recollect my selfe in thee that for thy loue I may not feele my selfe but thee alone aboue all sense and feeling in a manner not knowne vnto all But now I oftentimes lament Dan. 13. and beare my infelicity with griefe For that many euells occurr in this vale of miseries which do often trouble grieue and darken me often hinder and distract me allure and intangle me to the end I should not haue free accesse vnto thee and that I should not enioy those sweet and heauenly imbracings which thou alwaies giuest to the blessed and celestiall spirits Let my sighes and manifold desolation on earth mooue thee 4. O Iesus splendor of eternall glory and comfort of the pilgrime soule with thee is my tongue without voice and my silence speaketh vnto thee How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come vnto me his poore seruant and make me glad Let him put out his hand and deliuer me miserable wretch from al anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall haue no ioy full day nor houre Thou art my ioy and without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and loaden with irons vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and giuest me liberty and shewest a fauourable countenance vnto me 5. Let others seeke what they please insteed of thee but for me nothing els doth nor shall delight me but thou only my God my hope my euerlasting health I will not hould my peace nor cease to pray vntill thy grace returne againe and thou speake inwardly vnto me Behould †Our Lord. I am heere behould I come vnto thee because thou hast called vpon me Thy teares and the desire of thy soule thy humility and the contrition of thy hart haue inclined and brought me vnto thee And * The Seruant I said Lord I haue called thee and haue desired to enioy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me vp that I might seeke thee Blessed be thou therfore o Lord that hast shewed this goodnes to thy seruant according to the multitude of thy mercies 6. What hath thy seruant more to say before thee but that he do greatly humble himselfe in thy sight alwaies mindfull of his owne iniquity and basenes For there is none like vnto thee in all whatsoeuer is wonderful Ps â—5 in heauen and earth Thy words are good thy iudgments true and by thy prouidence all things are gouerned Praise therfore and glory be vnto thee o wisdome of the eternall Father let my tongue my soule all creatures togeather praise and blesse thee CHAP. XXII Of the remembrance of the manifould benefits of God OPEN * The Seruant o Lord my hart in thy Law and teach me to walke in thy commandements Grant me to vnderstand thy will * Ps 118. and to remember thy benefits as well in generall as in particuler with great reuerence diligent consideration that hence forward I may be able worthily to giue thee thanks But I know and confesse that I am not able to giue thee due thanks for the fauours which thou bestowest vpon me euen in the least moment I am lesse then the least of thy benefits when I consider the excelleÌ„cy of thy Maiesty the greatnes therof maketh my spirit to faint 2. All that we haue in our soule and body and whatsoeuer we possesse outwardly or inwardly naturally or spiritually are thy benefits and do praise thee as bountifull pious and good from whome we haue receaued all that is good Although one hath receaued more another lesse all notwithstanding are thine and without thee euen the least cannot be had He that hath receaued greater cannot glory of his owne desert nor extoll himselfe aboue others nor insult ouer the lesser for he is greater and better that ascribeth least vnto himselfe and is more humble deuout in rendring thanks And he that esteemeth him selfe basest of all men and iudgeth himselfe most vnworthy is fittest to receaue greater blessings 3. And he that hath receaued fewer ought not to be sory nor beare it impatiently nor enuy them that are enriched with greater store but attend rather vnto thee and chiefly praise thy goodnes for that thou bestowest thy gifts so bountifully so freely and so willingly without respect of persons All things proceed from thee and therfore in all things thou art to be praised Thou knowest what is fit to be giuen to euery one and why this man hath lesse and he more it is not ours but thine to determine who dost waigh in iust measure the deserts of euery one 4. Wherfore my Lord God I esteeme it as a great benefit not to haue much wherby outwardly and before men I might seeme worthy of praise and glory so that he who considereth his owne pouerty and basenes ought not therfore to conceaue griefe or sorrow or to be therfore troubled but rather to take great comfort and to be glad for that thou O God hast chosen the poore and humble 1. Cor. 1. and the despised of this world for thy selfe Ps 44. and for thy familiar domesticall friends 2. Thess 2. Witnesses are thy Apostle themselues whome thou hast appointed princes ouer all the earth And yet they liued without complaint in the world so humble and simple meane to the eyes of men without all malice and deceipt Act. 5. that they reioyced to receaue coÌ„tumelies for thy name and what the world abhorreth they imbraced with great affection 5. Nothing therefore ought so to reioice him that loueth thee and acknowledgeth thy benefits as the accomplishment of thy will in himselfe and the pleasure of thy eternal appointment wherwith he ought to be so contented and comforted that he would as willingly be the least as any would wish to be the greatest as peaceable content in the last as in the first place and as willingly to be despised and contemned and to be of no esteeme or accompt as to be preferred in honour before all others and to be greater in the world For thy will and the loue of thy glory ought to be preferred before all things and to comfort him more and please him better then all the benefits which he hath receaued or can desire CHAP. XXIII Of soure thinges that bring much peace SONNE †Our Lord. now I will teach thee the way of peace and true liberty Do * The Seruant Lord I beseech thee as thou saist for I shall be very glad to heare it Endeauour †Our Lord. Matt. 26. Io. 5.6 1. Cor. 10. my Sonne to do rather the will of another then thine owne Euer choose rather to haue lesse then more Alwaies seeke the lowest place and to be inferior to euery one Wish alwaies and pray Lue. 14. that the will of God may be wholy fulfilled in thee Behold such a man entreth into the limits
temporall honour all worldly highnesse compared to thy eternall glory is vanity and folly O my truth my mercy my God most Blessed Trinity to thee alone be all praise honour vertue and glory for all eternity CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporall honours SONNE †Our Lord. trouble not thy selfe if thou seest others honoured and aduanced and thy self coÌ„temned and debased Lift vp thy hart vnto me in heauen and the contempt of men in earth will not grieue thee Lord * The Seruant we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity If I looke well into my selfe I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therfore I cannot iustly complaine of thee 2. But because I haue often and grieuously sinned against thee all creaturs do iustly take armes against me for shame and contempt is due vnto me but vnto thee praise honour and glory And vnlesse I do so prepare my selfe that I be willing do reioice to be despised and forsaken of all creatures to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtaine internall strength and peace nor be spiritually enlightned nor wholy vnited vnto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men SONNE †Our Lord. if the peace thou hast with any be grounded on the opinion which thou hast of him or on the contentmeÌ„t thou receauest in his company thou shalt euer be vnconstant and subiect to disquiet but if thou haue recourse vnto the euerliuing and eternall Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieue thee The loue of thy friend ought to rest in me and for me is he to be beloued whosoeuer he be whom thou thinkest well of and is verily deare vnto thee in this life No friendship can auaile or continue without me neither is the loue true and pure which they haue whose hartes are not ioyned togeather by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloued friends that forasmuch as appertaineth vnto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of men Man approacheth so much the neerer vnto God how much the further off he departeth from all earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth vnto God by how much lower he descendeth into himselfe and how much the baser he is in his owne coÌ„ceipt 2. But he that attributeth any good vnto himselfe hindreth the comming of Gods grace into him For the grace of the holy Ghost euer seeketh an humble hart If thou couldst perfectly annihilate thy self purge thy self of all created loue then should there flow into thee great abouÌ„dance of my grace When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creatour is taken froÌ„ thee Learne to ouercome thy selfe in al things for the loue of thy Creatour and then shalt thou be able to attaine to heauenly knowledg How little soeuer it be if it be inordinately loued and regarded it defileth the soule and hindreth the enioying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against vaine and secular knowledge SONNE †Our Lord. let not the fair speaches and subtile sayings of men moue thee †1. Cor. 4. For the Kingdome of God consisteth not in words but in vertue Obserue well the wordes which I speake for they inflame the hart and enlighten the mind induce coÌ„punction and bring sundry comforts Do thou neuer read to shew thy selfe learned or wise but labour to mortifie thy vices for that will profit thee more then the knowledg of many hard and difficult questioÌ„s 2. When thou shalt haue read knowne many things thou oughtest euer to returne to one beginning I am he that teacheth man all knowledg and do giue to little ones a more cleare vnderstanding then can be taught by man He therfore to whome I speake shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in spirit Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men and do little desire to know the way how to serue me The time will come when the Maister of Maisters shal appeare Christ the Lord of Angells to heare the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of euery one and then he will search Hierusalem with a candle Soph. 1. 1. Cor. 4. and the hidden things of darkenesse shall be laid open and the inuentions of tongues shall be silent 3. I am he that in an instant do raise vp the humble mind to vnder stand more reasons of the euerlasting truth then can be gotten by ten yeares study in schools I teach without noise of words without confusion of opinions without ambition of honour without contention of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise earthly things to loath things present to seeke the euerlasting to delight in the things that are eternal to fly honours to suffer scandalls to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and aboue all things feruently to loue me 4. For one by louing me entirely learned diuine things and spake wonders he prosited more in forsaking all things then in studying subtilties To some I speake ordinary things to others things more especiall to some I appeare sweetly by signes and figures but to some I reueale mysteries with much light The voice of boâ—ks is one but it teacheth not all men alike For I am the internal teacher I am the Truth the searcher of the hart the vnderstander of thoughts the setter forwards of good works distributing to euery one according to my will CHAP. XLIIII Of not drawing outward things to our selues SONNE †Our Lord. in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and esteeme thy selfe as dead vpon earth as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also passe ouer many things with a deafe eare and rather thinke of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is more profitable to turne thine eyes from the sight of vnpleasing things and to leaue vnto euery one his owne opinion then to striue with contentious wordes If thou standest well with God and considerest his iudgments thou shalt the more easily yield to the will of others 2. O * The Seruant Lord to what an estate are we come Behold we bewaile a temporall losse and for a little gaine we toyle and spare no labour the spirituall domage of our soule is forgotteÌ„ hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is alwaies remembred and that which is chiefty necessary is negligeÌ„tly passed ouer because mans nature carrieth him to externall things vnlesse he quickly returne vnto himselfe he lyeth drowned in them with delight CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words HELP me * The Seruant Lord in my tribulation for vaine is the defence of man How often haue I bene deceaued finding want of faith Psal 59. where I thought it sure And how often haue I found faith where I least expected it It is vaine therefore
my selfe I incurre thy displeasure What therfore shall I do my God my helper and my counsellour in necessity 2. Teach me the right way appoint me some brief exercise sutable to this holy mysterv of sacred Communion For it is good for me to know how I should reuerently deuoutly prepare my heart vnto thee for the profitable receauing of thy Sacrament or for the celebrating of so great and diuine a Sacrifice CHAP. VII Of the discussing of our owne conscience and purpose of amendment The voice of the Beloued ABOVE all things the Priest of God ought to come to celebrate handle and receaue this Sacrament with great humility of hart and lowly reuerence with a full faith and a Godly desire of the honour of the diuine Maiesty Examine diligently thy conscience and to thy power purge and clense it with true contrition and humble confession so as there may be nothing in thee that may be burdensome vnto thee or that may breed thee remorse of conscience and hinder thy free accesse to these heauenly mysteries Repent thee of all thy sinnes in generall and in particuler bewaile thy daily offences And if thou hast time confesse vnto God in the secret of thy hart all the myseries of thy disordered passions 2. Lament and grieue that thou art yet so subiect to sensuality and so addicted to the world so vnmortified in thy passions so full of the motions of concupiscence so vnwatchfull ouer thy outward senses so often intangled with many vaine fantasies so vehemently inclined to outwardthings so negligent in the interiour so prone to laughter and immodesty so hard to teares cōpunction so prompt to ease pleasures of the flesh so dull to austerity feruour so curious to heare newes and see vaine sights so slack to imbrace that which tends to thine owne humiliation and contempt so couetous of aboundance so niggardly in giuing so fast in keeping so inconsiderate in speach so vnbridled to silence so loose in manners so outragious in deedes so greedy to meate so deafe to the word of God so hasty to rest so slow to labour so watchful to tales so drowsy to watch in the seruice of God so hasty to the end therof so inconstant in attention so negligent in saying thy office so vndeuout in saying Masse so dry in receauing so quickly distracted so seldome wholy recollected so suddainly moued to anger so apt to take displeasure against another so prone to iudge so seuere to reprehend so ioyfull in prosperity so weake in aduersity so often purposing much good and performing little 3. These and other thy defects confessed bewailed with sorrow and great dislike of thine owne infirmity make a firme purpose alwaies to amend thy selfe and to go forwards in vertue Then with full resignation and with thy whole will offer thy selfe vp to the honour of my name a perpetuall sacrifice in the altar of thy hart faithfully committing thy body soule vnto me that thou maist so also deserue to come worthily to offer sacrifice vnto God and to receaue profitably the Sacrament of my body 4. For there is no oblatiō more worthy nor satisfaction greater for the washing away of sinnes then to offer vp our selues vnto God purely and wholy with the oblation of the Body of Christ in the Masse and in Communion And when a man shal haue done what lyeth in him and shall be truly penitent as I liue Ezec. 18. saith our Lord who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted and liue I will not remember his sinnes any more but they shall be all forgiuen him and fully pardoned CHAP. VIII Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selues The voice of the Beloued AS I willingly offered vp my selfe vnto God my Father with my hands stretched forth on the Crosse and my body naked for thy sinnes so that nothing remained in me that was not turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the diuine wrath so oughtest thou also to offer vp thy selfe willingly vnto me daily in the Masse as a pure and holy oblation with thy whole force and desire in as harty a manner as thou canst What do I require of thee more Prou. 23. then that thou resigne thy selfe wholy vnto me Whatsoeuer thou giuest besides thy selfe is of little accompt in my sight for I seeke not thy gift but thee 2. As it would not suffice thee to haue all things whatsoeuer besides me so neither can it please me whatsoeuer thou giuest if thou offerest not vp thy selfe Offer thy selfe vnto me and giue thy selfe all that thou art for God and thy offering shall be gratefull Behould I offered vp my selfe wholy vnto my Father for thee and gaue my whole body bloud for thy food that I might be wholy thine and thou remaine mine But if thou abidest in thy self and doest not offer thy selfe vp freely vnto my will thy oblation is not entire neither shall the vnion betweene vs be perfect Therfore a free offering vp of thy selfe into the hands of God ought to go before all thy actions if thou wilt obtaine freedome and grace For this cause so few become in wardly illuminated and enioy true liberty of hart for that they do not resolue wholy to deny themselues My saying is vndoubtedly true Ioan. 14. Vnlesse one forsake all he cannot be my Disciple If thou therfore wish to be mine offer vp thy self vnto me with thy whole desires CHAP. IX That we ought to offer vp our selues all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THINE O Lord are all things that are in heauen and in earth Psal 23. I desire to offer vp my self vnto thee as a free oblation and to remaine alwaies thine O Lord in sincerity of my hart I offer my selfe vnto thee this day in sacrifice of perpetuall praise to be thy seruant for euer Receaue me with this holy oblation of thy precious body which in the presence of the Angells inuisibly attending heere vpon thee I offer vp this day vnto thee that it may be to the health of my soule and the saluation of all thy people 2. I offer vnto thee o Lord all my sinnes offences which I haue committed in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels frō the day wherin I first could sinne to this houre vpon thy holy altar that thou maist consume and burne them al with the fire of thy charity and wash out all the staines of my sinnes and cleanse my conscience from all offence and restore to me againe thy grace which I lost by sinne forgiuing me all my offences and receauing me mercifully in the kisse of peace 3. What can I do for my sinns but humbly confesse and bewaile them Psal 31. and intreat alwaies for mercy without intermission I beseech thee heare me in thy aboundant mercy when I stand before thee my God All my sinnes
therfore that desireth to attaine to internall Matt. 4. and spirituall graces ought with Iesus to withdraw himselfe from the people No man goeth safely abroad but he that gladly keepeth home Eccles 3. No man securely gouerneth but he that delighteth to liue in subiection No man securely commandeth but he that hath learned readily to obey 3. No man securely reioyceth vnlesse he hath within him the testimony of a good conscience And yet the security of Saints was alwaies full of the feare of God Neither were they lesse carefull and humble in themselues for that they shined outwardly with grace and great vertues But the security of euill men riseth of pride and presumption and in the end deceaueth them Neuer promise to thy selfe security in this life although thou seeme to be a good Religious man or deuout Hermite 4. Oftentimes those who in the iugdment of men were of better esteeme haue byn in greatest danger by reason of their too much cōfidence Wherfore it is more profitable to many not to be altogeather free from temptations but to be often assaulted least they should be too secure and so perhaps be lifted vp in pride least also they should too freely giue themselues to outward comforts O how good a conscience should he keep that would neuer seeke transitory ioy would neuer busy him selfe with the things of this world and how great peace and quietnes should he possesse that would cut off all vaine solicitude only thinke of diuine things and such as are profitable for his soule and place all his hope in God! 5. No man is worthy of heauenly comfort vnlesse he haue diligently exercised himselfe in holy compunction If thou desirest true contrition of hart retire thy selfe into some secret and solitary place and exclude from thy mind the tumultes vnquietnes of the world as it is written In your chambers be ye sory Psal 4. In thy Cell thou shalt find that which abroad thou shalt often loose The Cell if thou continue in it waxeth sweet and if thou loue not to stay in it it becometh irksome If in the beginning of thy conuersion thou accustome thy selfe to remaine in it and keepe it well it wil be afterwards vnto thee a deare friend and a most pleasant comfort 6. In silence and quietnes a deuout soule perfecteth her selfe and learneth the secrets of holy Scriptures There she findeth flouds of teares Ps 6. with which she may euery night wash and clense her selfe be made so much the more familiar with her Creator by how much the further off she liueth from al worldly disquiet Who so therfore withdraweth himselfe from his acquaintance friends God with his holy Angels will draw neere vnto him It were better for a man to ly hidden and haue care of himselfe then being carelesse of his soule to worke miracles in the world It is cōmendable for a Religious person to go abroad seldome to fly to be seene and to be vnwilling to see men 7. Why wilt thou see that which is not lawfull for thee to haue The world passeth away and all his delights The desires of our sensuality draw vs to walke abroad but when the houre is past what bringest thou home but a burdened conscience and distracted thoughts A ioyfull going abroad bringeth often a sorrowfull comming home Prou. 14. and a merry euening makes a sad morning So all carnall ioy entreth gently but in the end it causeth remorse and destruction What is elswhere to be seene Eccles 1. which thou canst not see heere Heere thou seest heauen and earth and all the elements of which all other things are made 8. What is there any where to be seene that can long continue vnder the sunne Thou thinkest perhaps to satiate thy selfe haue thy fill but thou shalt neuer attaine it If it were possible for thee to see all things created Eccles 3. present before thine eyes what were it all but a vaine and vnprofitable sight Lift vp thine eyes to God in heauen Ps 122. aske pardon of thy sinnes and negligences Leaue vaine things to the vaine Attend thou to that which God cōmandeth Matt. 6. Shut thy dore vpon thee and call vpon Iesus thy beloued Be thou with him in thy Cell for thou shalt not find so great peace in any other place If thou hadst staied within and not giuen eare to idle newes thou haddest kept thy selfe better in good peace But now that thou delightest sometimes to heare nouelties it is fit thou sufferest for it some trouble and disquiet of mind CHAP. XXI Of Compunction of hart IF thou wilt profit any thing keep thy selfe alwaies in the feare of God Prou. 19. and yield not too much scope to liberty Containe all thy senses vnder the rule of discipline and giue not thy selfe to foolish mirth Giue thy selfe to cōpunction of hart and thou shalt find deuotion Compunction discouereth much good which with too much liberty is quickly lost It is meruaile that a man can euer perfectly reioyce in this life if he consider his banishment and weigh the many perils wherwith his soule is inuironed The leuity of our minds the little care we haue of our faults makes vs not to feele the sorrowes of our soule 2. But oftentimes we vainely laugh when we haue iust cause to weep There is neither true liberty nor good mirth but that which is in the feare of God accompanied with a good conscience Happy is he that can auoyd all cause of distraction and draw himselfe to the vnion of holy compunction Happy is he that can abandon all that may defile or burden his conscience Fight māfully one custome ouercomes another If thou canst forbeare to intermeddle with that which belongs to others they will not hinder thee in that which thou hast to do 3. Busy not thy selfe in matters which appertaine to others neither do thou meddle at all with the affaires of thy betters Looke first of all to thy selfe and haue a more especiall care to admonish thy selfe then whomsoeuer thou louest best Gal. 1. If thou hast not the fauour of men be not therefore grieued but let this seeme vnto thee a most iust cause of griefe that thou lookest not to thy self with that care which beseemeth the seruant of God and a deuout religious person It is oftentimes better and more secure that a man hath not many consolations in this life especially such as are agreeable to the inclination of our corrupt nature But that we haue none at all Ps 76. or do seldom tast diuine comforts the fault is ours that do not seeke for compunction of hart nor do wholy forsake the vaine comforts of this world 4. Acknowledge thy selfe vnworthy of diuine comforts and that thou hast deserued great tribulation When a man hath perfect contrition Iudic. 2. 20. 2. Reg. 13. then is the whole world grieuous loathsom vnto him A good man findeth
alwaies sufficient cause of teares and sorrow for whether he consider himselfe or weigh the estate of his neighbour he knoweth that none liueth here without tribulation And how much the more throughly he considereth himselfe so much the more is his sorrow Our sinnes and vices in which we are so plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen do minister vnto vs matter of most iust sorrow and harty contrition 5. If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long Eccles 7. thou wouldest without doubt be more carefull in the ameÌ„dment of thy life And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of purgatory Matt. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to seare any kind of austerity But because these things enter not to the hart and we still loue that which delighteth vs therfore we remaine could and void of spirituall vigour 6. Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly coÌ„plaine Pray therfore with all humility to our Lord that he will vouchsafe to giue thee the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet Feed me o Lord Ps 79. with the bread of teares and giue me to drinke with teares in measure CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MISERABLE thou art wher soeuer thou be whithersoeuer thou turnest if thou turnest not thy selfe to God Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldest and desirest Who is there that hath all things as he will Eccls. 7. Neither I nor thou nor any man vpon earth There is not any man in this world without some tribulation or affliction though he be a King or a Pope Who thinkest thou theÌ„ is in best case I ruly he that willingly suffereth something for God 2. Many weak feeble men say Behould how well such a one liues how rich how powerful how beautifull how great a man he is Luc. 12. but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heaueÌ„ and thou shalt see that all temporall prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had without solicitude and feare Prou. 19. Iob. 14. The felicity of man consisteth not in hauing aboundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth It is truly misery inough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to be spirituall Eccls. 2. so much the more distastfull is this present life vnto him for he better perceaueth and seeth more cleerly the defects of human corruption To eate to drinke to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to be subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout mind that would gladly be free deliuered from all sinne 3. The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilst he is in this world And therfore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer me O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo be to them that know not their misery much more to theÌ„ that loue this miserable corruptible life For some there be so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labour and begging they scarce get bread to eat yet if they might liue heer alwaies they would care but little for the kingdome of heauen 4. O senslesse creatures and infidels in hart Rom. 3. whoâ—ly buried so deep in earth that they haue no tast nor feeling but of sensuall things But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued 1. Pet. â—1 Heb. 11. The Saints of God the deuout Seruants and friends of Christ respected little what pleased their naturall inclinations or what flourished in this life but with their whole hopes intentioÌ„s they sought after the riches of heauen Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible least they might haue byn drawne to base affectioÌ„s by the loue of visible things Rom. 13. Loose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past 5. Why wilt thou deferre thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and begin and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight now is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Psal 65. Thou must passe through fire and water before thou come to rest Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as we carry about with vs this frayle body of ours we can neuer be without sinne nor liue without tediousnes and griefe Rom. 7. Gen. 3. We would gladly enioy quietnes and be deliuered from al misery but for that we haue by sinne lost our innocency we haue togeather with it lost also our happines And therfore it behoueth vs to haue patience 2. Cor. 5. to expect the mercy of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 6. O how great is the frailty of man alwaies inclined to euill Gen. 6. To day thou confessest thy sinnes and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou purposest to take heed and within an houre thou dost as if thou hadst made no purpose at all We may therfore with great reason humble our selues 2. Mach. 9. and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change Full soone God knowes is that lost by negligence which with much labour was hardly gotten by grace 7. What will become of vs in the end that do so timely begin to wax could Wo be vnto vs if we will now giue our selues to ease as if all were already in peace and security when as yet there scarce appeareth so much as any signe of true sanctity in our conuersation It were needfull that we were taught good manners againe like Children if so perhaps there might be some more hope of our amendment and profit in spirit CHAP. XXIII Of the consideration of death THE houre of death will quickly ouertake thee and therfore look how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare Iob. 9. 14 Luc. 12. Heb. 9. and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of mind O dulnesse and hardnesse of mans hart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Thou shouldest alwaies so order thy thoughts and actions Matt. 25. as if this very day thou wert to depart this life Luc. 12. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death It is better to auoyd sin then to fly death
me and let it deliuer me from all euill affection and inordinat loue and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of hart 2. I †Our Lord. will teach thee sayth the Truth those things that are right pleasing in my sight Thinke of thy sinnes with great sorrow and grief neuer esteeme thy selfe any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner and subiect to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwaies tendest to nothing and art quickly cast downe and ouercome quickly troubled quickly dissolued Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory 2. Cor. 4. but many thinges for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou art able to comprehend 3. And therfore let nothing seeme much vnto thee whatsoeuer thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderfull nothing worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is euerlasting Let the eternall Truth aboue all things please thee Let thy owne great vnworthines alwaies displease thee Feare nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy sinnes and vices which ought to displease more then the losse of any thing whatsoeuer Some walk not sincerly in my sight Eccles 3. 2. Cor. 3. but led by a certaine curiosity and pride will know my secrets and vnderstand the high mysteries of God neglecting themselues and their owne saluation These often times for that I resist them do fall into great temptations sinnes for their pride and curiosity 4. Feare the iudgments of God dread the wrath of the almighty But discusse not the works of the Highest Search thine owne iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their deuotion only in bookes some in pictures some in outward signes and figures some haue me in their mouths but little in their harts Esa 29. There are others that being illuminated in their vnderstanding and purged in their affection do alwaies aspire with an earnest mind to euerlasting happines and are vnwilling to heare of the things of this world and do serue the necessities of nature with griefe Ps 24. and these perceaue what the spirit of truth speaketh in them Because it teacheth them to despise earthly Ps 1. and loue heauenly things to neglect the world and day and night to desire heauen CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of diume grace I praise * The Seruant thee o heauenly Father Father of my lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poore and wretched creature 2. Cor. 1. O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be vnto thee who somtimes with thy comfort refreshest me vnworthy of all comfort I euer blesse and glorify thee with thy only begotten Sonne and the holy Ghost for all worlds O God my lord the holy louer of my soule when thou shalt come into my hart all that is within me will reioyce Psal 3. Thou art my glorie and the exultation of my hart Thou art my hope Ps 31. and my refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weake in loue and imperfect in vertue I haue need to be comforted by thee visit me therfore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliuer me from euill passions and heale my hart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to loue strong to suffer and constant to perseuere 3. Loue is a great matter Matt. 11. in very truth a great good which alone maketh euery thing that is heauy light and beareth equally vnequall burthens For it carrieth a burthen without a burthen and maketh euery thing that is bitter sweet and delightsome The noble loue of Iesus enforceth man to worke great things and styrreth him vp to desire allwaies the most perfect Loue will be aloft and not kept downe with any base thinges Loue will be free from all worldly affection to the end his inward sight be not obscured that he be not intangled with the desire of any transitory gaine or troubled with the want therof Nothing is sweeter then loue nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more ample nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in heauen or in earth for that loue hath his beginning from God and cannot rest but in God aboue all creatures 4. He that loueth flyeth runneth and reioyceth he is free and not held in He giueth all for all hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest aboue all from which all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the guifts but turneth himselfe aboue all goods vnto the giuer Loue oftentimes knoweth no measure but inflameth aboue all measure Loue feeleth no burthen waieth no paines desireth aboue it strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawfull and possible It is therfore able to vndertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to effect wheras he that doth not loue fainteth and can do nothing 5. Loue alwaies watcheth Rom. 8. and sleeping sleepeth not being wearied is not tyred straitned is not pressed frighted is not troubled but like a liuely flame and burning torch breaketh vpwards and passeth through all with great security If any one loueth he knoweth what this voice crieth A lowd cry in the eares of God is the burning loue of the soule which sayth My God my loue thou art wholy mine and I wholy thine 6. Enlarge me in loue that my hart may tast how sweet it is to loue and to be dissolued and swimme in thy loue Let me be possessed by loue mounting aboue my selfe with excessiue feruour and admiration Let me sing the song of loue let me follow thee on high my beloued let my soule faint in thy praises reioycing with loue Let me loue thee more then my selfe and not my selfe but for thee and all in thee that truly loue thee as the law of loue commandeth which shineth in thee 7. Loue is swift 1. Cor. 13. sincere pious sweet and delightfull strong patient faithfull prudent suffering full of courage and neuer seeking it selfe 1. Cor. 10. For where one seeketh himselfe there he falleth from loue Loue is circumspect Ps 2. humble and vpright not remisse not mutable nor attending vnto vaine things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Loue is subiect and obedient to Superiours meane and abiect to it selfe deuout and thankefull vnto God trusting and hoping alwaies in him euen then when God imparteth no sweetnes vnto it for without sorrow none liueth in loue 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloued is not worthy to be called a louer A louer ought to imbrace willingly all that is hard and distastfull for his beloued Rom. 8. and not to turne away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP. VI.
will become of thee when that light shal leaue thee Iob. 17. And when that doth happen remember the light may returne againe which for thy instruction and my glory I haue withdrawne for a time 5. Such proofe is often more profitable then if thou shouldest alwaies enioy prosperity according to thy desire For merits are not to be waighed in a man by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledg in Scriptures or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and replenished with diuine charity if he alwaies purely entirely seeke the honour of God if he esteeme himselfe nothing and with a sincere hart despise himselfe and reioyce more to be despised and humbled by others Ps 83. then to be honoured CHAP. VIII Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God SHAL * The Seruant I speake vnto my Lord sith I am dust and ashes If I esteeme better of my selfe behould thou staÌ„dest against me Gen. 18. and my iniquities beare true witnes neither can I speake against it But if I abase and esteeme nothing of my selfe cast of all selfe-conceipt and as I am accompt my selfe to be dust thy grace will be fauourable vnto me and thy light will be neere vnto my hart and all estimation how little soeuer shal be swallowed vp in the depth of my nothing and perish euerlastingly There thou shewest my selfe vnto me what I am what I haue byn and whither I am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my selfe behould I become nothing a masse of infirmity But if thou suddainly looke vpon me I am presently made strong and filled with new ioy And it is a great meruaile that I am so suddainly lifted vp and so graciously imbraced by thee that of myne owne waight alwaies sinke downward 2. Thy loue is cause heereof freely preuenting me and releeuing me in so many necessities preseruing me also from grieuous dangers and as I may truely say deliuering me from innumerable euills For surely by euill louing my selfe Ioan. 12. I lost my selfe and by seeking thee alone sincerly louing thee I haue found both my selfe and thee and for thy loue haue more deeply brought my selfe to nothing For that thou o most sweet Iesu dealest with me aboue all desert and aboue all that I dare hope and request 3. Blessed be thou my God for although I be vnworthy of all good yet the noblenes of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnes neuer ceaseth to do good euen to the vngratefull Matt. 5. and to them that be turned away far froÌ„ thee Turne vs vnto thee o Lord that we may be gratefull humble and deuout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be reserred vnto God as vnto the last end SONNE †Our Lord. I ought to be thy chiefest and last end if thou desire to betruly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinatly to it selfe and vnto creatures For if in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest vp within thy self Direct therfore all thinges chiefly vnto me for I am he that haue giuen all Eccles 1. Consider euery thing as flowing from the highest good and therfore all things are to be reduced vnto me as vnto their first beginning 2. Out of me as out of liuing fountaines the litle and the great the poore the rich Ioan. 4. do draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serue me shall receaue grace for grace 1. Cor. 1. But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particuler good shall not be grounded in true ioy nor enlarged in his hart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned Thou oughtest therfore to ascribe no good vnto thy selfe nor attribute the praise of vertue vnto any man but giue all vnto God without whome man hath nothing I haue bestowed all 1. Cor. 4. and will that all be returned to me againe and with great seuerity I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vaine-glory And if heauenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no enuy nor grudging of hart neither shall there be any place for selfe loue For diuine charity ouercommeth all enlargeth all the forces of the soule If thou vnderstand aright in me alone thou wilt reioyce in me alone thou wilt hope for none is good Matt. 19. Luc. 18. but God alone who is to be praised aboue all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God NOVV * The Seruant I will speake againe Lord and will not be silent I will say in the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnes Lord Ps 30. which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee But what art thou to them that loue thee What to them that serue thee with their whole hart Truely vnspeakable is the sweetnes of thy conteÌ„plation which thou bestowest on them that loue thee Gen. 1. In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnes of thy charity Ps 118. Matt. 15. for that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back againe that I might serue thee and hast commanded me to loue thee 2. O fountaine of euerlasting loue what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me euen when I withered away and perished Thou hast vsed mercy with thy seruant beyond all the expectation of my hart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit What shall I returne vnto thee for this grace Psal 115. For it is not graunted to euery one to forsake all things to renouÌ„ce the world and to vndertake a life of religion and perfection Is it much that I serue thee whome all creatures are bound to serue It ought not to seeme much vnto me to serue thee Iudic. 16. but this rather seemeth much and meruailous vnto me that thou vouchsafest to receaue into thy seruice one so poore and vnworthy to ioyne him with thy beloued seruants 3. Behould all is thine which I haue 1. Cor. 4. and wherby I serue thee And yet in very deed thou rather seruest me then I thee Behould heauen earth which thou hast created for the seruice of man are ready at hand and do daily performe whatsoeuer thou dost command and this is little Ps 90. Heb â—1 yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the seruice of man But that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serue man and promised to giue thy selfe vnto him 4 What shall I
vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I haue fayled heerin and giue me againe grace of greater sufferance For thy bountifull mercy is more auaylable to me for the obtayning of pardon then my conceaued iustice for the defence of my hidden conscience 1. Cor. 4. Although my conscience accuse me not yet I cannot hereby iustifie my selfe Ps 142. for if thy mercy be away no man liuing shal be iustified in thy sight CHAP. XLVII That all grieuous thinges are to be endured for life euerlasting SONNE †Our Lord. let not the paines dismay thee which thou hast vndertaken for me neither be thou discoÌ„forted for the tribulatioÌ„s which do befall thee but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in all euents I am able to reward thee aboue all measure Thou shalt not long toile here nor alwayes be oppressed with griefe Attend a while and thou shalt see a speedy end of thy euills There will come an houre when all labour and trouble shall cease Little and short is all that passeth away with time 2. Doe as thou doest labour faithfully in my vineyard I will be thy reward Write read sing Mâ—tt 20. mourne obserue silence pray suffer crosses maÌ„fully life euerlasting is worthy of all these greater coÌ„bats Peace shall come in the day which is knowne vnto our Lord it shall not be day nor night to wit of this time but euerlasting light infinite brightnesse stedfast peace and secure rest Then thou shalt not say Who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Rom. 7. nor cry Wo be vnto me for that my dwelling in a strange countrey is prolonged Psal 119. For death shall be throwne downe and health shall be without decay no anxiety blessed ioy sweet and glorious company 3. O if thou hadst seene the euerlasting crowns of the Saints in heaueÌ„ and with how great glory they now reioyce who in times past were conteÌ„ptible to this world Sap. 3. 5. and esteemed vnworthy of life it selfe truly thou wouldest presently humble thy selfe euen vnto the earth wouldest rather seek to be vnder the feet of all then to haue coÌ„mand so much as ouer one neither wouldest thou desire pleasant daies of this life but rather reioyce to be afflicted for God and esteeme it thy greatest gaine to be reputed as nothing amongst men 4. O if thou hadst a feeling of these things and didst suffer them to enter into the depth of thy hart how durst thou so much as once to complaine Are not al paineful labours to be endured for euerlasting life It is no smal matter to leese or to gain the Kingdome of heauen Lift vp thine eyes therfore vnto heauen behould I and all my Saints with me who in this world had great conflicts do now reioyce now are comforted now are secure now do rest and shall remaine with me euerlastingly in the Kingdome of my Father CHAP. XLVIII Of the euerlasting day and shortnesse of this life O most * The Seruant blessed mansion of the heauenly Citty o most cleare day of eternity which night obscureth not Apoc. 21. but the highest truth euer enlightneth day euer pleasant euer secure and neuer changing into coÌ„trary state O that that day would once appeare and all these temporall things were at an end To the Saints it shineth glistering with euerlasting brightnesse but to those that are Pilgrimes vpon earth it appeareth only a far off and as it were through a glasse 2. The inhabitants of heauen do know how ioyfull that day is but the banished children of Eue be waile the bitternes and tediousnes of this The daies of this life are short and euill Iob. 7. full of sorrow anguish where man is defiled with many sinnes incumbred with many passioÌ„s disquieted with many feares filled with many cares distracted with many curiosities intangled with many vanities compassed about with many errours worne away with many labours vexed with temptatioÌ„s weakned with delights tormented with want 3. O when shall these euills be at an end Rom. 7. When shall I be deliuered from the miserable bondage of sin Ps 70. When shall I thinke o Lord of thee alone When shall I perfectly reioyce in thee When shall I be free from al impediments in true liberty without all griefe of mind body When shal I haue firme peace peace secure and without trouble peace within and without peace euery way assured O good Iesu when shal I stand to behould thee When shall I contemplate the glory of thy Kingdome When wilt thou be vnto me all in all thinges O when shall I be with thee in thy Kingdome which thou hast prepared for thy beloued from before all worldes I am left a poore and banished man in the land of mine enemies where there are daily warres and great misfortunes 4. Comfort my banishment asswage my sorrow for my whole desire sendeth vp sighes vnto thee For all is burdensome to me whatsoeuer this world offereth for my coÌ„fort I desire familiarly to enioy thee but I cannot attaine vnto it I would gladly fixe my hart to the things of heauen but temporall cares and vnmortified passions weigh me down In mind I would be aboue al things Rom. 7. â— but to my flesh I am inforced to be subiect against my will Thus vnhappy man that I am I fight against my selfe and am become grieuous to my selfe whilst my spirit seeketh after the things that are aboue and my flesh that which is below 5. O what do I inwardly suffer when in mind I consider heauenly things and presently in my praiers a multitude of fleshly fantasies present themselues before me Psal 70. My God be not farre from me depart not in thy wrath from thy seruant Cast forth thy lightning and disperse them send out thy darts and breake all the fantasies of my enemie Gather my senses togeather vnto thee make me forget the things of this world grant me grace to cast away speedily the fantasies of vices Succour me o euerlasting truth that no vanity may moue me Come heauenly sweetnesse and let all impurity fly from thy face Pardon me also and mercifully forgiue me as often as I think vpon any thing els besides thee in praier I truely confesse that I am wont to be subiect to many distractions for oftentimes I am not there where I do corporally stand or sit but rather there whither my thoughte do carry me Where my thought is there am I there is oftentimes my thought where my affection is That quickly occurreth vnto me which is naturally delightsome and by custome pleasing 6. And for this cause thou that art truth it selfe hast plainely said Matt. 6. Where thy treasure is there is also thy hart If I loue heauen I willingly think of heauenly things If I loue the world I reioyce at the felicity of the world and grieue for the aduersity therof If I loue the flesh I
will not feare euils whilst thy grace is with me she is my strength she giueth aduise and help she is stronger then all enemies and wiser then all the wise 6. Thy grace is the mistresse of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the hart the solace in affliction she driueth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of deuotion the bringer forth of teares What am I without it but a rotten peece of wood and an vnprofitable stalke only meet for the fire Let thy grace therfore Lord alwaies preuent me and follow me and make me euer diligent in good workes through Iesus Christ thy Sonne Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse SONNE †Our Lord. looke how much thou canst go out of thy self so much maist thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of externall things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selues ioyneth vs internally to God I will haue thee learne the perfect leauing of thy selfe vnto my will without contradiction and complaint Ioan. 14. Follow me I am the way the truth and the life Without the way there is no going without truth there is no knowledge without life there is no liuing I am the way which thou oughtest to foâ—low the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope I am the way which cannot lead amisse the truth which cannot erre the life which caÌ„not end I am a most strait way a supreme truth a true life a blessed life an increated life If thou remaine in me thou shalt know the truth truth shall deliuer thee thou shalt apprehend euerlasting life 2. If thou wilt enter into life Matt. 19. keep the commaundements if thou wilt know the truth belieue me If thou wilt be perfect sell all Luc. 9. If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe If thou wilt possesse a blessed life Ioan. 12. despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in heauen Luc. 14. humble thy selfe vpon earth If thou wilt raigne with me beare the crosse with me For only the seruants of the crosse find the way of blisse and true light 3. Lord Iesus * The Seruant forasmuch as thy way is narrow strait and contemptible vnto the world graunt me grace to imitate thee in suffering willingly all worldly contempt For the seruant is not greater then his Lord Matt. 7. nor the Disciple aboue his Maister Luc. 6. Let thy seruant be exercised in thy holy life for there is the health and the true sanctity of my soule whatsoeuer I read or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully 4. Sonne †Our Lord. now that thou knowest and hast read these things happy shalt thou be if thou fulfill them He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him and will make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father Lord * The Seruant Iesus as thou hast said and promised so giue me grace to deserue that it be fulfilled I haue receaued the Crosse I haue receaued it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it vpon me Truly the life of a good religious person is the crosse and it is a sure guide to heauen It is now begunne it is not lawfull to go back neither is it fit to leaue that which I haue vndertaken 5. Let vs then take courage my brethren go forwards togeather Iesus will be with vs for Iesus sake we haue vndertaken this crosse for the loue of Iesus let vs perseuere in the crosse He will be our helper who is our guide forerunner Behould our King goeth before vs who also will fight for vs let vs follow him cheerefully let vs not be dismaied but be ready to dye with courage in the battaile and let vs not blemish our glory by flying from the Crosse CHAP. LVII That a man be not too much deiected when he falleth into some defects SONNE †Our Lord. patience and humility in time of aduersitie are more pleasing to me then much coÌ„fort and deuotion in prosperitie Why art thou grieued for euery little trifle spoken done against thee Although it had bene much more thou oughtest not to haue bene moued But now let it passe it is not the first that hath happened nor any new thing neither shall it be the last if thou liue long Thou art cheerfull inough as long as no aduersitie occurreth Thou canst giue good couÌ„saile also and canst strengthen others with thy words but when any tribulation suddainly knocketh at thy doore thou art destitute of counsel and void of force See therefore thy great fraily which thou often prouest in very small occasions It is notwithstaÌ„ding permitted for thy good when these and such like occasions befall thee 2. Put it out of thy hart the best thou canst and if it touch thee yet let it not detect thee nor trouble thee long beare it at least patiently if thou canst not ioyfully Although thou be vnwilling to heare it and feelest in thy hart some motion of disdaine yet represse thy selfe and suffer no inordinate word to passe out of thy mouth which may be a scandall to the weake The storme which now is raised shall quickly be appeased and inward griefe shall be asswaged by the returne of grace I do yet liue Esa 49. saith our Lord and am ready to help thee and to giue thee greater comfort then before if thou put thy trust in me and callest deuoutly vpon me 3. Be more patient prepare thy selfe to greater suffering All is not lost if thou feele thy selfe often afflicted or grieuously tempted Thou art a man and not God thou art flesh not an Angell How canst thou looke to continue euer in the same state of vertue when an Angell in heauen hath fallen and the first man in Paradise lost his standing I am he that do giue healthfull comfort to them that mourne Gen. 3. and doe raise vp vnto my Godhead those that know their owne frailtie 4. Lord * The Seruant blessed be thy sacred word more sweet vnto my mouth then the hony the hony combe Ps 118. What should I do in these my so great tribulations and anguish vnlesse thou didst comfort me with thy holy sweet and heauenly speaches What matter is it how much and what I suffer so as I may at length attaine to the hauen of blisse Grant me a good end graunt me a happy passage out of this world Be mindfull of me my God and direct me the straight and ready way to the euerlasting Kingdome Amen CHAP. LVIII Of not searching into high matters into the secret iudgments of God SONNE †Our Lord. beware thou dispute not of high matters not of the secret iudgments of God why
Behould thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skum of sinners behold thou bowest thy selfe downe vnto me who am not worthy so much as to looke vp vnto thee Behould thou commest vnto me it is thy will to be with me Psal 77. thou inuitest me to thy banquet Ioan. 6. Thou wilt giue me the food of heauen and bread of Angels to eate which is no other truely then thy selfe the liuely bread that descendest from heauen and giuest life vnto the world 4. Behould from whence this loue proceedeth what kind of fauour and benignity is this which shineth vpon vs What thankes and praises are due vnto thee for these benefits O how good and profitable was thy counsell when thou ordainedst it How sweet pleasant the banquet when thou gauest thy selfe to be our food How wonderfull thy worke o Lord how powerfull thy vertue how vnspeakable thy truth For thou saidst the word Gen. 1 Psal 148. and all things were made this was done which thou commanndest 5. A thing of grâ—at admiration and worthy of faith and surpassing the vnderstanding of man that thou my Lord God true God Man shouldest be wholy coÌ„teyned vnder a small forme of bread wine and shouldest be eaten by the receauer without being coÌ„sumed Thou who art the Lord of all things and standest in need of none hast pleased to dwell in vs by meanes of this thy Sacrament preserue my heart and body vnspotted that with a cheerfull and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receaue theÌ„ to my euerlasting health which thou hast chiefly ordained instituted for thy honour and perpetuall memory 6. Reioyce my soule and giue thanks vnto God for so noble a gift and singular comfort left vnto thee in this vale of teares For as often as thou callest to mind this mysterie and receauest the body of Christ so often dost thou worke the worke of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ For the charity of Christ is neuer diminished and the greatnesse of his mercy is neuer lessened Therefore thou oughtest alwaies to dispose thy selfe hereunto by a fresh renewing of thy mind and to weigh with attentiue consideration this great mystery of thy saluation So great new and ioyfull it ought to seeme vnto thee when thou sayest or hearest Masse as if the same day Christ first descending into the wombe of the Virgin were become man or hanging on the crosse did suffer and dye for the saluation of mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often BEHOLD o Lord I come vnto thee Ps 67. that I may be comforted in thy gift and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou o Lord hast prepared in thy sweetnesse for the poore Behold in thee is all whatsoeuer I can or ought to desire thou art my health and my redeÌ„ption my hope and my strength my honour and my glory Make ioyfull therefore this day the soule of thy seruant Psal 85. for that I haue lifted it vp to thee my sweet Iesus I desire to receaue thee now with deuotion and reuerence I do long to bring thee into my house that with Zachaeus I may deserue to be blessed by thee and numbred amongst the children of Abraham My soule thirsteth to receaue thy body my heart desireth to be vnited with thee 2. Giue thy selfe to me and it sufficeth For besides thee no comfort is auailable I cannot be without thee nor liue without thy visitation And therefore I must often come vnto thee and receaue thee as the only remedy of my health least perhaps I faint in the way if I be depriued of thy heauenly food For so most mercifull Iesus thou once didst say preaching to the people and curing sundry diseases Matt 15. I will not send them home fasting Matt. 8. least they faint in the way Deale thou therfore in like maÌ„ner now with me who hast vouchsafed to leaue thy selfe in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithfull For thou art the sweet refection of the soule and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heire of euerlasting glory It is necessary for me that do so often fall and sinne so quickly wax dull and faint that by often praiers confession and receauing of thy sacred body I renew clense and inflame my selfe least perhaps by long abstayning I fall from my holy purpose 3. For man is prone vnto euill from his youth Gen. 8. and vnlesse this diuine remedie help him he quickly slideth to worse This holy CoÌ„munion therfore draweth back from euill and comforteth in good For if I be now so often slack and negligent when I communicate or say Masse what would become of me if I receaued not this remedy and sought not after so great a help Though euery day I be not fit nor well prepared to say Masse I will endeauour notwithstanding at conuenient times to receaue the diuine mysteries and make my selfe partaker of so great a grace For this is the onely chiefe comfort of a faithfull soule whilst she wandreth froÌ„ thee in this mortall body that being mindfull of her God she often receaue her Beloued with a deuout mind 4. O wonderfull benignity of thy mercy towards vs that thou Lord God the Creatour and giuer of life to all spirits doest vouchsafe to come vnto a poore soule with thy whole Godhead and humanity to replenish her hunger O happy mind and blessed soule that deserueth to receaue thee her Lord God with deuout affection and in receauing of thee to be filled with spirituall ioy O how great a Lord doth she intertaine How beloued a ghest doth she harbour how pleasant a companion doth she receaue how faithful a friend doth she accept how beautifull and noble a spouse doth she imbrace she imbraceth him who is to be loued aboue all that is beloued and aboue all things that may be desired Let heauen and earth and all their beauty be sileÌ„t in thy presence For what beauty and praise soeuer they haue it is receaued from thy bounty and shall not equall the beauty of thy name of whose wisdome there is no end Psal 146. CHAP. IIII. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that communicate deuoutly The voice of the Disciple MY Lord God Psal 20. preuent thy seruant in the blessings of thy sweetnesse that I may deserue to approach worthily and deuoutly to thy holy Sacrament stirre vp my heart vnto thee and deliuer me froÌ„ all heauines and slouth Psal 105. visit me with thy comfort that I may tast in spirit thy sweetnesse which plentifully lyeth hid in this Sacrament as a fountaine Giue light also to mine eyes to behold lo great a mystery and strengthen me to belieue it with vndoubted faith For it is thy worke and not mans power thy sacred institution not mans inuention For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend vnderstand these things
which surpasse the vnderstanding euen of Angels What therfore shall I vnworthy sinner earth and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mysterie 2. O Lord in sincerity of hart with a good and firme faith and at thy commaundement I come vnto thee with hope and reuerence and do verily belieue that thou art heere present in the Sacrament God and Man Thy holy pleasure is that I receaue thee and by charity do vnite my selfe vnto thee Wherfore I do recurre vnto thy Clemency and do craue speciall grace that I may wholy melt in thee and abound with loue and heerafter neuer admit any externall comfort For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soule and body the remedy of all spirituall sicknes by it my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations ouercome or weakened greater grace infused vertue increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and charity inflamed and enlarged 3. For thou hast bestowed still oftentimes doest bestow many benefits in this Sacrament vpon thy beloued that receaue it deuoutly my God the Protectour of my soule the strengthener of humane frailty and the giuer of all in ward comfort Thou impartest vnto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them vp from the depth of their owne basenes to the hope of thy protection and doest inwardly refresh and illustrate them with a certaine new grace in such sort that they who before Communion felt themselues heauy and indisposed afterwards being strengthened with heauenly meate and drinke do find in themselues a great change to the better Which thou doest so dispose to thy elect that they may truly acknowledge and patiently proue how great their owne infirmity is and what benefit and grace they receaue from thee For they of themselues are cold dull and vndeuout but by thee they are made feruent agile and full of deuotion For who is there that approaching humbly vnto the Fountaine of sweetnesse doth not carry away from thence at least some little sweetnesse Or who standing by a great fire receaueth not some small heate therby Esa 12. Leuit. 6. Thou art a fountaine alwaies full ouerflowing a fire euer burning and neuer decaying 4. Wherfore if I cannot draw at the full out of this fountaine nor drinke my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this heauenly conduite that I may draw from thence at least some small drop to refresh my thirst to the end I wither not wholy away and perish And though I be not altogeather celestiall nor so inflamed as the Cherubims Seraphims not with standing I will endeauour to apply my selfe to deuotion and dispose my heart to obtaine some small sparke of diuine fire by humble receauing of this life-giuing Sacrament And whatsoeuer is hereunto wanting in me good Iesu most blessed Sauiour do thou supply for me most benigne gratious Lord who hast vouchsafed to call vs vnto thee saying Come vnto me all ye that labour and are burdened Matt. 11. and I will refresh you 5. I labour in the sweate of my browes I am vexed with griefe of hart I am burdened with sins I am troubled with temptations I am intangled and oppressed with many euill passions and there is none to help me none to deliuer and saue me but thou Lord God my Sauiour to whome I commit my selfe and all mine that thou maist keep me and bring me to life euerlasting Receaue me to the honour and glory of thy name who hast prepared thy Body and Bloud to be my meat and my drinke Graunt Lord God my Sauiour that by frequenting thy mysteries my zeale and deuotion may increase CHAP. V. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly sunction The voice of Christ IF thou hadst angelicall purity the sanctity of S. Iohn Baptist Matt. 11. thou wert not worthy to receaue nor handle this Sacrament For it is not within the compasse of the deserts of men that man should consecrate and handle the Sacrament of Christ and receaue for food the bread of Angells Psal 77. A great mystery and great is the dignity of Priests to whome is graunted that which is not permitted to the Angells For Priests only instituted in the Church haue power to celebrate and consecrate the bodie of Christ The Priest is the Minister of God vsing the wordes of God by Gods commaundement and appointment but God is there the principall actour and inuisible worker to whome is subiect all that he pleaseth Gen. 1. Psal 148. Rom. 9. and all that he commaundeth doth obey 2. Thou oughtest therefore to giue more credit to God Almighty in this most excellent Sacrament then to thine owne sense or to any visible sign And therfore thou art to come vnto this Mystery with feare and reuerence Consider attentiuely with thy self what that is wherof the Ministry is deliuered vnto thee by the imposition of hands of the Bishop Behould thou art made a Priest consecrated to say Masse 1. Tim. ◠see now that in due time thou offer Sacrifice vnto God faithfully deuoutly and carry thy selfe so as thou maist be without reproofe Thou hast not lightned thy burthe but art now bound with a straiter band of discipline and art obliged to a more perfect degree of sanctity A Priest ought to be adorned with all kind of vertues and to giue example of good life to others His conuersation should not be according to the ordinary and common proceedings of men Phil. 3. but like to the Angels in heauen or to perfect men on earth 3. A Priest clothed in sacred garments is the Vicegerēt of Christ to pray humbly Heb. 5. with a prostrate mind vnto God for himselfe the whole people He hath before and behind the signe of the Crosse of our Lord to the end he may euer remember the Passion of Christ he beareth the Crosse before him in the Vestement that he may diligently behould the foot-steps of Christ and feruently endeauour to follow them He is behind marked with the crosse that he may patiently suffer for God whatsoeuer aduersities shall be layd vpon him by others He beareth the crosse before that he may lament his owne sinnes and the same he hath also behind that he may with a compassionate hart bewaile the offences of others and know that he is place as a mediatour betweene God and the sinner Neither ought he to cease frō praier and holy oblation till he deserue to obtaine grace and mercy When a Priest doth celebrate he honoureth God reioyceth the Angels edifieth the Church helpeth the liuing giueth rest to the dead and maketh himselfe partaker of all good deeds CHAP. VI. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion The voice of the Disciple VVHEN I weigh thy greatnesse o Lord and my vnworthinesse I tremble and am confounded in my selfe For if I come not vnto thee I fly from life if I vnworthily intrude
and rather frame thy selfe to the profit of others then to thine owne deuotion or desire CHAP. XI That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faythfull soule The voice of the Disciple OMOST sweet Lord Iesu how great is the delight of a deuout soule that feasteth with thee in thy banquet where there is no other meate offered to be eaten but thy selfe her only beloued and most to be desired aboue all the desires of her hart And verily it would be a great comfort vnto me to powre out teares from the bottome of my hart in thy presence Luc. 7. and with deuout Magdalen to wash thy feet with the teares of mine eyes But where is this deuotion Where is so plentifull shedding of holy teares Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels my whole hart should be inflamed and dissolue into teares for ioy For I enioy thee in the Sacrament really present although hidden vnder another forme 2. For to behould thee in thine owne diuine brightnesse mine eyes would not be able to endure it neither could the whole world stand in the clearnesse of the glory of thy Maiesty Thou therfore prouidest for my weaknesse in that thou couerest thy selfe vnder the Sacrament I do really enioy and adore him whome the Angels adore in heauen but I as yet for the time in faith they in his proper forme and without shaddow I ought to be contented with the light of true faith and to walke therin vntill the day of euerlasting brightnesse breake forth and the shaddowes of figures passe away But when that shall come which is perfect 1. Cor. 13. the vse of Sacraments shall cease For the blessed in heauenly glory need not the remedy of Sacraments who reioyce without end in the presence of God behoulding his glory face to face and being trāsformed by his brightnesse into the brightnesse of the incomprehensible Deity they tast the word of God made flesh as he was from the beginning and as he remaineth for euer 3. Whilst I remember these thy wonderfull works all spirituall cōfort whatsoeuer becometh very tedious vnto me for that as long as I behould not my Lord openly in his glory I make no accompt of whatsoeuer I see or heare in this life Thou art my witnes o God that nothing can comfort me no creature giue me rest but thou my God whome I desire to behould euerlastingly But this is not possible whilst I remaine in this mortall life Therfore I must frame my selfe to much patience submit my selfe to thee in all my desires Heb 10. 11. For thy Saints also o Lord who now reioyce with thee in the Kingdome of heauen whilest they liued expected in faith and great patience the comming of thy glory What they belieued I belieue what they hoped for I expect whither they are come I trust I shall come by thy grace In the meane time I will goe forward in faith strengthened by the examples of the Saints I haue also deuout bookes for my comfort and for the guide of my life and aboue all these thy most holy Body for a singular remedie and refuge 4. For I perceaue two things to be chiefly necessary for me in this life without which this miserable life would be insupportable vnto me Whilst I am kept in the prison of this bodie I acknowledge my selfe to stand in need of two things to wit food and light Thou hast therfore giuen vnto me Ioan. 6. weake creature thy sacred Bodie for the refection of my soule bodie and hast set thy word as a light vnto my feet Psal 118. without these two I could not well liue For the word of God is the light of the soule thy Sacrament the bread of life Psal 22. Heb. 9. c 13. These also may be called the two tables set on the one side the other in the store-house of the holy Church One is the table of the holy Altar conteyning the sacred bread that is the precious body of Christ the other is of the diuine law conteyning holy doctrine teaching true faith and certainely leading to the part of the Temple within the veile where are the Holy of Holies Thanks be vnto thee Lord Iesu light of euerlasting light for thy table of holy doctrine at which thou seruest vs by thy seruants the Prophets and Apostles other Doctours 5. Thanks be vnto thee Creatour and Redeemer of man who to manifest thy charity to the whole world hast prepared a great supper Luc. 14. wherin thou hast offered to be eaten not the mysticall lambe but thine owne most sacred Body and Bloud Ioan. 6. reioycing all the faithfull with thy holy banquet and replenishing them to the full with thy heauenly Cuppe Psal 22. in which are all the delights of heauen Sap. 16. and the holy Angels do feast with vs but with a more happy sweetnesse 6. O how great and honorable is the office of Priests to whome it is graunted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Maiesty with their lips to blesse him with their hands to hould him with their own mouth to receaue him and to administer him to others O how cleane ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the body How vnspotted the hart of the Priest into whome the Author of purity so often entreth Nothing but holy no word but chast and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receaueth the Sacrament of Christ 7. Simple and chast ought to be the eyes that are wont to behould the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted vp to heauen that vse to handle the Creator of heauen and earth Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Be ye holy Leuit. 19. 20. for that I your Lord God am holy 8. Assist vs Almighty God with thy grace that we who haue vndertaken the office of Priesthood may serue thee worthily and deuoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience And if we cannot liue in so great innocency as we ought to do graunt vs notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we haue committed and in the spirit of humility and sincere intention to serue thee heerafter with more feruour CHAP. XII That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence The voice of the Beloued I AM the louer of purity Psal 23. Matt. 5. and the giuer of all sanctitie I seek a pure hart and there is the place of my rest Marc. 14. Luc. 22. Make ready adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Pasch with my Disciples If thou wilt haue me come vnto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leauen 1. Cor. 5. and make cleane the dwelling of thy hart shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices sit like a sparrow
rafting of heauēly Manna may neuer decay 3. Thy mercy o Lord is able to giue me the grace I desire and to visit me in thy bounteous clemency with the spirit of feruour when it shall please thee For although I burn not with so great desire as those that are so especially deuoted vnto thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to haue this great inflamed desire praying and crauing that I may participate with all such thy feruent louers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of deuotion is obtayned by humility and deny all of our selues The voice of the Beloued THOV oughtest to seeke the grace of deuotion instantly to aske it earnestly to expect it patiently and confidently to receiue it ioyfully to keep it humbly to worke with it diligently and to cōmit the time and manner of this heauenly visitation to God vntill it shall be his pleasure to come Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy selfe when thou feelest inwardly little or no deuotion and yet not to be too much deiected nor to grieue inordinately for it God often giueth in a short moment that which he hath long time denyed he giueth sometimes in the end that which in the beginning of prayer he differred to graunt 2. If grace should be alwaies presently giuen and at hand euer with a wish it could not be well indured by a weake man Therfore deuotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy selfe and thy sinnes when it is not giuen thee or when it is secretly taken from thee It is sometimes a small matter that hindreth and hideth grace from vs if it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindreth so great a good And if thou remoue this be it great or small and perfectly ouercome it thou shalt haue thy desire 3. For presently as soone as thou giuest thy selfe to God and seekest not this nor that for thine owne pleasure or will but fetlest thy selfe wholy in me thou shalt find thy selfe vnited vnto him and quiet For nothing will tast so well and please thee so much as the will and pleasure of God Whosoeuer therfore with a sincere hart directeth his intention to God and purgeth him selfe from all inordinate loue or dislike of any creature shall be most fit to receaue grace and worthy of the gift of deuotion For our Lord bestoweth his blessing there where be findeth his vessels empty And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh these basest things and dieth to him selfe by contempt of him selfe so much the more speedily grace commeth entreth in more plentifully and lifteth vp the hart that is free to a higher state of grace 4. Then shall be see and abound Psa 60. and wonder and his hart shall be enlarged because the hand of our Lord is with him and he hath put himselfe wholy into his hand for euer Behold so shall the man be blessed that seeketh Almighty God with his whole hart and taketh not his soule in vaine This man deserueth great grace of diuine vnion in receauing the holy Eucharist for that he regardeth not his owne deuotion and comfort but aboue all deuotion and comfort he prizeth the honour and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ and to craue his grace The voice of the Disciple O MOST sweet louing Lord whome I now desire to receaue deuoutly thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sinnes I am oppressed how often I am grieued tempted troubled and defiled I come vnto thee for remedy I craue of thee thy heauenly comfort and the ease of my paine I speake to him that knoweth all thinges to whome all my secrets are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me Thou knowest what it is wherof aboue all things I stand in most need and how poore I am in vertues 2. Behould I stand before thee poore and naked calling for grace and crauing mercy Refresh this thy hungry and needy creature giue heate vnto my coldnesse with the fire of thy loue giue light vnto my blindnesse with the brightnesse of thy presence Turne all earthly things vnto me into bitternesse all things grieuous and contrary into patience all base and created things into contempt and obliuion Lift vp my hart to thee in heauen and suffer me not to wander vpon earth be thou only sweet and delightsome vnto me from henceforth for euermore for thou only art my meate and my drinke my loue and my ioy my delight and all my good 3. O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholy inflame burn and change me into thee that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward vnion and melting of burning loue Suffer me not to goe from thee hungrie and dry but deale mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What meruaile if I should be wholy inflamed by thee and dye in my selfe sith thou art fire euer burning and neuer decaying loue purifying the hart inlightening the vnderstanding CHAP. XVII Of burning loue vehement desire to receaue Christ The voice of the Disciple VVITH great deuotion burning loue with most hartie affection and feruour I desire to receaue thee o Lord as many Saints and deuout persons haue desired thee when they receaued thy Sacrament who were most pleasing vnto thee in holinesse of life and most feruēt in deuotion O my God the euerlasting loue my whole good my happinesse without end I would gladly receaue thee with the most vehement desire and worthy reuerence that any of the Saints euer had or could feele 2. And although I be vnworthy to haue all those feelings of deuotion yet I offer vnto thee the whole affection of my hart as if I alone had those most sweet inflamed desires yea whatsoeuer also a deuout mind can conceaue and desire all that with greatest reuerence and most inward affection I offer and present vnto thee I wish to referue nothing to my selfe but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my selfe and all mine vnto thee my Lord God my Creatour and my Redeemer I desire to receaue thee this day with such affection reuerence praise and honour with such gratitude worthinesse and loue with such faith hope and purity as thy most blessed Mother the glorious Virgin Mary receaued and desired thee when she humbly and deuoutly answered the Angell who declared vnto her the mystery of the Incarnation and sayd Behold the handmaid of our Lord Luc. 1. let it be done vnto me according to thy word 3 And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist cheerfully leaped with ioy of the holy Ghost whilst he was yet shut vp in his mothers wombe and afterwards seing Iesus walking amongst men humbling himselfe very much said with deuout affection The friend of the Bridegrome that
standeth heareth him Ioan. 3. reioyceth with ioy for the voice of the Bridegrome so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my selfe vp to thee with my whole hart Wherfore I offer also and present vnto thee the ioyes feruent desires excesses of mind spirituall illuminations heauenly visions of all deuout harts with all the vertues and praises exercised and to be exercised by all creatures in heauen and earth for my selfe and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou maist be worthily praised and glorified for euer 4. Receaue my Lord God the affections of my hart and desires which I haue to giue thee infinite praise and thankes which according to the measure of thy vnspeakable greatnesse are due vnto thee These I yield thee and desire to yield thee euery day and moment and I doe intreate and inuite all the heauenly spirits and all thy deuout seruants to giue thankes and praises togeather with me 5. Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnify thy holy and sweet name with great ioy and feruent deuotion and let all that reuerently and deuoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receaue it with full faith deserue to find grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for me sinfull creature And when they shall haue obtained their desired deuotion and ioyfull vnion and depart from thy sacred heauenly table well comforted and meruailously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poore and needy soule CHAP. XVIII That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith The voice of the Beloued THOV oughtest to beware of curious and vnprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not sink into the depth of doubt Prou. 25. He that is a searcher of Maiesty◠shal be oppressed by glory God is able to worke more then man can vnderstand A pious and humble inquiry of truth is tolerable so he be alwaies ready to be taught and do endeauour to walke in the sound pathes of the ancient Fathers doctrine 2. Bessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult waies of questions and goeth on in the plaine and assured path of Gods Commandements Many haue lost deuotion whilst they would search after high things Faith and sincere life are exacted at thy hands not height of vnderstanding nor the depth of the mysteries of God If thou doest not vnderstād nor conceaue those things that are vnder thee how shalt thou be able to comprehend those that are aboue thee Submit thy selfe to God and let thy sense be subiect to faith and the light of knowledge shall be giuen thee in that degree as shall be profitable and necessary for thee 3. Some are grieuously tempted about faith and the Sacrament but this is not to be imputed to thē but rather to the enemie Do not regard nor dispute with thy thoughts neither do thou giue answere to the doubts moued by the enemie but belieue the words of God belieue his Saintes and Prophets and the wicked Serpent will fly from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the seruant of God to suffer such things For he tempteth not Infidels and sinners whome he already securely possesseth but he sundry waies tempteth vexeth the faithfull and deuour 4. Go forward therfore with a sincere and vndoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with vnfaigned reuerence And whatsoeuer thou art not able to vnderstand cōmit fecurely to Almighty God God deceaueth thee not he is deceaued that trusteth too much to himselfe Ps 19. c. 118. God walketh with the simple Matt. 11. reuealeth himselfe to the humble giueth vnderstanding to little ones openeth the senses of pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Humane reason is weake and may be deceaued but true sayth cannot be deceaued 5. All reason naturall search ought to follow faith not to go before it nor impugne it For faith and loue do chiefly excell worke in a hidden manner in this most blessed and excellent Sacrament God who is euerlasting and of infinite power doth great and inscrutable things in heauen and in earth and there is no searching of his wonderfull workes If the workes of God were such as might be easily comprehended by humane reason they were not to be called wonderfull and vnspeakable FINIS