thy Creatour and be faithfull vnto him that thou maist attaine vnto true happines CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardely without noyse of VVordes SPEAKE Lord The Seruant for thy seruant heareth I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies 1. Reg. 3. Ps 118. Stir vp my hart to heare the wordes of thy mouth Let thy speach descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and we shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs least perhaps we dye Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 3. I humbly and earnestly intreat speak Lord for thy seruant heareth Let not Moyses speake vnto me nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and enlightener of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2. They can pronounce words but they giue not spirit They speake maruelous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the hart They deliuer the letters but thou openest the sense They bring forth mysteries but thou disclosest the vnderstanding of sealed thinges They declare thy commaundemēts but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou giuest strength to walke it They worke only exterioutly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hartes They water outwardly but thou giuest fruitfulnes They sound forth wordes but thou giuest vnderstanding to the hearing 3. Let not therfore Moyses speak vnto me but thou my Lord God the euerlasting truth least perhaps I should dye and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly only and not inflamed within least the word heard and not fulfilled knowen and not loued belieued not obserued should increase my iudgment Speake therefore Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. for thou hast the words of euerlasting life Speake vnto me to the comfort of my soule and to the amendment of my whole life Ioan. 6. and to thy prayse and glory and euerlasting honor CHAP. III. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not SONNE †Our Lord. heare my words wordes of great comfort excelling al the knowledg of the Philosophers and wise men of this world My wordes are spirit and life not to be waighed by the vnderstanding of man Ioan. 6. They are not to be drawne to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be receaued with al humility and great affection And I said * The Seruant Psal 93. Blessed is the man whō thou shall instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy law that thou maist giue him quietnes from euill daies and that he be not destroyed vpon earth 2. I saith our †Our Lord. Heb. 1. Lord haue taught the Prophets from the beginning and cease not continually to speake to euery one but many are deafe and giue no eare to my speach The greater number doe more willingly listen to the world then to God follow sooner the desires of their fleshe then the will of God The world promiseth temporall small things and is serued with great diligence I promise most high and eternall thinges and the hartes of men are nothing moued with it Who is he that serueth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world the Lords therof are serued Esa 23. Blush Sidon saith the sea And if thou aske the cause heare wherefore For a little prebend a long iorney is vndertaken for euerlasting life many will scarce once lift a foote from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny somtimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleight ptomise men doubt not to toile day and night 3. But alas for an vnchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honour and glory without end they are loath to take the least paines Blush therefore flouthfull and complayning seruant that they are found more ready to distruction then thou to life They reioyce more at vanity then thou at truth Rom. 1. Matt. 24. And yet they are somtimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceaueth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will giue that which I haue promised I will fulfill that which I haue said Apoc. 2 but to him that remaines faithfull in my loue to the end I am the reward of all good Matt. 5.15 and do try my deuout seruants in forcible proofes 4. Write my words in thy hart and thinke diligently of them for they will be necessary in time of tēptation What thou vnderstandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visite my elect two seuerall waies to wit with temptation and comfort And I dayly read two lessons vnto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of vertues He that hath my words despiseth them hath within himselfe that shall iudg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of denotion 5. Lord * The Seruant my God thou art all that I can desire Who am I that dare speak vnto thee I am thy poorest seruant Gen. 18. and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I can or dare expresse Remember Lord that I am nothing haue nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good iust and holy thou canst do all things performest all things leauing only a sinner voide of all good Call to mind thy mercies and fill my hart with thy grace who wilt not that thy workes be voyd 6. How can I support my selfe in this miserable life vnlesse thy mercy and grace comfort me Psal 68. Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort least my soule become as earth without water vnto thee Lord teach me to fulfill thy will Ps 142. teach me to line worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou dost perfectly know me and didest know me before the world was made and before I was borne in the world CHAP. IIII. That we ought to line in truth and humility in the sight of God SONNE * Our Lord. walke in my sight in sincerity and truth and euer seeke me in playnes of hart Gen. 17. Sap. 1. He that walketh in my sight in truth shall be defended from euill incursions and truth shall deliuer him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked 1. Ioan 8. If truth shall haue deliuered thee thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for vaine speaches of men Lord * The Seruant it is true According as thou saist so I beseech thee let it be done with me and keepe me bring me to a happy end Let thy truth teach
Would God their life had byn answerable to their learning then had their study reading byn to good purpose Tit. 1. How many perish in this world by reason of vaine learning who take little care of the seruice of God Rom. 1. And because they rather choose to be great then humble Matt. 18. 23. therfore they vanish away in their own thoughts He is truly great that is great in charity He is truly great that is little in himselfe and that maketh no accompt of the height of honour He is truly wise that accompteth all earthly things as dung that he may gaine Christ Phil. 3. And he is truly learned that fulfilleth the wil of Christ and forsaketh his owne CHAP. IV. Of Prudence and Foresight in our actions VVE must not giue eare to euery suggestion or instinct but ought warily 1.10.4 leasurly to pōder things according to the wil of God But alas such is our weaknesse that we rather often belieue and speake euil of others then good Those that are perfectly vertuous Gen. 3. do not easily giue credit to euery thing that is told them for they know that human frailty is prone to euill Iac. 3. and very subiect to faile in words 2. It is great wisdome not to be rash in thy proceedings Frou 19. nor to stand stifly in thine own conceipts Prou. 17. as also not to belieue euery thing which thou hearest nor presen ly to relate againe to others what thou hast heard or dost belieue Consult with him that is wise and of a good conscience and seeke to be instructed by a better then thy selfe rather then to follow thine owne inuentions Prou. 15. Eccl. 1. A good life maketh a man wise according to God and giueth him experience in many things How much the humbler one is in himselfe and more subiect and resigned vnto God so much the more prudent shall he be in all his affaires and enioy greater peace and quiet of hart CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures TRVTH not eloquence is to be sought for in holy Scriptures Ech part of them is to be read with the same spirit it was made Rom. 15. We should rather search after spirituall profit in Scriptures then subtility of speach We ought to read deuout and simple bookes as willingly as high and learned 1. Cor. 2. Let not the reputation of the writer offend thee whether he be of great or small learning but let the pure word of truth moue thee to read Search not who spake this or that but marke what is spoken 2. Men passe away Ps 110. Luc. 21. but the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer God speaketh vnto vs sundry waies without respect of persons Rom. 2. 10. Col. 3. Our owne curiosity often hindreth vs in reading of the Scriptures when as we will examine and discusse that which we should rather passe ouer without more adoe If thou desire to reape profit read humbly plainly and faithfully neuer desire the estimation of learning Inquire willingly and heare with silence the words of holy men Prou. 1. 18. dislike not the Parables of Elders for they are not recounted without cause CHAP. VI. Of inordinate desires and affections VVHENSOEVER a man desireth any thing inordinatly he is presently disquieted in himselfe The proud and couetous can neuer rest The poore and humble in spirit liue togeather in all peace The man that is not vvholy dead in himselfe is quickly tempted and ouercome in small and trifling things The weake in spirit and that is yet in a manner subiect to his appetites and prone to sensible things can hardly withdraw himselfe altogeather frō earthly desires And therfore he is often afflicted when he goeth about to retire himselfe from them and easily falleth into indignation when any opposition is made against him 2. And if he hath follovved therin his appetite he is presently disquieted with remorse of conscience for that he yielded to his passion which profiteth him nothing to the obtaining of the peace he sought for True quiet of mind therfore is gotten by resisting our passions not by obeying them There is no peace in the hart of a carnall man nor of him that is addicted to outward things but in the spirituall and feruent CHAP. VII Of flying vaine Hope and Pride HE is vaine that putteth his trust in men or creatures Hier. 17.1 Be not ashamed to serue others for the loue of Iesus Christ nor to be esteemed poore in this world Ps 30. Presume not vpon thy selfe but place thy hope in God Do what lieth in thy power and God will assist thee Trust not in thine own knowledg Hier. 9. nor in the wisdome or prudence of any liuing creature but rather in the grace of God who helpeth the hūble and humbleth the presumptuous and proud 2. Glory not in wealth if thou haue it nor in the power of thy friends but in God who giueth all things and aboue all desireth to giue thee himselfe Extoll not thy selfe for the stature and beauty of thy body which is dissolued and disfigured with euery little sicknes Take not pleasure in thy naturall gifts or wit least thereby thou displease God to whome appertaineth all the good whatsoeuer nature hath giuen thee 3. Esteeme not thy selfe better then others Exod. 3. 12. least perhaps in the sight of God who knoweth what is in man thou be accompted worse then they Iob. 9. Be not proud of thy good workes for the iudgments of God are farre different frō the iudgments of men and that of ten offendeth him which pleaseth them If there be any good in thee belieue that there is much more in others that so thou maist the better keepe within thy hart the precious treasure of humility It is no preiudice vnto thee to esteeme thy selfe worse then all the world but it hurteth thee very much to preferre thy selfe before any one The humble enioy continuall peace but in the hart of the proud is enuy and often indignation CHAP. VIII That too much familiarity is to be shunned LAY not thy hart open to euery one but treate of thy affaires with the wise and such as feare God Eccl. 8. Conuerse not much with yong people and strangers Flatter not the rich neither do thou appeare willingly before great personages Keep company with the humble simple deuout and vertuous and confer with them of those things that may edify Prou. 5. Be not familiar with any woman but in generall commend all good women to God Desire to be familiar with God alone and his angels and fly the knowledge of men 2. We must haue charity towards all but familiarity with all is not expedient Sometimes it falleth out that the fame of some person that is vnknowne is much esteemed whose presence notwithstanding is not gratefull to the eies of the beholders We thinke sometimes to
thing which we desire pag. 166. That true comfort is to be sought in God alone pag. 169. That all our care is to be placed in God pag. 171. That temporall miseries by the exāple of Christ are to be born patiently pag. 173. Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truly patient pag. 175. Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity and of the miseries of this life pag. 178. That we are to rest in God aboue all his gifts pag. 181. Of the remembrance of the manifould benefits of God pag. 186. Of foure things that bring much peace pag. 190. Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others pag. 193. VVherin doth the firme peace of the hart and true profit consist pag. 194. Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer bettter deserueth then reading pag. 197. That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good pag. 199. Against the tongue of Slaūderers pag. 202. How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere pag. 203. Of crauing the diuine aide confidence of recouering grace pag. 205. Of the contempt of all creatures to find our Creatour pag. 209. Of the denyall of our selues and for saking our affections pag. 212. Of Inconstancy of hart and of directing our finall intentions vnto God pag. 215. That God is sweet aboue all things and in all things to him that loueth pag. 216. That there is no security from temptation in this life pag. 219. Against the vain iudgmēts of men pag. 221. Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtaining freedome of hart pag. 223. Of good gouernment in outward things of recourse to God in dāgers pag. 226. That a man be not ouer earnest in his affaires pag. 228. That man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing wherof he can glory pag. 229. Of the cōtempt of all temporal honours pag. 232. That our peace is not to be placed in men pag. 233. Against vain secular knowledg pag. 235. Of not drawing outward things to our selues pag. 238. That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words pag. 239. Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise pag. 243. That all grieuous things are to be endured for life euer lasting pag. 247. Of the euerlasting day and shortnesse of this life pag. 249. Of the desire of euerlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly pag. 254. How a desolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God pag. 259. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in works of humilty when force is wāting for higher exercises pag. 265. That a man ought to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes pag. 266. That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things pag. 269. Of the different motions of Nature Grace pag. 272. Of the corruption of nature efficacy of diuine grace pag. 278. That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse pag. 282. That a man be not too much deiected whē he falleth into some defects pag. 285. Of not searching into high matters and into the secret iudgmēts of God pag. 288. That all our hope trust is to be fixed in God alone pag. 295. THE FOVRTH BOOKE VVITH how great reuerence Christ is to be receaued pag. 300. That great goodnesse charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament pag. 308. That it is profitable to communicate often pag. 313. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that cōmunicate deuoutly pag. 317. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function pag. 321. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion pag. 325. Of the discussing of our owne conscience purpose of amendment pag. 326. Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse resignation of our selues pag. 329. That we ought to offer vp our selues and all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all pag. 331. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne pag. 335. That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faithfull soule pag. 340. That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence pag. 346. That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole hart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament pag. 349. Of the feruent desire of some deuout persōs to receaue the body of Christ pag. 352. That the grace of deuotiō is obtained by humility denial of our selues pag. 354. That we ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ to craue his grace pag. 357. Of burning loue and vehement desire to receaue Christ pag. 359. That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacramēt but an hūble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith pag. 363. OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world HE that followeth me Ioan. 8. walketh not in darknesse saith our Lord. These are the words of Christ by which we are admonished that we ought to imitate his life and manners if we will be partakers of his diuine light and be deliuered from all blindnesse of hart Let therfore our chiefest care be to meditate vpon the life of Iesus Christ 2. The doctrine of Christ exceedeth all the doctrine of the Saints and he that had the light of spirit would discouer therin a secret and hidden Manna But it falleth out that many who often heare the Ghospell of Christ do yet feele in themselues but slender motion of any holy desire because they are void of the spirit of Christ But whosoeuer will fully and feelingly vnderstand the words of Christ must endeauour to conforme his life wholy to the life of Christ 3. What will it auaile thee to dispute profoundly of the Trinity if thou be voyd of humility and therby displeasing to the Trinity High words surely make a man neither holy nor iust but a vertuous life maketh him deare to God I had rather feele compunction then vnderstand the definition therof 1. Cor. 13. If thou didest know the whole Bible by hart and the sayings of all the Philosophers what would all that profit thee without charity and the grace of God Vanity of vanities and all is vanity but only to loue God Eccles 1. and wholy to serue him This is the highest wisdome by contempt of the world to tend towards the Kingdome of heauen 4. It is therfore vanity to seeke after fading riches and to repose trust in them It is also vanity to gape after honours and to climbe to high degrees It is vanity to follow the appetites of the flesh and to labour for that for which thou must afterwards suffer more grieuous punishment Vanity it is to wish to liue long and to be carelesse to liue well It is vanity to mind only
to trust in men but the safety of the iust o Lord is in thee Blessed be thou my God in all thinges that befall vs. We are weake and inconstant quickly deceaued and soone changed 2. Who is he that is able so warily to keep himselfe that he neuer fall into any deceipt or doubt But he that trusteth in thee o Lord and seeketh thee with a pure hart Prou. 10. doth not easily fall and if he fall into any tribulation be he neuer so much inthralled yet he shal quickly be deliuered or cōforted by thee For thou wilt not forsake him for euer that trusteth in thee The friend is rare to be found that continueth faithfull in his freinds distresse but thou o Lord thou alone art faithfull at all times and there is none like vnto thee 3. O how wise was that holy soule that said My mind is firmly setled and grounded in Christ If it were so with me then would not humane feare so easily trouble me nor words moue me Who can foresee all things Who is able to beware beforehand of future euills If things euen foreseene do oftētimes hurt vs how can things vnlooked for choose but wound vs grieuously But why did I not prouide better for my selfe miserable wretch Why also haue I so easily giuen credit to others But alas we are men and God knoweth weake fraile men although by many we are reputed and called Angels To whome shall I giue credit Lord to whome but to thee Thou art the truth that neither dost deceaue nor canst be deceaued And on the other side euery man is a liar weake vnconstant and subiect to fall especially in words and therfore we must not easily giue credit euen to that which in outward shew seemeth at the first a certaine truth 4. O with how great wisdome hast thou warned vs to take heed of men and because the enemies of man are his familiar and domestical acquaintance not to trust Matt. 7. if one should say Behould heere or behould there I am taught to my cost and I would to God I might therby increase my care and not my folly Be wary faith one be wary keep vnto thy selfe what I tell thee and whilst I hould my peace and think it is secret he cannot keep that secret which he desired should be secret but presently discloseth me and himselfe and goeth his way From such tales and such improuident people protect me Lord that I fall not into their hands nor euer commit such errours Giue me grace my God to obserue truth and constancy in my words and remoue far from me a deceiptfull tongue What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all meanes to auoid 5. O how good quiet a thing it is to be silent and not to talke of others nor to belieue all that is said nor easily to report what we haue heard Prou. 25. to lay ones self open to few Esa 24. alwayes to seeke after thee the behoulder of the hart not to be carried about with euery wind of wordes but to desire that all thinges both within without be accomplished according to thy will and pleasure How secure is it for the keeping of heauenly grace to fly the sight of men And not to seeke those things that seeme to cause admiration abroad but to follow that with all diligence which bringeth amendment of life and increase of feruour 6. To how many hath vertue knowne and ouer hastily commended bene hurtfull How profitable hath grace bene kept with silence in this mortall life which is nothing but a perpetuall temptation and a warfare CHAP. XLVI Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise SONNE †Our Lord. be constant and put thy trust in me For what are wordes but wordes They passe through the ayre but hurt not Psal 36. If thou be guiltie determine willingly to amend thy selfe if thou be innocent resolue to suffer this willingly at least for God It is a small matter to suffer sometimes a few words if thou hast not yet the courage to endure stripes And why do small matters go to thy hart but for that thou art yet carnall and regardest men more then thou oughtest Because thou art afraid to be despised therfore thou wilt not be reprehended for thy faults and therfore seekest shaddowes of excuses 2. But looke better into thy self and thou shalt see that the world yet liueth in thee and a vaine desire to please men For when thou refusest to be humbled reproued for thy faults it is surely euident that thou art neither truly humble nor dead to the world nor the world perfectly crucified to thee But giue diligent eare to my words and thou shalt little respect ten thousand wordes spoken by men Behould if al should be spoken against thee that could be most maliciously inuented what would it hurt thee if thou sufferedst it to passe madest no reckoning at all of it Matt. 10. Luc. 11. Could al those words pluck as much as one haire from thy head 3. But he that hath not his heart within him nor God before his eyes is easily moued with euery little dispraise when as he that trusteth in me and confideth not in his owne iudgement shall be free from humane feares For I am the Iudge and the discerner of all secrets I know how the matter passed Psal 7. I know him that offereth the iniury and him that suffereth it From me hath this word proceeded this hath happened by my permissiō that out of many harts thoughts may be reuealed I shall iudge the guilty the innocent Luc. 2. but by a secret iudgmēt I would before-hand try them both 4. The testimony of men oftētimes deceaueth my iudgment is alwaies true it shall stand and not be ouerthrowne It is cōmonly hidden and secret and not known in euery thing but to few notwithstanding it neuer erreth neither can it erre although to the eyes of the foolish it seemes not right Men ought therfore to returne to me in euery iudgment and not to stand in their owne opinions For the iust man will not be troubled Prou. 12. whatsoeuer happeneth vnto him for 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 reasō excused Psal 7. For he considereth that I am he that searcheth the hart reines do iudg not according to the outward face nor humane apparēce For that is oftētimes found culpable in my sight that in the iudgment of men is commendable 5. O Lord * The Seruant my God the iust Iudge strong patient thou knowest the frailty and peruersity of man be thou my strength all my trust for mine owne conscience sufficeth me not Thou knowest that which I cannot reach vnto and therfore in euery reprehension I ought to haue submitted my selfe to haue borne it patiently
will not feare euils whilst thy grace is with me she is my strength she giueth aduise and help she is stronger then all enemies and wiser then all the wise 6. Thy grace is the mistresse of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the hart the solace in affliction she driueth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of deuotion the bringer forth of teares What am I without it but a rotten peece of wood and an vnprofitable stalke only meet for the fire Let thy grace therfore Lord alwaies preuent me and follow me and make me euer diligent in good workes through Iesus Christ thy Sonne Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse SONNE †Our Lord. looke how much thou canst go out of thy self 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 selues ioyneth vs internally to God I will haue thee learne the perfect leauing of thy selfe vnto my will without contradiction and complaint Ioan. 14. Follow me I am the way the truth and the life Without the way there is no going without truth there is no knowledge without life there is no liuing I am the way which thou oughtest to foâ—low the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope I am the way which cannot lead amisse the truth which cannot erre the life which caÌ„not end I am a most strait way a supreme truth a true life a blessed life an increated life If thou remaine in me thou shalt know the truth truth shall deliuer thee thou shalt apprehend euerlasting life 2. If thou wilt enter into life Matt. 19. keep the commaundements if thou wilt know the truth belieue me If thou wilt be perfect sell all Luc. 9. If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe If thou wilt possesse a blessed life Ioan. 12. despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in heauen Luc. 14. humble thy selfe vpon earth If thou wilt raigne with me beare the crosse with me For only the seruants of the crosse find the way of blisse and true light 3. Lord Iesus * The Seruant forasmuch as thy way is narrow strait and contemptible vnto the world graunt me grace to imitate thee in suffering willingly all worldly contempt For the seruant is not greater then his Lord Matt. 7. nor the Disciple aboue his Maister Luc. 6. Let thy seruant be exercised in thy holy life for there is the health and the true sanctity of my soule whatsoeuer I read or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully 4. Sonne †Our Lord. now that thou knowest and hast read these things happy shalt thou be if thou fulfill them He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him and will make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father Lord * The Seruant Iesus as thou hast said and promised so giue me grace to deserue that it be fulfilled I haue receaued the Crosse I haue receaued it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it vpon me Truly the life of a good religious person is the crosse and it is a sure guide to heauen It is now begunne it is not lawfull to go back neither is it fit to leaue that which I haue vndertaken 5. Let vs then take courage my brethren go forwards togeather Iesus will be with vs for Iesus sake we haue vndertaken this crosse for the loue of Iesus let vs perseuere in the crosse He will be our helper who is our guide forerunner Behould our King goeth before vs who also will fight for vs let vs follow him cheerefully let vs not be dismaied but be ready to dye with courage in the battaile and let vs 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 †Our Lord. patience and humility in time of aduersitie are more pleasing to me then much coÌ„fort and deuotion in prosperitie Why art thou grieued for euery little trifle spoken done against thee Although it had bene much more thou oughtest not to haue bene moued But now let it passe it is not the first that hath happened nor any new thing neither shall it be the last if thou liue long Thou art cheerfull inough as long as no aduersitie occurreth Thou canst giue good couÌ„saile also and canst strengthen others with thy words but when any tribulation suddainly knocketh at thy doore thou art destitute of counsel and void of force See therefore thy great fraily which thou often prouest in very small occasions It is notwithstaÌ„ding permitted for thy good when these and such like occasions befall thee 2. Put it out of thy hart the best thou canst and if it touch thee yet let it not detect thee nor trouble thee long beare it at least patiently if thou canst not ioyfully Although thou be vnwilling to heare it and feelest in thy hart some motion of disdaine yet represse thy selfe and suffer no inordinate word to passe out of thy mouth which may be a scandall to the weake The storme which now is raised shall quickly be appeased and inward griefe shall be asswaged by the returne of grace I do yet liue Esa 49. saith our Lord and am ready to help thee and to giue thee greater comfort then before if thou put thy trust in me and callest deuoutly vpon me 3. Be more patient prepare thy selfe to greater suffering All is not lost if thou feele thy selfe often afflicted or grieuously tempted Thou art a man and not God thou art flesh not an Angell How canst thou looke to continue euer in the same state of vertue when an Angell in heauen hath fallen and the first man in Paradise lost his standing I am he that do giue healthfull comfort to them that mourne Gen. 3. and doe raise vp vnto my Godhead those that know their owne frailtie 4. Lord * The Seruant blessed be thy sacred word more sweet vnto my mouth then the hony the hony combe Ps 118. What should I do in these my so great tribulations and anguish vnlesse thou didst comfort me with thy holy sweet and heauenly speaches What matter is it how much and what I suffer so as I may at length attaine to the hauen of blisse Grant me a good end graunt me a happy passage out of this world Be mindfull of me my God and direct me the straight and ready way to the euerlasting Kingdome Amen CHAP. LVIII Of not searching into high matters into the secret iudgments of God SONNE †Our Lord. beware thou dispute not of high matters not of the secret iudgments of God why
comfort that all thinges vnder heauen do yield me Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number Where hath it bene well with me without thee Or when could it be ill with me when thou wert present I had rather be poore for thee then rich without thee I rather choose to be a Pilgrime in earth with thee then to possesse heauen without thee Where thou art there is heauen and there is death and hell where thou art not Thou art my desire and therfore it behoueth me to send forth deep sighes from my hart and crie and pray vnto thee For I haue none to trust vnto none that can help me in tyme of necessity but thee alone my God Thou art my hope and my trust thou art my comforter and most faithfull vnto me in all my distresses 2. All men seeke their owne gaine Phil. 2. thou only seekest my saluatiō and my profit and turnest all things to my good Although thou permittest many temptations to assault me many aduersities to befall me yet thou ordainest all this to my good and profit who art wont to proue thy beloued seruants a thousand waies In which proofe thou oughtest no lesse to be loued and praysed then if thou didest replenish me with heauenly comforts 3. In thee therefore my Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I finde all to be weake and vnconstant whatsoeuer I behould out of thee For neither can many friends auaile nor forcible helpers aid nor wise counsellours giue profitable answere nor the bookes of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliuer nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy selfe doest not assist help comfort instruct and keep vs. 4. For all things that seeme to be ordayned for the rest and solace of man when thou art absent are nothing and do bring indeed no ioy nor comfort at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the light of life the depth of wisdome and the most forcible comfort of thy seruants is to trust in thee aboue all things To thee therefore doe I lift vp myne eyes In thee my God the Father of mercies I put my whole trust Blesse and sanctifie my soule with thy heauenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternall glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy greatnes that may offend the eyes of thy Maiesty According to the greatnesse of thy goodnesse multitude of thy mercies take pitty vpon me and heare the prayer of thy poore seruant who is farre exiled from thee in the land of the shaddow of death Protect and keep the soule of thy seruant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by the assistance of thy grace direct it in the way of peace to the country of euerlasting light Amen The end of the third Booke OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE FOVRTH BOOKE A deuout Exhortation vnto the blessed Sacrament The voice of Christ COME vnto me all ye that labour are burdened Matt. 11. I will refresh you saith our Lord. The bread which I will giue Ioan. 6. is my flesh for the life of the world Matt. 26. Take yee and eate this is my body that shall be deliuered for you 1. ◠1.11 Doe this for the commemoration of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud remaineth in me and I in him Ioan. 6. The words which I haue spoken vnto you are spirit and life CHAP. I. VVith how great reuerence Christ ought to be receaued THESE are thy words o Christ euerlasting Truth though not spoken all at one time nor written in one and the selfe same place Because therefore they are thine and true they are all thankfully faithfully to be receaued by me They are thine and thou hast spoken thē and they are mine also because thou hast spoken them for my saluation I willingly receaue them from thy mouth that they may be the deeper imprinted in my hart These deuout words so full of sweetnesse and loue doe stirre me vp but mine owne offences doe amaze me and my impure conscience driueth me back from the receauing of so great mysteries The sweetnesse of thy words doth encourage me but the multitude of my sinnes do oppresse me 2. Thou commaundest me to come confidently vnto thee if I will haue part with thee and to receaue the food of immortality if I desire to obtaine euerlasting life and glory Come sayst thou vnto me all ye that labour and are burdened Matt. 11. and I will refresh you O sweet and louely word in the eare of a sinner that thou my Lord God shouldest inuite the poore and needy to receaue thy most blessed body But who am I Lord that I may presume to approach vnto thee behould the heauens cannot containe thee and thou sayst Come ye all vnto me Matt. 12. 3. What meaneth this most pious benignity and so louing inuitation How shal I dare to come that know not any good in me wherevpon I may presume How shall I bring thee into my house that haue often offended thy most gracious countenance The Angels and the Archangels honour thee the Saints and iust men do feare thee and thou saist Matt. 11. Come ye all vnto me Vnlesse thou o Lord didst say it who would belieue it to be true And vnlesse thou didst cōmaund it who would dare to come vnto thee Behould Noe a iust man laboured a hundred yeares in the building of the Arke Gen. 6. that he might be saued with a few and how can I in one houres space prepare my selfe to receaue with reuerence the maker of the world 4. Moyses thy great seruant especiall friend made an Arke of incorruptible wood which also he couered with most pure gold to put the Tables of the Law therein and I a rotten creature how shall I so lightly dare to receaue the maker of the Law and the giuer of life Salomon the wisest of the Kings of Israel 3. Reg. 6. bestowed seauen yeares in building a magnificent Temple in praise of thy name celebrated the feast of the Dedication therof eight daies togeather 3. Reg. 8. he offered a thousand peaceable sacrifices and set the Ark in the place prepared for it with the sound of trumpets and ioy and I the most vnhappy and poorest of men how shall I bring thee into my house that can scarce spend one halfe houre deuoutly and I would to God it were once almost one halfe houre in worthy and due māner 5. O my God how much did they endeauour to please thee and alas how little is that which I doe How short time do I spend when I prepare my selfe to receaue I am seldome wholy recollected very seldome altogeather free from distraction and yet surely no vndecent thought should occurre in the presence of thy Deity
and rather frame thy selfe to the profit of others then to thine owne deuotion or desire CHAP. XI That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faythfull soule The voice of the Disciple OMOST sweet Lord Iesu how great is the delight of a deuout soule that feasteth with thee in thy banquet where there is no other meate offered to be eaten but thy selfe her only beloued and most to be desired aboue all the desires of her hart And verily it would be a great comfort vnto me to powre out teares from the bottome of my hart in thy presence Luc. 7. and with deuout Magdalen to wash thy feet with the teares of mine eyes But where is this deuotion Where is so plentifull shedding of holy teares Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels my whole hart should be inflamed and dissolue into teares for ioy For I enioy thee in the Sacrament really present although hidden vnder another forme 2. For to behould thee in thine owne diuine brightnesse mine eyes would not be able to endure it neither could the whole world stand in the clearnesse of the glory of thy Maiesty Thou therfore prouidest for my weaknesse in that thou couerest thy selfe vnder the Sacrament I do really enioy and adore him whome the Angels adore in heauen but I as yet for the time in faith they in his proper forme and without shaddow I ought to be contented with the light of true faith and to walke therin vntill the day of euerlasting brightnesse breake forth and the shaddowes of figures passe away But when that shall come which is perfect 1. Cor. 13. the vse of Sacraments shall cease For the blessed in heauenly glory need not the remedy of Sacraments who reioyce without end in the presence of God behoulding his glory face to face and being trāsformed by his brightnesse into the brightnesse of the incomprehensible Deity they tast the word of God made flesh as he was from the beginning and as he remaineth for euer 3. Whilst I remember these thy wonderfull works all spirituall cōfort whatsoeuer becometh very tedious vnto me for that as long as I behould not my Lord openly in his glory I make no accompt of whatsoeuer I see or heare in this life Thou art my witnes o God that nothing can comfort me no creature giue me rest but thou my God whome I desire to behould euerlastingly But this is not possible whilst I remaine in this mortall life Therfore I must frame my selfe to much patience submit my selfe to thee in all my desires Heb 10. 11. For thy Saints also o Lord who now reioyce with thee in the Kingdome of heauen whilest they liued expected in faith and great patience the comming of thy glory What they belieued I belieue what they hoped for I expect whither they are come I trust I shall come by thy grace In the meane time I will goe forward in faith strengthened by the examples of the Saints I haue also deuout bookes for my comfort and for the guide of my life and aboue all these thy most holy Body for a singular remedie and refuge 4. For I perceaue two things to be chiefly necessary for me in this life without which this miserable life would be insupportable vnto me Whilst I am kept in the prison of this bodie I acknowledge my selfe to stand in need of two things to wit food and light Thou hast therfore giuen vnto me Ioan. 6. weake creature thy sacred Bodie for the refection of my soule bodie and hast set thy word as a light vnto my feet Psal 118. without these two I could not well liue For the word of God is the light of the soule thy Sacrament the bread of life Psal 22. Heb. 9. c 13. These also may be called the two tables set on the one side the other in the store-house of the holy Church One is the table of the holy Altar conteyning the sacred bread that is the precious body of Christ the other is of the diuine law conteyning holy doctrine teaching true faith and certainely leading to the part of the Temple within the veile where are the Holy of Holies Thanks be vnto thee Lord Iesu light of euerlasting light for thy table of holy doctrine at which thou seruest vs by thy seruants the Prophets and Apostles other Doctours 5. Thanks be vnto thee Creatour and Redeemer of man who to manifest thy charity to the whole world hast prepared a great supper Luc. 14. wherin thou hast offered to be eaten not the mysticall lambe but thine owne most sacred Body and Bloud Ioan. 6. reioycing all the faithfull with thy holy banquet and replenishing them to the full with thy heauenly Cuppe Psal 22. in which are all the delights of heauen Sap. 16. and the holy Angels do feast with vs but with a more happy sweetnesse 6. O how great and honorable is the office of Priests to whome it is graunted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Maiesty with their lips to blesse him with their hands to hould him with their own mouth to receaue him and to administer him to others O how cleane ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the body How vnspotted the hart of the Priest into whome the Author of purity so often entreth Nothing but holy no word but chast and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receaueth the Sacrament of Christ 7. Simple and chast ought to be the eyes that are wont to behould the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted vp to heauen that vse to handle the Creator of heauen and earth Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Be ye holy Leuit. 19. 20. for that I your Lord God am holy 8. Assist vs Almighty God with thy grace that we who haue vndertaken the office of Priesthood may serue thee worthily and deuoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience And if we cannot liue in so great innocency as we ought to do graunt vs notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we haue committed and in the spirit of humility and sincere intention to serue thee heerafter with more feruour CHAP. XII That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence The voice of the Beloued I AM the louer of purity Psal 23. Matt. 5. and the giuer of all sanctitie I seek a pure hart and there is the place of my rest Marc. 14. Luc. 22. Make ready adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Pasch with my Disciples If thou wilt haue me come vnto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leauen 1. Cor. 5. and make cleane the dwelling of thy hart shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices sit like a sparrow