Prophets from the beginning and cease not in these days to speak to every one but many are hardned and deaf to my speech The greater number do more willingly listen to the world than to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh than the will of God The world promiseth temporal and small things and is served with great eagerness I promise most high and eternal things and the hearts of Men are nothing moved therewith Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me with equal care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are served Blush O Sidon saith the Sea And if thou ask the cause hear wherefore For a little Prebend a long journey is undertaken for everlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny sometimes there is foul contention sor a vain thing and sleight promise Men cease not to toil day and night 3. But alas for an unchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honor and glory without end they are loth to take the least pains Blush therefore slothful and complaining Servant that they are found to be more ready to distruction than thou to life They rejoyce more in vanity than thou in the truth And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceiveth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will give that which I have promised I will fulfil that which I have said but to him that remains faithful in my love to the end I am the rewarder of all that are good and do try my devout servants with strong trials 4. Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them for they will be very necessary in time of temptation What thou understandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visit my elect two several ways to wit with temptation and comfort And I daily read two lessons unto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of virtues He that hath my words and despiseth them hath within himself that shall judg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of devotion 5. O Lord my God thou art to me whatsoever is good Who am I that dare speak unto thee I am thy poorest servant and a most vile worm much more poor and contemptible than I can or dare express Remember yet O Lord that I am nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good just and holy thou canst do all things thou doest all things thou fillest all things only the sinner thou sendest empty away Remember thy mercies and fill my heart with thy grace who will not that thy works be void and in vain 6. How can I bear up my self in this miserable life unless thou strengthen me with thy mercy and grace Turn not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort lest my soul become as the thirsty land unto thee Lord teach me to fulfil thy will teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdom thou dost truly know me and didst know me before the world was made and before I was born in the world CHAP. IV. That we ought to live in truth and humility before God CHrist. Son walk before me in sincerity and truth and ever seek me in simplicity of heart He that walketh before me in truth shall be defended from evil incursions and the Truth shall deliver him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked If the Truth shall have made thee free thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for the vain speeches of Men. Christian. Lord it is true According as thou saidst so I beseech thee let it be with me let thy Truth teach me and keep me and bring me safe to an happy end Let it deliver me from all evil affection and inordinate love and I shall walk with thee in great freedom of heart 2. Christ. I will teach thee saith the Truth these things that are right and pleasing in my sight Think of thy sins with great displeasure and grief and never esteem thy self any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner thou art subject to and encumbred with may passions Of thy self thou always tendest to nothing thou art quickly cast down quickly overcome quickly troubled quickly dissolved Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory but many things for which thou oughtest to despise thy self for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend 3. And therefore let nothing seem much unto thee whatsoever thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderful let nothing seem worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly and commendable to be desired but that which is everlasting Let the eternal Truth above all things please thee Let thy own great unworthiness always displease thee Fear nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy vices and sins which ought to displease more than the losses of any thing whatsoever Some walk not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity and pride will know my secrets and understand the high things of God neglecting themselves and their own salvation These oftentimes for that I resist them do fall into great temptations and sins for their pride and curiosity 4. Fear the judgments of God dread the wrath of the Almighty But discuss not the works of the highest Search thine own iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their religion only in Books some in pictures some in outward signs and figures Some have me in their mouths but little in their hearts There are others that being illuminated in their understandings and purged in their affection do always breath after things eternal and are unwilling to hear of the things of this world and do serve the necessities of nature with grief and these perceive what the Spirit of Truth speaketh in them because it teacheth them to despise Earthly and love Heavenly things to neglect the world and all the day and night to desire Heaven CHAP. V. Of the wonderful effect of divine Love CHristian I praise thee O Heavenly Father Father of my Lord Jesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poor Creature O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be unto thee who sometimes with thy comfort refreshest me unworthy of all comfort I ever bless and glorifie thee with thy only begotten Son and the holy Ghost for ever and ever O Lord God the holy lover of my soul when thou shalt come into my heart all that is within me will rejoyce Thou art my glory and the exultation of my heart Thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weak in love and imperfect in virtue I have need therefore
THE CHRISTIANS PATTERN or The Imitation of CHRIST Printed by J R. for Iohn Williams at y e Crowne in St Paules Church yard 1677 THE Christians Pattern OR A DIVINE TREATISE OF THE Imitation of Christ. Written Originally in Latin by THOMAS of KEMPIS above 200. Years since Faithfully Englished And Printed in a large Character for the benefit of the Aged LONDON Printed for Richard Wellington at the Sign of the Lute in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1695. The Contents of the Chapters The First Book CHAP. I. OF the Imitation of Christ and contempt of all worldly vanities Pag. 1 Of the humble conceit of our selves 3 Of the doctrine of Truth 6 Of wisdom and providence in our actions 10 Of the reading of holy Scriptures 11 Of inordinate affections 12 Of flying vain hope and pride 13 That too much familiarity is to be shunned 15 Of obedience and subjection 16 Of avoiding superfluity in words 17 Of the obtaining of peace and zealous desire of profiting in grace 19 Of the profit of adversity 22 Of resisting temptations 23 Of avoiding rash judgment 27 Of works done of Charity 29 Of bearing with the defects of others 30 Of a retired life 32 Of the examples of the holy Fathers 34 Of the exercise of a good and religious person 37 Of the love of solitude and silence 41 Of compunction of heart 46 Of the consideration of humane misery 49 Of the meditation of death 54 Of judgement and the punishment of Sins 58 Of the zealous amendment of our whole life 63 The Second Book CHAP. I OF the inward life 70 Of humble submission 75 Of a good and peaceable Man 76 Of a pure mind and upright intention 78 Of the consideration of ones self 80 Of the joy of a good conscience 82 Of the love of Iesus above all things 84 Of familiar conversation with Iesus 86 Of the want of all comfort 89 Of thankfulness for the grace of God 93 How few the lovers of the Cross os Christ are 97 Of the high way of the holy Cross. 99 The Third Book CHAP. I. OF the inward speech of Christ unto a faithful soul. 108 That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words 110 That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not 112 That we ought to live iu truth and humility before God 116 Of the wonderful effect of divine love 119 Of the proof of a true Lover 123 That grace is to be hid under the veil of humility 126 Of a mean conceit of our selves in the sight of God 130 That all things are to be referred unto God as unto the last end 132 That the world being despised it is a sweet thing to serve God 133 That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated 137 Of Patience and of striving against concupiscence 139 Of the humble obedience of a subject according to the example of Christ. 142 Of the secret judgment of God to be considered lest we be exalted in our good deeds 144 How we are to stand affected and what we are to say in every thing which we desire 146 That true comfort is to be sought in God alone 149 That all our care is to be placed in God 150 That temporal miseries after the example of Christ must be born patiently 152 Of suffering of injuries and who is proved to be truly patient 154 Of the acknowledging of our own infirmities and of the miseries of this life 157 That we are to rest in God above all his gifts and benefits 160 Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God 164 Of four things that bring much peace 167 Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others 170 Wherein the firm peace of the heart and true spiritual profiting consisteth 172 Of the excellency of a free mind which humble Prayer sooner gaineth than Reading 174 That private love most hindreth from the chiefest Good 176 Against the tongues of slanderers 179 How we ought to call upon God and bless him when tribulation draweth near 180 Of craving the divine aid and confidence of recovering grace 182 Of the contempt of all creatures to find out the Creator 186 Of denial of our selves and forsaking all inordinate desires 189 Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our final intentions unto God 191 That God is sweet above all things and in all things to him that loveth 193 That there is no security from temptation in this life 195 Against the vain judgments of Men. 197 Of a full and pure resignation of our selves for the obtaining freedom of heart 199 Of good government in outward things and of recourse to God in dangers 202 That a Man be not over earnest in his affairs 204 That a Man hath no good of himself nor any thing whereof he can glory 205 Of the contempt of all temporal honors 208 That our peace is not to be placed in Men. 209 Against vain and secular knowledg 211 Of not drawing outward things to our selves 213 That credit is not to be given to all Men and how prone Man is to offend in words 214 Of putting our trust in God when evil words arise 218 That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting 221 Of the everlasting day and shortness of this life 224 Of the desire of everlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that sight valiantly 228 How a disconsolate person ought to offer himself into the Hands of God 233 That a Man ought to imploy himself in works of Humility when strength is wanting for higher imployments 238 That a Man ought to esteem himself not worthy of comfort but rather to deserve stripes 239 That the grace of God doth not joyn it self with those that savor of Earthly things 242 Of the different motions of Nature and Grace 244 Of the corruption of Nature and efficacy of divine Grace 250 That we ought to deny our selves and imitate Christ by the Cross. 254 That a Man be not too much dejected when he falleth into some defects 257 Of not searching into high matters and into the secret judgments of God 259 That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone 265 The Fourth Book CHAP I. WIth how great reverence Christ ought to be received 270 That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to Man in this Sacrament 277 That it is profitable to communicate often 281 That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly 284 Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Ministerial function 288 An interrogation of the exercise before Communion 290 Of the discussing of our own conscience and purpose of amendment 291 Of the oblation of Christ on the Cross and resignation of our selves 294 That we ought to offer up our selves and all that is ours unto God and to pray for all 296 That the holy communion is not lightly to be forborn 299 That the body of Christ and the holy Scriptures
of true judgment If God were always the pure intention of our desire we should not be so much troubled through the repugnance of our carnal mind 2. But oftentimes something lurketh within or else occurreth from without which draweth us after it Many secretly seek themselves in their actions and know it not They seem also to live in good peace of mind when things are done according to their will and opinion but if things succeed otherwise than they desire they are straightways troubled and much afflicted The diversities of judgments and opinions cause oftentimes dissentions between religious and devout Persons between Friends and Countrymen 3. An old custom is hardly broken and no Man is willing to be led further than himself can see If thou dost more rely upon thine own reason or industry than upon that power which brings thee under the obedience of Jesus Christ it will be long before thou become illuminated for God will have us perfectly subject unto him and that being enflamed with his love we transcend the narrow limits of humane reason CHAP. XV. Of works done of Charity FOr no worldly thing nor for the love of any Man is any evil to be done but yet for the profit of one that standeth in need a good work is sometimes to be intermitted without any scruple or changed also for a better For by doing this a good work is not lost but changed into a better The exterior work without charity profiteth nothing but whatsoever is done of charity be it never so little and contemptible in the sight of the world it becomes wholly fruitful For God weigheth more with how much love one worketh than how much he doeth He doeth much that loveth much 2. He doeth much that doeth a thing well he doeth well that rather serveth the community than his own proper will Oftentimes it seemeth to be charity and it is rather carnality because natural inclination self-will hope of reward and desire of our own interest will seldom be away 3. He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himself in nothing but only desireth in all things that the glory of God should be exalted He also envieth none because he affecteth no private good neither will he rejoyce in himself but wisheth above all things to be made happy in the enjoyment of God He attributeth nothing that is good to any Man but wholly referreth it unto God from whom as from the fountain all things proceed in whom finally all the Saints do rest as in their highest fruition O he that had but one spark of true charity would certainly discern that all earthly things be full of vanity CHAP. XVI Of bearing with the defects of others THose things that a Man cannot amend in himself or in others he ought to suffer patiently until God order things otherwise Think that perhaps it is better so for thy trial and patience without which all our good deeds are not much to be esteemed Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impediments that God would vouchsafe to help thee and that thou mayest bear them patiently 2. If one that is once or twice warned will not give over contend not with him but commit all to God that his will may be fulfilled and his name honored in all his servants who well knoweth how to turn evil into good Endeavor to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others of what sort soever they be for that thy self also hast many things which must be suffered by others If thou canst not make thy self such an one as thou wouldst how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking We would willingly have others perfect and yet we amend not our own faults 3. We will have others severely corrected and will not be corrected our selves The large liberty of others displeaseth us and yet we will not have our desires denied us We will have others kept under by strict laws but in no sort will our selves be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same ballance with our selves If all Men were perfect what should we have to suffer of our neighbor for God 4. But now God hath thus ordered it that we may learn to bear one anothers burden for no Man is without fault no Man but hath his burden no Man sufficient of himself no Man wise enough of himself but we ought to bear with one another comfort one another help instruct and admonish one another Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath for occasions make not a Man frail but do shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of a retired life THou must learn to break thy own will in many things if thou wilt have peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in a religious community and to converse therein without complaint and to persevere therein faithfully until death Blessed is he that hath there lived well and ended happily If thou wilt persevere in grace as thou oughtest and profit in virtue esteem thy self as a banished Man and a pilgrim upon earth Thou must be contented for Christs sake to be esteemed as a fool in this world if thou desire to lead an holy life 2. The wearing of a religious habit and shaving of the crown do little profit but change of manners and perfect mortification of passions make a true religious Man He that seeketh any thing else but God and the salvation of his soul shall find nothing but tribulation and sorrow Neither can he remain long in peace that laboreth not to be the least and subject to all 3. Thou camest to serve not to rule Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labor not to be idle or to spend thy time in talk Here therefore Men are proved as gold in the furnace Here no Man can stand unless he humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers COnsider the lively examples of the holy Fathers in whom true perfection and religion shined and thou shalt see how little it is and almost nothing which we do now in these days Alas what is our life if it be compared to them The Saints and Friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst in cold and nakedness in labor and weariness in watchings and fastings in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2. O how many and grievous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the rest that endeavored to follow the steps of Christ They hated their lives in this world that they might possess their souls in everlasting life O how strict and self-renouncing a life led those holy Fathers in the wilderness How long and grievous tentations suffered they How often were they assaulted by the enemy What frequent and fervent prayers offered they to God! How rigorous an abstinence did
Tongues of Men For whether they interpret well or evil thou art not therefore another Man Where is true peace and true glory Is it not in me And he that coveteth not to please Men nor feareth to displease them shall enjoy much peace From inordinate love and vain fear ariseth all disquietness of heart and distraction of the mind CHAP. XXIX How we ought to call upon God and bless him when tribulation draweth near CHristian Blessed O Lord be thy name for ever since it pleaseth thee that this temptation and tribulation should come upon me I cannot flie it but have need to flie to thee that thou mayest help me and turn it to my good Lord I am now afflicted and it is not well with me I am much troubled with this present suffering And now dear Father what shall I say I am caught amidst straits save me from this hour Yet therefore came I into this hour that thou mayest be glorified when I shall be greatly humbled and by thee delivered Let it please thee Lord to deliver me for poor wretch that I am what can I doe and whither shall I go without thee Grant patience Lord even this time also Help me my God and then I will not fear how grievously soever I be afflicted 2. And now in these my troubles what shall I say Lord thy will be done I have well deserved to be afflicted and grieved Surely I ought to bear it and O that I could bear it with patience until the tempest be passed over and it become calm But thy omnipotent hand is able to take even this temptation from me and to asswage the violence thereof that I utterly sink not under it as oftentimes heretofore thou hast done unto me O my God my mercy And how much the more hard it is to me so much the more easie is this change of the right hand of the most High CHAP. XXX Of craving the divine aid and confidence of recovering grace CHrist. Son I am the Lord that giveth strength in the day of tribulation Come unto me when it is not well with thee This is that which most of all hindereth Heavenly consolation that thou art slow in turning thy self unto Prayer For before thou dost earnestly pray unto me thou seekest in the mean while many comforts and delightest thy self in outward things And hence it comes to pass that all doth little profit thee until thou consider that I am he that delivers those that trust in me and that out of me there is neither powerful help nor profitable counsel nor lasting remedy But now thou having recovered breath after the tempest gather strength again in the light of my mercies for I am at hand saith the Lord to repair all not only entirely but also abundantly and in a very plentiful measure 2. Is there any thing hard to me Or am I like unto him that promiseth and performeth not Where is thy faith Be firm and constant Take courage and be patient comfort will come to thee in due time Wait wait for me I will come and heal thee It is a temptation that vexeth thee and a vain fear that affrighteth thee What else doth the care for future contingencies bring thee but sorrow upon sorrow Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof It is a vain and unprofitable thing to be grieved or to rejoyce for future things that perhaps will never come to pass 3. But it is incident to Man to be deluded with such imaginations and a sign of a weak mind to be so easily drawn away by the suggestion of the enemy For he careth not so he delude and deceive thee whether it be true or false which he proposeth whether he overthrow thee with the love of present or the fear of future things Let not therefore thy heart be troubled neither let it fear Believe in me and put thy trust in my mercy When thou thinkest thy self furthest off from me oftentimes I am nearest unto thee When thou judgest that almost all his lost then oftentimes the greatest advantage of gaining is at hand All is not lost when any thing falleth out contrary Thou must not judg according to that which thou feelest for the present nor so take or give thy self over to any grief from whence soever it cometh as though all hope of delivery were quite gone 4. Think not thy self wholly left although for a time I have sent thee some tribulation or withdrawn thy desired comfort for this is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven And without doubt it is more expedient for thee and the rest of my Servants that ye be exercised with adversities than that ye should have all things according to your desires I know the secret thoughts of thy heart and that it is very expedient for thy welfare that thou be left sometimes without taste of spiritual sweetness and in a dry condition lest perhaps thou shouldest be puffed up with thy prosperous estate and shouldest please thy self in that which thou art not That which I have given I can take away and restore it again when I please 5. When I give it it is mine when I withdraw it I take not any thing that is thine for mine is every good and every perfect gift If I send thee affliction or any Cross whatsoever repine not nor let thy heart fail thee I can quickly succor thee and turn all thy heaviness into joy Nevertheless I am righteous and greatly to be praised when I deal thus with thee 6. If thou be wise and considerest this rightly thou wilt never mourn so dejectedly for any adversity that befalleth thee but rather rejoyce and give thanks yea account this thy only joy that afflicting thee with sorrows I do not spare thee As my Father hath loved me I also love you said I unto my beloved Disciples whom certainly I sent not out to temporal joyes but to great conflicts not to honors but to contempts not to idleness but to labors not to rest but to bring forth much fruit with patience My Son remember these words CHAP. XXXI Of the contempt of all creatures to find out the Creator CHristian Lord I stand in need of yet greater grace that I may reach to that pitch as that nor Man nor any creature may be a let unto me For as long as any thing detains me I cannot freely take my flight unto thee He desired to fly freely that said Who will give me wings like a Dove and I will fly and be at rest What thing more quiet than the single eye And what more free than he that desireth nothing upon Earth Man ought therefore to pass over all creatures and perfectly to forsake himself and to remain in excess of mind and to see that thou the Creator of all things hast nothing amongst creatures like unto thee And unless a Man be freed from the affection of all creatures he cannot with freedom of mind attend unto divine things And for this
I delight to think of spiritual things For whatsoever I love thereof do I willingly speak and hear and carry home with me the forms the Ideas and representations thereof But blessed is that Man that for thee O Lord dismisseth all creatures that violently resisteth nature and through fervor of spirit crucifieth the lusts of the flesh that so with a serene conscience he may offer pure prayer unto thee and be meet to be admitted into the Angelical quire all earthly things both outwardly and inwardly being excluded CHAP. XLIX Of the desire of everlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly CHrist. Son when thou perceivest the desire of everlasting bliss to be given thee from above and desirest to depart out of the Tabernacle of this body that thou mayest behold my brightness without shaddow of turning open thy heart wide and receive this holy inspiration with thy whole desire Give greatest thanks to the Heavenly goodness that dealeth with thee so favorably visiteth thee mercifully stirreth thee up fervently holdeth thee up powerfully lest through thine own weight thou fall down to the things of Earth Neither dost thou obtain this by thy own thought or endeavor but by the mere dignation of Heavenly grace and divine favor to the end that thou mayest make a further progress in holiness and obtain greater humility and prepare thy self for future battels and endeavor to cleave unto me with the whole affection of thy heart and serve me with a fervent desire 2. Son the fire burneth many times but the flame ascendeth not up without smoak so likewise the desires of some Men burn towards Heavenly things and yet they are not free from temptation of carnal affection and therefore it is not altogether purely for the honor of God that which they so exactly request of him Such is also oftentimes thy desire which thou hast pretended to be so serious For that is not pure and perfect which is tinctured with the love of thine own proper commodity and interest 3. Ask not that which is delightful and profitable to thee but that which is acceptable to me and appertaineth to my honor for if thou judgest aright thou oughtest to prefer and follow my appointment rather than thine own desire or any desired thing I know thy desire and have heard thy frequent groans Now thou wouldest enjoy the glorious liberty of the Sons of God now doth the everlasting habitation and the Heavenly Country replenished with all joy delight thee but that hour is not yet come as yet there is another time to wit a time of war a time of labor and trial Thou desirest to be filled with the chiefest good but thou canst not attain it for the present I am he saith the Lord whom thou must patiently wait for until the Kingdom of God doth come 4. Thou art yet to be tryed upon Earth and to be exercised in many things Comfort shall be sometimes given thee but the abundant fulness thereof shall not be granted Take courage therefore and be valiant as well in doing as in suffering things contrary to nature Thou oughtest to put on the new Man and to be changed into another Man Thou must oftentimes do that which thou wouldest not and leave undone that thou wouldest do That which is pleasing to others shall go well forward that which thou wishest shall not speed That which others say shall be heard what thou sayest shall be nothing regarded Others shall ask and shall receive Thou shalt ask and not obtain 5. Others shall be great in the praise of Men but of thee there shall be no speech To others this or that shall be committed but thou shalt be accounted fit for nothing At this nature will sometimes be troubled and it is much if thou bearest it with silence In these and many such like a faithful Servant of the Lord is wont to be tried how he can deny and break himself in all things There is scarce any thing wherein thou hast had such need to dye to thy self as in seeing and suffering those things that are contrary to thy will especially when that is commanded which seemeth unto thee inconvenient or less profitable And for that thou being placed under authority darest not resist higher power therefore it seemeth hard to thee to walk at the beck of another and to leave all thine own opinion 6. But consider Son the fruit of these labors the end near at hand and the reward exceeding great and thou shalt be so far from sustaining them grievously that thou wilt take great comfort of thy patience For in regard of that little of thy will which now thou willingly forsakest thou shalt always have thy will in Heaven There thou shalt find all that thou wilt or canst desire there thou shalt enjoy all good without fear of losing it there shall thy will be ever one with me it shall not covet any outward or private thing There no Man shall withstand thee no Man complain of thee no Man hinder thee nothing come against thee but all things desired shall be there together present and refresh thy whole affection and fill it up to the brim There I will give thee glory for the reproach which here thou sufferedst the garment of praise for heaviness for the lowest place a kingly Throne for ever there shall the fruit of obedience appear the labor of repentance rejoyce and humble subjection shall be gloriously crowned 7. Now therefore be humbly obedient unto all and regard not who said or commanded this but take great heed that whether thy Superior or thy inferior or thine equal require any thing of thee or do insinuate their desire thou take it all in good part and endeavor to fulfil it with a sincere will Let one seek this another that let him ' glory in this the other in that and be praised a thousand thousand times but do thou neither rejoyce in this nor in that but in the contempt of thy self and only in my good pleasure and honor This art thou to wish that whether it be thy life or death God may be always glorified in thee CHAP. L. How a disconsolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God CHristian Lord God Holy Father be thou blessed both now and for evermore because as thou wilt so is it done and what thou doest is good Let thy Servant rejoyce in thee not in himself nor in any thing else for thou alone art the true gladness thou art my hope and my crown thou art my joy and my honor O Lord. What hath thy Servant but what he hath received from thee even without any merit of his Thine is all that thou hast given and whatsoever thou hast made I am poor and in labors from my youth and sometimes my soul is sorrowful even unto tears sometimes also it is troubled in it self by reason of evils which hang over mine head 2. I long after the joy of
peace I earnestly crave the peace of thy Children that are fed by thee in the light of thy comfort If thou give peace if thou pour into my heart holy joy the soul of thy Servant shall be full of gladness and shall become devout in thy praise but if thou withdraw thy self as many times thou doest he will not be able to run the ways of thy commandments but rather he will bow his knees and knock his breast for it is not now with him as it was heretofore when thy candle shined upon his Head and he was protected under the shadow of thy wings from the temptations which violently assaulted him 3. O righteous Father and ever to be praised the hour is come that thy Servant is to be tryed Behold dear Father meet it is that in this hour thy Servant suffer something for thy sake O Father evermore to be honored the hour is come which from all eternity thou didst foreknow should come that for a short time thy Servant should outwardly be oppressed but inwardly live for ever with thee that he should be a little despised humbled and made as an abject in the sight of Men and much afflicted with passions and infirmities that he may rise again with thee in the morning of the new light and be glorified in Heaven Holy Father thou hast so appointed it and wilt have it so and this is fulfilled which thy self hast commanded 4. It is a favor to thy friend that he may suffer and be afflicted in the world for love of thee how often soever and by whom soever thou permittest it to fall upon him For in the world nothing cometh to pass without thy councel without thy providence or without a cause why It is good for me Lord that thou hast afflicted me that I may learn thy righteous judgments and cast away all haughtiness of heart and presumption It is profitable to me that shame hath covered my face that I may rather seek to thee for comfort than to Men. I have learned also hereby to dread thy unsearchable judgments who afflictest the just with the wicked but not without equity and justice 5. I give thee thanks for that thou hast not spared my sins but hast worn me away with bitter stripes inflicting sorrows and sending griefs within and without There is none under Heaven that can comfort me but thou my Lord God the Heavenly Physician of souls that strikest and healest bringest down to Hell and bringest back again let thy correction be upon me and let thy rod instruct me 6. Behold dear Father I am in thy hands I bow my self under the rod of thy correction strike my back and my neck too that my crookedness may be conformed to thy will Make me an holy and humble disciple of thine as thou art wont well to do that I may be ready at every beck of thy divine pleasure I commend my self and all mine unto thee to be corrected It is better to be corrected here than hereafter Thou knowest all and every thing and there is nothing in the conscience of Man which can be hidden from thee Before things are done thou knowest that they will come to pass and hast no need that any should teach thee or admonish thee of those things which are done on Earth Thou knowest what is expedient for my profiting and how much tribulation is fit to scour off the rust of my sins Do with me according to thy desired good pleasure and disdain me not for my sinful life better and more clearly known to none than to thee alone 7. Grant me O Lord to know that which is to be known to love that which is to be loved to praise that which pleaseth thee most to esteem that which is precious unto thee to despise that which is contemptible in thy sight suffer me not to judge according to the sight of the outward eyes nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant Men but to discern of visible and spiritual things with a true judgement and above all things ever to search after thy good will and pleasure 8. The minds of Men are often deceived in their judging the lovers of the world are also deceived in loving only visible things What is a Man the better for that he is esteemed great by Man The deceitful in exalting the deceitful the vain Man in Extolling the vain the blind in commending the blind the weak in magnifying the weak deceiveth him and doth verily more shame him while he doth vainly praise him For how much every one is in thy sight so much he is and no more CHAP. LI. That a Man ought to imploy himself in works of humility when strength is wanting for higher imployments CHrist. Son thou art not able always to continue in the more fervent desire of virtue nor to persist in the higher pitch of contemplation but thou must sometimes of necessity by reason of original corruption descend to inferior things and bear the burden of this corruptible life though against thy will and with grief As long as thou carriest a mortal body thou shalt feel trouble and heaviness of heart Thou oughtest therefore in the flesh oftentimes to bewail the burden of the flesh for that thou canst not always continue in spiritual exercises and divine contemplation 2. It is then expedient for thee to flie to humble and exterior works and to refresh thy self with good actions to expect with a firm confidence my coming and Heavenly visitation to bear patiently thy banishment and the dryness of thy mind till I visit thee again and deliver thee from all anxieties For I will make thee forget thy former pains and enjoy inward quietness I will lay open before thee the pleasant fields of Holy Scripture that with an enlarged heart thou mayest begin to run the way of my commandments And thou shalt say That the sufferings of this present time are not worthy of the glory to come that shall be revealed in us CHAP. LII That a Man ought to esteem himself not worthy of comfort but rather to deserve stripes CHristian Lord I am not worthy of thy comfort nor of any spiritual visitation and therefore thou dealest justly with me when thou leavest me poor and desolate For though I could shed a Sea of tears yet I were not worthy of thy comfort For alas I deserve nothing but to be scourged and punished in that I have grievously and often offended thee and have sinned greatly in many things All things therefore duly considered I am not worthy even of the least comfort But thou O gracious and merciful God who wilt not that thy works should perish to shew the riches of thy goodness upon the vessels of mercy even beyond his desert vouchsafest to comfort thy Servant above the manner of Men. For thy comforts are not like to the words of Men. 2. What have I done O Lord that thou shouldest bestow any Heavenly comfort upon me I