God let him do therein as shall best please him Set thou thy self to suffer tribulations and account them the greatest comforts for that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory which is to come although thou alone couldest suffer them all 11. When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation shall seem sweet and savory unto thee for Christ then thou mayst think it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise upon earth As long as it is grievous to thee to suffer and that thou desirest to fly it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou flyest will follow thee every where 12. If thou dost set thy self to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to die to thy self it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt find peace Although thou shouldest have been rapt even unto the third Heaven with Paul thou art not for this secured that thou shalt suffer no adversity I saith Jesus will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name It remaineth therefore that thou suffer if thou wilt love Jesus and perpetually serve him 13. O that thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus how great glory would it be unto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbor For all do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ since many suffer far greater things for the world 14. Know for certain that thou oughtest to lead a dying life And how much the more every one dyeth to himself so much the more doth he begin to live to God No Man is fit to attain unto Heavenly things unless he submit himself to the bearing of adversities for Christ. Nothing is more grateful unto God nothing more wholesome to thee in this world than to suffer willingly for Christ. And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer Adversities for Christ than to enjoy the delight of many comforts because hereby thou shouldest be more like unto Christ and more conformable to all the Saints For our worthiness and the proficiency of our spiritual estate consisteth not in many sweetnesses and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulation 15. If there had been any better thing and more profitable to the health of Man than suffering surely Christ would have shewed it by word and example But he plainly exhorteth all the Disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Cross and saith If any will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me So that when we have read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. 1. Of the inward Speech of Christ unto a Faithful Soul I Will hear what the Lord God will speak in me Blessed is the soul that heareth the Lord speaking in her and receiveth from his mouth the word of comfort Blessed are those ears that receive the sound of the divine voice and listen not to the whisperings of the world Blessed indeed are those ears that hearken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but unto the truth which teacheth inwardly Blessed are the eyes that are shut to outward things but open to those things that are internal Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeavor to prepare themselves more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of Heavenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to converse with God and rid themselves of all worldly impediments 2. Consider these things my soul and shut up the door of thy sensual desires that thou mayest hear what thy Lord God speaketh in thee Thus saith thy beloved I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keep thy self with me and thou shalt find peace Leave all transitory things and seek those that be everlasting What are all temporal things but deceiving snares And what do all creatures avail thee if thou be forsaken by the Creator Forsake therefore all earthly things and labor to please thy Creator and be Faithful unto him that thou mayest attain unto the true happiness CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words CHristian Speak Lord for thy servant heareth I am thy servant grant me unsterstanding that I may know thy testimonies Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth Let thy speech distil as the dew upon my soul. The Children of Israel in times past said unto Moses Speak thou unto us and we will hear thee Let not the Lord speak unto us lest we die Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreat Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Let not Moses speak unto me nor any of the prophets but do thou rather speak my Lord God the inspirer and enlightner of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2. They indeed may sound forth words but they cannot give spirit and life they speak marvellous well but if thou be silent they inflame not the heart They may teach the letter but thou openest the sense They bring forth mysteries but thou unlockest the meaning of sealed things They declare thy commandments but thou helpest to fulfil them They shew the way but thou givest strength to walk in it They work only exteriorly but thou instructest and enlightnest the heart They water outwardly but thou givest fruitfulness They make a noise with words but thou givest understanding to the hearing 3. Let not therefore Moses speak unto me but thou my Lord God the everlasting Truth lest I die and prove unfruitful if I be warned outwardly only and not inflamed within lest the word heard and not fulfilled known and not loved believed and not observed turn to my condemnation Speak therefore Lord for thy servant heareth for thou hast the words of everlasting life Speak unto me to the comfort of my soul and to the amendment of my whole life and to thy praise and glory and everlasting honor CHAP. III. That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not CHrist. Son hear my words words of greatest sweetness excelling all the knowledg of the Philosophers and wise Men of this world My words are spirit and life not to be weighed by the understanding of Man They are not to be drawn to vain liking but to be heard with silence and to be received with all humility and great affection Christian. And I said Blessed is the Man whom thou shalt instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy law that thou mayest give him rest from the evil days and that he be not destroyed upon earth 2. Christ. I saith our Lord have taught the
much the more and higher things doth he understand without labor for that he receiveth intellectual light from above A pure sincere and stable Spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works for that it works all to the honor of God and inwardly being still and quiet seeks not it self in any thing it doth Who hinders and troubles thee more than the unmortified affections of thine own heart A good and godly Man first of all disposeth within himself those things which he is outwardly to act neither do they draw him to the desires of an inordinate inclination but he ordereth them according to the prescript of right reason Who hath a greater combat than he that laboreth to overcome himself This ought to be our endeavor to conquer our selves and daily to wax stronger and to make a further growth in holiness 4. All perfection in this life hath some imperfection mixt with it and no knowledg of ours is without some darkness An humble knowledg of thy self is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning yet learning is not to be blamed nor the mere knowledg of any thing whatsoever to be disliked it being good in it self and ordained by God but a good conscience and a vertuous life is always to be preferred before it But because many endeavor rather to get knowledg than to live well therefore they are often deceived and reap either none or very slender profit of their labors 5. O if Men bestowed as much labor in the rooting out of vices and planting of vertues as they do in moving of questions Neither would there so much hurt be done nor so great scandal be given in the world nor so much looseness be practised in religious Houses Truly at the day of Judgment we shall not be examined what we have read but what we have done not how well we have spoken but how religiously we have lived Tell me now where are all those Doctors and Masters with whom thou wast well acquainted whilst they lived and flourished in learning Now others possess their livings and perhaps do scarce ever think of them In their life-time they seemed something but now they are not spoken of 6. O how quickly doth the glory of the world pass away O that their life had been answerable to their learning then had their study and reading been to good purpose How many perish in this world by reason of vain-learning who take little care of the serving of God And because they rather choose to be great than humble therefore they become vain in their imaginations He is truly great that is great in charity He is truly great that is little in himself and that maketh no account of any height of honor He is truly wise that accounteth all earthly things as dung that he may gain Christ. And he is truly learned that doeth the will of God and forsaketh his own will CHAP. IV. Of wisdom and providence in our actions WE must not give ear to every saying or suggestion but ought warily and leisurely to ponder things according to the will of God But alas such is our weakness that we rather often believe and speak evil of others than good Those that are perfect Men do not easily give credit to every thing one tells them for they know that humane frailty is prone to evil and very subject to fail in words 2. It is great wisdom not to be rash in thy proceedings nor to stand stiffely in thine own conceits as also not to believe every thing which thou hearest nor presently to relate again to others what thou hast heard or dost believe Consult with him that is wise and conscientious and seek to be instructed by a better than thy self rather than to follow thine own inventions A good life maketh a Man wise according to God and giveth him experience in many things How much the humbler one is in himself and more subject and resigned unto God so much the more prudent shall he be in all his affairs and enjoy greater peace and quiet of heart CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures TRuth not eloquence is to be sought for in holy Scripture Each part of the Scripture is to be read with the same Spirit wherewith it was written We should rather search after our spiritual profit in the Scriptures than subtilty of speech We ought to read plain and devout books as willingly as high and profound Let not the authority of the Writer offend thee whether he be of great or small learning but let the love of pure truth draw thee to read Search not who spake this or that but mark what is spoken 2. Men pass away but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever God speaks unto us sundry ways without respect of persons Our own curiosity often hindreth us in reading of the Scriptures when as we will examine and discuss that which we should rather pass over without more ado If thou desire to reap profit read humbly plainly and faithfully never desire the estimation of learning Inquire willingly and hear with silence the words of holy Men dislike not the parables of the Elders for they are not recounted without cause CHAP. VI. Of inordinate affections WHensoever a Man desireth any thing inordinately he is presently disquieted in himself The proud and covetous can never rest The poor and humble in Spirit live together in all peace The Man that is not yet perfectly dead to himself is quickly tempted and overcome in small and trifling things The weak in Spirit and he that is yet in a manner carnal and prone to sensible things can hardly withdraw himself altogether from earthly desires And therefore he is often afflicted when he goeth about to withdraw himself from them and easily falleth into indignation when any opposition is made against him 2. And if he hath followed therein 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 quietness of heart therefore is gotten by resisting our passions not by obeying them There is no peace in the heart of a carnal Man nor of him that is addicted to outward things but in the spiritual and fervent Man CHAP. VII Of flying vain hope and pride HE is vain that putteth his trust in Man or Creatures Be not ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ nor to be esteemed poor in this world Presume not upon thy self but place thy hope in God Do what lieth in thy power and God will assist thy good affection Trust not in thine own knowledg nor in the subtilty of any living Creature but rather in the grace of God who helpeth the humble and humbleth those that are self-presuming 2. Glory not in wealth if thou have it nor in friends because potent but in God who giveth all things and above all desireth to give thee himself
when the gate of Heaven remained shut and the way also to Heaven seemed darker when so few took care to seek after thy Kingdom Neither they also that then were just and such as should be saved could enter into the Heavenly Kingdom before the satisfaction of thy holy passion and death 3. O how many and great thanks am I bound to render unto thee that thou hast vouchsafed to shew unto me and to all the faithful a direct and sure way to thy everlasting Kingdom For thy life is our way and by holy patience we go unto thee that art our Crown If thou hadst not gone before us and taught us who would have taken care to follow Alas How many would stay behind and remain far off if they beheld not thy noble example Behold we are yet cold although we have heard of so many of thy wonders and thy Heavenly documents what would become of us if we had not so great a light given us to follow thee CHAP. XIX Of suffering of injuries and who is proved to be truly patient CHrist. What is it thou sayest Son Cease to complain considering my passion and that of my other Saints Thou hast not yet made resistance unto blood It is but little thou sufferest in comparison of them that have suffered so much were so strongly tempted so grievously afflicted so many ways tried and exercised Thou oughtest therefore to call to mind the more heavy sufferings of others that thou mayest the easier bear the little adversities which thou sufferest And if they seem not little unto thee beware lest thy impatience be cause thereof Yet whether they be little or great endeavor to bear all patiently 2. How much the better thou disposest thy self to suffering so much the more wisely thou doest and so much the greater reward shalt thou receive thou shalt more easily also endure it if both in mind and by exercise thou art well prepared thereunto Do not say I cannot suffer these things at the hands of such a person nor such things are not to be suffered by me for he hath done me great wrong and upbraided me with those things which I never thought of but of another I will willingly suffer and as I shall see cause Such a thought is foolish it considereth not the virtue of patience nor by whom it shall be crowned but rather weigheth the persons and the injuries offered 3. He is not truly patient that will not suffer but as much as he thinketh good and by whom he listeth But the true patient Man mindeth not by whom he is exercised whether by his Superiors or some of his equals or by his inferiors whether by a good and holy Man or by a perverse and unworthy person But indifferently from all creatures how much soever or how often soever any adversity befalleth him he taketh all this thankfully as from the hands of God and esteemeth it a great gain for that nothing before God how little soever so it be suffered for God shall pass without its reward 4. Be thou therefore always prepared for the fight if thou wilt have the victory Without a combat thou canst not attain unto the crown of patience If thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned But if thou desirest to be crowned fight manfully and endure patiently Without labor there is no coming to rest nor without fighting can the victory be obtained Christian. Lord let that be made possible to me by thy grace which seemeth impossible to me by nature Thou knowest that I can suffer but little and that I am quickly dismayed when a small adversity ariseth Let every exercise of tribulation be made amiable unto me and be welcom for thy name for to suffer and to be troubled for thy sake is very profitable for my soul. CHAP. XX. Of the acknowledging of our own infirmities and of the miseries of this life CHristian I will confess against me my unrighteousness I will confess unto thee O Lord my infirmities Oftentimes it is a small matter that dejecteth and grieveth me I purpose to act with courage but when a small temptation cometh it bringeth me into very narrow straits It is sometimes a very trifle from whence great temptations do proceed And whilest I think my self somewhat safe when I least expect it I find my self sometimes overcome with a small blast 2. Behold therefore Lord my lowness and frailty every way known unto thee Have mercy on me and deliver me out of the mire that I stick not fast therein and that I may not for ever remain dejected This is that which oftentimes strikes me at the very heart and confounds me in thy sight for that I am so subject to fall and weak in resisting of my passions And although though I do not altogether consent yet their continual assaults are troublesom and grievous unto me and it is a very irksom thing to live thus daily in conflict Hereby my infirmity is made known unto me for that wicked fancies do always much more easily invade than forsake me 3. O mighty God of Israel the zealous lover of faithful souls let it please thee to consider the labor and sorrow of thy Servant and assist him in all whatsoever he undertaketh Strengthen me with Heavenly strength lest the old Man the miserable flesh not fully as yet subject to the spirit prevail and get the upper hand against which I ought to fight as long as I breath in this miserable life Alas what a kind of life is this where tribulation and miseries are never wanting where all is full of snares and enemies For when one tribulation or temptation goeth away another first cometh yea and during the first conflict also many others come unlooked for one after another 4. And how can a life be loved that hath so many embitterments and is subject to so many calamities and miseries How is it called a life that begetteth so many deaths and plagues And yet it is loved and many seek to delight themselves therein The world is oftentimes blamed that it is deceitful and vain and yet it is not easily forsaken because the desires of the flesh bear so great a sway 5. Some things draw us to love it others to contemn it To the love of the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life do draw us but the pains and miseries that do justly follow them cause a hatred and loathsomness thereof 6. But alas vile pleasure overcometh the mind which is addicted to the world and she esteemeth it a delight to be even under thorns because she hath neither seen nor tasted the sweetness of God and the inward pleasantness of virtue But they that perfectly contemn the world and endeavor to live to God under holy discipline these are not ignorant of the divine sweetness promised to the true forsakers of the world and do more clearly see how grievously the world erreth and how it is many ways
of true judgment If God were always the pure intention of our desire we should not be so much troubled through the repugnance of our carnal mind 2. But oftentimes something lurketh within or else occurreth from without which draweth us after it Many secretly seek themselves in their actions and know it not They seem also to live in good peace of mind when things are done according to their will and opinion but if things succeed otherwise than they desire they are straightways troubled and much afflicted The diversities of judgments and opinions cause oftentimes dissentions between religious and devout Persons between Friends and Countrymen 3. An old custom is hardly broken and no Man is willing to be led further than himself can see If thou dost more rely upon thine own reason or industry than upon that power which brings thee under the obedience of Jesus Christ it will be long before thou become illuminated for God will have us perfectly subject unto him and that being enflamed with his love we transcend the narrow limits of humane reason CHAP. XV. Of works done of Charity FOr no worldly thing nor for the love of any Man is any evil to be done but yet for the profit of one that standeth in need a good work is sometimes to be intermitted without any scruple or changed also for a better For by doing this a good work is not lost but changed into a better The exterior work without charity profiteth nothing but whatsoever is done of charity be it never so little and contemptible in the sight of the world it becomes wholly fruitful For God weigheth more with how much love one worketh than how much he doeth He doeth much that loveth much 2. He doeth much that doeth a thing well he doeth well that rather serveth the community than his own proper will Oftentimes it seemeth to be charity and it is rather carnality because natural inclination self-will hope of reward and desire of our own interest will seldom be away 3. He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himself in nothing but only desireth in all things that the glory of God should be exalted He also envieth none because he affecteth no private good neither will he rejoyce in himself but wisheth above all things to be made happy in the enjoyment of God He attributeth nothing that is good to any Man but wholly referreth it unto God from whom as from the fountain all things proceed in whom finally all the Saints do rest as in their highest fruition O he that had but one spark of true charity would certainly discern that all earthly things be full of vanity CHAP. XVI Of bearing with the defects of others THose things that a Man cannot amend in himself or in others he ought to suffer patiently until God order things otherwise Think that perhaps it is better so for thy trial and patience without which all our good deeds are not much to be esteemed Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impediments that God would vouchsafe to help thee and that thou mayest bear them patiently 2. If one that is once or twice warned will not give over contend not with him but commit all to God that his will may be fulfilled and his name honored in all his servants who well knoweth how to turn evil into good Endeavor to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others of what sort soever they be for that thy self also hast many things which must be suffered by others If thou canst not make thy self such an one as thou wouldst how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking We would willingly have others perfect and yet we amend not our own faults 3. We will have others severely corrected and will not be corrected our selves The large liberty of others displeaseth us and yet we will not have our desires denied us We will have others kept under by strict laws but in no sort will our selves be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same ballance with our selves If all Men were perfect what should we have to suffer of our neighbor for God 4. But now God hath thus ordered it that we may learn to bear one anothers burden for no Man is without fault no Man but hath his burden no Man sufficient of himself no Man wise enough of himself but we ought to bear with one another comfort one another help instruct and admonish one another Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath for occasions make not a Man frail but do shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of a retired life THou must learn to break thy own will in many things if thou wilt have peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in a religious community and to converse therein without complaint and to persevere therein faithfully until death Blessed is he that hath there lived well and ended happily If thou wilt persevere in grace as thou oughtest and profit in virtue esteem thy self as a banished Man and a pilgrim upon earth Thou must be contented for Christs sake to be esteemed as a fool in this world if thou desire to lead an holy life 2. The wearing of a religious habit and shaving of the crown do little profit but change of manners and perfect mortification of passions make a true religious Man He that seeketh any thing else but God and the salvation of his soul shall find nothing but tribulation and sorrow Neither can he remain long in peace that laboreth not to be the least and subject to all 3. Thou camest to serve not to rule Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labor not to be idle or to spend thy time in talk Here therefore Men are proved as gold in the furnace Here no Man can stand unless he humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers COnsider the lively examples of the holy Fathers in whom true perfection and religion shined and thou shalt see how little it is and almost nothing which we do now in these days Alas what is our life if it be compared to them The Saints and Friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst in cold and nakedness in labor and weariness in watchings and fastings in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2. O how many and grievous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the rest that endeavored to follow the steps of Christ They hated their lives in this world that they might possess their souls in everlasting life O how strict and self-renouncing a life led those holy Fathers in the wilderness How long and grievous tentations suffered they How often were they assaulted by the enemy What frequent and fervent prayers offered they to God! How rigorous an abstinence did
they daily use How great zeal and care had they of their spiritual proficiency How strong a combat had they for the overcoming of their lusts How pure and upright intentions kept they unto God! In the day they labored and in the night they attended to continual prayer although when they labored also they ceased not from mental prayer 3. They spent all their time with profit every hour seemed short for the service of God and by reason of the great sweetness they felt in contemplation they forgot the necessity of corporal refreshments They renounced all riches dignities honors friends and kinsfolk they desired to have nothing which appertained to the world they scarce took things necessary for the sustenance of life they grieved to serve their bodies even in necessity They were poor in earthly things but very rich in grace and virtues Outwardly they wanted but inwardly they were refreshed with grace and divine consolation 4. They were strangers to the world but near and familiar friends to God They seemed to themselves as nothing and despicable to this present world but they were precious and beloved in the eyes of God They were grounded in true humility lived in simple obedience walked in love and patience and therefore they profited daily in spirit and obtained great grace in Gods sight They were given for an example to all religious Men and they should more provoke us to endeavor after spiritual proficiencies than the number of the luke-warm livers should prevail to make us remiss 5. O how great was the fervor of all religious persons in the beginning of their holy institution How great was their devotion to prayer What ambition to excel others in virtue How exact discipline then flourished How great reverence and obedience under the rule of their Superiors observed they in all things Their footsteps yet remaining do testifie that they were indeed holy and perfect Men who fighting so valiantly trodd the world under their feet Now he is greatly accounted of that transgresseth not and that can with patience endure that which he hath undertaken 6 O the coldness and negligence of our times that we so quickly decline from our first fervor and are come to that pass that very sloth and coldness of spirit maketh our own life tedious unto us Would to God the desire to profit in virtue did not wholly sleep in thee who hast often seen the many examples of devout and religious persons CHAP. XIX Of the exercise of a good and religious person THe life of a good and religious person ought to be adorned with all virtues that he may inwardly be such as outwardly he seemeth to Men. And with reason thou oughtest to be much more within than is perceived without For God beholdeth us whom we ought most highly to reverence wheresoever we are and walk in purity like Angels in his sight Daily should we renew our purposes and stir up our selves to fervor as though this were the first day of our conversion and to say Help me my God in this my good purpose and in thy holy service and grant that I may now this day begin perfectly for that which I have done hitherto is nothing 2. According to our purpose shall be the success of our spiritual profiting and much diligence is necessary to him that will profit much And if he that firmly purposeth often faileth what shall he do that seldom purposeth any thing or with little resolvedness It may fall our sundry ways that we leave off our purpose and the light omission of spiritual exercises seldom passes without some loss to our souls The purpose of just Men depends upon Gods grace and not upon their own wisdom upon whom they always rely for whatsoever they take in hand For Man doth purpose but God doth dispose neither is the way of Man in himself 3. If an accustomed exercise be sometimes omitted either for some act of piety or profit to my brother it may easily afterwards be recovered again But if out of a slothful mind or out of carelesness we lightly forsake the same it is a great offence against God and will be found to be prejudicial to our selves Let us do the best we can we shall easily fail in many things yet must we always purpose some certain course and especially against those vices which do most of all molest us We must diligently search into and set in order both the outward and the inward Man because both of them are expedient to our coming forward in godliness 4. If thou canst not continually recollect thy self yet do it sometimes at the least once a day to wit at morning or at night In the morning fix thy good purpose and at night examine thy self what thou hast done how thou hast behaved thy self in thought word and deed for in these perhaps thou hast often offended both God and thy neighbor Gird thy loyns like a Man against the vile assaults of the Devil bridle thy riotous appetite and thou shalt be the better able to keep under all the unruly motions of the flesh Be thou at no time idle altogether but either reading or writing or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the publick good As for bodily exercises they must be used with great discretion neither are they to be practised of all Men alike 5. The exercises that are not common are not to be exposed to publick view for things private are practised more safely at home Nevertheless thou must beware thou neglect not that which is common and be more ready for what is private But having fully and faithfully accomplished all thou art bound and enjoyned to do if thou hast any spare time betake thee to thy self as thy devotion shall require All cannot use one kind of exercise but one is more convenient for this person another for that according to the seasonableness of times also divers exercises are fitting Some sute better with us on working days other on holy days some we have need of in the time of temptation and of others in time of peace and quietness Some we mind when we are pensive and other some when we rejoyce in the Lord. 9. When chief Festivals draw near good exercises are to be renewed and the prayers of holy Men more fervently to be implored From feast to feast we should make some good purpose as though we were then to depart out of this world and to come to the everlasting feast in Heaven Therefore ought we carefully to prepare our selves at holy times and to live more devoutly and to keep more exactly all things that we are to observe as though we were shortly at Gods hands to receive the reward of our labors 7. But if it be deferred let us think with our selves that we are not sufficiently prepared and unworthy yet of so great glory which shall be revealed in us in due time and let us endeavor to prepare our selves better for our departure Blessed is that servant
sure more especially to instruct thy self before all thy loving friends If thou hast not the favor of Men be not grieved at it but take this to heart that thou dost not carry thy self so warily and circumspectly as it becometh the Servant of God and a devout religious Man It is better oftentimes and safer that a Man hath not many consolations in this life especially such as are agreeable to the flesh But that we have not at all or do very seldom tast divine consolations the fault is ours because we seek not after compunction of heart nor do altogether forsake the vain and outward comforts of this world 4. Know that thou art unworthy of divine consolation and that thou hast rather deserved much tribulation When a Man hath perfect contrition then is the whole world grievous and bitter unto him A good Man findeth always sufficient cause of mourning and weeping for whether he consider his own or his neighbors estate he knoweth that none liveth here without tribulation And by how much a Man looks narrowly into himself by so much the more he sorroweth Our sins and wickednesses wherein we are so enwrapt that we can seldom apply our selves to heavenly contemplations do Minister unto us matter of most just sorrow and inward compunction 5. Didst thou oftner think of thy death than of thy living long there is no question but thou wouldst be more careful to amend I believe thou wouldst willingly undergo any labor or sorrow in this world and not be afraid of the greatest austerity if thou didst consider within thy self the infernal pains in the other world But because these things enter not to the heart and we still love those things only that delight us therefore it is we remain very dull and cold in religion 6. It is often our want of spirit which maketh our miserable body so easily complain Pray therefore unto the Lord with all humility that he will vouchsafe to give thee the spirit of compunction And say with the prophet Psal. 80 Feed me O Lord with the bread of tears and give me plenteousness of tears to drink CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MIserable thou art wheresoever thou be or whithersoever thou turnest unless thou turn thy self unto God Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldest or desirest For who is he that hath all things according to his mind Neither I nor thou nor any Man upon earth there is none in this world be he King or Pope without some tribulation or other Who is then in the best case or condition even he who can suffer something for God 2. Many weak and infirm ones can say Behold what an happy life hath such an one how wealthy how great he is in how great power and dignity But lift up thine eyes to the riches of heaven and thou shalt see that all the goods of this life are nothing so to be accounted of They are very uncertain rather burdensome than otherwise because they are never enjoyed without carefulness and fear Mans happiness consisteth not in having abundance of wealth but a mean estate should content him it is truly misery enough even to live upon the earth The more a Man would be spiritual the more bitter to him is this present life because he seeth more clearly and perceiveth more sensibly the defects of humane corruption For to eat and to drink to sleep and to watch to labor and to rest and to be subject to other necessities of nature is doubtless a great misery and affliction to a religious Man that would gladly be free and delivered from all sin 3. For the inward Man is much oppressed with these outward and corporal necessities whilest we live in this world Therefore the holy Prophet prayeth with great devotion to be delivered from them saying Bring me O Lord out of my necessities But wo be to them that know not their own misery and a greater wo to them that love this miserable and corruptible life And some there be so much dote upon it that although with great labor and pains they can scarce get mere necessaries yet could they live here always they would care nothing at all for the Kingdom of Heaven 4. O how foolish are these and faithless in their hearts who lye so deeply sunk in the earth that they can mind or relish nothing but carnal things But miserable wretches as they are they shall in the end feel to their cost how vile and how nothing that was which they loved Whereas the Saints of God and all the devout friends of Christ respected not those things which pleased the flesh and which flourished in this life but longed for the everlasting riches with their whole hope and desire Their whole desire was carried upward to things durable and invisible that the desire of things visible might not draw them to things below O Brother lose not thy hope of coming forward in godliness there is yet time the hour is not yet past 5. Why wilt thou defer thy good purpose from day to day Arise and begin in this very instant and say Now is the time to be doing now is the time to be striving now is the best time to amend my self When thou art ill at ease and much troubled then is the time of deserving best thou must pass through fire and water before thou comest to the place of refreshing Unless thou dost earnestly force thy self thou shalt never get the victory over sin so long as we carry about us this frail body of ours we can never be without sin or live without trouble and sorrow We would gladly be quiet and freed from all misery but seeing by sin we have lost our innocency we have together with that lost also the true felicity Therefore it becomes us to have patience and to wait for the mercy of God till this our iniquity be put away and this mortality of ours be swallowed up of life 6. O how great is humane frailty which is always prone to evil to day thou confessest thy sins and to morrow thou committest the very same thou hast confessed Now thou art purposed to look well unto thy ways and within a while thou so behavest thy self as though thou hadst never any such purpose at all Good cause have we therefore to humble our selves and never to have any great conceit of our selves because we are so frail and so inconstant Besides that may quickly be lost by our own negligence which by the grace of God and our own great pains we have scarce at length obtained 7. What will become of us in the end who begin to wax cold so timely Wo be unto us if we will so give our selves unto ease as if all were in peace and safety when as yet there appeareth no sign of true holiness in our conversations We have need like young beginners to be newly instructed again to good life if happily there be any hope of
our future amendment and proficiency in spiritual things CHAP. XXIII Of the meditation of Death THere will very quickly be an end of thee here therefore see what will become of thee hereafter To day a Man to morrow none and out of sight out of mind O the stupidity and hardness of Mans Heart who thinketh only upon the present and hath no more care of what is to come Thou shouldest so order thy self in all thy thoughts and actions as if to day yea this very moment thou wert ready to depart Hadst thou a clear conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death It were better to avoid sin than to fly death If thou art not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow To morrow is uncertain and how knowest thou that thou shalt live till to morrow 2. What availeth it to live long when we are so little the better by long living Alas length of days doth oftner make our sins the greater than our lives the better O that we had spent but one day well in this world Many there are who count how long it is since their conversion and yet ful slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment of life If to die be accounted dreadful to live long may perhaps prove more dangerous Happy is he that always hath the hour of his death before his eyes and daily prepareth himself for to die If at any time thou hast seen another Man die make account thou must also pass the same way 3. When it is morning think thou mayest die before night and when evening comes dare not to promise thy self the next morning Be thou therefore always in a readiness and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared Many die suddenly and when they look not for it for the Son of Man will come when we think not of his coming When that last hour shall come thou wilt begin to have a far different opinion of thy whole life that is past and be exceeding sorry thou hast been so careless and remiss 4. O how wise and happy is he that now laboreth to be such an one in his life as he wisheth to be found at the hour of his death A perfect contempt of the world a fervent desire to go forward in vertue the love of discipline the painfulness of repentance the readiness of obedience the denying of our selves and the bearing any affliction for the love of Christ patiently will give us great confidence we shall die happily Whilst thou art in health thou mayest do much good but when thou art sick I see not what thou art able to do Few by sickness grow better and more reformed as also they who wander much abroad seldom thereby become holy 5. Trust. not to friends and kindred neither do thou put off the care of thy souls welfare till hereafter for Men will sooner forget thee than thou art aware of It is better to look to it betime and do some good beforehand than to trust to other Mens courtesies If thou beest not careful for thy self now who will be careful for thee hereafter The time that is now present is very precious now are the days of salvation now is the acceptable time But alas that thou shouldst spend thy time so idlely here where thou mightest purchase to live eternally hereafter The time will come when thou shalt desire one day or hour to amend in and I cannot say that it will be granted thee 6. O beloved from how great danger mightest thou deliver thy self from how great fear free thy self if thou wouldst be always mindful of death Labor now to live so that at the hour of death thou mayest rather rejoyce than fear learn now to die to the world that thou mayest then begin to live with Christ. Learn now to contemn all earthly things that thou mayest freely go to Christ. Chastise thy body now by repentance that thou mayest then have assured confidence 7. Ah fool why dost thou think to live long when thou canst not promise to thy self one day How many have been deceived and suddenly snatcht away How often dost thou hear these reports Such a Man is slain another Man is drowned a third breaks his neck with a fall from some high place this Man died eating and that Man playing One perished by fire another by the sword another of the plague another was slain by Thieves Thus death is the end of all and Mans life suddenly passeth away like a shaddow 8. Who shall remember thee when thou art Dead Do do now my beloved whatsoever thou art able to do for thou knowest not when thou shalt die nor yet what shall befal thee after thy death Now whilst thou hast time heap unto thy self everlasting riches think on nothing but the salvation of thy soul care for nothing but the things of God Make now friends to thy self by honoring the Saints of God and imitating their actions that when thou failest in this short life they may receive thee into everlasting habitations 9. Keep thy self as a stranger and pilgrim upon the earth and as one to whom the affairs of this world do nothing appertain Keep thy heart free and lifted up to God because thou hast here no abiding city Send thither thy daily prayers and sighs together with thy tears that after death thy spirit may with much happiness pass to the Lord. Amen CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgment and the punishment of Sins IN all things have a special aim to thy end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that severe Judg to whom nothing is hid who is not pacified with gifts nor admitteth any excuses but will judg according to right and equity O wretched and foolish sinner who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry Man what answer wilt thou make to God who knoweth all thy wickedness Why dost thou not provide for thy self against that great day of judgment when no Man can excuse or answer for another but every one shall have enough to answer for himself Now are thy pains profitable thy tears acceptable thy groans audible thy grief pacifieth God and purgeth thy soul. 2. The patient Man hath a great and wholesome purgatory who though he receive injuries yet grieveth more for the malice of another than for his own wrong who prayeth willingly for his adversaries and from his heart forgiveth their offences he delayeth not to ask forgiveness of whomsoever he hath offended he is sooner moved to compassion than to anger he often offereth an holy violence to himself and laboreth to bring the body wholly into subjection to the spirit It is better to purge out our sins and cut off our vices here than to keep them to be punished hereafter Verily we do but deceive our selves through an inordinate love of the flesh 3. What is it that that infernal fire feeds upon but thy sins The more thou sparest thy self now and followest the flesh so much the more hereafter shall
be thy punishment and thou storest up greater fewel for that flame In what thing a Man hath sinned in the same shall he be the more grievously punished There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning goads and the gluttons be tormented with great hunger and thirst There shall the luxurious and lovers of pleasures be bathed in burning pitch and stinking brimstone and the envious like mad Dogs shall howl for very grief 4. There is no sin but shall have its proper torment There the proud shall be filled with all confusion the covetous shall be pinched with miserable penury one hour of pain there shall be more bitter than a Thousand years of the sharpest pennance here There is no quiet no comfort for the damned there yet here we have some intermission of our labors and enjoy the comfort of our friends Be now sollicitous and sorrowful because of thy sins that at the day of judgment thou mayest be secure with the company of blessed souls For then shall the righteous with great boldness stand against such as have vexed and oppressed them then shall he stand to judg Men who doth now humbly submit himself to the censures of Men. Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence but the proud Man shall be compassed with fear on every side 5. Then will it appear that he was wise in this world who had learned for Christ to be a fool and despised Then shall every affliction patiently undergone delight us when the mouth of iniquity shall be stopped up Then shall the devout rejoyce and the profane shall mourn Then shall he more rejoyce that hath beat down his own flesh than he that hath abounded in all pleasure and delight Then shall the poor attire shine gloriously and the precious robes seem vile and contemptible Then shall be more commended the poor cottage than the gilded palace Then will constant patience more avail us than all earthly power Then simple obedience shall be preferred before all worldly wisdom 6. Then shall a good and clear conscience more rejoyce a Man than the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more than all the worldings treasure Then wilt thou be more comforted that thou hast prayed devoutly than that thou hast fared daintily Then wilt thou be more glad thou hast kept silence than that thou hast talked much Then will good works avail more than many goodly words Then a strict life and severe repentance will be more pleasing than all earthly delights Accustome thy self now to suffer a little that thou mayest then be delivered from more grievous pains Prove first here what thou canst endure hereafter If now thou canst endure so little how wilt thou then be able to endure perpetual torments If now a little suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire do hereafter Assure thy self thou canst not have two Paradises it is impossible to enjoy delights in this world and after that to reign with Christ. 7. Suppose thou hast hitherto lived always in honors and delights what would all this avail thee if thou wert to die at this instant All therefore is vanity but to love God and serve him only For he that loveth God with all his heart is neither afraid of death nor punishment nor of judgement nor of hell for perfect love gives secure access to God But he that takes delight in sin what marvel is it if he be afraid both of death and judgment Yet it is good although love be not yet of force to withhold thee from sin that at least the fear of hell should restrain thee But he that layeth aside the fear of God can never continue long in good estate but falleth quickly into the snares of the Devil CHAP. XXV Of the zealous amendment of our whole life BE watchful and diligent in the service of God and often bethink thy self wherefore thou camest hither and why thou hast left the world Was it not that thou mightest live to God and become a spiritual Man Be fervent then to come forward for shortly thou shalt receive a reward of thy Labors there shall not be then any fear of sorrow in thy coasts Labor but now a little and thou shalt find great rest yea perpetual joy to thy soul. If thou continuest faithful and fervent in doing good no doubt but God will be faithful and liberal in rewarding thee Thou oughtest to have a good hope for getting the victory but thou must not be secure lest thou wax either negligent or proud 2. When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wavering between fear and hope did once being oppressed with grief humbly prostrate himself in a Church in prayer and said within himself O if I knew that I should yet persevere he presently heard within him an answer from God which said What if thou didst know it what wouldest thou do Do now what thou wouldest do then and thou shalt be secure And being herewith comforted and strengthened he committed himself wholly to the will of God and that noysome anxiety ceased neither had he any mind to search curiously any further to know what should befal him but rather labored to understand what was the perfect and acceptable will of God for the beginning and accomplishing of every good work 3. Hope in the Lord and do good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches thereof One thing there is that draweth many back from a spiritual progress and the diligent amendment of their lives viz. The horror of the difficulty or the labor of the combat But they above others improve most in virtue that endeavor most to overcome those things which are grievous and contrary unto them For there a Man improveth more and obtaineth greater grace where he more overcometh himself and mortifieth himself in spirit 4. But all Men have not alike to overcome and mortifie yet he that is zealous and diligent though he have more passions shall profit more in virtue than another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be less fervent in the pursuit of virtue Two things especially much further our amendment to wit to withdraw our selves violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labor earnestly for that virtue which we most want Be careful also to avoid with great diligence those things in thy self which do commonly displease thee in others 5. Gather some profit to thy soul wheresoever thou be so as if thou seest or hearest of any good examples stir up thy self to the imitation thereof But if thou seest any thing worthy of reproof beware thou do not the same And if at any time thou hast done it labor quickly to amend it As thine eye observeth others so art thou also noted again by others O how sweet and pleasant a thing it is to see the Servants of Christ fervent and devout endued with virtuous and decent manners And
on the contrary How pitiful and grievous a thing it is to see them that live in a dissolute and disordered sort not applying themselves to that for which they are called O how hurtful a thing it is to neglect the good purposes of their vocation and to busie themselves in that which is not committed to their care 6. Be mindful of the profession thou hast made and have always before the eyes of thy soul the remembrance of thy Saviour crucified Thou hast good cause to be ashamed looking upon the life of Jesus Christ seeing thou hast as yet no more endeavored to conform thy self unto him though thou hast walked a long time in the way of God A religious person that exerciseth himself seriously and devoutly in the most holy life and passion of our Lord shall there abundantly find whatsoever is necessary and profitable for him neither shall he need to seek any better thing out of Jesus O if Jesus crucified would come into our hearts how quickly and fully should we be instructed in all truth 7. A fervent religious person taketh and beareth all well that is commanded him but he that is negligent and cold hath tribulation upon tribulation and on all sides is afflicted for he is void of inward consolation and is forbidden to seek eternal comforts A religious person that liveth not according to discipline lies open to great mischief to the ruine of his soul. He that seeketh liberty and ease shall ever live in disquiet for one thing or other will displease him 8. O that we had nothing elso to do but always with our mouth and whole heart to praise our Lord God! O that thou mightest never have need to eat nor drink nor sleep but mightest always praise God and only employ thy self in spiritual exercises thou shouldest then be much more happy than now thou art when for so many necessities thou art constrained to serve thy body Would God these necessities were not at all but only the spiritual refections of the soul which alas we taste of too seldom 9. When a Man cometh to that estate rhat he seeketh not his comfort from any creature then doth he begin perfectly to relish God Then shall he be contented with whatsoever doth befal him in this world Then shall he neither rejoyce in great matters nor be sorrowful for small but entirely and confidently commit himself to God who shall be unto him all in all to whom nothing doth perish nor die but all things do live unto him and serve him at a beck without delay 10. Remember always thy end and how that time lost never returns Without care and diligence thou shalt never get virtue If thou beginnest to wax cold it will be evil with thee but if thou give thy self to fervor of spirit thou shalt find much peace and feel less labor through the assistance of Gods grace and love of virtue The fervent and diligent Man is prepared for all things It is harder to resist vices and passions than to toil in bodily labors He that avoideth not small faults by little and little falleth into greater Thou wilt always rejoyce in the evening if thou spend the day profitably Be watchful over thy self stir up thy self warn thy self and whatsoever becomes of others neglect not thy self The more holy violence thou usest against thy self the more shall be thy spiritual profiting Amen THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. Of the inward Life THE Kingdom of God is within you saith the Lord. Turn thee with thy whole heart unto the Lord and forsake this wretched World and thy Soul shall find rest Learn to despise exteriour things and to give thy self to the interior and thou shalt perceive the Kingdom of God to come into thee For the Kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which is not given to the wicked Christ will come into thee and shew thee his consolations if thou prepare for him a worthy mansion within thee All his glory and beauty is within and there he pleaseth himself The inward man he often visits and hath with him sweet discourses pleasant solace much peace wonderful familiarity 2. O faithful Soul make ready thy heart for this Bridegroom that he may vouchsafe to come unto thee and dwell within thee For he saith If any love me he will keep my words and we will come unto him and will make our abode with him Give therefore admittance unto Christ and deny entrance to all others When thou hast Christ thou art Rich and he will suffice thee He will be thy faithful and provident helper in all things so as thou shalt not need to trust in men For men are soon changed and quickly fail but Christ remaineth for ever and standeth firmly unto the end 3. There is little trust to be put in frail and mortal man though he be profitable and dear unto thee neither oughtest thou much to be grieved if sometimes he cross and contradict thee They that to day take thy part to morrow may be against thee and so on the contrary they often turn like unto the wind Put all thy trust in God let him be thy fear and thy love He will answer for thee and do in all things what is best Thou hast not here an abiding City and wheresoever thou be thou art a stranger and pilgrim Neither shalt thou ever have rest unless thou be most inwardly united unto Christ. 4. Why dost thou here gaze about since this is not the place of thy rest In Heaven ought to be thy dwelling and all Earthly things are to be lookt upon as it were by the way All things pass away and thou together with them Beware thou cleave not unto them lest thou be entangled and so dost perish Let thy thought be on the Highest and thy prayer directed unto Christ without ceasing If thou canst not contemplate high and heavenly things rest thy self in the passion of Christ and dwell willingly in his Holy wounds For if thou fly devoutly unto the wounds and precious marks of the Lord Jesus thou shalt feel great comfort in tribulation Neither wilt thou much care for being despised of men and wilt easily bear words of detraction 5. Christ was also in the World despised of men and in greatest necessity forsaken by his acquaintance and Friends in the midst of slanders Christ would suffer and be despised and darest thou complain of any Christ had Adversaries and Backbiters and wilt thou have all men thy Friends and Benefactors For what shall thy patience be crowned if no adversity happen unto thee If thou wilt suffer no adversity how wilt thou be the Friend of Christ Suffer with Christ and for Christ if thou desire to Reign with Christ. 6. If thou hadst but once perfectly entred into the secrets of Jesus and tasted a little of his ardent affection then wouldst thou not weigh thine own commodity or discommodity but wouldst rather rejoyce at slanders when they should chance to
be cast upon thee For the love of Jesus maketh a man to despise himself A lover of Jesus and of the Truth and a true inward Christian and one free from inordinate affections can freely turn himself unto God and lift himself above himself in Spirit and with the greatest enjoyment of his Soul rest in God 7. He that judgeth of all things as they are and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God than men He that can live inwardly and make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of Religious exercises A Spiritual man quickly recollecteth himself because he never poureth out himself wholly to outward things He is not hindred by outward labor or business which may be necessary for the time But as things fall out so he frameth himself unto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth not for the strange and perverse carriages of men So much is a man hindred and distracted by how much he draweth external matters unto himself 8. If all went well with thee and if thou wert all purged all things would fall out to thy good and advantage But many things displease and often trouble thee because thou art not yet perfectly dead unto thy self nor separated from all earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the heart of man as the impure love to Creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of Heaven and often receive internal joy CHAP. II. Of humble submission REspect not much who is with thee or who is against thee But endeavor and take care that God may be with thee in every thing thou doest Have a good Conscience and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hold thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord will help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliver thee and therefore thou oughtest to resign thy self unto him It belongs to God to help and to deliver from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the keeping us more humble that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himself for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and delivereth the humble he loveth and comforteth the humble unto the humble man he enclineth himself unto the humble he giveth great Grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him unto Glory Unto the humble he revealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inviteth him unto himself The humble person though he suffer shame is yet in peace for that he resteth in God and not in the World Do not think that thou hast profited any thing unless thou esteem thy self inferior to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable Man FIrst keep thy self in peace and then mayst thou pacifie others A peaceable man doth more good than he that is well Learned A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily believeth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good He that is well in peace is not suspicious of any But he that is discontented and troubled is tossed with divers suspicions He is neither quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do He considereth what others are bound to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himself First therefore have a careful zeal over thy self and then thou mayst justly shew thy self zealous also of thy neighbors good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine own deeds and thou wilt not receive the excuses of others It were more meet that thou didst accuse thy self and excusest thy Brother If thou wilt be born withal bear also with another Behold how far off thou art yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moved with indignation but only against himself It is no great matter to converse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition for that is naturally pleasing to all and every one willingly enjoyeth peace and loveth those best that agree with him But to be able to live peaceably with unquiet and perverse men or with the disorderly or such as contradict us is a great grace and a very commendable and manly deed 3. Some there are that keep themselves in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselves nor suffer others to be in peace Some there are who are troublesome to others but always more troublesome to themselves And others there are that keep themselves in peace and labor to bring others unto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering than in not feeling adversities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himself in peace He is a conqueror of himself a Lord of the world a friend of Christ and heir of Heaven CHAP. IV. Of a pure mind and upright intention WIth Two wings Man is lifted up from earthly vanities that is with simplicity and purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity doth intend God Purity doth apprehend and take him No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from all inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing else but the will of God and the good of thy neighbor thou shalt enjoy internal liberty If thy heart were sincere and upright then every creature would be unto thee a looking glass of life and a book of holy doctrine There is no creature so little and abject that representeth not the goodness of God 2. If thou wert inwardly good and pure then thou wouldest be well able to see and understand all things without any impediment A pure heart penetrateth Heaven and Hell Such as every one is inwardly so he judgeth outwardly If there be joy in the world surely a Man of a pure heart possesseth it And if there be any where tribulation and affliction an evil conscience best feels it As Iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh all bright like fire so he that wholly turneth himself unto God is purged from all fulness and slothfulness and is changed into a new Man 3. When one beginneth to wax cold then he is afraid of a small labor and willingly receiveth external comfort But when he once beginneth to overcome himself perfectly and to walk manfully in the way of God then he esteemeth those things to be light which before seemed grievous unto him CHAP. V Of the consideration of ones self WE cannot trust much to our selves for that grace oftentimes and understanding is wanting There is but little light in us and that which we have
ought to have humbled my self and to have born meekly vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I have failed herein and give me again grace of greater sufferance For thy abundant mercy is more available to me for the obtaining of pardon than my conceived justice for the defence of my hidden conscience Although I know nothing by my self yet I cannot hereby justifie my self for without thy mercy no Man living shall be justified in thy sight CHAP. XLVII That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting CHrist. Son be not dismaied with the painful labors which thou hast undertaken for me neither be thou wholly discomforted for the tribulations which do befal thee but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in all events I am able to reward thee infinitely and above all measure Thou shalt not long toil here nor always be pressed with griefs Wait a while and thou shalt see a speedy end of thy evils There will come an hour when all labor and trouble shall cease Little and short is all that which passeth away with time 2. Do what thou dost labor faithfully in my Vineyard I will be thy reward Write read sing mourn keep silence pray suffer crosses manfully life everlasting is worthy of all these yea and greater combats Peace shall come in the day which is known unto the Lord and there shall be neither day nor night to wit of this time but everlasting light infinite brightness stedfast peace and secure rest Then thou shalt not say Who shall deliver me from the body of this death Nor cry Wo is me that my sojourning is prolonged For death shall be thrown down and salvation shall appear which never shall have end there shall be no anxiety but blessed joy sweet and lovely company 3. O if thou hadst seen the everlasting Crowns of the Saints in Heaven and with how great glory they now rejoyce who in times past were contemptible to this world and esteemed unworthy of life it self truly thou wouldest presently humble thy self even unto the Earth and wouldest rather seek to be under the feet of all than to have command so much as over one neither wouldest thou desire the pleasant days of this life but rather rejoyce to suffer affliction for God and esteem it thy greatest gain to be reputed as nothing amongst Men. 4. O if thou hadst a relishing of these things and didst suffer them to sink into the bottom of thy heart how durst thou so much as once to complain Are not all painful labors to be endured for everlasting life It is no small matter to lose or to gain the Kingdom of Heaven Lift up thy face therefore unto Heaven behold I and all my Saints with me who in this world had great conflicts do now rejoyce now are comforted now are secure now are at rest and shall remain with me everlastingly in the Kingdom of my Father CHAP. XLVIII Of the everlasting day and shortness of this life CHristian O most blessed mansion of the Heavenly City O most clear day of Eternity which night obscureth not but the highest Truth ever enlightneth a day of continual joy of perpetual quietness and never changing into a contrary state O that that day would once appear and all these temporal things were at an end To the Saints it shineth glistering with evelasting brightness but to those that are Pilgrims upon Earth it appeareth only afar off and as it were through a glass 2. The Citizens of Heaven do know how joyful that day is but the banished Children of Eve bewail the bitterness and tediousness of this The daies of this life are short and evil full of sorrow and anguish where Man is defiled with many sins incumbred with many passions disquieted with many fears filled with many cares distracted with many curiosities intangled with many vanities compassed about with many errors worn away with many labors vexed with temptations weakned with pleasures tormented with want 3. 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 When shall I fully rejoyce in thee When shall I enjoy true liberty without all impediments whatsoever without all trouble of mind and body When shall I have solid peace secure and undisturbed peace peace within and without peace every way assured O good Jesus when shall I stand to behold thee When shall I contemplate the glory of thy Kingdom When wilt thou be unto me All in all O when shall I be with thee in thy Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thy beloved from all eternity I am left a poor and banished Man in the land of mine enemies where there are daily wars and great calamities 4. Comfort my banishment asswage my sorrow for my whole desire fighteth after thee For all is burdensome to me whatsoever this world offereth for my comfort I long to enjoy thee most inwardly but I cannot attain unto it My desire is that I may be wholly given up to Heavenly things but temporal things and unmortified passions weigh me down With the mind I would be above all things but with the flesh I am inforced to be subject against my will Thus unhappy Man that I am I fight against my self and am become grievous to my self whilst my spirit seeketh to be above and my flesh to be below 5. O what do I inwardly suffer when in my mind I consider Heavenly things and presently in my prayers a multitude of carnal imaginations present themselves before me My God be not far from me depart not in thy wrath from thy Servant Cast forth thy lightning and disperse them send out thy darts and break all the imaginations which my enemy casts in Gather in call home my senses unto thee make me forget all the things of this world grant me to cast away speedily the imaginations of wickedness Succor me O thou the everlasting Truth that no vanity may move me Come Heavenly sweetness and let all impurity fly from before thee Pardon me also and mercifully forgive me as often as I think upon any thing else besides thee in prayer I do truly confess that I am wont to be subject to many distractions for oftentimes I am not there where I do corporally stand or sit but I am rather there whither my thoughts do carry me Where my thought is there am I there is oftentimes my thought where my affection is That quickly offereth it self unto me which is naturally delightsom or by custom is pleasing 6. And for this cause thou that art Truth it self hast plainly said Where thy treasure is there is also thy heart If I love Heaven I willingly think of Heavenly things If I love the world I rejoyce at the felicity of the world and grieve for the adversity thereof If I love the flesh I shall fancy oftentimes those things that are pleasing to the flesh If I love the spirit
expeller of fear the nurse of devotion the mother of tears What am I without it but a withered piece of wood and an unprofitable stalk only meet to be cast away Let thy grace therefore O Lord always prevent me and follow me and make me ever diligent in good works through Jesus Christ thy Son Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selves and imitate Christ by the Cross. CHrist. Son look how much thou goest out of thy self so much mayst thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of external things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selves inwardly joyneth unto God I will have thee learn the perfect leaving of thy self to my will without contradiction and complaint Follow me I am the Way the Truth and the Life Without the way there is no going aright without truth there is no knowledge without life there is no living I am the way which thou oughtest to follow the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope I am the way inviolable the truth infallible the life which cannot end I am the most straight way the supreme truth the true life yea the blessed life the uncreated life If thou remain in my way thou shalt keep the truth and the truth shall make thee free and thou shalt lay hold on everlasting life 2. If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments If thou wilt know the truth believe me If thou wilt be perfect sell all If thou wilt be my Disciple deny thy self If thou wilt possess a blessed life despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in Heaven humble thy self upon Earth If thou wilt reign with me bear the Cross with me For only the Servants of the Cross find the way of bliss and true light 3. Christian. Lord Jesus forasmuch as thy way is narrow and contemptible unto the world grant me grace to imitate thee in suffering worldly contempt For the Servant is not greater than his Lord nor the Disciple above his Master Let thy Servant be exercised in thy holy life for therein my salvation and the true holiness doth consist whatsoever I read or hear besides it doth not recreate or delight me fully 4. Christ. Son now that thou knowest and hast read these things happy shalt thou be if thou do them He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and I will love him and will manifest my self unto him and will make him sit with me in the Kingdom of my Father Christian. Lord Jesus as thou hast said and promised so let it come to pass and grant that I may not wholly undeserve this favor I have received the Cross I have received it from thy hand I will bear it and bear it till death as thou hast laid it upon me Truly the life of a good retired person is the Cross but yet it is a guide to Paradise It is now begun it is not lawful to go back neither is it fit to leave that which I have undertaken 5. Let us then take courage my Brethren and go forwards together Jesus will be with us For Jesus's sake we have undertaken this Cross for Jesus's sake let us persevere in the Cross. He will be our helper who is our guide and forerunner Behold our King goeth before us who also will fight for us let us follow him manfully let none be dismaid but be we ready to die valiantly in the battle and let us not blemish our glory by flying from the Cross. CHAP. LVII That a Man be not too much dejected when he falleth into some defects CHrist. Son patience and humility in adversities are more pleasing to me than much comfort and devotion in prosperities Why art thou grieved for every little trifle spoken and done against thee Although it had been much more thou oughtest not to have been moved But now let it pass it is not the first that hath happened nor is it any new thing neither shall it be the last if thou live long Thou art manly enough as long as no adversity happeneth Thou canst give good counsel also and canst strengthen others with thy words but when any tribulation suddenly comes to thy door thou art destitute of counsel and strength See therefore thy great frailty which thou often hast experience of in every small occurrence It is notwithstanding intended for thy good when these and such like things befal thee 2. Put it out of thy heart the best thou canst and if it touch thee yet let it not deject thee nor trouble thee long bear it at least patiently if thou canst not joyfully Although thou be unwilling to hear it and conceivest indignation thereat yet restrain thy self and suffer no inordinate word to pass out of thy mouth whereby the little ones may be offended The storm which now is raised shall quickly be appeased and inward grief shall be sweetned by the return of grace I yet live saith the Lord and am ready to help thee and to give thee greater comfort than before if thou put thy trust in me and callest devoutly upon me 3. Be more patient and prepare thy self to greater suffering All is not lost if thou feel thy self often afflicted or grievously tempted Thou art a Man and not God thou art flesh not an Angel How canst thou look to continue ever in the same state of virtue when an Angel in Heaven hath fallen as also the first Man in Paradise I am he who will strengthen with health them that mourn and do raise up unto divine glory those that know their own infirmity 4. Christian. Lord blessed be thy word more sweet unto my mouth than the hony and the hony-comb What should I do in these my so great tribulations and straits unless thou didst comfort me with thy holy words What matter is it how much and what I suffer so as I may at length attain to the port of salvation Grant me a good end grant me a happy passage out of this world Be mindful of me O my God and direct me the right way to thy Kingdom Amen CHAP. LVIII Of not searching into high matters and into the secret judgments of God CHrist. Son beware thou dispute not of high matters nor of the secret judgments of God why this Man is left and that Man taken into so great favor why also this Man is so much afflicted and that Man so greatly advanced these things are beyond the reach of Man neither can any reason or disputation search out the judgment of God When the enemy therefore suggesteth these things unto thee or some curious people enquire of thee answer that of the Prophet Thou art just O Lord and thy judgment is right And again The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether My judgments are to be feared not to be discussed for they are such as cannot be comprehended by the understanding of Man 2. In like manner I
less to be loved and praised then if thou didst fill me with Heavenly comforts 3. In thee therefore O Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I find all to be weak and unconstant whatsoever I behold out of thee For neither can many friends avail nor strong helpers aid nor wise councellors give any profitable answer nor the Books of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliver nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy self dost not assist help strengthen comfort instruct and keep us 4. For all things that seem to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee are nothing and do bring indeed no felicity at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the height of life the depth of wisdom and the strongest comfort of thy servants is to trust in thee above all things To thee therefore do I lift up mine eyes in thee O my God the Father of mercies I put my trust Bless and sanctifie my soul with thy Heavenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternal glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy glory that may offend the eyes of thy Majesty According to the greatness of thy goodness and multitude of thy mercies look upon me and hear the prayer of thy poor Servant who is far exiled from thee in the land of the shadow of death Protect and keep the soul of thy Servant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by thy grace accompanying me direct it by the way of peace to the country of everlasting light Amen THE FOURTH BOOK A devout Exhortation unto the holy Communion The voice of Christ. COme unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you saith the Lord. The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world Take ye and eat that is my body that is given for you Do this in remembrance of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him The words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and life CHAP. I. With how great reverence Christ ought to be received The voice of the disciple THese are thy words O Christ the everlasting Truth though not spoken all at one time nor written in one and the self same place Because therefore they are thine and true they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me They are thine and thou hast spoken them and they are mine also because thou hast spoken them for my salvation I willingly receive them from thy mouth that they may be the deeper imprinted in my heart These so gracious words so full of sweetness and love do encourage me but mine own offences do dishearten me and my impure conscience driveth me back from the receiving of so great mysteries The sweetness of thy words doth encourage me but the multitude of my sins doth oppress me 2. Thou commandest me to come confidently unto thee if I will have part with thee and to receive the food of immortality if I desire to obtain everlasting life and glory Come saist thou unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I wil refresh you O sweet and loving word in the ear of a sinner that thou my Lord God shouldest invite the poor and needy to the participation of thy most holy body But who am I Lord that I may presume to approach unto thee Behold the Heavens cannot contain thee and thou saist Come ye all unto me 3. What meaneth this so gracious a condescension and this so loving invitation How shall I dare to come that know not any good in my self whereupon I may presume How shall I bring thee unto my House that have so often offended thy most gracious countenance The Angels and the Archangels honor thee the Saints and just Men do fear thee and saist thou Come ye all unto me Unless thou O Lord didst say it who would believe it to be true And unless thou didst command it who would attempt to come unto thee Behold Noah a just Man labored a Hundred years in the making of the Ark that he might be saved with a few and how can I in one hours space prepare my self to receive with reverenee the Maker of the world 4. Moses thy great Servant and thy especial friend made an Ark of incorruptible wood which also he covered with most pure Gold to put the Tables of the Law therein and I a corruptible creature how shall I dare so lightly to receive the Maker of the Law and the giver of life Solomon the wisest of the Kings of Israel bestowed Seven years in building a magnificent Temple to the praise of thy Name and celebrated the feast of Dedication thereof Eight days together he offered a Thousand peace-offerings and he solemnly set the Ark in the place prepared for it with the sound of Trumpets and joy and I the most miserable and poorest of Men how shall I bring thee into my House that can scarce spend one half hour religiously And I wish I could once spend about one half hour in a worthy and due manner 5. O my God how much did they endeavor to please thee and alas how little is that which I do How little time do I spend to prepare my self to receive I am seldom wholly recollected very seldom free from all distraction and yet surely no unbecoming thought ought to appear in the comfortable presence of thy Deity nor any creature wholly take me up for I am not to harbor an Angel but the Lord of Angels 6. And yet there is great difference between the Ark of the Covenant with its reliques and thy most pure body with its unspeakable virtues between those legal Sacrifices figures of future things and the true Sacrifice of thy body the complement of all antient Sacrifices Why therefore am I not more zealous in thy venerable presence Wherefore do I not prepare my self with greater care to receive thy holy things sith those holy antient Patriarchs and Prophets yea Kings also and Princes with the whole people have shewed such an affectionateness of devotion to thy divine service 7. The most devout King David danced before the Ark of God with all his might calling to mind the benefits bestowed in times past upon his Forefathers He made instruments of sundry kinds he published Psalms and appointed them to be sung with joy he also oftentimes sung to the harp being inspired with the grace of the holy Ghost He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart and with pleasant voices every day to bless and praise him If so great devotion was then used and such celebrating of divine praise before the Ark of the Testament what reverence and devotion is now to be performed by me and all Christian people at the Sacrament in receiving the
most precious body of Christ 8. O God the invisible Creator of the world how wonderfully dost thou deal with us how sweetly and graciously dost thou dispose of all things with thine elect to whom thou offerest thy self to be received in the Sacrament O this exceedeth all understanding This chiefly draweth the hearts of the religious and inflameth their affections For thy true faithful Servants that dispose their whole life to amendment by this most precious Sacrament oftentimes gain much of the grace of devotion and love of holiness 9. O the admirable and hidden grace of this Sacrament which only the faithful ones of Christ do know but the unbelieving and such as are slaves unto sin cannot have experience thereof In this Sacrament spiritual grace is given and strength which was lost is restored in the soul and the beauty disfigured by sin returneth again This grace is sometimes so great that out of the fulness of devotion which is here given not only the mind but the weak body also feeleth great increase of strength 10. Our coldness and negligence surely is much to be wailed and pittied that we are not drawn with greater affection to receive Christ in whom all the hope and merit of those that are to be saved doth consist For he is our sanctification and redemption he is the comfort of those who are here but travellers and the everlasting fruition of Saints It is much therefore to be lamented that many do so little consider this comfortable mystery which rejoyceth Heaven and preserveth the whole world O the blindness and hardness of Mans heart that doth not more deeply weigh so unspeakable a gift but rather cometh by the daily use thereof to regard it little or nothing 11. For if this most holy Sacrament should be celebrated in one place only and consecrated by one only Minister in the world with how great desires dost thou think would Men be affected to that place and to such a Minister that they might enjoy the celebration of these divine mysteries But now there are many Ministers and Christ is offered in many places that so the grace and love of God to Man may appear so much the greater how much the more this sacred Communion is spread through the world Thanks be unto thee good Jesus the everlasting shepherd that hast vouchsafed to refresh us who are poor and in a state of banishment with thy precious body and blood and to invite us to the receiving of these mysteries with the words of thy own mouth saying Come unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you CHAP. II. That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to Man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple IN confidence of thy goodness and great mercy O Lord being sick I approach unto my Savior being hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of life needy to the King of Heaven a Servant unto my Lord a creature to my Creator being disconsolate I come to thee my merciful comforter But whence is this to me that thou vouch-safest to come unto me Who am I that thou shouldest give thy self unto me How dare a sinner appear before thee And how is it that thou dost vouchsafe to come unto a sinner Thou knowest thy Servant and seest that he hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this favor upon him I confess therefore my unworthiness and I acknowledg thy goodness I praise thy mercy and give thee thanks for this thy transcendent love For thou dost this for thine own sake not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodness may be better known unto me thy love more abundantly shewed and thy gracious condescension may be the more eminently set forth Since therefore it is thy pleasure and thou hast commanded that it should be so this thy favor is also dearly pleasing to me and I wish that my sins may be no hindrance herein 2. O most sweet and benign Jesus how great reverence and thanks together with perpetual praise is due unto thee for the receiving of thy sacred body whose preciousness no Man is able to express But what shall I think of at this Communion now that I am to approach unto my Lord whom I am not able duly to honor and yet I desire to receive him with devotion What can I think better and more profitable than to humble my self wholly before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodness above me I praise thee my God and will exalt thee for ever and I do despise and submit my self unto thee in a deep sense of my own unworthiness 3. Behold thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skum of sinners Behold thou inclinest unto me who am not worthy so much as to look up unto thee Behold thou comest unto me It is thy will to be with me thou invitest me to thy banquet Thou wilt give me the food of Heaven and bread of Angels to eat which is no other indeed than thy self the living bread that descendest from Heaven and givest life unto the world world 4. Behold from whence doth this love proceed What a gracious condescension of thine appeareth herein How great thanks and praises are due unto thee for these benefits O how good and profitable was thy councel when thou ordainedst it How sweet and pleasant the banquet when thou gavest thy self to be our food How wonderful is this thy doing O Lord how mighty is thy power how unspeakable is thy truth For thou sayest the word and all things were made and this was done which thou commandest 5. A thing of great admiration that thou my Lord God true God and Man shouldest be exhibited unto us by the Elements of Bread and Wine Thou who art the Lord of all things and standest in need of none had pleased to dwell in us by means of this thy Sacrament preserve my heart and body unspotted that with a chearful and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receive them to my everlasting health which thou hast chiefly ordained and instituted for thy honor and for a perpetual memorial 6. Rejoyce O my soul and give thanks unto God for so noble a gift and so singular a comfort left unto thee in this vale of tears For as often as thou callest to mind this mystery and receivest the body of Christ so often dost thou remember the work of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ. For the love of Christ is never diminished and the greatness of his propitiation is never exhausted Therefore thou oughtest always to dispose thy self hereunto by a fresh renewing of thy mind and to weigh with attentive consideration this great mystery of thy salvation So great new and joyful it ought to seem unto thee when thou comest to these holy mysteries as if the same day Christ first descending into the womb of the Virgin were become Man or hanging on the
whatsoever offences they have done against thee and if thou hast offended any humbly crave pardon and God will readily forgive thee 4. What availeth it to delay long the confession of thy sins or to defer the holy Communion Purge thy self with speed spit out the venome presently make hast to apply this sovereign remedy and thou shalt find it to be better with thee than if thou deferredst it long 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 the Communion and become more unfit With all possible speed shake off from thy self all present heaviness and sloth for it will not avail thee to continue long in disquietness and trouble of mind and for daily occurring impediments to withdraw thy self from the divine mysteries Yea it is very prejudicial to defer the Communion long for this usually causeth a greater dulness and undisposedness Alas some cold and dissolute people do willingly delay confession and defer the sacred Communion lest they should be engaged to the greater watch over themselves 5. O how little is their charity and how weak is their devotion that so easily omit the holy Communion How happy is he and acceptable to God who so ordereth his life and keepeth his conscience in such purity that he is ready and fit to communicate every day if it were convenient and might be done without others taking notice If one doth sometimes abstain out of humility or by reason of some lawful impediment he is to be commended for the reverence which therein he sheweth But if it proceedeth of dull slothfulness he must stir himself up and do what lieth in him and God will assist his desire for the good will he hath thereto which God doth chiefly respect 6. And when any lawful hindrance doth happen he must yet always have that good will and a pious intention to communicate and so shall he not lose the fruit of the Sacrament For every good Man may every day and hour profitably and without let receive Christ spiritually and yet on certain daies and at time appointed he ought to receive Sacramentally with an affectionate reverence the body of his Redeemer and rather seek the honor and glory of God than his own comfort For he communicateth mystically and is invisibly as often as he devoutly calleth to mind the mysterie of the Incarnation and the Passion of Christ and is inflamed with his love 7. He that prepareth not himself but when a Festival draweth near and when custome compelleth him thereunto shall usually be found to be unprepared for it Blessed is he that offereth himself up as a Sacrifice to the Lord as often as he doth celebrate or communicate Be not too long nor too short in celebrating but keep the accustomed manner of those with whom thou livest Thou oughtest not to be tedious and troublesom to others but to observe the received custom according to the appointment of thy Superiors and rather frame thy self to the profit of others than to thine own devotion or desire CHAP. XI That the Body of Christ and the holy Scriptures are most necessary unto a faithful soul. The voice of the Disciple O Sweetest Lord Jesus how great sweetness hath an holy soul that feasteth with thee in thy banquet where there is set no other food to be eaten but thy self her only beloved and most to be desired above all the desires of her heart And verily it should be a sweet thing unto me to pour out tears from the very bottom of my heart in thy presence and with holy Magdalene to wash thy feet with my tears But where is this devotion Where is there any so plentiful shedding of holy tears Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels my whole heart should be inflamed and even weep for joy For I enjoy thee in the Sacrament truly present though hidden under another representation 2. For to behold thee in thine own divine brightness mine eyes would not be able to endure it neither could the whole world stand in the brightness of the glory of thy Majesty I do really enjoy and adore him whom the Angels adore in Heaven but I as yet in the mean time by faith they by sight and without a veil I ought to be content with the light of true faith and to walk therein until the day of everlasting brightness break forth and the shadowes of figures pass away But when that shall come which is perfect the use of Sacraments shall cease For the blessed in Heavenly glory need not any Sacramental remedy but rejoyce without end in the presence of God beholding his glory face to face and being transformed from glory to glory into the Image of the incomprehensible Deity they tast the word of God made flesh as he was from the beginning and as he remaineth for ever 3. Whilest I mind these wonderful things even all spiritual comfort whatsoever becometh tedious unto me for that as long as I behold not my Lord openly in his glory I make no account at all of whatsoever I see or hear in this world Thou art my witness O God that nothing can comfort me no creature can give me rest but thou my God whom I desire to behold everlastingly But this is not possible whilest I remain in this mortal life Therefore I must frame my self to much patience and submit my self to thee in all my desires For thy Saints also O Lord who now rejoyce with thee in the Kingdom of Heaven whilst they lived expected in faith and great patience the coming of thy glory What they believed I believe what they hoped for I also hope for whither they are come I trust I shall come by thy grace In the mean time I will go forward in faith strengthened by the examples of the Saints I have also godly books for my comfort and for the glass of my life and above all these thy most holy body for a singular remedy and refuge 4. For I perceive Two things to be chiefly necessary for me in the life without which this miserable life would be unsupportable unto me Whilst I am kept in the prison of this body I acknowledge my self to stand in need of Two things to wit food and light Thou hast therefore given unto me a weak creature thy sacred Body for the nourishment of my soul and body and thou hast set thy word as a light unto my feet without these Two I could not well live For the word of God is the light of the soul and thy Sacrament the bread of life These also may be called the Two Tables set on the one side and the other in the store-house of the holy Church One is the holy Table having the holy bread that is the precious body of Christ the other is that of the divine Law containing holy Doctrine teaching the true faith and certainly leading to that within the veil where is