in the great Multitude which no Apoc. 7. 9. man could number of all Nations Tribes and Peoples and Tongues which are to be signed with thy Marke and to be conducted Apoc. 7. 17 to the Fountaine of liuing Waters O Lord of infinite Maiestie let the petition of thy seruant be accepted in thy sight and graunt that this my King and his Seed may be numbred amongst that Seed to which thou promised I will put his Seed for euer and Ps 88. 30. his Throne as the dayes of Heauen Thou art faithfull deare Lord and iust and right without any iniquitie and hast promised That whosoeuer shall 1. King 2. 30. glorifie thee thou wilt glorifie him and they that contemne thee shal be base Graunt deare Lord that this my King Queene and Prince may so glorifie thee in all their actions and deeds that thou mayest glorifie them vpon Earth and in Heauen eternally Most mercifull Lord I beseech thy infinite Goodnesse so to illuminate the hearts of all sinners that they may come to doe heartie penance for their sinnes and seeke to loue thee with all their hearts Graunt deare Lord for the Passion of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ that all those Schismatikes and Heretikes who in effect defend that thou hast fayled in maintaining thy Oath and Promises to Abraham the Prophets and Patriarkes for many hundred yeares may see their errors and returne vnto our Catholike Church in which are abundantly fulfilled all thy Oathes and Promises Forgiue sweet Sauiour all those who persecute me and graunt that they may come so to loue thee in this life that after death they may for euer enioy thee in Heauen I beseech thee my Lord by the bowels of thy infinite mercie that all such as seeke after Ambition and earthly Dignities may turne all their Affections vpon thee who art their onely true felicitie Graunt deare Lord that I may rather die then not heartily loue and pray for my seuerest Persecutors Deare Lord for thy infinite mercies I beseech thee so to illuminate the hearts of all the Protestant English Clergie our deare Countreymen that they may see thy Oathes and Promises fulfilled in our Catholike Church and returne vnto it with all their hearts CHAP. XIIII Of the wretchednesse and miseries into which those fall who liue in breach of the Commandements of God and doe beleeue that it is not necessarie or impossible to keepe them HAuing shewed thee deare Reader that it is not possible for thee euer to be happie or find any true Content Ease or Rest vnlesse thou keepe the Commaundements of God and also hauing set downe vnto thee the meanes by which thou mayest easily keepe them Now it resteth to set downe the miseries and wretchednesse into which those fall who liue in breach of them and esteeme it a thing impossible for to keepe them that either for the loue of thine owne good and content or else for feare of thy falling into miseries torments thou mayest be woon to keepe them zealously so be happy which is that I heartily wish vnto thee First those who doe not loue God with all their hearts and keepe his Commaundements are spirituall Idolaters and doe liue in spirituall Idolatrie For our Sauiour explicating of the first Commaundement which is made against Idolatrie and the hauing of Exod. 20. 1. strange Gods sayth Thou shalt Mat. 22. 37. loue the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soule and with thy whole mind This is the greatest and the first Commandement sayth our Sauiour So if thou wilt beleeue our Sauiour himselfe thou must confesse that those who doe not loue God with their whole hearts and keepe his Commandements are Idolaters And the part of Idolaters Apoc. 21. 8. saith S. Iohn shal be in the Poole burning with fire and Brimstone An Idoll of it selfe is not 1. Cor. 10. 19. any thing as witnesseth Saint Iohn but the loue affection which any one beareth to any creature imagination or conceit more then to God contrarie to the first Cōmandement whereupon couetous men are called Idolaters because that Col. 3. 5. they loue Gold and Riches more then God and lasciuious Men or Gluttons are said Phil. 3. 19. to make their bellies their God And according to this our Sauiour sayth You cannot Mat. 6. 24. serue God and Mammon God will haue all thy heart and loue or none Whereupon S. Iohn sayth Euery one that In his 2. Epist Ver. 9. reuolteth and persisteth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God that is hath no true God but is an Idolater Againe He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar Whereupon it commeth to passe that howsoeuer these who thinke it impossible to keepe the Commaundements of God seeme to adore laud and praise God and haue the Lord the God alwaies in their mouths sing Geneua Psalms in their Congregations yet they doe neither serue their God nor acknowledge him in their words or song but commit spirituall Idolatrie apprehending vnder these termes the Lord the God c. such a God as they haue feigned and not such a God as he is indeed All Heathen and Cicero de Leg. li. 1. Pagan people that euer were haue acknowledged a God and haue sung songs in praise but they did not acknowledge him to be as he is but as they feigned him to be as those doe who affirme that they are assured to be saued without keeping the Commandements of God confesse that there is a God a Trinitie c. but doe not confesse him to be such a God as he is that is a God who curseth all these who decline from his Commandements Psal 118. according to his Mat. 25. word but such a God Trinitie as they haue feygned that is to say a God which will admit and receiue into Heauen filthie soules stained with Pride Idolatrie Fornication Couetousnesse c. when there is no such God but onely in their imaginations as witnesseth Saint Paul saying Doe not erre neither ◠Cor. 6. Fornicators nor seruers of Idols nor Adulterers nor the Effeminate nor the Lyers with mankinde nor Theeues nor the Couetous nor Drunkards nor Raylers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God For he that hath done iniurie shal Col. 3. 25. receiue that which he hath done vniustly and there is no acception of Persons with God There shall Apoc. 22. not enter into Heauen saith S. Iohn any vncleane thing or that doth abhomination or maketh a lye Whereby is manifest that all those who do liue in the breach of the Commandements of God do beleeue that either it is not necessary or else that it is impossible to keepe them are spirituall Idolaters and doe adore and serue strange Gods in their soules and spirits contrary to the first Commandement as it is also manifest to experience for aske of any one of these
and you that haue no siluer make hast buy and eate come buy without siluer or without any exchange wine and milke why bestow you siluer not for bread Boetius li. 2. Pro. 4. and your labour and not for satietie O mortall men why seeke you for your happinesse abroad which is placed within your selues Hearing heare you me Isa 55. and eate that which is good and your soules shall bee delighted with fatnesse with content vpon Earth and happinesse for all eternitie in Heauen Blessed is the man whose will Ps 1. is in the Law of our Lord and in his Law shall meditate day and night all things whatsoeuer he shall doe shall prosper To them that loue God all Rom. 8. 28. things cooperate vnto good to such as according to purpose are called to bee Saints Loue thou God Almightie with thy whole heart and thy Neighbour for Gods sake as thy selfe and all things will be pleasing all things delightfull all things profitable all things that to thee which thou wouldest desire or wish in Charitie or the loue of God and our Neighbour is satisfied and filled all our affections Charitie Col. 3. 14. is the bond of perfection which comprehendeth in it all other vertues Charitie 1. Cor. 13. 4. is patient is benigne Charitie enuieth not dealeth not peruersly is not puffed vp is not ambitious seeketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh no euill reioiceth not vpon iniquitie but reioiceth with the truth suffereth all things beleeueth all things Charitie 1. Tim. 4. 8. neuer falleth away is profitable to all things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that to come Whereupon Saint Augustine saith The Apostle Paul Tract 8. in Ioan. initio when against the workes of the flesh hee would commend the fruits of the spirit put Charitie as head saying the fruits of the spirit is Charitie and then putteth the rest in order as rising from this head and bound to it which are Ioy Peace Longanimitie Benignitie Goodnesse Faith Mildnesse Continence Chastitie Which the Saint shewing to be true by experience addeth For who doth well reioice but he who loueth some good wherein he may reioice who hath any true friendship or peace with any but with him whom he sincerely loueth who deth long perseuere in doing good workes vnlesse he be hot in louing who is benigne but he that loueth those whom hee may helpe who is good vnlesse hee bee made by louing who is faithfull to saluation but by that faith which worketh by loue who is courageously meeke but whom loue doth moderate who doth abstaine from that which may make him filthie but hee that loueth something by which hee may be honested Worthily therefore doth our good Master so often commend Loue as though it were onely to be commended without the which other goods can nothing profite vs and which cannot bee had without other goods wherewith a man is to bee made good so Saint Augustine And according to these words of Saint Augustine are the words of Saint Paul saying Circumcision is nothing and Prepuce is nothing 1. Cor. 7. 19. but the obseruation of the Commaundements of God Againe In Christ Iesu neither Gal. 5. 5. Circumcision auaileth ought nor Prepuce but Faith that worketh by Charitie Againe Thes 3. 12. Our Lord multiplie you and make your Charitie abound one towards another and towards all men as we also in you to confirme your hearts without blame in holinesse before God and our Father in the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints Who when hee shall come to Iudgement if wee will beleeue himselfe shall condemne to euerlasting paines all those who wanted Charitie towards their Neighbours and haue broken this Precept Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thy selfe Iewes Gentiles and Heretikes who doe not beleeue the Oathes of God and the Faith planted by our Lord are alreadie Ioh. 3. 18. iudged because they doe not beleeue in the Name of the onely Sonne of God And shall arise onely to receiue their finall doome and damnation with such Catholikes as had Faith but wanted Charitie To feede Mat. 25. the hungrie giue drinke to the thirstie harbour the stranger couer the naked visit the sicke c. These for all their faith if we will beleeue the Iudge himselfe shall goe into punishment euerlasting which was prepared for the Diuell and his Angels But the Iust such as feede the hungry giue drinke to the thirstie c. shall goe into life euerlasting according to the Prophecies Our Lord Ps 144. keepeth all that loue him and he will destroy all sinners Whereupon S. Paul sayth That the 1. Tim. 1. 5. end of the Precept is Charitie from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained From a pure Heart according to the words of our Lord Happie are the cleane of Mat. 5. 8. heart for they shall see God and a good Conscience according to the words of S. Peter With modestie and feare 1. Pet. 3. 15. hauing a good Conscience that in that which they speake euill of you they may be confounded which calumniate your good conuersation in Christ A Faith not fained not such a Faith as Protestants haue who faine that they are assured to be saued without keeping the Commaundements of God when neither the Apostles nor Prophets make any mention of any such thing but a Faith founded vpon the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the Ephe. 2. 20. highest corner Stone A Faith which doth establish the Law Rom. 3. 31. a Faith conioyned to a good Conscience according to the words of S. Paul Hauing Faith 1. Tim. 1. 19. and a good Conscience which certaine repelling haue made shipwracke about the Faith Saint Augustine speaking of this definition of Charitie sayth Charitie is our fruit Tract 8. in Ioan. which the Apostle defineth of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained by this we loue one another by this wee loue God neyther should wee loue one another with true loue but by louing God For euery one doth loue his Neighbour as himselfe if hee loue God for if hee doe not loue God hee doth not loue himselfe Since all Content and Happinesse consisteth in louing of God and all other things for God hee depriueth himselfe of all true good and content who doth not loue God with all his heart as in another place the said Saint further confesseth saying Let vs heare De moâ—ib Ecc. Catho O Christ what end or rest of goods thou prescribest vnto vs that is without all controuersie the end or rest to which thou commandest vs to encline vnto with all loue Thou sayest thou shalt loue the Lord thy God from thy whole Mat. 22. 37. heart and with thy whole soule and with thy whole mind Thither we are altogether to tend to
to eate of the tree Apoc. 7. â—7 of life which is in the Paradise of my God And the Lamb shall conduct them to the liuing Fountaines of Waters Tenthly their Touch and whole Bodie shal be delighted with delitious Rayment And I saw saith S. Iohn a Apoc 7. 9. great multitude which no man could number in the sight of the Lamb clothed in white Apoc. 19. 7. Robes for the mariage of the Lamb is come his wife hath prepared her selfe And it was giuen to her that she clothe her selfe with silke glittering and White for the Silke are the Iustifications of the Saints Those who lose their liues for the loue of God and innocencie of his Law and othes made to the Prophets shall be crowned with Crownes of glory according to the Scriptures saying Be Apoc. 2. faithfull vntill Death and I will giue thee the Crowne of Life and also they shall for euer beare Palmes of victorie and triumph ouer their Persecutors in their hands as S. Iohn witnesseth saying I saw a great multitude which no man could number standing Apoc. 7. 9. before the Throne and in the sight of the Lamb clothed in white robes Palmes in their hands c. These are they which come out of great tribulation and haue washed their robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe And Virgins who die in Charitie shall sing a Song which none else in Heauen shall sing but they and also they shall accompany our Sauiour wheresoeuer he shall goe according to the words of S. Iohn saying I heard a voice from Apoc. 1â— Heauen and the voice which I heard was as of Harpers harping on their Harpes and they sung as it were a new Song before the Seate of God c. and none could sing the Song but those These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he shall goe Eleuenthly the Phantasies of the Charitable shall be delighted with beautifull formes of glorious Bodies according to the words of Saint Paul Now I know 1. Cor. â—3 12. in part but then I shall know as also I am knowne Twelfthly their Memorie shall be pleased with a forgetfulnesse of all Disgustes and Discontents whatsoeuer and with an easie Remembrance of all thinges which belong vnto their Happinesse which shall be easie for that in Heauen there shall be no more Was or Shall be or this Past or To come to be troubled with searching for them in the Memorie but Present for euer and altogether an Eternall Felicitie and Life Mat. 25. euerlasting which is as Boetius sayth a perfit possession Boet. li. 5. Pro. 6. altogether of an endlesse Life The Thirteenth Their Vnderstandings shall be delighted with Diuine Wisedome Vnderstanding Counsell Knowledge c. according to the words of Saint Peter saying If you 1. Pet. 4. be reuiled in the Name of Christ you shall be blessed because the Spirit which is his shall rest vpon you which is as the Prophet Isay sayth the Spirit of Isa 11. Wisdome and Vnderstanding the Spirit of Counsell and Strength the Spirit of Knowledge and Pietie and the Spirit of the Filiall feare of our Lord. The Foureteenth their Wills shall be delighted and fully satisfied and content with the enioying hauing and possessing of God Almightie who is all the good they can desire and shall be as S. Paul saith all in all the 1. Cor. 15. 25. Saints The Fifteenth their Minds and whole Man shall be fully and compleately made happy by the seeing of God Almightie whom they haue and possesse according to the words of our Sauiour saying Blessed are the cleane Mat. 5. in heart for they shall see God August epist 111. 1â—2 not as they did in this life vnder that likenesse which his will had chosen and not his nature formed But they shall see him saith S. Iohn as he is in his Diuine Nature Essence and Glory as further witnesseth S. Paul saying We see now by a glasse 1. Cor. 23. 1â— in a darke sort but then face to face This seeing of God whom they possesse all in all is as Saint Augustine saith their chiefest good for though Aug. li. trinit ca. 13. many things do concurre together to the making of vs Happy and Content Yet this seeing of God Face to Face and as he is in his glorie is the Fountaine of all good and the accomplishment and perfection of full Happinesse which our Sauiour signifieth saying This is Life euerlasting that Ioh. 17. 3. they know thee the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And the reason is for that God Almightie is onely He which is as he said I am which Exod. â— 14. am and all other thinges being by participation from his Goodnesse depending vpon his Will As it is written For thy Will they Apoc. 4. 11. were and haue beene created All other Pleasures and Contentments which are not God are farre more excellent in God himselfe then they are in themselues or in their owne natures So that take whatsoeuer true Pleasure which in this Life thou art capable to receiue either in Body or Soule and when by happie Vision thou commest to enioy God as I desire thou shouldest thou shalt enioy that same in another degree much more perfitly according to the words of the Prophet saying I shall be filled Lord Ps 16. 15. when thy glory shall appeare And hereupon it commeth to passe that the seeing and enioying of God by blessed vision as he is in himselfe is Happinesse it selfe for that whatsoeuer may truely delight either Body or Soule is there in him found altogether alwaies most perfitly euen in such sort as that it is not possible for thee to imagine wish or desire any Ioy Content or Happinesse whatsoeuer but the same is found in God in his full perfection Whereupon our Sauiour saith If you keepe my Ioh 15. 10. precepts you shall abide in my loue as I also haue kept my Fathers precepts and do abide in his loue These things I haue spoken to you that my ioy may be in you and your ioy may be filled Againe He Ioh 14. 12. that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be beloued of my Father and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe to him that is he will bestow vpon him all Goods Contentments and Happinesse that can be imagined or desired according to the words of God to Moses saying I will shew thee all good Exod. 3â— â—â— and shewed vnto him Himselfe The Sixteenth they shall be confirmed in this perfect Happie estate that they cannot but loue it and possesse it for euer so our Sauiour calleth it euerlasting life Mat. 25 46. and S. Peter calleth iâ— an eternall Kingdome where â— Pet. â— â—â— there are no Temporal Ioyes or Contentments which are no sooner had then passed But an Eternall Ease Rest Repose and Happinesse and all goods and pleasures alwayes and for euermore remayning without End Which I heartily wish vnto thee deare Reader and so conclude this our Second Part of Ease and Rest with the words of Moyses the Prophet and faithfull Seruant of our Lords humbly beseeching thee to consider That I haue Deut. 30. set before thee Life and Good and contrariwise Death and Euill That thou mayest loue our Lord thy God and walke in his Wayes and keepe his Commaundements and thou mayest liue in the Happinesse of Grace in this Life and Glorie in the other But if thy heart be auerted and thou wilt not heare and deceiued with Error thou adore strange Gods in Spirit and serue them eyther by puplike or priuate breaking of the Commandements of the true and lining God I fore-tell thee this day that thou shalt perish and the Wretchednesse and Miseries spoken of in the foureteenth Chapter of this Booke shall fall vpon thee And I call for witnesse Heauen and Earth that I haue proposed to thee Life and Death Blessing and Cursing choose therefore Life that thou mayest liue and mayest loue our Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleaue to him for he is thy life and the length of thy daies To whom be all honour and glory now and for euermore Amen FINIS IESVS MARIA IOSEPH Errata Page 1. line 18. for this manner â—ead his manner p. 7. l. 1. seeke wherein â— seeke out wherein p. 7. l. 16. as that they â— as they p. 32. l. 21. sinne and malice r. sinne of malice 49 in Chap. 6. the Faith of God planted r. the Faith planted 67. 19 aboue all the r. aboue â—he 77. 22. there hath beene r. there â—ere 78 8. hath so r. haue so 106. 16. Faith the Faith of r. Faith and the Charitie of 109. 14. foun r. founded 112. 16. necessitie be r. necessitie mâ—st be 123. 4. that r. true 139. 16. in thee r. â—n this 153. in the margent Mal. 3. 7. 203. 15. 8. Iohn r. S. Paul 205. 6. serue â—heir God r. serue God 205. 17. in praise â— in his praise 208. 2. he doth not r. he doth 244. 13. may be r. must be 245. 8. I answere r. I inferre 291. 21. thy low r. thy two l. 22. low Faunes r. two Faunes 333. 16. Mines r. Ruines 369. in the Margent Exo. 33. 397. 14. wast r. vast 417. 1. saith r. say 4â—9 2. liberalitie â— liberally
or enioy God or haue anie true content that hath anie vice or iniquitie in his soule as S. Paul sayth If any man 1. Tim. 6. 3. consent not to that doctrine which is according to pietie he is proud knowing nothing because all men may and ought to know that God Almightie is of infinite pietie and so cannot plant a Faith or Religion which is not pious and teaching all vertues as necessarie to saluation and vnion of heart with him their happinesse Thirdly that Faith and Religion in all reason must be the Faith and Religion planted by God which teacheth and sheweth men the most and best meanes how to loue God this being an Argument in Nature and Grace That euerie one loueth his owne 3. Reg. 3. 26. Ioh. 5. 19. Whereby is manifest that our Catholike Religion is the true Faith for that it teacheth vs how to loue God with all our hearts and how to obtaine Saluation and Happinesse by louing God VVhereas Protestants doe teach Saluation by onely Faith and that it is impossible to loue God or keepe the Commaundements And can there be a more vile and wicked Religion inuented then to teach that it is impossible to loue God Almightie with all our hearts Fourthly by generall consent of all People and Nations though of different Religions who all generally say and affirme That Catholikes liuing according to their Faith and Religion may be saued and haue a sparing as some tearme it sauing Faith And the consent of all People and Sects and Nations cannot erre in Reason CHAP. VII That it is as certaine that our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Sauiour as it is certaine that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworne and how easily to end and determine all Controuersies by maintaining the Oath of God as true BY my own selfe haue I sworne Gen. 22. 16. saith the Lord to Abraham because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thy onely begotten sonne for my sake I will blesse thee and I will multiply thy Seed as the starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea shoare thy Seed shall possesse the gates of his enemies and in thy Seed shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth because thou hast obeyed my voice Againe our Lord promised to Isaack saying In thy Seed Gen. 26. 4. shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth for because Abraham obeyed my voice Againe our Lord promised to Iacob Thy Seed shall be as Gen. 28. the dust of the Earth thou shalt be dilated to the West and to the East and to the North and to the South and in thee and thy Seed all the Tribes of the Earth shall be blessed Of these Promises the Prophet Esay speaketh saying Israel shall flourish and spring Isa 27. 5. and they shall fill the face of the world with Seed Againe I Isa 61. 8. the Lord that loue Iudgement and hate Robberie in Holocaust And I will giue their worke in truth and make a perpetuall Couenant with them And they shall know their Seed in the Gentiles and their Budde in the middest of Peoples All that shall see them shall know them that those are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed And of this Oath the same Prophet speaking sayth As in the dayes of Noe is this thing Isa 54 9. to me to whom I sware that I will no more bring the Waters of Noe vpon the Earth so haue I sworne not to be angrie with thee and not to rebuke thee for the Mountaines shall be moued and the little Hills shall tremble before the Day of Iudgement but my Mercie shall not depart from thee and the Couenant of my Peace shall not be remoued said our Lord thy Miserator Of this Oath the Prophet Daniel in the Captiuitie of Babylon maketh mention saying Take not away thy Dan. 3. 35. Mercie from vs for Abraham thy beloued and Isaack thy seruant and Israel thy holy one to whom thou hast spoken promising that thou wouldest multiplie their Seed as the starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is in the Sea shoare Of this Oath the Prophet Dauid speaking sayth I will Ps 88. 28 put him the first begotten high aboue all the Kings of the Earth I will keepe my Mercie vnto him for euer and my Testament faithfull vnto him I will put his Seed for euer and euer and his Throne as the dayes of Heauen But if his children shall forsake my Law and will not walke in my Iudgements if they shall prophane my Mercies and not keepe my Commaundements I will visit their Iniquitie with a Rod and their sinnes with stripes But my mercies I will not take away from him neither will I hurt in my Truth Neither will I prophane my Testament violate his Oath Againe speaking of this Oath and these Promises hee sayth He hath beene Ps 104. mindfull for euer of his Testament of the Word which he commaunded vnto thousand of Generations which he disposed to Abraham and his Oath to Isaac and he appointed it to Iacob for a Precept and to Israel for an eternall Testament That this Oath of God and Promises to the Patriarkes were to be fulfilled in Christ Iesu and in Christians maintaining and professing the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Scriptures abundantly do testifie Our Lord expounding the Parable of the Cockle of the field sayth He that Mat. 13. 37. soweth the good Seed is the Sonne of Man and the Field is the World and the good Seed those are the Children of the Kingdome dispersed ouer the World according to the Oath of God to Abraham Againe our Lord sayth Doe Mat. 5. 18. not thinke that I come to breake the Law or the Prophets I am not come to breake but to fulfill Againe All things must needes Luc. 24. be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moyses and the Prophets and the Psalmes of me Our Blessed Ladie speaking of the fulfilling of this Oath in our Sauiour and his Seede the Christians saith Hee hath receiued Israel his Luc. â— 54. Child being mindfull of his mercie as he spake to our Fathers to Abraham and his Seede for euer And Zacharie replenished with the Holy Ghost prophecied saying Blessed be Luc. 1. 68. our Lord God of Israel because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets that are from the beginning to remember his holy Testament the Oath which he sware to Abraham our Father Of the fulfilling of this Oath and these Promises in our Sauiour and Christians S. Peter speaketh saying You are the Children of the Act. 31. 24. Prophets and of the Testament which God made to our Fathers saying to Abraham And in thy Seed shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed That this Oath of God
saith the Apostle Phi. 4. in him that comforteth mee Comfort vs O Lord and wee can doe all things yea loue our heauiest Persecutors as our selues Since from God Almightie proceedeth all our good and strength the first means of atteining vnto the loue of our Persecutors as our selues is much to loue his Diuine Maiestie To them Rom. 8. that loue God all things cooperate in good Againe If any Io. 14. 23. loue me he will keepe my word loue his Enemies and pray for his Persecutors Loue is Cant. 8. 6. as strong as Death The Loue of God nothing can ouercome Many Waters of tribulation Cant. 8. cannot quench Charitie neither shall Flouds of Persecution ouerwhelme it Wherefore the first meanes is much to loue God Almightie and often to make the aforesaid Acts of Loue and Charitie towards God set downe in the eleuenth Chapter and then thou wilt easily loue thy most alienated enemies with all thy heart The second meanes is often to reflect vpon the prouidence of God Almightie who since hee intendeth to crowne none but such as 2. Tim. 2. shall ouercome in combate first giueth the grace and force to ouercome and then permitteth myserable people to practise cruelties and persecutions vpon thee that thou by his grace ouercomming them and remaining through Patience and Charitie a Conquerour he may crowne thee with abundance of temporall Content in this life and after death in the other with eternall glory according to the words of S. Iames saying Blessed is the man that suffereth Iam 1. 12. temptation for when he hath beene proued he shall receiue the Crowne of life which God hath promised to them that loue him Insomuch as by ouercomming thy gaine is so great that if a persecuting King Prince or Potentate should spoile himselfe of his Scepter and Crowne and bestow them both on thee together with his Kingdome yet thou shouldest not receiue by his meanes so great a benefit as the Martyr whō he putteth to death either publikely or by long priuate imprisonment or other distresses for our Catholike Faith My Num. 23. 10. soule die the death of the iust and my last ende be made like to them So in truth and veritie there is no cause why thou shouldest hate or wish any euill vnto thy seuerest Persecutors but much cause why thou shouldest wish well vnto them and loue them tenderly since that by their meanes and by their losse both of temporall and eternall Content and Happinesse thou perseuering in Charitie art to receiue a greater benefit then otherwise thou couldest expect euer to haue receiued viz. to be crowned with a Crown of Apoc. 3. 10. eternall glory to rest in the ioy of our Lord before the throne of God and serue him Apoc. 7. day and night in his Temple and be conducted by the Lambe our Sauiour to the liuing Fountaines of Waters And for this cause the wisest men that be vpon the face of the Earth haue a pious enuie at our happinesse here in England For that we are killed Ps 43. 22. all the day we are esteemed as Sheepe of slaughter for the Catholike Faith which wee professe and goe continually as the Prophet Dauid sayth With our liues alwayes Ps 118. in our hands to offer them to God Almightie in Sacrifice knowing that our reward is very great in Heauen for so Mat. 5. 12. they persecuted the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs that were before vs To whom our Sauiour sayth You are they that haue remained with me in my temptations and I dispose to you as my Father disposed to me a Kingdome that Luc. 22. 28. you may eate and drinke vpon my Table and in my Kingdome and may sit vpon Thrones iudging the twelue Tribes of Israel Thou seest what labour paines and dangers euerie worldly man would be content to take if he might but hope to ascend vp to be an earthly King or Prince or come to attaine some grace and fauour in the Court where in truth and veritie their greatest Pleasures are mixt with so many Woes that if they would but looke vpon them with reason they haue more cause to lament their euill mishap then to take glorie in their seeming high estate How much more shouldest thou be content gladly and willingly to suffer some seuen yeares paines and persecution in hope to enioy the Kingdome of Heauen the glorie of the other life and that eternally A third meanes is to stirre vp and reuiue thy Faith in thee by making many Acts of Faith founded vpon the Promises to patient suffering Iniuries and Persecutions for the loue thou bearest to God as often to make these or the like Acts. He that will saue his life Mat. 16. 25. shall lose it and he that shall lose his life for me shall finde it What doth it profit a man if Mat. 16. 26. he gaine the whole world and sustaine the dammage of his Soule What permutation shall a man Mar. 26. giue for his Soule What wilt thou take that the Deuill may haue thy Soule for to burne in Hell eternally and trie but for a quarter of an houre how thou canst endure thy hand or foot to be burnt in this fire vpon Earth And then thou wilt laud the mercies of our Lord that by his Grace and thy suffering patiently so little paines he hath ordained to redeeme thee from eternall Torments Wee suffer with Christ Iesu Rom. 17. that we may be glorified also with him The sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glorie to Rom. 8. 18. come that shall be reuealed in vs. Our tribulation which is momentarie 2. Cor. 4. 17. and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs. If 2. Tim. 2. 11. wee be dead in Christ then wee shall liue also together with him If we shall sustaine we shall also reigne together So to liue by Faith according as it is written The iust Gal. 3. 12. liueth by Faith for without Faith it is impossible to please God For hee that commeth to God Heb. 11. 6. must beleeue that hee is and is a rewarder of them that seeke him And this is the Faith of the Saints so renowmed and often spoken of in the Scriptures the Faith of Henoch Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph Moyses Gedeon Barac Sampson Iephte and the Apostles who by Faith ouercame Kingdomes wrought Iustice obtained Promises stopped the mouth of Lyons extinguished the force of Fire repelled the edge of the Sword recouered of their Infirmities had triall of Mockeries and Stripes of Bonds and Prisons were Stoned Hewed Tempted dying in slaughter of the Sword went about in Sheepe skinnes and Goats skinnes needie in distresse afflicted of whom the World was not worthie wandering in Desarts in Mountaines and Dennes and in Caues in the Earth As thou seest Religious men and Priests and Lay Catholikes doe in the time of this our persecution
of God with all our hearts and our neighbour for Gods sake as our selues And first it is necessarie to speake of temporall blessings and contentments and after of spirituall and eternall The practise of this our Doctrine of louing God with all our hearts and our neighbours for Gods sake as our selues yeeldeth such abundance of temporall Happinesse and Content as that it taketh away all the causes of temporall discontent and miseries from amongst men and planteth in their places all temporall Happinesse and Contentments for supposed that this our Doctrine were practised amongst men and that euerie one would loue God with all his heart and his neighbour for God as himselfe first it would take away all Vsurie Theft Murder Fornication Adulterie Suits in Law Sects Controuersies Rebellions Conspiracies Enuie Hatred Malice Emulations Oppressions Contentions and whatsoeuer miserie is in any Kingdome State or Common-wealth and all the euils which are prohibited and forbidden by Lawes For if we did loue God Almightie with all our hearts wee should be verie sorrie to offend him As wee see by experience euerie one hath great care not to offend him whom hee loueth So if men loued God Almightie with all their hearts there would bee no such sinnes committed as are spoken of in the Tenne Commaundements or in anie other Ciuill or Common Law According to the wordes of our Sauiour saying If any loue mee hee Ioh. 14. 23. will keepe my Word Againe Hee that loueth me not keepeth Io. 14. 24. not my wordes So establish the loue of God in the hearts of men and you take away all Idolatrie Theft Fornication Adulterie Couetousnesse Extortion Iniustice Sinne and Wickednesse forbidden by any Law To the verifying of the vvordes spoken by the Prophet Isay saying Iustice shall be Isa 11. 5. the girdle of his Loynes and Faith the girdle of his Reynes The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid The Calfe and Lion and Sheepe shall abide together a little child shall leade them The Calfe and the Beare shall feede their young ones shall rest together And the Lion shall eate Straw as it were an Oxe And the Infant from the Breast shall be delighted vpon the hole of the Aspe and he that is weyned shall thrust his hand into the hole of the Cockatrice They shall not hurt and they shall not kill in all my holy Mountaine because the Earth is replenished with the knowledge of our Lord the loue of God and Man for he that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commaundements 1. Ioh. 2. 4. is a lyar and the truth is not in him Whereby thou seest deare Reader that the practise of our Doctrine taketh away all temporall miseries and wretchednesse from amongst men insomuch as if that it vvere practised there vvould bee no neede of Lawes nor any vse of any Lawyers Againe supposed that euerie one would loue his neighbour as his second selfe then all would relieue the poore and euerie one would reioyce at others good and prosperitie as at his owne and all seeke to aduance one and one all and found a perfect Monarchie in defence inuincible and in offence against the enemies of their common good alwayes conquerors euery one faithfully seconding of his companion as his second selfe they would remaine inuincible and euerie one louing his neighbour as himselfe euerie one would willingly supply to his power his neighbours wants and by this meanes they would all liue in happie and quiet temporall Content like perfect friends confirmed in sociable amitie according to the Prophecies Thy People all Isa 60. 21. iust for euer shall inherite the Land the Budde of my planting the worke of my hand to glorie The least shall be into a thousand and the little one into a most strong Nation the Lord in the time thereof will suddainely doe it Againe I will make thy visitation Isa 60. 18. Peace and thy Ouerseers Iustice Iniquitie shall no more be heard in thy Land Waste and Destruction in thy Borders and Saluation shall occupie thy Walls and Praise thy Gates And this wee see fulfilled in the Christians of the Primitiue Church Of whom it is said The multitude Act. 4. 32. of Beleeuers had one Heart and one Soule neyther did any say that ought was his owne of those thinges which hee possessed And is euen vntill this day fulfilled in all poore reformed Religious Orders dilated ouer the World who neuer stand in need to vse Suites or Lawyers And it is also fulfilled in all Countreyes more or lesse accordingly as they are Christians Catholike or stayned with spots of Heresie All the temporall Blessings of Monarchies Kingdomes and States are founded vpon the keeping of the Commaundements of God according to that Pact or Couenant which Moyses made with the people of Israel which now wee Christians are saying If thou wilt heare Deut. 28. the voice of our Lord thy God that thou doe and keepe all his Commandements which I commaund thee this day our Lord thy God will make thee higher then all Nations that be on the Earth and all those Blessings shall come vpon thee and ouertake thee yet so if thou heare his Precepts Blessed shalt thou be in the Citie and blessed in the Field blessed shall be the fruit of thy Wombe and the fruit of thy Ground and the fruit of thy Cattell the troopes of thy Heards and the foulds of thy Sheepe c. Our Lord will raise thee vp vnto himselfe to be a holy People as he sware to thee if thou keepe the Commaundements of our Lord thy God and walke in his wayes And all the people of the Earth shall see that the Name of our Lord is inuocated vpon thee and they shall feare thee c. And our Lord will make thee the Head and not the Tayle and thou shalt be alwayes aboue and not vnder yet so if thou wilt heare the Commandements of our Lord thy God which I commaunded thee this day and keepe and doe them c. Which wee see to haue beene fulfilled in all Ages amongst Christian People Emperours Kings Empires Kingdomes and States insomuch as that these were alwayes the most renowmed happie blessed and fortunate Kingdomes who most followed the Doctrine of the Catholike Church and attended to the keeping of the Commaundements of God As of Constantine the Great Saint Augustine writeth saying Ciuit. Dei li. 5. ca. 6. Constantine the Emperour not suppliant to Deuils but worshipping the true God receiued so many gifts and blessings from God as none durst presume to wish This one Augustus held possessed and defended the whole Romane Empire In administrating of Warre he was iust and victorious in vanquishing and repressing Tyrants wonderfull prosperous being of great yeares he died of sicknesse and old age his sonnes Emperours to succeed him Of Theodosius the elder S. Augustine sayth That hee De Ciuit. Dei li. 5. ca. 26. had wonderfull
societie is there betweene light and darknesse And what agreement with Christ and Belial or what part hath the faithfull with the Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For you are the Temple of the liuing God As God saith That I will dwell and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people God Almightie aduanceth those who forsake sinne and iniquitie to so high a degree of Content and Happinesse that he electeth their soules for his Temple for his chiefest place of honour and glorie dedicated to the setting out of his Magnificence Laudes and Praises vpon Earth a place where are to be sung the Songs of Syon Ps 136. 3. the Song of our Lord in a Ps 104. 27. strange Land and his wonders in the Land of Cham for a place appropriated to his recreation and pleasures as God said I will dwell and walke in them Againe I am come into my Garden Cant. 5. O my sister Spouse I haue reaped my Myrrhe with mine aromaticall spices I haue eaten the hony combe with my honie I haue drunke my wine with my milke Eat O friends drinke and be inebriated my dearest my sister Spouse is a Garden inclosed a Fountaine sealed vp Thy Off-springs a Paradise of Pomegranates with Orchard fruits Cypres with Spikenard and Saffron sweet Cane and Cinnamon with all the Trees of Libanus Mirrhe and Aloes with all the chiefe Oyntments The Fountaine of Gardens the Well of liuing Waters which runne with violence from Libanus To the fulfilling of that which was spoken by the Prophet Isay saying Our Lord therefore will comfort Sion Isa 5. 3. and will comfort all the ruines thereof and he will make her Desart as Delicacies and her Wildernesse as the Garden of our Lord Ioy and gladnesse shal be found in it giuing of thanks and voice of praise Making the soule of such as loue him with all their hearts a kind of Paradise vpon Earth as God Almightie said I will dwell and walke in them in some sort as he did in Paradise with our first Parents Adam and Eua who Gen. 3. 8. heard the voice of our Lord walking in Paradise at the afternoone aire To the fulfilling of the words spoken by the Prophet Isay saying They shall Isa 6. 11. 4. build the Desarts from the beginning of the World and shall erect the old Mines and shall repaire the desolate Cities that were discipated in generation and generation Whereupon our Lord saith If any man loue me hee Io. 14. 23. will keepe my word and my Father will loue him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him Our Lord will not only dwell in the soules of them who loue him with all their hearts but will make their hearts his house and home and abiding place Insomuch as the soules of those who loue God with all their hearts are a kinde of Heauen heere vpon Earth Our Lord said Heauen is my Isa 66. 1. Seat Againe Our Lord hath prepared his Seat in Heauen Ps 102. 19. and of the soules of such as loue him with all their hearts hee saith That he will dwell and walke and abide in them Whereby wee see that the soules of such as loue God Almightie with all their hearts are as it were a kind of Heauen vpon Earth where God Almightie keepeth his Court walketh and dwelleth As the hearts of Heretikes and those who liue in breach of the Commandements of God are a kinde of Hell euen heere vpon Earth paines and confirmation in malice excepted So those who loue God with all their hearts keepe his Commandements and seeke to please him in their actions are in a kinde of Heauen heere vpon Earth glorie and confirmation in grace excepted Whereupon our Lord promiseth to those who liue chast Keepe his Sabboths choose the thinges that hee would and hold his Couenant saying I will giue vnto them in Isa 56. 5. my House and within my Walls a Place and a Name better then Sonnes and Daughters an euerlasting Name will I giue them which shall not perish That is he will giue them to be recollected within their soules his Temple wherein he dwelleth and abideth as in his House as hee said before I will dwell in them we 2. Cor. 6. Io. 14. 2. Cor. 6. will make our abode with him You are the Temple of the liuing God Whereupon the Prophet Dauid speaking of his being recollected within his Soule in his Meditations sayth These things haue Ps 41. 5. I remembred and haue poured out my soule in me because I shall passe into the place of a maruelous Tabernacle euen to the house of God So in like manner S. Augustine sayth Our Aug. con li. 12. ca. 31. Lord is high and the humble of heart are his house Againe If we liue holy and iustly whatsoeuer Aug. ser 252. de tempore is done in Temples made with hands the same is wholly fulfilled in vs by spirituall Building Whereupon Saint Paul sayth Christ as the Sonne is Heb. 3. 6. in his owne house which house are we This is Sion and new Ierusalem Isa 62. vpon Earth the soule of him that loueth God Almightie with all his heart and recollected within it hee hath a place within the house and walls of God his owne soule the Bed-chamber of our Lord. And hee will giue him a better name then Sonnes and Daughters which is his Name Isa 7. 14. of Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs or the Luc. 1. 23. Names of Gods not by nature but by grace and participation from his Goodnesse according as before it is said I will dwell with them wee will Io. 10. 34. make our abode with him It is written in your Law that I said you are Gods If he called them Gods to whom the Word of God was made those may be called Gods in whom God Almightie dwelleth as in his Temple house and home Here Pennes and Tongues and Thoughts and Meditations and Contemplation and whatsoeuer else with excesse of ioyfull Admiration sweetly lose themselues with a happie losse of an infinite gaine and sit alone in silent speech more eloquent then all the eloquence of Greekes and Romans sellers of vaine words and crie out Lord Mat. 8. 8. I am not worthie that thou shouldest enter into my Roofe Thy friends are honoured too Ps 138. 17. much How beautifull are thy Ps 83. Tabernacles O Lord of Hostes my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the Courts of our Lord my heart and my flesh reioyceth towards the liuing God There the Sparrow hath found her a House and the Turtle a Neast for her selfe where she may lay her young Thine Altars O Lord of Hostes my King and my God Blessed are they that dwell in thy House O Lord for euer and euer they shall praise thee Blessed is the man whose helpe is in
thee deare Reader abundance of Charitie that thou maist beare much Fruit of the holy Ghost and be abundantly Happy and Content For with the same Mat. 6. 38. measure you doe mete it shall be measured to you againe saith our Sauiour OF THE SECOND Fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Ioy. THe second Fruit which the Holy Ghost produceth in the hearts of such as loue God is Ioy not such base ioyes as haue gaping hunters when they haue found their prey or sensuall Men in the Lute and Harpe and 〈◊〉 â—0 Timbrell and Psalme and Wines in their Banquets for which cause Hell hath dilated his Soule and opened his Mouth without all measure or limitation and the Strong and High and Glorious ones shall descend into it but Ioy in our Lord according to the words of the blessed Virgine Mary saying My Spirit hath reioyced Luk. 1. 46. in God my Sauiour An exultation of the Heart and Soule in the liuing God according to the words of the Prophet Dauid saying My Psal 83. 5. Heart and my Flesh hath reioyced in the liuing God who is all Pleasure Content and Good An inestimable Ioy and content of Minde and Spirit to finde our Lord there according to his Promise Now indeed you haue Io. 16. â—â— Sorrow but I will see you again and your Heart shall reioyce and your Ioy no man shall take from you Because it shall be in their inward soules with God Almightie which death will not take away but increase according to the words of our Lord saying As my Io. 15. â— Father had loued me I also haue loued you abide in my Loue If you keepe my Precepts you shall abide in my loue as I also keepe my Fathers Precepts and doe abide in his loue These things I haue spoken to you that my Ioy may be in you and your Ioy may be filled with so great Content that in this life you are neither capable nor would receiue or desire more Of this Ioy our Sauiour â—â— 17. 11. further speaking saith Holy Father keepe them in thy Name whom thou hast giuen me that they may be one as also We and these things I speake in the World that they may haue my Ioy filled in themselues Of this Ioy S. Augustine speaking saith God forbid Con. li. 10. ca. 22. my Lord that with what Ioy soeuer I should reioice I should thinke my selfe happie There is a Ioy which is not giuen to the wicked but to such as serue thee gratis whose Ioy thou thy selfe art and that same is happie Life to reioice at thee of thee and for thee this is it and other there is none Againe Con li. 10. ca. 23. Such as will not reioice of thee who only art happie Life will not be happie for happie Life is Ioy of thee who art Truth God mine illumination the health of my face â—nd my God And out of this Ioy are the abundant Prayses and Ioyes of the Prophet Dauid saying Come let vs reioyce Ps â—4 to our Lord Let vs make iubilation to God our Sauiour The habitation in thee as it Iâ— 8â— â— were of all reioycing Light is risen to the Iust and Ioy to the right of heart Be glad ye Iust 〈…〉 1â— in our Lord and confesse ye to the memorie of his sanctification Of this Ioy the Prophet A 〈…〉 〈…〉 writing saith I will 〈…〉 our Lord and will reioice 〈…〉 my IESVS Of this Ioy the Prophet 〈…〉 Isay speaking saith The ioy of 〈◊〉 Asses the pastures of flocks vntill the Spirit be poured out vpon vs from on high and the Desart shall be as Carmell and Carmell shall be reputed for a Forrest and Iudgement shall dwell in the Wildernesse and Iustice shall sit in Carmell The Ioyes and contentments of Men before they he endued with the Spirit of God are as the Prophet saith like the ioyes of wilde Asses all placed in eating drinking sleeping and following their carnall and sensuall appetites but after the Holy Ghost be poured out vpon them then they who were without Fruit and as such abandoned and forsaken and left to the ioyes of wilde Asses shall be as Carmell or Carmelites which is to say knowledge of Circumcision or a Circumcised Lamb and shall abandon and cast off all their wilde Asses pleasures to become partakers of the Promises of God to our Fathers saying Our Lord thy God will circumcise Deut. 30. 6. thy heart and the heart of thy Seede that thou maiest loue thy Lord thy God in all thy heart and in all thy soule that thou maiest liue Whereof S. Paul speaking Rom. 2. saith Circumcision of the heart in Spirit Againe Wee Phi. 3. are the Circumcision which in Spirit serue God and keepe the Commandements And Carmell the Mount from which wee take our Name and vpon which our Fathers Elias Elizeus and the sonnes of the Prophets liued in contemplation and adoration of God in Spirit and veritie shall be so dilated as a Forrest manie giuing themselues to contemplation all ouer the World And Iudgement shall dwell in contemplatiue Men and Iustice shall sit in Carmell in Carmelites or Men hauing circumcised hearts by the Spirit of God As in another place the same Prophet speaking saith Shall Isa 22. not yet within a little while and in a short time Libanus another more waste Mountaine in Palestina be turned into Carmell and Carmell reputed for a Forrest and in that day the deafe shall heare the words of the Booke and out of the Darkenesse and Mist the eies of the blinde shall see and the meeke shall adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shall reioice in the Holy One of Israel c. Againe of these Ioyes Ease and Rest which men endued with Charitie should attaine vnto the Prophet Isay further speaking saith When Isa 2. thou shalt poure out thy Soule to the hungrie and shalt fill the afflicted Soule thy light shall rise vp in darkenesse and thy darkenesse shall be as the Noone-day And our Lord will giue thee Rest alwaies and will fill thy Soule with brightnesse and deliuer thy bones and thou shalt be as a watered Garden and as a Fountaine of Waters whose Water shall not faile And the Desarts of the World shall be builded in thee Thou shalt raise vp the foundations of Generation and Generation and thou shalt be called the builder of the Hedges turning the Paths into Rest. If thou turne away thy foote from the Sabbath from doing thy will in my Holy day and call the Sabbath delicate and the Holy of our Lord glorious and glorifie him whilest thou doest not thine owne waies and thy will be not found to speake a word Then shalt thou bee delighted vpon the Lord and I will lift thee vp aboue the heights of the Earth and will feede thee with the Inheritance of IACOB thy Father for the Mouth of our Lord hath spoken If the
Ioy of wilde Asses be so highly esteemed by the Princes and adorers of the Earth as that they put either all or the most part of their content in them how much more are to be esteemed the Ioyes of the holy Ghost which doe so farre exceede all the Ioyes of wilde Asses and carnall pleasures of the censuall Men of the Earth as the Soule doth the Body The one being common to pious Men and Angels the other proper to carnall Men and Beasts OF THE THIRD Fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Peace THe third Fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the hearts of them that loue him and their neighbour for him is Peace not such Peace as is giuen to the wicked who can finde no other Rest or Peace but in the following and feeding of their inordinate appetites with sensuall pleasures like the beasts of the Forrest But the Peace of God which passeth Phil. 4. 7. all vnderstanding an Ease Rest Repose of heart and minde in God Almightie which exceedeth the capacitie and vnderstanding of all sensuall men which S. Paul describeth to be an vnion of our hearts and all the vnderstanding Phil. 4. powers of our soule in Christ Iesus Peace which was promised by the Prophet Isay saying When the Spirit shall be poured Isa â—2 17. out vpon vs then the worke of Iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of Iustice Silence and Securitie for euer And my People shall sit in the beautie of Peace and in the Tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie Rest Resting of their Hearts and all the powers of their Soule in Christ Iesus as a Stone in his Centre Peace spoken of by the Prophet Dauid saying Praise â—â— 147. â— thy God O Syon because hee hath strengthened the Locks of thy Gates he hath blessed thy Children in thee who hath set thy borders Peace and filleth thee with the fat of Corne. Againe In Peace in the self-same I will sleepe and rest Whereupon S. Augustine reading this verse after his Conuersion from Heresie cryed from the bottome of his heart O in Peace O Con. li. 9. 8. ca. 4. in the selfe-same O what did he say I will Repose and take Rest Thou O Lord art the selfe-same exceedingly who art not variable in thee is Rest forgetting of all labours for that there is no other with thee neither are there many more things to be had which thou art not But thou O Lord hast singularly setled me in hope I did reade and did burne in loue Neither did I finde what I should doe to the deafe dead Heretikes amongst whom I had beene an vnsauourie yeller forth of infectious Doctrine and blinde against the Letters honyed with the hony of Heauen and lightened with thy Light O that they could see the inward Eternall Light Which I because I had tasted I was angrie at my selfe for that I could not shew it them if they should bring vnto me a heart in their owne eies without thee and should say Who will shew vs good things So Saint Augustine The Peace spoken of by our Sauiour saying Peace I Io. 14. 27. leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the World giueth doe I giue to you Againe In me you may haue Io. 16. 55. Peace in the World you shall haue Distresse Whereof the Prophet Isay speaking saith For this cause shall my people Isa 52. â— know my Name in that day because I my selfe that spake Peace I leaue you loe am present How beautifull vpon the Mountaines are the feele of him that euangelizeth and preacheth Peace of him that telleth good preaching Health that faith to Sion the Soule which loueth God with all his heart Thy God shall Isa 9. 5. raigne Because all violent taking of prey with tumult and garment mingled with blood shall be burnt and foode for the fire For a little Childe is borne to vs and a Sonne is giuen to vs and his name shall be called Prince of Peace His Empire shall be multiplied and there shall be multiplied and there shal be no end of his peace At this Peace the Angels reioyced to see it prepared to be planted in the Hearts of Men vpon Earth And Luk. 2. the Angels said I euangelize to you great Ioy that shall be to all People beeause this day is borne to you a Sauiour which is Christ our Lord you shall finde the Infant swadled in Clothes and layd in a Maunger And suddenly these was with the Angell a multitude of the heauenly Armie praysing God and saying Glorie in the highest to God and in Earth Peace to Men of good will For Eph. â— hee our Lord himselfe is our Peace who hath made both one and dissoluing the middle Wall of the Partition the enmities in his Flesh And comming he euangelized Peace to you that were farre off and Peace to them that were nigh for by him we haue accesse both in one Spirit to the Father This is the Peace which Saint Paul wished to the Thessalonians saying The 2. Thes 3. 16. Lord of Peace himselfe giue you euerlasting Peace in euery place And this is the Peace which our Lord often wished to his Disciples after his Resurrection saying Peace be to you This Peace saith S. Augustine In epist ad fratres in eremo Christ left by a Testament to the Apostles as the chiefest good without the which none ought to liue c. This is that glorious Peace which expelleth the fruit of euill Thoughts preserueth the wauering Minde from hurt and purgeth the Conscience He who hath not the peace of Heart of Mouth and Worke ought not to be called a Christian O Peace thou art the serenitie of the Minde the tranquilitie of the Soule the simplicitie of the Heart the bond of Loue and companion of Charitie This is that high Felicitie which taketh away Enmities appeaseth Warres oppresseth Anger 's treadeth downe the Proud loueth the Humble endeth Strifes maketh Enemies friends acceptable to all Men. So S. Augustine And if the Peace of the Earth which is but a cessation from worldly troubles or affaires and a satisfying of thy passions be pleasing vnto thee of how farre greater Content and Happinesse must the Peace of God be which passeth all vnderstanding and keepeth as S. Paul saith Our Hearts and all the Phi. 4. 7. vnderstanding powers of our Soule in Christ Iesus which God of his goodnesse grant thee Reader OF THE FOVRTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Patience THe fourth fruit is Patience of which it is said In Patience shall you possesse Luk. 21 19. your Soules Then a man is said to enioy a thing when he receiueth Content in it and vseth it according to the end it was created for he that possesseth a thing to vexe and afflict hath it not to enioy and possesse but to torment Whereupon it commeth to passe that angrie and chollericke men doe not possesse themselues nor
In the same book against our wills that now men are become worse and more irreligious more ingrate more vnfaithful more shamelesse and that greater wickednesse and sinnes cannot bee found in the whole world no not amongst the Turkes truly or the Iewes or Pagans then in those places where the worde of the Lord of Protestants is most diligently preached Againe I am compelled to say because Musculus in Prophetia Christi it is true that there are not to bee found no not among the heathen Iewes or Turkes men more selfe-willed in whose mindes the sparkes of all vertues are extinct and amongst whome sinne is accounted nothing then amongst the professors of the Gospell of Protestants amongst whome the Deuill altogether loosed from his chaynes and in free libertie doth florish And that I may in few words tell all it is euen so and this is the estate of vs Lutherans that if any be desirous to see a great multitude of Knaues Athists Vsurers and Coseners hee must goe to some Citty where the Gospell of Protestants is preached and there he shall finde of this sorte of men by multitudes and repeating almost the same wordes in another place he saith The case standeth thus with vs Lutherans that if any bee Musculus Domi. 1 Aduentus desirous to see a great table of Knaues of persons turbulent deceitfull coseners vsurers let him go to any Citty where the Gospell is purely Preached and he shall finde them there by multitudes for it is more manifest then the day light that there were neuer among the Ethnicks Turkes and other Infidels more vnbridled and vnruely persons with whome all vertue and honestie is quite extinct then are among the professors of the Gospel And Iacobus Andreas another Protestant saith The other part and multitude Andreas adu 11. Luc. of Germans doe giue libertie indeede to the Preaching of the worde But there is not perceiued an amendment of manners amongst them but horrible Epicurisme beastly life is seene amongst them in their conuersations compositions of body desires c. In stead of fasting they attend wholly to feastings and drinkings night and day And Melancton a Protestant saith The thing it selfe doth speake Ad cap 6. Math. that in these Countries where the Protestant Gospell was preached almost all their studies are imployed in sumptuous preparations for banquets drunkennesse and exceeding great cuppes c. Such barbarousnes is in the people that the most part perswade themselues if they should fast one day the night following they should dye So these Protestants of the fruites of their owne Doctrine Of the comming of these Epicures Libertines and loose liuers three of the Apostles prophecied saying In the last daies 1 Tim. 3. 1. shall approch perilous times and men shal be louers of theÌ„selues Couetous Haughtie Proude Blasphemous not obedient to their Parents vnkinde wicked without affection without peace accusers incontinent vnmerciful with out benignity Traytors stubborne puffed vp and louers of voluptuousnes more then of God hauing an apparance indeed of pietie euery one his Bible but denying the vertue thereof the keeping of the Law Againe In the last dayes shal come mockers in deceit walking 2 Pet. 3. 3 according to their owne concupicenses Againe my dearest bee mindefull of the Iud. 1. wordes which haue been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ who told you that in the last times shall come mockers according to their owne desires walking in impietie These are they which seperate them selues Sensuall hauing not the Spirit of God whose fruits are Charitie Ioy Peace Patience Gal. 5. 22 Benignitie Longanimitie Goodnes Mildenes Faith Modestie Continencie Chastitie but the Spirit of the Deuill and Flesh whose workes are FornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes Gal. 5. leacherie seruing of Idols Witchcraft enmities Contentions emulations angers brawles dissention Sects enuyes murders drunkennesse banquettings and such like forbidden workes by the Commandements of God For the discouering of whose deceits out of loue to my Countrey and desire to gaine some who out of ignorance are fallen into these follyes and deceitfull contentments in Carnall liberty and sensuall life I haue written this our Second part of Ease and Rest to shew vnto them the meanes how to attaine vnto true Ioy of minde and Content of heart and suppresse these base desires which are common to men with Beastes that all euills Contentions Strifes Suites in Law the lamentable Ciuill warres of this Land being taken away and true goods and pleasures ingrafted in their places Without feare being deliuered out of the handes of Luc. 1. 74 our enemies wee may serue God in Holines and Iustice Isay 32. 17. before him all our dayes And the workes of iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of iustice Silence and securitie for euer And my people saith God shall sit in the beauty of Peace and in the tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie rest According as it was promised to true Christians by the Prophets in both Testaments saying There shall arise Psal 71. 7 Rom. 14. 16. in his dayes Iustice and aboundance of peace vntill the Moone bee taken away for the Kingdome of God vpon earth is not saith St. Paul meate and drinke but Iustice and Peace and Ioy in the holy Ghost according to the wordes of our Sauiour saying Peace I leaue to you Iohn 14. 27. my peace I giue you not as the world giueth doe I giue to you Not such a Peace or Content as the world giueth to her fauorites doth our Sauiour giue vnto his followers but â—uch a Peace and Content as is â—ithout trouble and seruile â—eare as followeth immediately in his worâ—es saying Let not your hearts bee troubled or Luc. 1. 74 feare Without feare saith the Prophet Zacharie deliuered from the handes of our enemies we may serue him in holines and iustice all our dayes This is the Ease Rest and Peace which euery where is promised to Christians the followers of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST a peace or content without seruile feare or trouble not as the world giueth peace doth our Sauiour giue peace and Content The peace which the world giueth to worldlings is a feeding of their inordinate Concupiscenses and carnall desires with a Carnall and Sensuall delight mixt with seruile feares Ielousies and troubles The peace and content which our Sauiour doth giue vnto his followers is a peace without seruile feare Iealousie or trouble A Peace which as the holy Ghost saith passeth all vnderstanding A Peace Rest Repose Phil 4. 7. and Content to their bodyes by bringing their passions appetites and carnall affections vnder the obedience of right reason that they may liue in Corporall peace and rest and keepe their bodyes free from seruile slauerie and vile subiection to their inordinate passions which are vnreasonable Masters Peace to their hartes and soules by possessing all good Peace with God by louing him
Againe Rom. 3. 29. Is he God of the Iewes only Is he not also of the Gentiles for it is one God that iustifieth Circumcision by faith and Prepuce by faith Doe we then destroy the Law by faith God forbid but we do establish the Law by denying Iustification by Faith onely without Workes and Iustification by Workes onely without Faith in Christ Iesus he established the Law and the Prophets The same Law-giuer Moyses and the same Law which telleth vs that we ought to obserue it the same also telleth vs that we ought to beleeue Deu. 18. 13. in Christ Iesus A Prophet Act. 3. â—â— sayth Moyses shall the Lord your God raise vp to you of your brethren as my selfe And Deu. 18. â—5 it shall be euery soule that shall not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed out of the people So the Apostle by denying Iustification by Workes of the Law onely without Faith in this Prophet our Sauiour and by denying Iustification by faith onely without obseruing the Law saying Not the hearers of Rom. 8. 13. the Law are iust with God but the doers of the Law shall be iustified establisheth the whole Law Faith in Christ and keeping the Commandements of God And for the vnderstanding of many places of S. Paul thou must obserue that the Faith which Saint Paul speaketh of when he saith that we are iustified by faith is a Faith that worketh by Charitie a Faith rooted Gal. 5. 6. and founded in Charitie Eph. 3. 18. So likewise when our Lord promiseth saluation by faith saying He that beleeueth in me Io. 21. 26. shall liue c. He meaneth such a faith as is rooted and founded in Charitie Faith without Charitie being but a dead faith deserueth not the name of faith no more then a dead man deserueth the name of a man As it is an error in speech to discourse of men without addition and meane dead men so it should be an error in speech to speake and discourse of faith without addition and meane a dead faith vvhich serueth those who haue it for nothing else but encrease of eternall Torments According to the Testimonie of our Lord who sayth Hee Luc. 12. 47. that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Faith Ia. 2. 17. if it haue not Workes is as dead in it selfe Without Loue Aug. in Ioan. trea 10. sayth S. Augustine Faith is vaine the Faith of Christians is with Loue the Faith of Deuils without Loue. Againe If neglecting De Fide et Operib c. 1â— tom 4. the Commaundements we might be saued by onely Faith which without Workes is dead how should it be true which he wil say to them whom he shall place on his left hand Goe ye into eternall fire which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels neither doth he find fault with them for that they did not beleeue in him but because they did not good Workes c. So they shall goe into euerlasting combustion there shall be an euerlasting combustion as of Fire and they shall goe into it saith Truth whose not Faith but good Workes he hath declared to be wanting So Saint Augustine Whereby is manifest that Faith is necessarie to Content and Happinesse but not Faith only CHAP. V. That Man cannot be content and happie without embracing and beleeuing the Faith which was planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ the Sonne of God HAuing found out that Faith is necessarie to Mans Content and Happinesse and excluded the Faiths of all sorts of Protestants who defend Iustification by Faith only from euer finding any true Content or Happinesse it followeth to seeke out what Faith is necessarie to Mans Happinesse that we may embrace it and be happie First That it is the faith vvhich vvas planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is manifest to reason for that the Faith which our Lord planted teacheth vs many Truths Secrets and Mysteries which to the greatest Philosophers were not knowne neither in any other Doctrine can or may they be learned as of the Trinitie the Creation and Redemption of the World the Communion of Saints the Forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Dead the Life to come and many things more of the greatest content and comfort that can be to the heart of Man which were not made known vnto the World but by the Sonne of God our Sauior that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets saying The Orient from on high Luc. 1. 78. hath visited vs to illuminate them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feet in the way of peace Againe The Land of Zabulon and Land Mat. 4. 16. of Nephtali the way of the Sea beyond Iordan of Galilee of the Gentiles the people that sat in darknesse hath seene great Light and to them that sat in a Country of the shadow of Death Light is risen to them By knowing Truths Verities before the comming of our Sauiour not knowne vnto the World Secondly It is manifest by the Scriptures that the Faith which conducteth vs to Happinesse is the Faith which was planted by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ for that when the Scriptures say that we are iustified by faith they intend the Faith planted by our Sauior as Iustifying him Rom. 3. 26. that is of the faith of Iesus Christ Againe We also beleeue in Iesus Gal. 2. Christ that we may he iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ Againe Gal. 3. 23. The Scriptures haue concluded all things vnder sinne that the Promise hy faith of Iesus Christ might be giuen Whereby is manifest that none can be truely content or happie who doe not beleeue and embrace the Faith planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sonne of God Wherefore it is necessarie that we seeke it out that thou mayest embrace it and lay a sure foundation of thy happinesse which I will doe in the three next ensuing Chapters CHAP. VI. That our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour vpon Earth is proued by the light of Reason in generall FIrst by reason taken from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith that people of all Nations Tribes and Countries differing in Languages and Gouernment dispersed ouer the whole Earth should all beleeue as one and one as all and all with one voice and in one sense and signification professe one and the same Articles of Faith and those of so deepe vnderstanding high mysteries and secrets as in particular the reason of Man is not able to reach or comprehend is a sufficient demonstration to anie reasonable Man that our Catholike Faith is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as God Almightie is so must his Faith and Religion be God Almightie as Aristotle
Francis Yet in one generation both the names of these potent Kings vvere extinguished from the face of the Earth according to this Prophecie so faithfull is God Almightie in fulfilling of his Word So supposing thou beleeuest that God Almightie cannot lye not be forsworne and that thou as a creature of his wilt glorifie him and maintaine both in words and deedes the fulfilling of his Oath and Promises that hee may blesse and glorifie thee I set downe these Acts of Faith following thereby to end and determinate all matters of Controuersies or Differences in Faith or Beleefe that hereafter thou mayest remaine alwayes firme stable and vnmoueable in the Faith Eph. 2. 20. built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the highest corner Stone in whom all Building framed together groweth into an holy Temple in our Lord Which is that I wish vnto thee and desire thee to pardon me if I speake for thy content boldly Acts of Faith GOd forbid deare Lord that I should euer think that thou hast broken the Oath and Testament which thou hast spoken to Abraham Isaack and Iacob thy Seruants saying By my Gen. 22. selfe haue I sworne I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is vpon the Sea shoare Thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his Enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Thy Seed shall be as the dust of Gen. 28. the Earth that shal be dilated to the East and to the West and to the North and to the South and in thee and thy Seed shal be blessed all the Tribes of the Earth I detest O Heauenly Father as Suggestions of the Deuill all opinions whatsoeuer which are contrarie to the vnitie of the Faith dilated ouer the World O God of Heauen I beleeue most firmely that the Christians dilated ouer the World professing one Faith are the Seed of Abraham the Gen. 22. Children of thy Kingdome the Wheat that thou didst sowe the Mat. 1◠Sheepe that thou doest feed and Ioh. 10. the Blessed which at the last day Mat. 25. shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Deare Lord I beleeue most firmely that if we be Christs Gal. 3. 29. then we be the Seed of Abraham and must professe the faith dilated ouer the World O Lord of Infinite Maiestie I humbly beseech thee for thy tender Mercies that I may be one of the great Multitude Apo. 7. 9. which no man could number of all Nations and Tribes and People and Tongues which are to be signed with thy Marke and to be conducted by thee to the Liuing Fountaines Apo. 7. 17. of Waters I detest Eternall God more then Death or Hell to hold or maintaine any opinion which the Catholike Church the Seed of Abraham dilated ouer the World doth not approue Deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I vndoubtedly beleeue that thou art the Sonne of the liuing God to whom this Promise is made I will giue thee the Gentiles for Ps 28. thy Inheritance and for thy Possession the ends of the Earth I beleeue deare Lord all the Articles of the Catholike Faith and for the truth of any one of them by the assistance of thy grace am readie to die not one death but if it were possible as many deaths as all the Martyrs haue suffered from the beginning of the World vntill this day O Lord of infinite Maiestie while I liue I will faithfully beleeue and heartily confesse with thy seruants S. Ambrose and S. Augustine That the holy Church doth Hym. SS Amb. et Aug. confesse thee throughout the World I beleeue most firmely O liuing God that thou art the God of Abraham Isaack and Iacob keeping thy Couenant with them for thousand of Generations and maintaining thy Promise of multiplying their Seed as the Starres of Heauen and possessing the Gates of their Enemies vntill the end of the World Graunt deare Lord that I may rather die a thousand deaths then not confesse with thy Seruant S. Athanasius from my heart in a Catholike sense That whosoeuer will be saued it is needfull before all things that hee hold the Catholike Faith the which vnlesse each one shall keepe whole and inuiolate he shall without doubt eternally perish Man may lye and mine owne iudgement may be deceiued but I beleeue firmely that God Almightie cannot be forsworne deceiue or be deceiued in his Oath I beleeue most firmely deare Lord that the Christians professing one Faith multiplied as the sand that is by the Gen. 28. Sea-shore and dilated to the West and to the East to the North and to the South are the Seed of Abraham thy seruant the children Ps 104. of Iacob thy elect and there is no saluation in any other Act. 4. I doe most firmely hold and doe no waies doubt but that not only Aug. li. de side ad Petrum all Pagans but also all Iewes Heretikes and Schismatikes who doe die out of the Catholike Church are to goe into euerlasting fire which was prepared for the Deuil and his Angels Beare witnesse O ye Heauens and be testimonies all ye that dwell vpon the Earth that I vndoubtedly and most firmely beleeue that God Almighty hath and doth visibly multiply the Christians professing in vnitie the Faith planted by our Sauiour as the starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea-shoare according as he spoke Luc. 1. 55. to our Fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer Let mee neuer liue deare Lord to beleeue or thinke that thou hast broken thy Oath and Promises to the Patriarkes and Prophets and canst lye and be forsworne in permitting the Catholike Church to erre or vanish away frō the face of the Earth Deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by the assistance of thy grace though as great torments as the sensible paines of the torments of Hell should fall vpon me for it yet will I confesse that thou art the true Messias and came to fulfill the Oath and Promises which God made to Abraham the Patriarks Prophets and not to breake them These Acts grounded vpon the Oath and Promises of God you are to make often and with simplicity and sincerity of heart and they will so direct you to know and finde out truth that your owne conscience will not permit you euer to be an Heretike Iew Infidell or Protestant of any Sect or sort whatsoeuer And by these Acts without disputing of Controuersies thou puttest an end to all Controuersies and Disputes in matters of Faith and Religion beleeuing them thou art as sure that thou beleeuest aright as that it is certaine that God Almightie cannot be forsworn or that our Sauiour was the Messias promised to the Patriarkes Prophets and excludest all Errors Heresies and Temptations of the Deuil in matters of Faith and infallibly setlest thy vnderstanding in
the Faith Word of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ vpon Earth to the great Content Ease and Rest of thy minde and assurednesse of knowing diuine Truths and Verities without deceit because God Almightie cannot deceiue thee nor faile of his Oath and Promises whereupon they are grounded So Saint Paul telleth the Colossians and in them all Christians that they shall be holy and immaculate and blamelesse Col. 1. 27. before God if yet you remaine in the Faith grounded and stable and vnmoueable from the hope of the Gospel which you haue heard which is preached among all Nations that are vnder Heauen CHAP. VIII How our Catholike Faith is so founded vpon the Oathes and Promises of God that it is not possible for any man to be an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort without affirming in effect and deed that God Almightie is periured and forsworne OVR Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is not founded vpon Men as Protestant Ministers tell thee but vpon two things immoueable The Oath of God and That it is impossible for God to lye By my selfe Gen. 22. haue I sworne saith our Lord I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seede as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand which is by the Sea-shore thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Not only the Brittans in an Iland diuided from the whole World but all the Nations of the Earth The Scripture foreseeing that God Gal. 3. 8. iustifieth the Gentiles by Faith by Faith that worketh by Gal. 3. 22. Charitie shewed vnto Abraham before that in thee shall all Nations Gal. 5. 6. be blessed For God promising Heb. 6. 13. to Abraham because he had none greater by whom hee might sweare hee sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and multiplying shall multiply thee c. for mensweare by greater then themselues and the end of all their controuersie for confirmation is an oath So God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell hee interposed an Oath that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye wee may haue a most strong comfort who haue fledde to hold fast the Hope proposed That in the Seede of Abraham our Sauiour not one or few Nations but all the Families of the Earth Act. 3. 25. should be blessed Vpon these two things vnmoueable are founded our Catholike Church holy Faith the Oath of God That it is impossible for God to ly or violate his Oath Promises euery where spoken of in the Scriptures to be fulfilled vpon Christians beleeuing in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ of the Seed of Dauid of the Seed of Abraham that in his Seed Gen. 22. Luc. 1. 55. should be blessed all the Nations of the Earth as hee spake to our fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer So that it is not possible for any man by any means to become an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort vnlesse he affirme in effect and deeds that God Almightie is a lyer and forsworne nor possible for any man sincerely to maintaine or defend in effect and deeds that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworn but he must be of that Religion which Protestants call Papistrie doe what hee can Whereupon S. Paul sayth An Heretike sinneth being condemned 1. Tit. 3. 10. by his owne iudgement For that he knoweth that he preacheth against the Oathes and Promises of God and pronounceth in his workes and deeds God Almightie to be forsworne and a lyar and hereupon our Sauiour sayth He that doth not beleeue is alreadie iudged Hee that will not beleeue God Almightie when hee sweareth and reneweth his Oath so often as hee doth in the Scriptures there are no meanes left to conuince him but by Aristotles argument viz. Punishment and Paines Those who Li. 1. Top ca. 9. doubt sayth Aristotle whether they should honour the Gods or no stand in need of Paines And according to this are the words of our Sauiour where Luc. 16. 30. hee sayth If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets neither if one should rise from the dead will they beleeue Such as will not beleeue the Oathes of God Almightie recorded by Moyses and the Prophets there is no other meanes left for to make them confesse truth but by eternall Torments Eua beleeued the Deuill that God Almightie could lye when he told her No you shall not die whereas God Almightie Gen. 3. 4. had told her that shee should if she eate of the forbidden fruit and by this meanes deceiuing her hee depriued her and all her posteritie of the Ioyes of Paradise and brought them to Miseries and temporall Death Take thou example by thy Mothers fall and doe not beleeue the Deuill or Sectaries when in effect and deeds they shall perswade thee that God Almightie can lye or be forsworne and suffer his Catholike Church to erre faile and decay contrarie to his Oath and Promises that they draw thee not from the Content and Happinesse of Grace in this life and Glorie in the other into the horror of all temporall Discontents and after death into eternall Torments Saint Augustine in his time vrged the Donatists with this foundation of our Catholike Faith the Oath of God and the Impossibilitie for him to lye saying to them as wee in his wordes say now to Protestants changing onely Donatists for Elizabethians and Africa for Brittanie To you Elizabethians the Catholike Church doth say O sonnes of men how long are yee of heauie heart Why doe you loue vanitie and seeke after a Lye Wherefore haue you diuided your selues by a wicked sacrilegious Schisme from the vnitie of the whole World You giue eare to Falsehoods which are told you of Man either lying or erring from the tradition of the Scriptures that you may die in your Hereticall Seperation And doe not attend what the Bookes themselues say that you may liue in Catholike 〈◊〉 Wherefore doe you open your eares to Men telling you that which they could neuer proue and are deafe against the Word of God which saith Our Lord Ps 2. 7. said to me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of me and I will giue thee the Gentiles for thine Inheritance and thy Possession the ends of the Earth To Abraham are the Promises Gal. 3. 16. made and to his Seed hee doth not say to his Seedes as in many but as in one and to thy Gen. 22. Seed which is Christ In thy Seed Gal. 3. 8. shall be blessed all Nations Lift vp the eies of your hearts and consider the whole Globe of the Earth how in the Seed of Abraham all Nations are blessed Then it was beleeued of one when it was not yet seene now you see it
and yet you enuie it The Passion of our Lord is the price of the whole World he redeemed the whole World and you with the whole World for your gaine cannot agree but rather to your losse in a part doe striue that you may loose the whole Heare in the Psalme They Ps 21. 19. haue diuided my Apparrell amongst them and vpon my Coats they cast Lots Why will you be diuiders of the Apparrell of our Lord and will not hold with the whole World the Coat of Charitie wouen aboue which his Persecutors haue not diuided In the same Psalme it is said Ps 21. 28. that all the World shall hold it he saith All the ends of the Earth shall remember and be conuerted to our Lord and all the Families of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight Open the eyes of your heart Ps 49. 1. and heare for the God of Gods our Lord hath spoken and hee hath called the Earth from the rising of the Sunne euen to the going downe out of Sion the beautie of his comelinesse If you will not heare this heare the Gospell our Lord speaking and saying by his proper mouth All things ought to be fulfilled of Christ which of him are written in the Law and Prophets and Psalmes and Penance and Remission of sinnes in his Name to be preached throughout all Nations beginning at Ierusalem That which is said in the Psalme He hath called the Earth from the rising of the Sun vnto the going downe This is vnderstood in the Gospell by all Nations And that which in the Psalme is said out of Sion the beautie of his comelinesse in the Gospell is said beginning from Ierusalem Wherefore doe you beleeue that the Cockle hath growne and hath filled the World and the Wheat to haue diminished in Brittanie onely to haue remained Doe you call your selues Christians and yet contradict Christ Hee saith suffer both to grow vntill the Haruest Hee did not say let the Cockle grow and the Wheat diminish Hee said the Field is the World and did not say the Field is Brittanie Thus Saint Augustine Epist 171. and we with him So deare Reader not to liue seeking after lyes and publikely professing in deeds and actions that God Almightie is forsworne when Sathan shall tempt thee in matters of Faith or any controuersie ariseth betweene thee some Protestant about Religion as about the Reall Presence Prayer for the Dead Intercession to Saints c. make some of the aforesaid Acts set downe in the former Chapter with zeale and feruor and hold fast the hope proposed which Heb. 6. 18. wee haue as an Anchor of the Soule sure and firme the Oath of God and that it is impossible for God to lye Be not remoued away from the two things vnmoueable the Oath of God and Impossibilitie for God to lye Whereupon is grounded all the whole course of the Scriptures and founded the House of God the Church of the 1. Tim. 3. 15. liuing God the Pillar and ground of Truth And neither Death Rom. 8. nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers neither things present nor things to come neither might nor height nor depth nor other creature shall be able to make thee a Protestant Sectarie or Heretike and separate thee from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith the Faith of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And in arguing and disputing with Sectaries who denie our Catholike Faith put them to proue that the Oath of God the Promises and Prophecies are verified and fulfilled vpon their Sects and then thou shalt finde that their Doctrine proceedeth from this Sourse or Gulfe that Sathan is encreased in Pride hath got him a new Coat and reformed his Religion Whereas heretofore he was wont to goe like a Serpent and preach out of a Tree and taught that God Almightie could lye and men that would beleeue him should be as Gods No you shall Gen. 3. not die you shall be as Gods now he hath encreased his Pride and got a new Coat and goeth like a Precisian Minister and preacheth out of Pulpits and hath reformed his Faith and Religion teaching for God can lye and you shall be as Gods God can be forsworne and you are Gods and cannot lye erre or be deceiued but be assured to enioy Heauen and vpon this hath founded his reformed Religions the violating of the Oathes of God and publike profession in acts and deeds that God Almightie is periured and forsworne Heb. 6. 17. God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of his Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell in performing what hee did promise for the establishing of the hearts of men in the infallibilitie of our Christian Catholike Faith Church Priesthood swore two Oathes the one in confirmation of the Priesthood of our Lord for euer Ps 129. Heb. 7. Our Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer aecording to the Order of Melchisedeck The other this which we treate of The Oath of God to Abraham Act. 3. Of multiplying Gen. 22. his Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea-shoare Thy Seed shall possesse the gates of his enemies In thy Seed shall be blessed all the Families of the Earth And vpon these Oaths is founour Catholike Faith And the Deuill meaning more abundantly to shew his malice and power in the hearts of wretched men the heires of his Myseries and endlesse Torments hath brought them to plant a Faith and Religion grounded and founded vpon the denying in actions and deeds of the fulfilling of both these Oathes of God First by winning men to denie in effect and deeds that God Almightie hath multiplied Christians his children as the Starres of Heauen possessing the Gates of their enemies and mouing them to affirme in acts and deeds that for many hundreth yeares together God Almightie hath failed in fulfilling of his first Oath he hath planted in their hearts his new Ministeriall Doctrine And secondly by winning Men to deny in action and deeds that our Lord was a Priest for euer according to the Order of Melchisedeck and mouing them to affirme in acts and deeds that he was a Priest but for once and that according to the Order of Aaron in offering vp of himselfe once vpon the Crosse he hath destroied all the Christian Priest-hood life and Religion which was amongst them And so by mouing men in acts deeds publikely to professe that God Almightie hath beene twice forsworn the Diuel hath founded and planted amongst them his new reformed Religions groūded and founded vpon two cōtradictories to the grounds of our Catholike Faith viz. God Almightie cannot lye or be forwsorne God Almighty is periured and can lye Which is so manifest that if Malice and Passion doe not blinde thy heart and extinguish the light of reason in thy vnderstanding I will make thee touch it as we vse to say with thy
a Sparrow solitarie in the house top I did eat ashes as bread and mingled my drinke with weeping So great was the detestation and sorrow this holy Prophet had for his sinne that hee withered away through sighing and groaning fled the companie of men for shame and liued as a Crow or Owle that flyeth onely by Night and as a Sparrow who hauing lost her Mate and young remayneth mourning all alone and did eat ashes as bread and would take no comfort but in weeping My teares haue Ps 41. 4. beene bread vnto me day and night I haue laboured in my sighing I will euerie Night Ps 5. 7. wash my Bed and will water my Couch with my teares And of his zeale against sinne in others hee sayth My zeale hath made me pine Ps 118. 139. away because my enemies haue forgotten thy wordes Againe I saw the Preuaricators Ps 118. 138. and I pined away because they kept not thy wordes Againe Did not Ps 138. 21. I hate them that hate thee O Lord and pined away because of thine enemies With perfect hatred I did hate them That is hee did hate their sinne and loue their persons and seeke their saluation and in this was so zealous that hee would neither permit any one who liued in the breach of the Commandements of God either to sit at his Table with him or wait vpon him or dwell in his Pallace laying One of proud eye and vnsatiable Ps 100. 5. heart with him I did not eate mine eyes are towards the faithfull of the Earth that they may sit with me A man that walketh in the immaculate way he did minnister to me He that doth proudly shall not dwell in the middest of my house And wishing all others to follow the same rule saith With the Ps 17. 16. holy thou shalt be holy and with the innocent man thou shalt be innocent with the elect thou shalt be elect and with the peruerse thou shalt be peruerted And out of his zeale of the glorie and honor of God composed the Psalmes and prepared for the building of the Temple of God The like example of Zeale wee may finde in the Apostles and Saints Loue cannot be idle nor spirituall Iealousie euer be satisfied with labouring for God Almightie and the more it laboureth and doth the lesse it esteemeth it hath done according to the words of our Lord When you haue Luc. 17. 10. done all thinges that are commaunded you say we are vnprofitable seruants The infinite mercies and liberalitie of God Almightie so ouerwhelming and drowning all their affections in the Sea of his goodnesse that they finde no paines but in not suffering paines and vndergoing labours for his loue So Saint Paul sayth Who shall separate Rom. 8. 35. vs from the Charitie of Christ Tribulation or Distresse or Famine or Nakednesse or Danger or Persecution or the Sword In all these things we ouercome because of him that hath loued vs. Once wounded with his loue farewell all the base pleasures and delights of the sonnes of Agar and estimation of the commodities and vanities of the World I haue Phil. 3. 8. made all things as detriment and doe esteeme them as dung that I may gaine Christ and may be found in him to know him and the vertue of his Resurrection and the societie of his Passion configured to his death If by any meanes I may come to the Resurrection which is from the dead Then so high an estimation of God Almightie and of the glorie of the other life entreth into his soule by the taste of a few droppes of his grace and fauour that paines are turned into pleasures and labours into delights for his loue and all earthly things seeme dung base and vile as they are indeed in comparison of the enioying God Almightie and the attaining vnto eternall life the force of Charitie hauing so ouercome the weakenesse of humane nature that now they liue not they but Christ in them Loue hauing so drawne them out of themselues as that they are no more that they were but that they loue To the fulfilling of the Promises and Prophecies saying in the person of our Lord I will Osce 11. 4. pull them vnto me in the coardes of Loue in the bonds of Charitie Againe This is the Iero. 31. Testament which I will make with them After these dayes Heb. 10. 15. saith our Lord giuing my Lawes in their hearts and in their mindes will I superscribe them This is the Testament which God made with our Fathers That hee would giue vs his Loue and Charitie in our hearts and soules and draw and pull vs vnto him with coardes and chaynes of Loue and Charitie This is it which our Lord promised before his Passion saying If I be exalted from the Earth Io. 12. 32. I will draw all things to my selfe Signifying that by his Passion hee would obtaine so great Charitie and Loue for his Elect who are all things all things being for them That he would draw them to himselfe into Heauen according to the saying of S. Paul Our conuersation is in Heauen and Phil. 3. 20. the wordes of our Lord saying For where thy treasure is Mat. 6. 22. there is thy heart also The treasure of the Saints is our Lord Iesus in Heauen and their hearts being wounded with the abundance of his Loue and Charitie of them it may more properly be said that they liue in Heauen then here vpon Earth for that their hearts and affections are there and man is said rather to be there where his soule loueth then where his bodie liueth and according to this our Lord saith Father whom thou hast giuen Io. 17. 24. me I will that where I am they also may be with me by grace in this life and glory in the other and so saith Iust Father Io. 17. 2â— I will that the loue wherewith thou hast loued me may be in them and I in them This he said before his Passion and before his Ascension and by his Ascension Hee departed Aug. li. con 4. ca. 12. from our eyes that wee might returne into our hearts and finde him Hee departed indeed and yet he is heere He would not be long from vs and yet he neuer left vs Hee is in our inward hearts but our hearts haue erred from him turne sinners into your hearts and keepe his Commandements that made you stand with him and you shall stand rest in him and you shall finde Ease and Rest which God of his infinite mercies grant thee deare Reader CHAP. XX. The third Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with their whole hearts and their Neighbours for God as themselues which is the becomming sonnes of God and coheires with our Sauiour THe next happines of such as loue God Almightie with all their hearts is that they become the sonnes and children of God according to the wordes of
So Saint Augustine God Almightie who is in all places and euerie where present is inuisible to the eyes of the bodie and visible to the pure cleane of heart yet not so visible to the cleane of heart in this life as that they shall see him as he is in his essence or diuine nature or as he inhabiteth Light 1. Tim. 6. 16. not accessible whom no man hath seene yea neither can see and Exo. 33. liue but as S. Paul saith in 1. Cor. 13. a darke sort in comparison of the blessed seeing of him in the other life or as the Saints say in such sort as his Will hath chosen and not his Nature formed whose delights are as he saith to be with the children of men Whereupon Pro. 8. 31. S. Augustine saith What doe I Li. Con. li. 10. ca. 6. loue when I loue thee my Lord I doe not loue the beautie of Bodies nor the glorie of Time nor the brightnesse of Light nor the sweete melodie of all kind of delightfull Songs nor the pleasing smels of Flowers and Oyntments and Spices not Manna and Honey nor Members acceptable to the embracements of the Flesh I doe not loue these when I loue my God and yet I loue a certaine Light and a certaine Voice and a certaine Odor and a certaine Meate and a certaine Imbracing when I loue my God the Light the Voice the Odor the Meate the imbracing of my inward Man where doth shine to my Soule that which Place doth not comprehend and where doth sound that which Time doth not take away and where doth smell that which a puffe of Wind doth not scatter and where doth taste that which eating doth not diminish and where doth cleaue that which satietie doth not take away This is that which I loue when I loue my God So great are the mercies of God Almightie and so infinite is his loue towards them who loue him with all their hearts that since they are not capable liuing in this life of seeing his substance and Diuine Nature Essence Deitie and Glorie hee will accommodate himselfe so as that they shall finde know and see him as they may and so enioy the greatest Ease Rest Content and Happinesse that they are capable of in this life and rest in some sort satisfied quiet and content as a Stone in his Centure Fire in his Sphere and Ayre in his Region according as in other places our Lord sayth Io. 17. 3â— This is life euerlasting that they know the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And againe I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce and your ioy no man shall take from you and in that day you shall not aske any thing because they had by seeing our Lord all that they could desire and all Ease Rest and Content that in this life they were capable of so much content and so great that wee cannot expresse it but by saying that they had more then ynough of Rest and Content Thy friends are Ps 138. honoured too much Insomuch as there ariseth many times a pious contention betweene our Lord and a soule that loueth him who knowing her owne vnworthinesse how vnworthie shee is of any such fauours desireth to loue him and shew her loue towards him onely for his goodnesse without receiuing in this life such infinite rewards and therefore with thankfulnesse and humilitie as farre as resignation to his will permitteth refuseth the acceptance of his great contentments and fauours And then God Almightie being as it were more ouercome with these her humble proceedings poureth them out vpon her the more for in louing her humilitie and making great account of her resignation and desire of louing him onely for his goodnesse as vpon one fit to receiue greater fauours hee will communicate his goodnesse more abundantly vnto her and so they both rest as it were more then satisfied God Almightie in the humilitie resignation and faithfulnesse of the soule that loueth him and the soule that loueth him in the infinite mercies of her Lord. Thou must not thinke that I put Content and Happinesse in Visions Reuelations Gustes Consolations or spirituall delights such errors be farre from me but I put them in Charitie and diuine Loue the louing of God Almightie with all thy heart and thy neighbor for God as thy selfe according to the Precept and speake of those spirituall delights as they doe fill and satisfie Loues motions and so both giue content and encrease thy content and happinesse by mouing thee the more to loue his Diuine Maiestie as hauing tasted of his goodnesse according to the prayer of S. Paul for the Ephesians saying Hearing of your Eph. 1. 15. faith that is in our Lord Iesus and loue towards all the Saints I cease not to giue thanks for you making a memorie of you in my prayers That God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glorie giue you the spirit of Wisdome and of Reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your heart illuminated that you may know what the hope is of his vocation and what are the riches of his inheritance in the Saints Thou mayest be happie and neither haue Vision nor Reuelation nor yet many sensible spirituall Consolations yet more cause there is for thee to hope that thou art in a happie estate the more thou partakest of the Promises which God Almightie hath promised to such as are happie and loue him with all their hearts and so saith Blessed are your Mat. 13. 16. eyes because they see the Sonne of God and your eares because they heare God Almightie speaking and preaching And Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Iona Mat. 16. 17. because flesh and bloud hath not reuealed it vnto thee And againe he sayth Learne of me Mat. 11. 28. for I am meeke and humble of heart and you shall finde rest that is himselfe who is all the Content and Rest that wee either shall finde or can hope to attaine vnto in this life or in all eternitie Whereupon it is said Seeke God and Ps 68. 33. thy soule shall liue not that thou shalt be happie by onely seeing him in this life but by louing him hee being an infinite Good and the chiefest Good of all Goods and onely sufficient to satisfie thy heart with complete content For by seeing him hee will so pierce thy heart with his loue and wound thy soule and all thy affections with the excellencie of his Goodnesse that thou wilt say with S. Paul I esteeme all things to Phil. 3. 8. be detriment and as dung that I may gaine Christ Though thou wert the greatest King Queene Prince or Emperour of the Earth as great as were Assuerus and Ester who reigned ouer the Medes and Persians an hundreth twentie seuen Prouinces Est 1. yet wouldest thou heartily say with Queene Ester to our Lord Thou knowest Est 4. 16. Lord my necessitie that I
abhorre the signe of my pride and glorie which is vpon my head in the dayes of my ostentation and detest it as the cloth of a woman in her monethly flowers and did neuer reioyce but in thee O Lord the God of Abraham According to this are the many sayings of S. Augustine For that thou O Lord to him that Conf. li. 12. 15. loueth thee as much as thou commandest doest shew thy selfe and art all that he can desire therefore he doth neither decline from thee nor to himselfe And so saith of himselfe That before his conuersion to the Catholike Religion This was all his practise Conf. li. 9. ca. 1. not to will that which God Almightie would he should and to will that which God Almightie would hee should not But after that his Free-will was called to subiect it selfe vnder the light yoake of our Lord and his stout shoulders vnder the burthen of Iesus Christ his Redeemer then hee sayth Of a sudden how sweet it was made to me to want the sweetnesse of Trifles and those thinges which before I feared to lose now I reioyced in shaking them off For thou the true and chiefest Sweetnesse diddest cast them from me thou diddest cast them out of me and diddest enter thy selfe for them who art more sweete then all pleasures Againe Late haue Conf. li. 10. c. 27. I loued thee Beautie so ancient and so new late haue I loued thee and behold thou wast within me and I was without my selfe and there I did seeke thee and amongst these faire things which thou hast made I foulely erred Thou wast present to me but I was absent from thee and these things did separate me farre from thee which if in thee they were not had not beene Thou hast called and cried and hast ouercome my deafenesse Thou hast beene bright and hast shined and hast driuen away my darkenesse Thou hast burned and I haue drawne breath and breathe out after thee I haue tasted and I hunger and thirst Thou hast touched me and I haue burned after thy Peace and Rest Hee which hath knowne Veritie hath Li. 7. ca. 10. knowne it and he who hath knowne iâ— hath knowne Eternitie Charitie hath knowne it O eternall Veritie and true Charitie and deare Eternitie Thou art my God to thee I send forth sighes day and night and when I first knew thee thou tookest me vp that I might see my selfe as I was and that I was not yet that which I would seeme to be and thou diddest beat the weakenesse of my sight excellently shining in me and I trembled with loue and feare and I haue found my selfe to haue beene farre from thee in a Countrey very vnlike thee as if I should heare thy voice from aboue saying I am the Meate of great ones grow and thou shalt eate me Againe What Li. 4. ca. 1. am I when it is well with me but one sucking thy Milke or one enioying thee the Meate which neuer corrupteth So S. Augustine God Almightie in our hearts is the Treasure hidden Maâ— 13. 44. in the Field which a man hauing found did hide and for ioy thereof went and sold all that hee had and bought that Field Finding once God Almightie farwel the world and all his sensuall pleasures Then God forbid that â— should Gal. 6. 14. glorie sauing in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the World is crucified to me and I to it Then vnto me to liue is Christ and to die is gayne Phil. 1. 21. Then thou needest not wish him goe and sell all that hee Mat. 19. 21. hath giue to the poore and follow our Lord he will goe and do it of himselfe though he were King of the whole Globe of the Earth and say with the Prophet What is to Ps 72. 25. me in Heauen and besides thee what would I vpon Earth my flesh hath fainted and my heart God of my heart and God my portion for euer God Almightie manifesting of himselfe in the hearts of these who loue him is that precious Pearle Which Mat. 13. 46. the Marchant man hauing found went his way and sold all that hee had and bought it it being all Content Whereupon S. Augustine saith Whatsoeuer Aug. in Ps 26. is not God is not sweet and whatsoeuer my Lord will vouchsafe to giue me let him take it away and giue me himselfe God Almightie is all Loue and Charitie and If Cant. 8. 7. a man saith the holie Ghost shall giue all the substance of his house for Loue as nothing hee will despise it This is the Kingdome of God vpon Earth of which our Lord speaking saith The Luc. 17. 21. Kingdome of God is within you But not euerie one that saith Mat. 7. 21. Lord Lord shall enter into it but he that doth the will of God which is in it He that loueth Mat. 25. God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself he shall enter Luc. 9. 60. into the Kingdome of Heauen God Almighty manifesting of himself to the eies of the harts of these who loue him is the light of the World and men haue Io. 9. 6. loued the darknes rather then the Io. 3. 19. light for their workes were euill euen so euil that they think it impossible or not necessary to keep the CoÌ„mandemeÌ„ts of God Whereupon S. Aug. said to the Aug. li. 9. ca. 4. dead deaf heretiks of his time O that they could see the inward eternall Light which I because I had tasted I was angry at my selfe for that I could not shew it them if they should bring vnto me a heart in their owne eyes without thee should say Who will shew vs good things Of this Light the Prophet Dauid speaking saith The light Ps 4. 7. of thy countenance is signed vpoÌ„ vs thou hast giueÌ„ gladnes in my hart Again With thee is the fountain of Ps 35. 10. life in thy light we shal see light This is that one thing necessarie which S. Marie Magdelen hath chosen the best part which shal not be taken away from her the gracious presence of our Lord in her heart soule according to the words of S. Aug. saying Who wil giue to me Li. Con. â—â— my Lord that he may come into my heart and make it drunke that I may forget all my euils and embrace thee my onlie good God Almightie manifesting of himselfe in the hearts of theÌ„ who loue him is the hidden Manna which no man knoweth but hee that receiueth it spoken of in the Apocalypse saying He that hath an eare Apo. 2. 17. to heare let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches To him that ouercommeth sinne I will giue him the hidden Manna and will giue him a white Lot and in the Lot a new Name written which no man knoweth but he that receiueth Whereupon the Prophet Dauid sayth Taste ye and see
She that which late lay hid in cloudinesse More bright and cleare then Phoebus beames shall shine CHAP. XXIII The sixt Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their neighbour for God as themselues are the gifts they receiue from the holy Ghost dwelling in them and the fruits which he produceth in them THe mercies which God Almightie sheweth to such as loue him with all their hearts and their neighbours as themselues are so infinite that he doth not onlie dwell in their hearts and soules as in his house and home and manifest himselfe vnto them but also bestoweth inestimable gifts vpon them and decketh and adorneth their soules in this life with his Iewels and produceth in their hearts diuine fruits that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by Isay the Prophet saying Reioycing I will reioyce in our Isa 61. 10. Lord and my soule shal be ioyfull in my God because he hath clothed me with the garments of Saluation and with the garment of Iustice he hath compassed me as a Bridegroome decked with a Crowne and as a Bride adorned with her Iewels For as the Earth bringeth forth her Spring and as the Garden shooteth forth her Seede so shall our Lord God make Iustice to spring in the hearts of all those who loue him according to the words of our Sauiour saying If you loue me Io. 14. 15. keepe my Commandements and I will aske the Father and he will giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer the spirit of Truth he shall abide in you and be in you He Io. 14. 26. shall teach you all things and suggest vnto you all things whatsoeuer I shall say vnto you according to which wordes Saint Paul saith Wee haue 1. Cor. 2. 12. receiued not the spirit of this World but the spirit which is of God Againe If anie haue Rom. 8. 17. not the spirit of Christ the same is not his Whereby we see that the spirit of Christ doth remaine in all those who loue him by whose meanes they become wise learned full of counsell strength knowledge pietie and feare of God according to the wordes of Isay the Prophet saying And Isa 11. 2. the spirit of our Lord shall rest vpon him the spirit of Wisedome and Vnderstanding the spirit of Counsell and Strength the spirit of Knowledge and Pietie and the spirit of the feare of our Lord shall replenish him So here according to good Method wee should speake of the aforesaid gifts or effects of the Spirit of Christ the holy Ghost in vs But hauing occasion to speake of them in our fourth Booke where wee must treat of the interchange of gifts betweene God and Man not to speake twice of them wee deferre them vntill then and proceede to set downe the fruits which the holy Ghost doth produce in the hearts of those who loue him and keepe his Commandements He that beleeueth in me saith Io. 7. 38. our Sauiour as the Scriptures say out of his bellie shall flowe Riuers of liuing Water and this hee said of the Spirit they should receiue which are to beleeue in him Whose fruits or liuing Water Saint Paul setteth downe saying The fruit of the Spirit is Gal. 5. 22. Charitie Ioy Peace Patience Benignitie Goodnesse Longanimitie Mildnesse Faith Modestie Continencie Chastitie These are the delicate fruites vvhich the Holie Ghost doth produce in the hearts of those vvho loue him vvith all their hearts by vvhich they are made beautifull and happie According to the vvordes of Saint Paul saying 1. Tim. 3. 4. For God not by the vvorkes of Iustice vvhich vvee did of our selues as of our selues but according to his great Mercie 2. Cor. 3 5. he hath saued vs by the Lauer of Regeneration and Renouation of the holie Ghost vvhom he hath poured vpon vs abundantly by Iesus Christ our Lord that being iustified by his grace vve may be heires according to hope of life euerlasting The holie Ghost is the Tree of which the Espouse in the Canticles speaking Can. 2. saith Vnder his shadow vvhome I desired I sate and his fruit was svveet vnto my throat Hee brought mee into the Wine-cellar hee hath ordayned in mee Charitie OF THE FIRST FRVIT OF THE Holy Ghost which is Charitie THe first fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Charitie or puritie of Heart goodnesse of Conscience and a Faith not fained for so S. Paul and S. Augustine define Charitie saying The end 1. Tim. 1. Aug. tract 8. in Io. of the Precept is Charitie from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained Whereby they doe easily keepe the Commandements which consist in Charitie and so liue in a happie estate vpon Earth enioying all the blessings which are promised to the Charitable which in some part we haue set down in the former Chapters and more then wee are able to expresse remaine for that Charitie is the bond Col. 3. 14. of perfection and comprehendeth in it whatsoeuer is good and of perfection By it we cleaue to God by it we loue our Neighbours by it wee take away all Euils Wretchednesse and Miseries by it we attaine vnto all good Whereupon Saint Augustine Aug. in epist Ionn tract 5. Sâ—câ— 2. q 23. â—â—t 8. saith Haue Charitie and haue all things And S. Thomas affirmeth Charitie to be the forme of all other Vertues by which their acts are addressed to their last endes and the end of all Vertues and the Foundation in which they are sustained As all Vertues if they be Vertues of Grace and Fauour making vs acceptable to God are grounded in Charitie as we haue shewed in the sixteenth Chapter so all the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost are founded in Charitie as boughes or branches in the Root according to the words of our Lord saying Whosoeuer shall doe the Will of my Father Mat. â—â— 50. keepe his Commandements he is my Brother and Sister and Mother hee is partaker of all Ioyes Comforts Contents and Happinesse whatsoeuer For in Christ Gal. 6. 15. Iesu neither Circumcision auaileth ought nor Prepuce but a new Creature a pure Heart and whosoeuer shall follow this rule Peace vpon them â— Tim. 1. and Mercie all Ioyes and Contentments Whereupon our Sauiour saith He that abideth Io. â—5 6. in me and I in him the same beareth much Fruit And â— Io 4. 17. he that abideth in Charitie abideth in God and God in him And S. Paul saith Charitie 1. Cor. 13. 4. is patient is benigne Charitie enuieth not dealeth not peruersly is not puffed vp is not Ambitious seeketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh not euill reioyceth not vpon Iniquitie but reioyceth with the Truth Whereby is manifest that all the rest of the Fruits of the holy Ghost are founded in Charitie So God grant
Holy Ghost which is Faith THe ninth fruit is Faith not such a Faith as is in Heretikes and Deuils who haue their spirits so full of malice and iniquitie that they thinke it impossible to loue God Almightie with all their Hearts But a Faith in their Hearts rooted Eph. 4. 17. and founded in Charitie that they may be filled vnto all the fulnesse of God and be now no Eph. 3. 19. more Strangers and Forrainers but Citizens of the Saints and the Domesticals of God treating with him in their Soules by Faith that worketh Gal. 5 6. by Charitie A Faith planted in a good Luk 8 15 and very good Heart which hearing the Word doth retaine it and yield fruit in Patience Mat 13 29 some an hundreth fold and other threescore and another thirtie A Faith Light of the World Mat 5 15 shining before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heauen A Faith dilated all ouer the World Teach ye all Nations Mat. 28 19. And they going forth Mar. 16. 20. preached euery where Into Rom. 16. 18. al the Earth hath the sound of them gone forth and vnto the end of the whole World the words of them In the Col. 1. 6. whole World it is and fructifieth and groweth A Faith Wherein God meaning more abundantly to shew the Heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell he interposed an Oath because he had none greater by whom he might sweare he sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and Multiplying shall Multiply thee that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye we may haue a most strong comfort who haue fled to hold fast the hope proposed in our Faith The Faith of Iesus Christ Gal. 3. 22. giuen to them that beleeue The Iustice of God by Faith Rom. 3. 22. 31 of Iesus Christ whereby we doe not destroy the Law but establish the Law according to the words of our Sauiour saying Doe not thinke that Mat. 5. 18. I came to breake the Law or the Prophets I came not to breake but to fulfill A Faith which whosoeuer beleeueth and doth according to that which he beleeueth As the Scriptures say out of his belly shall flow Ioh. 7. 38. Riuers of liuing water And Isa 12. 3. he shall draw waters in ioy out of the Fountaines of our Sauiour and be inebriated with Psa 35. 9. the plentie of the house of God and with the torrent of his pleasure be made drunke OF THE TENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Modestie THe tenth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Modestie which is a decencie or honest temperature of the motions of the Minde and Bodie by helpe whereof they alwaies square their actions to a beseeming comlinesse pleasing in the sight of God whom they know to be present So S. Paul exhorting the Ephesians saith All naughtie Eph 4 29. speech let it not proceede out of your mouth but if there be any good to the edifying of Faith that it may giue grace to the hearers And contristate not the holy Spirit of God in which you are signed vnto the day of Redemption And againe to Timothie The Seruant of our Lord must 2. Tim. 2 24. not wrangle but be milde towards all men apt to teach patient with modestie admonishing them that resist the Truth Heretikes and Schismatikes least sometime God giue them Repentance to know the Truth and they recouer themselues from the snares of the Deuill of whom they are hold captiue at his will Againe Let your modestie Phil. 4. 5. be knowne to all men our Lord is nigh Whereupon S. Augustine saith He made Conf. li. 4. ca. 12. these things and is not farre off from them for he did not make them and then goe his waies but of him and in Act. 17. 28. him they are for in him we liue and moue and be And by these meanes they grow and increase dayly in Pietie and tender affection towards God Almightie and liue without any iust cause of reprehension amongst men excelling in ciuilitie and decent behauiour though Modestie is practised in all actions yet it is chiefly noted in the eyes insomuch as of the Foole it is said The eyes of Pro. 17. 24. a Foole are in the end of the Earth gazing after euery thing But the eies of the Eph. 4. 15. Wise are in his Head looking vpon our Lord who is our Head and there so content that he little careth or desireth to see any thing else more then necessitie requireth So the Prophet Dauid saith To thee haue I lifted vp mine Ps 122. eyes which dwelleth in the Heauens Behold as the eyes of Seruants are to the hand of their Master as the eyes of the Hand-maid on the hands of her Mistres so our eies to our Lord God Againe I foresaw our Lord in my sight alwaies because Ps 15. 8. he is at my right hand that I be not moued for this thing my heart hath beene glad and my tongue hath reioiced moreouer also my flesh shall rest in hope OF THE ELEVENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Continencie THe eleuenth fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Continencie which is a vertue by which mē liuing amongst the occasions of vsing lawfull sensuall pleasures to get the victorie and conquest ouer their carnall appetites do abstaine from them that by denying to themselues hings which many times be lawfull or indifferent they may easily attaine vnto grace and force to ouercome and suppresse their vnlawfull Desires thereby to bring their passions and inordinate affections to a subordination vnder the obedience of right reason and so liue in great libertie of Spirit and latitude of Minde free from consenting to base Desires Wherefore S. Paul saith in the same Chapter That against such there is no Law and addeth the reason for that they haue crucified their Flesh with the vices and concupiscences Continencie in generall consisting in the acts of Abstinence and Mortification doth crucifie or make dead the inordinate desires of the Flesh That the iustification Rom. 8. of the Law might be fulfilled in vs who walke not according to the Flesh but according to the Spirit For they that are according to the flesh are affected to the things that are of the flesh as we see by too much experience in carnall Heretikes who professe publikely in Print That they cannot liue chaste But they that are according to the Spirit are affected to the things that are of the Spirit that is to say to Continencie Chastitie Charitie c. For Rom. 8. the Wisdome of the Flesh is death but the Wisedome of the Spirit life and peace Such as liue according to the concupiscences and desires of the
Flesh are dead to Grace in this life and to Glory in the other But such as liue according to the wisedome of the Spirit in Continencie and Chastitie by mortifying their inordinate appetites shall liue with the life of Grace in this life of Glory in the other and in Temporall peace of minde in this life and Eternall in the other Because the Wisedome of the Rom. 8. 13. Flesh is an enemie to God for to the Law of God it is not subiect neither can it be for if you liue according to the Flesh you shall die but if by the Spirit you mortifie the deedes of the Flesh you shall liue For whosoeuer are led by the Spirit of God and mortifie the deeds of the Flesh they are the sonnes of God But if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of Continencie and Mortification the same is not his but the Deuils Whereupon Saint Paul yet further saith I say walke Gal. 5. 16. in the Spirit that is in doing acts of Mortification and Continencie and the lust of the Flesh you shall not accomplish for the Flesh lusteth Gal. 5. 17. against the Spirit so these are enemies one to another and combate for the victorie If the inordinate lust and desires of the Flesh preuaile so farre with thee as that they bring thy Will Reason and Soule to consent to their desires then the inordinate lust and concupisences of the Flesh are Lords and Masters and thy Will Reason and Soule become slaues to their owne vassals and thou becommest a beast and a beastly man to runne after thy fleshly Lusts and Concupisences like the wilde Asses and beasts of the Forrest and that is thy life and felicitie If thy Soule or vpper part make continent and mortifie thy Lusts and Carnall desires and inordinate appetites of thy flesh then thy Soule or vpper part is Lord and Master and thou liuest like a man or reasonable creature and not like a beast and commest by perseuerance in Continencie and Mortification to enioy these delicate Fruits of the Holy Ghost which heere we treate of And for this cause the Life of Man is Iob. 7. called a Warfare For the Flesh Gal. â— â—7 lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh for these are aduersaries one to another that not what things soeuer you will those you doe without combate But combating the lust of the Flesh with Continencie and Mortification which are the fruits of the Spirit you come to enioy inestimable libertie of doing alwaies by combate what you will and will nothing but that which is reasonable according as it is written Where the Spirit of our 2 Cor. 3. 17. Lord is there is Libertie Againe Brethren you are called Gal. 5. 13. into Libertie And S. Paul setting down wherein this libertie consisteth saith Make Gal. 5. â—3 not this Libertie an occasion to the Flesh but by Charity serue one another For the Law is fulfilled in one word Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thy self This is the Libertie vnto which we are called a Libertie of doing good alwaies and when we will by being conquerers ouer the inordinate lust of our Flesh and wicked temptations of the World and Diuell by the assistance of the Holy Ghost his gifts and fruits in vs. Who shall deliuer me saith Rom. 7. S. Paul from the bodie of this death the Grace of God by Iesus Christ our Lord. Again The Grace of God our Sauiour 1. Tiâ— 2. 1â— hath appeared to all men instructing vs that denying impietie and worldly desires we liue soberly and iustly and godly in this World expecting the blessed hope and comming of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ Whereby thou seest deare Reader the excellencie of Continencie since that by instructing thee how to deny impietie and worldly desires it will bring thee to liue soberly and iustly and godly in this world euen as one that continually expecteth the comming of the great God to Iudgement which is the greatest Happinesse we can attaine vnto in this life according to the words of our Lord saying Blessed is Luk. 12. 43. the Seruant who when the Lord commeth he shall finde so doing verily I say vnto you that ouer all things which he possesseth he shall appoint him OF THE TVVELFTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Chastitie THe twelfth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Chastitie which is an abrenuntiation of carnall pleasures and sensuall delights not absolute necessary to Nature wherby they attaine to perfect libertie of Spirit and freedome of Minde and easily and without impediment attend vnto the Exercises of the Heauenly Ierusalem according to the words of S. Paul saying He that is 1. Cor. 7. 23. without a Wife is carefull for the things that pertaine to our Lord how he may please God But he that is with a Wife is carefull for the things that pertaine to the World how he may please his Wife and he is diuided amongst many Masters that he cannot easily serue and loue God with his whole heart according to the Commandement So likewise S. Paul saith The Woman vnmarried and the 1. Cor. 7. 34. Virgine thinketh on the things that pertaine to our Lord that shee may be holy both in Bodie and Spirit But she that is married thinketh on the things that pertaine to the World how she may please her Husband And this I speake to your profit not to cast a snare vpon you but to that which is honest and that may giue you power without impediment to attend vpon our Lord. If thou wouldest obserue it thou shalt finde that the thing which hindreth thee from meditating and practising spirituall courses pious exercises of life is thy vnchast minde which seeking after the fornications of the World and Flesh perpetually distracteth thee froÌ„ well doing or thinking by hir vntame thoughts and wandring discourses after the sensual pleasures vanities of the Earth which if by Chastitie of minde thou couldest cut off thou shouldest as S. Paul affirmeth not onely meditate vpon the things that pertaine to our Lord and be holy both in Bodie and Spirit but also without impediment attend vpon our Lord and liue an Angelicall life vpon Earth according to the words of our Sauiour saying They Luk. â—0 35. that shall be counted worthy of the Resurrection from the dead neither Marry nor take Wiues neither can they dye any more for they are equall to Angels Whereby thou seest the excellencie of chaste Life that it will free thee from Worldly cares and distractions and will indue thee with such a facilitie in seruing God as that thou shalt be able as S. Paul saith to 1. Cor. 7. attend vpon our Lord without impediment And this is sufficient in part to shew vnto thee the Ioy Ease Rest Repose Content and Happinesse which God Almightie