and yet you enuie it The Passion of our Lord is the price of the whole World he redeemed the whole World and you with the whole World for your gaine cannot agree but rather to your losse in a part doe striue that you may loose the whole Heare in the Psalme They Ps 21. 19. haue diuided my Apparrell amongst them and vpon my Coats they cast Lots Why will you be diuiders of the Apparrell of our Lord and will not hold with the whole World the Coat of Charitie wouen aboue which his Persecutors haue not diuided In the same Psalme it is said Ps 21. 28. that all the World shall hold it he saith All the ends of the Earth shall remember and be conuerted to our Lord and all the Families of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight Open the eyes of your heart Ps 49. 1. and heare for the God of Gods our Lord hath spoken and hee hath called the Earth from the rising of the Sunne euen to the going downe out of Sion the beautie of his comelinesse If you will not heare this heare the Gospell our Lord speaking and saying by his proper mouth All things ought to be fulfilled of Christ which of him are written in the Law and Prophets and Psalmes and Penance and Remission of sinnes in his Name to be preached throughout all Nations beginning at Ierusalem That which is said in the Psalme He hath called the Earth from the rising of the Sun vnto the going downe This is vnderstood in the Gospell by all Nations And that which in the Psalme is said out of Sion the beautie of his comelinesse in the Gospell is said beginning from Ierusalem Wherefore doe you beleeue that the Cockle hath growne and hath filled the World and the Wheat to haue diminished in Brittanie onely to haue remained Doe you call your selues Christians and yet contradict Christ Hee saith suffer both to grow vntill the Haruest Hee did not say let the Cockle grow and the Wheat diminish Hee said the Field is the World and did not say the Field is Brittanie Thus Saint Augustine Epist 171. and we with him So deare Reader not to liue seeking after lyes and publikely professing in deeds and actions that God Almightie is forsworne when Sathan shall tempt thee in matters of Faith or any controuersie ariseth betweene thee some Protestant about Religion as about the Reall Presence Prayer for the Dead Intercession to Saints c. make some of the aforesaid Acts set downe in the former Chapter with zeale and feruor and hold fast the hope proposed which Heb. 6. 18. wee haue as an Anchor of the Soule sure and firme the Oath of God and that it is impossible for God to lye Be not remoued away from the two things vnmoueable the Oath of God and Impossibilitie for God to lye Whereupon is grounded all the whole course of the Scriptures and founded the House of God the Church of the 1. Tim. 3. 15. liuing God the Pillar and ground of Truth And neither Death Rom. 8. nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers neither things present nor things to come neither might nor height nor depth nor other creature shall be able to make thee a Protestant Sectarie or Heretike and separate thee from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith the Faith of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And in arguing and disputing with Sectaries who denie our Catholike Faith put them to proue that the Oath of God the Promises and Prophecies are verified and fulfilled vpon their Sects and then thou shalt finde that their Doctrine proceedeth from this Sourse or Gulfe that Sathan is encreased in Pride hath got him a new Coat and reformed his Religion Whereas heretofore he was wont to goe like a Serpent and preach out of a Tree and taught that God Almightie could lye and men that would beleeue him should be as Gods No you shall Gen. 3. not die you shall be as Gods now he hath encreased his Pride and got a new Coat and goeth like a Precisian Minister and preacheth out of Pulpits and hath reformed his Faith and Religion teaching for God can lye and you shall be as Gods God can be forsworne and you are Gods and cannot lye erre or be deceiued but be assured to enioy Heauen and vpon this hath founded his reformed Religions the violating of the Oathes of God and publike profession in acts and deeds that God Almightie is periured and forsworne Heb. 6. 17. God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of his Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell in performing what hee did promise for the establishing of the hearts of men in the infallibilitie of our Christian Catholike Faith Church Priesthood swore two Oathes the one in confirmation of the Priesthood of our Lord for euer Ps 129. Heb. 7. Our Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer aecording to the Order of Melchisedeck The other this which we treate of The Oath of God to Abraham Act. 3. Of multiplying Gen. 22. his Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea-shoare Thy Seed shall possesse the gates of his enemies In thy Seed shall be blessed all the Families of the Earth And vpon these Oaths is founour Catholike Faith And the Deuill meaning more abundantly to shew his malice and power in the hearts of wretched men the heires of his Myseries and endlesse Torments hath brought them to plant a Faith and Religion grounded and founded vpon the denying in actions and deeds of the fulfilling of both these Oathes of God First by winning men to denie in effect and deeds that God Almightie hath multiplied Christians his children as the Starres of Heauen possessing the Gates of their enemies and mouing them to affirme in acts and deeds that for many hundreth yeares together God Almightie hath failed in fulfilling of his first Oath he hath planted in their hearts his new Ministeriall Doctrine And secondly by winning Men to deny in action and deeds that our Lord was a Priest for euer according to the Order of Melchisedeck and mouing them to affirme in acts and deeds that he was a Priest but for once and that according to the Order of Aaron in offering vp of himselfe once vpon the Crosse he hath destroied all the Christian Priest-hood life and Religion which was amongst them And so by mouing men in acts deeds publikely to professe that God Almightie hath beene twice forsworn the Diuel hath founded and planted amongst them his new reformed Religions groūded and founded vpon two cōtradictories to the grounds of our Catholike Faith viz. God Almightie cannot lye or be forwsorne God Almighty is periured and can lye Which is so manifest that if Malice and Passion doe not blinde thy heart and extinguish the light of reason in thy vnderstanding I will make thee touch it as we vse to say with thy
Ease Content and Rest and wilt not bee offended for that I plainely defend the honour of my God I proceed CHAP. IX That hope in God is also necessary to the Content and Happinesse of Man but not only Hope without other vertues And how acts of Hope made by Catholikes include Sacraments and other Vertues and not exclude them THat it is impossible to be saued or finde Content without hope in God is manifest by reason First for that no man laboureth for that which he no waies hopeth to obtaine nor yet is carefull to keepe that which he esteemeth impossible to inioy Againe vpon want of hope ariseth despaire and pusillanimitie of mind both which being passions of sadnesse and discontent depriue vs of the Ioy and Content we seeke after Secondly it is manifest by the Scriptures which in plain tearms affirme That by Hope we Rom 8. 39. Rom. 15. 4. are saued Againe What things soeuer haue beene written to our learning they haue beene written that by the patience and consolatiof the Scriptures wee may haue Hope So Saint Paul saith The Rom. 15. 13. God of Hope replenish you with all Ioy and Peace in beleeuing that you may abound in Hope In the Psalmes it is said They that Ps 124. hope in thee shall not be confounded Againe They that trust in Ps 33. 9. our Lord as Mount Sion he shall not be moued for euer Againe Blessed is that man that hopeth in Ps 36. 4. God Againe He will take them Ps 144. away from Sinners and saue them because they haue hoped in him Whereby is manifest that without the vertue of Hope no man can be happy or saued But as wee said before of onely Faith that Faith without other vertues is dead to Grace in this life and Glorie in the other and serueth such as haue it for nothing but for the increase of eternall torments so also it is manifest that onely Hope without other vertues is a vaine and dead Hope without any true Content in this life or in all eternitie as is manifest first by reason Because Hope endeth with Death so if the Content and Happinesse of Man should consist in onely Hope there should be no Content in the other life Secondly we see some few excepted who fall into vtter despaire that all men of all Sects and sorts and how wicked soeuer hope for Happinesse and Content So if Hope without the assistance of other vertues were sufficient to Happinesse men might be happie and wretched both together which is contrarie to experience Thirdly to hope for Happinesse is not to be happie since none hopeth for that he hath but enioyeth Whereby is manifest that onely Hope is not sufficient to be happie Againe the Scriptures say Not euerie one that saith Lord Mat. 7. 21. Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heauen Againe Many shall say to me in that Day Mat. 7. 22. Lord Lord haue not wee prophecied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Deuils and in thy Name wrought many Miracles And then I will confesse vnto them that I neuer knew you depart from me you that worke iniquitie And our Sauiour compareth those who hope to be saued and are negligent in gaining other vertues and vsing the meanes he hath ordained for the saluation of mankind vnto foolish Virgins who inuited to a Mariage neglected to prepare themselues for the Mariage vntil it was too late and so were shut out with this answer Amen I say to you I know you not Mat. 25. 12. Whereby is manifest that the Promises are not made to a dead Hope which is void of other vertues but to such a Hope as is conioint to all other vertues and is void of all iniquitie Heere thou mayest obserue deere Reader the error of many Protestants who being driuen from the impious Doctrine of Iustification by Faith only fall vpon Iustification by Hope onely without Faith Charitie Sacraments or other vertues and not knowing nor regarding what Faith they ought to professe nor what Commandements they haue broken presume to be saued by a vaine Hope in the Passion of our Lord and so perish in their presumption thinking that to say onely I hope to be saued by the Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ without Faith Charitie Sacraments c. is sufficient to remit their sinnes and saue their soules how euill and wicked soeuer they haue liued and so die Heretikes and Infidels of no Faith nor Religion for all their hope When Catholikes say they hope to be saued by the merits of the Passion of our Lord and Sauiour they doe not exclude the Sacraments Faith and other vertues but suppose them and include them all other meanes whatsoeuer God Almightie hath giuen or left vs for our Saluation yea the whole merit or benefit of his Passion and things gained for vs as Faith Hope Charitie Sacraments assistance of the holie Ghost c. And the sense of the words are I hope to be saued by no other meanes then those which thou hast gained for me by thy Passion And so likewise in all other acts of vertues or Sacraments Catholikes doe include the whole merit of the Passion of our Sauiour as whether they make acts of Contrition as Lord bee mercifull to mee a poore sinner or of Loue as I desire to loue thee deare Lord with all my heart or of Hope as I hope by the helpe of the Sacraments to be saued they doe not exclude any other vertue or meanes but in all and euery one of these Actes doe include all the meanes and benefits of our Lords whole Passion offering vp these Actes and whatsoeuer Christian worke they doe to God the Father in vnion with the Passion of our Lord vpon the Crosse for the remission of their sinnes and vse these Acts Sacraments and good Deedes done in Grace as a meanes which God Almighty hath ordained they should vse for the receiuing of the merit and benefit of the Sacrifice of the Passion of our Lord. For though our Lord died fo all the World yet none receiue the benefit of his Passion but those who diligently and carefully vse the meanes he hath ordained should be vsed for the receiuing of the benefit thereof which are Faith Sacramēts good Deeds and acts of vertue by these as by instruments receiuing the merit and benefit of our Lords Passion his graces and fauours purchased for vs. So Saint Paul exhorting vs saith Our desire is that euery one of Heb. 6. 11. you shew forth the same carefulnesse to the accomplishing of hope vnto the end that you may become not slouthfull but imitaters of them which by faith and patience shall inherite the Promise The slouthfull seruant receiued of our Lord a Talent Mat. 25. 15. yet because he did not encrease it he was cast into vtter Mat. 25. 30. darkenesse where there shall
which according to God is created in Iustice and holinesse of the Truth Whereupon Saint Iohn Baptist speaking of the way or meanes how to attaine vnto Content and Happinesse sayth Who hath shewed Mat. 3. 7. you to flye from the wrath to come yeeld therefore fruit worthie of Penance Which is as if he should haue said If any one hath shewed you the way to Content and Happinesse and not by contrition and detestation of sinne the fruites of Penance hee hath deceiued you So our Lord and Sauiour in his first Sermon according to Saint Matthew taught Penance as the first meanes to Happinesse the Text saying that Mat. 4. 17. Iesus began to preach and to say Doe Penance for the Kingdome of God is at hand Heere thou mayest see how many men which are of short Capacities and weake and shallow Wits and Vnderstandings are deceiued in framing to themselues a conceit that to doe Penance is to be tormented deiected and oppressed in minde when it is nothing lesse but the greatest ease remedie and rest to a deiected and oppressed minde that can be had or found and the way and meanes to all true Content and Happinesse If thou wilt beleeue the Scriptures and Experience Contrition or sorrow for sinne doth much differ from the sorrow or lamenting of worldly men when out of selfe-loue they lament the losse of their worldly Commodities or Pleasures The fruites of this Sorrow are Sadnesse Oppression of Minde and Discontent as being inordinate and not ordained by God to be vsed as a meanes of finding Happinesse vvhereas Penance Contrition and Sorrow for Sinnes beeing meanes ordained by God to Content and Happinesse the more thou vsest them the more rest and content of heart thou shalt finde because God Almightie doth reuiue the Isa 57. 15. heart of the Contrite by the assisting of the holy Ghost Gal 5. whose fruits are Charitie Ioy of heart and Peace of minde of which wee are to speake more in his place A second meanes of attayning vnto the loue of God is often to Communicate according to the words of our Lord saying He that eateth Ioh. 6. my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud abideth in me and I in him which is the Charitie wee seeke for A third meanes is Meditation seriously to consider all the benefits thou hast receiued from his diuine Maiestie as Creation Redemption Conseruation and whatsoeuer graces thou hast or expectest and likewise to meditate often vpon his diuine Attributes as his infinite Goodnesse Beautie Maiestie and Power c. for the onely meanes to loue any thing that is very good faire pleasing and beautifull is but to looke seriously vpon it and consider it well and the loue or liking of it presently is begotten in thy heart And it being excellently good the more thou thinkest or meditatest vpon it the more the loue of it increaseth in thee So if thou wilt loue much GOD Almightie doe not omit thy Meditations A fourth meanes is alwaies to keepe the Presence of God that hauing alwayes before thine eyes an infinite Good from whom all things else borrow whatsoeuer good they haue thou canst not but little esteeme of all other goods in comparison of it and loue it with thy whole heart and all things else as they may conduct thee vnto it of which Presence wee are to speake in our third Booke A fifth meanes is to make many Acts of the loue of God As in Arts and Sciences thy continuall practise increaseth thy knowledge and skill so the making of many Acts of the loue of God increaseth in thee the loue of God And to that end heere I set downe these Acts following Acts of Charitie or Loue towards God AS the chased Hart thirsteth after the Fountaine of Water so I desire that my heart should perpetually thirst after thee deare Lord. O Lord of infinite beautie that my heart were so wounded with thy loue that out of feruour of spirit I might in silent speech perpetually breath forth When shall I come and appeare before thy face O most amiable Sonne of the liuing God take now possession of this my heart which was created for to loue thee and pierce it with a thousand wounds of pure loue that I may for euer sweetly languish after thy eternall beautie How beloued are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soule coueteth and fainteth after the Courts of my God Decre Iesu to thee I consecrate my heart O deere King of all beautie and glory I will no other inheritance but thee O Life of my life and more beautifull then all beauties created put together inflame me with a most desired burning after thy eternall beautie O Lord of infinite mercy how great are the multitude of thy mercies that thou commandest mee to loue thee and if I doe not thou art angrie and threatenest eternall miseries when in louing thee consisteth all my ioyes and good O who will giue to me my Lord that I may die for thee that by my corporall death my soule may be ingulfed in thee her rest and chast bed-Chamber of all diuine delights Too late haue I loued thee Beautie so ancient and so new too late haue I loued thee but pardon my negligence past deere Lord and graunt that this my beginning may last and increase for euer Thou deere Lord was within mee and I was without my selfe and amongst these faire things which thou hast created I sought thee and fowly erred faire they were because thou createdst them but to me foule for that I loued them and loued them not in thee O how I lament deere Lord that my poore soule hath beene so deceiued with sensuall loue and worldly vanitie now conuert mee so wholly vnto thee deere Lord that nothing created may please me but the only louing of thy diuine Maiestie Thou art all faire my Loue thou art all faire and there is not a spot or staine in thee O my infinite Good I resigne to thee all that thy liberalitie hath bestowed vpon me that thereby I may please thee and offer without ceasing in the Altar of my heart my selfe in Sacrifice If I forget to loue thee my Lord let all my pleasures be turned into sorrowes and let my right hand be forgetfull of her actions if I doe not offer vnto thee vpon the Altar of my heart a Sacrifice of perpetuall Loue Morning Mid-day and Euening CHAP. XII That true Content and Happinesse cannot be without Charitie or loue towards our neighbours and keeping of the Commandements of God SO great is the Obligation and bond of Societie interposed betweene all things created that the good of one in some sort dependeth vpon the loue and societie with the other The Angels in Heauen reioice one at anothers good and Happinesse and receiue increase of Content by the increase of Glory bestowed vpon any one The Heauens send downe showers and dew to water and make pleasant the Earth and the Earth shooteth vp all her fruits
Francis Yet in one generation both the names of these potent Kings vvere extinguished from the face of the Earth according to this Prophecie so faithfull is God Almightie in fulfilling of his Word So supposing thou beleeuest that God Almightie cannot lye not be forsworne and that thou as a creature of his wilt glorifie him and maintaine both in words and deedes the fulfilling of his Oath and Promises that hee may blesse and glorifie thee I set downe these Acts of Faith following thereby to end and determinate all matters of Controuersies or Differences in Faith or Beleefe that hereafter thou mayest remaine alwayes firme stable and vnmoueable in the Faith Eph. 2. 20. built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the highest corner Stone in whom all Building framed together groweth into an holy Temple in our Lord Which is that I wish vnto thee and desire thee to pardon me if I speake for thy content boldly Acts of Faith GOd forbid deare Lord that I should euer think that thou hast broken the Oath and Testament which thou hast spoken to Abraham Isaack and Iacob thy Seruants saying By my Gen. 22. selfe haue I sworne I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is vpon the Sea shoare Thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his Enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Thy Seed shall be as the dust of Gen. 28. the Earth that shal be dilated to the East and to the West and to the North and to the South and in thee and thy Seed shal be blessed all the Tribes of the Earth I detest O Heauenly Father as Suggestions of the Deuill all opinions whatsoeuer which are contrarie to the vnitie of the Faith dilated ouer the World O God of Heauen I beleeue most firmely that the Christians dilated ouer the World professing one Faith are the Seed of Abraham the Gen. 22. Children of thy Kingdome the Wheat that thou didst sowe the Mat. 1◠Sheepe that thou doest feed and Ioh. 10. the Blessed which at the last day Mat. 25. shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Deare Lord I beleeue most firmely that if we be Christs Gal. 3. 29. then we be the Seed of Abraham and must professe the faith dilated ouer the World O Lord of Infinite Maiestie I humbly beseech thee for thy tender Mercies that I may be one of the great Multitude Apo. 7. 9. which no man could number of all Nations and Tribes and People and Tongues which are to be signed with thy Marke and to be conducted by thee to the Liuing Fountaines Apo. 7. 17. of Waters I detest Eternall God more then Death or Hell to hold or maintaine any opinion which the Catholike Church the Seed of Abraham dilated ouer the World doth not approue Deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I vndoubtedly beleeue that thou art the Sonne of the liuing God to whom this Promise is made I will giue thee the Gentiles for Ps 28. thy Inheritance and for thy Possession the ends of the Earth I beleeue deare Lord all the Articles of the Catholike Faith and for the truth of any one of them by the assistance of thy grace am readie to die not one death but if it were possible as many deaths as all the Martyrs haue suffered from the beginning of the World vntill this day O Lord of infinite Maiestie while I liue I will faithfully beleeue and heartily confesse with thy seruants S. Ambrose and S. Augustine That the holy Church doth Hym. SS Amb. et Aug. confesse thee throughout the World I beleeue most firmely O liuing God that thou art the God of Abraham Isaack and Iacob keeping thy Couenant with them for thousand of Generations and maintaining thy Promise of multiplying their Seed as the Starres of Heauen and possessing the Gates of their Enemies vntill the end of the World Graunt deare Lord that I may rather die a thousand deaths then not confesse with thy Seruant S. Athanasius from my heart in a Catholike sense That whosoeuer will be saued it is needfull before all things that hee hold the Catholike Faith the which vnlesse each one shall keepe whole and inuiolate he shall without doubt eternally perish Man may lye and mine owne iudgement may be deceiued but I beleeue firmely that God Almightie cannot be forsworne deceiue or be deceiued in his Oath I beleeue most firmely deare Lord that the Christians professing one Faith multiplied as the sand that is by the Gen. 28. Sea-shore and dilated to the West and to the East to the North and to the South are the Seed of Abraham thy seruant the children Ps 104. of Iacob thy elect and there is no saluation in any other Act. 4. I doe most firmely hold and doe no waies doubt but that not only Aug. li. de side ad Petrum all Pagans but also all Iewes Heretikes and Schismatikes who doe die out of the Catholike Church are to goe into euerlasting fire which was prepared for the Deuil and his Angels Beare witnesse O ye Heauens and be testimonies all ye that dwell vpon the Earth that I vndoubtedly and most firmely beleeue that God Almighty hath and doth visibly multiply the Christians professing in vnitie the Faith planted by our Sauiour as the starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea-shoare according as he spoke Luc. 1. 55. to our Fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer Let mee neuer liue deare Lord to beleeue or thinke that thou hast broken thy Oath and Promises to the Patriarkes and Prophets and canst lye and be forsworne in permitting the Catholike Church to erre or vanish away frō the face of the Earth Deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by the assistance of thy grace though as great torments as the sensible paines of the torments of Hell should fall vpon me for it yet will I confesse that thou art the true Messias and came to fulfill the Oath and Promises which God made to Abraham the Patriarks Prophets and not to breake them These Acts grounded vpon the Oath and Promises of God you are to make often and with simplicity and sincerity of heart and they will so direct you to know and finde out truth that your owne conscience will not permit you euer to be an Heretike Iew Infidell or Protestant of any Sect or sort whatsoeuer And by these Acts without disputing of Controuersies thou puttest an end to all Controuersies and Disputes in matters of Faith and Religion beleeuing them thou art as sure that thou beleeuest aright as that it is certaine that God Almightie cannot be forsworn or that our Sauiour was the Messias promised to the Patriarkes Prophets and excludest all Errors Heresies and Temptations of the Deuil in matters of Faith and infallibly setlest thy vnderstanding in
saith the Apostle Phi. 4. in him that comforteth mee Comfort vs O Lord and wee can doe all things yea loue our heauiest Persecutors as our selues Since from God Almightie proceedeth all our good and strength the first means of atteining vnto the loue of our Persecutors as our selues is much to loue his Diuine Maiestie To them Rom. 8. that loue God all things cooperate in good Againe If any Io. 14. 23. loue me he will keepe my word loue his Enemies and pray for his Persecutors Loue is Cant. 8. 6. as strong as Death The Loue of God nothing can ouercome Many Waters of tribulation Cant. 8. cannot quench Charitie neither shall Flouds of Persecution ouerwhelme it Wherefore the first meanes is much to loue God Almightie and often to make the aforesaid Acts of Loue and Charitie towards God set downe in the eleuenth Chapter and then thou wilt easily loue thy most alienated enemies with all thy heart The second meanes is often to reflect vpon the prouidence of God Almightie who since hee intendeth to crowne none but such as 2. Tim. 2. shall ouercome in combate first giueth the grace and force to ouercome and then permitteth myserable people to practise cruelties and persecutions vpon thee that thou by his grace ouercomming them and remaining through Patience and Charitie a Conquerour he may crowne thee with abundance of temporall Content in this life and after death in the other with eternall glory according to the words of S. Iames saying Blessed is the man that suffereth Iam 1. 12. temptation for when he hath beene proued he shall receiue the Crowne of life which God hath promised to them that loue him Insomuch as by ouercomming thy gaine is so great that if a persecuting King Prince or Potentate should spoile himselfe of his Scepter and Crowne and bestow them both on thee together with his Kingdome yet thou shouldest not receiue by his meanes so great a benefit as the Martyr whō he putteth to death either publikely or by long priuate imprisonment or other distresses for our Catholike Faith My Num. 23. 10. soule die the death of the iust and my last ende be made like to them So in truth and veritie there is no cause why thou shouldest hate or wish any euill vnto thy seuerest Persecutors but much cause why thou shouldest wish well vnto them and loue them tenderly since that by their meanes and by their losse both of temporall and eternall Content and Happinesse thou perseuering in Charitie art to receiue a greater benefit then otherwise thou couldest expect euer to haue receiued viz. to be crowned with a Crown of Apoc. 3. 10. eternall glory to rest in the ioy of our Lord before the throne of God and serue him Apoc. 7. day and night in his Temple and be conducted by the Lambe our Sauiour to the liuing Fountaines of Waters And for this cause the wisest men that be vpon the face of the Earth haue a pious enuie at our happinesse here in England For that we are killed Ps 43. 22. all the day we are esteemed as Sheepe of slaughter for the Catholike Faith which wee professe and goe continually as the Prophet Dauid sayth With our liues alwayes Ps 118. in our hands to offer them to God Almightie in Sacrifice knowing that our reward is very great in Heauen for so Mat. 5. 12. they persecuted the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs that were before vs To whom our Sauiour sayth You are they that haue remained with me in my temptations and I dispose to you as my Father disposed to me a Kingdome that Luc. 22. 28. you may eate and drinke vpon my Table and in my Kingdome and may sit vpon Thrones iudging the twelue Tribes of Israel Thou seest what labour paines and dangers euerie worldly man would be content to take if he might but hope to ascend vp to be an earthly King or Prince or come to attaine some grace and fauour in the Court where in truth and veritie their greatest Pleasures are mixt with so many Woes that if they would but looke vpon them with reason they haue more cause to lament their euill mishap then to take glorie in their seeming high estate How much more shouldest thou be content gladly and willingly to suffer some seuen yeares paines and persecution in hope to enioy the Kingdome of Heauen the glorie of the other life and that eternally A third meanes is to stirre vp and reuiue thy Faith in thee by making many Acts of Faith founded vpon the Promises to patient suffering Iniuries and Persecutions for the loue thou bearest to God as often to make these or the like Acts. He that will saue his life Mat. 16. 25. shall lose it and he that shall lose his life for me shall finde it What doth it profit a man if Mat. 16. 26. he gaine the whole world and sustaine the dammage of his Soule What permutation shall a man Mar. 26. giue for his Soule What wilt thou take that the Deuill may haue thy Soule for to burne in Hell eternally and trie but for a quarter of an houre how thou canst endure thy hand or foot to be burnt in this fire vpon Earth And then thou wilt laud the mercies of our Lord that by his Grace and thy suffering patiently so little paines he hath ordained to redeeme thee from eternall Torments Wee suffer with Christ Iesu Rom. 17. that we may be glorified also with him The sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glorie to Rom. 8. 18. come that shall be reuealed in vs. Our tribulation which is momentarie 2. Cor. 4. 17. and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs. If 2. Tim. 2. 11. wee be dead in Christ then wee shall liue also together with him If we shall sustaine we shall also reigne together So to liue by Faith according as it is written The iust Gal. 3. 12. liueth by Faith for without Faith it is impossible to please God For hee that commeth to God Heb. 11. 6. must beleeue that hee is and is a rewarder of them that seeke him And this is the Faith of the Saints so renowmed and often spoken of in the Scriptures the Faith of Henoch Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph Moyses Gedeon Barac Sampson Iephte and the Apostles who by Faith ouercame Kingdomes wrought Iustice obtained Promises stopped the mouth of Lyons extinguished the force of Fire repelled the edge of the Sword recouered of their Infirmities had triall of Mockeries and Stripes of Bonds and Prisons were Stoned Hewed Tempted dying in slaughter of the Sword went about in Sheepe skinnes and Goats skinnes needie in distresse afflicted of whom the World was not worthie wandering in Desarts in Mountaines and Dennes and in Caues in the Earth As thou seest Religious men and Priests and Lay Catholikes doe in the time of this our persecution
in England who firmely grounded and founded in the infallible certainetie of the Oathes and Promises of God doe thinke whatsoeuer they can suffer or endure in this life too little to manifest the constancie of their Faith and Hope in the Promises of God that as S. Paul writeth of the Romans so wee may say of the English Catholikes Your Faith Rom. 1. 8. is renowmed throughout the whole World and will be in all Ages in this life and after death for all eternitie in Heauen A fourth may be to remember that it is the Precept of our Lord saying Loue your enemies doe good to Mat. 5. 44. them that hate you pray for them that persecute you and abuse you Thou seest what paines the Pursuinants take at the commaundement of their Maysters to apprehend take spoyle and torment Priests and Catholikes and in all equitie it must needes be a great shame vnto thee that the commaundement of a Man should haue more force to moue men to breake the commaundements of God then the commaundement of God hath to moue thee to keepe them especially considering that all which they can get is but to diuide the spoyles betweene their Maysters and them and the good countenance of their Maysters to themselues And thou expectest the Kingdome of Heauen the happie Vision of God and eternall Glorie A fifth may be to consider what it is that thou desirest Is it not Content and Happinesse Wouldest thou not be Content and Happie This is the Way Looke after all those who euer attained vnto high degree of Rest and Ioy and obserue their steppes and thou shalt finde that they are all gone in this path of outward Tribulation and Persecution And supposed that thou couldest finde another way to Rest and Ioyes wouldest thou forsake the comfort of so good companie to goe alone when as by so doing thou shouldest but depriue thy selfe of much Ease and Ioy. The seruants of God who willingly take paines and readily suffer persecution for the loue of God in their sufferings and persecutions doe not suffer but in outward shew view and sight of the World hauing in their inward hearts and soules more Ioyes and Content then any Penne or Tongue is able to expresse God Almightie is more tender ouer his who will willingly suffer persecution for his loue then euer was the most affectioned Mother in the World ouer her onely Child that giue but thy consent free will and resignation of minde readily by Gods grace to suffer whatsoeuer persecution or tribulation it shall please his Diuine Maiestie to permit to fall vpon thee willingly march on in that way to Rest by which he will conduct thee and suffer paines of torment thou neuer shalt but be so full of Ioy in the greatest seeming paines that if they were sensible to others as they will be to thy selfe thy suffering would conuert not one but all the World And if thou wilt beleeue the Testimonies of all pious Men in this Age and in all Ages past thou shalt finde it most true by their Testimonies and Experiences that either all Content and Ioyes which are to be found in this life or the most part are to be found in suffering and enduring outward paines labours and persecutions for the loue of God such are the Promises of God as wee haue said immediately before and God Almightie is iust and faithfull in all his Promises if there be no defect on thy behalfe So the Prophet Dauid affirmeth saying According Ps 93. 19. to the multitude of my sorrowes in my heart thy consolations haue made my soule ioyfull Againe Thou hast proued vs O Lord by fire thou hast Ps 65. 9. tryed vs as Siluer is tryed thou hast brought vs vnto a Snare thou hast laid Tribulations on our backes thou hast set men vpon our heads we haue passed through fire and water and thou hast brought vs out into refreshing So Saint Paul often affirmeth saying As the 2. Cor. 1. 5. Passions of Christ abound in vs so also by Christ doth our comfort abound Againe We make 2. Cor. 8. 2. it knowne vnto you Brethren the grace of God that is giuen in the Church of Macedonia that in much experience of Tribulation they had abundance of Ioy. Againe to the Corinthians liuing in persecution and tribulation hee writeth saying Our hope is firme for you 2. Cor. 1. 7. knowing that as you are partakers of the Passion so shall you be of the Consolation also And further affirmeth saying All Discipline for the present truly Heb. 12. 11. seemeth not to be of Ioy but of Sorrow but after it will render vnto them that are exercised in it most peaceable fruit of Iustice So S. Peter witnesseth saying My dearest communicating â— Pet. 4. 12. with the Passions of Christ be glad that in the reuelation also of his glorie you may be glad reioycing If you be reuiled in the Name of Iesus Christ you shall be blessed because that which is of the honour glorie and vertue of God and the Spirit which is his shall rest vpon you The holy Ghost will rest vpon you with his gifts and fruites from whose communication proceedeth all our Content and Happinesse as wee will shew in his place So Saint Paul concludeth That all men without exception shall find Content by Persecution saying All that will liue godly 1. Tim. 3. 12. in Christ Iesus shall suffer Persecution Whereby thou seest that if either the light of Reason or Grace may preuaile with thee thou hast no cause to hate or wish euill vnto the persons of the Pursuinants or seuerest Persecutors but to hate and detest their sinne impietie and wickednesse and loue cherish and doe all the seruiceable offices thou canst vnto their persons since that by patiently enduring the euils and wickednesse they practise vpon thee God Almightie hath disposed to conduct thee to more temporall and eternall Rest Content and Happinesse then euer otherwise thou couldest haue expected to haue receiued Which considered thou oughtest to haue great compassion vpon those poore miserable and wretched people which serue for nothing else but by God Almighties permission to conduct thee to Happinesse after to descend themselues into eternall Torments and out of compassion to pray much for them if peraduenture God Almightie will haue mercie on them also that they may see their errors and come to loue God Almighty with their whole hearts and their neighbours as themselues and saue their soules that those whom thou hast had as persecutors vpon Earth thou mayest haue as companions of Glorie in Heauen which God Almightie graunt vs and to that end I set downe these Acts following Acts of Charitie or Loue toward our Neighbour O King of Kings in whose hands are the hearts of all Kings for thy tender mercies I beseech thee graunt that my King Queene and Prince may so liue and serue thee vpon Earth that after death they may be found
thee he hath disposed ascension in his heart in the vayle of teares they shall goe from vertue into vertue the God of Gods shall be seene in Sion Whereof Boetius speaking in his third Booke and tenth Verse sayth Come hither all yee that are bound Whose base and earthly mindes are drownd By such which doth them tye in cruell Chaines Here is a Seat for men opprest Here is a Port of pleasant Rest Here may a Wretch haue refuge from his Paines No Gold which Tagus Sands bestow Nor which on Herma's Banks doth flow Nor precious stones which scortched Indians get Can cleare the sharpenesse of the minde But rather make it farre more blinde And it in farther depth of darknesse set For this that sets our soules on worke Buried in caues of Earth doth lurke But Heauen is guided by another Light Which causeth vs to shun the Darke And who this Light doth truly marke Must needs denie that Phoebus beames are bright CHAP. XXII Of the fifth Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their Neighbours as themselues which is the finding knowing and seeing of God Almightie in this life not as he is in his Essence for so no man can see him and liue but as the Saints say in the disposition of a visible matter sauing the vision of his Diuine Essence for the glorie of the other life HE that hath my Commandements Io. 14. 21. and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I will Io. 14. 9. loue him and will manifest my selfe to him and he that seeth me seeth also my Father God Almightie will not onely dwell and abide in his heart and soule that loueth him with all his heart but also will manifest himselfe vnto him and thereby giue him the greatest Content Rest and Happinesse that he is capable to receiue in this life the seeing of God or God Almightie manifesting himself vnto him not according to his Diuine Essence for so man is not capable of seeing his Diuine Maiestie and liue but in the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie or which is all one by taking that likenesse which his Will hath chosen and not his Nature formed as affirmeth S. Ambrose in Luc. ca. 1. S. Augustine in his Epistle de videndo Deo S. Gregor Nazia cited there by S. Augustine S. Athanasius quaestio 12. S. Hierome de verb. Isa vid. Dominum S. Chrysostome Hom. 4. de Dei Natura That he may walke by faith and not by sight 2. Cor. 5. or happie Vision Moyses the Patriarks Prophets and Saints did see God in this life as the Scriptures say but not as hee is in his Essence or Diuine Nature for so No man hath seene God Io. 1. 18. at any time nor shall see God and Exo. 33. 20. liue but vnder the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie Moyses conuersing with God face to face as a man is wont to speake to his Exo. 33. friend said vnto him Shew me thy glorie or as S. Augustine In Epist de videndo Dei translateth Shew me thy selfe and our Lord answered Thou canst not see my face or Diuine Nature for man shall not see me and liue Whereupon our Lord to satisfie the desire of Moyses shewed himselfe yet more manifestly to Moyses but still vnder the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie by taking that likenesse which his Will had chosen and not his Nature formed and so sayth to Moyses Behold there is a place with Exo. 33. 21. me and thou shalt stand vpon the Rocke and when my Glorie shall passe I will set thee in a hole of the Rocke and protect thee with my right hand vntill I passe and I will take away my hand and thou shalt see my backe parts In like manner our Lord shewed himselfe in the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie to the rest of the Saints and Prophets as to our Father Elias 3. Reg. 11. in the whistling of a gentle Wind To the Prophet Isay like a Isa 6. man sitting vpon a high Throne and eleuated his Face and Feete couered with the Wings of Seraphins To the Apostles and Saints of the Act. 2. Primitiue Church the holie Ghost appeared in Tongues as it were of fire And S. Iohn in Apo. 4. et 5. et 6. the Apocalypse often maketh mention to haue seene God sitting vpon a Throne And S. Augustine affirmeth That Conf. li. 11. c. 8. wheresoeuer hee did looke hee did see God saying How commeth it to passe my Lord God that wheresoeuer I I looke I see thee but how I should declare or make others vnderstand it I know not vnlesse it be because all that doth begin to bee and doth cease to bee doth then begin to bee and end when it is knowne that it ought to begin or end with eternall reason So the Prophet Dauid did see Ps 15. 8. God alwaies according to his words saying I foresaw our Lord in my sight alwaies not with the eyes of his bodie which dayly decay but with the eye of his heart which was renewed from day to 2. Cor. 4. 16. day according to the words of S. Paul saying God that 2. Cor. 4. 6. commanded Light to shine in darknesse he hath shined in our hearts to the illumination of the knowledge of the glorie of God So our Sauiour sayth Blessed Mat. 5. 8. are the cleane of heart for they shall see God And Saint Paul Heb. 12. 14. sayth Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see God Whereupon Saint Augustine sayth That Aug. ep 111. the wicked though they shall rise in the Day of Iudgement yet they shall not see God Because they would not make cleane their hearts by a true Faith that worketh by Charitie For God is not seene in a Amb. in 111. ep of S. Aug. Place sayth Saint Ambrose but in a cleane or pure heart Whereupon Saint Iohn sayth 1. Io. 4. 8. He that loueth not knoweth not God And Saint Paul defineth 2. Tim. 1. 5. Diuine Loue or Charitie to be from a pure heart And Saint Augustine further Aug. ep 111. sayth That great men truly and most learned in the Scriptures who haue much benefited the Church and the studies of the faithfull as often as occasion hath beene offered haue said That the inuisible God is seene inuisibly that is to say by that nature which in vs is also inuisible that is by a pure heart and minde Againe Because that according Aug. ep 112. to the custome of speech bodies are said to be visible therefore God is said to be inuisible least he should seeme to be a bodie and not because he doth defraud cleane hearts of the contemplation of his substance seeing this great and high reward is promised to the adorers and louers of God
Ioy of wilde Asses be so highly esteemed by the Princes and adorers of the Earth as that they put either all or the most part of their content in them how much more are to be esteemed the Ioyes of the holy Ghost which doe so farre exceede all the Ioyes of wilde Asses and carnall pleasures of the censuall Men of the Earth as the Soule doth the Body The one being common to pious Men and Angels the other proper to carnall Men and Beasts OF THE THIRD Fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Peace THe third Fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the hearts of them that loue him and their neighbour for him is Peace not such Peace as is giuen to the wicked who can finde no other Rest or Peace but in the following and feeding of their inordinate appetites with sensuall pleasures like the beasts of the Forrest But the Peace of God which passeth Phil. 4. 7. all vnderstanding an Ease Rest Repose of heart and minde in God Almightie which exceedeth the capacitie and vnderstanding of all sensuall men which S. Paul describeth to be an vnion of our hearts and all the vnderstanding Phil. 4. powers of our soule in Christ Iesus Peace which was promised by the Prophet Isay saying When the Spirit shall be poured Isa â—2 17. out vpon vs then the worke of Iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of Iustice Silence and Securitie for euer And my People shall sit in the beautie of Peace and in the Tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie Rest Resting of their Hearts and all the powers of their Soule in Christ Iesus as a Stone in his Centre Peace spoken of by the Prophet Dauid saying Praise â—â— 147. â— thy God O Syon because hee hath strengthened the Locks of thy Gates he hath blessed thy Children in thee who hath set thy borders Peace and filleth thee with the fat of Corne. Againe In Peace in the self-same I will sleepe and rest Whereupon S. Augustine reading this verse after his Conuersion from Heresie cryed from the bottome of his heart O in Peace O Con. li. 9. 8. ca. 4. in the selfe-same O what did he say I will Repose and take Rest Thou O Lord art the selfe-same exceedingly who art not variable in thee is Rest forgetting of all labours for that there is no other with thee neither are there many more things to be had which thou art not But thou O Lord hast singularly setled me in hope I did reade and did burne in loue Neither did I finde what I should doe to the deafe dead Heretikes amongst whom I had beene an vnsauourie yeller forth of infectious Doctrine and blinde against the Letters honyed with the hony of Heauen and lightened with thy Light O that they could see the inward Eternall Light Which I because I had tasted I was angrie at my selfe for that I could not shew it them if they should bring vnto me a heart in their owne eies without thee and should say Who will shew vs good things So Saint Augustine The Peace spoken of by our Sauiour saying Peace I Io. 14. 27. leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the World giueth doe I giue to you Againe In me you may haue Io. 16. 55. Peace in the World you shall haue Distresse Whereof the Prophet Isay speaking saith For this cause shall my people Isa 52. â— know my Name in that day because I my selfe that spake Peace I leaue you loe am present How beautifull vpon the Mountaines are the feele of him that euangelizeth and preacheth Peace of him that telleth good preaching Health that faith to Sion the Soule which loueth God with all his heart Thy God shall Isa 9. 5. raigne Because all violent taking of prey with tumult and garment mingled with blood shall be burnt and foode for the fire For a little Childe is borne to vs and a Sonne is giuen to vs and his name shall be called Prince of Peace His Empire shall be multiplied and there shall be multiplied and there shal be no end of his peace At this Peace the Angels reioyced to see it prepared to be planted in the Hearts of Men vpon Earth And Luk. 2. the Angels said I euangelize to you great Ioy that shall be to all People beeause this day is borne to you a Sauiour which is Christ our Lord you shall finde the Infant swadled in Clothes and layd in a Maunger And suddenly these was with the Angell a multitude of the heauenly Armie praysing God and saying Glorie in the highest to God and in Earth Peace to Men of good will For Eph. â— hee our Lord himselfe is our Peace who hath made both one and dissoluing the middle Wall of the Partition the enmities in his Flesh And comming he euangelized Peace to you that were farre off and Peace to them that were nigh for by him we haue accesse both in one Spirit to the Father This is the Peace which Saint Paul wished to the Thessalonians saying The 2. Thes 3. 16. Lord of Peace himselfe giue you euerlasting Peace in euery place And this is the Peace which our Lord often wished to his Disciples after his Resurrection saying Peace be to you This Peace saith S. Augustine In epist ad fratres in eremo Christ left by a Testament to the Apostles as the chiefest good without the which none ought to liue c. This is that glorious Peace which expelleth the fruit of euill Thoughts preserueth the wauering Minde from hurt and purgeth the Conscience He who hath not the peace of Heart of Mouth and Worke ought not to be called a Christian O Peace thou art the serenitie of the Minde the tranquilitie of the Soule the simplicitie of the Heart the bond of Loue and companion of Charitie This is that high Felicitie which taketh away Enmities appeaseth Warres oppresseth Anger 's treadeth downe the Proud loueth the Humble endeth Strifes maketh Enemies friends acceptable to all Men. So S. Augustine And if the Peace of the Earth which is but a cessation from worldly troubles or affaires and a satisfying of thy passions be pleasing vnto thee of how farre greater Content and Happinesse must the Peace of God be which passeth all vnderstanding and keepeth as S. Paul saith Our Hearts and all the Phi. 4. 7. vnderstanding powers of our Soule in Christ Iesus which God of his goodnesse grant thee Reader OF THE FOVRTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Patience THe fourth fruit is Patience of which it is said In Patience shall you possesse Luk. 21 19. your Soules Then a man is said to enioy a thing when he receiueth Content in it and vseth it according to the end it was created for he that possesseth a thing to vexe and afflict hath it not to enioy and possesse but to torment Whereupon it commeth to passe that angrie and chollericke men doe not possesse themselues nor