else but nothing and nothing 12 O unmeasurable weight O sea that can never be passed over where I find nothing in my selfe but that which is altogether nothing 13 Where then is the lurking hole of glory Where is the confidence conceived of vertue 14 All vain-glory is swallowed up in the depth of thy Iudgments which hang over my head 15 What is all flesh in thy sight Shall clay glory against him that frameth it How can he be lifted up with vaine words whose heart is truly subject to God 16 All the world cannot moove him to any elation of mind whom truth hath subjected unto it selfe neither shall he be moved with the tongues of all his praisers that hath setled his whole hope in God 17 For they also that speake behold they are all nothing they shall passe away with the sound of the words but the truth of our Lord remaineth for ever CHAP. XV. What we ought to doe and say in every thing which we desire SOnne say thus in evering thing Lord if it be pleasing unto thee let this be done in this sort Lord if it be to thy honour let this be done in thy name 2 Lord if thou seest it expedient for me and allowest it to be profitable then grant unto me that I may use this unto thine honour 3 But if thou knowest it will be hurtfull unto me and not profitable to the health of my soule take from me all such desire 4 For every desire proceedeth not from the holy Ghost though it seeme unto man right and good 5 It is hard to judge whether a good spirit or the contrary drive thee to desire this or that 6 Or whether also by thine owne spirit thou be moved thereunto Many are deceived in the end who at the first seemed to be lead by a good spirit 7 Alwaies therefore whatsoever occurreth unto thy mind to be desired let it be desired with the fear of God and with humility of heart 8 And above all thou oughtest to commit it unto me with full resignation of thy selfe and thou oughtest to say Lord thou knowest what is best doe this or that as thou pleasest 9 Give what thou wilt and how much thou wilt and when thou wilt Doe with me as thou knowest and as best pleaseth thee and is most for thy honour 10 Set me where thou wilt and deale with me in all things according to thy will I am in thy hand turne me and turne me againe which way soever thou please 11 Behold I am thy servant ready to obey thee in all things for I desire not to live unto my selfe but unto thee and would to God it might be in some worthy and perfect manner A Praier for the fulfilling of the will of God GRant me grace sweet Iesus that it may be with me and labour with me and persevere with me untill the end 2 Grant me alwaies to desire and will that which is most acceptable unto thee and best pleaseth thee 3 Let thy will be mine and let my will ever follow thine and agree perfectly with it 4 Let my will and â—ill be all one with thine not be able to will or refuse any thing else but what thou wilt or rejectest 5 Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world and to love for thy sake to be cotemned and not to be known in this world 6 Grant that above all things that can be desired I may rest in thee and make my heart to enjoy peace in thee 7 Thou art the true peace of the heart thou art the only rest out of thee all things are troublesome and unquiet 8 In this peace in this very same that is in thee one chiefest eternall good I will sleepe and take my rest AMEN CHAP. XVI That true comfort is to be sought in God alone VVHatsoever I can desire or imagine for my comfort I looke not for it in this life but hereafter 2 For if I should alone have all the comforts of the world and might enjoy all the delights thereof it is certain that they could not long endure 3 Wherefore my soule thou canst not be fully comforted nor have perfect delight but in God the comforter of the poore and the receiver of the humble 4 Expect a while my soule expect the divine promise and thou shalt have abundance of all good things in heaven 5 If thou desire inordinately the things that are present thou shalt loose the coelestiall and eternall Have temporall things in use and the eternall in desire 6 Thou canst not be filled with any temporall goods because thou art not created to enjoy them 7 Although thou enjoyest all that is created yet canst thou not be happy thereby nor blessed but in God that hath created all things thy whole be atitude and happinesse consisteth 8 Not such as is seene and commended by the foolish lovers of the world but such as the good faithfull servants of Christ expect and the spirituall and cleane of heart whose conversation is in heaven sometimes take a tast of before hand 9 Vaine and short is all humane comfort Blessed and true is the comfort which is received inwardly from truth 10 A devout man every where carrieth with him Iesus his comforter and saith unto him Be present with me Lord Iesus in every place and time 11 Let this be my comfort to be alwaies willing to want all humane comfort 12 And if thy comfort be wanting let thy will and just triall be unto me as the greatest comfort for thou wilt not be angry alwaies neither wilt thou threaten for ever CHAP. XVII That all our care is to be placed in God SOnne suffer me to doe with thee what I please I know what is expedient for thee Thou thinkest as a man thou judgest in many things as humane affection perswadeth thee 2 Lord what thou sayest is true Thy solicitude for me is greater then all the care that I can take for my selfe 3 For he standeth at too great a hazard that casteth not his whole care upon thee Lord. 4 So that my will may remaine right and firme in thee doe with me whatsoever it shall please thee for it cannot be but good whatsoever thou doest with me 5 If it be thy will I should be in darknesse be thou blessed and if it be thy will I should be in light be thou againe blessed 6 If thou vouchsafest to comfort me be thou blessed and if thou wilt afflict me be thou also ever blessed 7 Son thou oughtest thus to behave thy selfe if thou desirest to walke with me thou must be as ready to suffer griefe as to receive joy Thou oughtest to be as willing to be poore and needy as plentifull and rich 8 Lord I will willingly suffer for thee whatsoever thy pleasure is shall befall mee 9 I will receive indifferently from thy hand good and evill sweet and sower delightfull and sorrowfull and give thee thankes for all that hapneth unto
nothing I can doe nothing I have nothing that is good of my selfe 4 But in all things I doe faile and am defective and doe ever tend to nothing and unlesse thou helpe me and doest inwardly instruct me I become cold and am dissolved 5 But thou O Lord art alwaies the same and endurest for ever alwaies good just and holy doing all things well justly and holily and disposing al things with wisdome 6 But I that am more inclined to fall then to goe forwards doe never continue in one estate for seven different times are changed over me yet doth it soone turne to the better when it so pleaseth thee and when thou vouchsafest to stretch forth thy helping hand 7 For thou alone canst help me without the favour of man and so strengthen me that my countenance shall be no more changed but my heart shall be converted and rest in thee alone 8 Wherefore if I could once perfectly forsake all humane comfort either for the love of devotion or for mine owne necessitie which inforceth me to seeke after thee for none else can comfort me then might I well hope in thy grace and rejoyce in the gift of new consolation 9 Thankes be unto thee from whence all proceedeth as often as it goeth well with me but I am meere vanity and nothing before thee an unconstant and weake man 10 Whereof then can I glory Of why doe I desire to be esteemed of Is it not of nothing And this is most vaine 11 Truly vain-glory is an evill plague and very great vanity because it draweth from true glory and robbeth the soule of heavenly grace 12 For whilst a man pleaseth himselfe he displeaseth thee whilst he gapeth after the praise of men he is deprived of true vertue 13 But true glory holy exultation is for a man to glory in thee and not in himselfe to rejoyce in thy name and not in his owne vertue nor to delight in any creature but for thee 14 Praised be thy name not mine magnified be thy worke not mine let thy holy name be for ever blessed but to me let no part of mens praises be given 15 Thou art my glory thou art the joy of my heart In thee will I glory and rejoyce all the day but for my selfe I will not joye but in my infirmities 16 Let the Iewes seeeke the glory which one man giveth to another I will desire this which is from God alone 17 For all humane glory all temporall honour all worldly highnesse compared to thy eternall glory is vanity and folly 18 O my truth my mercy my God most blessed Trinity to thee alone be all praise honour vertue and glory for all eternity CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporall honours SOnne trouble not thyselfe if thou seest others honoured and advanced and thy selfe contemned and debased 2 Lift up thy heart unto me in heaven and the contempt of men in earth will not grieve thee Lord we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity 3 If I look well into my selfe I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therefore I cannot justly complain of thee 4 But because I have often and grievously sinned against thee all creatures doe justly take armes against me for shame and contempt is due unto me but unto thee praise honour and glory 5 And unlesse I doe so prepare my selfe that I be willing and doe rejoyce to be despised and forsaken of all creatures and to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtain internall strength and peace nor be spiritually enlightned nor wholly united unto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men SOnne if the peace thou hast with any be grounded on the opinion which thou hast of him or on the contentment thou receavest in his company thou shalt ever be unconstant and subject to disquiet 2 But if thou have recourse unto the ever-living and eternall truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieve thee 3 The love of thy friend ought to rest in me and for me is he to be beloved whosoever he be whom thou thinkest well of and is verily deare unto thee in this life 4 No friendship can availe or continue without me neither is the love true and pure which they have whose hearts are not joyned together by me 5 Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends that forasmuch as appertaineth unto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of men 6 Man approacheth so much the neerer unto God how much the farther off he departeth from all earthly comfort 7 So much the higher also he ascendeth unto God by how much the lower he descendeth into himselfe and how much the baser he is in his own conceipt 8 But he that attributeth any good unto himselfe hindreth the comming of Gods grace into him for the grace of the holy Ghost ever seeketh an humble heart 9 If thou couldeâ—st perfectly annihilate thy selfe and purge thy selfe of all created love then should there flow into thee great abundance of my grace 10 When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creator is taken from thee 11 Learne to overcome thy selfe in all things for the love of thy Creator and then shalt thou be able to attaine to heavenly knowledge 12 How litle soever it be if it be inordinately loved and regarded it defileth the soule and hindreth the enjoying of the chiofest good CHAP. XLIII Against vaine and secular knowledge SOnne let not the faire speeches subtile sayings of men move thee for the Kingdome of God consisteth not in words but in vertue 2 Observe well the words which I speake for they inflame the heart and enlighten the mind induce compunction and bring sundry comforts 3 Doe thou never read to shevv thy selfe learned or wise but labour to mortify thy vices for that will profit thee more then the knowledge of many hard and difficult questions 4 When thou shalt have read and known many things thou oughtest ever to returne to one begining 5 I am he that teacheth man all knowledge and doe give to litle ones a more cleare understanding then can be taught by man 6 He therefore to whom I speak shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in spirit Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men and doe litle desire to know the way how to serve me 7 The time will come when the Maister of Maisters shall appear Christ the Lord of Angels to hear the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of every one 8 And then he will search Hierusalem with a candle and the hidden things of darknesse shall be laid open and the inventions of tongues shall be silent 9 I am he that in an instant doe raise up the humble mind to understand more reasons of the everlasting truth then can be gotten by ten years study in schooles 10 I teach without noise of words without
humility and great affection 3 And I said Blessed â—s the man whom thou shalt instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy saw that thou maist give him quietnesse from evill daies that he be not destroyed upon earth 4 I saith our Lord have taught the Prophets from the beginning and cease not continually to speak to every one but many are deafe and give no eare to my speech 5 The greater number doe more willingly listen to the world then to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh then the will of God 6 The world promiseth temporall and small things and is served with great diligence I promise most high and eternall things and the hearts of men are nothing moved with it 7 Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are served 8 Blush Sidon saith the sea and if thou aske the cause he are wherefore For a litle prebend a long journey is undertaken for everlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground 9 A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny sometimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleighâ— promise men doubâ— not to toile day and night 10 But alas for an unchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honour and glory without end they are loath to take the least paines 11 Blush therefore slothfull and complaining servant that they are found more ready to destruction then thou to life They rejoyce more at vanity then thou at verity 12 And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceaveth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me 13 I will give that which I have promised I will fulfill that which I have said but to him that remaines faithfull in my love to the end I am the rewarder of all those who are good and doe try my devout servants with greater and severer temptations 14 Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them for they will be very necessaâ—y in time of temptation 15 What thou understandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in â—he day of visitation 16 I am wont to visit my elect two severall waies to wit with temptation and comfort 17 And I daily read two lessons unto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of vertues 18 He that hath my wordes and despiseth them hath within himselfe that shall judge him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of devotion 1 O Lord my God thou art all that I can desire What am I that dare speak unto thee I am thy poorest servant and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I either know or dare expresse 2 And yet Lord remember this one thing that I am nothing that I have nothing and that I am worth nothing Thou alone art good thou alone art righteous thou alone art holy thou canst all thou doest all thou fillest all only the wicked thou sendest empty away Remember O Lord thy tender mercies fill my heart with thy grace for thou wilt that none of thy workes should be in vaine 3 How can I sustaine my selfe in this miserable life unlesse thy mercy and grace support me 4 Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitations draw not away thy comfort least my soule become like a barren and dry land wherein is no water 5 Lord teach me to fulfill thy wil teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou doest perfectly know me 6 Yea thou knowest me not only before I was conceived in the womb but also before the very world was made CHAP. IV. That we ought to live in truth humility in the sight of God SOnne walke in my sight in â—incerity and truth and ever seeke mee in singlenesse of heart 2 He that walketh before me in truth shall be defended from evill incursions truth shall deliver him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked 3 If truth shall make the free thou shalt be free indeed and shalt not need to care for the vaine words of men 4 Lord it is true according as thou saist so I beseech thee be it unto mee lâ—t thy truâ—h teach me let it defend me and bring me to a blessed end 5 Let the same truth deliver me from â—ll evill affection and inordinate love and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of heart 6 I will teach thee saith the Truth those things that are right and pleasing in my sight Think of thy sinnes with great serrow and griefe and never esteem thy selfe any thing for thy good workes 7 Thou art in very deed a sinnerâ— and subject to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwaies tendest to nothing and art quickly cast down quickly overcome quickly troubled quickly dissolved 8 Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory but many things for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou cast perceive 9 And therefore let nothing seem much unto thee whatsoever thou dost Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderfull nothing worthy of estimation 10 Nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is everlasting 11 Let the eternall Truth above all things please thee Let thy own great unworthinesse alwaies displease thee 12 Feare nothing blame and flye nothing so much as thy sinnes and vices which ought to displease thee more then the losse of any thing whatsoever 13 Some walk not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity and pride will know my secrets and understand the high mysteries of God neglecting themselves and their own salvation 14 These oftentimes for that I resist them doe fall into great temptations and sinnes for their pride and curiosity 15 Fear the judgements of God dread the wrath of the Almighty Bâ—t discusse not the works of the Highest Search thine own iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected 16 Some carry their devotion only in books some in pictures some in outward signes and figures some have mee in their mouthes but litle in their hearts 18 There are others that being illuminated in their understanding and purged in their affection doe alwaies aspire with an earnest mind to everlasting happinesse 18 And are unwilling to heare of the things of this world and doe serve the necessities of nature with griefe and these perceave what the spirit of truth speaketh in them 19 Because it teacheth them to despise earthly love heavenly things to neglect the world and day night to desire heaven CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of divine grace I Praise thee O heavenly Father Father of my Lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poore and wretched creature 2 O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be
and unlesse this divine remedy helpe him he quickly slideth to worse 13 This holy communion therefore draweth back from evill and comforteth in good 14 For if I be now so often slack and negligent when I communicate or officiate what would become of mee if I receaved not this remedy sought not after so great helpe 15 Though every day I be not sit not well prepared to communicate I will endeavour notwithstanding at convenient times to receave the divine mysteries and make my selfe partaker of so great a grace 16 For this is the only chiefe comfort of a faithfull soule whilest she wandreth from thee in this mortall body that being mindfull of her God she often receave her beloved with a devout minde 17 O wonderfull benignity of thy mercy towards us that thou Lord God the Creator and giver of life to all spirits doest vouchsafe to come unto a poore soule 18 And with thy whole Deity and Humanity to turn her hunger into satiety â— o happy minde and blessed soule that is vouchsafed to receave thee her Lord God with devout affection and in receaving of thee to be filled with spirituall joy 19 O how great a Lord doth she entertaine How beloved a guest doth she harbour how pleasant a companion doth she receave how faithfull â— friend doth she accept how beautifull and noble a spouse doth she imbrace 20 Shee imbraceth him who is to be loved above all that is beloved and above all things that may be desired Let heaven and earth all their beauty be silent in thy presence 21 For what beauty and praise soever they have it is receaved from thy honour and shall not equall the beauty of thy name of whose wisdome there is no end CHAP. IV. That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly The voice of the Disciple O My Lord God prevent thy servant in the blessings of thy swetnesse that I may attaine thy favour to approach worthily and devoutly to the holy Sacrament 2 Stirre up my heart unto thee deliver me from all heavinesse slothâ—â— visit me with thy comfort that I may tast in spirit thy sweetnesse which iâ— this Sacrament as in a fountain plentâ— fully lyeth hid 3 Give light also to mine eyes â— behold so great a mystery and strong then me to believe it with undoubteâ—â— faith 4 For it is thy worke and noâ— mans power thy sacred institution noâ— mans invention 3 For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend and understand thâ—â— things which surpasse the deepest reach even of Angels 4 What therefore shall Iunworthy sinner earth and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mystery 5 O Lord in syncerity of my heart with a good and firme faith and at thy commandement I come unto thee with hope and reverence and doe verily believe that thou God and Man affordest a gracious presence at this Sacrament 6 Thy holy pleasure is that I receave thee and by charity doe unite my selfe unto thee 7 Wherefore I doe flee unto thy clemency and doe crave speciall grace that I may wholly melt in thee and abound with love and hereafter never admit any externall comfort 8 For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soule and body the remedy of all spirituall sicknesse 9 By it my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations overcome or weakned greater grace infused vertue increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and charity inflamed and enlarged 3 For thou hast bestowed still oftentimes doest bestow many benefits in this Sacrament upon thy beloved that receave it devoutly 11 O my God the Protectour of my soule the strengthener of humane frailety and the giver of all inward comfort 12 Thou impartest unto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them up from the depth of their own basenesse to the hope of thy protection and doest inwardly refresh and illustrate them with a certain new grace 13 In such sort that they who before Communion felt themselves heavy and indisposed afterwards being strengthened with heavenly meate and drinke doe find in themselves a great change to the better 14 Which thou dost so dispose to thy elect that they may truly acknowledge and patiently proove how great their own infirmitie is and what benefit and grace they receave from thee 15 For they of themselves are cold dull and undevout but by thee they are made fervent cheerefull and full of devotion 16 For who is there that approaching humbly unto the fountaine of sweetnesse doth not carry away from thence at least some litle sweetnesse 17 Or who standing by a great fire receaveth not some small heat thereby Thou art a fountaine alwaies full and overflowing a fire ever burning and never decaying 18 Wherefore if I cannot draw at the full out of the fountaine nor drink my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this heavenly conduite that I may draw from thence at least some small droppe to refresh my thirst to the end I wither not away and utterly perish 19 And though I be not altogether celestiall nor so inflamed as the Cherubims and Seraphims notwithstanding I will endeavour to apply my selfe to devotion and dispose my heart to obtaine some small sparke of divine fire by humble receaving of this life-giving Sacrament 20 And whatsoever is hereunto wanting in me good Iesu most blessed Saviour doe thou supply for me most benigne and gracious Lord who hast vouchsafed to call all unto thee saying Come unto mee all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you 21 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 evill passions 22 And there is none to helpe me none to deliver and save me but thou Lord God my Saviour to whom I commit my selfe all mine that thou maist keep me and bring me to life everlasting 22 Receave me to the honour and glory of thy name who hast prepared thy Body and Bloud to be my meat drinke 23 Grant O Lord God my Saviour that by frequenting thy mysteries my zeale and devotion may increase more and more CHAP. V. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function The voice of Christ. IF thou hadst angelicall purity and the Sanctity of S. Iohn Baptist thou â—vert not worthy to receive nor handle â—his Sacrament 2 For it is not within the compasse of the deserts of men that man should consecrate and handle the Sacrament of Christ receive for food the bread of Angels 3 A great mystery and great is the dignity of Priests to whom is granted that which is not permitted to the Angels 4 For Priests alone rightly instituted in the Church have power to ceâ—ebrate and consecrate the Body of Christ. 5 The Priest is the Minister of God using the words of God by the
how great and honourable is the office of Priests to whom it is granted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Majesty with their lips to blesse him with their hands to hold him with their own mouth to receave him and to administer him to others â—2 O how clean ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the body How unspotted the heart of the Priest into whom the Author of purity so often entreth 40 Nothing but holy no word but chast and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receaveth the Sacrament of Christ. 41 Simple and chast ought to be the eyes that are wont to behold the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted up to heaven that use to handle the Creator of heaven and earth 43 Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Be ye holy for that I your Lord God am holy 43 Assist us Almighty God with thy grace that we who have undertaken the office of Priesthood may serve thee worthily and devoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience 44 And if we cannot live in so great innocency as we ought to doe grant us notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we have committed 43 And in the spirit of humilitie and syncere intention to serve thee hereafter with more fervour and devotion CHAP. XII That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himself with great diligence The voice of the Beloved I Am the lover of purity and the giver of all sanctity I seeke a pure heart there is the place of my râ—st Make ready and adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Passeover for my Disciples 2 If thou wilt have me come unto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leaven and make clean the dwelling of thy heart shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices 3 Sit like a sparrow solitary â—â—on the house top and think of thy offence in the bitternesse of thy soule 4 For every lover prepareth â—he best and fairest roome for his beloved and herein is known the affection of him that entertaineth his beloved 5 Know thou notwithstanding that the worth of no action of thine is able to make this preparation sufficient although thou shouldest preparâ— thy selfe a whole yeare together and thinke on nothing else 6 But of my mercy and grace only thou art suffred to come to my table like a begger invited to dinner to a rich man who hath nothing else to returne him for his benefits but to humble himselfe and give him thanks 7 Doe what lieth in thee and doe it diligently not for custome nor for necessity but with feare and reverence and hearty affection receave the body of thy beloved Lord and God who vouchsafeth to come unto thee 8 I am he that have called thee I have commanded it to be done I will supply what is wanting in thee come and receave me 9 When I bestow the grace of devotion on thee give thanks to God for it is given thee not for that thou deservest it but because I have mercy on thee 10 If thou have it not but rather feele thy selfe dry continue in prayer sigh and knock and give not over untill thou hast attained to some crumme or drop of saving grace 11 Thou hast need of me not I of thee neither comest thou to sanctify me but I come to sanctify and make thee better 12 Thou comest that thou maist be sanctified by me and united unto me that thou maist receave new grace and be stirred up againe to amendment 13 Neglect not this grace but prepare thy heart with all diligence receave thy beloved into thy soule 14 But thou oughtest not only to prepare thy selfe to devotion before Communion but carefully also to conserve thy selfe therein after thou hast receaved the Sacrament 15 Neither is the carefull guarde of thy selfe after lesse exacted then devout preparation before 16 For a good guard afterwards is the best preparation thou canst make for the obtaining againe of greater grace 17 Because that mans minde becometh very indisposed if he presently powre himselfe forth to outward comforts Beware of much talke remaine in some secret place and enjoy thy God 18 For thou hast him whom all the world cannot take from thee I am he to whom thou oughtest wholly to give thy selfe that so thou maist live hereafter not in thy selfe but in me without all care CHAP. XIII That a devout soule ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto 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 unto thee and enjoy thee as my soule desireth 2 And that no man may look upon mee nor any creature move mee or respect mee but thou alone maist speake unto me and I to thee as the beloved is wont to speak to his beloved a friend to baÌ„quet with his frieÌ„d 3 This I pray for this I desire that I may be wholly united unto thee and may withdraw my heart from all created things and more by sacred Communion and often celebrating learne to tast of heavenly and everlasting sweetnesse 4 O Lord God when shall I be wholly united unto thee and swallowed up by thee and altogether forgetfull of my selfe thou in me and I in thee and so grant us both to continue in one 5 Thou art my beloved the choisest amongst thousands in whom my soule hath taken pleasure to dwell all the daies of her life 6 Thou art my peace-maker in whom is greatest peace and true rest without whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery 7 Thou art a hidden God and thy counsell is not with the wicked but thy speech is with the humble and simple of heart 8 O Lord how sweet is thy spirit who to the end thou maist shew thy sweetnesse towards thy children vouchsafe to feed them with the most delightsome bread which descendeth from heaven and is full of all sweetnesse 9 Surely there is no other Nation so great that hath Gods approaching unto them as thou our God art present to all thy faithfull 10 Vnto whom for their daily comfort and for the lifting up of their hearts to heaven thou givest thy selfe to be eaten and enjoyed 11 I or what other Nation is there so famous as the Christian people or what creature under heaven so beloved as a devout soule to whom God himselfe commeth to feed her with his glorious flesh 12 O unspeakable grace O admirable favour O infinite love singularly bestowed upon man 13 But what shall I give unto our Lord in returne of this grace for so singular a charity 14 There is no other thing more gratefull that I am able to give then to bestow my heart wholly on my God and to unite it perfectly unto him 15 Then shall all my bowels re-rejoyce when my soule
the melting of fervent love 11 Suffer me not to goe from thee hungry and dry but deale mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saiuts 12 What marveâ—le if I should be wholy inflamed by thee and dye in my selfe sith thou art ever burning and never decaying love purifying the heart and inlightning the understanâ—â—ing CHAP. XVII Of burning love and vehement desire to receive Christ. The voice of the Disciple VVIth great devotion and burning love with most hearty affection and fervour I desire to receive thee O Lord 2 As many Saints and devout persons have desired thee when they received thy Sacrament who were most pleasing unto thee in holinesse of life and most fervent in devotion 3 O my God my everlasting love my whole good my happinesse without end I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire and most worthy reverence that any of the Saints ever had or could feele 4 And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion yet I offer unto thee the whole affection of my heart as if I alone had all those most sweet inflamed desires 5 Yea whatsoever also a devout mind can conceive and desire all that with greatest reverence and most inward affection I offer and present unto thee 6 I wish to reserve nothing to my selfe but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my self and all mine unto thee my Lord God my Creatour and my Redeemer 7 I desire to receive thee this day with such affection reverence praise and honour with such gratitude worthinesse and love with such faith hope and puritie 8 As thy most blessed Mother the glorious Virgin Marie received and desired thee when she humbly and devoutly answered the Angell 9 Who declared unto her the mysterie of the Incarnation and said Behold the handmaid of the Lord let it be done unto mee according to thy word 10 And as thy blessed Fore-runner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist cheerfully leaped with joy of the Holy Ghost whilst he was yet shut up in his Mothers wombe 11 And afterwards seeing Iesus walking amongst men humbling himselfe very much said with devout affection The friend of the Bridegroome that standeth and heareth him rejoyced with joy for the voice of the Bridegroome 12 So I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desire and to offeâ— my selfe up to thee with my while heart 13 Wherefore I offer also and present unto thee joyes fervent desires excesse of mind spirituall illuminations and heavenly visions of all devouâ— hearts 14 With all the vertues and praises exercised by all creatures in heaven and earth for my selfe and all such as are commended to me in praier that by all thou maist be worthily praised and glorified for ever 15 Receive my Lord God the affections of my heart and desires which I have to give thee infinite praise and thankes which according to the measure of thy unspeakable greatnesse are due unto thee 16 These I yeeld thee and desire to yeeld thee every day and moment of time and I doe intreate and invite all the heavenly spirits and all thy devout fervants to give thankes and praises together with me 17 Let all people Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnifie thy holy and sweet name with great joy and fervent devotion and let all that â—everently and devoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receive it with full faith find grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for me sinfull creature 18 And when they shall have obtained their desired devotion and joyfull union and depart from thy sacred heavenly table well comforted and marveilously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poore and needy foule CHAP. VIII That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense unto faith TYPE = sub The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to beware curious and unprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wile not be drowned in the depth of doubt 2 He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by glory God is able to worke more then man can understand 3 A pious and humble inquirie of truth is tolerable so he be alwaies ready to be taught and doe endeavour to walke in the sound paths of the ancient Fathers doctrine 4 Blessed is that simplicitie that forsaketh the difficult waies of questions and goeth on in the plaine and assured path of Gods Commandements Many have lost devotion whilst they would search after high things 5 Faith and sincere life are exacted thy hands not height of understaning nor the depth of the mysteries of God 6 If thou doest not understand or conceive those things that are under â—hee how shalt thou be able to comprehend those that are above thee 7 Submit thy selfe to God and let thy sense be subject to faith and the â—ight of knowledge shall be given thee in that degree as shall be profitable and necessary for thee 8 Some are grievously tempted about faith and the Sacrament but that is not to be imputed to them but rather to the enemie 9 Doe not regard nor dispute with thy thoughts neither doe thou give answer to the doubts moved by the enemie 10 But believe the words of God believe his Saints and Prophets and the wicked Serpent wil fly from thee 11 It is oftentimes very profitable to the servant of God to suffer such things 12 For he tempteth not Infidelâ— and sinners whom he already secure possesseth but he sundry waies temâ—teth and vexeth the faithfull and dâ—vout 13 Goe forward therefore with sincere undoubted faith and come 〈◊〉 the Sacrament with unfeigned reverence And whatsoever thou art not able to understand commit securely 〈◊〉 Almighty God 14 God deceiveth thee not he deceived that trusteth too much to him selfe God walketh with the simple râ—vealeth himselfe to the humble giveâ— understanding to litle ones openets the sense to pure minds hideth grace from the curious and proud 15 Humane reason is weake and may be deceived but true faith cannoâ— be deceived 16 All reason and naturall search ought to follow faith not to goe before it nor impugne it 17 For faith and love doe chiefly excell and worke in a hidden manner in this most blessed and superexcellent Sacrament 18 God who is everlasing and of infinite power doth great and inâ—â—â—utable things in heaven and in earth â—nd there is no searching out of his â—onderfull workes 19 If the workes of God were â—â—ch as might be easily comprehended by humane reason they were not to be called wonderfull and unspeakable FINIS A TABLE Of the Chapters contained in this Booke THE FIRST BOOK OF following Christ and the contempt of all worldly vanities pag. 1 To have an humble opinion of ones selfe 4 Of the doctrine of truth 7 Of providence or prudence in our actions 12 Of the reading of holy Scriptures 13 Of inordinate desires and affection 15
did not say why strive you but drew his sword and slew the Egyptian but when he saw the two Israelites fight he said yee are brethren why strive yee What a glorious sight would it be to see the red Crosle once againe advanced as it was in the daies of Constantine and if wee did not see it written in heaven I hope wee should finde it true upon earth in hoc signo vinces Vnto this holy warre I suppose all they would come who have promised to fight under Christ's banner And set aside for a while this private interest of Protestant and Papist and Grecian and Lutheran and Calvinist and Arminian and Socinian and if there be any other division amongst us and take upon us that generall livery of Christianity and so joyne together to rescue our brethren from that wilde Boare of the Forrest which hath laid wast this goodly vine afterwards we might see how we could decide the Controversies amongst Christians For whosoeuer is in the right I hope wee are all well enough perswaded that he is in the wrong Could Herod and Pilate otherwise deadly enemies be made friends and agree together to condemne Christ and shall not those who are already brethren and therefore should be friends combine together to save Christ I say to save Christ for so long as we save and preserve his members we save and preserve him but so long as we suffer his members to be thus persecuted and oppressed hee cannot choose but suffer with them But wee in steed of bandying against the common enemy muster up our forces one against another and find that to be true by lamentable experience there is no greater hatred then of brethren that are falllen out Seeing then that all Christians are brethren I say brethren as having one Father of us all brethren as having one faith one Lord one Baptisme whereby we are borne into the Catholike Church and one food by the Sacrament of the Eucharist which makes us groane to be perfect men in Christ seeing we are all these waies brethren I may well say as Moses did yee are brethren why strive yee or if yee must needs be striving about matters of Religion strive and strive earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints And because I say we are brethren I would not have you think we like not the cause we have in hand or that we are ready to yeeld unto you and presently joyne hands with you as some of you imagine and many of our side causelesly suspect but this is all we would have the breach no greater then it is and would not have the world believe because we differ in some things that wee agree in nothing And although we call you brethren wee will not winke at your faults or joyne with you in them but this doth put us in minde to admonish you more gently of them as brethren though you rage never so fiercely against us for by this meanes wee shall expresse our charity towards you and so heap coles of fire upoÌ„ your head God he knowes we are farre enough from yeelding to you as Romanists yet should we not be charitable to you as Christians we were much to blame But â—ee how you mistake or rather indeed pervert and abuse this our charity For say you by your own acknowledgement there may be salvation in our Church but we all deny there can be salvation in yours therefore all if they had care of themselves would have recourse to us for it is the safer way to be a member of that Church where both sides yeeld there may be salvation then in that where one side denies it This were something if Salvation or Damnation depended upon opinion but I suppose that charitable opinion of ours in hopeing you may be saved makes you never a whit the nearer heaven but our selves and that rough censure of yours in setting us all out for damnation makes us no whit the neerer hell but your selves And I had rather be a member of that Church which holds there may be salvation in both then of that which holds there can be salvation but in one For holding with the first I am safe wheresoever I am but holding with the latter I must be in danger wheresoever I am I say wheresoever I am for I am not only in danger of my salvation if I be in that Church wherein I think there is no salvation but also in that out of which I think there can be no salvation because I confine salvation to one of these which though I think it be in this alone yet it may be in the other alone Many other motives unto charity might be shewed but these briefly shall suffice for me The one is that we are Christians and therefore brethren and so ought to love as brethren Another is in that I hope our intentions are good and that none maintaines a false opinion perversely against his conscience and this last is that for some opinions that are not so orthodoxe yet there may be hopes of salvation although it be not without smart and punishment Now let me say unto all Christians as S. Paul doth to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 6. 11. 12. 13. O yee Christians our mouth is open unto you and not only so but our heart is enlarged not only to the Roman but even to the East Church and to as many as call upon the name of our Lord Iesus Ye are not straitned in us but ye are straitned in your own bowels now for a recompence in the same I speak unto you as unto Brethren be ye also enlarged Let me bespeak all learned Prelats and Pastors on all sides as S. Austine Epist. 147. doth Proculianus a Bishop and a favourer of the Donatists I pray and beseech thee saith he if there be any good disposition in thee which many doe extoll and commend if it be not a counterfeit courtesy by reason of worldly honour that the tender bowells of pitty and compassion begin to yerne in thee and that you would have these controversies discussed between us at the length not by wrangling and railing one at another but by fervent prayers and earnest supplications unto Almighty God and by comparing all things peaceably and examining them in the spirit of meeknesse lest the poore ignorant people which now yeeld to and willingly obey our jurisdiction and command over them presse us with this their submission and dutifull obedience to us in the day of the Lord Iesus and say they did as their leaders directed them but rather by our unfained love and charity being together with us drawn from those by paths of errour and dissention they should be directed into the right way of truth and peace I will conclude all with our Churches prayer that it would please God to inspire continually the Vniversall Church with the spirit of truth unity and concord and grant that all they who doe confesse his holy name
not by following but resisting wicked afâ—ections 9 There is no peace then in the heart of a carnall man nor in a man that is addicted to outward things but to the upright man and him that is fervent in the spirit there is great quietnesse CHAP. 7. Of Flying vaine Hope and Pride IT is a vaine thing to trust either in man or any other creature for there is no helpe in them 2 Be not ashamed to be in subjection to others for the love of Iesus Christ and to be esteemed poore in this life count it thy great riches 3 Depend not upon thyselfe but put thy confidence in the Lord doe what lies in thee and God will blesse thine endeavour 4 Trust not to thine owne knowledge nor in the policy of any mortall man but rather in the grace and favour of God who exalteth the humble and humbleth those who exalt themselves 5 Glory not in thy wealth though thou have much nor yet in thy friends though they be mighty but in God who giveth all these and would gladly give thee himselfe before all these 6 Be not proud neither of the beauty of thy face or bignesse of thy body for a litle sicknesse doth deforme the one and consume the other 7 Be not too well conceited of thy wit and abilities of nature least thou displease God who is the sole-giver of all the goods of nature 1 Esteeme not thy selfe better then others least God who best knows what is in man account thee worse then others 9 Be not proud of well doing for God judgeth not as man doth for that often offendeth him that pleaseth them 10 If thou hast any goodnesse in thee think that another hath more so shalt thou preserve within thee that rich treasure of humility 11 To debase thy selfe under all men can never hurt thee but to preferre thy selfe before any man may doe thee some harme 12 The humble man is in a continuall calme but the haughty mind fumeth commonly with indignation CHAP. VIII Of avoiding too much familiaritie OPen not thine heart to every man but communicate thine affaires with the wise and godly 2 Acquaint thy selfe with the grave and aged and delight not much in young and strange company 3 Flatter not the wealthy to make him proud of his riches neither doe thou willingly appeare before great personages 4 Keep company with the humble the sincere and devout and conferre with them of those things that may be for thy edifying 5 Be not in speciall familiar with any woman but in generall commend all good women to God 6 Carefully avoid too much acquaintance with men that thou maist be the more familiar with God and his holy Angels 7 Although thou oughtest to have charity towards all men yet hold familiarity but with a few 8 Many men unknowne unto us may be famous for their good parts whose bodily presence doth seeme to be but contemptible 9 Some men we know not are cried up for their worth who being well acquainted with deserve litle to be regarded 10 We think sometimes to please others by being acquainted with them whom yet we more distast with our lewd behaviour then delight with our company CHAP. IX Of Obedience and Subjection THough it be very hard to live in obedience under a Governour and not to be at our owne disposing yet it is farre better to obey then rule 2 Many live under obedience rather out of necessity then willingly such easily vexe and punish themselves and are ready to murmure and repine upon a small occasion 3 Neither can they attaine to any freedome of mind unlesse they cheerfully submit from the heart and for God's sake 4 Turn hither or thithér goe whither thou wilt thou shalt never find so much case as in humble subjection under a Governour 5 The very imagination and change of places hath deceived many a man when he was under he thought there was no life to a Ruler now he commands he holds it better to obey 6 'T is true every man is willing to follow his owne fancie and is apt to make much of those that are of his mind 7 But if God be amongst us we will discard our owne opinion rather then disturb the common peace 8 It may so fall out that thou art in the wrong for who is so wise that he can fully know all things 9 Therefore trust not too much to thine owne opinion but be willing to give an eare to the judgment of others 10 But suppose thou art in the right yet if for God's and quietnesse sake thou shalt forbeare thine opinion thou shalt gaine more by thy humility then thou shalt loose in thy knowledge 11 I have oftentimes heard that it is more safe and secure to heare and take counsell then to give it 12 It may so fall out that a mans owne judgment and opinion may be right enough but not to hearken and yeeld to others when good reason requâ—res must needs be a signe of great stubbornnesse and pride CHAP. X. Of avoiding superfluity of Words TAke heed of publique meetings as much as is possible for to talke of worldly affaires doth us great harme mean we never so well 2 For we are quickly defiled and even led captive by vanity and for my part I have wished many times that I had been either silent or absent 3 But what might be the reason we are so apt to conference seeing we so seldome breake it off without some hurt of conscience 4 The reason hereof I conceive to be this that by mutuall communication we much comfort one another and refresh our wearied soules oppressed with many cares 5 Of what we love best or desire most we are apt to think and speak freely or else of those things that doe most trouble and molest us 6 But alas this is often to small purpose or profit for this outward comfort is a great hindrance to the inward and our humane discourse to our heavenly consolation 7 That thou passe not thy time idlely spend it in watching and prayer but if it be fit for thee to speak speak those things that may edifie 7 An evill custome and carelessenesse of profitting in good workes is a great meanes to make us very fruitfull in ill words 8 To compare spirituall things with spirituall things doth greatly further our progresse in the spirit especially where men of like minds and spirit are joyned together in the Lord. CHAP. XI Of obtaining peace and desire of profiting VVOuld we not busie our selves in other mens imployments which we have nothing to doe withall we might enjoy at home much peace within our selves 2 How can he continue long in any quietnesse that thrusteth himselfe into other mens affaires who seeketh occasion to be busie abroad and seldome takes occasion to recollect himselfe at home 3 Blessed are the simple and pure in heart for they shall inherit abundance of peace 4 Why are some of the Saints come to such perfection given
and whole heart to praise our Lord God! 30 O that thou mightst never have need to eat nor drink nor sleep but alwaies praise God and only attend upon spirituall imployments 31 Then shouldst thou be much happier then now thou art when upon every occasion thou art so ready to follow the lusts of the flesh 32 Would we were not put to such necessities but had only the spirituall â—efections of the soule which alas we â—ast of too seldome 33 When a man is come to that passe that he seeketh no comfort in any creature then doth God first begin to be a sweet relish unto him 34 Then will he be well content with whatsoever shall befall him then shall not a great matter overjoy him â—or a small matter trouble him 35 But with great integrity and confidence commits himselfe to God who shall be to him all in all to whom nothing perisheth or dieth but all things live unto him and serve him without delay 36 Remember alwaies thy end and how time lost never returnes without care and diligence thou shalt never become vertuous 37 If thou beginnest to waxe cold all is not well with thee hut if thou give thy selfe to fervency thou shalt find much peace and through the assistance of God's grace and love of vertue thou shalt find thy labour but light 38 The fervent and diligent man is ready at all assayes it is easier to endure the labour and pains of the body then to conquâ—re the vices and passions of â—he mind 39 He that avoideth not small slips by litle and litle may take a great fall if thou spend the day well thou wilt be alwaies merry at night 40 Be watchfull over thy waies and whatsoever become of others be carefull of thy selfe the greater violence thou usest against thy selfe the greater benefit shalt thou reap THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. Of inward Conversation THE Kingdome of God is within you saith the Lord. Turne thee with thy whole heart unto the Lord and forsake this wretched world and thy soule shall find rest 2 Learn to contemne outward things and give thy selfe to the inward and thou shalt see the Kingdome of God to come into thee 3 For the Kingdome of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which is not bestowed upon the wicked 4 Christ will come unto thee and shew thee his comfort so that thou wilt provide within thee a dwelling place fit for him 5 All his beauty and glory is within noâ— caring for any thing else there delighteh he himselfe 6 The inward man he often visits and hath with him sweet discourse pleasant comfort much peace wonderfull familiarity 7 O faithfull soule make ready thy heart for this bride-groome that he may vouchsafe to come unto thee and dwell within thee 8 For so he saith if any man love me he will keep my word and we will come unto him and will make our aboade with him 9 Give therefore unto Christ a place in thy heart and deny entrance to all others when thou hast Christ thou art rich enough and he will suffice thee 10 He will faithfully oversee thee and carefully provide for thee in all things so that thou shalt not need to depend upon men 11 For men soon alter their minds or quickly fade away but Christ remaineth for ever and standeth out stoutly to the very end 12 There is litle trust to be given to fraile and mortall man though he be profitable and deare unto thee neither oughtest thou much to be grieved when sometimes he crosses and contradicts thee 13 They that to day take thy part to morrow may be against thee and so on the contrary they often turne like the wind 14 Put thy whole trust and confidence in God love him for his mercy feare him for his judgment he will answer for thee and will doe in all things what is best 15 Thou hast here no abiding City and wheresoever thou be thou art but a Stranger and Pilgrime neither shalt thou ever have rest unlesse thou be fully united to thy Saviour 16 Why dost thou gaze up and down here since this is not the place of thy aboad In heaven ought to be thy dwelling place and all things here to be lookt upon but as it were in the passage 17 All things passe away and thoâ— together with them beware thou enâ—angle not thy selfe in them lâ—ast thou be caught and confounded 18 Let thy thought be on the Almighty and thy praier be directed unto Christ without ceasing 19 If thou canst not contemplate high and heavenly things rest thy selfe in the passion of thy Saviour and dwell willingly in the wounds of his sacred body 20 For if thou flâ—e devoutly to his holy wounds and to the precious marks of his Passion thou shalt find great comfort in all thy tribulation 21 Neither wilt thou much care to be despised of men and wilt easily endure the words of slanderous tongues 22 Christ was also in the world despised of men he was exposed to the reproach of his enemies and forsaken by his acquaintance and friends in his greatest extremity 23 Christ had adversaries and backbiters and wilt thou have all men thy friends and benefactors how shall thy patience be crown'd if no adversity befall thee 24 If thou wilt not endure adversity how art thou Christ's friend Suffer with Christ and for Christ if you desire to raigne with Christ. 25 If thou hast but once entred into the secrets of thy Saviour and tasted a litle of his ardent love then wouldst thou not care for thine owne commodity or discommodity but rather rejoyce at thy wrongs offered thee for the love of Iesus maketh a man to despise himselfe 26 A lover of Iesus and of the true inwâ—rd man and one free from inordinate affections can easily turn himselfe to God and being lifted up in spirit above himselfe rests in the fruition of joy 27 He that relisheth all things as they are and not as they are called and esteemed to be he is truly wise indeed and rather tought of God then of men 28 He that knowes to walk within himselfe and to make small account of outward things shall be sure to have time and place enough to performe devout exercises 29 The inward man doth quickly recollect himselfe because he never gives himselfe wholly to outward imployments 30 Bodily labour is no let unto him nor necessary businesse so it be seasonable but as things fall out so he applieth himselfe unto them 31 He that is well disposed within himselfe is not troubled with the strange and perverse behaviour of men by how much a man drawes businesse to himselfe by so much is he hindred and distracted 32 If all were well with thee and thou throughly purged all things would turn to thy good and profit 33 Therefore doe many things displease thee and often trouble thee because thou art not yet full dead unto thy selfe nor free from the affection of earthly things 34
and look only to thy selfe 11 Furthermore thou shalt gaine much if thou shalt keep thy selfe fâ—ce from all worldly cares and thou shalt greatly decay if thou make any account of earthly things 12 Account nothing great nothing high nothing gratefull nothing acceptable but God alone or that which is from God 13 Esteem all comfort vain which thou receivest from any creature the soul that loveth God despiseth all things in respect of God 14 God alone who is eternall infinite and incomprehensible is the comfort of the soule and the true joy of the heart CHAP. VI. Of the joy of a good Conscience THe glory of a good man is the testimony of a good conscience have a good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy 2 A good conscience is able to endure much and is exceeding cheerfull in adversities an evill conscience is alwaies fearfull and unquiet 3 Thou shalt rest quietly if thine heart reprove thee not rejoyce not but when thou hast done well 4 Wicked men have never any true joy neither doe they feele inward peace for there is no peace to the wicked saith the Lord. 5 Although they say we live in peace there shall no evill happen unto us and who dares doe us any harm 6 Believe them not for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord arise and their actions shall turn to nothing and their cogitations shall utterly perish 7 To glory in tribulation is no hard thing to him that loveth for so to glory is to glory in the Crosse of our Lord. 8 The glory is short which is given and received from men sorrow alwaies attends the glory of the world 9 The glory of the good is in the testimony of a good conscience and not in the tongues of men the gladnesse of the just is of God and in God and their joy is of the truth 10 He that desireth true and everlasting glory careth not for that which is temporall and he that seeketh after temporall glory or contemneth it not from his heart is lesse in love with heavenly 11 He injoyeth great tranquility of mind that eareth not for the praises or dispraises of men he is easily content and pacified whose conscience is pure 12 Thou art not the more holy for being commended nor the more vile for being dispraised thou art what thou art neither canst thou be greater then what thou art in the sight of God 13 If thou consider what thou art within thee thou wilt not care what men say of thee man seeth but the face but God considereth the heart 14 Man looketh upon the deeds but God weigheth the intentions to doe alwaies well and to esteeme litle of thy selfe is a signe of an humble mind 15 To refuse to be comforted by any creature is a signe of great purity and inward confidence 16 He that seeketh a thing without himselfe to bear witnesse of himselfe it is plain he hath referred himselfe wholly unto God 17 For not he that commendeth himselfe the same is approved saith S. Paul but hee whom God commendeth 17 To walk inwardly with God and not to be possessed with any outward affection is the state of an inward and spirituall man CHAP. VII Of the love of Iesus above all things BLessed is he that understandeth what it is to love Iesus and to despise himselfe for Iesus sake 2 Thou oughest to leave thy beloved for thy beloved thy beloved sin for thy beloved Saviour for that Iesus will alone be beloved above all things 3 The love of the creature is deceiptfull and unconstant the love of Iesus is faithfull and permanent 4 He that cleaveth to creatures shall full with that which is ready to fall he that embraceth Iesus shall be fastned into him 5 Love him and keep him for thy friend who when all goe away will not forsake thee nor suffer thee to perish in the end 6 Prevent the world and begin to forsake it first before it forsake thee for thou must one day be left of all men whether thou wilt or no. 7 Stick thee close to Iesus both in life and death and commit thy selfe unto his trust who when all faile can alone helpe thee 8 Thy beloved is of that nature that he will none of that which appertaineth to others but will have thy heart alone and sit like a King in his owne throne 9 If thou couldest purge thy selfe perfectly of all creatures Iesus would willingly dwell with thee whatsoever confidence thou reposest in men without Iesus is all no better then lost 10 Trust not nor rely upon a reed full of wind for that all flesh is as grasse and all the glory thereof shall wither away as the flower of the field 11 Thou shalt quickly be deceived if thou look only to the outward shew of men and if in them thou seekest for comfort and commodity thou shalt instead thereof often feele losses and crosses 12 If thou seekest Jesus in all things thou shalt surely find Iesus but if thou seekest thy selfe thou shalt also find thy selfe but to thine own destruction 13 For man doth more hurt himselfe if he seeke not Iesus then the whole world and all his adversaries could annoy him CHAP. VIII Of familiar oonversation with IESVS VVHen Iesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth difficult but when Iesus is absent every thing is hard 2 When Iesus speaketh not inwardly unto us our comfort is nothing worth but if Iesus speak but one word we feele much consolation 3 Did not Mary Magdalen presently rise from the place where she wept when Martha said unto her Thy master is here and calleth thee 4 Happy is the houre when Iesus calleth from the teares of the eyes to the joy of the spirit How dry and hard art thou without Iesus How foolish and vaine if thou desire any thing out of Iesus Is not this a greater losse then if thou shouldest loose the whole world 5 What can the world profit thee without Iesus To be without Iesus is a grievous hell and to be with Iesus is a sweet Paradise 6 If Iesus be with thee no enemy can hurt thee he that findeth Iesus findeth a good treasure yea a good above all goods 7 And he that looseth Iesus looseth too much and more then the whole world He is most poore that liveth without Iesus and he most rich that is well with Iesus 8 It is a great skil to know how to converse with Iesus and a great wisdome to know how to keepe Iesus 9 Be humble and peaceable and Iesus will be with thee be devout and quiet and Iesus will stay with thee 10 Thou maist drive away Iesus and loose his grace if thou givest thy selfe to outward things 11 And if thou shouldest drive him from thee and loose him unto whom wilt thou fly and what friend wilt thou then seeke 12 Without a friend thou canst not well live and if Iesus be not above all a friend unto thee thou shalt be too too
sorrowful and desolate 13 Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or rejoyce in any other It is better for theâ— to have all the world against thee then Iesus offended with thee 14 Amongst all things therefore that be deare unto thee let Iesus alone be thy chiefest beloved 15 Love all for Iesus but Iesus for himselfe Iesus Châ—ist alone is especially to be beloved who alone is found to be good and faithfull above all friends 16 For him and in him let aswell friends as foes be deare unto thee and all these are to be prayed for that all may know and love him 17 Never desire to be singularly commended or beloved for that appertaineth only unto God who hath none like unto himselfe 17 Neither doe thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee nor doe thou set thy heart on the love of any but let Iesus be in thee and in every vertuous and good man 18 Be pure and free within and intangle not thy heart with any creaâ—â—re Thou oughtest to be as it were naked and carry a pure heart to God if thou wilt consider and prove and see how sweet our Lord is 19 And truly unlesse thou be prevented and drawen by his grace thou shalt never attaine to that happinesse to forsake and cast away all that thou alone maist be united to him alone 20 For when the grace of God commeth unto a man then he is strong and nothing is hard unto him and when it goeth away he is poore and weake and as it were left unto the will of whomsoever will afflict him 21 In this thou oughtest not to be dejected nor despaire but to resigne thy selfe with all indifferency unto the wâ—ll of God and to â—eare all things that befall thee for the glory of Christ. 22 For after winter followeth summer after night commeth day after a tempest faire weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is 〈◊〉 great matter to despise humane 〈◊〉 when we have divine or to negâ—â—â— divine when we have humane 2 It 〈…〉 and very much to be able to wanâ— both humane and divine comfort 2 And for the honour and glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of heart and to seeke himselfe in nothing nor to regard his owne good actions 3 What great matter is it if thou be cheerfull and devout at the comming of heavenly grace This houre is wâ—â—shed for of all men 4 He rideth easily whom the grace of God carrieth And what marvaile if he feele not his burden who is borne up by the Almighty and led by the greatest guide 5 We are alwaies willing to have something for our comfort and a man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy Martyr S. Laurence overcame the world with his Prelate 6 Because he despised whatsoever seemed delightsome in the world and for the love of Christ he patiently suffered the high Priest of God S. Siâ—tus to be taken from him whom he most loved 7 He overcame therefore the love of man by the love of the Creator and he rather chose the divine pleasure then humane comfort 8 See thou also learne to forsake some necessary thing and a beloved friend for the love of God 9 Be not grieved when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 10 A man must fight long and with a constant mind before he gâ—â— the victory and be able to place his whole heart in God 11 When a man trusteth in himselfe he easily slideth unto humane comforts 12 But a true lover of Christ and a diligent follower of vertue giveth not himselfe to such solace nor seeketh sensible sweetnesse but rather forcible exercises and to sustaine hard labours for Christ. 13 When therefore spirituall comfort is given thee from God receive it thankfully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine 14 Be not puffed up joy not too much neither doe thou presume vainly but be rather the more humble for that grace and more wary and fearefull in all thy actions for that houre will passe away and temptation will succeed 15 When consolation is taken from thee despaire not presently but with humility and patience attend the heavenly visitation for God is able againe to give thee greater consolation 16 This is not new nor strange unto them that have experience in the way of God for in the great Saints and ancient Prophets there was oftentimes such kind of alteration 17 For which cause one when he had grace said I said in my prosperity I shall never be removed 18 But when this was gone from him he addeth what he found in himselfe saying Thou turnedst thy face from me and I became troubled 19 Yet doth he not despaire in the midst of these changes but more earnestly prayeth unto our Lord and saith Vnto thee O Lord I will cry and I will pray unto my God 20 Lastly he receiveth the fruit of his prayer and witnesseth that he was heard saying Our Lord hath heard me and taken pity on me our Lord is become my helper 21 But wherein Thou hast turned saith he my sorrow into joy and thou hast compassed me about with gladnesse 22 If great Saints have been so dealt with all we that are poore and weake ought not to despaire if we be sometimes fervent and sometimes cold 23 For the spirit commeth and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will for which cause blessed Iob saith Thou visitest him early in the morning and suddainly thou provest him 24 Whereupon therefore can I hope or wherein ought I to trust but in the great mercy of God alone and in the onely hope of heavenly grace 25 For whether I enjoy the presence of good men or devout brethren or faithfull friends or holy Bookes or learned treatises or sweet songs and himmes 26 All these helpe litle and have litle savour when grace forsaketh me and I remaine left in my owne poverty 27 At such a time there is no better remedy then patience and the resigning of my selfe unto the will of God 28 I never found any so religious and devout that hath not had sometimes a with drawing of grace or felt not a decrease of fervour 29 There was never Saint so highly rapt and illuminated who first or last was not tempted 30 For he is not worthy of the high contemplation of God who hath not been exercised with some tribulation for God's sake 31 For temptation going before is wont to be a signe of ensuing comfort And unto those that are proved by temptations heavenly comfort is promised He that shall overcome saith he I will give him to eate of the tree of life 32 But divine comfort is given that a man may be stronger to beare adversities There followeth also temptation lest we should waxe proud of that good 33 The Divell sleepeth not neither is our flesh as yet dead
shall not then feare to heare the sentence of everlasting damnation 3 This signe of the Crosse shall be in heaven when our Lord shall come to Iudgment 4 Then all the servants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselves unto Christ crucified shall draw neere unto our Lord with great confidence 5 Why therefore fearest thou to take up the Crosse which leadeth thee to a Kingdome In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is protection against our enemies 6 In the Crosse is infusion of heavenly sweetnesse in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is joy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity 7 There is no health of the soule nor hope of everlasting life but in the Crosse. Take up therefore thy Crosse and follow Iesus and thou shalt goe into life everlasting 8 He is gone before bearing his Crosse and is dead for thee on the Crosse that thou maist also beare thy Crosse and desire to die on the Crosse with him 9 For if thou diest with him thou shalt also live with him and if thou be his companion in paine thou shalt be partaker with him also in glory 10 Behold in the Crosse all doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life upon it for there is no other way unto life and unto true inward peace but the way of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification 11 Goe where thou wilt seeke whatsoever thou wilt thou shalt not find a higher way above nor a safeâ—â— way below then the way of the holy Crosse. 12 Dispose and order all things according to thy will and judgment yet thou shalt ever find that of necessity thou must suffer some-what either willingly or against thy will 13 So as thou shalt never fully avoid the Crosse for either thou shalt feele paine in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 14 Sometimes thou shalt be forsaken of God sometimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbours and which is more oftentimes thou shalt be irksome to thy selfe 15 Neither canst thou be delivered or cased by any remedy or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it 16 For God will have thee learne to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholly to him and become more humble by tribulation 17 No man hath so lively a feeling of the Passion of Christ as he who hath chanced to suffer the like The Crosse therefore is alwaies ready and every where attendeth thee 18 Thou canst not escape it whither soever thou fliest for wheresoever thou goest thou carriest thy selfe about with thee and thou shalt ever find thy selfe 19 Turne thy selfe upward turne thy selfe downward turne thee within or turne thee without 20 Which way soever thou doest turn thee alwaies thou shalt find the Crosse. 21 And every where of necessity thou must have patience if thou wilt have inward peace and obtaine an everlasting Crowne 22 If thou beare the Crosse willingly it will beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shall be an end of suffering though here there shall not 23 If thou beare it unwillingly thou makest for thy selfe a new burthen and increasest thy load and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it doe what thou canst 24 If thou cast away one Crosse without doubt thou shalt find another and that perhaps a more heavy 25 Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could ever avoid which of the Saints in the world was without crosses and tribulations 26 Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was never one houre without paine of suffering so long as he lived Christ saith he ought to suffer and rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory 27 And how doest thou seeke any other way then this Kings high way which is the way of the holy Crosse 28 The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seeke rest and joy 29 Thou art deceived thou art deceived if thou seekest any other thing theÌ„ to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries and invironed on every side with crosses 30 And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heavier Crosses he oftentimes findeth for the love he beareth to God encreaseth the griefe which he endureth for his banishment 31 But yet this man though so many wayes afflâ—cted is not without the ease of consolation for the great good which he perceiveth to grow unto him by the bearing of his Crosse 32 For whilest he willingly putteth himselfe under it all the but then of tribulation is turned into the confidence of divine consolation 33 And how much the more the flesh is wasted by affliction by so much the more is the spirit strengthened by inward grace 34 And sometimes he is so strengthened with the â—eeling of tribulation and adversity for the love of conforming himselfe to the Crosse of Christ that he would not wish at any time to be without sorrow and tribulation 35 Because he beleeveth that so much the more acceptable he shall be unto God how much the more for number weight he can suffer for him 36 This is not the power of man but it is the grace of Christ that can and doth so much in fraile â—lesh that what naturally it alwaies abhorreth and flieth that by fervour of spirit it taketh hold on and loveth 37 It is not according to mans inclination to bear the Crosse to love the Crosse to chastise the body and bring it into subjection to shun promotion 38 To suffer contumelies with a joyfull heart to despise himselfee and to wish to be despised to beare all adversities and damages and to desire no prosperity in this world 39 But if thou depend upon thy selfe thou shalt be able to performe no such matter of thy selfe 40 But if thou trustest in our Lord strength shall be given thee from heaven and thou shalt subdue under thee both the world and the flesh 41 Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Divel if thou be armed with faith and rely upon Christ crucified 42 Resolve therefore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull servant of Christ to beare manfully the Crosse of thy Lord who out of love unto thee was crucified for thee 43 Prepare thy selfe to beare many adversities and diverse kinds of troubles in this miserable life for so it will be with thee wheresoever thou be and so surely thou wilt find it wheresoever thou hide thy selfe 44 So it must be and there is no remedy or meanes to avoid tribulation and sorrow but to beare them 35 Drink of the Cup of our Lord with a good affection if thou wilt be his friend and desirest to have part with him As touching consolation referre that to the will of God let him doe therein as shall best please him but yeeld thou thy selfe
to the bearing of adversity and account it as the greatest comfort 46 Set thou thy heart upon the suffering of tribulations and account them the greatest comforts 47 For that the passions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed although thou alone couldest suffer them all 48 When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation for Christ's sake shall seeme sweet and pleasant unto thee then think it is well with thee for thou hast found a Parradise upon earth 49 As long as it is grievous unto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to fly it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou fliest will follow thee every where 50 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 51 Although thou shouldest have been rapt even unto the third heaven with Paul thou art not by this secured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction 52 I saith IESVS will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name It resteth therefore that thou suffer for him if thou wilt love IESUS and perpetually serve him 53 O would to God thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Iesus how great glory would it be unto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour 54 For all doe commend patience thought few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a litle for Christ since many suffer far great things for the love of the world 55 Know for certaine that thou oughtest to lead a dying life And how much the more every one dieth to himselfe so much the more doth he begin to live unto God 56 No man is sit to attaine unto heavenly things unlesse he submit himselfe to the bearing of adversities for Christ. 57 Nothing is more gratefull unto God nothing more wholesome to thee in this world then to suffer willingly for Christ. 58 And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer adversities for Christ then to enjoy the delight of many comforts 59 Because by these meanes thou shouldst be more like unto Christ and more conformable to all Saints 60 For our good workes and the perfectioÌ„ of our estate consisteth not in much sweetnesse and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 61 If there had been any better thing and more profitable to the soules health then suffering surely Christ would have shâ—wed it by word and example 62 But he plainly exhorted all the disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse 63 And saith if any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take up his Crosse and follow me 64 So as when we have read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of God The end of the second Book OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I. Of the inward speech of Christ to a faithfull soule I Will heare what our Lord God will speake in me Blessed is the soule that heareth our Lord speaking in hâ—â— and receiveth from his mouth the word of comfort 2 Blessed are those eares that receive the sound of the divine voice and listen not to the whisperings of the world 3 Blessed indeed are those eares that hearken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but unto truth which teacheth inwardly 4 Blessed are the eyes that being shut up to outward things are attentive to those things that are within 5 Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeavour to prepare themselves more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of heavenly secâ—ets 6 Blessed be they that delight to attend the service of God and cast from them all impediments of this world 7 Consider these things my soule and shut up the doores of thy sensuall desires thâ—â— thou maist heare what thy Lord God â—â—eaketh in thee 8 Thus saith thy beloved I am thy safâ—â—y thy peace and thy life Keepe thy selfe withâ—â—e and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitâ—ry things and seeke those that be everlasting 9 What are all temporall things but deceiving snares and what doe all creatures availe thee if thou be forsaken by the Creator 10 Forsake therefore all earthly things and labour to please thy Creator and be faithful unto him that thou maist attaine unto true happinesse CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words SPeake Lord for thy servant heareth I am thy servant grant me understanding that I may know thy testimonies 2 Stir up my heart to heare the words of thy mouth let thy speech descend as the dew into my soule 3 The children of Israel in times past said unto Moses Speake thou unto us and we shall heare theâ—e let not our Lord speake unto us least perhaps we die 4 Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreat speake Lord for thy servant heareth 5 Let not Moses speake unto me nor any of the Pâ—ophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and enlightner of all the Prophets 6 For thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit me nothing 7 They can pronounce words but they give not spirit They speak marveilous well but if thou hold thy peace they inflame not the heart 8 They deliver the letters but thou openest the sense They bringforth mysteries but thou disclosest the understanding of sealed things 9 They declare thy commandements but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou givest strength to walke in it 10 They work only exteriorly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hearts They water outwardly but thou givest fruitfulnesse They sound forth wordes but thou givest understanding to the hearing 11 Let not therefore Moses speak unto me but thou my Lord God the everlasting truth lest perhaps I should dye and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly only and not enflâ—med within 12 Lest the word heard and not fulfilled knowen and not loved believed and not observed should increase my punishment 13 Speak therefore Lord for thy servant heareth for thou hast the words of everlasting life Speak unto me to the comfort of my soule and to the amendment of my whole life and to thy praise and glory and everlasting honour CHAP. III. â—hat the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not SOnne hear my words wordes of great comfort excelling all the knowledge of the Philosophers and wise men of this world 2 My wordes are spirit and life not to be wâ—ighed by the understanding of man Thâ—y are not to be drawn to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be received with all
Iesus shall be with me as a strong warrior and thou shalt remaine confounded 19 I had rather dye and undergoe any torment then to consent unto thee Hold thy peace and be silent I will hear thee no more though thou shouldest worke me many troubles 20 My Lord is my light and my salvation whom then shall I feare If whole armies should stand together against me my heart shall not feare Our Lord is my helper and my Redeemer 21 Fight like a good souldier and if thou sometimes fall through frailty take to thee a better heart then before trusting in my more aboundant grace and take great heed of arrogancy and selfe-conceit 22 For this cause many are led into errour and sometimes fall into blindnesse that is almost incurable 23 Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of their own strength serve thee for a warning and a perpetuall humiliation CHAP. VII That grace is to be hid under the veile of humility SOnne it is more profitable and safe for thee to hide the grace of devotion not to extoll thy selfe nor to speak much nor to esteeme much thereof but rather to despise thy selfe and fear it as given to one unworthy thereof 2 That affection is not to be cleared unto which may be quickly changed into the contrary Think when thou art in grace how miserable and needy thou art wont to be without it 3 Neither doth therein only conâ—ist the progresse of a spirituall life when thou hast the grace of comfort but when thou humbly and patiently canst suffer the with-drawing thereof 4 So that thou be not then lesse diligent in the exercise of prayer nor suffer thy selfe to passe over the rest of thy accustomed good works 5 But that thou willingly performe what lyeth in thee according as thou art able and understandest to be fit not neglecting thy selfe wholly for the drynesse and trouble of mind which thou feelest 6 There are many that when it succeedeth not well with them presently they become either impatient or negligent 7 The way of man is not alwaies in his power but belongeth to God to give and to comfort when he will how much he will and whom he will as it shall please him and no more 8 Some unadvised persons have overthrown themselves for the greedy desire which they had of the grace of devotion 9 Attempting more then they were able to performe not weighing the measure of their weaknesse but following rather the desire of their heart then the judgement of reason 10 And because they presumed on greater matters then was pleasing to God therefore they quickly lost their grace 11 They were made needy and left in a dejected estate that built themselves nests in heaven to the end that being humbled and impoverished they may learn not to fly with their own wings but to live in hope under my feathers 12 They that are yet new and unacquainted in the way of our Lord unlesse they governe themselves by the counsaile of the wise may easily be deceaved and overthrowne 13 And if they will rather follow their own judgement then give credit to others that are experienced their end will be dangerous if they cannot be drawn from their own conceipt 14 Seldome those that are wise in their own opinion suffer themselves humbly to be governed by others 15 A litle knowledge with humility and a slender understanding is better then great treasures of learning with a vaine selfe liking 16 It is better for thee to have lesse then much of that whereof thou maist be proud 17 He doth not discreetly that wholly giveth himselfe over to mirth forgetting his former poverty and the chast fear of God which feareth to loose the grace which hee hath obtained 18 Neither is he vertuously wise that in time of adversity or any tribulation whatsoever yeeldeth to despairing thoughts and thinketh and imagineth of theÌ„ lesse confidently then he ought 19 He that will be over secure in time of peace shall be often found too dejected and fearfull in time of warre 20 If thou couldest alwaies continue humble lowly within thy selfe and temper and governe thy soul well thou shouldest not so soone fall into danger and offence 21 It is good counsell that when thou conceavest fervor of spirit thou shouldest think what will become of thee when that light shall leave thee 22 And when that doth happen remember the light may returne again which for thy instruction my glory I have with-drawn for a time 23 Such proofe is often more profitable then if thou shouldest alwaies enjoy prosperity according to thy desire 24 For worth is 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 degrees but in that he is grounded in true humility and replenished with divine charity 25 If he alwaies purely and entirely seeke the honour of God if he esteeme himself nothing and with a sincere heart despise himselfe and rejoyce more to be humbled then honoured by others CHAP. VIII Of a meane conceipt of our selves in the sight of God SHall I speake unto my Lord sith I am dust and ashes If I esteeme better of my selfe behold thou standest against me and my iniquities beare true witnesse neither can I speake against it 2 But if I abase and esteeme nothing of my selfe and cast off all selfe-conceipt and as I am accompt my selfe to be dust 3 Thy grace will be favourable unto me and thy light will be neere unto my heart and all estimation how litle soever shall be swallowed up in the depth of my nothing and perish everlastingly 4 There thou shewest my selfe unto me what I am what I have been and whither I am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not 5 And if I be left to my selfe behold I become nothing and a masse of infirmity but if thou suddainly looke upon me I am presently made strong and filled with new joy 6 And it is a great marvaile that I am so suddainly lifted up and so graciously imbraced by thee that of mine owne weight alwaies sinke downeward 7 Thy love is cause hereof freely preventing me and relieving me in many necessities preserving me also from grievous dangers and as I may truly say delivering me from innumerable evils 8 For surely by evill loving my selfe I lost my selfe and by seeking theâ— alone and sincerely loving thee I have found both my selfe and thee and for thy love have more deeply brought my selfe to nothing 9 For that thou O most sweet Iesuâ— dealest with me above all desert and above all that I dare hope or request 10 Blessed be thou my God for although I be unworthy of all good yet the noblenesse of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnesse never ceaseth to doe good even to the ungratefull and to them that be turned away farre from thee 11 Turne us unto thee O Lord that we may be
gratefull humble and devout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be referred unto God as unto the last end SOone I ought to be thy chiefest and â—ast end if thou desire to be truly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinately to it selfe and unto creatures 2 For in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest up within thy selfe Direct therefore all things chiefly unto me for I am he that hath given all 3 Consider every thing as flowing from the highest good and therefore all things to be reduced unto me as untheir first beginning 4 Out of me as out of a living fountaine the litle and the great the poore and the rich doe draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serve me shall receive grace for grace 5 But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particular good shall not be grounded in true joy nor enlarged in his heart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned 6 Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe no good unto thy selfe nor attribute the praise of vertue unto any man but give all unto God without whom man hath nothing 7 I have bestowed all and will that all be returned to me againe and with great severity I require thanks 8 This is the truth that putteth to flight vain-glory And if heavenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no envy nor grudging of heart neither shall there be any place for selfe-love 9 For divine charity overcommeth all and enlargeth all the forces of the soule 10 If thou understand aright in me alone thou wilt rejoyce in me alone thou wilt hope for none is good but God alone who is to be praised above all and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serve God NOw I will speak againe Lord and will not be silent I will say its the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high 2 O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnesse Lord which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee 3 But what art thou to them that love thee What to them that serve thee with their whole heart 4 Truly unspeakable is the sweetnesse of thy contemplation which thou bestowest on them that love thee 5 In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnesse of thy charity for that when I was not thou madest me 6 And when I went astray farre off from thee thou broughtest me back againe that I might serve thee and hast commanded me to love thee 7 O fountaine of everlasting love what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me even when I withered away and perished 8 Thou hast used mercy with thy servant beyond all the expectation of my heart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit 9 What shall I returne unto thee for this grace For it is not granted to every one to forsake all things to renounce the world and to undertake a retired life Is it much that I serve thee whom all creatures are bound to serve It ought not to seeme much unto me to serve thee 10 But this rather seemeth much and marveilous unto me that thou vouchsafest to receive into thy service one so poore and unworthy and to joyne him with thy beloved servants 11 Behold all is thine which I have and whereby I serve thee and yet in very deed thou rather servest me then â— thee 12 Behold heaven and earth which thou hast created for the service of man are ready at hand and doe daily performe whatsoever thou dost command 13 And this is litle yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the service of man but that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serve man and promised to give thy selfe unto him 14 What shall I give thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serve thee all the daies of my life 15 I would I were able at least for one day to doe thee some worthy and acceptable service Thou art truly worthy of all service of all honour and everlasting praise 16 Thou art my Lord and I thy poor servant that am bound to serve thee with all my forces neither ought I ever to cease to praise thee 17 And this I wish to doe this I desire and whatsoever is wanting unto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 18 It is a great honour a very great glory to serve thee and to despise all things for thee For great grace shall be given to them that shall willingly submit themselves unto thy most holy service 19 They shall receive most sweet comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy love shall renounce all carnall delights 20 They shall attaine great freedome of mind that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall have left off all the care of this world 21 O sweet and delightfull servitude of God by which man is truely made fâ—ee and holy 22 O sacred state of religious bondage vvhich maketh man equall to Angels pleasing to God terrible to Divels and acceptable to all the faithfull 23 O service to be embraced and alwaies wished for by which we obtain the greatest good and attaine to that joy which never shall have end CHAP. XI That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated SOnne thou oughtest to learne many things more which thou hast not yet â—ell learned 2 What are those Lord 3 That thou frame thy desire wholly according to my pleasure and be not a lover of thy self but a diligenâ—â— follower of my will 4 Thy desires oftentimes doe stirrâ— thee up and drive thee forwards with violence but consider whether thou arâ— mooved rather for my honour then for thine owne profit 5 If I be the cause thou wilt be well content with whatsoever I shaâ—â— ordaine but if there lurk in thee any selfe-inclination behold this is it that hindreth thee and weigheth theâ— downe 6 Beware therefore thou incline not too much towards any desire that commeth to thy mind before thou aske my counsaile 7 Lest perhaps afterwards it repent thee and that thou begin now to dislike that which before did please thee and which thou earnestly desiredst at the best 8 For every affection that seemeth good is not presently to be followed nor every contrary affection at the first to be fled 9 It is expedient sometimes to use a restraint even in good desires and endeavours 10 Least by importunity thou incur distractioÌ„ of mind by evill example become a scandall unto others or being gainsaid by others thou be suddainly troubled and fall 11 Yet sometimes thou oughtest to use violence and resist manfully thy sensuall appetites and respect not what the body would or would not but rather to labour that even perforce
11 Alas what a kind of life is this where tribulations and miseries are never wanting where all is set with snares and compassed with enemies 12 For when one tribulation oâ— temptation goeth away another commeth yea and during the first conflict also many others come unlooked for one after another 13 And how can a life be loved that hath so many afflictions and is subject to so many calamities and miseries 14 How is it called a life that begetteth so many deaths and plagues And yet it is loved and many seeke to delight themselves therein 15 The world is oftentimes blamed that it is deceiptfull and vaine and yet it is not easily forsaken because the inclinations of our flesh doe too much over-rule us 16 Some things draw us to love it others to contemne it To the love of the world doe draw us the concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life 17 But the paines miseries that doe justly follow them cause a hatred and loathsomnesse thereof 18 But alas wicked pleasure overcommeth the mind which is given over to the world and shee esteemeth it a delight to be under thornes because she hath neither seene nor tasted the sweetnesse of God and the inward delight of vertue 19 But they that perfectly contemne the world and endeavour to live to God under holy discipline 20 These are not ignorant of the divine sweetnesse promised to the true forsakers of the world and doe more cleerely see how grievously the world erreth and how it is many waies deceaved CHAP. XXI That we are to rest in God above all his gifts ABove all things and in all things my soule thou shalt ever rest in God for he is the everlasting rest of the saints 2 Grant me most sweet loving Iesu to rest in thee above all creatures above all health and beauty above all glory and honour 3 Above all power and dignity above all knowledge and learning above all riches and arts above all joy and gladnesse 4 Above all fame and praise above all sweetnesse and comfort above all hope and promise above all merit and desire 5 Above all gifts and presents that thou canst give and impart unto us above all joy and jubily that the mind of man can receive and feele 6 Lastly above Angels and Archangels and above all the heavenly Host above all visible and invisible things and above all that thou my God art not 7 For that thou my Lord God surpassest all thou alone art most high thou alone most powerfull thou alone most full and sufficient thou alone most sweet and comfortable 8 Thou alone most beautifull and loving thou alone most noble and glorious above all things in whom all good things together both perfectly are and ever have been and shall be 9 And therefore it is too litle and not sufficient whatsoever thou bestowest on me besides thy selfe or revealest unto me of thy selfe or promisest whiles thou art not seen and not fully obtained 10 For surely my heart cannot rest nor be fully contented unlesse it rest in thee and surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoever 11 O my most beloved spouse Christ Iesus the most chast lover the governour of all creatures who will give me wings of true liberty to fly and rest in thee 12 O when shall it be fully graunted me to consider in quietnes of mind and see how sweet thou my Lord God art 13 When shall I fully recollect my selfe in thee that for thy love I may not feele my selfe but thee alone above all sense and feeling in a manner not commonly known 14 But now I oftentimes lament and bear my infelicity with griefe 15 For that many evills occurre in this vale of miseries which doe often trouble grieve and darken mee 16 Often hinder and distract me allure and intangle mee 17 To the end I should not have free accesse unto thee and that I should not enjoy those sweet and heavenly imbracings which thou alwaies givest to the blessed and celestiall spirits Let my sighs and manifold desolation on earth moove thee 18 O Iesus splendor of eternall glory comfort of the pilgrime soule with thee is my tongue without voyce and my silence speaketh unto thee 19 How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come unto me his poore servant and make mee glad 20 Let him put out his hand and deliver me miserable wretch from all anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall have no joyfull day nor houre 21 Thou art my joy and without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and Ioaden with irons 22 Vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and givest me liberty and shewest a favourable countenance unto me 23 Letothers seek what they please insteed of thee but for mee nothing else doth nor shall delight mee but thou only my God my hope my everlasting health 24 I will not hold my peace nor cease to pray untill thy grace returne againe and thou speak inwardly unto mee 25 Behold I am here behold I come unto thee because thou hast called upon mee 26 Thy teares and the desire of thy soule thy humility and the contrition of thy heart have inclined and brought me unto thee 27 And I said Lord I have called thee and have desired to enjoy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me up that I might seeke thee 28 Blessed be thou therefore O Lord that hast shewed this goodnes to thy servant according to the multitude of thy mercies 29 What hath thy servant more to say before thee but that he doe greatly humble himselfe in thy sight and be alwaies mindfull of his owne iniquity and basenesse 30 For there is none like unto thee in all whatsoever is wonderfull in heaven and earth Thy wordes are good thy judgements true and by thy providence all things are governed 31 Praise therefore and glory be unto thee O wisdome of the eternall Father let my tongue my soule and all creatures together praise and blesse thee CHAP. XXII Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God OPen O Lord my heart in thy Law and teach me to walke in thy commandements 2 Grant me to understand thy will and to remember thy benefits as well in generall as in particular with great reverence and diligent consideration that henceforward I may be able worthily to give thee thanks 3 But I know and confesse that I am not able to give thee due thanks for the favours which thou bestowest upon me even in the least moment 4 I am lesse then the least of all thy benefits bestowed upon me and when I consider the excellency of thy Majesty the greatnesse there of maketh my spirit to faint 5 All that we have in our soule body and whatsoever we possesse outwardly or inwardly naturally or spiriuallyl are thy benefits doe praise
not better thy selfe For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find that which thou soughtest to fly and perhaps more A Praier for clensing the heart and obtaining of heavenly wisdome COnfirme me Lord with the grace of thy holy spirit Give me force to strengthen my inward man and to purge my heart from all unprofitable care and griefe 2 Not to be drawne away with sundry desires of any thing either litle or great but to consider all things how they are transitory and doe quickly fade and that I my selfe doe also passe away together with them 3 For nothing is permanent under the sun where all things are vanity and affliction of mind O how wise is he that so considereth them 4 Grant me Lord heavenly wisdome that I may learne above all things to seeke and find thee above all things to delight in thee and to love thee and to think of all created things as they are according to the disposition of thy wisdome 5 Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me 6 It is great wisdome not to be moved with every blast of words nor to give eare to dangerous flattery for so we shall goe one securely in the way which we have begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the tongue of Slanderers SOnne be not grieved if some think evill of thee and speake that which thou doest not willingly heare 2 Thou oughtest to judge the worst of thy selfe and to think no man weaker then thy selfe If thou walke well inwardly thou wilt not much esteeme of flying words abroad 3 It is no small wisdome to be silent in time of evill and inwardly to turne to me and not to be troubled with the judgment of men 4 Let not thy peace be in the tongues of men For whether they judge well or evill thou art neverthelesse alwaies the same 5 Where is true peace and true glory Is it not in me And he that coveteth not to please men nor feareth to displease them shall enjoy much peace 6 From inordinate love and vaine feareth ariseth all disquietnesse of the heart and distraction of the senses CHAP. XXIX How we ought to call upon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere BLessed O Lord be thy name for ever since it pleaseth thee that this temptation and tribulation should fall upon me 2 I cannot fly it but have need to fly to thee that thou maist helpe me and turne it to my good 3 Lord I am now afflicted and it is not well with me I am much troubled with this present griefe 4 And now deare Father what shall I say I am taken in narrow straits save me from this houre yet therefore came I into this houre that thou maist be glorified when I shall be greatly humbled and by thee delivered 5 Let it please thee Lord to deliver me for poore wretch that I am what can I doe and whither shall I goe without thee 6 Grant patience Lord even this time also Help me my God and then I will not feare how much soever I be oppressed 7 And now in this what shall I say Lord thy will be done I have wel deserved to be afflicted and grieved 8 Surely I ought to beare it and I would to God I might beare it with patience untill the tempest be passed over and it become calme 9 But thy omnipotent hand is able to take this temptation from me and to asswage the violence thereof that I utterly sink not under it as oftentimes heretofore thou hast done unto me my Lord my Mercy 10 And how much the more hard it is to me so much the more easie is this change of thy mighty hand to thee CHAP. XXX Of craving the divine aide and confidence of recovering grace SOnne I am thy Lord who doe use to give comfort in the day of tribulation Come unto me when it is not well with thee 2 This is that which most of all hindreth heavenly consolation that thou art slow in turning thy selfe unto praier 3 For before thou doest earnestly commend thy selfe to me thou seekest many comforts and delightest thy selfe in outward things 4 And hence it proceedeth that all doth litle profit thee untill thou consider that I am he that deliver those that trust in me 5 And that out of me there is neither powerfull help nor profitable counsell nor remedy that can continue 6 But now thou having recovered breath after the tempest gather strength againe in the light of my mercies 7 For I am at hand saith our Lord to repaire all things not only entirely but also abundantly in a very plentifull measure 8 Is there any thing hard to me or am I like unto him that promiseth and performeth not 9 Where is thy faith Be firme and constant take courage and be patient comfort will be given thee in due time 10 Attend me expect I will come and cure thee It is a temptation that vexeth thee and a vaine feare that affrighteh thee 11 What else doth the care for future incertainties bring thee but sorrow upon sorrow Sufficient for the day is the evill thereof 12 It is a vaine and unprofitable thing to be grieved or to rejoyce for future things that perhaps will never happen 13 But it is incident to man to be deluded with such imaginations and a signe of litle courage to be so easily drawne away by the suggestion of the enemy 14 For he careth not so he delude and deceive thee whether it be true or false which he proposeth whether he overthrow thee with the love of present or the feare of future things 15 Let not therefore thy heart be troubled neither doe thou feare Believe in me and put thy trust in my mercy 16 When thou thinkest thy selfe furthest off from me oftentimes I am neerest unto thee 17 When thou judgest that almost all is lost then oftentimes greatest hope of obtaining is at hand All is not lost when any thing falleth out contrary unto thee 18 Thou must not judge according to that which thou feelest for the present nor give thy selfe over to any griefe from whence soever it commeth as though all hope of delivery were quite gone 19 Think not thy selfe wholly left although for a time I have sent thee some tribulation or withdrawne thy desired comfort for this is the way to the Kingdome of heaven 20 And without doubt it is more expedient for thee and the rest of my servants that ye be exercised with many adversities then that yee should have all things according to your desires 21 I know the secret thoughts of thy heart and that it is very expedient for thy soules health that thou be left sometimes without tast and feeling of spirituall sweetnesse 21 Least perhaps thou shouldest be puffed up with good successe and shouldest please thy selfe in that which thou art not 22 That which I have given I can take away and restore it againe when I please 5 When I give
with patience humility against evill tongues and such as thought vanities and lies and spake what they listed 7 Yet sometimes notwithstanding he answered lest the weake might have received scandall by his silence 8 Who art thou that fearest mortal man to day he is and to morrow he is not seene Feare God and the terrour of men shall not trouble thee 9 What harme can the words or injuries of any doe thee he rather hurteth himselfe then thee neither can he avoid the Iudgments of God be lie what he will 10 Have thou God before thine eyes and contend not with complaining words 11 I am able to deliver thee from all shame and wrong and to repray every one according to their workes 12 And if for the present thou seemest to be trodden downe and to suffer shame and confusion without desert doe not repine neither doe thou lessen thy crowne by thy impatience but rather lift up thine eyes to mee in hea CHAP. XXXVII Of a full and pure resignation of our selves for the obtaining freedome of heart SOnne leave thy selfe and thou shalt find me Make choice of nothing appropriate nothing to thy selfe and thou shalt ever gaine 2 For greater grace shall alwaies he given thee when thou doest perfectly resigne thy selfe and not turne back to take thy selfe againe 3 Lord how often shall I resigne my selfe and wherein shall I forsake my selfe Alwaies and in every thing as well in litle as in great 4 I doe accept nothing but doe require that thou be as it were naked and void of all things 5 Otherwise how canst thou be perfectly mine and I thine unlesse both within and without thou be free from all selfe-will 6 And how much the sooner thou doest this so much the better shalt thou find thy selfe and how much the more fully sincerely thou doest it so much the more shalt thou please me and so much the more shalt thou gaine 7 Some there are that resigne themselves but with some exception For they put not their whole trust in God and therefore doe labour to provide for themselves 8 Some also at the first doe offer all but afterwards being affailed with temptations doe returne againe to that which they had left and therefore they goe not afterwards in the way of vertue 9 These shall not attaine to the true liberty of a pure heart nor to the grace of my divine familiarity unlesse they first make an entire resignation and offer themselves a daily sacrifice unto me 10 For without this can never be obtained the union with me wherewith my Saints enjoy me 11 I have often said unto thee and now againe I say the same Forsake thy selfe resigne thy selfe and thou shalt enjoy great internall peace 12 Give all for all seeke nothing require nothing repose thy selfe purely and with a full confidence in me and I will give my selfe unto thee and darknesse shall not cover thee 13 Let this be thy whole endeavour let this be thy praier let this be thy desire 14 That casting off all proprietie thou maist all naked follow thy naked Saviour Iesus and dying to thy selfe maist live eternally to me 15 Then shall vaine fantasies evil perturbations and all superfluous cares fly away then shall immoderate feare leave thee and inordinate love shall die CHAP. XXXVIII Of good government of outward things and of recourse to God in dangers SOnne thou oughtest with all diligence to procure that in every place and action or externall businesse thou be inwardly free and master of thy self and that all things be under thy disposition and thou not subject to them 2 That thou maist be Lord and Master of thy actions not a servant or a hireling but rather a freeman and a true Hebrew belonging to the lot and freedome of the Sons of God 3 Who put the things that are present under their feet and place their thoughts on that which is eternall who look on transitory things with the left eye and with the right doe behold the things of heaven 4 Who depend not upon temporall things but make such things depend upon them and serve them 5 As they are ordained by God and appointed by the Creator of all who hath left nothing in his creatures without due order 6 If thou remaine firme and stedfast in all events and doest not weigh by the outward appearance nor with a carnall eye the things which thou seest and hearest 7 But presently in every occasion doest enter with Moses into the Tabernacle to aske counsell of our Lord thou shalt sometimes heare the divine and celestiall oracle and shalt returne instructed of many things both present and to come 8 Moses had alwaies recourse to the Tabernacle for the deciding of all doubts and obscure questions and fied to the help of praier for the remedy of the iniquity and dangers of men 9 So oughtest thou in like manner to fly to the closet of thy heart earnestly craving the divine favour 10 For the Scripture testifieth that therefore was Iosue and the children of Israell deceived by the Giboanites because they consulted not first with God but giving too lightly credit to faire words were deluded with counterfeit piety CHAP. XXXIX That a man be not over earnest in his affaires SOn 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 2 Lord I doe most willingly commit all unto thee for my care can profit litle O that I cleaved not too much to future events but oftered my selfe with all readinesse of mind to thy divine pleasure 3 Sonne oftentimes a man doth earnestly labour for that which he desireth and when he hath gotten it he beginneth to be of another mind and not to esteeme so much of it as before he did 4 For mans affections doe not long continue fixed on one thing but doe passe from one to another 5 It is therefore a matter not of least moment to forsake our selves even in the least things 6 The true spirituall profit of man consisteth in denying and forsaking of himselfe and he that is thus resigned up liveth in great freedome and securitie 7 But the ancient enemie who alwaies laboureth to withstand the servants of God omitteth at no time his wonted temptations but day and night lieth still in waite to cast the unwary if he can into the snare of deceipt Watch therefore and pray saith our Lord that you enter not into temptation CHAP. XL. That man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing whereof he can glory LOrd what is man that thou art mindfull of him or the son of man that thou vouchsafest to visit him What hath man deserved that thou shouldest give him thy grace 2 Lord what cause have I to complaine if thou forsake me or if thou dost not that which I desire what can I justly say against it 3 Surely this I may truly think and say Lord I am
the world nor the world perfectly crucified to thee 7 But give diligent eare to my words and thou shalt litle respect ten thousand words spoken by men 8 Behold if all should be spoken against thee that could be most maliciously invented what would it hurt thee if thou sufferedst it to passe and madest no reckoning at all of it Could all those words pluck as much as one haire from thy head 9 But he that hath not his heart within him nor God before his eyes is easily moved with every litle dispraise when as he that trusteth in me and trusteth not in his own judgement shall be free from humane feares 10 For I am the Iudge and discerner of all secrets I know how the matter passed I know him that offereth the injury and him that suffereth it 11 From me hath this word proceeded this hath happened by my permission that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed 12 I shall judge the guilty and the innocent but by a secret judgement I would before hand try them both 13 The testimony of men oftentimes deceaveth my judgement is alwaies true it shall stand and not be overthrowne 14 It is commonly hidden and secret and not known in every thing but to few notwithstanding it never erreth neither can it erre although to the eyes of the foolish it seemes not right 15 Men ought therefore to return to me in every judgement and not to stand in their owne opinions 16 For the just man will not be troubled whatsoever happeneth unto him from God and if any thing be wrongfully brought forth against him he will not much care neither will he vainely be glad if by others he be with reason excused 17 For he considereth that I am he that searcheth the heart and reines and doe judge not according to the outward face nor humane apparence 18 For that is oftentimes found â—ulpable in my sight that in the judgement of men is thought to be commendable 19 O Lord my God the just Iudge strong and patient thou knowest the frailty and perversity of man be thou my strength and all my trust for mine own conscience sufficeth me not 20 Thou knowest that which I cannot reach unto and therefore in every reprehension I ought to have submitted my selfe and to have borne iâ— patiently 21 Vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I have failed herein and give me againe grace of greateâ— sufferance 22 For thy bountifull mercy is more availeable to me for the obtaining of pardon then my conceaved justice for the defence of my hidden conscience 23 Although my conscience accuse me not yet I cannot hereby justify my selfe for if thy mercy be away â—o man living shall be justified in thy â—ight CHAP. XLVII That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting SOnne let not the paines dismay thee which thou hast undertaken for me neither be thou discomforted for the tribulations which doe befall thee but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in all events 2 I am able to reward thee above all measure Thou shalt not long toyle here nor alwaies be oppressed with griefe attend a while and thou shalt see a speedy end of thy evils 3 There will come an houre wheâ— all labour and trouble shall cease Litlâ— and short is all that passeth away with time 4 Doe as thou doest labour faithfully in my vineyard I will be thy reward Write read sing mourne keepe silence pray suffer crosses manfully life everlasting is worthy of all these and greater combats 5 Peace shall come in the day which is knowne unto our Lord and â—here shall be no day nor night to wit of this time but everlasting light infinite brightnesse stedfast peace and secure rest 6 Then thou shalt not say who shall deliver me from the body of this death nor cry woe be unto me for that my dwelling in a strange country is prolonged 7 For death shall be throwne downe and health shall be without decay no anxiety blessed joy sweet and glorious company 8 O if thou hadst seene the everlasting crowne of the Saints in heaven and with how great glory they now rejoyce who in times past were conâ—â—mptible to this worldâ— and esteemed unworthy of life it selfe 9 Truly thou wouldest presently humble thy selfe even unto the earth and wouldst rather seeke to be under the feet of all then to have command so much as over one 10 Neither wouldest thou desire the pleasant daies of this life but rather rejoyce to be afflicted for Godâ— and esteeme it thy greatest gaine to be reputed as nothing amongst men 11 O if thou hadst a feeling of these things and didst suffer them to enter into the depth of thy heart how durst thou so much as once to complaine 12 Are not all painfull labours to be endured for everlasting life It is no small matter to loose or to gaine the Kingdome of heaven 13 Lift up thine eyes therefore unto heaven behold I and all my Saints with me who in this world had great conflicts doe now rejoyce now are comforted now are secure now doe rest and shall remaine with me everlastingly in the Kingdome of my Father CHAP. XLVIII Of the everlasting day and shortnesse of this life O Most blessed mansion of the heavenly City O most cleare day of eternity which night obscureth not but the highest truth ever enlightneth day ever pleasant ever secure and never changing into a contrary state 2 O that that day would once appeare and all these temporall things were at an end 3 To the Saints it shineth glistering with everlasting brightnesse but to those that are Pilgrims upon earth it appeareth only a farre off and as it were through a glasse 4 The inhabitants of heaven doe know how joyfull that day is but the banished children of Eve bewaile the bitternesse and tediousnesse of this 5 The daies of this life are short and evill full of sorrow and anguish where man is defiled with many sinnes incumbred with many passions disquieted with many feares filled with many cares 6 Distracted with many curiosities intangled with many vanities compassed a bout with many errours worne away with many labours vexed with temptations weakned with delights tormented with want 7 O when shall these evils be at an end When shall I be delivered from the miserable bondage of sin When shall I think O Lord of thee alone 8 When shall I perfectly rejoyce in thee When shall I be free from all impediments in true liberty without all griefe of mind and body 9 When shall I have firme peace peace secure and without trouble peace within and without pence every way assured 10 O good Iesu when shall I stand to behold thee When shall I contemplate the glory of thy Kingdome 11 When wilt thou be unto me all in all things O when shall I be with thee in thy Kingdome which thou hast prepared for thy beloved from before all worlds 12 I am left
weake deceiveth him and doth verily more shame him while he doth vainely praise him 33 For how much every one is in thy sight O Lord so much he is and no 〈◊〉 saith humble S. Francis CHAP. LI. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in workes of humilitie when force is wanting for higher exercises SOnne thou art not able alwaies to continue in the fervent desire of vertue nor to persist in the high pitch of heavenly contemplation 2 But thou must sometimes of necessity by reason of originall corruption descend to inferior things and beare the burthen of this corruptible life though unwillingly and with griefe 3 As long as thou cariest a mortall body thou shalt feele great trouble heavinesse of heart 4 Thou oughtest therefore in the flesh oftentimes to bewaile the burthen of the flesh for that thou canst not alwaies persevere in spirituall exercises and divine contemplation 5 It is then expedient for thee to flye to humble and exteriour workes and to refresh thy selfe with good and vertuous actions 6 To expect with a firme confidence my coÌ„ming heavenly visitation to beare patiently thy banishment and the drinesse of thy minde untill I visit thee againe and deliver thee from all anxiety 7 For I will make thee forget thy paines and enjoy inward quietnesse 8 I will lay open before thee the pleasant fields of holy Scripture â—haâ— with an enlarged heart that maist begin to run the way of my commandements 9 And thou shalt say that the sufferings of this time are not worthy of the glory to come that shall be revealed in us CHAP. LII That a man ought to esteeme himselfe unworthy of comfort and to have deserved stripes LOrd I am not worthy of thy comfort noâ— of any spirituall visitation and therefore thou dealest justly with me when thou leavest me poore and desolate Though I could powre out even a sea of teares yet I were not worthy of thy comfort 2 For alas I deserve nothing but to be scourged and punished in that I have grievously and often offended thee and sinned in many things 3 All things therefore duly considered I am not worthy even of the least comfort 4 But thou mild and mercifull God who wilt not that thy works doe perish to shew the riches of thy goodnesse upon the vessels of mercy even beyond all mine own merit vouchsafest to comfor thy servant above humane measure 5 For thy heavenly consolations are not like humane communications and in comparison of thee we are miserable comforters 6 What have I done O Lord that thou shouldest bestow upon me any heavenly comfort 7 I remember I have done no good at all but have been alwaies prone to sinne and slothfull in my amendment 8 It is so true that I cannot deny â—it if I should say otherwise thou wouldest plead against me and there would be none to defend me 9 What have I deserved for my sinnes but hell and everlasting fire 10 I confesse in the truth of my heart that I am worthy of all scoâ—ne and contempt and it is unfit that I should be remembred amongst thy holy ones 11 And although I be unwilling to heare this yet notwithstanding for the love of truth I will lay open my sinnes against my selfe that I may the better obtaine mercy at thy hands 12 What shall I say being guilty and full of all confusion I have nothing to say but this I have sinned Lord I have sinned have mercy on me pardon and forgive me 13 Suffer me a litle that I may bewaile my griefe before I goe unto the land of darknesse and be covered with the shadow of death 14 What dost thou require of a guilty and miserable sinner â—ut that he be contrite and sorrowfull and doe humble himselfe for his sinnes 15 In true contrition and humblenesse of heart is bred a hope of forgivenesse a troubled conscience is reconciled againe grace lost is restored man is defended from future wrath God and the penitent soule meet together in a holy kisse 16 Humble contrition for â—innes is an acceptable sacrifice unto thee O Lord savouring much sweeter in thy nostrils then the perfume of frankiâ—sence 17 This is also the pleasant oyntment which thou wouldest have powred upon thy sacred feet for thou never despisest a contrite and humble heart 18 There is a place of refuge from the angry face of the enemy there is amended and washed away whatsoever elsewhere was polluted and defiled CHAP. LIII That the grace of God is not given to those that savour of earthly things SOnne my grace is precious it suffereth not it selfe to be mingled witâ— externall things nor earthly comforts Thou oughtest therefore to cast away all hinderances of grace if thou desire to receave the infusion thereof 2 Choose therefore a secret place to thy selfe love to live alone with thy selfe desire the conversation of none but rather powre out devout prayers unto God that thou maist keep thy minde compunct and thy conscience pure 3 Esteem the whole world as nothing preferre my service before all outward things for thou canst not altend unto me and be delighted also in transitory vanities 4 Thou oughtest to sequester thy selfe from thy acquaintance and friends and to keep thy mind deprived of all temporall comfort 5 So the blessed Apostle Peter required that the faithfull of Christ should keep themselves as strangers pilgrims in this world 6 O how great a confidence shall he have at the houre of death whom no affection to any earthly thing detained in the world 7 But the weak minde is not yet capable of so retired a heart neither doth the fleshly person understand the freedome of a reâ—ollected minde 8 Notwithstanding if he will be truly spirituall he ought to renounce as well those which are farre off as those which are neere unto him and to beware of no man more then of himselfe 9 If thou perfectly overcome thy selfe thou shalt with more ease subdue the rest It is a glorious victory to triumph over our selves 10 For he that keepeth himselfe subject in such sort that his sensuality be subdued to reason and reason in all things be obedient to me he is truly a conquerour of himselfe and Lord of the world 11 If thou desire to mount unto this height of perfection thou must begin manfully and set the axe to the root that thou maist pluck up and destroy thy hidden and inordinate inclination to thy selfe and unto all private and earthly good 12 Of this vice that man too inordinately loveth himselfe almost all dependeth whatsoever is wholy to be overcome which being once overcome and subdued there will presently ensue great peace and tranquillity 13 But for that few endeavour perfectly to dye unto themselves and do forsake themselves wholly therefore they remaine intangled in themselves and cannot be lifted up in spirit above themselves 14 But he that desireth to walke freely with mee it is necessary that he mortify all his
inordinate affections and not adhere unto any creature by private love CHAP. LIV. Of the different motions of Nature and Grace SOnne marke diligently the motions of thine own nature and my grace for in every contrary and secret manaer these are mooved and can hardly â—e discerned but by him that is spirituall and inwardly enlightned 2 All men desire that which is good and pretend some good in all their words and deeds and therefore under pretence of good many are deceaved 3 Nature is deceiptfull and seduceth intangleth and deceaveth many and alwaies proposeth her selfe for her end 4 But grace walketh with great sincerity and avoideth all shew of evill pretendeth not deceipts and doth all things purely for Gods sake in whom also she finally resteth 5 Nature will not willingly dye nor be kept in nor overcome nor be subject to any nor be subdued 6 But grace laboureth to mortify her selfe resisteth sensuality seeketh to be subject is willing to be overcome and will not use her own liberty 7 She loveth to be kept under discipline and desireth not to rule any but alwaies to live and remaine wholly subject unto God and for God iâ— ready humbly to bow unto all men 1 Nature striveth for her own commodity and considereth what profit she may reap by another 9 But grace considereth not what is profitable and commodious unto hef selfe but rather what is profitable 〈◊〉 many 10 Nature willingly receaveth honour and reverence but grace faithâ—fully attributeth all honour and glory â—nto God 11 Nature feareth shame contempt but grace rejoyceth to suffer reproach for the name of Iesus 12 Nature loveth idlenesse and bodily rest but grace cannot be idle out willingly imbraceth labour 13 Nature seeketh to have those â—hings that be cuâ—ious and precious abhorreth that which is meane and base 14 But grace delighteth in plaine and humble things despiseth not course and meane nor refuseth to weare that which is old and torne 16 Nature respecteth the things of this world rejoyceth at earthly gain â—orroweth for losse is moved with every injurious word 17 But grace thinketh on that which is everlasting and cleaveth not â—o that which fadeth with time she is â—ot troubled with losse nor exasperaâ—ed with injuries for that she hath plaâ—ed her treasure and joy in heaven where nothing perisheth 18 Nature is covetous and doth â—ore willingly receave then give she â—â—veth to have things proper and priâ—ate 19 But grace is pitifull liberall to all avoideth singularity is content with a little thinketh it happier to give then to receive 20 Nature inclineth to creatures yeeldeth to her own flesh followeth vanities and listneth to discourses 21 But grace draweth unto God and seeketh after vertues renounceth creatures flieth the world hateth the desires of the flesh restraineth wandrings abroad blusheth to be seen in publike 22 Nature is willing to have some outward comfort wherein she may delight her senses 23 But grace seeketh comfort in God alone and delighteth above all visible things in the highest good 24 Nature worketh all for her own gaine and profit she can doe nothing freely but for bestowed benefits she hopeth to obtaine either that which is equall or better either praise or favour and coveteth to have her works and gifts much esteemed 25 But grace seeketh no temporall thing nor asketh any other reward â—or her desâ—rts then God alone nor desireth more of temporall necessaries then what may serve her for the obtaining of everlasting glory 26 Nature rejoyceth to have many friends and kinsfolkes she glorieth of Noble birth and descent pleaseth the powerfull fawneth upon the rich applaudeth those that are like her selfe 27 But grace loveth her enemies and is not puffed up with multitude of friends nor esteemeth place or birth but where it is joyned with greater vertue 28 Shee rather favoureth the poore then the rich hath more compassion of the innocent then the powerfull rejoyceth in the simple and respecteth not the deceiptfull exhorteth ever the good to labour for the better gifts and by vertue to resemble the sonne of God 29 Nature quickly complayneth of any want and trouble grace constantly suffereth all kind of need Nature turneth all things to her selfe striveth and contendeth for her selfe 30 But grace reduceth all to God from whence originally they proceed she ascribeth no good to her selfe neither doth she arrogantly presume of her selfe 31 She contendeth not nor preferreth her opinion before others but in every sense and understanding submitteth her selfe to the eternall wisdome and to the divine judgement 32 Nature coveteth to know secrets and to hear newes she will appeare abroad and make proofe of many things by the experience of her own senses she desireth to be known and to doe those things for which she may be praised and admired 33 But grace careth not for hearing newes nor to understand curious matters for that all this springeth from the ancient disorder of our corrupt nature seeing there is nothing new or durable upon earth 34 She teacheth therefore to restraine the senses to avoid vaine pleasing and ostentation humbly to hide those things that are worthy of praise and admiration and of every thing and every knowledge to seeke profitable fruit and the praise and honour of God 35 She will not have her selfe nor hers publikely praised but desireth that God should be blessed in his gifts who of meere charity bestoweth all things 36 This grace is a supernaturall light and a certain speciall gift of God and a proper marke of the elect and a pledge of everlasting salvation 37 Which lifteth up a man from earthly basenesse to love the things of heaven and of a carnall maketh him a spirituall person 39 How much the more therefore nature is depressed subdued so much the greater grace is infused and the inward man daily by new visitations more reformed according to the image of God CHAP. LV. Of the corruption of nature and efficacy of divine grace MY God who of thy meer goodnes hast created me to thy Image and likenesse grant me this grace which thou hast shewed to be so great and so necessary to salvation that I may overcome my wicked nature which draweth me to sinne and to the losse of my soule 2 For I feele in my flesh the law of sinne contradicting the law of my minde and leading me captive to obey sensuality in many things 3 Neither can I resist the passions thereof unlesse thy holy grace fervently infused into my heart doe assist me 4 Thy grace O Lord and great grace is needfull that nature may be overcome which is ever prone to evill from her youth 5 For by Adam the first man being fallen and corrupted by sinne the penalty of this staine hath descended upon all mankinde 6 In such sort that nature it selfe which was created good and without defect is now accompted for vice and for the infirmity of a corrupted nature for that the motion thereof left unto it selfe
draweth to evill and abject things 7 For the litle force which remaineth is like a certain sparke lying hidden in the ashes 8 This is naturall reason it selfe compassed about with great darknesse still retaining power to discerne good and evill the distance between true and false 9 Although it be unable to compasse all that it approvâ—th and enjoyeth not the full light of truth nor the former integrity of her affections 10 Hence it is my God that according to my inward man I delight in thy law knowing thy commandements to be good just and holy and yeelding that all evill and sinne is to be avoided 11 But in my flesh I serve the law of sinne whilest I rather obey sensuality then reason Hence it is that I have a will to doe good but know not how to performe it 12 For this cause I often purpose many good things but for that I want grace to helpe my infirmity for a light resistance I goe back and faint 13 I know the way of perfection and see clearly enough what I ought to doe but pressed with the weight of mine own corruption I rise not unto it 14 O Lord how needfull is thy grace for mee to begin any good worke to goe forward and to accomplish it For without it I can doe nothing but in thee I can doe all things when thy grace doth comfort me 15 O heavenly grace without which our own merits are nothing and no gifts of nature are to be esteemed Arts riches beauty and strength wit or eloquence are of no worth with thee O Lord without thy grace 16 For gifts of nature are common to good and evill but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and love wherewith being marked they are esteemed worthy of everlasting life 17 This grace so much excelleth that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles or any speculation how high soever is of any esteeme without it Neither faith nor hope nor other vertues are acceptable unto thee without charity and grace 18 O most blessed grace that makest the poore in spirit rich in vertues and the rich in many blessings humble in heart 19 Come downe unto me replenish me in the morning with thy comfort lest my soule should faint with wearinesse and wither away with drinesse 20 I beseech thee Lord that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace is sufficient for me though other things that nature desireth be wanting unto me 21 If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I will not feare these evils whilest thy grace is with me she is my strength she giveth advise and helpe she is stronger then all enemies and wiser then the wisest 22 Thy grace is the mistresse of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the heart the solace in affliction 23 She driveth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of devotion and the mother of teares 24 What am I without it but a rotten peece of wood and an unprofitable stalke only meet for the fire 25 Let thy grace therefore Lord alwaies prevent me and follow me make me ever diligent in good works through Iesus Christ thy Sonne Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selves and imitate Christ by the Crosse. SOnne look how much thou canst goe out of thy selfe so much maist thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of externall things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selves joyneth us internally to God 2 I will have thee learne the perfect leaving of thy selfe unto my will without contradiction and complaint Follow me I am the way the truth and the life 3 Without the way there is no going aright without truth there is no knowing aright without life there is no living at all 4 I am the way which thou oughtest to follow the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope 5 I am the way which cannot lead amisse the truth which cannot erre the life which cannot end 6 I am the way that is straight the truth that is highest and the life that is truest yea a blessed life a life uncreated 7 If thou abide in my way thou shalt know the truth and the truth shall make thee free and thou shalt lay hold on life everlasting 8 If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandements if thou wilt know the truth believe me If thou wilt be perfect sell all thou hast 9 If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe if thou wilt possesse a blessed life despise this present life if thou wilt be exalted in heaven humble thy selfe upon earth 10 If thou wilt reigne with mee beare the crosse with me For only the servants of the crosse find the way of blisse and true light 11 Lord Iesu for as much as thy life was strict despised of the world give me grace to imitate thee though I be despised by the world 12 For the servant is not greater then his Lord nor the Disciple above his Master 13 Let thy servant be exercised in thy holy life for there is my health true holinesse 14 Whatsoever I read or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully 15 Sonne now that thou knowest and hast read all these things happy shalt thou be if thou fulfill them 16 He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and I will love him and will manifest my selfe unto him and will make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father 17 Lord Iesus as thou hast said and promised so let it be and that I may obtain thy favour 18 I have receaved the Crosse I have receaved it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it upon me 19 Truly the life of a good religious person is the crosse and it is a sure guide to heaven It is now begunne it is not lawfull to goe back neither is it fit to leave that which I have undertaken 20 Let us then take courage my brethren and goe forwards together Iesus will be with us for Iesus sake we have undertaken this crosse 21 For the love of Iesus let us persevere in the crosse he will be our helper who is our guide and forerunner 22 Behold our King goeth before us who also will fight for us let us follow him manfully let us not be dismayed but be ready to dye with courage in the battaile and let us not blemish our glory by flying from the Crosse. CHAP. LVII That a man be not too much deiected when he falleth into some defects SOnne patience and humility in time of adversity are more pleasing unto mee then much comfort and devotion in prosperity 2 Why art thou grieved for every litle trifle spoken and done against thee Although it had been much more thou oughtest not to have been moved 3 But now let it passe it is not the first that hath happened
But if thou abidest in thy selfe and doest not offer thy selfe up freely unto my wil thy oblation is not entire neither shall the union betweene us be perfect 8 Therefore a free offering up of thy selfe into the hands of God ought to goe before all thy actions if thou wilt obtaine freedome and grace 9 For this cause so few become inwardly illuminated and enjoy true libertie of heart for that they doe not resolve wholly to denie themselves 10 My saying is undoubtedly true Vnlesse one forsake all he cannot be my Disciple If thou therefore wish to be mine offer up thy selfe unto mee with thy whole desires CHAP. IX That we ought to offer up our selves and all that is ours unto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THine O Lord are all things that are in heaven and in earth I desire to offer up my selfe unto thee as a free oblation and to remaine alwaies thine 2 O Lord in sincerity of my heart I offer my selfe unto thee this day in sacrifice of perpetuall praise to be thy servant for ever 3 Receive me with this holy oblation of thy precious body which in the presence of the Angels invisibly attending here upon thee I offer up this day unto thee that it may be to the health of my soule and the salvation of all thy people 4 I offer unto thee O Lord all my sinnes and offences which I have committed in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels from the day wherein I first could sinne to this houre upon thy holy Altaâ—â— 5 That thou maist consume and burne them all with the fire of thy charitie and wash out all the staines of my sinnes and cleanse my conscience from all offence and restore to me againe thy grace which I lost by sinne forgiving me all my offences and receiving me mercifully in the kisse of peace 6 What can I doe for my sinnes but humbly confesse and bewaile them and intreate alwaies for mercy without intermission I beseech thee heare me in thy abundant mercy when I stand before thee my God! 7 All my sinnes are very displeasing unto me I will never commit them any more but I am sory and will be sory for them as long as I live and am ready to repent and doe any thing that may move thee to pardon them 8 Forgive me O God forgive me my sinnes for thy holy names sake save my soule which thou hast redeemed with thy most precious Blood 9 Behold I commit my selfe unto thy mercy I resigne my selfe over into thy hands doe with me according to thy goodnesse not according to my wickednesse and manifold iniquitie 10 I offer up also unto thee all whatsoever is good in me although it be very litle and imperfect that thou maist amend and sanctifie it that thou maist make it gratefull and acceptable unto thee 11 And alwaies perfect more and more that which thou hast begun and bring me also who am the slothfull and unprofitable servent to a good and blessed end 12 I offer up also unto thee all the godly desires of devout persons the necessitie of my parents and friends my brethren and siâ—ters and of all those that are deare unto me and that have done good either to my selfe or others for thy love 13 And that have desired mee to pray for them and all theirs that they all may receive the helpe of thy grace and comfort protection from dangers delivery from paine and being freed from all evils may joyfully give worthy thankes to thee 14 I offer up also unto thee my praiers and sacrifices especially for them who have in any thing wronged grieved or standered me or have done me any damage or displeasure 15 And for those also whom I have at any time grieved troubled and scandalized by words or deeds wittingly or at unawares that it may please thee to forgive us all our sinnes and offences one against another 16 Take O Lord from our hearts all jealousie all indignation wrath and contention and whatsoever may hure charitie and weaken brotherly love 17 Have mercy O Lord have mercy on those that crave thy mercy give grace unto them that stand in need thereoff and grant that we may be worthy to enjoy thy grace and attain unto life everlasting Amen CHAP. X. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest often to have recourse to the Fountaine of grace and of divine mercy to the Fountaine of goodnesse and of all purity that thou maist be cured of thy sinnes and passions and be made more strong vigilant against all temptations and deceipts of the Divell 2 The enemy knowing the greatest profit and remedy to consist in the holy Communion endeavoureth by all meanes and occasions to withdraw hinder faithfull and devout persons from it 3 Some when they purpose to receave the sacred Commnnion suffer greatest assaults of the Divell 4 For that wicked spirit as is written in Iob commeth amongst the Sons of God to trouble them with his accustomed malice and impiety or to make them overfearefull and perplexed 4 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 divine food or at least come unto it with lesse devotion 5 But there is no heed to be taken of his fraudes and malicious suggestions be they never so filthy and hideous but all is to be turned back upon his own head 6 Thou oughtest to contemne scorne him miserable wretch and not to omit the sacred communion for his assaults and the troubles which hee raiseth 7 Oftentimes also an excessive care for the obtaining of devotion and a certain anxiety for the making of thy confession hindereth thee 8 Follow in these occasions the counsell of the wise and put away all anxiety and scruple for it hindreth the grace of God and over throweth devotion 9 Omit not for every small vexation of the minde which hapneth to receave this holy Sacrament 10 But goe presently to confesse thy sinnes and willingly to forgive others whatsoever offences they have done against thee and if thou hast offended any humbly crave pardon and God will willingly forgive thee 11 What availeth it to delay confession to deferre receaving Purge thy selfe with speed spit out the venom presently make hast to take a remedy and thou shalt finde it better then if thou deferredst it long 12 If thou omittest it to day for this cause perhaps to morrow some greater will fall out and so thou maist be hindred a long time from these divine mysteries and become more unfit 13 Stirre up thy selfe and shake off all heavinesse and sloth with the greatest force and speed thou canst 14 For it profiteth nothing to continue long in disquietnesso trouble of mind and for daily occurring impediments to withdraw thy selfe from the Sacraments 15 Yea it hurteth very much
shall be perfectly united unto God Then he will say unto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee 16 And I will answer him Vouchsafe O Lord to remaine with me I will very gladly be with thee This is my whole desire that my heart be united unto thee CHAP. XIV Of the fervent desire of some devout persons to receave the body of Christ. The voice of the Disciple O How great is the store of thy sweetnesse O Lord which thou hast hidden for them that fear thee 2 When I remember some devout persons who come unto thy Sacrament O Lord with great devotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded blush within my selfe that I come so negligently and coldly to thy altar and to the table of the holy Communion 3 That I remaine so dry and without any hearty affection that I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence my God 4 Nor so earnestly drawne and moved as many devout persons have been who out of a vehement desire of receaving and a feeling affection of heart could not containe themselves from weeping 5 But with the desire both of soule and body they earnestly longed after thee O God the lively fountaine being not otherwise able to temper not satisfie their hunger but by receaving thy body with all joy and spirituall greedinesse 6 O most ardent faith of those persons a probable argument of thy sacred presence 7 For these truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose heart burneth so within them whilest thou O blessed Iesu walkest with them 8 Such desire and devotion I seldome find in me so vehement love and fervency is oftentimes farre off from mee 9 Be mercifull unto mee good Iesu sweet and benigne Lord and grant me thy poore needy creature to feele sometimes at least in this holy Sacrament a litle hearty desire of thy love 10 That my faith may be more strengthened my hope in thy goodnesse increased and that my charity once pefectly inflamed after the tasting of heavenly Manna may never decay 11 Thy mercy O Lord is able to give me the grace I desire and to visâ—â— me in thy bounteous clemency with the spirit of fervour when it shall please thee 12 For although I burne notwith so great desire as those that are so especially devoted unto thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to have this great inflamed desire 13 Praying and craving that I may participate with all such thy fervent lovers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and deniall of our selves The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to seeke the grace of devotion instantly to aske it earnestly to expect it patiently and confidently to receave it joyfully to keep it humbly to worke with it diligently 2 And to commit the time and manner of this heavenly visitation to God untill it shall be his pleasure to come 3 Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy selfe when thou feelest inwardly litle or no devotion and yâ—t be not too much dejected nor grieve inordinaâ—ly for it 4 God often giveth in a short moment that which he hath a long time denyed he giveth sometimes in the end that which in the begining of prayes he deferred to grant 5 If grace should bee alwaiâ—s presently given and at hand ever with a wish it could not be well indured by a weak man 6 Therefore devotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy selfe and thy sinnes when it is not given thee or when it is secretly taken from thee 7 It is sometimes a small matter that hindreth and hideth grace from us if it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindreth so great a good 8 And if thou remove this be it great or small and perfectly overcome it thou shalt have thy desire 9 For presently as soone as thou givest thy selfe to God with thy whole heart and seekest not this nor that for thine own pleasure or will but setlest thy selfe wholly in him thou shalt find thy selfe united unto him and quiet 10 For nothing will tast so well and please thee so much as the good will and pleasure of almighty God 11 Whosoever therefore with a sincere heart directeth his intention to God and â—mptieth himselfe of all inordinate love 〈◊〉 dislike of any creature shall be most fit to receave grace and worthy of the gift of devotion 12 When a vessell is full already all that you powre in runneth quite beside For our Lord bestoweth his blessings there where he findeth his vessels empty 13 And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh the basest things and dieth to himselfe by contempt of himselfe 14 So much the more speedily grace commeth and entreth in more plentifully and lifteth up the heart that is free to a higher state of grace 15 Then shall he see and abound and wonder and his heart within shall be enlarged because the hand of our Lord is with him and he hath put himselfe wholly into his hand for ever 16 Behold so shall the man be blessed that seeketh Almighty God with his whole heart and busieth not his soule in vaine 17 This man procureth great grace of divine union in receaving the holy Eucharist for that he regardeth not his own devotion and comfort but above all he prizeth the honour and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessity unto Christ and to crave his grace The voice of the Disciple O Most sweet and loving Lord whom I now desire to receive devoutly thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sinnes I am oppâ—essed how often I am grieved tempted troubled and defiled 2 I come unto thee for remedy I crave of thee thy heavenly comfort the â—ase of my paine 3 I speak to him that knoweth all things to whom all my secrets are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me 4 Thou knowest what it is wherof above all I stand in most need and how poore I am in vertues 5 Behold I stand before thee poore and naked calling for grace and graving mercy 6 Refresh this thy hungry needy creature give heat unto my coldnesse with the fire of thy love give light unto my blindesse with the brightnesse of thy presence 7 Turne all earthly things into bitternesse to me all things grievous contrary into patience all base and created things into contempt and oblivion 8 Lift up my heart to thee in heaven and suffer me not to wander upon earth be thou only sweet and delightsome unto me from henceforth for evermore 9 For thou only art my meat and my drinke my love and my ioy my delight and all my good 10 O thâ—t with thy presence thou wouldest wholly inflame burne and change me into thee that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union
be known to many nor to have the private love of men for these things breed distractions and cause great darknesse of heart 9 I would vvillingly utter my words reveale my secrets unto thee if thou diddest diligently observe my comming and diddest open the dore of thy heart unto mee 10 Be carefull in thy courses and watch in thy prayers and humble thy selfe in all things CHAP. XXV Wherein doth the firme peace of the heart and true proficiency consist SOnne I have said Peace I leave to you my peace I give to you not as the world giveth doe I give to you 2 All doe desire peace but all care not for those things that appertain unto true peace My peace is with the humble and meeke of heart 3 Thy peace shall be in much patience if thou wilt heare me and follow my voice thou maist enjoy much peace 4 What then shall I doe 5 In every thing attend unto thy selfe what thou doest and what thou sayest and direct thy whole intention unto this that thou maiest please me alone and desire or seeke nothing out of mee 6 But of the sayings and doings of others judge nothing rashly neither doe thou intangle thy selfe with things not committed unto thee and doing thus it may be thou shalt be litle 〈◊〉 seldome troubled 7 But never to feele any trouble at all nor to suffer any griefe of heart or body is not the state of this life but of everlasting rest 8 Think not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou have no adversary 9 Nor that it is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neither doe thou then esteem highly of thy selfe or imagine thy selfe to be especially beloved if thou be in great devotion and sweetnesse 10 For in these things a true lover of vertue is not tryed neither doth the proficiency and perfection of man consist in having them 11 Wherein then Lord 12 In offering thy selfe from the very bottome of thy heart unto the will of God not seeking thine owne interest or commodity neither in great nor litle neither for a time nor for ever 13 So that with equall countenance thou maist persist in thanksgiving both in prosperity and in adversity weighing all things with an equall ballance 14 If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee thou prepare thy heart to suffer greater matters 15 And not justify thy self as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justify me in whatsoever I appoint and praise my holy name 16 Then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace and thou shalt have undoubted hope to see my face a gaine with great ioy 17 And if thou attaine to the full contempt of thy selfe then shalt thou enioy as great aboundance of peace as thy banishment may permit CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer better obtaineth then reading LOrd it is the worke of a perfect man never to slack his mind from the attentive thought of heavenly things and as it were to passe without care through many cares 2 Not faintingly but with a certaine priviledge of a free mind adhering by inordinate affection to no creature 3 I beseech thee most mercifull God preserve me from the cares of this life least I should be too much intangled hereby and from the many necessities of the body least I should be enthralled by pleasure 4 From all hindrances of the soule least broken with troubles I should be dejected and dismayed I meane not from those things that all worldly vanity so greatly desireth 5 But from those miseries that as punishments doe weigh downe and hinder the soule of thy servant with the generall curse of mortality that it cannot enter into the liberty of the spirit as often as it would 6 O my God the unspeakable sweetnesse make bitter unto me all carnall comfort which may draw me away from the love of everlasting happinesse and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight 7 Let not flesh and blood O my God let not flesh and blood Let not the world and the short glory thereof deceive me 8 Let not the Divel and his subtile fraud supplant me Give me force to resist patience to suffer and constancy to persevere 9 Give me insteed of all the comforts of the world the most sweet unction of thy spirit and in lieu of carnall love powre into my soule the love of thy name 10 Behold meat drink cloathe◠and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burden some unto a fervent spirit 11 Grant me to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to be intangled with an over-great desire of them 12 It is not lawfull to renounce them wholly for that nature is to be sustained but to desire superfluities and those things that doe rather delight then sustaine the Law of God forbiddeth 3 For otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand govern me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That private love most hindreth from the chiefest good SOnne thou oughtest to give all for all and to retaine nothing of thy selfe Know that the love of thy selfe doth hurt thee more then any thing in the world 2 According to the love and affection thou bearest them so doth every thing cleave unto thee more or lesse If thy love be pure simple and well ordered thou shalt be free from bondange 3 Covet not that which thou maist not have Be not willing to have that which may hinder thee and deprive thee of inward liberty 4 It is a wonderful thing that thou committest not thy selfe wholly unto me from the bottome of thy heart with all things that thou canst desire or have 5 Why doest thou consume thy self with vaine griefe Why tirest thou thy mind with needlesse cares Stand to my curtesy and thou shalt be no looser by it 6 If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be here or there to enjoy thine owne commodity and pleasure thou shalt never be in quiet nor free from trouble of mind 7 For in every thing somewhat will be wanting and in every place there will be some that will crosse thee 8 Not every external thing therefore attained and heaped together helpeth thee but it rather availeth if thou despise it and dost root it out from thy heart 9 Which thou must not understand only of thy revenewes and wealth but of the desire of honour also and vaine praise all which doe passe away with this fading world 10 The place availeth litle if the spirit of fervour be wanting neither shal that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation 11 That is unlesse thou persist in me thou maist change but