and humilitie and mightest beare patiently the contempt of thy selfe CHAP. XIV Of the secret Iudgements of God to be considered lest we be extolled in our good deeds THE SERVANT THou thundrest thy judgements ouer me Lord and shakest all my bones with feare and trembling and my soule is sore afraid I stand astonished and consider for that heauens are not pure in thy sight Iob 15. If thou hast found wickednesse in Angels and hast not pardoned them what shal become of me Iob 4. Starres fell from heauen and what doe I presume that am dust Apoc. 8. They whose workes seemed laudable fell into the lowest and I haue seene them that did eate bread of Angels to be delighted with the huskes of swine 2 There is no sanctity if thou O Lord withdrawest thy hand No wisdome auaileth if thou ceasest to gouerne No strength helpeth if thou leauest to defend No chastity secure if thou dost not protect it No custodie of our owne profitable if thy sacred watchfulnes be not present For if thou leauest vs we sinke and perish but if thou vouchsafest to visit vs we are raised vp and doe enioy life We are inconstant but by thee we are strengthned we wax could but by thee we receiue heate 3 O how meanely and basely ought I to thinke of my selfe How little yea nothing ought I to esteem it if I seeme to haue any good O Lord how ought I to submit my self vnder thy vnsearchable judgements where I finde my selfe to be nothing else but nothing nothing O vnmeasurable waight O sea that can neuer be passed ouer where I finde my selfe onely and wholly nothing Where then is the lurking hole of glory Whrre is the confidence conceiued of vertue All vaine-glory is swallowed vp in the depth of thy iudgmēts which hang ouer my head 4 What is all flesh in thy sight Shall clay glory against him that frameth it Eccls. 23. Esay 29. How can he be lifted vp with vain words whose heart is truly subiect to God All the world cannot mooue him to any elation of minde whome truth hath subiected vnto it neither shall hee be mooued with the tongues of all his praisers that hath setled his whole hope in God For they also that speake behold are nothing they shall passe away with the sound of the words but the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer Psal 116. CHAP. XV. What we ought to doe and say in euery thing which we desire OVR LORD SOn say thus in euery thing Lord if it be pleasing vnto thee let this be done in this sort Lord if it be to thy honour let this bee done in thy name Iam. 3. Lord if thou seest it expedient for me and allowest it to be profitable then grant vnto me that I may vse this vnto thine honor But if thou knowest it wil be hurtfull vnto me not profitable to the health of my soule take from me al such desire For euery desire proceeds not from the holy Ghost though it seeme vnto man right and good It is hard to judge whether a good spirit or the contrary driue thee to desire this or that or whether also by thine owne spirit thou be moued therunto Many are deceiued in the end who at the first seemed to be led by a good spirit 2 Alwaies therefore whatsoeuer occurreth vnto thy minde to be desired let it be desired with the feare of God and with humility of heart and aboue al thou oughtest to commit it vnto me with full resignation of thy selfe and thou oughtest to say Lord thou knowest what is best do this or that as thou pleasest Giue what thou wilt and how much thou wilt and when thou wilt Doe with me as thou knowest as best pleaseth thee and is most for thy honor Set me where thou wilt and deale with mee in all things according to thy will I am in thy hand turne me and turne me againe which way soeuer thou please Behold I am thy seruant ready to obey thee in all things for I desire not to liue vnto my selfe but vnto thee and would to God it might be in some worthy and perfect manner A prayer for the fulfilling of the will of God SER. 3 Grant mee thy grace sweet Iesus that it may be with me and labour with me and perseuere with me vntill the end Grant me alwaies to desire and will that which is most acceptable vnto thee best pleaseth thee Sap. 9. Let thy will be mine and let my will euer follow thine and agree perfectly with it Let my will and nill be all one with thine and not to be able to will or refuse any thing else but what thou wilt or reiectest 4 Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world and to loue for thy sake to bee contemned and not to be knowne in this world Grant that aboue all things that can be desired I may rest in thee and make my hart to enioy peace in thee Thou art the true peace of the heart thou art the only rest out of thee all things are troublesome and vnquiet In peace in the selfe-same that is in thee one chiefest eternall good I will sleepe and rest Amen Psal 4. CHAP. XVI That true comfort is to be sought in God alone THE SERVANT WHatsoeuer I can desire or imagine for my cōfort I look not for it in this life but hereafter For if I should alone haue all the comforts of the world might enioy al the delights thereof it is certaine that they could not long endure Mat. 16. Wherfore my soule thou canst not bee fully comforted nor haue perfect delight but in God the cōforter of the poor the receiuer of the humble Ps 76. Expect a while my soule expect the diuine promise and thou shalt haue abundance of al good things in heauen If thou desire inordinately the things that are present thou shalt lose the celestiall and eternall Haue temporall things in vse and the eternal in desire Thou canst not be filled with any temporall goods because thou art not created to enioy them 2 Although thou enioyest al that is created yet canst thou not be happy thereby nor blessed but in God that hath created all things thy whole beatitude and happinesse consisteth Sap. 2. not such as is seene and commended by the foolish louers of the world but such as the good faithful seruants of Christ expect the spirituall cleane of heart whose conuersation is in heauen sometimes take a taste of Phil. 3. Vaine short is al humane comfort Blessed true is the comfort which is receiued inwardly from truth A deuout man euery where carrieth with him Iesus his comforter and saith vnto him Be present with me Lord Iesus in euery place and time Let this be my comfort to bee alwayes willing to want all humane comfort And if thy comfort be wanting let thy will and just proofe be vnto me as the greatest comfort for
care can profit little O that I cleaued not too much to future euents but offred my selfe with all readinesse of minde to thy diuine pleasure LORD 2 Son oftentimes a man doth earnestly labour for that which he desireth and when he hath gotten it hee beginneth to be of another minde and not to esteeme so much of it as before he did for mans affections doe not long continue fixed on one thing but do passe from one to another It is therefore a matter not of least moment to forsake our selues euen in the least things 3 The true spirituall profite of man consisteth in denying and forsaking of himselfe and he that is resigned liueth in great freedome and security But the ancient enemie who alwaies laboureth to withstand the seruants of God omitteth at no time his wonted temptations but day and night lieth still in waite to cast the vnwary if hee can into the snare of deceit 1. Pet. 5. Watch therefore and pray saith our Lord that you enter not into temptation Matth. 26. CHAP. XL. That man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing wherof he can glory THE SERVANT LOrd what is man that thou art mindefull of him or the sonne of man that thou vouchsafest to visite him Psalm 8. What hath man deserued that thou shouldest giue him thy grace Lord what cause haue I to complaine if thou forsake me Or if thou doest not that which I desire what can I justly say against it Surely this I may truely thinke and say Lord I am nothing I can doe nothing I haue nothing that is good of my self but in al things I do faile and am defectiue and doe euer tend to nothing and vnlesse thou helpe me and dost interiourly instruct me I become cold and am dissolued 2 But thou O Lord art alwayes the same and endurest for euer alwaies good just and holy doing all things well just and holily and disposing al things with wisdome Psa 101. But I that am more inclined to fall then to goe forwards doe neuer continue in one estate for seuen different times are changed ouer mee yet doth it soone turne to the better when it so pleaseth thee and when thou vouchsafest to stretch forth thy helping hand For thou alone canst help me without the fauour of man and so strengthen me that my countenance shall be no more changed but my heart shall be conuerted and rest in thee alone 3 Wherefore if I could once perfectly forsake all humane comfort either for the loue of deuotion or for mine own necessity which inforceth me to seeke after thee for none else can comfort mee then might I well hope in thy grace and reioyce in the gift of new consolation 4 Thankes by vnto thee from whence all proceedeth as often as it goeth well with me but I am meere vanity nothing before thee an vnconstant and weake man Whereof then can I glory Or why do I desire to be esteemed of Is it not of nothing and this is most vaine Truly vain-glory is an euill plague and very great vanity because it draweth from true glory robbeth the soule of heauenly grace For whilest a man pleaseth himself he displeaseth thee whilest hee gapeth after the praise of men he is depriued of true vertue 5 But true glory holy exultation and joy is for a man to glory in thee and not in himselfe Abac. 3. to reioyce in thy name and not in his owne vertue nor to delight in any creature but for thee Praised be thy name not mine magnified bee thy worke not mine let thy holy name be for euer blessed but to me let no part of mens praises be giuen Ps 112. and 113. Thou art my glory thou art the joy of my hart In thee wil I glory and reioice al the day but for my self I will not joy but in my infirmities 6 Let the Iewes seeke the glory which one man giueth ro another I will desire this which is from God alone Ioh. 5. For all humane glory all temporall honor al wordly highnes compared to thy eternall glory is vanity and folly O my truth my mercy my God most blessed Trinity to thee alone be all praise honor vertue and glory for all eternity CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporall honors OVR LORD SOnne trouble not thy selfe if thou seest others honoured and aduanced and thy selfe contemned and debased Lift vp thy heart vnto mee in heauen and the contempt of men in earth will not grieue thee SER. Lord we are blind quickly seduced with vanity If I look wel into my selfe I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrōg therfore I cānot justly complain of thee 2 But because I haue often grieuously sinned against thee all creatures do justly take arms against me for shame and contempt is due vnto me but vnto thee praise honor and glory And vnlesse I do so prepare my self that I be willing do reioyce to be despised and forsaken of all creatures and to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtain internal strength and peace nor be spiritually enlightned nor wholy vnited vnto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men OVR LORD SOnne if the peace thou hast with any bee grounded on the opinion which thou hast of him or on the contentment thou receiuest in his company thou shalt euer be vnconstant and subiect to disquiet but if thou haue recourse vnto the euer-liuing and eternall Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieue thee The loue of thy friend ought to rest in me and for me is he to bee beloued whosoeuer hee bee whom thou thinkest well of and is verily deare vnto thee in this life No friendship can auaile or continue without me neither is the loue true and pure which they haue whose hearts are not joyned together by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloued friends that for as much as appertaineth vnto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of men Man approcheth so much the neerer vnto God how much the further off hee departeth from all earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth vnto God by how much lower hee descendeth into himselfe and how much the baser hee is in his owne conceit 2 But hee that attributeth any good vnto himselfe hindereth the comming of Gods grace vnto him For the grace of the holy Ghost euer seeketh an humble heart If thou couldst perfectly annihilate thy self and purge thy selfe of all created loue then should there flow into thee great abundance of my grace When thou castest thy eies on creatures the sight of thy Creator is taken from thee Learne to ouercome thy selfe in al things for the loue of thy Creator and then shalt thou be able to attain to heauenly knowledge How little soeuer it be if it be inordinately loued and regarded it defileth the soule and hindreth the enjoying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against
created mee to thy Image and likenesse Genes 1. graunt mee this grace which thou hast shewed to bee so great and so necessary to saluation that I may ouercome my wicked nature which draweth me to sinne and to the losse of my soule For I feele in my flesh the law of sinne contradicting the law of my minde and leading mee captiue to obey sensuality in many things neither can I resist the passions thereof vnlesse thy holy grace feruently infused into my heart doe assist me Rom. 7. 2 Thy grace O Lord and great grace is needfull that nature may be ouercome which is euer prone to euil from her youth For by Adam the first man in falling and being corrupted by sinne the penalty of this staine hath descended vpon all mankind in such sort that Nature it self which by thee was created good and without defect is now accounted for vice and for the infirmitie of a corrupted nature for that the motion thereof left vnto it selfe draweth to euill and abiect things For the little force which remaineth is like a certaine sparke lying hidden in ashes This is naturall reason it self compassed about with great darknesse still retaining power to discerne good and euill and the distance betweene true and false although it be vnable to fulfill all that it approueth and enioyeth not now the full light of truth nor the former integrity of her affections 3 Hence it is my God that according to my inward man I delight in thy law knowing thy Commandements to bee good just and holy reprouing also all euill and sin and doe know that it is to be fled Rom. 7. But in my flesh I serue the law of sin whilest I rather obey sensualitie then reason Hence it is that I haue a will to doe good but know not how to performe it For this cause I often purpose many good things but for that I want grace to helpe my infirmity for a light resistance I go backe and faint I know the way of perfection see clearely enough what I ought to do but pressed with the waight of mine owne corruption I rise not vnto it 4 O Lord how needfull is thy grace for me to beginne any good worke to go forward and to accomplish it Ioh. 13. For without it I can do nothing but in thee I can doe all things when thy grace doth comfort me O heauenly grace without which our owne merits are nothing and no gifts of nature are to bee esteemed Arts riches beautie and strength wit or eloquence are of no worth with thee O Lord without thy grace For gifts of nature are common to good and euill but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and loue wherewith being marked they are esteemed worthy of euerlasting life This grace so much excelleth that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles nor any speculation how high soeuer is of any esteeme without it Neyther faith nor hope nor other vertues are acceptable vnto thee without charitie and grace 1. Cor. 13. 5 O most blessed grace that makest the poore in spirit rich with vertues and the rich in many blessings humble in heart come downe vnto me replenish mee in the morning with thy comfort lest my soule should faint with wearines and wither away with drines of mind I beseech the Lord that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace sufficeth though other things that nature desireth be wanting Psal 22. If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I will not feare euils whilest thy grace is with me shee is my strength she giueth aduice and help she is stronger then all enemies and wiser then all the wise 6 Thy grace is the mistresse of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the heart the solace in affliction she driueth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of deuotion the bringer foorth of teares What am I without it but a rotten peece of wood and an vnprofitable stalke only meet for the fire Let thy grace therefore Lord alwaies preuent me and follow mee and make mee euer diligent in good workes through Iesus Christ thy Son Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse OVR LORD SOnne looke how much thou canst goe out of thy selfe so much mayest thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of externall things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selues joyneth vs internally to God I will haue thee learne the perfect leauing of thy selfe vnto my will without contradiction and complaint Follow me I am the way the truth and the life Ioh. 14. Without the way there is no going without truth there is no knowledge without life there is no liuing I am the way which thou oughtest to follow the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope I am the way which cannot lead amisse the truth which cannot erre the life which cannot end I am a most strait way a supreme truth a true life a blessed life an increated life if thou remaine in mee thou shalt know the truth and truth shall deliuer thee and thou shalt apprehend euerlasting life 2 If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandements if thou wilt know the truth beleeue me Mat. 19. If thou wilt be perfect sell al. If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe Luk. 9. If thou wilt possesse a blessed life deny this present life Ioh. 12. If thou wilt be exalted in heauen humble thy selfe vpon earth Luk. 14. If thou wilt raigne with me beare the Crosse with mee For onely the seruants of the Crosse finde the way of blisse and true light SER. 3 Lord Iesus for as much as thy way is narrow strait and contemptible vnto the world grant me grace to imitate thee in suffring willingly all worldly contempt For the seruant is not greater then his Lord nor the Disciple aboue his Master Mat. 7. Let thy seruant be exercised in thy holy life for there is the health and the true sanctitie of my soule whatsoeuer I reade or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully Luk. 6. LORD 4 Sonne now that thou knowest and hast read these things happie shalt thou be if thou fulfill them Hee that hath my Commandements and keepeth them hee it is that loueth me and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him and wil make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father SER. Lord Iesus as thou hast said and promised so giue mee grace to deserue that it be fulfilled I haue receiued the Crosse I haue receiued it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it vpon me Truely the life of a good religious person is the Crosse and it is a sure guide to heauen It is now begunne it is not lawfull to go backe neither is it fit to leaue that which I haue vndertaken 5 Let vs then
mightest shew thy sweetenesse towards thy children vouchsafest to feede them with the most delightsome bread which descendeth from heauen and is full of all sweetnes Wisd 12. Surely there is no other Nation so great that hath Gods approching vnto them as thou our God art present to all thy faithfull vnto whom for their daily comfort and for the lifting vp of their hearts to heauen thou giuest thy self to be eaten and enioyed Deut. 4. 3 For what other Nation is there so famous as the Christian people Or what creature vnder heauen so beloued as a deuout soule to whom God himselfe commeth to feed her with his glorious flesh O vnspeakable grace O admirable fauour O infinit loue singularly bestowed vpon man But what shall I giue vnto our Lord in returne of this grace for so singular a charitie Psal 115. There is no other thing more gratefull that I am able to giue then to bestow my heart wholy on my God and to vnite it perfectly vnto him Then shall all my bowels reioyce when my soule shall be perfectly vnited vnto God Then hee will say vnto me if thou wilt be with me I will bee with thee And I will answere him Vouchsafe O Lord to remaine with me and I will be with thee This is my whole desire that my heart be vnited vnto thee CHAP. XIV Of the feruent desire of some deuout persons to receiue the Body of Christ The voice of the Disciple O How great is the store of thy sweetenesse O Lord which thou hast hidden for them that feare thee Psalm 30. When I remember some deuout persons who come vnto thy Sacrament O Lord with great deuotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded and blush within my selfe that I come so negligently and coldly to thy Altar to the Table of holy Communion that I remaine so drie and without spirituall motion or feeling that I am not wholy inflamed in thy presence my God nor so earnestly drawne and moued as many deuout persons haue beene who out of a vehement desire of receiuing and a feeling affection of heart could not containe themselues from weeping but with the desire both of soule and body they earnestly longed after thee O God the liuely Fountaine being not otherwise able to temper nor satisfie their hunger but by receiuing thy Body with all joy and spirituall greedinesse 2 O most ardent faith of those persons a probable argument of thy sacred presence For these truely know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose heart burneth so within them whilest thou O blessed Iesu walkest with them Luk. 24. Such desire and deuotion so vehement loue and feruencie is oftentimes far off from me Be mercifull vnto me good Iesu sweet and benigne Lord and grant me thy poore needy creature to feele sometimes at least in this holy Sacrament a little cordiall desire of thy loue that my faith may be more strengthened my hope in thy goodnes encreased and that my charity once perfectly inflamed after the tasting of heauenly Manna may neuer decay 3 Thy mercy O Lord is able to giue me the grace I desire and to visit me in thy bounteous clemencie with the spirit of feruour when it shall please thee For although I burne not with so great desire as those that are so especially deuoted vnto thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to haue this great inflamed desire praying and crauing that I may participate with all such thy feruent louers and be numbered among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of deuotion is obtained by humilitie and deniall of our selues The voice of the Beloued THou oughtest to seeke the grace of deuotion instantly to aske it earnestly to expect it patiently and considently to receiue it joyfully to keep it humbly to worke with it diligently and to commit the time and manner of this heauenly visitation to God vntill it shall be his pleasure to come Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy selfe when thou feelest inwardly little or no deuotion and yet not to be too much deiected nor to grieue inordinately for it God often giueth in a short moment that which he hath long time denied he giueth sometimes in the end that which in the beginning of prayer he differred to grant 2 If grace should be alwaies presently giuen and at hand euer with a wish it could not be well endured by a weake man Therefore deuotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy selfe and thy sinnes when it is not giuen thee or when it is secretly taken from thee It is sometimes a small matter that hindreth hideth grace from vs if it bee to bee called small and not rather a great matter that hindreth so great a good And if thou remooue this bee it great or smal and perfectly ouercome it thou shalt haue thy desire 3 For presently as soone as thou giuest thy selfe to God and seekest not this nor that for thine owne pleasure or will but setlest thy selfe wholy in me thou shalt find thy selfe vnited vnto him and quiet For nothing will taste so well and please thee so much as the will and pleasure of God Whosoeuer therefore with a sincere heart directeth his intention to God purgeth himselfe from all in ordinate loue or dislike of any creature shall be most fit to receiue grace and worthy of the gift of deuotion For our Lord bestoweth his blessing there where he findeth his vessels empty And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh these basest things and dieth to himselfe by contempt of himselfe so much the more speedily grace commeth and entreth in more plentifully and lifteth vp the heart that is free to a higher state of grace 4 Then shall he see and abound and wonder and his heart shall be enlarged because the hand of our Lord is with him and hee hath put himselfe wholy into his hand for euer Esa 60. Behold so shall the man bee blessed that seeketh Almighty God with his whole heart and taketh not his soule in vaine This man deserueth great grace of diuine vnion in receiuing the holy Eucharist for that hee regardeth not his owne deuotion and comfort but aboue all deuotion and comfort he prizeth the honor and glory of God CHAP. XVI That wee ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ and to craue his grace The voice of the Disciple O Most sweete and louing Lord whom I now desire to receiue deuoutly thou knowest my infirmitie and the necessity which I endure with how many sins I am oppressed how often I am grieued tempted troubled and defiled I come vnto thee for remedie I craue of thee thy heauenly comfort and the ease of my paine I speake to him that knoweth all things to whom all my secrets are open and who can only perfectly comfort and helpe mee Thou knowest what it is whereof aboue all things I stand in most need and how poore I am in vertues 2 Behold
I stand before thee poore and naked calling for grace and crauing mercy Refresh this thy hungry and needy creature giue heat vnto my coldnes with the fire of thy loue giue light vnto my blindnesse with the brightnes of thy presence Turne al earthly things vnto me into bitternes all things grieuous and contrarie into patience all base and created things into contempt and obliuion Lift vp my heart to thee in heauen and suffer me not to wander vpon earth be thou only sweete and delightsome vnto mee from hence-forth for euermore for thou only art my meat and my drinke my loue and my joy my delight and all my good 3 O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholy inflame burne and change me into thee that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward vnion and melting of burning loue Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and drie but deale mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What meruaile if I should be wholy inflamed by thee and die in my selfe sith thou art fire euer burning and neuer decaying loue purifying the heart and enlightning the vnderstanding CHAP. XVII Of burning loue and vehement desire to receiue Christ The voice of the Disciple WIth great deuotion and burning loue with most hearty affection and feruour I desire to receiue thee O Lord as many Saints and deuout persons haue desired thee when they receiued thy Sacrament who were most pleasing vnto thee in holines of life and most feruent in deuotion O my God the euerlasting loue my whole good my happinesse without end I would gladly receiue thee with the most vehement desire and worthy reuerence that any of the Saints euer had or could feele 2 And although I be vnworthy to haue all those feelings of deuotion yet I offer vnto thee the whole affection of my hart as if I alone had those most sweet inflamed desires yea whatsoeuer also a deuout minde can conceiue and desire all that with greatest reuerence and most inward affection I offer present vnto thee I wish to reserue nothing to my self but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my selfe all mine vnto thee my Lord God my Creator and my Redeemer I desire to receiue thee this day with such affection reuerence praise honor with such gratitude worthines and loue with such faith hope and purity as thy most blessed Mother the glorious Virgin Mary receiued and desired thee when she humbly and deuoutly answered the Angel who declared vnto her the mystery of the Incarnation and said Behold the Handmaid of our Lord let it be done vnto mee according to thy word Luk. 1. 3 And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist cheerefully leaped with joy of the holy Ghost whilest he was yet shut vp in his mothers wombe and afterwards seeing Iesus walking amongst men humbling himselfe very much said with deuout affection The friend of the Bridegrome that standeth and heareth him reioyceth with joy for the voice of the Bridegrome Ioh. 3. so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my self vp vnto thee with my whole heart Wherefore I offer also and present vnto thee the joyes feruent desires excesses of minde spirituall illuminations and heauenly visions of all deuout hearts with all the vertues and praises exercised and to be exercised by all creatures in heauen and earth for my selfe and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou mayest be worthily praised and glorified for euer 4 Receiue my Lord God the affections of my heart and desires which I haue to giue thee infinite praise and thankes which according to the measure of thy vnspeakable greatnesse are due vnto thee These I yeeld thee and desire to yeeld thee euery day and moment and I doe intreate and inuite all the heauenly Spirits and all thy deuout seruants to giue thanks and praises together with me 5 Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnifie thy holy and sweet name with great joy and feruent deuotion and let all that reuerently and deuoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receiue it with full faith deserue to finde grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for mee sinfull creature And when they shall haue obtained their desired deuotion and joyfull vnion and depart from thy sacred heauenly Table well comforted and meruailously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poore and needy soule CHAP. XVIII That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith The voice of the Beloued THou oughtest to beware of curious and vnprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not sinke into the depth of doubt He that is a searcher of Maiestie shall be oppressed by Glorie Prou. 25. God is able to worke more then man can vnderstand A pious and humble inquirie of truth is tolerable so he be alwaies ready to bee taught and doe endeauour to walke in the sound pathes of the ancient Fathers doctrine 2 Blessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult waies of questions and goeth on in the plaine and assured path of Gods Commandements Many haue lost deuotion whilest they would search after high things Faith and sincere life are exacted at thy hands not height of vnderstanding nor the depth of the mysteries of God If thou doest not vnderstand nor conceiue those things that are vnder thee how shalt thou bee able to comprehend those that are aboue thee Submit thy selfe to God and let thy sense be subiect to faith and the light of knowledge shall bee giuen thee in that degree as shall bee profitable and necessary for thee 3 Some are grieuously tempted about Faith and the Sacrament but this is not to bee imputed to them but rather to the enemie Do not regard nor dispute with thy thoughts neither doe thou giue answere to the doubts mooued by the enemie but beleeue the words of God beleeue his Saints and Prophets and the wicked Serpent will flie from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the seruant of God to suffer such things for he tempteth not Infidels and sinners whom he alreadie securely possesseth but hee sundrie waies tempteth and vexeth the faithfull and deuout 4 Goe forward therefore with a sincere and vndoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with vnfained reuerence And whatsoeuer thou art not able to vnderstand commit securely to Almightie God God deceiueth thee not hee is deceiued that trusteth too much to himselfe Psalm 18. and 118. God walketh with the simple reuealeth himselfe to the humble giueth vnderstanding to little ones openeth the senses of pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Mat. 11. Humane reason is weake and may be deceiued but true faith cannot be deceiued 5 All reason and naturall search ought to follow faith not to go before it
our disordered manners and the euill customes which they discouer in vs. CHAP. IX Of Obedience and Subiection IT is a great matter to liue in Obedience to be vnder a Superiour and not to be at our owne disposition It is much safer to liue in the state of subiection then of gouernment Many liue vnder Obedience rather for necessitie then for charitie and such are discontented and doe easily repine and murmure Neither can they attaine to freedome of minde vnlesse they willingly and heartily put themselues vnder Obedience for the loue of God Goe whither thou wilt thou shalt finde no rest but in humble subiection vnder the gouernment of a Superiour The imagination and change of places haue deceiued many 2 True it is that euery one willingly doth that which agreeth with his owne sense and liking and is apt to effect those most that are of his owne minde But if God bee amongst vs we must leaue our owne judgement that so peace and quietnesse may bee the better preserued Who is so wise that he can fully know all things Trust not therefore too much to thine owne conceits but bee willing to heare the judgement of others If that which thou thinkest be good and notwithstanding doest leaue it for God and followest the opinion of another it shall be better for thee 3 I haue often heard that it is more secure to heare and take counsell then to giue it It may also fall out that each ones opinion may bee good but to refuse to yeeld to others when as reason or cause requireth it is a token of wilfulnesse and pride CHAP. X. Of the auoiding supersluity of words FLy the vnquietnesse of men as much as thou canst for the talke of vvorldly affaires hindereth very much although they bee recounted with sincere intention Mat. 4. 14. for wee are quickely defiled and as it were enthralled with vanitie Ioan. 6. I could vvish that I had often times held my peace vvhen I haue spoken and that I had not beene in company Why doe wee so willingly speake and talke one with another when notwithstanding wee seldome returne to silence vvithout hurt of conscience The cause wherefore we so willingly talke is for that by discoursing one with another wee seeke to receiue comfort one of another and desire to ease our minde ouer-wearied with sundry thoughts Matth. 7. and wee talke willingly and thinke of those things which we loue best and most desire or of those which we feele most contrary vnto vs. Rom. 2. 2 But alas oftentimes in vaine and to no end for this outvvard comfort is cause of no small losse of invvard and diuine consolation Therefore we must watch and pray lest our time passe without any fruit or profit If it be lawfull and expedient for thee to speake speake those things that may edifie An euill custome and neglect of our owne good doth very much slacke the raynes to inconsiderate speech Yet deuout discourses of heauenly things doe greatly further our progresse in spirit Act. 1. especially vvhere persons of one minde and spirit be gathered together in God Rom. 15. CHAP. XI Of the obtaining of peace and zeale of spirituall profit WEE might enioy peace if wee would not busie our selues with the words and deeds of other men which appertaine nothing to our charge How can hee liue long in peace that thrusteth himselfe into the cares of others or that little or seldome recollecteth himselfe within his owne breast Blessed are the simple and pure minds for they shal enioy much peace 2 What is the reason why some of the Saints were so perfect and contemplatiue Because they laboured to mortifie themselues wholly to earthly desires and therefore they could with their whole heart giue themselues to God and freely attend to their owne affaires Wee are too much led by our owne passions and too solicitous for transitory things Wee also seldome ouercome any one vice perfectly and are not inflamed with a feruent desire to profit in spirit and therefore we remaine cold in deuotion and full of tepiditie 3 If we were perfectly dead vnto our selues and not intangled within our owne breasts then wee might also haue some taste of diuine things and feele the sweetnesse of heauenly contemplation The greatest and indeed the whole impediment is for that wee are not free from our passions and disordered inclinations neither doe wee endeauour to enter into that path of perfection which the Saints haue walked before vs and when any small aduersitie befalleth vs we are too quickly deiected and turne our selues to humane comforts 4 If wee endeauour like men of courage to stand continually in the battell surely wee should feele the fauourable assistance of God from heauen For he who giueth vs occasion to fight to the end we may get the victory is ready to succour those that fight manfully and doe trust in his grace If wee esteeme our progresse in religious life to consist only in these exteriour obseruations our deuotion will quickly be at an end Let vs set the axe to the roote that being freed from passions wee may enioy true peace of minde 5 If euery yeare we would roote out one vice we should quickly become perfect men But now oftentimes we perceiue it goeth contrary and that wee were better and of a more pure conscience at the beginning of our conuersion then after many yeares of our profession Our feruour and profit should encrease daily but now it is accounted a great matter if one can retaine but some part of his first spirit If vvee vvould vse but a little violence in the beginning then should wee bee able to performe all things aftervvards vvith ease and joy of heart 6 It is a hard matter to leaue that to which wee are accustomed but harder to doe against our owne vvills But if thou doest not ouercome little and easie things how wilt thou ouercome harder matters Resist thy inclination in the first motions and breake off euill customes lest perhaps by little and little they dravv thee to greater difficultie O if thou diddest consider how much inward peace to thy selfe and joy to others thou shouldest procure by demeaning thy selfe vvell I suppose thou wouldest be more carefull of thy spirituall profit CHAP. XII Of the profit of Aduersitie IT is good that we haue sometimes griefe and aduersities for they often make a man enter into himselfe and remember that he is heere in banishment and ought not to place his trust in any worldly thing It is good that we be some times contradicted and that there bee an euill or hard conceit had of vs and this although wee doe and intend well These things helpe often to the attaining of humilitie and defend vs from vaine-glory for then wee chiefely seeke God for our inward witnesse when outwardly we be contemned by men and when there is no credit giuen vnto vs. 2 And therefore a man should settle himselfe so fully in God that hee needed not
plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen doe minister vnto vs matter of most just sorrow and hartie contrition 5 If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long thou wouldest without doubt be more careful in the amendment of thy life Eccles 7. And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of Purgatory Mat. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to feare any kinde of austerity But because these things enter not to the heart and wee still loue that which delighteth vs therefore we remaine cold and void of spirituall vigour 6 Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly complaine Pray therefore with all humility to our Lord that he will vouchsafe to giue thee the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet Feed me O Lord with the bread of tears giue me to drink with teares in measure Ps 79. CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MIserable thou art wheresoeuer thou be whithersoeuer thou turnest if thou turnest not thy selfe to God Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldest and desirest Who is there that hath all things as he wil Eccls. 7. Neither I nor thou nor any man vpon earth There is not any man in this world without some tribulation or affliction though he be a King or a Pope Who thinkest thou then is in best case Truely he that willingly suffereth something for God 2 Many weake and feeble men say Behold how well such a one liues hovv rich hovv povverfull hovv beautifull how great a man he is but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heauen Luk. 12. and thou shalt see that al temporal prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had vvithout solicitude and feare The felicitie of man consisteth not in hauing abundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth Prou. 19. Iob. 14. It is truely misery enough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to bee spirituall so much the more distasteful is this present life vnto him for hee better perceiueth and seeth more clearely the defects of humane corruption Eccls. 2. To eat to drink to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to bee subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout minde that would gladly be free and deliuered from all sinne 3 The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilest he is in this world And therefore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer mee O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo bee to them that know not their misery and much more to them that loue this miserable and corruptible life For some there bee so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labor and begging they scarce get bread to eate yet if they might liue heere alwaies they would care but little for the kingdom of heauē 4 O senselesse creatures and infidels in hart who lie buried so deep in earth that they haue no taste nor feeling but of sensuall things Rom. 8. But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued The Saints of God the deuout seruants and friends of Christ respected little what pleased their naturall inclinations or what flourished in this life but with their whole hopes and intentions they sought after the riches of heauen 1. Pet. 51. Heb. 11. Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible lest they might haue bin drawne to base affections by the loue of visible things Lose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past Rom. 13. 5 Why wilt thou defer thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and beginne and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight novv is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Thou must passe thorovv fire and vvater before thou come to rest Psalm 65. Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as vvee carrie about vvith vs this fraile bodie of ours vvee can neuer bee vvithout sinne nor liue vvithout tediousnes and griefe We vvould gladly enjoy quietnesse and bee deliuered from all miserie but for that vvee haue by sinne lost our innocencie wee haue together with it lost also our happinesse Rom. 7. Gen. 3. and therefore it behoueth vs to haue patience and to expect the mercie of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 2. Cor. 5. 6 O how great is the frailety of man alwaies inclined to euil Gen. 6 To day thou confessest thy sins and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou proposest to take heed and within an houre thou doest as if thou haddest made no purpose at al. We may therefore with great reason humble our selues and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change 2. Mach. 9. Full soone God-knowes is that lost by negligence which with much labour was hardly gotten by grace 7 What will become of vs in the end that doe so timely beginne to wax cold Woe be vnto vs if wee will now giue our selues to ease as if all were already in peace and security when as yet there scarce appeareth so much as any signe of true sanctity in our conuersation It were needfull that we were taught good manners againe like children if so perhaps there might be some more hope of our amendment and profit in spirit CHAP. XXIII Of the consideration of death THe houre of death will quickly ouertake thee and therefore looke how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of minde Iob. 9. 14. Luk. 12. O dulnes and hardnes of mans heart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Hebr. 9. Thou shouldest alwayes so order thy thoughts and actions as if this very day thou wert to depart this life If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death Luk. 12. It is better to auoid sin then to flie death Sap. 4. If thou be not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow Mat. 24. 25. To morrow-day is vncertaine and whether thou shalt see it or no thou knowest not 2 What doth it auaile vs to liue long when we do so little amend A long life doth not alwaies make vs better nay rather it oftentimes heapeth vpon vs a greater load of sins O
that wee had spent one day well in this world Many doe reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to die perhaps it will be more dangerous for thee to liue long Blessed is hee that hath alwayes before his eyes the houre of hia death and disposeth himselfe daily therunto Eccl. 7. If thou hast at any time seen a man die thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3 When it t s morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy selfe the next morning Heb. 9. Be alwaies ready so order thy selfe that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Many die suddenly for the Sonne of Man will come when we least think of it Luk. 21. When that last houre shal come thou wilt begin to thinke far otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast beene so slack and negligent Matth. 24. Luk. 12. 4 O how wise and happy is hee that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of penance the readines of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou mayest doe much good whilest thou art wel but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to doe I know not Few doe grow better and amend themselues with sicknesse as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5 Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou doest imagine Esay 30. 31. Hier. 17. 48. It is better now to prouide in time and doe some good before thou goest then to trust in the helpe of others when thou art gone Mat. 6. If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee hereafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6 O my dearest brother from how great danger mayest thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maeyst thou bee freed if thou doest now liue fearefull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to die to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earthly things that thou mayest then freely go to Christ Chastise now thy body with pennance that thou mayst then haue assured confidence 1. Cor. 9. 7 Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luk. 12. How many haue been deceiued and taken out of this world on a sudden when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddenly slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his necke another died at his meate another when hee was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another died by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of al and the life of man passeth away like a shadow 8 Who will remember thee and vvho vvill pray for thee after thy death Iob 14 Do now beloued brother doe novv vvhat thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt die nor what shall befall thee after thy death Now whilest thou hast time heape together eternall riches Matth. 1. Luk. 11. Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Luk. 16. Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receiue thee into their euerlasting dwellings Hebr. 11. 9 Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertaine 1. Pet. 2. Keepe thy heart free and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citie Heb. 13. Send thither thy prayers daily with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happinesse to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgement and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge from whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with gifts nor admitteth excuses but judgeth according to justice Heb. 10. O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest sometimes the countenance of an angry man what answer wilt thou make to God to whō al thy wickednes is known Iob 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy selfe against that rigorous day of Iudgement in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden enough to himselfe Luk. 16. Now thy paines are profitable thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. Cor. 6. 2 The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iam. 1. who receiuing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice then for his owne wrongs Luk. 23. prayeth willingly for his aduersaries and from his hart forgiueth their offences Act. 7. delayeth not to aske forgiuenesse of whomsoeuer hee hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sinnes and vices now then to reserue them for Purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceiueth vs. 3 What other thing shal that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished hereafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe-same wherin a man hath sinned shall he be more grieuously punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwards with burning goads There shall the Gluttons be tormented with insatiable hunger and thirst There shall the lasciuious and the louers of pleasures be couered ouer vvith burning pitch and brimston The enuious like raging dogs shall there howle for griefe 4 There is no vice that shall not haue his proper torment The proud shall be full of all shame and confusion The couetous shall be in miserable want One houre of paine there shall be
alwayes before the eyes of thy soule the picture of thy Sauiour crucified Thou hast good cause to be ashamed looking vpon the life of Christ seeing thou hast so slackly endeauoured to conforme thy selfe vnto him though thou hast walked a long time in the way of the seruice of God A religious person that exerciseth himselfe seriously and deuoutly in the most holy life and passion of our Lord shall there abundantly finde whatsoeuer is necessary and profitable for him neither shall hee need to seeke any thing elsewhere but only in Iesus O if Iesus crucified would come into our hearts how quickely and fully should we be instructed in all truth Gal. 2. 6. 7 A feruent religious person taketh and beareth all vvell that is commanded him but he that is negligent and cold hath tribulation vpon tribulation and on all sides is afflicted for he is void of inward consolation and is forbidden to seeke externall comforts A religious person that liueth not according to discipline is in great danger of the ruine of his soule He that seeketh liberty and ease shall euer liue in disquiet for one thing or other will alwaies displease him 8 How doe so many other religious persons vvho liue vnder the strict rule of Monasticall discipline They seldome goe abroad they liue retiredly they feede meanely they are cloathed coursely they labour much speake little watch long rise early spend much time in prayer reade often and keep themselues in all kinde of discipline Consider the Carthusians Cistercians and the Religious men and women of diuers Orders how they rise euery night to sing praises vnto God And how vnseemely then it is for thee to be slouthfull in so holy a worke when as so great multitudes of religious persons doe beginne to glorifie God 9 O that we had nothing else to doe but alwaies with our mouth and whole heart to praise our Lord God! O that thou mightest neuer haue need to eate nor drinke nor sleepe but mightest alwaies praise God and onely imploy thy selfe in the exercises of spirit thou shouldest then be much more happy then now thou art when for so many necessities thou art constrained to serue thy body Would God these necessities were not at all but only the spirituall refections of the soule which alas we taste of too seldome 10 When a man commeth to that estate that he seeketh no comfort of any creature then doth he begin to take perfect contentment and delight in God Then shall he be contented with whatsoeuer doth befall him in this world Then shall he neither reioyce in great matters nor be sorrowfull for small but with great integritie and confidence commit himselfe to God who shall be vnto him al in all to whom nothing doth perish nor die but all things do liue vnto him and serue him at a becke without delay Rom. 11. 11 Remember alwaies the end and hovv that time lost neuer returnes Eccles 7. Without care and diligence thou shalt neuer get vertues If thou beginnest to wax cold it will be euill with thee but if thou giue thy selfe to feruour of spirit thou shalt find much peace and feele lesse labour through the assistance of Gods grace and loue of vertue Apocal 3. The feruent and diligent man is ready and prepared for all things It is harder to resist vices and passions then to toile in bodily labours Eccls. 19. He that auoideth not small faults by little and little falleth into greater Thou wilt alwayes reioyce in the euening if thou spend the day profitably Be watchfull ouer thy selfe stirre vp thy selfe warme thy selfe and whatsoeuer becomes of others neglect not thy selfe The greater violence thou vsest against thy selfe the more thou shalt profite THE END OF THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. Of spirituall conuersation THe Kingdom of God is within you saith our Lord. Luk. 7. Turne thee with thy whole heart vnto our Lord and forsake this miserable world and thy soule shall finde rest Ioel. 2. Learne to despise exteriour things and to giue thy self to the interiour thou shalt perceiue the Kingdome of God to come into thee Ro. 19. For the kingdome of God is peace and joy in the holy Ghost which is not giuen to the wicked Christ will come vnto thee and shew thee his diuine comfort if thou prepare for him a worthy mansion within thee Psal 44. Al his glory and beauty is within and there he pleaseth himselfe The inward man he often visits and hath with him sweet discourses pleasant comfort much peace wonderfull familiarity 2 O faithfull soule make ready thy hart for this Bridegrome that he may vouchsafe to come vnto thee and dwell within thee For he saith If any loue mee hee will keepe my Word and we will come vnto him and will make our aboad with him Ioh. 14. Giue therefore vnto Christ a place in thy heart and deny entrance to all others When thou hast Christ thou art rich and he will suffice thee Hee will be thy faithfull and prouident helper in all things so as thou shalt not need to trust in men For men are soone changed and quickly decay but Christ remaineth for euer and standeth firmely vnto the end Ioh. 12. 3 There is little trust to be put in a fraile and mortall man though hee be profitable and deare vnto thee neither oughtest thou much to bee grieued if sometimes hee crosse and contradict thee Hier. 17. They that to day take thy part to morrow may be against thee and so on the contrary they often turne like vnto the winde Put all thy trust in God and feare and loue him 1. Pet. 5. He wil answere for thee and do in al things what is best Heb. 13. Thou hast not heere a dwelling Citie and wheresoeuer thou bee thou art a stranger and pilgrime neither shalt thou euer haue rest vnlesse thou be perfectly vnited vnto Christ 4 Why doest thou linger and make delayes heere since this is not the place of thy rest Phil. 3. In heauen ought to be thy dwelling and al earthly things are to be regarded as it were in the way Sap. 5. Al things passe away and thou together with them Beware thou cleaue not vnto them lest thou be enthralled and so doest perish Let thy thought be on the highest and thy prayer directed vnto Christ without ceasing If thou canst not contemplate high and heauenly things rest thy selfe in the passion of Châ—â—â—â— and dwell willingly in the wounds of his sacred body For if thou flie deuoutly vnto his holy wounds and to th◠〈◊〉 markes of his passion thou â—halâ— feele great comfort in tribulation neither wilt thou much care for being despised of men and wilt easily beâ—re the words of slanderous tongues 5 Christ was also in the world despised and in great necessity forsaken by his acquaintance friends in the middest of slanders Matth. 1.12.5.26 Ioh. 15. Christ would suffer and be contemned and darest
affliction an euill conscience feeles it As iron put into the fire leeseth his rust and becommeth bright like fire so he that wholly turning himselfe vnto God becommeth feruent and is changed into a new man 3 When one beginneth to wax cold then he is afraid of a small labour and willingly receaueth externall comfort But when he once beginneth to ouercome himselfe perfectly and to walke manfully in the way of God then hee esteemeth those things to be light which before seemed grieuous vnto him CHAP. V. Of the consideration of ones selfe WE cānot trust much to our selues for that grace oftentimes and vnderstanding is wanting There is but little light in vs and that which wee haue we quickly lose by our negligence And oftentimes wee doe not perceiue our owne inward blindnes We often do euil excuse it worse Matth. 7. We are sometimes moued with passion and we thinke it to be zeale We reprehend small things in others and passe ouer greater matters in our selues We quickly feele and vveigh vvhat vvee suffer at the hands of others but wee minde not what others suffer from vs. Hee that doth well and deepely consider his owne workes will finde little cause to judge hardly of another 2 A spirituall man preferreth the care of himself before all other cares Mat. 16. And he that diligently attendeth vnto himselfe doth seldome speak much of others Thou wilt neuer be recollected deuout vnlesse thou passe ouer other mens matters with silence and looke especially to thy selfe If thou attend wholly vnto God and thy selfe thou wilt be little mooued with whatsoeuer thou seest abroad 1. Cor. 4. Where art thou when thou art not with thy selfe Galat. 1. And when thou hast runne ouer all what hast thou profited if thou doest neglect thy selfe If thou desirest peace of mind true vnion thou must esteeme little of all earthly things and look only to thy selfe 3 Thou shalt therfore profit much if thou keepe thy selfe free from all temporall cares Thou shalt hinder thy selfe greatly if thou esteeme any thing of this vvorld Let nothing be great vnto thee nothing high nothing gratefull nothing acceptable but only God himselfe purely or that which is for God Esteeme all comfort vaine which thou receiuest from any creature Eccles 1. A soule that loueth God despiseth all things that be inferiour vnto God God alone is euerlasting and of infinite greatnes filling all creatures the comfort of the soule and the true ioy of the heart CHAP. VI. Of the confort of a good Conscience THe glory of a good man is the testimony of a good conscience 2. Cor. 1. Haue a good conscience and thou shalt euer haue ioy A good conscience is able to beare much and is cheerefull in aduersities An euill conscience is alwayes fearefull and vnquiet Thou shalt rest sweetly if thy heart doth not reprehend thee Wisd 17. Do thou neuer reioyce but when thou hast done well Sinners haue neuer true mirth nor feele inward peace because there is no peace to the impious saith our Lord. And if they should say Wee are in peace no euill shall fall vpon vs and who shall dare to hurt vs Luk. 12. Esay 27. Beleeue them not for vpon a sudden will arise the wrath of God and their deeds shall be turned into nothing and their conceits shall perish 2 To glory in tribulation is no hard thing for him that loueth Rom. 8. For to glory so is to glory in the Crosse of our Lord. That glory is short which is giuen and receiued from men Galath 6. Sorrow alwaies accompanieth the glory of the world The glory of the good is in their cōsciences not in the tongues of men 2. Cor. 2. The gladnes of the just is of God and in God and their joy is of the truth Hee that desireth true euerlasting glory careth not for that which passeth away vvith time And he that seeketh temporall glory or contemneth it not from his heart sheweth himselfe but little to esteeme of the glory of heauen He enioyeth great tranquillitie peace of minde that careth neither for the praises nor dispraises of men 3 Hee will easily be content and pacified whose cōscience is pure He is not the more holy though thou commend him nor the more abiect though thou dispraise him What thou art that thou art neither canst thou be truly said to be greater then what thou art in the sight of God If thou consider what thou art within thee thou wilt not care what men say of thee Man seeth in the face but God looketh into the heart 1. King 16. Man considereth the deeds but God weigheth the intentions To do alwayes well and to esteeme little of himselfe is a token of an humble minde To refuse to be comforted by any creature is a signe of great purity and inward confidence 4 Hee that seeketh no outward witnes for himselfe doth shew that he hath wholly committed himselfe vnto God For not he that commendeth himselfe the same is approued saith S. Paul but whom God commendeth 2. Cor. 10. To walk inwardly with God and not to be possessed with any outward affection is the state of an inward spirituall man CHAP. VII Of the loue of IESVS aboue all things BLessed is hee that vnderstandeth what it is to loue Iesus and to despise himselfe for Iesus Psal 116. Thou oughtest to leaue thy beloued for thy beloued for that Iesus will be beloued alone aboue all things Deut. 6. The loue of things created is deceitfull and vnconstant the loue of Iesus is faithfull and constant Mat. 22. He that cleaueth vnto creatures shall fall with that which is subiect to fall He that imbraceth Iesus shall stand firmely for euer Loue him and keepe him for thy friend who when all goe away will not forsake thee nor suffer thee to perish in the end Thou must once bee left of men whether thou vvilt or no. 2 Liue and die with Iesus and commit thy selfe vnto his trust who when all faile can alone helpe thee Thy beloued is of that nature that he will none of that which appertaineth to others but vvill haue thy heart alone and sit like a King in his owne throne If thou couldest purge thy selfe perfectly of all creatures Iesus vvould vvillingly dwell vvith thee Whatsoeuer thou puttest in men out of Iesus is all no better then lost Trust not nor rely vpon a reedefull of vvinde for that all flesh is as hay and all the glory therof shall wither away as the flower of the field Esay 4. 3 Thou shalt quickely be deceiued if thou looke onely to the outvvard shew of men And if in them thou seekest thy comfort and profit thou shalt often feele losse If thou seekest Iesus in all things thou shalt surely finde Iesus But if thou seekest thy selfe thou shalt also finde thy selfe but to thy owne harme For man doth more hurt himselfe if hee seeke not Iesus then the vvhole vvorld and all his aduersaries
could annoy him CHAP. VIII Of familiar conuersation with IESVS WHen Iesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth difficult but when Iesus is absent euery thing is hard When Iesus speaketh not inwardly vnto vs our comfort is nothing worth but if Iesus speake but one word we feele much consolation Did not Mary Magdalen presently rise frō the place where she wept when Martha said vnto her Thy Master is here and calleth thee Ioh. 11. Happy is the houre whē Iesus calleth from teares to spiritual ioy How dry and hard art thou without Iesus How foolish vaine if thou desire any thing out of Iesus Is not this a greater losse then if thou shouldest lose the whole world Matth. 16. 2 What can the world profit thee without Iesus To be without Iesus is a grieuous hell and to be with Iesus is a sweet Paradise If Iesus be with thee no enemy can hurt thee Rom. 8. He that findeth Iesus findeth a good treasure yea a good aboue al goods Mat. 13. And he that leeseth Iesus leeseth too much more then the whole world Hee is most poore that liueth without Iesus he most rich that is well with Iesus Luk. 12. 3 It is a great skill to know how to conuerse with Iesus and a great wisdome to know how to keepe Iesus Prou. 8. Be humble peaceable and Iesus will be with thee Be deuout and quiet and Iesus will stay with thee Thou mayest driue away Iesus lose his grace if thou giuest thy selfe to outward things And if thou shouldest driue him from thee and leese him vnto whom wilt thou fly and what friend wilt thou then seeke Without a friend thou canst not well liue and if Iesus be not aboue al a friend vnto thee thou shalt be too too sorrowfull and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or reioyce in any other It is better for thee to haue all the vvorld against thee then Iesus offended with thee Gal. 6. Amongst al things therefore that be deare vnto thee let Iesus alone be thy chiefest beloued 4 Loue all for Iesus but Iesus for himselfe Iesus Christ alone is especially to bee beloued who alone is found to be good and faithful aboue all friends For him and in him let as well friends as foes be deare vnto thee Mat. 5. and all these are to bee prayed for that all may know loue him Luk. 6. Neuer desire to be singularly commended or beloued for that appertaineth onely vnto God who hath none like vnto himselfe Neither do thou desire that the hart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy heart on the loue of any but let Iesus be in thee and in euery vertuous and good man 5 Bee pure and free within and intangle not thy hart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked and carry a pure heart to God if thou wilt consider and proue and see how sweete our Lord is And truely vnlesse thou be preuented and drawne by his grace thou shalt neuer attaine to that happines to forsake and cast away all that 〈…〉 mayest bee vnited to him 〈◊〉 For when the grace of God commeth vnto a man then hee is strong and nothing is hard vnto him And vvhen it goeth away hee is poore and weake and as it vvere left vnto the vvill of whomsoeuer will afflict him In this thou oughtest not to bee deiected nor despaire but to resigne thy selfe with all indifferency vnto the will of God and to beare all things that befall thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night commeth day and after a tempest faire weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no great matter to despise humane comfort when wee haue diuine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane diuine comfort and for the honor and glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of hart and to seeke himselfe in nothing nor to regard his owne merit What great matter is it if thou be cheerefull and deuout at the cōming of heauenly grace This houre is wished for of all men He rideth easily whom the grace of God carieth And what maruell if he feele not his burden who is borne vp by the Almighty and led by the greatest guide 2 We are alwaies willing to haue something for our comfort and a man doth hardly put off and forsake himselfe The holy Martyr S. Laurence ouercame the world with his Prelate because he despised whatsoeuer seemed delightsome in the world and for the loue of Christ he patiently suffered the high Priest of God S. Syxtus to be takē from him whom he most loued He ouercame therfore the loue of man by the loue of the Creator and he rather chose the diuine pleasure then humane cōfort See thou also learne to forsake some necessary thing and a beloued friend for the loue of God Bee not grieued when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we al at length must be separated one from another 3 A man must fight long with a constant minde before hee get the victory be able to place his whole heart in God When a man confideth in himselfe he easily slideth vnto humane comforts But a true louer of Christ a diligent follower of vertue giueth not himselfe to such solace nor seeketh sensible sweetnes but rather forcible exercises and to sustaine hard labours for Christ 4 When therefore spiritual comfort is giuen thee from God receiue it thankfully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed vp ioy not too much neither do thou presume vainely but be rather the more humble for that grace and more wary and fearefull in all thy actions for that houre wil passe away and temptation will succeed When consolation is taken frō thee despaire not presently but with humility patience attend the heauenly visitation for God is able againe to giue thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange vnto them that haue experience in the way of God for in the great Saints and ancient Prophets there was oftentimes such kinde of alteration 5 For which cause one when he had grace said I said in my plentie I will not be moued euerlastingly Psalm 29. But vvhen this vvas gone from him hee addeth vvhat he found in himselfe saying Thou turnedst thy face from mee and I became troubled Ibid. Yet doth hee not despaire in the middest of these changes but more earnestly prayeth vnto our Lord and saith Vnto thee O Lord I will cry and I will pray vnto my God Ibid. Lastly he receiueth the fruite of his prayer and witnesseth that hee was heard saying Our Lord hath heard mee and taken pitie on mee our Lord is become my helper Ibid. But wherein Thou hast turned saith he my sorrow into joy and thou hast compassed me about with gladnes Ibid. If great Saints haue beene
abhorreth and flieth that by feruour of spirit it taketh hould on and loueth 9 It is not according to mans inclination to beare the crosse to loue the crosse to chastise and subdue the body to fly honors to suffer contumelies with a ioyfull hart to despise himselfe and to wish to be despised to beare al aduersities and domages and to desire no prosperity in this world If thou considerest thy selfe thou shalt bee able to performe no such matter of thy selfe 2. Cor. 3. But if thou trustest in our Lord strength shall be giuen thee from heauen and the world and flesh shall bee made subiect to thy command Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Diuell if thou be armed with faith and signed with the Crosse of Christ 10 Resolue therfore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull seruant of Christ to beare manfully the Crosse of thy Lord who was crucified for thy loue Prepare thy selfe to beare many aduersities and diuers kinds of troubles in this miserable life for so it will be with thee whersoeuer thou be and so surely thou wilt finde it whersoeuer thou hide thy selfe So it must be and there is no remedy or means to auoid tribulation sorow but to beare them Drink of the chalice of our Lord willingly if thou wilt be his friend desirest to haue part with him Mat. 20. Leaue the desire of comforts to God let him do therin as shal best please him Io. 28. Set thou thy heart vpon the suffering of tribulations account them the greatest comforts for that the passions of this life are not according to future glory although thou alone couldest suffer them all Rom. 8. 11 When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation shall seeme sweet and pleasant vnto thee for Christ then thou mayest thinke it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise vpon earth Galath 6. As long as it is grieuous vnto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to flie it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou fliest will follow thee euery where 12 If thou setlest thy selfe to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to die to thy selfe it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt find peace Although thou shouldest haue beene rapt euen vnto the third heauen with Paul 1. Cor. 12. thou art not for this assured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction I saith Iesus will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name Act. 9. It resteth therefore that thou suffer if thou wilt loue Iesus and perpetually serue him 13 O would to God thou wert worthy to suffer somthing for Iesus How great glory would it be vnto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour For al do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ since many suffer far greater things for the loue of the world Psal 43. 14 Know for certaine that thou oughtest to leade a dying life And how much the more euery one dyeth to himselfe so much the more doth hee begin to liue to God No man is fit to attaine vnto heauenly things vnlesse hee submit himselfe to the bearing of aduersities for Christ Nothing is more gratefull vnto God nothing more vvholesome to thee in this vvorld then to suffer vvillingly for Christ And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer aduersities for Christ then to enjoy the delight of many comforts because by these meanes thou shouldest be more like vnto Christ and more conformable to all the Saints For our merit and the perfection of our estate consisteth not in much sweetnesse and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 15 If there had beene any better thing and more profitable to the health of man then suffering surely Christ would haue shewed it by word and example But hee plainly exhorted al the disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse and saith If any man wil come after me let him deny himselfe take vp his Crosse and follow me Luk. 9. So as when we haue read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14. The end of the second Booke OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the inward speech of Christ vnto a faithfull soule I Will heare what our Lord God will speake in me Psal 84. Blessed is the soule that heareth our Lord speaking in her and receiueth from his mouth the word of comfort 1. King 3. Blessed are those ears that receiue the sound of the diuine voice and listen not to the whispering of the world Blessed indeed are those eares that harken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but vnto truth which teaceth inwardly Matth. 13. Blessed are the eyes that being shut vp to outward things are attentiue to those things that are internall Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeauour to prepare themselues more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of heauenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to attend to the seruice of God and cast from them all impediments of this world 2 Consider these things my soule and shut vp the dores of thy sensuall desires that thou mayest heare what thy Lord God speaketh in thee Psal 84. Thus saith thy beloued I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keepe thy selfe with me and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitory things and seeke those that be euerlasting Psal 34. What are temporall things but deceiuing snares And what do all creatures auaile thee if thou bee forsaken by the Creator Forsake therefore all earthly things and labour to please thy Creator and bee faithfull vnto him that thou mayest attaine vnto true happinesse CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of Words THE SERVANT SPeake Lord for thy Seruant heareth I am thy Seruant grant mee vnderstanding that I may knovv thy testimonies Stirre vp my heart to heare the words of thy mouth 1. King 3. Psalm 118. Let thy speech descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and wee shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs lest perhaps wee die Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreate speak Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. Let not Moyses speake vnto mee nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and inlightner of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2 They can pronounce words but they giue not spirit They speake meruailous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the
hart They deliuer the letters but thou openest the sense They bring foorth mysteries but thou disclosest the vnderstanding of sealed things They declare thy Commandements but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou giuest strēgth to walke it They worke only exteriourly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hearts They water outwardly but thou giuest fruitfulnes They sound foorth words but thou giuest vnderstanding to the hearing 3 Let not therefore Moyses speak vnto me but thou my Lord God the euerlasting truth lest perhaps I shold die and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly onely and not inflamed within lest the word heard and not fulfilled knowen not loued belieued not obserued should increase my judgement Speak therfore Lord for thy seruant heareth for thou hast the words of euerlasting life 1. King 3. Speak vnto me to the comfort of my soule to the amēdmēt of my whole life to thy praise glory euerlasting honor Ioh. 6. CHAP. III. That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not OVR LORD SOnne heare my words words of great comfort excelling all the knowledge of the Philosophers and wise men of this world My words are spirit and life not to be weighed by the vnderstanding of man Ioh. 6. They are not to be drawne to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be receiued with all humility and great affection SER. And I said Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy Law that thou mayest giue him quietnes from euill daies and that hee bee not destroyed vpon earth Psal 93. LORD 2 I saith our Lord haue taught the Prophets from the beginning and cease not continually to speake to euery one but many are deafe and giue no eare to my speech Heb. 1. The greater number do more willingly listen to the world then to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh then the will of God The world promiseth temporall and small things and is serued with great diligence I promise most high and eternal things and the hearts of men are nothing moued with it Who is he that serueth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are serued Blush Sidon saith the sea Esa 23. And if thou aske the cause heare vvhereof For a little prebend a long jorney is vndertaken for euerlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a peny sometimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleight promise men doubt not to toile day and night 3 But alas for an vnchangeable good for an inestimable revvard for the highest honour and glorie without end they are loath to take the least paines Blush therefore slouthfull and complaining Seruant that they are found more ready to destruction then thou to life They reioyce more at vanity then thou at truth And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceiueth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me Rom. 1. Matth. 24. I will giue that which I haue promised I will fulfill that which I haue said but to him that remaines faithfull in my loue to the end Apoc. 2. I am the reward of all good and do try my deuout seruants in forcible proofes Mat. 5.15 4 Write my words in thy heart and thinke diligently of them for they will bee necessary in time of temptation What thou vnderstandest not whē thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visite my elect two seuerall wayes to wit with temptation and comfort And I daily reade two lessons vnto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the encrease of vertues Hee that hath my words and despiseth them hath within him that shal judge him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of deuotion SER. 5 Lord my God thou art all that I can desire Who am I that dare speake vnto thee I am thy poorest seruant and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I can or dare expresse Gen. 18. Remember Lord that I am nothing haue nothing and can doe nothing Thou alone art good just and holy thou canst doe all things performest all things leauing only a sinner void of al good Call to mind thy mercies and fill my hart with thy grace who wilt not that thy workes be void 6 How can I support my selfe in this miserable life vnlesse thy mercy and grace comfort me Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort lest my soule become as earth without water vnto thee Psal 68. Lord teach me to fulfill thy will teach me to liue worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou doest perfectly know me and didst know me before the world was made and before I was borne in the world Psal 142. CHAP. IV. That we ought to liue in truth and humility in the sight of God OVR LORD SOnne walke in my sight in sincerity and truth and euer seeke me in plainenesse of heart He that walketh in my sight in truth shal be defended from euill incursions and truth shall deliuer him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked Gen. 17. Wisd 1. If truth shall haue deliuered thee thou shalt be truely free and shalt not care for vaine speeches of men 1. Ioh. 8. SER. Lord it is true According as thou sayest so I beseech thee let it be done with me and keepe me and bring mee to a happy end Let thy truth teach me and let it deliuer me from all euill affection and inordinat loue and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of heart LORD 2 I wil teach thee saith the Truth those things that are right and pleasing in my sight Thinke of thy sins with great sorrow griefe and neuer esteem thy selfe any thing for thy good workes Thou art in very deed a sinner and subiect to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwayes tendest to nothing and art quickly cast downe and ouercome quickly troubled quickly dissolued Thou hast nothing wherin thou canst glory 2. Cor. 4. But many things for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou art able to comprehend 3 And therfore let nothing seeme much vnto thee whatsoeuer thou dost Let nothing seem great nothing precious wonderful nothing worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is euerlasting Let the eternall truth aboue al things please thee Let thy owne great vnworthinesse alwayes displease thee Feare nothing blame flie nothing so much as thy sins and vices which ought to displease more then the losse of any thing whatsoeuer Some walke not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity pride wil know
vnto the accustomed vanities of thy hart For thou dost rather vnwillingly suffer them then commit them and as long as they displease thee and thou striuest against them it is a merit and no losse 4 Know that thy ancient enemy doth euer striue to hinder thy desire to good and to diuert thee from all deuout exercise to wit from the worshipping of Saints from the deuout memory of my passion frō the profitable remembrance of thy sins from the guard of thine owne heart and from the firme purpose of profiting in vertue He thrusteth many euill thoughts into thy minde that he may cause a wearisomnes and horror in thee to draw thee from deuout prayer and reading Humble confession is displeasing vnto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receiuing the Sacrament of my Body Trust him not nor care for him although hee should often set snars of deceit to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth euil and vncleane thoughts vnto thee Say vnto him Auant filthy spirit blush miserable wretch thou art filthy that bringest such things into mine eares Away from me wicked deceiuer thou shalt haue no part in me but Iesus shall be with me as a strong warriour and thou shalt remaine confounded Mat. 4. 16. I had rather die and vndergo any torment then to consent vnto thee hold thy peace and be silent I will heare thee no more though thou shouldest worke me many troubles My Lord is my light and saluation whom shall I feare Ps 26. If whole armies should stand together against me my hart shal not feare Our Lord is my helper and my Redeemer 5 Fight like a good Souldiour and if thou sometimes fall through frailetie recouer greater forces then before trusting in my more aboundant grace and take great heede of vaine pleasing of thy selfe and pride Psal 26. 1. Tim. 6. This brings many into error and makes them sometimes fal into almost incurable blindnes Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of themselues serue thee for a warning and a perpetuall humiliation CHAP. VII That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humilitie OVR LORD SOnne it is more profitable and safe for thee to hide the grace of deuotion not to extoll thy selfe nor to speake much nor to esteeme much thereof but rather to despise thy selfe and feare it as giuen to one vnworthy thereof This affection is not to bee cleaued vnto which may be quickly changed into the contrary Thinke when thou art in grace how miserable and needy thou art wont to be without it Neither doth therein only consist the profit of spirituall life when thou hast the grace of comfort but when thou humbly resignedly and patiently sufferest the withdrawing thereof so that thou be not then lesse diligent in the exercise of prayer nor suffer thy selfe to passe ouer the rest of thy accustomed good works but that thou willingly performe what lieth in thee according as thou art able and vnderstandest to be fit not neglecting thy self wholy for the drines and trouble of minde which thou feelest 2 There are many that when it succeedeth not well with them presently they become impatient or slouthfull The way of man is not alwaies in his power but it belongeth to God to giue to comfort when he will how much he will whom he will as it shall please him and no more Hier. 10. Rom. 9. Some vnaduised persons haue ouerthrowne thēselues for the greedy desire which they had of the grace of deuotion attempting more then they were able to performe not weighing the measure of their weakenesse but following rather the desire of their hart then the judgement of reason And because they presumed on greater matters then was pleasing to God they quickly lost their grace They were made needy and left in a deiected estate that built thēselues nests in heauē to the end that being humbled and impouerished they may learne not to flie with their owne wings but to liue in hope vnder my fethers Esay 24. They that are yet new and vnacquainted in the way of our Lord vnlesse they gouerne themselues by the counsel of discreet persons may easily be deceiued and ouerthrowne 3 And if they will rather follow their owne judgment then giue credit to others that are experienced their end will be dangerous if they cannot be drawne from their owne conceit Seldome those that are wise in their owne opinion suffer themselues humbly to be gouerned by others A little knowledge with humility and a slender vnderstanding is better then great treasures of learning with a vaine selfe-liking Psal 15. 16. It is better for thee to haue lesse then much of that wherof thou maist be proud He doth not discreetly that wholy giueth himself ouer to mirth forgetting his former pouerty and the chast fear of God which feareth to lose the grace which he hath obtained Neither is he vertuously wise that in time of aduersitie or any tribulation whatsoeuer yeeldeth to despairing thoughts and thinketh and imagineth of me lesse confidently then he ought 4 He that will be ouer secure in time of peace shall be often found in time of war too deiected feareful 1. Thess 5. If thou couldest alwaies continue humble and lowly within thy selfe and temper gouerne thy soule wel thou shouldest not so soon fall into danger offence It is good counsell that when thou conceiuest feruour of spirit thou shouldest think what will become of thee when that light shall leaue thee And when that doth happen remember the light may returne againe which for thy instruction and my glory I haue withdrawne for a time Iob 17. 5 Such proofe is often more profitable then if thou shouldest alwaies enioy prosperity according to thy desire For merits are not to be weighed in a man by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledge in Scriptures or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and replenished with diuine charity if he alwaies purely and entirely seeke the honor of God if he esteem himselfe nothing and with a sincere heart despise himselfe and reioyce more to be despised and humbled by others then to be honored Psal 83. CHAP. VIII Of a meane conceit of our selues in the sight of God THE SERVANT SHall I speake vnto my Lord sith I am dust and ashes If I esteem better of my selfe behold thou standest against me and my iniquities beare true witnes neither can I speake against it Gen. 18. But if I abase and esteeme nothing of my selfe and cast off all selfe-conceit and as I am account my selfe to be dust thy grace will be fauourable vnto me and thy light will bee neere vnto my heart and all estimation how little soeuer shall bee swallowed vp in the depth of my nothing perish euerlastingly There thou shewest my selfe vnto me what I am what I haue bin and whither I
am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my selfe behold I become nothing and a masse of infirmyty But if thou suddenly looke vpon me I am presently made strong filled with new joy And it is a great meruaile that I am so suddenly lifted vp and so graciously embraced by thee that of mine owne waight alwaies sinke downeward 2 Thy loue is cause hereof freely preuenting me and releeuing mee in so many necessities preseruing mee also from grieuous dangers and as I may truly say deliuering me from innumerable euils For surely by euill louing my selfe I lost my selfe and by seeking thee alone and sincerely louing thee I haue found both my selfe and thee and for thy loue haue more deepely brought my selfe to nothing Ioh. 12. For that thou O most sweet Iesu dealest with me aboue all desert and aboue all that I dare hope and request 3 Blessed be thou my God for although I be vnworthy of all good yet the noblenes of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnes neuer ceaseth to doe good euen to the vngratefull and to them that bee turned away farre from thee Matth. 5. Turne vs vnto thee O Lord that we may bee gratefull humble and deuout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be referred vnto God as vnto the last end OVR LORD SOnne I ought to bee thy chiefest and last end if thou desire to bee truly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinately to it selfe and vnto creatures For if in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest vp within thy selfe Direct therfore al things chiefely vnto me for I am hee that haue giuen all Consider euery thing as flowing from the highest good and therefore all things are to be reduced vnto me as vnto their first beginning Eccles 1. 2 Out of mee as out of liuing fountaines the little and the great the poore and the rich doe draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serue mee shall receiue grace for grace Ioh. 4. But hee that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particular good shall not bee grounded in true ioy nor enlarged in his heart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned 1. Cor. 1. Thou oughtest therfore to ascribe no good vnto thy self nor attribute the praise of vertue vnto any man but giue all vnto God without whom man hath nothing I haue bestowed all and wil that al be returned to me againe and with great seuerity I require thanks 1. Cor. 4. 3 This is the truth that putteth to flight vaine-glory And if heauenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no enuy nor grudging of heart neither shall there bee any place for selfe-loue For diuine charity ouercommeth all and enlargeth all the forces of the soule If thou vnderstand aright in mee alone thou wilt reioyce in mee alone thou wilt hope for none is good but God alone who is to be praised aboue all things and to be blessed in all Mat. 19. Luk. 18. CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God THE SERVANT NOw I wil speake againe Lord and will not be silent I wil say in the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnes Lord which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee Psal 30. But what art thou to thē that loue thee What to them that serue thee with their whole heart Truly vnspeakable is the sweetnesse of thy contemplation which thou bestowest on them that loue thee In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnes of thy charity Gen. 1. for that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me backe againe that I might serue thee and hast commanded mee to loue thee Psalm 118. and Matth. 15. 2 O fountain of euerlasting loue what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me euen when I whithered away and perished Thou hast vsed mercy with thy seruant beyond all the expectation of my heart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit What shall I returne vnto thee for this grace Psal 115. For it is not granted to euery one to forsake all things to renounce the world and to vndertake a life of religion and perfection Is it much that I serue thee whom all creatures are bound to serue It ought not to seeme much vnto mee to serue thee but this rather seemeth much and meruailous vnto me that thou vouchsafest to receiue into thy seruice one so poore and vnworthy and to joyne him with thy beloued seruants Iudg. 16. 3 Behold all is thine which I haue and whereby I serue thee And yet in very deed thou rather seruest mee then I thee 1. Cor. 4. Behold heauen and earth which thou hast created for the seruice of man are ready at hand and doe daily performe whatsoeuer thou dost command and this is little yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the seruice of man Psa 90. Heb. 1. But that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serue man and promised to giue thy selfe vnto him 4 What shall I giue thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serue thee al the daies of my life I would I were able at least for one day to doe thee some worthy acceptable seruice Thou art truly worthy of all seruice of all honor and euerlasting praise Thou art my Lord I thy poore seruant that am bound to serue thee with all my forces neither ought I euer to cease to praise thee And this I wish to doe this I desire and whatsoeuer is wanting vnto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5 It is a great honor a very great glory to serue thee and to despise all things for thee For great grace shall be giuen to them that shall willingly submit themselues vnto thy most holy seruice They shall receiue most sweete comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy loue shall renounce all carnall delights Mat. 19. They shall attaine great freedome of mind that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall haue left off all care of this world Matth. 7. 6 O sweet and delightfull seruitude of God by which man is truely made free holy Mat. 11. 1. Ioh. 5. O sacred state of religious bondage which maketh man equal to Angels pleasing to God terrible to diuels and grateful and of great esteeme to all the faithfull O seruice to be imbraced and alwaies wished for by which we obtain the greatest good and attaine to that joy which neuer shall haue end CHAP. XI That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated OVR LORD SOnne thou oughtest to learne many
purpose to resist with courage but when a smal temptation commeth it bringeth me into very narrow straits It is sometimes a very trifle from whence great temptations do proceed And whilst I thinke my selfe somewhat safe when I least expect it I find my selfe sometimes ouercome with a small blast 2 Behold therfore Lord my humility my frailty euery way knowne vnto thee Psalm 24. Haue mercy on me and deliuer me out of the mire of my infirmities that I sticke not fast therein let me not for euer remaine deiected Psal 68. This is that which oftentimes beareth me back confoundeth me in thy sight for that I am so subiect to fall and weak in resisting of my passions And though I do not altogether consent yet their continuall assaults are troublesome and grieuous vnto me it is tedious and a very irksome thing to liue thus daily in strife Hereby my infirmitie is made knowne vnto me for that wicked fancies doe alwayes much more easily enter in vpon me then they can be cast out againe 3 O mightie God of Israel the zealous louer of faithfull soules let it please thee to consider the labour and sorrow of thy seruant and assist him in all whatsoeuer he vndertaketh Strengthen me with heauenly force lest my old man my miserable flesh not fully as yet subiect to the spirit preuaile get the vpper hand against which I ought to fight as long as I breath in this miserable life Alas what a kind of life is this where tribulations and miseries are neuer wanting where al is set with snares and compassed with enemies For when one tribulation or temptation goeth away another commeth yea and during the first conflict also many others come vnlooked for one after another 4 And how can a life bee loued that hath so many afflictions and is subiect to so many calamities miseries How is it called a life that begetteth so many deaths plagues And yet it is loued and many seek to delight themselues therin The world is oftentimes blamed that it is deceitful and vaine yet it is not easily forsaken because the inclinations of our flesh do too much ouerrule vs. Some things draw vs to loue it others to contemne it To the loue of the world doe draw vs the concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life but the paines and miseries that do justly follow them causeth a hatred and loathsomenesse thereof 1. Ioh. 2. 5 But alas wicked pleasure ouercommeth the minde which is giuen ouer to the world and she esteemeth it a delight to be vnder thornes because shee hath neither seene nor tasted the sweetnes of God and the inward delight of vertue Iob. 30. But they that perfectly contemne the world and endeauour to liue to God vnder holy discipline these are not ignorant of the diuine sweetnes promised to the true forsakers of the world and do more clearely see how grieuously the world erreth and how it is many wayes deceiued CHAP. XXI That we are to rest in God aboue all his gifts THE SERVANT ABoue all things and in all things my soule thou shalt euer rest in God for he is the euerlasting rest of the Saints Grant me most sweet and louing Iesu to rest in thee aboue all creatures aboue all health and beauty aboue all glory and honor aboue all power and dignitie aboue all knowledge and learning aboue all riches and artes aboue all joy and gladnes aboue all fame and praise aboue all sweetnes and comfort aboue all hope and promise aboue all merit and desire aboue all gifts and presents that thou canst giue and impart vnto vs aboue all joy and jubily that the minde of man can receiue and feele lastly aboue Angels and Archangels and aboue all the heauenly Host aboue all visible and inuisible things and aboue all that that thou art not my God Rom. 8. 2 For that thou my Lord God surpassest all thou alone most high thou alone most powerfull thou alone most full and sufficient thou alone most sweete and comfortable thou alone most beautifull and louing thou alone most noble and glorious aboue all things in whom all good things together both are perfectly and euer haue beene and shall be and therefore it is too little and not sufficient whatsoeuer thou bestowest on me besides thy selfe or reuealest vnto mee of thy selfe or promisest whilest thou art not seene and not fully obtained for surely my heart cannot rest nor be fully cōtented vnlesse it rest in thee surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoeuer 3 O my most beloued Spouse Christ Iesus the most chast louer the gouernour of all creatures who wil giue me wings of true libertie to flie and rest in thee Psalm 53. O when shall it be fully granted me to consider in quietnes of mind and see how sweet thou art my Lord God! When shall I fully recollect my self in thee that for thy loue I may not feele my selfe but thee alone aboue all sense and feeling in a manner not knowne vnto al. But now I oftentimes lament and beare my infelicity with griefe Dan. 13. For that many euils occurre in this vale of miseries which do often trouble grieue and darken me often hinder and distract me allure and intangle me to the end I should not haue free accesse vnto thee and that I should not enioy those sweete and heauēly imbracings which thou alwaies giueth to the blessed celestial spirits Let my sighes and manifold desolation on earth moue thee 4 O Iesus splendor of eternal glory comfort of the pilgrime soule With thee is my tongue without voice and my silence speaketh vnto thee How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come vnto me his poore seruant make me glad Let him put out his hand and deliuer me miserable wretch from all anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall haue no joyfull day nor houre Thou art my joy without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and loaden with irons vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and giuest me liberty and shewest a fauourable countenance vnto me 5 Let others seeke vvhat they please insteed of thee but for me nothing else doth nor shall delight me but thou only my God my hope my euerlasting health I will not hold my peace nor cease to pray vntil thy grace returne againe and thou speak inwardly vnto me LORD Behold I am here behold I come vnto thee because thou hast called vpon me thy teares and the desire of thy foule thy humility and the contrition of thy heart haue inclined and brought me vnto thee SER. And I said Lord I haue called thee haue desired to enioy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me vp that I might seek thee Blessed be thou therefore O Lord that hast shewed this goodnesse to thy
forth good and perfect fruit Lift vp my mind ouercharged with the waight of sinne draw vp my whole desire to heauenly treasures that hauing tasted the sweetnes of celestial happines it may loath to thinke of earthly vanities 6 Take me violently to thee and deliuer mee from all vnstable comfort of creatures for no created thing can fully quiet and satisfie my desire Ioyne me vnto thee with an vnspeakable band of loue for thou onely fillest the minde of him that loueth thee and without thee all things are distastefull CHAP. XXIV Of flying curious enquiry of the life of others OVR LORD SOnne be not curious trouble not thy selfe with idle cares What is this or that to thee Doe thou follow me Eccls. 3. and 1. Tim. 5. For what is it to thee whether that man be such or no or whether this man do or speak this or that Thou shalt not need to answere for others but shalt giue account of thy selfe Io. 21. Why therefore dost thou trouble thy selfe Behold I know euery one what he is and doe see all things that are vnder the Sunne and do vnderstand how it is with euery one what hee thinketh what he would at what his intentiō aimeth Gal. 6. Al things therfore are to be cōmitted vnto me but doe thou keepe thy selfe in good peace and suffer the vnquiet to do as they wil. Whatsoeuer they shal haue done or said shall fall vpon themselues for they cannot deceiue me 2 Desire not too great fame in this world nor to be knowne to many nor to haue the priuate loue of men for these things breed distractions and cause great darkenes of heart I would willingly vtter my words and reueale my secrets vnto thee if thou didst diligently obserue my cōming and didst open the dore of thy heart vnto me Be careful watch in praier and humble thy selfe in all things CHAP. XXV Wherein doth the firme peace of the heart and true profit consist OVR LORD SOnne I haue said Peace I leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the world giueth doe I giue to you All do desire peace but all care not for those things that appertaine vnto true peace My peace is with the humble and meeke of heart Ioh. 4. Thy peace shal be in much patience If thou wilt heare me and follow my voice thou maist enioy much peace SER. What then shall I doe LORD In euery thing attend vnto thy selfe what thou doest what thou sayest and direct thy whole intention vnto this that thou mayest please me alone and desire or seeke nothing out of mee Of the sayings and doings of others judge nothing rashly neither do thou intangle thy self with things not committed vnto thee and doing thus it may be thou shalt be little or seldome troubled 2 But neuer to feele any trouble at all nor to suffer any griefe of hart or body is not the state of this life but of euerlasting rest Thinke not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou haue no aduersary nor that it is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neither doe thou then esteeme highly of thy selfe or imagine thy selfe to be especially beloued if thou be in great deuotion and sweetnes for in these things a true louer of vertue is not tried neither doth the profit and perfection of man consist in hauing them SER. 3 Wherein then Lord LORD In offering thy self from the very bottom of thy heart vnto the diuine seruice not seeking thine owne interest or commodity neither in great nor little neither in time nor eternity so that with equall countenance thou mayest persist in thanksgiuing both in prosperity and aduersity weighing all things with an equal ballance If thou be of such courage so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawne from thee thou prepare thy heart to suffer greater matters and not justifie thy selfe as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justifie me in whatsoeuer I appoint and praise my holy name then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace and thou shalt haue vndoubted hope to see my face againe with great joy And if thou attaine to the full contempt of thy selfe then shalt thou enioy as great abundance of peace as thy banishment may permit CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free minde which humble prayer better deserueth then reading THE SERVANT LOrd it is the worke of a perfect man neuer to slack his mind from the attentiue thought of heauenly things and as it were to passe without care through many cares not faintingly but with a certaine priuiledge of a free mind adhering by inordinate affection to no creature 2 I beseech thee most mercifull God preserue me from the cares of this life lest I should be too much intangled thereby and from the many necessities of the body lest I should be enthralled by pleasure from all hinderances of the soule lest broken with troubles I should be deiected and dismayed I mean not from those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth but from those miseries that as punishments do weigh down and hinder the soule of thy seruant with the general curse of mortality that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit as often as I would Gen. 3. Rom. 7. 3 O my God the vnspeakable sweetnesse make bitter vnto mee all carnall comfort which may draw me away from the loue of euerlasting happines and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight Rom. 12. Let not flesh and bloud ouercome mee O Lord. Let not the world the short glory therof deceiue me Let not the Diuell and his subtill fraud supplant me Giue me force to resist patience to suffer and constancy to perseuere Giue me insteed of all the comforts of the world the most sweet vnction of thy Spirit and in lieu of carnall loue powre into my soule the loue of thy name 2 Behold meat drinke cloathes and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome vnto a feruent spirit Grant mee to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to bee intangled vvith an ouer great desire of them It is not lawfull to renounce them wholy for that nature is to bee maintained but to desire superfluities and those things that doe rather delight then sustaine the Law of God forbiddeth for otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand gouerne mee and teach mee that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good OVR LORD SOnne thou oughtest to giue all for all and to retaine nothing of thy selfe Know that the loue of thy selfe doth hurt thee more then any thing in the world According to the loue and affection thou bearest them so doth euery thing cleaue vnto thee more or lesse If thy loue be pure
simple and well ordered thou shalt bee free from bondage Couet not that which thou mayest not haue Mat. 6. Bee not willing to haue that which may hinder thee and depriue thee of inward libertie It is a wonderfull thing that thou committest not thy selfe wholy vnto me from the bottom of thy heart with all things that thou canst desire or haue 2 Why doest thou consume thy selfe with vaine griefe Why tyrest thou thy mind with needlesse cares Resigne thy selfe to me thou shalt feel no losse at al. Exo. 18. Mic. 4. If thou seekest this or that wouldest be here or there to enioy thine own cōmodity pleasure thou shalt neuer be in quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in euery thing somewhat will be wanting and in euery place there wil be some that wil crosse thee 3 Not euery external thing therfore attained and heaped together helpeth thee but it rather auaileth if thou despise it and doest root it out from thy heart which thou must not vnderstand onely of thy reuenewes and wealth but of the desire of honor also vaine praise all which do passe away with this fading world The place auaileth little if the spirit of feruour be wanting Esa 4.8 neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation that is vnlesse thou persist in me thou maist change but not better thy selfe For whē occasion doth happen thou shalt find that which thou soughtest to fly and perhaps more A prayer for cleansing the heart and obtaining of heauenly wisdome SER. 4 Confirme mee Lord with the grace of thy holy Spirit Ps 50. Giue me force to strengthen my inward man and to purge my heart from all vnprofitable care griefe Eph. 3. not to be drawne away with sundry desires of any thing either little or great Mat. 6. but to consider all things how they are transitory and do quickly fade that my selfe do also passe away togither with thē for nothing is permanent vnder the Sun where all things are vanity and affliction of mind O how wise is he that so cōsidereth them Eccl. 1. 2. 5 Grant me Lord heauenly wisdome that I may learne aboue all things to seek and find thee aboue al things to delight in thee and to loue thee to think of all created things as they are according to the disposition of thy wisdome Grant me prudently to auoid him that flatters me to suffer patiently him that cōtradicts me Eph. 4. It is great wisdome not to be moued with euery blast of words nor to giue eare to dangerous flattery for so we shall go on securely in the way which we haue begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the tongue of Slanderers OVR LORD SOnne be not grieued if some think euill of thee and speake that which thou dost not willingly heare Thou oughtest to judge the worst of thy selfe and to thinke no man weaker then thy selfe 1. Cor. 4. If thou walk according to spirit thou wilt not much esteeme of flying words It is no smal wisdome to be silent in time of euil and inwardly to turne to me and not to bee troubled with the judgement of men 2 Let not thy peace bee in the tongues of men for whether they judge well or euill thou art neuerthelesse alwaies the same Where is true peace and true glory Is it not in me and he that coueteth not to please men nor feareth to displease them shall enioy much peace From inordinate loue and vaine feare ariseth all disquiet of heart and distraction of the senses CHAP. XXIX How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere THE SERVANT BLessed O Lord be thy name for euer since it pleaseth thee that this temptation and tribulation should fall vpon me Iob 1. Psal 112. I cannot fly it but haue need to fly to thee that thou maist helpe me and turne it to my good Lord I am now afflicted and it is not well with mee I am much troubled with this present griefe And now beloued Father what shall I say I am taken in narrow straits saue me in this houre Mat. 26. Yea therefore I am fallen in this houre that thou maist be glorified when I shal be greatly humbled and by thee deliuered Let it please thee Lord to deliuer me for poore wretch that I am what can I do and whither shal I go without thee Grāt patience Lord euen this time also Help me my God and then I wil not fear how much soeuer I be oppressed 2 And now in this what shall I say Lord thy will be done Mat. 6. I haue well deserued to be afflicted and grieued Surely I ought to beare it and I would to God I might beare it with patience vntil the tempest be passed ouer it become calme But thy omnipotent hand is able to take this temptation from me and to asswage the violence thereof that I vtterly sinke not vnder it as oftentimes heretofore thou hast done vnto mee my Lord my Mercy And how much the more hard it is to mee so much the more easie is this change of thy mighty hand to thee CHAP. XXX Of crauing the diuine aide and confidence of recouering grace OVR LORD SOnne I am thy Lord who doe vse to giue comfort in the day of tribulation Come vnto me when it is not wel with thee Nahum 1. This is that which most of all hindreth heauenly consolatiō that thou art slow in turning thy selfe vnto prayer Mat. 11. For before thou dost earnestly commend thy self to me thou seekest many comforts and delightest thy selfe in outward things And hence it proceedeth that al doth little profit thee vntil thou consider that I am he that deliuer those that trust in me that out of me there is neither powerfull helpe nor profitable counsell nor remedy that can continue But now thou hauing recouered breath after the tempest gather strength againe in the light of my mercies for I am at hand saith our Lord to repaire al not only entirely but also abundantly Mat. 23. 2 Is there any thing hard to me or am I like vnto him that promiseth and performeth not Where is thy faith Be firme and constant Take courage and be patient comfort will bee giuen thee in due time Attend me expect I wil come and cure thee It is a temptation that vexeth thee and a vaine feare that affrighteth thee What else doth the care for future incertainties bring thee but sorrow vpon sorrow Sufficient for the day is the euil therof It is a vain and vnprofitable thing to be grieued or to reioyce for future things that perhaps will neuer happen Mat. 6. 3 But it is incident to man to be deluded with such imaginations and a signe of little courage to be so easily drawne away by the suggestion of the enemy For he careth not so he delude deceiue thee whether it be true or
exceedingly please me and all thy life would passe away in joy and peace Thou hast yet many things to forsake which vnlesse thou wholy resigne ouer vnto mee thou shalt not attaine to that which thou desirest I counsell thee to buy of me purified gold that thou mayest become rich that is heauenly wisdom which treadeth vnder foote all base and earthly things Apoc. 3. Set little by the wisdome of this world and esteeme not of the contentment of men nor thine owne fancies 3 I said that thou shouldest buy the meane and base things with the precious and those that were with men of great esteeme For true heauenly wisedome seemeth very base and of small account and is scarce thought of by men for that esteemeth not highly of it selfe nor seeketh to bee magnified vpon earth which many praise from the teeth outward but in their life they are farre from it yet is it the precious pearle which is hidden from many Mat. 13. CHAP. XXXIII Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our small intentions vnto God OVR LORD SOn trust not to thy affection that which now is will quickly change into another As long as thou liuest thou art subiect to mutability euen against thy will so that now thou art mery now sad now quiet now troubled now deuout now distracted now diligent now idle now heauie now light But he that is wise wel instructed in spirit remaines alwaies one in the middest of these changes not heeding what he seeketh in himselfe or which way the winde of mutability bloweth but that the whole intention of his mind may tend as it ought to the most perfect and best end For so he may continue one and the selfe-same without any change in the midst of so many sundry chances directing alwaies the sincere eye of his intention vnto me 2 And how much purer the eye of the intention is so much the more constantly doth hee passe through the varietie of many contrary waues Matth. 6. But in many things the eye of a sincere intention waxeth blinde for it quickely looketh vpon some delight some obiect that occurreth And it is rare to finde one that is wholy free from all blemish of seeking himselfe So the Iewes in times past came into Bethania to Martha and Mary not for Iesus alone but to see Lazarus also Ioh. 11. The eye of our intention therefore is to bee purged that it may be sincere and pure and to be directed vnto mee neglecting the multitude and variety of earthly obiects Mat. 6. CHAP. XXXIV That God is sweete aboue all things and in all things to him that loueth THE SERVANT BEhold my God and all things What would I haue more and what can I desire more happy O sweete and comfortable word but to him that loueth the word not the world nor those things that are in the world My God and all things Inough is said to him that vnderstandeth and it is pleasant to him that loueth to repeate it often For when thou art present all things do yeeld delight but when thou art absent all becomes irkesome Thou giuest quiet of heart and much peace and pleasant joy Thou makest men think well of all and praise thee in all things neither can anything please vs long without thee but if it bee pleasant and delightsome thy grace must be present it must be seasoned with the sweetnes of thy wisdome 2 What can bee distastefull vnto him to whom thou art pleasing And whom thou delightest not what can be pleasant But the wise of the world and that haue their contentment in sensuall things cannot attaine to thy wisdom for in the world is much vanity in the flesh is death 1. Cor. 1. Rom. 8. 1. Io. 2. But they that follow thee by the contempt of worldly things and mortification of the flesh are proued to be truly wise for they are changed from vanity to truth from flesh to spirit To these God is sweet and what good soeuer is found in creatures they wholy referre vnto the praise of their Maker Notwithstanding great yea very great is the difference betweene the sweetnes of the Creator and of the creature of eternity and of time of vncreated and created light 3 O euerlasting light surpassing al created lights cast forth the beams of thy brightnes frō aboue pierce the most inward corners of my hart purifie reioyce clarifie and quicken my spirit with all the powers thereof that I may cleaue vnto thee with excesse of vnspeakable joy O when will that blessed and desired houre come that I may be filled with thy presence and thou mayest be vnto me all in all things as long as this is not granted me I shal not haue ful nor perfect joy Alas my old man yet liueth in me he is not wholy crucified he is not perfectly dead Rom. 7. He doth yet couet strongly against the spirit and moueth ciuill warres and suffereth not the kingdome of my soule to be in peace 4 But thou that rulest the powers of the sea and asswagest the motion of the waues rise help me Psa 88. dissipate the people that desire war and destroy them in thy might and let thy hand be glorified Psal 72. for there is no hope nor refuge for me but in thee my Lord God Psal 30. CHAP. XXXV That there is no securitie from temptation in this life OVR LORD SOnne there is no security in this life as long as thou liuest thou shalt alwayes haue neede of spirituall armour Thou liuest among enemies and art assaulted on all sides Iob 7. if therefore thou defendest not thy selfe on euery side with the shield of patience thou canst not be long vnwounded 2. Cor. 6. Moreouer if thou fix not thy hart on me with a sincere will to suffer all things for me thou canst not sustain the heat of this battaile nor get that victorious crowne which they haue that are in glory Thou oughtest therefore manfully to go through all and to vse a strong hand against whatsoeuer withstandeth thee For to him that ouercommeth is giuen Manna and to the negligent is left much woe Apoc. 2. 2 If thou seekest rest in this world how wilt thou then attain to euerlasting rest Giue not thy selfe to much ease but to much patience Seek true peace not in earth but in heauen not in men nor in any creature but in God alone Thou oughtest for the loue of God willingly to vndergoe whatsoeuer labours to endure whatsoeuer griefes temptations vexations anxieties necessities infirmities iniuries detractions reprehensions humiliations confusions corrections and contempts these help to the attaining of vertue these try a Nouice of Christ these make a heauenly Crowne I will giue an euerlasting reward for a short labour and infinit glory for transitory confusion 3 Thinkest thou that thou shalt alwayes haue spirituall consolations at will My Saints had not so but many afflictions and sundrie temptations and many discomforts all which they endured patiently
and trusted rather in God then in themselues knowing that the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the deseruing of future glory Rom. 8. Wilt thou haue that straight waies which many after teares and great labours haue hardly attained Expect the comming of thy Lord doe manfully be of good courage feare not doe not flie but offer both bodie and soule for the glorie of God Psalm 26. I vvill revvard thee in most plentifull manner and I vvill bee vvith thee in all thy tribulations CHAP. XXXVI Against the vaine Iudgements of men OVR LORD SOnne fixe thy heart stedfastly on God and feare not the judgements of men when thy conscience giueth testimony of thy justice innocency It is a good and happy thing to suffer in that sort neither will it bee burdensome to an humble mind nor to him that trusteth rather in God then in himself The most part of men are giuen to talke much and therfore litle care is to be had of their words neither is it possible to satisfie all 1. Cor. 9. Though the Apostle endeauoured to please all in our Lord and made himselfe all vnto all 2. Cor. 4. yet hee little regarded that hee was judged by humane day Coloss 1. 2 He did for the edification and health of others as much as he could and lay in him yet could he not hinder but that he was sometimes judged and despised by others Therfore he committed all to God who knew all and defended himselfe with patience humility against euil tongues and such as thought vanities lies and spake what they listed Yet somtimes notwithstanding he answered lest the weake might haue receiued scandall by his silence 3 Who art thou that fearest a mortall man To day he is and to morrow he is not seene Feare God the terror of men shall not trouble thee 2. Mac. 2. What harme can the words or iniuries of any do thee he rather hurteth himselfe then thee neither can he auoid the judgments of God be he what he wil. Rom. 2. Haue thou God before thine eyes and contend not with complaining words 1. Cor. 11. And if for the present thou seemest to be troden downe and to suffer shame and confusion without desert do not repine neither do thou lessen thy crowne by thy impatience but rather lift vp thine eyes to me in heauen Hebr. 12. I am able to deliuer thee from all shame and wrong and to repay euery one according to their workes CHAP. XXXVII Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtaining freedome of heart OVR LORD SOnne leaue thy selfe and thou shalt finde me Make choice of nothing appropriate nothing to thy selfe and thou shalt euer gaine For greater grace shall alwaies be giuen thee when thou dost perfectly resigne thy selfe and not turne backe to take thy selfe againe SER. Lord how often shall I resigne my selfe And wherein shall I forsake my selfe LORD Alwayes and in euery thing as well in little as in great I do except nothing but doe require that thou be as it were naked void of al things Otherwise how canst thou be perfectly mine I thine vnlesse both within without thou be free from all selfe-will And how much the sooner thou dost this so much the better shalt thou find thy self how much the more fully and sincerely thou dost it so much the more shalt thou please mee and so much the more shalt thou gaine 2 Some there are that resigne themselues but with some exception For they put not their whole trust in God and therefore doe labour to prouide for themselues Some also at the first do offer all but afterwards being assailed with temptations doe returne againe to that which they had left and therefore they goe not forwards in the way of vertue These shall not attaine to the true libertie of a pure heart nor to the grace of my diuine familiarity vnlesse they first make an entire resignation and offer themselues a daily sacrifice vnto me For without this can neuer bee obtained the vnion with mee wherewith my Saints enioy me 3 I haue often said vnto thee and now againe I say the same Forsake thy selfe resigne thy selfe and thou shalt enioy internall peace Mat. 16. Giue all for all seek nothing require nothing repose thy selfe purely and with a full confidence in mee and I will giue my selfe vnto thee darknes shall not couer thee Let this bee thy whole endeauour let this be thy prayer let this be thy desire that casting off all propriety thou mayest al naked follow thy naked Sauiour Iesus and dying to thy selfe mayest liue eternally to me Then shall vaine fantasies euill perturbations and all superfluos cares flie away then shal immoderate feare leaue thee and inordinate loue shall die CHAP. XXXVIII Of good gouernment in outward things and of recourse to God in dangers OVR LORD SOnne thou oughtest with all diligence to procure that in euery place and action or external busines thou be inwardly free and master of thy selfe and that all things be vnder thy disposition thou not subiect to them that thou mayest bee Lord and Master of thy actions not a seruant or a hireling but rather a freeman and a true Hebrew belonging to the lot and freedome of the sonnes of God who put the things that are present vnder their feet and place their thoughts on that which is eternall who looke on transitory things with the left eie and with the right doe behold the things of heauen who suffer not themselues to be drawne to cleaue vnto them but rather dispose and vse them as they are ordained by God and appointed by the Creator of all who hath left nothing in his creatures without due order 2 If thou remaine firme and stedfast in all euents and dost not weigh by the outward apparence nor with a carnall eye the things which thou seest and hearest but presently in euery occasion dost enter with Moses into the Tabernacle to aske counsell of our Lord Exod. 33. thou shalt sometimes heare the diuine and celestiall Oracle and shalt returne instructed of many things both present and to come Moses had alwaies recourse to the Tabernacle for the deciding of all doubts and obscure questions and fled to the helpe of prayer for the remedy of the iniquitie and dangers of men So oughtest thou in like maner to fly to the closet of thy heart earnestly crauing the diuine fauour For the Scripture testifieth that therefore was Iosue the childrē of Israel deceiued by the Gabaonites because they consulted not first with God but giuing too lightly credit to faire words were deluded with counterfeit piety Iosue 9. CHAP. XXXIX That a man be not ouer earnest in his affaires OVR LORD SOnne alwaies commit thy cause to me I will dispose well of it in due time expect my ordination and thou shalt find it will be for thy good SER. Lord I do most willingly commit al vnto thee for my
vaine and secular knowledge OVR LORD SOn let not the faire speeches and subtill sayings of men moue thee For the Kingdom of God consisteth not in words but in vertue 1. Cor. 4. Obserue well the words which I speake for they inflame the hart and enlighten the mind induce compunction and bring sundry comforts Do thou neuer reade to shew thy self learned or wise but labour to mortifie thy vices for that wil profit thee more then the knowledge of many hard and difficult questions 2 When thou shalt haue read and knowne many things thou oughtest euer to returne to one beginning I am he that teacheth man all knowledge and doe giue to little ones a more cleare vnderstanding then can be taught by man He therefore to whom I speake shall quickely bee wise and shall profit much in spirit Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men and doe little desire to know the way how to serue me The time will come when the Master of Masters shall appeare Christ the Lord of Angels to heare the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of euery one and then he will search Hierusalem with a candle and the hidden things of darknesse shall be laid open and the inuention of tongues shall be silent 1. Cor. 4. 3 I am hee that in an instant doe raise vp the humble mind to vnderstand more reasons of the euerlasting truth then can bee gotten by ten years study in schooles I teach without noise of words without confusion of opinions without ambition of honor without contention of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise earthly things to loath things present to seeke the euerlasting to delight in the things that are eternall to fly honors to suffer scandals to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and aboue all things feruently to loue me 4 For one by louing me entirely learned diuine things and spake wonders he profited more in forsaking all things then in studying subtilties To some I speake ordinary things to others things more especiall to some I appeare sweetly by signes and figures but to some I reueale mysteries with much light The voice of bookes is one but it teacheth not all men alike For I am the internal Teacher I am the Truth the Searcher of the heart the Vnderstander of thoughts the Setter forwards of good workes distributing to euery one according to my will CHAP. XLIV Of not drawing outward things to our selues OVR LORD SOn in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and to esteeme thy selfe as dead vpon earth and as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also passe ouer many things with a deafe eare and rather thinke of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is more profitable to turne thine eies from the sight of vnpleasing things and to leaue vnto euery one his owne opinion then to striue with contentious words If thou standest well with God considerest his judgments thou shalt the more easily yeeld to the wil of others SER. 2 O Lord to what an estate are we come Behold we bewaile a temporall losse and for a little gaine we toile and spare no labour and the spirituall domage of our soule is forgotten and hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is alwaies remembred and that which is chiefely necessary is negligently passed ouer because mans nature carrieth him to external things and vnlesse he quickly returne vnto himselfe he lieth drowned in them with delight CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words THE SERVANT HElpe me Lord in my tribulation for vaine is the defence of man How often haue I bin deceiued finding wāt of faith where I thought it sure Psal 59. And how often haue I found faith where I least expected it It is vaine therefore to trust in men but the safetie of the just O Lord is in thee Blessed be thou my God in all things that befall vs. We are weake and inconstant quickely deceiued and soone changed 2 Who is he that is able so warily to keep himselfe that he neuer fal into any deceit or doubt But he that trusteth in thee O Lord and seeketh thee with a pure heart doth not easily fal if he fal into any tribulation be he neuer so much inthralled yet he shal quickly be deliuered or comforted by thee Pro. 10. For thou wilt not forsake him for euer that trusteth in thee The friend is rare to bee found that continueth faithful in his friends distresse but thou O Lord thou alone art faithfull at all times and there is none like vnto thee 3 O how wise was that holy soule that said My minde is firmely setled and grounded in Christ If it were so with me then would not humane feare so easily trouble me nor words mooue mee Who can foresee all things Who is able to beware beforehand of future euils If things euen foreseene do oftentimes hurt vs how can things vnlooked for choose but wound vs grieuously But why did I not prouide better for my self miserable wretch Why also haue I so easily giuen credit to others But alas we are men and God knoweth weake and fraile men although by many we are reputed and called Angels To whom shall I giue credit Lord To whom but to thee Thou art the truth that neither doest deceiue nor canst be deceiued And on the otherside euery man is a lyar weak vnconstant and subiect to fal especially in words and therfore we must not easily giue credit euen to that which in outward shew seemeth at the first a certaine truth 4 O with how great wisdom hast thou warned vs to take heed of mē and because the enemies of man are his familiar and domesticall acquaintance not to trust if one should say Behold heere or behold there Mat. 7. I am tought to my cost and I would to God I might thereby encrease my care and not my folly Be wary saith one be wary keepe vnto thy selfe what I tell thee and whilst I hold my peace and thinke it is secret he cānot keep that secret which he desired should bee secret but presently discloseth me and himself and goeth his way From such tales and such improuident people protect me Lord that I fall not into their hands nor euer commit such errours Giue me grace my God to obserue truth and constancie in my words and remoue far from me a deceitful tongue What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all meanes to auoid 5. O how good and quiet a thing it is to be silent and not to talke of others nor to beleeue all that is said nor easily to report what we haue heard Prou. 25. to lay ones selfe open to few Esa 24. alwaies to seeke after thee the beholder of the heart not to be carried away with euery winde of words but to desire that all things both
within and without be accomplished according to thy will and pleasure How secure is it for the keeping of heauenly grace to fly the sight of men And not to seek those things that seeme to cause admiration abroad but to follow that with al diligence which bringeth amendment of life and encrease of feruour 6 To how many hath vertue knowne and ouer hastily commended bin hurtful how profitable hath grace beene kept with silence in this mortall life which is nothing but a perpetual temptation and a warfare CHAP. XLVI Of putting our trust in God when euil words arise OVR LORD SOn be constant and put thy trust in mee For what are words but words They passe through the aire but hurt not Psa 36. If thou be guiltie determine willingly to amend thy selfe if thou be innocent resolue to suffer this willingly at least for God It is a small matter to suffer sometimes a fevv vvords if thou hast not yet the courage to endure stripes And why doe small matters go to thy heart but for that thou art yet carnall and regardest men more then thou oughtest Because thou art afraid to bee despised therefore wilt not bee reprehended for thy faults and therefore seekest shaddowes of excuses 2 But look better into thy self and thou shalt see that the world yet liueth in thee a vain desire to please men For when thou refusest to be humbled reproued for thy faults it is surely euident that thou art neither truely humble nor dead to the world nor the world perfectly crucified to thee But giue diligent eare to my words thou shalt little respect ten thousand words spoken by men Behold if al should be spokē against thee that could be maliciously inuented what would it hurt thee if thou suffredst it to passe madest no reckoning at all of it Could all those words pluck as much as one haire from thy head Mat. 10. Luk. 11. 3 But he that hath not his heart within him nor God before his eies is easily moued with euery little dispraise whē as he that trusteth in me and confideth not in his own judgement shal be free from human fears For I am the Iudge and the discerner of all secrets I know how the matter passed I know him that offereth the iniury and him that suffereth it Psal 7. From me hath this word proceeded this hath happened by my permission that out of many hearts thoughts may bee reuealed I shall judge the guilty and the innocent but by a secret judgement I would beforehand try them both Luk. 2. 4 The testimony of men oftentimes deceiueth my judgement is alwaies true it shall stand and not be ouerthrown It is commonly hidden and secret and not knowne in euery thing but to few notwithstanding it neuer erreth neither can it erre although to the eyes of the foolish it seemes not right Men ought therefore to returne to me in euery judgement and not to stand in their owne opinions For the just man will not be troubled whatsoeuer happeneth vnto him for God Pro. 12. and if any thing be wrongfully brought forth against him hee will not much care neither will he vainly be glad if by others hee be with reason excused For he considereth that I am he that searcheth the heart and reines do judge not according to the outward face nor humane apparence For that is oftentimes found culpable in my sight that in the judgement of men is commendable SER. 5 O Lord my God the just Iudge strong patient thou knowest the frailty and peruersity of man be thou my strength all my trust for mine owne conscience sufficeth me not Thou knowest that which I cannot reach vnto and therefore in euery reprehension I ought to haue submitted my selfe to haue borne it patiently vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I haue failed herein and giue me againe grace of greater sufferance For thy bountiful mercy is more auaileable to me for the obtaining of pardon then my conceiued justice for the defence of my hidden conscience Although my conscience accuse me not yet I cannot hereby justifie my selfe 1. Cor. 4. for if thy mercy be away no man liuing shall bee justified in thy sight Psal 142. CHAP. XLVII That all grieuous things are to be endured for life euerlasting OVR LORD SOn let not the paines dismay thee which thou hast vndertaken for me neither be thou discomforted for the tribulatiōs which do befal thee but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in all euents I am able to reward thee aboue all measure Thou shalt not long toile heere nor alwaies be oppressed with griefe Attend a while and thou shalt see a speedy end of thy euils There will come an houre when all labour and trouble shall cease Little and short is all that passeth away with time 2 Do as thou doest labour faithfully in my Vineyard I will be thy reward Write reade sing mourne obserue silence pray suffer crosses manfully Matth. 20. life euerlasting is worthy of all these and greater combates Peace shall come in the day which is known vnto our Lord and it shall not be day nor night to wit of this time but euerlasting light infinite brightnesse stedfast peace and secure rest Then thou shalt not say Who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death Rom. 7. nor crie Woe be vnto mee for that my dwelling in a strange Countrey is prolonged Psal 119. For death shall be throwne downe and health shall be without decay no anxietie blessed joy sweete and glorious company 3 O if thou hadst seene the euerlasting crownes of the Saints in heauen and with how great glory they now reioice who in times past were contemptible to this world esteemed vnworthy of life it selfe Sap. 3. and 5. truly thou wouldest presently humble thy self euen vnto the earth and wouldest rather seeke to be vnder the feete of al then to haue command so much as ouer one neither wouldest thou desire pleasant dayes of this life but rather reioyce to be afflicted for God and esteeme it thy greatest gaine to bee reputed as nothing amongst men 4 O if thou haddest a feeling of these things and didst suffer them to enter into the depth of thy hart how durst thou so much as once to complaine Are not all painfull labours to be endured for euerlasting life It is no small matter to leese or to gain the Kingdome of heauen Lift vp thine eyes therfore vnto heauen behold I and all my Saints with mee who in this world had great conflicts do now rejoyce now are comforted now are secure now do rest and shall remaine with mee euerlastingly in the kingdom of my Father CHAP. XLVIII Of the euerlasting day and shortnes of this life THE SERVANT O Most blessed mansion of the heauenly City O most cleare day of eternity which night obscureth not but the highest truth euer enlightneth day euer pleasant euer secure and neuer changing into contrary
teach thee or admonish thee of those things which are done on earth Thou knowest what is expedient for my good and how much tribulation is fit for purging the rust of my sins Do with me according to thy desired pleasure and despise not my sinfull life better and more clearely knowne to none then to thee alone 7 Grant me Lord to know that which is to be knowne to loue that which is to be beloued to praise that which pleaseth thee most to esteem that which is precious vnto thee to despise that which is contemptible in thy sight suffer me not to judge according to the sight of the exteriour eyes nor to giue sentence according to the hearing of the eares of ignorant men but to determine of visible spiritual things with a true judgement aboue all things euer to search after thy will and pleasure 8 The senses of men are often deceiued in their judgements the louers of the world are also deceiued in louing only visible things What is a man the better for that he is esteemed great by man The deceitfull man deceiueth the deceitfull the vaine the vaine the blinde deceiueth the blinde and one feeble likewise another whilest he exalteth and praiseth him For how much euery one is in thy sight so much hee is and no more saith humble Saint Francis CHAP. LI. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in the works of humilitie when force is wanting for higher exercises OVR LORD SOnne thou art not able alwaies to continue in the feruent desire of vertue nor to persist in the high pitch of contemplation but thou must sometimes of necessitie by reason of originall corruption descend to inferiour things and beare the burthen of this corruptible life euen against thy will and with irkesomenes As long as thou carriest a mortall body thou shalt feele trouble and heauines of hart Thou oughtest therefore in flesh oftentimes to bewaile the burthen of flesh for that thou canst not alwaies perseuere in spirituall exercises and diuine contemplation 2 It is then expedient for thee to fly to humble and exteriour workes and to refresh thy selfe with good and vertuous actions to expect with a firme confidence my comming and heauenly visitation to beare patiently thy banishment and the drinesse of thy minde till thou bee visited againe by mee and deliuered from all anxietie For I will make thee forget thy former paines and enioy inward quietnesse I will lay open before thee the pleasant fields of holy Scripture that with an enlarged heart thou mayest beginne to runne the way of my Commandements And thou shalt say that the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glorie to come that shall be reuealed in vs. Rom. 8. CHAP. LII That a man ought to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes THE SERVANT LOrd I am not worthy of thy comfort nor of any spiritual visitation and therfore thou dealest justly with me when thou leauest me poore and desolate For if I could shee l teares like a sea yet I were not worthy of thy comfort For alas I deserue nothing but to be scourged punished in that I haue grieuously and often offended thee and sinned in many things All things therefore duely considered I am not worthy euen of the least comfort But thou milde and merciful God who wilt not that thy workes do perish to shew the riches of thy goodnes in the vessels of mercy euen beyond his desert vouchsafest to comfort thy seruaÌ„t aboue humane measure For thy comforts are not like to the vaine words of men 2 What haue I done O Lord that thou shouldest impart any heauenly comfort vnto me I remember not that I haue euer done any good but haue beene alwaies prone to sin and slouthfull in my amendment It is true and I cannot deny it If I should say otherwise thou wouldest stand against me and there would be none to defend mee Iob 9. What haue I deserued for my sinnes but hell and euerlasting fire I confesse in the truth of my heart that I am worthy of all scorne and contempt and it is vnfit that I should be remembred amongst thy deuout seruants And although I be vnwilling to heare this yet notwithstanding for the loue of truth I will lay open my sins against my selfe that I may the better deserue to obtaine thy mercy 3 What shall I say being guilty and ful of confusion I can vtter out of my mouth no other word but this I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned haue mercy on me Psa 50. Pardon me suffer me a little that I may bewaile my griefe before I go vnto the land of darknes and be couered with the shaddow of death Iob 20. What dost thou require of a guiltie and miserable sinner but that hee be contrite and sorowful do humble himself for his offences In true contrition and humblenesse of heart is bred a â—ope of forgiuenesse a troubled conscience is reconciled againe grace lost is restored man is defended from future wrath and God and the penitent soule meet together in the holy kisse of peace 4 Humble contrition for sins is an acceptable sacrifice to thee O Lord sauouring much sweeter in thy sight then burning frankincense Psal 50. This is also the pleasant oyntment which thou wouldest haue powred vpon thy sacred feet Luk. 7. for thou neuer despisest a contrite humble heart Psal 50. There is a place of refuge from the face of the wrath of our enemy there is amended and washed away whatsoeuer vncleannes hath beene elsewhere gathered and whatsoeuer is defiled CHAP. LIII That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things OVR LORD SOn my grace is precious it suffereth not itself to be mingled with externall things nor earthly comforts Thou oughtest therfore to cast away al hinderances of grace if thou desire to receiue the infusion thereof Choose therfore a secret place to thy selfe loue to liue alone with thy self desire the conuersation of none but rather powre out deuout praiers vnto God that thou mayest keepe thy minde compunct and thy conscience pure Esteeme the whole world as nothing prefer my seruice before al outward things for thou canst not attend vnto me and be delighted also in traÌ„sitory vanities Mat. 19. Thou oughtest to sequester thy selfe from thy acquaintaÌ„ce friends to keep thy minde depriued of all temporall comfort So the blessed Apostle Peter required that the faithfull of Christ should keep themselues as strangers and pilgrimes in this world 1. Pet. 2. 2 O how great a confidence shal he haue at the houre of death whom no affection to any earthly thing detaineth in the world But the weake mind is not yet capable of so retired a hart neither doth the fleshly person vnderstand the freedom of a recollected minde Notwithstanding if he wil be truly spiritual he ought to renounce as well that which is far off as that which is nearest vnto
curing sundry diseases I will not send them home fasting lest they faint by the way Matth. 15. Mat. 8. Deale thou therefore in like manner now with mee who hast vouchsafed to leaue thy selfe in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithfull For thou art the sweet refection of the soule and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heire of euerlasting glory It is necessary for me that do so often fall and sinne so quickly waxe dul and faint that by often prayers and confession and receiuing of thy sacred body I renue clense and inflame my selfe lest perhaps by long abstaining I fall from my holy purpose 3 For man is prone vnto euil from his youth and vnlesse this diuine remedy help him he quickly slideth to worse Gen. 8. This holy Communion therefore draweth backe from euill and comforteth in good For if I be now so often slack and negligent when I communicate or say Masse what would become of me if I receiued not this remedy and sought not after so great a helpe Though euery day I be not fit nor well prepared to say Masse I will endeauour notwithstanding at conuenient times to receiue the Diuine Mysteries and make my selfe partaker of so great a grace For this is the onely chiefe comfort of a faithfull soule whilest she wandreth from thee in this mortall body that being mindfull of her God shee often receiue her Beloued with a deuout minde 4 O wonderfull benignity of thy mercy towards vs that thou Lord God the Creator and giuer of life to all spirits dost vouchsafe to come vnto a poore soule and with thy whole Godhead and humanity to replenish her hunger O happy mind and blessed soule that deserueth to receiue thee her Lord God with deuout affection and in receiuing of thee to be filled with spirituall joy O how great a Lord doth shee entertaine How beloued a guest doth shee harbour How pleasant a companion doth shee receiue How faithfull a friend doth shee accept How beautifull and noble a Spouse doth shee embrace She embraceth him who is to be loued aboue al that is beloued and aboue al things that may be desired Let Heauen and Earth and all their beauty be silent in thy presence For what beauty and praise soeuer they haue it is receiued from thy bounty and shal not equal the beauty of thy name of whose wisedome there is no end Psal 146. CHAP. IV. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that Communicate deuoutly The voice of the Disciple MY Lord God preuent thy seruant in the blessings of thy sweetnesse that I may deserue to approach worthily and deuoutly to thy holy Sacrament stirre vp my heart vnto thee and deliuer me from all heauines slouth Ps 20. visit me with thy comfort that I may taste in spirit thy sweetnes which plentifully lieth hid in this Sacramēt as a foūtaine Ps 105. Giue light also to mine eyes to behold so great a mystery and strengthen me to beleeue it with vndoubted faith For it is thy worke and not mans power thy sacred institution not mans inuention For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend and vnderstand these things which surpasse the vnderstanding euen of Angels What therefore shall I vnworthy sinner earth and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mystery 2 O Lord in sinceritie of heart with a good and firme faith and at thy commandement I come vnto thee with hope and reuerence and do verily beleeue that thou art heere present in the Sacrament God and Man Thy holy pleasure is that I receiue thee by charity do vnite my self vnto thee Wherfore I do recurre vnto thy Clemencie and doe craue speciall grace that I may wholy melt in thee and abound with loue and hereafter neuer admit any externall comfort For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soule and body the remedy of al spirituall sicknes by it my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations ouercome or weakned greater grace infused vertue increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and charity inflamed and enlarged 3 For thou hast bestowed and still oftentimes dost bestow many benefits in this Sacrament vpon thy beloued that receiue it deuoutly my God the protector of my soul the strēgthner of humane frailty and the giuer of all inward comfort Thou impartest vnto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them vp from the depth of their own basenesse to the hope of thy protection and dost inwardly refresh illustrat them with a certaine new grace in such sort that they who before Communion felt themselues heauy indisposed afterwards being strēgthened with heauenly meat and drinke do find in themselues a great change to the better which thou dost so dispose to thy Elect that they may truly acknowledge and patiently proue how great their owne infirmity is and what benefit and grace they receiue from thee For they of themselues are cold dull and vndeuout but by thee they are made feruent agile and full of deuotion For who is there that approaching humbly vnto the Fountain of sweetnes doth not carry away from thence at least some little sweetnes Or who standing by a great fire receiueth not some small heat thereby Thou art a Fountaine alwayes full and ouerflowing a fire euer burning and neuer decaying Esa 12. Leuit. 6. 4 Wherefore if I cannot draw at the full out of this Fountaine nor drinke my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this heauenly conduite that I may draw from thence at least some small drop to refresh my thirst to the end I wither not wholy away and perish And though I be not altogether celestial nor so inflamed as the Cherubims and Seraphims notwithstanding I will endeauour to apply my selfe to deuotion and dispose my heart to obtaine some small sparke of diuine fire by humbly receiuing of this Life-giuing Sacrament And whatsoeuer is hereunto wanting in mee good Iesu most blessed Sauiour doe thou supply for mee most benigne and gratious Lord who hast vouchsafed to call vs vnto thee saying Come vnto me all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you Mat. 11. 5 I labour in the sweate of my browes I am vexed with griefe of heart I am burdened with sinnes I am troubled with temptations I am intangled and oppressed with many euill passions and there is none to helpe me none to deliuer and saue me but thou Lord God my Sauiour to whome I commit my selfe and all mine that thou mayest keepe me and bring me to life euerlasting Receiue me to the honor and glory of thy name who hast prepared thy Body and Bloud to be my meat and my drinke Gran◠Lord God my Sauiour that by frequenting thy mysteries my zeale and deuotion may encrease CHAP. V. Of the dignitie of this Sacrament and Priestly function The voice of Christ IF thou hadst angelicall purity and the sanctity of Saint
and my body naked for thy sins so that nothing remained in mee that was not turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the diuine wrath so oughtest thou also to offer vp thy self willingly vnto me daily in the Masse as a pure and holy oblation with thy whole force and desire in as heartie a manner as thou canst What doe I require of thee more then that thou resigne thy selfe wholy vnto mee Prou. 23. Whatsoeuer thou giuest besides thy selfe is of little account in my sight for I seeke not thy gift but thee 2 As it would not suffice thee to haue all things whatsoeuer besides me so neither can it please mee whatsoeuer thou giuest if thou offerest not vp thy selfe Offer thy selfe vnto me and giue thy selfe all that thou art for God and thy offering shall be gratefull Behold I offered vp my selfe wholy vnto my Father for thee and gaue my whole body and bloud for thy food that I might be wholy thine and thou remaine mine But if thou abidest in thy selfe and doest not offer thy selfe vp freely vnto my will thy oblation is not entire neither shall the vnion betweene vs be perfect Therefore a free offering vp of thy selfe into the hands of God ought to goe before all thy actions if thou wilt obtaine freedome and grace For this cause so few become inwardly illuminated and enjoy true liberty of heart for that they do not resolue wholy to deny themselues My saying is vndoubtedly true Vnlesse one forsake all hee cannot bee my Disciple Ioh. 14. If thou therefore wish to bee mine offer vp thy selfe vnto mee with thy whole desires CHAP. IX That we ought to offer vp our selues and all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THine O Lord are all things that are in heauen in earth Ps 23. I desire to offer vp my self vnto thee is a free oblation and to remaine alwaies thine O Lord in sincerity of my hart I offer my self vnto thee this day in sacrifice of perpetuall praise to be thy seruant for euer Receiue mee with this holy oblation of thy precious body which in the presence of the Angels inuisibly attending heere vpon thee I offer vp this day vnto thee that it may be to the health of my soule and the saluation of all thy people 2 I offer vnto thee O Lord al my sins and offences which I haue committed in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels from the day wherein I first could sin to this houre vpon thy holy Altar that thou maist consume and burne them all with the fire of thy charity wash out all the stains of my sins and clense my conscience from all offence and restore to me againe thy grace which I lost by sin forgiuing me all my offences and receiuing me mercifvlly in the kisse of peace 3 What can I do for my sins but humbly confesse and bewaile them and intreat alwaies for mercy without intermission Psal 31. I beseech thee heare me in thy abundant mercy wheÌ„ I stand before thee my God All my sins are very displeasing vnto me I will neuer commit them any more but I am sory and will be sory for them as long as I liue am ready to do penance and to satisfie for them to the vttermost of my power Forgiue me O God forgiue mee my sinnes for thy holy names sake saue my soule which â—â—ou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud Behold I commit my selfe vnto thy mercy I resigne my selfe ouer into thy hands Do with me according to thy goodnesse not according to my wickednes and manifold iniquities 4 I offer vp also vnto thee all whatsoeuer is good in me although it be very little and imperfect that thou mayest amend and sanctifie it that thou mayest make it gratefull and acceptable vnto thee and alwaies perfect more and more that which thou hast begunne and bring me also who am the slouthfull and vnprofitable creature to a good and blessed end 5 I offer vp also vnto thee all the godly desires of deuout persons the necessities of my parents and friends my brethren and sisters and of all those that are deare vnto me and that haue done good either to my selfe or others for thy loue and that haue desired mee to say Masse and pray for them and all theirs whether they be yet aliue or already dead that they all may receiue the help of thy grace and comfort protection from dangers deliuery from paine and being freed from all euils may joyfully giue worthy thankes to thee 6 I offer vp also vnto thee my prayers and sacrifices especially for them who haue in any thing wronged grieued or slaundered mee or haue done mee any domage or displeasure and for those also whome I haue at any time grieued troubled and scandalized by words or deeds wittingly or at vnawares that it may please thee to forgiue vs all our sinnes and offences one against the other Take O Lord from our hearts all jealousie all indignation wrath and contention and whatsoeuer may hurt Charitie and weaken brotherly loue Haue mercie O Lord haue mercie on those that craue thy mercie giue grace vnto them that stand in need thereof and grant that wee may bee worthy to enioy thy grace and attaine to life euerlasting Amen CHAP. X. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne The voice of the Beloued THou oughtest often to haue recourse to the Fountaine of grace and of diuine mercy to the Fountaine of goodnesse and of all piety that thou mayest bee cured of thy sinnes and passions and deserue to be made more strong and vigilant against all temptations and deceits of the Diuell The enemie knowing the greatest profit and remedy to consist in the holy Communion endeauoureth by all meanes and occasions to withdraw and hinder faithful and deuout persons from it 2 Some when they purpose to receiue the sacred Communion suffer greatest assaults of the Diuell For that wicked spirit as is written in Iob commeth amongst the Sonnes of God to trouble them with his accustomed malice and impiety or to make them ouer fearefull and perplexed that so he may diminish their affection or by his subtile assaults take away their faith to the end they may either altogether abstaine from this diuine foode or at least come vnto it with lesse deuotion But there is no heed to be taken of his frauds and malicious suggestions be they neuer so filthy and hideous but all is to be turned backe vpon his owne head Wee ought to contemne and scorne him miserable wretch and not to omit the sacred Communion for his assaults and the troubles which he raiseth 3 Oftentimes also an excessiue care for the obtaining of deuotion and a certaine anxiety for the making of our Confession hindreth vs. Follow in these occasions the counsell of the wise and put away all anxiety and scruple for it hindereth the grace of God and ouerthroweth deuotion Omit
the holy Church Psal 22. Heb. 9. and 13. One is the Table of the holy Altar containing the Sacred bread that is the precious Body of Christ the other is of the diuine law containing holy doctrine teaching true faith certainly leading to the part of the Temple within the veile where are the Holy of Holies Thankes be vnto thee Lord Iesu light of euerlasting light for thy table of holy doctrine at which thou seruest vs by thy seruants the Prophets and Apostles and other Doctors 5 Thanks be vnto thee Creator Redeemer of man who to manifest thy charity to the whole world hast prepared a great Supper Luk. 14. wherin thou hast offred to be eaten not the mysticall Lambe but thine owne most sacred Body and Bloud Ioh. 6. reioycing all the faithful with thy holy banquet and replenishing them to the full with thy heauenly Cup Psal 22. in which are all the delights of heauen and the holy Angels doe feast with vs but with a more happy sweetnesse Wisd 16. 6 O how great and honorable is the office of Priests to whom it is granted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Maiestie with their lippes to blesse him with their hands to hold him with their owne mouth to receiue him and to administer him to others O how cleane ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the bodie How vnspotted the heart of the Priest into whom the Author of purity so often entreth Nothing but holy no word but chaste and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receiueth the Sacrament of Christ 7 Simple and chaste ought to be the eyes that are wont to behold the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted vp to heauen that vse to handle the Creator of heauen and earth Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Bee yet holy for that I your Lord God am holy Leuit. 19. and 20. 8 Assist vs Almighty God with thy grace that we who haue vndertaken the office of Priesthood may serue thee worthily and deuoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience And if wee cannot liue in so great innocency as we ought to do graunt vs notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we haue committed and in the spirit of humility and sincere intention to serue thee hereafter with more feruour CHAP. XII That he that is to Communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence The voice of the Beloued I Am the louer of purity and the giuer of all sanctitie I seek a pure heart and there is the place of my rest Psal 23. Mat. 5. Make readie and adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Pasch with my Disciples Mark 14. Luk. 22. If thou wilt haue me come vnto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leuen and make cleane the dwelling of thy heart 1. Cor. 5. shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices sit like a sparow solitary vpon the house top and thinke of thy offences in the bitternesse of thy soule For euery louer prepareth the best and fairest roome for his beloued and herein is knowne the affection of him that entertaineth his beloued 2 Know thou notwithstanding that the worth of no action of thine is able to make this preparation sufficient although thou shouldest prepare thy selfe a whole yeare together and thinke on nothing else but of my mercy and grace onely thou art suffred to come to my Table like a begger inuited to dinner to a rich man who hath nothing else to returne him for his benefits but to humble himselfe and giue him thanks Do what lieth in thee and do it diligently not for custome nor for necessity but with feare and reuerence and harty affection receiue the Body of thy beloued Lord and God who vouchsafeth to come vnto thee I am he that haue called thee I haue commanded it to be done I will supply what is wanting in thee come and receiue me 3 When I bestow the grace of deuotion on thee giue thankes to God for it is giuen thee not for that thou deseruest it but because I haue mercy on thee If thou haue it not but rathere feele thy selfe dry continue in prayer sigh and knocke and giue not ouer vntill thou deserue to receiue some crumme or droppe of grace Thou hast need of me not I of thee neither commest thou to sanctifie me but I come to sanctifie and make thee better Thou commest that thou mayest bee sanctified by me and vnited vnto mee that thou mayest receiue new grace and bee stirred vp againe to amendment Neglect not this grace but prepare thy heart with all diligence and receiue thy beloued into thy soule 4 But thou oughtest not only to prepare thy selfe to deuotion before Communion but carefully also to conserue thy selfe therein after thou hast receiued the Sacrament Neither is the carefull guard of thy self after lesse exacted then deuout preparation before For a good guard afterwards is the best preparation thou canst make for the obtaining againe of greater grace because that mans minde becommeth very indisposed if hee presently powre himselfe out to outward comforts Beware of much talke remaine in some secret place and enjoy thy God For thou hast him whome all the world cannot take from thee I am hee to whom thou oughtest wholy to giue thy selfe that so thou mayest liue hereafter not in thy selfe but in me without all care CHAP. XIII That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole heart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament The voice of the Disciple HOw may I obtaine this O Lord that I may finde thee alone and open my whole heart vnto thee and enjoy thee as my soule desireth And that no man may looke vpon me nor any creature mone me or respect me but thou alone mayest speake vnto me and I to thee as the Beloued is wont to speake to his Beloued and a friend to banquet with his friend Exod. 33. Cant. 8. This I pray for this I desire that I may be wholy vnited vnto thee and may withdraw my heart from all created things and more and more by sacred Communion and often celebrating learne to taste of heauenly and euerlasting sweetnes O Lord God when shall I bee wholy vnited and absorpt by thee and altogether forgetfull of my selfe Thou in me and I in thee and so grant vs both to continue in one Ioh. 15. 2 Thou art my Beloued the choicest amongst thousands in whome my soule hath taken pleasure to dwel all the daies of her life Cant. 5. Thou art my Peace-maker in whome is greatest peace and true rest without whom is labour and sorrow and infinit misery Thou art a hidden God and thy counsell is not with the wicked but thy speech is with the humble and simple of heart Prou. 3. O Lord how sweet is thy Spirit who to the end thou