able to resist thee in them Then their iudgment would be so cleered that they would vnderstand most hidden mysteâ—ies Then an hower of praier would instruct them more fully then fifty years study can do they hauing by the meane of such prayer in al things relation to thee the only true wisedom and in whose light only is true light to be seen By louing thee and dying to themselues in al things they would become maisters of themselues and al the world would then noâ—hing moue them nor would any thing affright them becaus thou wouldst be their stay and comfort in al things If we wil do as we ought and as is best for vs we must be subiect to the wil of God in al things without exception And this is the beâ—efit of an internal life that it makes one capable of seeing and knowing Gods wil and â—lso most ready to performe it Which way soeuer he signify it to them which makes them obey as readily and willingly meerly for Gods sake and out of obedience to him a simple or imperfect Superior as they would an Angel or the Wisest creature in the world yea if it were possible that a worme or any other creature were ordained by God to rule ouer them â—hey would with al their harts embrace his wil by them For without this total subiectâ—on to God it is impossible to become truly Spiritual For if we resist his wil in our Superiors in vaine do we pretend to please him This vertue therefor of Obedience we must learn of him the which must be grounded vpon true ' Humility that must be our stay in al things And those two vertues of Humility and Obedience together with the diuine vertue of Discretion he wil teach vs if we do our parts in seeking to become more more humble and subiect to him For seeing it is his wil we should obey and become truly Humble how can we doubt but he wil giue vs the grace if we Humbly and perseuerantly beg it of Him and practise those vertues vpon occasions as wel as we can For he himself hath saâ—d whâ—n we aske our father bread he doth not giue a stone nor if we aske him fish wil he giue a serpeâ—t much lesse wil he deny vs what is necessary to make vs pleasing to him and we seeking or desiring nothing but by true loue to be faithful to him O Praier praier able to obtaine al things O how cometh it to passe my Lord that this Oâ—â—ipotent thing â—as some of thy deare seruaÌ„ts tearme it praier should be so vnknown yea and euen to them whom thou tearmest the Salt of the earth contemned I meane Mental praier at least for the practise of poore simple women for whom they hold it aboue al things most dangerous euen to my own knowledg as I haue known affirmed by Superiors of seueral Orders O misery to be truly lamented by al that haue or may haue tast iâ— praier and by the effect thereof know how sweet a thing it is to attend only and wholy to the praise and loue of Goâ— Surely the want of the wisedom which by praier the Saints did gaine is the cause why cústome and opinion do take place for the most part in this world of true reason Surely neuer was the world reformed of its sins and errours but it must be by the wisedom which cometh from God and is farre different From that which is accounted Wisedom by the world which as S. Paul saith is folly before God CERTAIN OTHER DEVOtions of the same deuot Soul D. Gertrude More which she left written in her Breuiary In the fore part of her Breuiary she had framed and written the ensuing praier for her due performance of the diuine Office viz Al you that blesse our Lord exalt him al you can for he is greater then al your praises OMNIS SPIRITVS LAVDET Dominum Let euery spirit praise the Lord. AND I â—hy poore creature who am not worthy to name thee my Lord my God and al my good do heer in the preâ—sence of al thy Celestial Court desire 〈◊〉 peâ—form this my Office with al diligenâ—â— and with an amourous affections towards thee my â—oâ— who hast imposâ—d this sweet and most to be desired obligation vpon me sinner who doth not deserue any such honour or comfort from thee as to be admitted to ioine my cold and frozen praises with al those who praise thee either on earth or in heauen where al to my comfort do without ceasinâ— continually praise thee And for what is wanting in me for the performance thereof as I should and ought to do supply it out of the superaboundance of thâ— merits and mercâ— I desire to say it with al my hart according to the intention of our holy Mother the Catholick Church of which I desire through thy grace to liue and dy a true member be thâ—u according to her desir Adored Blessed Magnified and supreamly Superexalted by â—t Let it be to the honour of thy al Immaculaâ—e Mother the Lady and Queen of Angels and Saints to these in a particular maner â— viz to my good Angel our most holy Father S. Benet S. Scholastica S Ioseph S. Peter and S. Paul S. Iohn Enangelist S. Iohn Baptist S. Thomas and my deare S. Augustin S. Mary Magdalen S. Gertrude and in fine al that are in Heauen haue by it to them exhibited by thee what thou willest and desirest should be I beseech thee also that I may by it pray to thee or al afflicted pained tempted and troubled that they may please and praise thee in those their miseries and ouercome them to their comfort and thy glory I also offer to thy sweet Mercy al those souls who by deadly sin are enemies to thee which is indeâ—d the misery of miseries O lét them return to thee wâ—o art our beginning and the true Center of our souls from whom to be separated by sin â—s a most greiuous hel and to whom to be vnited by grace is a most sweet Heauen Conuert therefor and recal those souls to thee for whom â—hou spaâ—edst not â—hy most pretious Bloud shedding it to the very last drop for vs finners I offer thee also my Parents who haue placed me heer in thy house where here I may euen heare and see how to serue thee and where I may night and day attend to thee and praise thee my amiable and most to be desired beloued whom to serue and to be obliged to loue is the only happines in this world and to whom to be tyed by vowes and other obligations of Religion is a most sweet seruitude and yoâ—e and so sweet that no liberty is to it to be compared I offer thee also our holy Congregationâ— and al that euer or shal desire my poore vnworthy prayers and aboue al I offer thee al those in earth or Purgatory which thy diuine Maiesty would haue me pray for to thee beseeching thee that tâ—y Diuine
are all the helps we haue Intended and haue been Imparted and bestowed by thee That we might liue alone To thee who satiat'st pure soules With ioyes that are vnknown And wo to them a thousand times Who interest haue in any Or haue deuided harts to thee After thy gifts so many For thou hast purchased our loue At too too deare a rate To haue a partner in our hart Which iustly thou dost hate O this thy wrong makes Angells blush O make it farre from me Since that I am both body and soul All conseerate to thee And I also will greiue with them To see thee haue such wrong From soules selected by thy self To sing with them the song Of Loue and praise to thee O God And euen in this place To Contemplate thee as we may O sweet and happy grace If we would dy vnto our selues And all things ells but thee It would be naturall to our soules For to ascend and be Vnited to our Center deare To which our soules would hy Being as proper then to vs As fire to vpwards fly O lett vs therefor loue my God For Loue pertaines to him And lett our soules seek nothing ells But in this Loue to swimme Till we absorpt by his sweet Loue Return from whom we came Where we shall melt into that Loue Which ioyeth me to name And neuer can I it too much Speak of or it desire Since that my God who 's Loue it selfe Doth only Loue require Come therefor all and lett vs loue And with a pure aspect Regard our God in all we do And he will vs protect O that all things vpon the earth Re-ecchoed with thy praise My euerlasting glorious God The Ancient of dayes And it I wish with all my soul Incessantly to sing But seeing this I cannot do My sighes to heauen shall ring Yea if I writ out all the sea Yet could I not expresse The ioy and comfort I do feele In what thou dost possesse No gifts or grace nor comforts heere How great so ere they be Can satiat my longing soul While I possesse not thee For thou art all my harts desire Yea all that I do craue In earth or heauen now and euer Thou art all that I would haue And I do wish with all my soul That to thee I could pray With all my hart and all my strength Ten thowsand times a day Lett peoples tribes and tongues confesse Vnto thy Maiesty And lett vs neuer cease to sing Sanctus Sanctus to thee These are his words my Lord God which whosoeuer practiseth shall find a Spirituall internall life so easy sweet secure and void of all questions that they will walk euen in this bannishment where our life is tearmed and that most iustly a continuall warrefare with a heauenly peace and security For to that soul who proposeth nothing to herself but thy selfe alone aboue all gifts and creatures what can interpose it selfe for to harm her while she remaineth thus confident and humble between Maiestyâ— and her soul. Certainly so subiect doth such an one liue to thee and to all others in that maner as shall be exacted by thee that there can nothing carry her away while thus it stands with her to any errour of vanity and her loue is so founded in true Charity and practised with such Humility and so in her very soul that nothing can interrupt her conuersation with thee Besides in a soul who walketh vpon this secure ground of only seeking thee and only resting in thee such a diuine light doth shine that she iudgeth according to the iustice of thy Diuine will and not according to sense or custome which in these blind days takes place allmost in all things of true reason and this for want of hauing recourse to thee my Lord who art the only true light and of this defect it proceeds that the diuine ways of Loue are now held so perillous and insecure in which my God thou hast an infinit wrong seeing that we were made only to Loue and attend to the praise of thee our Lord. It is true those who will pretend to lead a Spiriâ—uall life and yet seek not in all to deny themselues but desire this gift or this grace this fauour or that comfort lett them pretend for their excuse in it whatsoeuer they please do oâ—ten times miserably deceiue not only themselues but also many others and bring an internal life wholy into a scorne and contempt to the preiudice of their owne soules and also of many others But I wish that those that do this simply by being for a Spirituall life vnapt might giue themselues to that which by Superiors should be found most fitting for them and noâ— be a cause that thy sweet mercy anâ— goodnes should haue such wrong as that other soules who were fit should be hindred from hauing relation to thee by which their soules would be turned wholy into Loue by a vehement desire and longing after thee that one thing that is only necessary and from this house To witt of the Benedictine Nunn◠〈◊〉 Cambray The same she meanes for Paâ—â—â— issued thence and where her natural Sister of the same Spirit Gouernes at present I beseech thee for thy own sake keepe this misery which of all other is the greatest that I can comprehend oâ— imagin THE EIGTH CONFESSION BLESSED is that Simplicity saith my foremencioned Author in his fourth book of the Following of Christ that forsaketh the difficullt way of many questions Those are his words in his said diuine Booke where he proueth the way of Loue to be so easy and secure as I haue before signified O how happy are they who follow thee in Humility and Simplicity of hart for these haue few doubts which are the cause of questions The more a soul is void of doubts the more capable is she speaking ordinarily of these secret wayes of the Diuine Loue For commonly her way must be to resign herself to thy will What roome is there left then for questions Yet when it is thy will that in a reall doubt she ask thou teachest her how to proceed in it that it may be a help to her soul and no hindrance which seldome happens when without thy leaue and sending she presumeth to endanger herself to be intangled by falling out of one doubt and question into fiue hundred others Lett it be with my soul O Lord as it is said of Anna the Mother of thy Prophet Samuel that she turned her countenance no more towards seuerall waies For hauing been taught and instructed by thy sweet mercy that One thing is to me only necessary lett me not loose my selfe by following or trying those seuerall waies of which she speaketh I haue as thou knowst my God had sufficient triall of them to the great misery and difficulty of my poore soul for that time lett me now sing and that from the bottom of my soul that it is good for me to
calamities and miseries O Loue lett me liue in and to thee and dy to all created things whatsoeuer O Loue Loue liue raign and wholy possesse my soul Consider not O my God so much what I am and haue beene as what I desire to be O Lord my God and all my Good THE XVI CONFESSION O Lord my God Father of the poor and true comforter of all afflicted soules be mercifull to my desolate hart and stirre it vp to perfect loue of thee that I may simply seek thee and sigh after thee my beloued absent and not for the sorrow I feele at the present Lett me long to embrace thee with the armes of my soul and think it litle to endure any misery in body or soul to be at last admitted into the boosom of my Loue fairest and choicest of thousands Lett all fall down and adore my God the glory of my hart Lett the sound of his Praise be heard to sound and resound ouer all the earth O when shall my soul hauing transcended it self and all created things be firmely vnited to thee the beloued of my hart resting in thee not in thy gifts or graces and neither desiring nor taking any satisfaction in any work or exercise whatsoeuer but in all paines temptations contempts deâ—olations pouerties and miseries either of body or mind conforming my self to thy sweet will for time and eternity who as iustly as euer thou didst any thing mayst condemne my soul eternally to hell from which nothing but thy meere mercy were able to saue and deliuer me and dayly I should incurr this sentence if thou didst not out of thy goodnes euer help and protect me thy sinfull seruantâ— This only I desiâ— this only I ask that I may in all things praise thee and that I may desire no comfort but to be able without all comfort human or diuine to be true to thee and not offend thy Haâ—osty THE XVII CONFESSION TO whom but to thee my Lord should I fly in all temptations and Crosses whose armes are open to embrace all repentant sinners and whose hands are lifted vp to giue a sweet benediction to all in misery If I either had or desired to haue any friend or comforter but thee I could not with confidence fly into thy bosâ—ome for succour in this which is now faln on me Iâ— euer thou hadst reiected any that hoped iu thee I might feare but as it is I will sing in my affliction with teaâ—es in myne eyes to thee and neuer leaue to hope in thine aboundant mercy Is it much that I serue thee whom all creatures are bound to serue and we are so happy in being subiect to thee that no libâ—râ—y is to be compared to the happines of depending of thee THE XVIII CONFESSION WHEN thou art present O my God then my hart reioiceth and in peaâ—e singeth thy praises but when thou hidest thy beawtifull face my soul becometh exceedingly obscured and troubled yea euen ouerwhelmed in darknes and misery in which case long remaining which is most iustly permitted by thee for my humiliation what shall I do to lift vp my soul to thee but as one sick with loue of her absent beloued to speak with him it is impossible the distance of place is so great but yet she may hear others who speak of him which a little mitigateth her misery though while he is absent al is irksome to her becaus the delay afflicteth her hart But yet is she without all comfort No for she may write to and of him and if none will carry it to her deare beloued it shall remain by her that he may see at his return how she languished for loue and could take comfort in nothing that all creatures could offer or propose to her soul while she possessed not what she only desired her life by loue being more with her beloued then where she liued for which caus she heareth and yet mindeth not what is said vnles perhaps they treat feelingly of her absent loue and speak in his praise She seeth and yet cannot take comfort in what she beholdeth She sleepeth but her hart waketh and in fine while she cannot enioy her beloued nothing can satisfy her vnquiet hart Thus my God euen sensual and vnreasonable loue transporteth a reasonable soul But if naturall loue be of that force what doth that soul feel whom thou hast wounded with thy pure Loue And of what power is that loue that is seconded by thee who art the fountain of all true Loue and sweetnes What shall I say of a soul that hath tasted how sweet our Lord is Verily she yet liuing dieth a thousand deaths becaus she seeth herself so far from possessing thee my God whom none can see and liue nor none enioy as thou art in thy self till thou free her of the heauy and sinful burthen of flesh and bloudâ— And allthough thou dost admitt her longing and sighing after thee alone to I know not what nor can I expres the vnspeakable ioy and delights which I say thou some times admittest her to therein not like to the louers in this world who oftimes reiect where they are most beloued yet out of thy care of her thou suddainly turnest away thy face at which till she loue thee for thy self she will become troubled and too too impatient in the delay which thou makest of returning to her again the which if she bear with a resigned mind making thy will her law aboue all the desires of her hart and sitt solitary like the turtle doue thou willt in good time assuredly return and being absent wilt be present to hear her prayers and see her teares shed for the sorrow she conceiueth to offend thee her desired beloued whom she would loue withall her hart with all her soul and all her strength and praise thee day and night without ceasing as it beseemes a soul languishing with thy loue THE XIX CONFESSION REMEMBER O my God that thou madst me for to loue thee Why therefor dost thou permit me to offend so sweet a Goodnes Although none do find thee in an extraordinary maner in the bottome of their soules but those that serue thee my God for Loue and walk by the way of the Crosse yet I do confidently affirm that thy yoke and burthen thy Law and thy Crosse are not by far so heauy greeuous and burthen â—ome as be the painâ—ul wayes of â—in which seeme â—o be sweetned with some delightsâ— but in the hart it proueth more bitter then gall whereas thy yoke being born by a truly louing soul is many times heauy when thou leauest her thereby to shew her how little she can do or suffer of her self and that she may glory in thee and not in her own power and humble herself and not preferre herâ—elf before others when I say thou pleasest to leaue her thus as it were forlorne she feeleth indeed a great burthen and nothing can comfort her till thou her desired and only beloued
sake as also thine owne who art Blessed for euer Amen THE XXVIII CONFESSION INCINA cor meum Deus in testimonia tua Ecce concupui mandata tua in aequitate tua viuifica me-Incline my God my hart to thy testimonies and in thy truth quicken my soul. For behold my soul doth exceedingly couet to performe thy law For thy law is truth and the effect thereof is Iustice and Peace and Ioy in the holy Ghost When I remember how I haue strayed from thee by sin I become ashamed before thâ—e But when I consider thy Mercy I hope stil notwithstanding what is past to become through thy grace which so sweetly preuented me pleasing to thy Diuine Maiesty O Lord inlighten my soul obscuredâ— by sin and ill customes inlighten it that I may walk the way of Iustice and Truth which is the way wherof thou speakest by Esaie the Prophet in which a foole cannot err as he affirmethâ— O let me by true Humility become a fool according to his meaning let me become as a bittle child that I may be capable of entring into the Kingdom of Heauen Certeinly we ought to liue so subiect to thee that we haue no election of any thing as pretending our selues for time or eternity And also we ought to haue in our soul such a relation to thee that in thy ligâ—t in thy truth and wholy according to thy will we perform all we do and out of that respect omit what we omit O my God let me I say walk this way of Loue which knoweth not how to seck it-self in any tâ—ing whatsoeuer Let this Loue wholy posses my soul and hart which I beseech thee may liue and moue only in and out of a pure and sincere loue to thee who aboue all ought to be loued and desired Let this fire which thou camst into this world to send and willedst it should burn consume me wholy into it self that forgetful of my self and al created things I may be mindfull of thee my Lord and my God It is thy pâ—omise that where sin â—ath abounded graâ—e shall superbound that the riches of thy Merâ—y may appear and shew it-self to the Glory of thy holy Name which Mercy I beseech thee extend itself â—o me that I may praise thee for euer and euer O that thy pure loue were â—o grounded and established in my hart that I might sigh and pant â—ithout ceasing after thee and be â—ble in the strength of this thy Loue â—o live without alâ— comfort and conâ—olation human or diuine therby â—o become the more conformable to â—hee the beloued of my soul O how â—appy are they that truly loue tâ—ee â—ertainly whatsoeuer they suffer it â—â— very tolerable to them beâ—aus he or whose loue they suffer is thâ—ir helâ—er Indeed my Lord thou art a hiden God but yet not so hidden from â—ur soul but that in some sort we â—aue therin according to our poor â—apacities not only a tast but also sight of thee for as euen thou thy self hast said Blessed are the cleane of hart for they shall see God O sight to be wished desired and longed forâ— becaus once to haue seen thee is to haue learnt al things Nothing can bring vs to this sight but loue But what loue must it be Not a sensible loue only a childish loue a loue which seeketh it-self more then the beloued No but it must bâ— an ardent loue a pure loue a couradgious loue a loue of Charity anâ— humble loue and a constant loue not worn out with labours noâ— daunted with any difficulties O Lord giue this loue vnto my soul that â— may neuer more liue nor breath buâ— out of a most pure loue of thee my All and only Good let me loue thee foâ— thy self and nothing els but in anâ— for thee Let me loue nothing in steeâ— of thee For to giue al for loue is â—â— most sweet bargain for Loue is as stronâ— as death O that this thy loue might floâ— in such aboundance into the harâ— of al capable therof that the sonâ— of thy loue and Praise might contiâ—nually be heard through out al the earth O what do we do louing vanity and seeking a lye What do â—â—e abusing the most noble capacity of our souls by desiring that which passeth away like smoak What do â—â—e louing that which is more changeable then the Moon Can any â—hing satiate our harts but our God Can we find true repose out of him â—s any thing worthy of our loue but â—hat Goodnes which is loue it-self and â—hom the more we loue the more we â—re able to loue becaus for loue he made vs capable of loue But alas my God my soul was in honour â—nd I knew not it I was compared â—o beasts and by sin became like to â—hem or worse then they Is this my equital for al thy loue Is this exâ—usable that my soul made by theeâ—o â—o be delighted with the food of â—ngels which is loue should delight â—â—-self with the bread of swine O is â—y hart able to rehears this before â—â—ee and not through excessiue grief â—reak in sunder Could I in my nature not abide to be diâ—loyall to one whom I found to be a faithful friend to me and can I endure to remember my disloyalty to my God Could I with ioy vndergo for my friend disgrace and difficulty and can I endure nothing for my God Was the absence of a deare friend intolerable to me and can I abide to see my self cease at any time to sigh and long after my God O no my God let that be far from me I heere renounce before heauen and earth al inordinate affections to creâ—tures Place with thy own hands tâ—â— loue in their roomâ— that it expelling thence al â—hat now is therein dâ—â—pleasing to tâ—ine eyes thou maâ—â— thy selâ— wholy posses me giuing and distributing my affections and disposing the passions of my haâ—â— according to thy sweet will which only is iust only holy and true iâ— it-self C how sinceare then are oâ— affections when we loue our neigâ—â—bour only in and for thee Theâ—â— we pitty not one and are hard harted to another according to the inclination of our peruerse nature but behold thee in al and consequently willingly serue and assist al for thy loue then we do not shew our seues meek only to our friends but also to those by whom we suffer most contradiction and gladly vpon all occasions extend our charity For there is no true friendship but that which is founded vpon thee and which is maintained without impediment to thy loue This is only the loue of Charity which Charity knoweth not how to repine to be angry to be exceptious to be inconstant to be troublesom to be suspicious or iealous for it regardeth thee in al and desireth thee aboue al It taketh al in good part it wondreth not to see men exceed in words finding it-self so often to offend in
For her humble soul thought it-self too vnworthy of such a fauour when thou didst put her in mind that she was to conuers with thee in a more spiritual maner then before neither did she reflect on the labour pain and grief she had sustained For as thou knowst loue feeleth no labour nor complaineth of any burthen For only to haue seen thee aliue again was sufficient to make her forget al former afflictions For her sake and for al their sakes that loue thee be merciful to my sins and bring me by true loue to be vnited to thee with them where for euer without ceasing I may praise thee my only beloued Amen THE XLVII CONFESSION O LORD my God I wil speak to thee again and again I wil cal vpon thee the entierly beloued of my hart I wil melt away in thy praises and I wil inuite al thy spouses to to seek thee alone aboue al thy giâ—ts and aboue al creatures For in thee alone is true peaee and comfort to be found and enjoyed O how happy should I esteem my self if I were able to praise thee without ceasing or be any cause that any should more and more languish with thy loue What should I do being born down with the weight of mortal flesh and diuers internal afflictions so that I can many times scarsly think on thee What should I do I sayâ— but liâ—t vp my hart with my hands as it were by main force sometimes by words and sometimes by writing vnto thee which I do not do as to one that is farr of from me but as to one who is more neere to me then I am to my-self and of whose Goodnes whose Wisedom whâ—se Beawty whose Mercy and most absolut and incomparable greatnes I am more assured of then I am of any thing I see with my corporal eyes O who would not loue this Goâ—nes this Maiesty and submit them-selues â—o this most amiable beloued oâ— our souls If any comfort or happines were to be found out of him we were somthing excusable in negâ—ecting and forgetting our chief good â—ut seeing we cannot euen in this mortal liâ—e find any content but by louing praising and truly seeking and seruing him we are too miserable and too blame for loosing our-selues by resting with loue and inordinat affection in transitory and visible things O far be it from thy spouses to set their affection vpon any thing bâ—â— thee or to bereaue thee of the affection which from al is to thee only due Al that we are and haue is too little for thee Let vs not therefor of that little we haue take from thee O let vs loue thee aboue al and al others in and â—or thee I do bemoan this misery aboue al miseries that those who haue dedicated themselues to thee should seek the loue and fauour of others to their own and the others impediment in thy loue and seruice Oâ—tentimes we comply and correspond vnder pretence to get temporal means the while neglecting thee who feedest the birds and clothest the beasts of the earth who neither sow not reap neither are they solicitous of any thing but depend of thy meere prouidence and yet thou prouidest for them Can we think thou wilt haue less care of vs that haue left al the world for thee then of the vnreasonnable creatues made only for our seruices Hast not thou said by the Spirit of al truth that first seek for the Kingdom of God and his iustice al things els sâ—al be added to you O let vs therefor leaue al things truly that we may confide in thee casting our care vpon thee who wilt nourisâ— our souls and bodies if we wil but faithfully and constantly adhere vnto thee our supreame and only Good Let vs leaue pretending any thing but thee For often euen vnder the pretence of getting praiers of others we poure out our-selues in the meane time neglecting to haue relation to thee who wouldst more willingly giue then we could ask if we would but truly and faithfully adhere to thee and not stray out of our selues hindering both our selues and others from adhering to thee to whom we owe al we are and can do and and therefor are greatly to blame when we do not endeauour to loue thee with al our soul with al our mind and al our strength which grant for thy own sake we may endeauour to do to thy honour and glory who be praised loued and adored for al eternity Amen THE XLVIII CONFESSION SHAL not my soul be subiect to God O my Lord far be it from me to wil or desire any thing but according to thy diuine wil which is only holy Let me neuer resist thy wil signified to me by any means whatsoeuer Let my soul be wholy turned into a flame of diuine loue that I may aspire and tend to nothing els but thy-self alone Blot out my sins that my soul may return to thee by loue from whom by sin it hath strayed O let nothing but this desir of thee my God posses my hart Let that be my solace in labours pains temptations desolations and al afflictions of body or mind Let not my hart drawn by thee to seek after nothing but loue be so base as to couet desir and rest in any thing but thee Thou art my life my choice and my only beloued When I hear theâ— but named my Lord God it forcible draweth me into my-self that I may attend vnto thee forgetting my-self and whatsoeuer els besids thee for which benefit be thou inâ—initly praisâ—d Amen THE XLIX CONFESSION OMNIS â—piritus lâ—udet Dominum Bonedicite omnia opera Domini Domino laudate super exaltate eum in saeoula Let euery spirit praise our Lordâ— Blesse our Lord al the works of oâ—â— Lord praise and exalt him for euer O my God that I were able with a pure soul and louing hart to extol thy praise But alas thy praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner But shal I for this hold my peace If I do yet permit me this comfort for thine own sake that I may inuite others more worthy to sing and set forth the praise of thy diuine Maiesty with whom yet as the last and least my soul shal ioin in the praise of thee our deare Creator and in that which is so worthily possessed by thy sweet Goodnesâ— I wil rejoice with al the forces of my hart and soul O my holy and deare delight what a most harmonious melody would refound ouer al the earth if thy wil and iust disposition took place in al things Behold al thy works praise thee euery one in their kind only man for whose help and comfort al other things on â—arth were created â— peruerteth the order of thy Iustice by miâ—uâ—ing that noble free wil which thou gauest him to choose and loue thee with O what couldst thou haue done more then with such a noble gift to haue endued vs Certeinly
if we would intend thee in al and haue relation to thee in al who art more present to our souls then we are to our selues we should hear thee giuing answers sometimes by others sometimes by thy self and sometimes by tâ—e words of holy Scriptures and ancient Fathers and subiects would be tractable to Superiors rather gouerning by thee then by themselues what thoâ— wouldst commaund they would commend and in al not seeking their own glory or exaltation would glory in thee not in their own powerâ— and what were done by thee they would then accompt only wel doneâ— but what they did oâ— themselues they would accompt little profitable as to the aduancement oâ— souls Then they would be able to se whaâ— were fit for euery soul vndeâ— theiâ— chardg and when thou permittedâ— this not to be so cleer to them theâ— would humble themselues acknowâ—ledging it happened for their vnâ—woâ—thines beseeching thee to do thaâ— by thy-self which could not be done by them and if thon shouldst perhaps let another though their subiect to see and discern what were fit in that case or cases though he were but the last and lowest and of the least esteeme in the Conuent yet certeinly such Superiors would not accompt it to derogate from their authoritâ— that such an one should supply their place and Offifice vpon occasions becaus they seek thy honour and not their own and though thou hadst giuen them power to command yet no otherwise would they vse it then according to such maner and in such cases as thou dost require they should In this maner gouerning with relation to thee and regard of thy wil and with indifferency what thou wilt do by them what by others and what by thy-self whose spirit breatheth where it pleases Then the sensual loue and friendship between the Superiors and their subiects would cease then sincerity and reason would take place both in the commander and in the obeyer both thinking al their loue and labour to be too little for thy Godnes then would be peace on al sids and the imperfections of al would turn to the aduancement not to the preiudice of any then as they desired the friendship or fauour of none but in al things willingly and gladly depending of thy prouidence so they would be friends with al thy friends and pitty and pray for from the bottom of their souls those that are thine enemies amongst which they â—ould verrly beleeue they should haue been the greatest if thou of thy sweet Mercy hadst not preuented them Also inferiors that truly liue to thee and desiring nothing els but thee though thou didst teach and instruct them about the vse of indifferent things by an internal ligâ—t which discerneth between custome and true reason between their natural desirs and thy true Iustice which only ought to take place in al things yet they accounting themselues wholy vnworthy of being instructed by thee most willingly hear thy wil and commaunds not only from Superiors but from any creature whatsoeuer accounting it sufficient for them that it was signified to them that it was thy wil the which we ought to follow as doth a shaddow the the body or els of little worth is any thing we do For thou rewardest no works but thine own O if al creatures would serue thee according to their capacities and â—tates what a resemblance would this life haue with heauen No person no state can pretend to be excused from being able to serue and pleaâ—e thee who hast made our hart for thy-self and it can neuer haue true rest and repose but in thee the Center oâ— our souls What creature is so little or contemptible that doth not in some sort inuite vs in its kind to loue and praise thee my Lord God If we would lâ—ue thee they would not fail to serue vs til we could serue thee without them But alas as it is affirmed and that most truly thaâ— order is the life of things so man being out of order by seeking himselâ— more then thee and by doing that which may redound rather to his own honour then to thine hath made al thy other creatures refuse that obedience which they owed to man if tat he were truly obedient to thee Our defect in this towards thee puts al out of order For how can subiects be pliable to the wil of Superiors if first they be not in the way of obeying thee witâ— relation of their obediences to man as to thee and meerly for an according to thy â—il And how can we bâ— at peace with others iâ— first we bâ— not by true resignation in a way tâ— haue peace with thee in our own soulsâ— Where is the Obedience due to thee and others for â—hee since oftentimeâ— out of blindnes we giue Caesar thaâ— which was Gods and deny to him that which was due to him by the 〈◊〉 of God As also if Superiors anâ— Priests should stand vpon points vâ— surping that to themselues whicâ— thou hast reserued to thy self what shal become of subiects Certainly they wil not wel know what to do vnles it be very right between them and thee But alas Si sal euanuerit in quo salietur If the salt loose its vertue in what shal it be salted Happy are they that light vpon a good Superior but much more happy are they who by true light in Humility and Abnegation are instructed by thee who art the only true teacher of Humility true obedience and perfect Pryer O my Lord when shal it be said that the multitude of beleiuers are of one hart and soul When shal al be vnited in the bonds of true peace Neuer til our Charity beginning in thee do spread it self to al others for thee For there is no true friendship but that which thou knittest between such as loue al in and for thee and thee aboue al that can be imagined or desired O when shal thy Iustice and Truth in all things take place that the earth may breath forth nothing but thy Praise Then we should be in paine and not seeme to sufferâ— so sweet or pleasing would the paiâ— be we should liue on earth noâ— as being strangers in heauen and liuing heer should more liue witâ— thee our beloued then where we of necessity liued For then thy wil being done in earth as in heauen the earth would resemble heauen wherby the pain and grief of our banishment would be sweetned with â— comfort almost heauenly and thaâ— together with resigning our selues to thy holy wil to be contented to be denyed for a time til thy wil might thereby be wholy accomplishedâ— and after that come to see thy glorious face and enjoy thee as thou anâ— in thy-self who is our only happines the expectation wâ—erof would makâ— this world tolerable to vs and wâ— should then seek thy glory and thâ— fulfilling of thyâ—ustice â—ustice in al things and not our own comfort anâ— honour Verily al thy disposition are so
do euen say to my soul Peace be humble and subiect in al to thy God whom thou art not worthy so much as to name with thy defiled mouth Indeed my Lord whose power and Maiesty prostrate I acknowledg and adoreâ— with al mine hart and soul if I should neither in this nor in the next world receaue any other reward but what already thou hast bestowed on me which I haue I must needs conâ—esse receaued gratis of thy Mercy without any desert of mine owne yet that which tâ—ou hast so already done for me is sufficient to declare to Heauen and earth the superaboundance of thy mercy and clemency to a sinful and contempâ—tible creature I wil there for sing vnto thee mercy and iudgment al the days of my life wishing always that thy wil which is Iustice it-selâ—â— may be wholy and perfectly accomâ—plishâ—d in me thy sinful seruant Let me liue as-long as it pleaseth thee or dy in the very beginning of these my desires to loue send sicknes or health suddain or lingring death pouerty or aboundance good fame or that I be by al the world despised and in fine in al do with me as it is most for thine honour For in this I plaâ—e al my comfort and happines faithfully to serue thee and to be little or great in thine eyes as seemeth best to thee For I accompt it a sufficient reward for al that euer I shal be able to do or suffer that thou hast admitted me vnworthy wretch into a place of liuing where I may know and euen see with mine eyes how to serue and please thee this I say is more then can be deserued by me For to serue thee is an honour aboue al that can be imagined by me yet without any regard of recompence it is due to thee that I serue and loue thee with al the forces of my body and soul which grant I may now begin to do and perseuer therin til my end that I may for thy own sake obtain the happines eternally to praise thee O remoue al impediments between my soul and thee Let me dy to al created things that I may liue alone to theeâ— O let al creatures be to me as if they were not to the end I may more fully attend to thee in the bottome of my soul where I wil in silence harken to thee Speak Peace to my soul that I may be capable of thy voice more sweet then al things whatsoeuer Speak to my hart but speak so as I may hear thee Teach me how to practise to thy honour those diuine vertues which make souls so pleasing to thee to wit Charity Humility Obedience Patience and Discretion which iudgeth between custome and true reason between opinion and thy true Iustice which manifesteth it self to those souls who seek only to loue and praise thee THIS pious soul hauing written thus far went no farther being surprised with a bodily indisposition vpoâ— the 29. or 30. of Iuly 1633. which proued to be hâ—r last sicknes that brought her to a happy death vpon the 17. of August following The last of these Confessions saue one she began as there appeareth vpon S. Mary Magdalens day being the 22. of Iuly next bâ—fore her death HEERE FOLLOVV SOME other Sentences and Sayings of the same pious Soul found in some others papers of hers THE interior or Spiritual disposition os man is of that great and infinit worth and moment that so it be wel al other matters wil also go wel and be in good plight And the good state of the interior and therby also of the exterior proceedeth from the harkning to and following of the Diuine interior Cal or inspiration the which to a â—oul capable of an internal life is or ought to be as al in al. And wo to such a soul who ouercome by threats or perswaâ—ions from without or by temptations within her or other occasions whatsoeuer gâ—ueth ouer her prosecution of Mental prayer by meanes wherof only is she capable of discerning and following the diuine wil and Cal. And therefor ô you souls that are capable of internal prayer do you accordingly prosecute it and be grateful to God for the grace of it For it causeth the greatest happines that is to be gotten in this liâ—e and an answarable happines in the future For by it in this life one passeth through al things how hard and paineful soeuer they be By it we become familiar euen with God him-self and to haue our conuersation in Heauen By it al impediments wil be remoued between God and the soulâ— By it you shal receaue light and grace for al that God would do by you By it we shal come to regard God in al things and profitably neglect our selues By it we shal know how to conuerse on earth without prâ—iudice to our souls And in fine by it we shal praise God and become so vnited to him that nothing shal be able to separate vs for time or eternity from his sweet Goodnes And let him be al in al to vs who only can satisfy our souls He is his own Praise iâ— which and by wâ—ich we are infinitly happy though of our selues we aâ—e able to praise and loue him but in a very poore maner who can say that desire nothing but to loue and praise him that they are poor seeing he who is more theirs then they are their owne is so rich ond to whom nothing is wanting that should make him an infinit happines in this let vs ioy in this iet vs glory without intermission when we are not able to attend vnto him and praise him as we would let vs commend our hart and soul to the Saints in Hâ—auen who without ceasing praise our Lord Let vs do that by them which we are not able to do by our selues yea let vs desire him who is his own praise and only is able to do it as he dâ—serueâ—h to haue it done to supply what he desireâ—h we should wish him Lâ—t vs sâ—ek no other coÌ„foâ—t but to be able without al comfort to be true to him Let vs rest in him alone and and not in any thing that is or can be creaâ—ted Let vs not seâ—ke the gist but the giuer O hoW little is al the loue we can giue him in comparison of that he deserueth from vs where therefâ—r shal thâ—re be room for any created thing in out souls Let vs wish and desire and as far as it lyes in vs procure that al loue be giuen to him Let him haue al Glory al Honour and al Praise Let vs desire the fauour of none but him alone to whose free disposition let vs stand for time and eternity as absolutly by ouâ— wil as if we neuer had any other freedom of wâ—l in vs. Nothing we do or suffer let vs esteâ—me great for our sinnes deserue much more Let our whole care tend to the magnifying of him Let his honour bâ— ours and let vs seek nothing
and euer wil be to thine honour from whom proceedeth al good If he I say stood need of gathering out of thy Soly Scriptures and the writings of holy Saints somewhat that might eleuate his mind to thee when he grew more cold by reason of humain frailty as he professeth before his Manuel whose words I wil heerafter bring in as being most sweet to me whaâ— need then hath my poor soul to gather together certain deuout and amouâ—rous words who scarsely in the reading thereof can lift vp my hart to thee but my hope is in thy Metcy whiâ—h is aboue al thy works and out of whiâ—h thou hast said by thy Prophet Men and beasts thou wilt saue To this Mercy I fly in this Mercy is al my comfort and consolation I cast my-self into the arms of this thy Mercy and Pitty I haue nothing wherein I can trust Some haue suffered for thee in their body others in their mind others in both Some for thee haue taken great pains and vndergon great labours and austerities others by couradgiously â—upporting disgraces and miseries haue become thereby most deare to thee others while they were afflicted and persecuted praied to thee for their enemies and therby procured pardon for their own sins But alaâ— my God as for me when I cast backe mine eyes vpon my life past I can find nothing done or suffered by me wherin I can hope wherein I can trust Al those things which I behold others daily to practise are far fromme I haue liued in this house of whom I may truly say Haec est generatio quaerentium faciem Dei Iacob This is the generation of those that seek the face of the God of Iacob vnmindful and vngrateful to the God of Iacob yea my whole life hath been ful of sin and iniquity and without end or measure haue my offences been against thee yea iustly maist thou condemn me to the boâ—tomlesse pitty of hel But yet I wil hope in thee I am sorry from the very bottom of my hart that euer I offended thee or straied from thee Behold I now consecrate my-selfa new body and soul to thee take away from my soul what therein displeaseth thee Al thy Angels and Saints be intercessors for me especially thy deare Mother the faithful helper and Aduocate of vs sinners TO OVR BLESSED LADY the Aduocate of sinners AL hail O Virgin crownd with stars and M one vnder thy feet Obtaine vs pardon of our sinnes of Christ our Sauiour sweet For though thou art Mother of my God yet thy Humility Disdaineth not this simple wretch that flyes for helpe to thee Thou knowst thou art more deare to me â—hen any can expresâ—e And thâ—t I do congratulate with ioy thy happinesse Who art the Queen of Heauen and earth thy helping hand me lend That I may loue and praise my God and haue a happy end And though my sins me terrify yet hoping stil in â—hee I find my soul refreshed much when I vnto thee fly For thou most willingly to God pâ—titions dost preseâ—t And dost obtain much grace for vs in this our baâ—nishment The honour and the glorious praise by al be giuen â—o thee Which Iâ—sus tâ—y beloued Son orâ—aind eâ—ernâ—lly For thee whom he exalts in heauen aboue the Angeâ—s al And whom we find a Patronesse when vnto thee we câ—l Amen O Mater Dei â—e â—ento mei Amen As also my good Angel S. Ioseph Saint Iohn Euangelist S. Martin S. Augustin S. Thomas of Aquin and thou my most holy Father S. Benet To our most Holy Father Saint BENEDICT MOst glorious Father in whose School I liue and hope to dye God grant I may obserue thy Rule for in that al doth lye For no perfection can be named which vs it doth not teach O happy she who in her soul the sense thereof doth reach But many praise Obedience` and thy humility And yet conceaue not as they should what either of them be The simple humble louing souls only the sense find out Of any discret obedient Rule and these are void of doubt Yea vnder shadow of thy wings they vp to heauenâ— fly And tast heere in this vaile of teares what perfect peace doth lye Hid in performâ—nce of thy Rule that leadeth vnto heauen O happy souls who it performe the ways so sweet and euen By Prayer and Patience its fulfilled Charity Obedience By seeking after God alone and giuing none offence The more I looke vpon thy Rule the more in it I find O do to me the sense vnfold For letter makes vs blind And blessed yea a thousand times Be thou who it hast writ And thy sweet blessing giue to them who truly performe it For those are they which wil conserue this house in perfect peace Without which al we do is lost and al that 's good wil cease And praised be our glorious God who gaue to thee such grace Not only him thy-self to seeke but also out to trace A way so easy and secure if we wil but thee heare To haue relation to our God who is to vs so neere For at this thou dost chiefly aime that God our souls do teach O if we did truly obey he would by al things preach His wil to vs by euery thing that did to vs befal And then as thou desirst it should he would be al in al O pray deare Father that he euer be our only loue and al eternally Amen Saint Scholastica S. Gertrude and in fine al in heauen or on earth that are pleasing to thee be pleased to make me partaker of their merits and praiers and aboue al wash me in thy pretious Bloud one drop whereof had been sufficient to haue redemed a thousand worlds In this is my hope and confidence by this I hope to be enriched with al that is wanting in me For in that thou art and possessest I more reioyce and exult then if I had whatsoeuer in earth or in heauen I could desire at my command In this ioy I cry out withal my hart with al my soul and with al my strengh O how much good and happines do I possesse seeing my God who is more my-self then I my-self am doth possesse so infinit Glory Maiesty and so infinit good things for indeed I haue and hold him more mine own then any thing that euer I had or held heertofore This is the comfott of my pouerty and the repose of my labour This my most delightful most amiable most bright and beawtiful and most Glorious God is always present with me to heare my praises and receaue my petitions In him I am rich though in my felf I am poore and contemptible To him my most louing God be giuen now and euer al Laud and Praise and Glory by al in heauen and earth for euer and euer Amen These Collections once more I offer to thee my God and those that in perusing thereof are moued thereby to loue and praise thee be they my Goâ— mindful of
me in their holy prayers which are most pleasing to thee And I also desire that some wil out of their Châ—rity reade these things to me which heerafter follow when sicke to deathâ— shal be becompassed with those fears and terrors which ordinarily accompany that dreadful hower at which time as al oâ—her be thou my helper and Protectorâ— and in the Bowels of thy Mercy Good Father remâ—mber me poor begger and from heauen send me now and at my departure thy Grace which may bring me to thee where I may with al thy Elect Praiseâ— Adore and worship thee for euer and euer An acte of Contrition partly taken ouâ— of the words of blessed S. Augustin 1. O LORD I confesse I haue sinned aboue the sands of the Sea in number yet such is the greife which I take thereat that I wil not refuse to suffer any kind of punâ—shment for thâ— same O Iesus whatsoeuer thy wil shal be that I should do I desire to performe it according to thy holy wil. I haue nothing to offer vnto thee but a hart willing to do whatsoeuer thouâ—ouldst â—ouldst haue me 2. Hâ—er I offer my-self bound both hand and foot and I lye prostrate at thy feet crauing pardon for my abominable sins and offences 3. I fly not away I appeale not from thy sentence oâ—herwise then from thy Iustice to thy Mercy which we sinners do daily experience to be aboue al thy works 4. I do not plead to be released of any punishment but rather that thou maist iudge me according to thine own Blessed wil only let me not be separated from thee O thou thy-self dost say to vs Thou wilt not sinners death But that we do conuert and liue euen while our souls haue breath And no more then to cease to be canst thou O God refuse To pardon humble penitents that do themselues accuse Being no accepter of persons al hauing cost thee deare Yea euen thy very life it-self how can I therefor fear If euer yet he did disdain sinners that fled to him Then had I little cause of hope but this was neuer seen Foâ— if they doe return to thee thy hart thou wilt not close As witnes can my wretched soul who was so like to lose Al grace and goodnes if thou hadst not me with helpe preuented By sins that would with bloudy teares be while I liue lamented If I as grateful were to thee as thou deseruest I should Or as another in my case vuto thy mercy would But thou whiles that thou liuedst heer by tokens plain didst shew That none should be refused by thee who dost in mercy flow And that my wicked hart did proue who after â—ins so many Hath found much fauour in thine eys without deseruing any O blessed euer be my God for this preuenting grace Which I vnworâ—â—y haue receaud in this most happy place I fled from thee by many sins and thou didst follow me As if my ruin would haue causd some detriment to thee How can this choose but wound my hart when I remember it And euer serue to humble me while at thy feet I sit From whence my Lord my God and al permit me not to rise til I do loue thee as thou wouldst the which doth al comprise 5. I know thou wilst not the death of a sinner but rather that I be conuerted and liue 6. Be pacified therefor I beseech thee for thine own saâ—e and receaue me into thy fauour looke vpon thine own wounds and let them plead my pardon do not for euer blot me out of â—he book of life but rather giue me grace faithfully heerafter to serue and please thee 7. I know it is reason that one who hath been so vngrateful to thy Supreame Maiesty as I haue been should humbled despise and willingly abase himself euen at the feet of al creatures which thy sweet Goodnes grant me to do that I may heerafter find sauour in thine eyes who be blessed and praised by al for euer Amen O sweet Iesus to whom nothing is impossible but not to be merciful to the miserable forgiue me mine offence I am sorry from the bottom of my hart that euer I offended thee or contradicted thy holy wil but I know thou canst forgiue more then I can offend which maketh me confident of being receaued into thy fauour though thy most aboundant Mercy to whom my God be giuen al Laud. Honour and Praise by al creatures in heauen and in earth for euer and euerâ— Amen O amiable Iesus behold al thy creatures do inuite and exhort me to yeald thâ—e praises for al thy benefits which haue been I must ackowledg without end or measure towards me thy vnworthy creature Euery creature doth in their kind sing and set forth thy great Goodnes inuiting me to loue only thee and yet behold how cold and dul I am in Louing Praising and Exalting thee O what shal I say but cry out to thee who art my hope my help my Loue my life and Al yea my Father my Spouse and my God to grant thy Grace may not be void in me after so many infinit benefits O be thou heerafter the only desire and ioy of my soul. Let me look after nothing but thee loue nothing but thee let me night and day sigh and long after thee my beloued Let it suffice me to haue my inteutions and proceedings only approued by thee O let me honour and respect al for thy sake howsoeuer they treate me for my ingratitude hath been so great to thee that al creatures as wel goâ—d as bad may iustly despise me and do thee great honour thereby I offer thee therefor thine own merits seeing I haue none of mine own for those that shal any way reuenge thy quarrel by afflicting her who deserueth nothing but hel for hauing so often offended thee After something which she had collected out of the following of Christ concerning Prayer she writ as followeth O MY Lord God how much do thy Saints praise and commend the holy Exercise of Praier O how happy are â—hose that haue no other study or care then how to extol and praise thy Diuine Maiesty and in Humility of hart to make their necessities known vnto thee who art the Father of Mercies Dius totius consolationis qui consolatur nos in omni tribulatione nostra And the God of al consolation who comforts vs in al our tribulation To whom should we sinners fly but to thee my God who didst thou euer reiect that lamented and wâ—s sory for their sinnes Nay did not publicans and harlots finde thee more willing to forgiue theÌ„ they could be to aske for pardon Thou who forgauest S. Peter S. Mary Magdalen S. Augustin and infinit others their sinnes and offences be merciful to me who groaneth in spirit against my-self to see and remember that I haue made no more hast to conclude an euerlasting peace and league with thee O my God To thee now al the powers of my scattered
thy own self my Lord who made vs for this alone that by true sincerâ— affection we should adhere to thee the chiefe and supreame Good O woe is me iâ— for any intention or for any creatures sake whatsoeuer I should do any thing with other intention willingly then to please and become inwardly in the bottom of my souâ— vnited to thee heer by grace and in Heauen for al eternity Al things and creatures fail only tâ—y-self art constant thou art alwayeâ— present alwaies willing to helpe thy poor seruants euer ready â—o cure our woundsâ— which through human frailty by sin we daily cause in our souls Let vs who haue been greiuous sinners and do so aboundantly experience thy Mercy giue great and continual praise to thee our God who hath sweetly redeemed vs to thy-self in the Bloud of Iesus thy Sonne the immaculate Lambe giuing vs therby hope of remission of our innumerable sins Great art thou O Lord and exceeding worthy of al Praise O let al things Adore and Exalt my God with al their soul and strength What other study what other endeauourâ— or what other desire shal possesse my soul willingly day or night but that I may in al and aboue al things praise and loue my God As nothing is superior to a soul but thy self so nothing but thou can satisfy and satiat our souls in Heaueâ— oâ— earth nothing I say but thy-self to whom ouly let my hart â—ende and only in al things intend Thou being the only true and proper Center of our hart and soul what can make this miserable banishment where to my greife I daily offend thee tolerable to me but only to aspire to thee by sighs desires and vnspeakable groanes in my hart and soul O let true loue vnite me to thee who art by al Adored and Praised for al eternity in thy Heauenly contrey Amen Some speeches of heathen Consuls and Philosophers which shew Christians their duty also their happines in knowing how to make good vse of their knowledge to their Saluation in which those Heathens perished becaâ—s they did not beleeue and acknowledg our Lord God but vanish away in their own cogitations by seeking only fame honour and applause of the people c. which yet in their wisedom they saw to be but an vncertain vanity AND first The answer of one of the greatest and wiâ—est of them when he waâ— offered power and honour and sacrifice according to their custome of vsing such as for wisedome nobility and couradg deserued it in their eyes The more saith he I consideâ— with myself of things done boâ—h in old and later times the more the vncertainties and vanities of fortune in al moral affaires oâ—curâ—e to my rememhrance and the more plainly doth their vanity appeare vnto me O my God what a deâ—inition is heer of a heathen which did not so much as know thee or for what end this vncertainty was in them permitted by thee What a shame is it if we who are not only Christians but religious should esteem or seek after any thing but thee in whom alone is stabiliâ—y to be found and enioyed One hing is necessary Let chance fortun power where it is giuen by thee dâ—spose of al things as they wil as for me I wâ—l sing in al occurrences It is good for me to adhere to my Lord God thâ— only desire and beloued of my soul and hart I wil hauâ— no care or study but how I may in al chances spend my whole forcâ—s and strength in his Praise who be Adored prostrat by al creatures for euer and euer Amen Amen ANOTHER SAID Such as stand in feare are irresolute in al their determinations He spoake it of those who out of feare to displease and desire to please for human respects became â—hereby a slaue to euery ones humour and keept not their freedom and liberty which was got by suppressing of natural passions Another speaking in a controuersy where one was to be iudg of two accusing on another and defending themselues before the Senate saith The truth or thing beleeued and wrested to the worst are easiâ—y to be discerned by one iudg if he be vise vpright and iust and not interrested in neiâ—her side Also another said That the disloyal are odious euen to those whose instrumeÌ„ts they are Of a little beginning comes often great incoÌ„uenience which might be preuented by doing as one of the Heathens dâ—d who excelled most of his time in Nobiâ—ity wisedom and al moral vertues who had so great temper ouer his affections and passions that neither for honour as being offered to be made a King nor for gain would he be false to his Pâ—iâ—ce who yet fauoured him â—o little by reason he was so much honoured by al the common wealthâ— that he gaue way to haue him poisoned at thirty years of age he being also his own father that was Caesar. He was so iust that in matâ—ers of the greatest controuersy he alwaies did true Iustice and his enemy whom he knew sought his death he honoured as his Partner being yet in nobility much his inferior but boare rule with him at Caesars command This enemy being once at a baÌ„quet with him where most of the Nobility were present he vttered sâ—ch disgraceful words and speaches of him to his face that al were amazed to see him not so much as change his counâ—enance at him And after this hearing he was in distresse at Sea he sent his own Conuoy to deliuer him from drowning though he knew his iourney was to accuse him to Caesar and the Senat and also to plot his death which indeed heat last achiued being both at one Bancquet not loÌ„g afâ—er which example sheweth vs how amiable vertue is euen in the very Heathens in whom it was but moral â—how much ought we to practise it in whom by Charity it becometh Diuine O how truly glorious are they my God who indeed posses thy loue which so worthily by holy Scripture is tearmed most Honourable wisedome But alas to humain frailty it is hard to put vp iniuries much more to do good for euil at least nature suggesteth to vs that it is vnpleasant and therefore vrgeth vs not to put vp this or that least those who are contrary to vs do add difficulty vpon difficulty seeing we put it vp so quietly But this pretence of nature is so fals and oft euen in humain respects so inconuenient whilst we by disputing resisting or in the like maner requiting do draw grater incoÌ„â—eniences vpon our selues where as quietly â—erting it passe it would soon come to nothing Nayfarther I wil speak add this to the honour of my Lord God whose way of vertue and the Cross is so sweet in coÌ„parison of the way of sin and yealding to our passionsâ— that if he had neuer intended other reward for those that Humbly practise vertue and go the way of Resignation but that they receaue in this life he