both giue life and destroie death I was incarnate of a virgine in time but of my Father begotten before all times and when the fulnes of time came I suffered for mans saluation Lo I am the hope and comfort of the godlie and by mee is faith and victorie attained And therefore let neither mee nor these things be out of thy minde and thou wilt not feare anie dartes of Satan S. Oah happie houre ô blessed state that my Lord and Sauior will vouchsafe to comfort on this wise my trubled hart Oah that I might still heare thy so comfortable words for greatlie doo theie inflame and moue mee and touch mee euen at the verie harte O blessed Christ thou neuer cessest to send forth the sweete milke of heauenlie consolation For by reason of the abundance of thy grace thou canst not denie fauor to such as craue the same at thine hands yet often thou showest much mercie euen to the verie sinner O Christ thou excellest in pittifulnes in
things both in heauen and in earth but small things in thine eies SOVLE Surelie I take all things but for trifles MAN What then seekest thou Whome would you haue without these And where will you finde him if not in these things Hath he either name or place or habitation to be sought by Where is the place where his honor dwelleth of which in a certaine psalme thou sangest saying O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honor dwelleth Make answere I praie thee For if thou canst show mee him I will go with thee and wee will seeke him together yea and he shall be thy God and my God and wee shall be full happie when wee haue found him and hold him SOVLE What aske you this at mine hands Or whie so curiouslie do you enquire of this matter of me Thinke you I can or am able to vtter such things What though gladlie I would conceaue not yet that what through the rarenes of the thing and the deepnes of the mysterie I am restrained back What aske you mee Aske them who haue both heard and seene they are such as better can describe him whome you seeke But rather aske him that knoweth all things For he it is of whome we speake that both best can tell you who himselfe is yea and best declare the place of his owne aboade Euen he it is and none other which teacheth man knowledge and giueth his grace also to the humble Make recourse vnto him which reuealeth himselfe when hee will and to whome he will neither is there anie beside him that can open Hee alone can reueale to thee what the ioie is of such as loue him and that far more excellentlie than I can tell you MAN But why speake you on this wise ô holie and humble Soule Thinke not that I would know that of you which neither ought to bee knowen nor can bee vttered Keep your secret to your selfe let your doore still abide shut vpon you let the seale of faith remaine vncancelled neither let the vale for me bee remoued from the sanctuarie Eate you holie bread by your selfe in the chappell go in into the tabernacle of your house ascend into the vpper parlor enter into the cellar of the eternall king or which is more noble and soundeth more sweetlie euen into the bride-chamber of your celestiall spouse I know it is written It is not good to take the childrens bread and to cast it to whelps I know this I saie and haue read it but marke againe what followeth and take pittie vpon me according to the words of her that said The whelpes doo eate of the â—romms which fall from their maisters table And therefore hide not that fro mee which I demaund but of the greatnes of your inward pleasures poure-out euen a sparcle of the firie loue Giue me one small drop of pretious wine send forth some little sauour of the best ointment whose chiefest part and louelie comâ—ort is well and vsuallie knowne to thee that I also maie taste thereof Whie linger you Satisfie my desire and open the doore to a freend now at this third knock O beloued speake of the welbeloued let not mee bee neglected If you cannot describe him rightlie as he is yet speake of him so well as you can For indeed as he is who is able to describe him Yea who is able to conceaue the describer Therefore if not as in himselfe he is yet tell me what thou thinkest of him If not what to himselfe yet vtter out how good hee hath bin to thee For who euer shall search forth what he is in himselfe Thou wilt neuer doo it because thou hast plainlie confessed and not denied how speaking of him Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it Whether shall I goe from thy Spirit If then thou art not able to knowe thine owne spirit which the creator and quickner of all spirits hath made how at anie time wilt thou knowe him which is vncreated Did not this make thee all amazed to saie O Lord who is like vnto thee Notwithstanding of all frendship by some similitude describe him whose essence thou hast not yet attained vnto Neither is it for you to denie to showe him in part whome you thinke can not wholie bee reuealed S. I must needs saie you are too curious and importune vpon mee Thou searchest all my priuities and lettest in thine hand into the secrets of my chamber I sent thee vnto him and commest thou againe vnto mee Seeke you mee or him But I praie you of what spirit art thou Bee still I beseech thee and trouble mee not For whome thou seekest hee is aboue mee M. But can hee that seeketh after God so easelie giue ouer Protract not to speake for you maie comfort mee forth-with How long will you keepe mee in suspense What doo you saie and vnsaie As I liue I will not giue ouer except you blesse mee For I compt it a blessing if thou showe mee my God Now therefore if thou hast seene him tell mee plainlie and I will take him vpon my shoulders S. I knowe thou hast a great desire and a loue vnto the creator But a great thing is it which you require at mine hands and such a thing as I am in doubt whether it maie be done or no. Hee whome thou seekest knoweth it right well for it is not in mee to let thee know so much Your demaund seemeth vnto mee to be like that of the Spouse which in the Songs did saie Show mee ô thou whome my soule loueth where thou feedest Wilt thou then learne of me who this is or what good hee hath done with mee Doubtlesse it is not in mee to show you But you are not content neither his greatnes who exceedeth the heauens can deterre you nor my weakenes which in his eies am nothing make you to desist Whie hast thou laid this burden vpon mee I am not able to tell thee vntill I goe into the sanctuarie of God and vnderstand the same Whie are you so desirous to know that which maie not be vttered M. And will you not Oh how faine would I bee instructed For those things wee are most earnest to know which the most hardlie maie bee reuealed Notwithstanding once againe I praie you be not so hard as altogether to be silent Thinke not that forthwith I will vtter what you shall saie vnto our enemies I will keepe your saieng as a friend yea as a verie friend ought to doo You maie boldlie tell mee your mind secretlie Lo wee two be heere alone neither I with lightnes nor you with arrogancie are delighted but in him which hath giuen vs vnderstanding euen of him will wee speake And if happelie he come while we are talking let vs giue place and let him be betweene vs. If he vouchsafe