art my meat and my drink my love and my joy my sweetness and all my good 3. O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholly inflame burn and conform me unto thy self that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union and by the meltings of ardent love Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and dry but deal mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What marvel is it if I should be wholly inflamed by thee and die from my self sith thou art fire always burning and never decaying love purifying the heart and enlightning the understanding CHAP. XVII Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ. The voice of the Disciple ple WIth great devotion and ardent love with most hearty affection and fervor I desire to receive thee O Lord as many Saints and devout persons have desired thee when they received thy Sacrament who were most pleasing unto thee in holiness of life and most fervent in devotion O my God my everlasting love my whole good my happiness without end I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire and most worthy reverence that any of the Saints ever had or could feel 2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion yet I offer unto thee the whole affection of my heart as if I alone had all those highly pleasing inflamed desires yea and whatsoever also an holy mind can conceive and desire all that with greatest reverence and most inward affection I offer and present unto thee I desire to reserve nothing to my self but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my self and all mine unto thee my Lord God my Creator and my Redeemer I desire to receive thee this day with such affection reverence praise and honor with such gratitude worthiness and love with such faith hope and purity as thy most holy Mother the glorious Virgin Mary received and desired thee when she humbly and devoutly answered the Angel who declared unto her the mystery of the Incarnation and said Behold the handmaid of the Lord let it be done unto me according to thy word 3. And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist chearfully leaped by reason of the holy Ghost whilest he was yet shut up in his Mothers womb and afterwards seeing Jesus walking amongst Men humbling himself very much said with devout affection The friend of the Bridegroom that standeth and heareth him rejoyceth with joy for the voice of the Bridegroom so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my self up to thee with my whole heart Wherefore I offer also and present unto thee the joys fervent affections mental excesses and supernal illuminations and Heavenly visions of all devout hearts with all the vertues and praises celebrated and to be celebrated by all creatures in Heaven and Earth for my self and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou maist be worthily praised and glorified for ever 4. Receive my Lord God my wishes and desires of giving thee infinite praise and thanks which according to the measure of thy unspeakable greatness are most worthily due unto thee These I yield thee and desire to yield thee every day and moment I do entreat and invite all Heavenly minds and all the devout Servants to give thanks and praises together with me 5. Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnifie thy holy and sweet Name with great joy and fervent devotion and let all that reverently and devoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receive it with full faith find grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for me a sinful creature And when they shall have obtained their desired devotion and joyful union and depart from thy sacred Heavenly Table well comforted and marvellously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul. CHAP. XVIII That Man be not a curious searcher of the Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense to faith The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to beware of curious and unprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not be plunged in the depths of doubts He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by thy glory God is able to work more than Man can understand A pious and humble inquiry of truth is tolerable so it be always ready to be taught and do endeavor to walk in the sound doctrines of the Fathers 2. Blessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult ways of questions and goeth on in the plain and assured path of Gods Commandments Many have lost devotion whilest they would search after high things Faith and a sincere life required at thy hands not height of understanding nor a diving deep into the mysteries of God If thou dost not understand nor conceive those things that are under thee how shalt thou be able to comprehend those that are above thee Submit thy self to God and let thy sense be subject to faith and the light of knowledg shall be given thee in that degree as shall be profitable and necessary for thee 3. Some are grievously tempted about faith and the Sacrament but this is not to be imputed to them but rather to the Enemy Be not thou anxious nor dispute with thy thoughts neither do thou give answer to the doubts cast in by the Devil but believe the words of God believe his Saints and Prophets and the wicked Enemy will flie from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the Servant of God to suffer such things For the Devil tempteth not unbelievers and sinners whom he already securely possesseth but he sundry ways tempteth and vexeth the faithful and religious 4. Go forward therefore with a sincere and undoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with unfeigned reverence And whatsoever thou art not able to understand commit securely to Almighty God God deceiveth thee not he is deceived that trusteth to much to himself God walketh with the simple revealeth himself to the humble giveth understanding to the little ones openeth the sense to pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Humane reason is weak and may be deceived but true faith cannot be deceived 5. All reason and natural search ought to follow faith not to go before nor infringe it For faith and love do here chiefly excell and work in a hidden manner in this most holy and excellent Sacrament God who is everlasting and of infinite power doth great and inscrutable things in Heaven and in Earth and there is no searching out of his wonderful works If the works of God were such as might be easily comprehended by humane reason they were not to be called wonderful and unspeakable FINIS
we quickly lose by our negligence and oftentimes we do not perceive our own inward blindness We often do evil and excuse it worse We are sometimes moved with passion and we think it to be Zeal We reprehend small things in others and pass over greater matters in our selves We quickly feel and weigh what we suffer at the hands of others but we mind not what others suffer from us He that doth well and rightly considers his own works will find little cause to judg hardly of another 2. The inward Christian preferreth the care of himself before all other cares And he that diligently attendeth unto himself doth seldom speak much of others Thou wilt never be so inwardly religious unless thou pass over other Mens matters with silence and look especially to thy self If thou attend wholly unto God and thy self thou wilt be little moved with whatsoever thou seest abroad Where art thou when thou art not with thy self And when thou hast run over all what hast thou then profited if thou hast neglected thy self If thou desirest peace of mind and true union thou must put all things behind thee and look only upon thy self 3. Thou shalt therefore profit much if thou keep thy self free from all temporal cares Thou shalt greatly decrease if thou esteem any thing of this world Let nothing be greater unto thee nothing acceptable but only God himself or that which is of God Esteem all comfort vain which thou receivest from any creature A soul that loveth God despiseth all things that be inferior unto God God alone is everlasting and of infinite greatness filling all creatures the souls solace and the true joy of the heart CHAP. VI. Of the joy of a good conscience THe glory of a good Man is the testimony of a good conscience Have a good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy A good conscience is able to bear very much and is very chearful in adversities An evil conscience is always fearful and unquiet Thou shalt rest sweetly if thy heart do not reprehend thee Do thou never rejoyce but when thou hast done well Sinners have never true mirth nor feel inward peace because there is no peace to the wicked saith the Lord. And if they should say We are in peace no evil shall fall upon us and who shall dare to hurt us Believe them not for upon a sudden will arise the wrath of God and their deeds shall be brought to nought and their thoughts shall perish 2. To glory in tribulation is no hard thing for him that loveth for to glory so is to glory in the Cross of our Lord. That glory is short which is given and received from Men. Sorrow always accompanieth the glory of the world The glory of the good is in their consciences and not in the tongues of Men. The gladness of the just is of God and in God and their joy is of the truth He that desireth true and everlasting glory careth not for that which passeth away with time And he that seeketh temporal glory or contemneth it not from his heart sheweth himself but little to esteem of the glory of Heaven He enjoyeth great tranquility and peace of mind that careth neither for the praises nor dispraises of Men. 3. He will easily be content and pacified whose conscience is pure He is not the more holy though thou commend him nor the more abject though thou dispraise him What thou art that thou art neither canst thou be said to be greater than what thou art in the sight of God If thou consider what thou art within thee thou wilt not care what Men say of thee Man seeth in the face but God looketh into the heart Man considereth the deeds but God weigheth the intention To do always well and to esteem little of himself is a sign of an humble soul. To refuse to be comforted by any creature is a sign of great purity and inward confidence 4 He that seeketh to witness for himself from without doth shew that he hath wholly committed himself unto God For not he that commendeth himself the same is approved saith blessed Paul but whom God commendeth To walk inwardly with God and not to be possessed with any outward affection is the state of a spiritual Man CHAP. VII Of the love of Iesus above all things BLessed is he that understandeth what it is to love Jesus and to despise himself for Jesus Thou oughtest to leave thy beloved for thy beloved for that Jesus will be beloved alone above all things The love of things created is deceitful and unconstant the love of Jesus is faithful and constant He that cleaveth unto creatures shall fall with that which is subject to fall He that embraceth Jesus shall stand firmly for ever Love him and keep him for thy friend who when all go away will not forsake thee nor suffer thee to perish in the end Thou must once be left of all whether thou wilt or no. 2. Keep close to Jesus both in life and death and commit thy self unto his trust who when all fail can alone help thee Thy beloved is of that nature that he will not admit of a corrival but will have thy heart alone and sit like a King in his own throne If thou couldest purge thy self perfectly of all creatures Jesus would willingly dwell with thee Whatsoever thou reposest in Men out of Jesus is all no better than lost Trust not nor rely upon a reed full of wind for that all flesh is grass and all the glory thereof shall wither away as the flower of the field 3. Thou shalt quickly be deceived if thou look only to the outward shew of Men. And if in them thou seekest thy comfort and profit thou shalt often feel loss If thou seekest Jesus in all things thou shalt surely find Jesus But if thou seekest thy self thou shalt also find thy self but to thine own harm For Man doth more hurt himself if he seek not Jesus than the whole world and all his adversaries could annoy him CHAP. VIII Of familiar conversation with Iesus WHen Jesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth difficult but when Jesus is absent every thing is hard When Jesus speaketh not inwardly unto us our comfort is nothing worth but if Jesus speak but one word we feel much consolation Did not Mary presently rise from the place where she wept when Martha said unto her The Master is come and calleth for thee Happy is the hour when Jesus calleth from tears to spiritual Joy How dry and hard art thou without Jesus How foolish and vain if thou desire any thing out of Jesus Is not this a greater loss than if thou shouldest lose the whole world 2. What can the world profit thee without Jesus To be without Jesus is a grievous Hell and to be with Jesus is a sweet Paradise If Jesus be with thee no enemy can hurt thee He that findeth Jesus findeth a good treasure yea a good above all
Prophets from the beginning and cease not in these days to speak to every one but many are hardned and deaf to my speech The greater number do more willingly listen to the world than to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh than the will of God The world promiseth temporal and small things and is served with great eagerness I promise most high and eternal things and the hearts of Men are nothing moved therewith Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me with equal care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are served Blush O Sidon saith the Sea And if thou ask the cause hear wherefore For a little Prebend a long journey is undertaken for everlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny sometimes there is foul contention sor a vain thing and sleight promise Men cease not to toil day and night 3. But alas for an unchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honor and glory without end they are loth to take the least pains Blush therefore slothful and complaining Servant that they are found to be more ready to distruction than thou to life They rejoyce more in vanity than thou in the truth And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceiveth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will give that which I have promised I will fulfil that which I have said but to him that remains faithful in my love to the end I am the rewarder of all that are good and do try my devout servants with strong trials 4. Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them for they will be very necessary in time of temptation What thou understandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visit my elect two several ways to wit with temptation and comfort And I daily read two lessons unto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of virtues He that hath my words and despiseth them hath within himself that shall judg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of devotion 5. O Lord my God thou art to me whatsoever is good Who am I that dare speak unto thee I am thy poorest servant and a most vile worm much more poor and contemptible than I can or dare express Remember yet O Lord that I am nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good just and holy thou canst do all things thou doest all things thou fillest all things only the sinner thou sendest empty away Remember thy mercies and fill my heart with thy grace who will not that thy works be void and in vain 6. How can I bear up my self in this miserable life unless thou strengthen me with thy mercy and grace Turn not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort lest my soul become as the thirsty land unto thee Lord teach me to fulfil thy will teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdom thou dost truly know me and didst know me before the world was made and before I was born in the world CHAP. IV. That we ought to live in truth and humility before God CHrist. Son walk before me in sincerity and truth and ever seek me in simplicity of heart He that walketh before me in truth shall be defended from evil incursions and the Truth shall deliver him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked If the Truth shall have made thee free thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for the vain speeches of Men. Christian. Lord it is true According as thou saidst so I beseech thee let it be with me let thy Truth teach me and keep me and bring me safe to an happy end Let it deliver me from all evil affection and inordinate love and I shall walk with thee in great freedom of heart 2. Christ. I will teach thee saith the Truth these things that are right and pleasing in my sight Think of thy sins with great displeasure and grief and never esteem thy self any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner thou art subject to and encumbred with may passions Of thy self thou always tendest to nothing thou art quickly cast down quickly overcome quickly troubled quickly dissolved Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory but many things for which thou oughtest to despise thy self for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend 3. And therefore let nothing seem much unto thee whatsoever thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderful let nothing seem worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly and commendable to be desired but that which is everlasting Let the eternal Truth above all things please thee Let thy own great unworthiness always displease thee Fear nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy vices and sins which ought to displease more than the losses of any thing whatsoever Some walk not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity and pride will know my secrets and understand the high things of God neglecting themselves and their own salvation These oftentimes for that I resist them do fall into great temptations and sins for their pride and curiosity 4. Fear the judgments of God dread the wrath of the Almighty But discuss not the works of the highest Search thine own iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their religion only in Books some in pictures some in outward signs and figures Some have me in their mouths but little in their hearts There are others that being illuminated in their understandings and purged in their affection do always breath after things eternal and are unwilling to hear of the things of this world and do serve the necessities of nature with grief and these perceive what the Spirit of Truth speaketh in them because it teacheth them to despise Earthly and love Heavenly things to neglect the world and all the day and night to desire Heaven CHAP. V. Of the wonderful effect of divine Love CHristian I praise thee O Heavenly Father Father of my Lord Jesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poor Creature O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be unto thee who sometimes with thy comfort refreshest me unworthy of all comfort I ever bless and glorifie thee with thy only begotten Son and the holy Ghost for ever and ever O Lord God the holy lover of my soul when thou shalt come into my heart all that is within me will rejoyce Thou art my glory and the exultation of my heart Thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weak in love and imperfect in virtue I have need therefore
to be strengthened and comforted by thee visit me therefore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliver me from evil passions and heal my heart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to Love strong to suffer and constant to persevere 3. Love is a great thing in very truth a great good which alone maketh every thing that is heavy light and beareth equally that which is unequal For it carrieth a Burden without a Burden and maketh every thing that is bitter sweet and savoury The noble Love of Jesus inforceth Man to do great things and stirreth him up to desire always what is most perfect Love will be aloft and not kept down with any base thing Love will be free and loose from all worldly affection to the end its inward sight be not prejudiced that it be not either entangled by any temporal prosperity or subdued by adversity Nothing is sweeter than Love nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more large nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in Heaven or in Earth Because Love is born of God and cannot rest but in God above all Creatures 4. He that loveth flyeth runneth and rejoyceth he is free and not held in He giveth all for all and hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest above all from whence all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the gifts but turneth himself above all goods unto the giver Love oftentimes knoweth no measure but is inflamed above all measure Love feeleth no burden weigheth no pains desireth above its strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawful and possible It is therefore able to undertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to pass whereas he that doth not Love fainteth and lyes down 5. Love watcheth and sleeping sleepeth not Being wearied is not tired straitned is not pressed frightned is not troubled But like a lively flame and burning Torch breaking upwards and securely passeth through all If any one loveth he knoweth what this voice cryeth A loud cry in the ears of God is the ardent affection of the Soul which saith My God my Love thou art wholly mine and I wholly thine 6. Enlarge me in Love that with the inward mouth of my heart I may taste how sweet it is to Love and to be melted and swim in thy Love Let me be possessed by Love mounting above my self with excessive fervor and admiration Let me Sing the Song of Love let me follow thee on high my Beloved let my Soul rejoycing through Love spend it self in thy Praise Let me Love thee more than my self and not my self but for thee and all in thee that truly Love thee as the law of Love commandeth which shineth out from thee 7. Love is swift sincere pious pleasant and delightful strong patient faithful prudent long-suffering manly and never seeking it self For where one seeketh himself there he falleth from Love Love is circumspect humble and upright not softly nor light not attending unto vain things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Love is subject and obedient to Superiors mean and abject to it self devout and thankful unto God trusting and hoping always in him even then when God imparteth no sweetness unto it For without sorrow none liveth in Love 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloved is not worthy to be called a Lover A Lover ought to embrace willingly all that is hard and distasteful for his Beloved and not to turn away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP VI. Of the proof of a true Lover CHrist. Son thou art not yet a strong and prudent Lover Christian. Wherefore Lord Christ. Because thou givest over for a small adversity and too greedily seekest comfort A strong Lover standeth firmly in temptations and giveth not credit to the crafty perswasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity so I am not unpleasant to him in adversity 2. A prudent Lover considereth not so much the gift of his Lover as the Love of the giver He rather esteemeth the good will than the value and placeth all gifts under his Beloved A noble Lover resteth not in the gift but in me above every gift All therefore is not lost if sometimes thou hast less taste of me than thou wouldest That good and sweet affection which thou sometimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certain fore-taste of the heavenly Country whereon thou mayest not rely too much for it goeth and cometh But to fight against evil motions of the mind which may happen unto thee and to despise the suggestions of the Devil is a notable sign of virtue and shall have great reward 3. Let not therefore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoever trouble thee Retain a strong purpose and an upright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddenly rapt on high and presently returnest again unto the accustomed vanities of thy heart For thou dost rather unwillingly suffer them than commit them and as long as they displease thee and thou strivest against them it is matter of reward and no loss 4. Know that thy antient enemy doth ever strive to hinder thy desire to good and to deliver thee from all religious exercise to wit from the devout memory of my passion from the profitable remembrance of thy sins from the guard of thine own heart and from the firm purpose of profiting in virtue He injecteth many evil thoughts into thy mind that he may cause a wearisomness and horror in thee to draw thee from Prayer and Holy reading Humble confession is displeasing unto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receiving the Sacrament Trust him not nor care for him although he should often set snares of deceit to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth evil and unclean thoughts unto thee Say unto him Away unclean Spirit blush miserable wretch thou art very unclean that bringest such things unto mine ears Away from me wicked deceiver thou shalt have no part in me But Jesus shall be with me as a strong Warrior and thou shalt stand confounded I had rather die and undergo any torment than consent unto thee Hold thy peace and be silent I will hear thee no more though thou shouldest work me many troubles The Lord is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear If whole Armies should stand together against me my heart shall not fear The Lord is my helper and my redeemer 5. Fight like a good Soldier and if thou sometimes fall through frailty take greater strength than before trusting in my more abundant grace and take great heed of vain pleasing of thy self and of pride This brings many into error and makes them sometimes fall into almost incurable blindness Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of
advise thee not to enquire nor dispute of the merits of the Saints which of them is holier than the other and which is greater in the Kingdom of Heaven These things oftentimes breed strife and unprofitable contentions they nourish also pride and vain glory from whence do spring envy and dissentions whilst one will proudly prefer this and the other another To desire to know and search out such things is to no purpose nor would it please the Saints for I am not the God of dissention but of peace which peace consisteth rather in true humility than in self exaltation 3. Some are carried with zeal of affection to love these or those most but this love is rather humane than divine I am He who made all the Saints and have given them grace I have given them glory I know what every one hath deserved I have prevented them with the blessings of my goodness I foreknew my beloved before the beginning of the world I chose them out of the world they chose not me first I called them by grace I drew them by mercy I led them through sundry temptations I have poured into them glorious comforts I have given them perseverance I have crowned their patience 4. I know both the first and the last I embrace all with inestimable love I am to be praised in all my Saints I am to be blessed above all things and to be honored in every one whom I have thus gloriously exalted and predestinated without any precedent merits of their own He therefore that contemneth one of the least of my Saints honoreth not the greatest for that I made both the less and the greater and he that dispraifeth any of my Saints dispraiseth also me and all the rest in the Kingdom of Heaven There all are one through the bond of love they think the same they will the same and they all love one another 5. But yet which is much more high they love me more than themselves and are drawn out of all themselves or any merits of their own For being ravished above self-self-love they are wholly carried out to love me in whom also they do fruitively rest Nothing can turn them back nothing can press them down for being full of the eternal Truth they burn with the fire of unquenchable love Let therefore carnal and natural Men who can affect no other but their private joys forbear to dispute of the state of Saints They add and take away according to their own fancies not as it pleaseth the eternal Truth 6. Many are ignorant but specially those that be slenderly enlightned and these can seldom love any with a perfect spiritual love They are as yet much drawn by a natural affection and humane friendship to this Man or to that and according to the experience they have of themselves in their Earthly affections so they frame an imagination of Heavenly things But there is an incomparable distance between the things which the imperfect ones imagine in their conceits and those which the illuminated ones do see by revelation from above 7. Beware therefore my Son that thou treat not curiously of these things which exceed thy knowledg but rather so apply thy endeavors that thou mayest at least have the meanest place in the Kingdom of Heaven And if any one did know which of the Saints exceed others in sanctity or were greater in the Kingdom of Heaven what would this knowledg avail him unless he should thereby humble himself the more in my sight and should rise up into the greater praising of my name He pleaseth God much better that thinketh of the greatness of his sins and the smalness of his graces and how far off he is from the perfection of the Saints than he that disputeth of their greatness or littleness 8. They are well and right well contented if Men could content themselves and refrain from these vain discourses They glory not of their own merits for they ascribe no good unto themselves but attribute all to me who of my infinite love have given them all things They are filled with so great love of the Divinity and with such an overflowing joy that there is no glory nor happiness that is or can be wanting unto them All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselves and nearer and dearer unto me And therefore it is written That they did cast their Crowns before God and fell down upon their face before the Lamb and adored him that liveth for ever and ever 9. Many inquire who is greatest in the Kingdom of God that know not whether they shall ever be numbred there amongst the least It is a great thing to be even the least in Heaven where all are great for that all there shall be called and shall be indeed the Sons of God The least shall become a Thousand and the sinner of an Hundred years shall die For when the Disciples asked who should be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven they received this answer Unless you be converted and be come as little Children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little Child the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven 10. Wo be unto them that disdain to humble themselves willingly with little Children For the low gate of the Kingdom of Heaven will not give them entrance And wo be to the rich that have their comforts here for whilest the poor enter into the Kingdom of God they shall stand lamenting without Rejoyce you that be humble and you that be poor be you glad for yours is the Kingdom of God if you walk according to the truth CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone CHristian Lord what trust have I in this life Or what is the greatest comfort that all things under Heaven do yield me Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number Where hath it been well with me without thee Or when could it be ill with me when thou wert present I had rather be poor for thee than rich without thee I rather choose to be a pilgrim on Earth with thee than to possess Heaven without thee Where thou art there is Heaven and there is death and Hell where thou art not Thou art my desire and therefore it behoveth me to sigh and cry and pray unto thee For I have none fully to trust in none that can seasonably help me in my necessities but thee alone my God Thou art my hope thou art my trust thou art my comforter and most faithful unto me in all things 2. All Men seek their own gain thou only seekest my salvation and my profit and turnest all things to my good Although thou exposest me to divers temptations and adversities yet thou orderest all this to my advantage who art wont to try thy beloved ones a Thousand wayes In which trial thou oughtest no
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
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
goods And he that loseth Jesus loseth too much and more than the whole world He is most poor that liveth without Jesus and he is most rich that is well with Jesus 3. It is a piece of great skill to know how to converse with Jesus and great wisdom to know how to keep Jesus Be humble and peaceable and Jesus will be with thee Be devout and quiet and Jesus will stay with thee Thou mayest soon drive away Jesus and lose his grace if thou turn aside to outward things And if thou shouldest drive him from thee and lose him unto whom wilt thou flie and what friends wilt thou then seek Without a friend thou canst not well live and if Jesus be not above all a friend unto thee thou shalt be too sorrowful and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or rejoyce in any other It is better for thee to have all the world against thee than Jesus offended with thee Amongst all things therefore that be dear unto thee let Jesus alone be thy chiefest beloved 4. Love all for Jesus but Jesus for himself Jesus Christ alone is singularly to be beloved who alone is found to be good and faithful above all friends For him and in him let as well friends as foes be dear unto thee and all these are to be prayed for that all may know and love him Never desire to be singularly commended or beloved for that appertaineth only unto God who hath none like unto himself Neither do thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy heart on the love of any but let Jesus be in thee and in every good Man 5. Be pure and free within and intangle not thy heart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked and to carry a pure heart to God if thou wouldest be free to consider and see how sweet the Lord is And truly unless thou be prevented and drawn by his grace thou shalt never attain to that happiness to forsake and cast off all that thou alone mayest be united to him alone For when the grace of God cometh unto a Man then he is made able for all things And when it goeth away he is poor and weak and as it were left only unto the lash and scourge of every adversary In this thou oughtest not to be dejected nor despair but to resign thy self with all indifferency unto the will of God and to bear all things that befal thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night cometh day and after a tempest fair weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no hard matter to despise humane comfort when we have divine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane and divine comfort and for the Glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of heart and to seek himself in nothing nor to regard his own merit What great matter is it if thou be chearful and devout at the coming of grace This hour is wished for of all Men. He rideth easily enough whom the grace of God carrieth And what marvel if he feel not his burden who is born up by the Almighty and led by the soveraign guide 2. We are always willing to have something for our comfort and a Man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy martyr St. Laurence overcame the world with his Prelates because he despised whatsoever seemed delightsom in the world and for the love of Christ patiently suffered Sixtus to be taken from him whom he most dearly loved He overcame therefore the love of Man by the love of the Creator and he rather chose the divine good pleasure than humane comfort See thou also learn to forsake some necessary thing and a beloved friend for the love of God Be not grieved when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 3. A Man must fight long and mightily with himself before he get the full victory over himself and be able to draw his whole heart in to God When a Man trusteth in himself he easily slideth unto humane comforts but a true lover of Christ and a diligent follower of virtue betakes not himself to humane comforts nor seeketh such sensible sweetnesses but rather hard exercises and to sustain great labors for Christ. 4. When therefore spiritual comfort is given thee from God receive it thankfully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed up joy not too much neither do thou presume vainly but be rather the more humble for that gift and more wary and sollicitous in all thine actions for that hour will pass away and temptation will succeed When consolation is taken from thee despair not presently but with humility and patience wait for the Heavenly visitation for God is able again to give thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange unto them that have experience in the way of God for the great Saints and ancient prophets had oftentimes experience of such kind of vicissitudes 5. For which cause one under the enjoyment of divine favor said I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved But in the want of this he addeth what he found in himself saying thou turn'dst thy face from me and I became troubled Yet doth he not despair in the midst of these changes but more earnestly prayeth unto the Lord and saith Unto thee O Lord will I cry and I will pray unto my God Lastly he receiveth the fruit of his prayer and witnesseth that he was heard saying The Lord hath heard me and taken pity on me the Lord is become my helper But wherein Thou hast turned saith he my sorrow into joy and thou hast compassed me about with gladness If great Saints have been so dealt withal we that are weak and poor ought not to despair if we be sometimes fervent and sometimes cold for the Spirit cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will For which cause blessed Job saith Thou visitest him early in the morning and suddenly thou provest him 6. Whereupon therefore can I hope or wherein ought I to trust but in the great mercy of God alone and in the only hope of heavenly grace For whether I enjoy the presence of good Men or religious brethren or faithful friends or holy Books or excellent treatises or sweet songs and hymns all these help little and have little savor when grace forsaketh me and I remain left in mine own poverty At such time there is no better remedy thà n patience and the ordering of my self according to the will of God 7. I never found any so religious and devout that hath not had sometimes a withdrawing of grace or felt not some decrease of zeal There was never Saint so highly rapt and illuminated who first or last was not tempted For he is not
themselves serve thee for a warning and keep thee perpetually humble CHAP. VII That grace is to be hid under the veil of Humility CHrist. Son it is more profitable and safe for thee to hide the grace of devotion not to extol thy self nor to speak much nor to esteem much thereof but rather to despise thy self and fear it as given to one unworthy thereof This affection is not to be cleaved unto which may be quickly changed unto the contrary Think when thou art in grace how miserable and needy thou art wont to be without grace Neither doth therein only consist the proficiency of a spiritual life when thou hast the grace of comfort but when thou humbly self-denyingly and patiently sufferest the withdrawing thereof so that thou be not then less diligent in the exercise of prayer nor suffer the rest of thy accustomed duties to be neglected but that thou willingly perform what lieth in thee according to the best of thy power and understanding not neglecting thy self wholly for the dryness and trouble of mind which thou feelest 2. There are many that when it succeedeth not well with them presently they become impatient or slothful The way of Man is not always in his power but it belongeth to God to give and to comfort when he will and how much he will and whom he will as it shall please him and no more Some unadvised persons have overthrown themselves for the greedy desire which they had of the grace of devotion attempting more than they were able to perform not weighing the measure of their weakness but following rather the desire of their heart than the judgment of reason And because they presumed on greater matters than was pleasing to God they quickly lost his grace They became needy and left in a dejected estate that built themselves nests in Heaven to the end that being humbled and impoverished they might learn not to flie with their own wings but to trust under my wings They that are yet but novices and unacquainted in the way of the Lord unless they govern themselves by the counsel of discreet Persons may easily be deceived and overthrown 3. And if they will rather follow their own judgment than give credit to others that are experienced their end will be dangerous if they will not be drawn from their own conceit Seldom those that are selfwise suffer themselves humbly to be governed by others A little knowledg with Humility and a slender understanding is better than great measures of learning with a vain self-liking It is better for thee to have little than much of that whereof thou mayest be proud He doth not discreetly that wholly giveth himself over to mirth forgetting his former poverty and the chaste fear of God which feareth to lose the grace which he hath obtained Neither is he virtuously wise that in time of adversity or any tribulation whatsoever yieldeth to despairing thoughts and thinketh and imagineth of me less confidently than he ought 4. He that will be over secure in time of peace shall be often found in time of war too dejected and fearful If thou couldest always continue humble and lowly within thy self and order and govern thy spirit well thou shouldest not so soon fall into danger and offence It is good counsel that when fervor of spirit is kindled within thee thou shouldest think what will become of thee when that light shall leave thee And when that doth happen remember the light may return again which for thy instruction and my glory I have withdrawn for a time 5. Such proof is often more profitable than if thou shouldest always enjoy prosperity according to thy desire For a Mans worthiness is not to be judged by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledg in Scripture or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and filled with divine love if he always purely and entirely seek the honor of God if he esteem himself nothing and unfriendly despise himself and rejoyce more to be despised and humbled by others than to be honored CHAP. VIII Of a mean conceit of our selves in the sight of God CHristian Shall I speak unto my Lord sith I am Dust and Ashes If I esteem better of my self behold thou standest against me and my iniquities bear true witness against me Neither can I speak against it But if I abase and esteem nothing of my self and cast off all self-esteem and as I am account my self to be Dust thy grace will be favorable unto me and thy light will be near unto my heart and all self-esteem how little soever shall be swallowed up in the deep Valley of my nothingness and perish everlastingly There thou shewest my self unto me what I am what I have been and whither I am come for I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my self behold I become nothing but mere weakness But if thou suddenly look upon me I am presently made strong and filled with new joy And it is a great marvel that I am so suddenly lifted up and so graciously embraced by thee that of mine own weight always sink downward 2. Thy Love is cause hereof freely preventing me and relieving me in so many necessities preserving me also from grievous dangers and delivering me as I may truly say from innumerable evils For surely by inordinate loving my self I lost my self and by seeking thee alone and purely loving thee I have found both my self and thee and by that Love have more deeply brought my self to nothing For that thou O most sweet Lord dealest with me above all desert and above all that I dare hope and request 3. Blessed be thou my God for although I be unworthy of any benefits yet the nobleness of thy bounty and thy infinite goodness never ceaseth to do good even to the ungrateful and to them that be turned away far from thee Turn us unto thee O Lord that we may be thankful humble and holy for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be referred unto God as unto the last end CHrist. Son I ought to be thy chiefest and last end if thou desirest to be truly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinately to it self and unto Creatures For if in any thing thou seekest thy self thou presently faintest and driest up within thy self Refer therefore all things chiefly unto me for I am he that have given all Consider every thing as flowing from the Highest good and therefore all things are to be reduced unto me as unto their Original 2. Out of me as out of a living Fountain the little and the great the poor and the rich to draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serve me shall receive grace for grace But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particular
good shall not be grounded in true joy nor enlarged in his heart but shall be many ways encumbred and straitned Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe nothing of good unto thy self nor attribute goodness unto any Man but give all unto God without whom Man hath nothing I have bestowed all and will that all be returned unto me again and with great strictness I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vain Glory and if heavenly grace and true Love enter in there shall be no envy nor straitness of heart neither shall there be any place for self-love For Divine Love overcometh all and enlargeth all the powers of the Soul If thou beest truly wise in me alone thou wilt rejoyce in me alone thou wilt hope For none is good but God alone who is to be praised above all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That the World being despised it is a sweet thing to serve God CHristian Now I will speak again O Lord and will not be silent I will say in the ears of my God my Lord and my King that is on High Psal. 31. O how great is the abundance of thy goodness O Lord which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee But what art thou to them that Love thee What to them that serve thee with their whole heart Truly unspeakable is the sweetness of contemplating thee which thou bestowest on them that Love thee In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetness of thy Love For that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back again that I might serve thee and hast commanded me to Love thee 2. O Fountain of everlasting Love what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me even when I wasted away and perished Thou hast shewed mercy to thy Servant beyond all my expectation And hast exhibited thy favor and friendship beyond all merit What shall I return unto thee for this grace For it is not granted to every one to forsake all things to renounce the World and to undertake a life of Religious retiredness It is much that I should serve thee whom all Creatures are bound to serve It ought not to seem much unto me to serve thee but this rather seemeth much and marvellous unto me that thou vouchsafest to receive into thy service one so poor and unworthy and to joyn him with thy beloved Servants 3. Behold all is thine which I have and whereby I serve thee And yet contrarywise thou rather servest me than I thee Behold Heaven and Earth which thou hast created for the service of Man are ready at hand and do daily perform whatsoever thou dost command and this is little yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the service of Man But that which excelleth all this is that thou thy self hast vouchsafed to serve Man and hast promised to give thy self unto him 4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serve thee all the days of my life I would I were able at least for one day to do thee some worthy service Thou art truly worthy of all service of all honor and everlasting praise Thou art truly my Lord and I thy poor Servant that am bound to serve thee with all my might neither ought I ever to be weary of praising thee And this I wish to do this I desire and whatsoever is wanting unto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5. It is great honor a great glory to serve thee and despise all things for thee For great grace shall be given to them that shall willingly subject themselves to thy most holy service They shall receive the most sweet comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy love shall renounce all carnal delights they shall attain great freedom of mind that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall have left off all worldly care 6. O sweet and delightful service of God by which Man is truly made free and holy O sacred state of religious employment which maketh Man equal to Angels pleasing to God terrible to Devils grateful and of great esteem to all the faithful O service to be imbraced and always wished for by which we obtain the greatest good and attain to that joy which never shall have end CHAP. XI That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated CHrist. Son thou oughtest to learn many things more which thou hast not well learned Christian. What are those Lord Christ. That thou frame thy desires wholly according to my pleasure and be not a lover of thy self but an affectionate follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes enflame thee and drive thee forwards with violence But consider whether thou art moved rather for my honor than for thine own profit If I be the cause thou wilt be well content with whatsoever I shall ordain But if there lurk in thee any self-seeking behold this is it that hindereth thee and weigheth thee down 2. Beware therefore thou lean not too much upon thy own preconceived desire without asking my counsel lest perhaps afterwards it repent thee and thou begin now to dislike that which before did please thee and which thou earnestly desiredst as the best For every affection that seemeth good is not presently to be followed nor every contrary affection at the first to be avoided It is expedient sometimes to use a restraint even in good desires and endeavors lest by importunity thou incurre distraction of mind and by thy want of self-government beget a scandal unto others or being gainsaid by others thou be suddenly troubled and fall 3. Yet sometimes thou oughtest to use violence and resist manfully thy sensual appetites and respect not what the flesh would or would not but rather to labor that even perforce it be subject to the spirit And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced under servitude until it readily obey in all things and learn to be content with a little and to be pleased with plain things and not to murmure against any inconvenience CHAP. XII Of patience and of striving against conoupiscence CHristian Lord God I perceive patience is very necessary unto me for that many adversities do happen in this life For howsoever I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without war and affliction Christ. So it is Son And my will is not that thou seek after that peace which is void of temptations or that which feeleth no contrariety but then think that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations and tried in many adversities 2. If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the Fire hereafter Of two evils the less is always to be chosen That thou maist therefore avoid everlasting punishment in the next World endeavor to suffer
Witnesses are thy Apostles themselves whom thou hast made Princes in all the Earth And yet they lived without complaint in the world so humble and simple without all malice and deceit that they also rejoyced to suffer reproach for thy Name and what the world abhorreth they embraced with great affection 5. Nothing therefore ought so to rejoyce him that loveth thee and acknowledgeth thy benefits as thy will in him and the good pleasure of thy eternal appointment wherewith he ought to be so contented and comforted that he would as willingly be the least as any would wish to be the greatest and as peaceable and contented in the last as in the first place and as willing to be despised and contemned and to be of no esteem or account as to be preferred in honor before all others and to be greater in the world For thy will and the love of thy glory ought to be preferred before all things and to comfort him more and please him better than all the benefits which either he hath received or may receive CHAP. XXIII Of Four things that bring much peace CHrist. Son now I will teach thee the way of peace and true liberty Christian Do Lord I beseech thee as thou sayest for I shall be very glad to hear it Christ. Endeavor my Son to do rather the will of another than thine own Ever choose rather to have less than more Always seek the lowest place and to be inferior to every one Wish always and pray that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled filled in thee Behold such a Man entreth into the bounds of peace and quietness 2. Christian. Lord this thy short speech containeth much perfection It is little in words but full in sense and abundant in fruit For if it could faithfully be kept by me then should I not so easily be troubled For as often as I feel my self unquiet and afflicted I find that I have strayed from this Doctrine But thou that canst do all things and ever lovest the profiting of my soul increase in me thy grace that I may fulfil thy words and work out mine own salvation A Prayer against evil thoughts 3. My Lord God be not far from me my God have regard to help me for sundry thoughts have risen up against me and great fears afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through them without hurt How shall I utterly break them Christ. I saith he will go before thee and will humble the great ones of the earth I will open the Doors of the Prison and reveal unto thee hidden secrets Christian. Do Lord as thou sayest and let all my evil thoughts fly from before thy face This is my hope my only comfort to fly unto thee in every tribulation to trust in thee to call upon thee from my heart and to expect patiently thy comfort A Prayer for enlightning of the Mind 4. Enlighten me O good Jesus with a clear-shining inward light and drive away all darkness from the habitation of my heart Repress my many wandring thoughts and utterly break in pieces those temptations which violently assault me Fight strongly for me and vanquish those evil beasts I mean those inticing desires of the flesh that so peace may be obtained by thy power and that abundance of thy praise may sound in the holy Court of a pure conscience Command the Winds and Tempests say unto the Sea Be still and to the North Wind Blow not and a great calm shall ensue 5. Send forth thy light and thy truth that they may shine upon the earth for I am as the earth without form and void until thou enlighten me Pour out thy grace from above let thy Heavenly dew distil upon my heart supply fresh streams of grace to water the face of the Earth that it may bring forth good and excellent fruit Lift up my mind which is pressed down by the weight of sins Draw up my whole desire to Heavenly things that having tasted the sweetness of supernal happiness it may be irksome to me even to think of earthly vanities 6. Pluck me and deliver me from all the unlasting comfort of creatures for no created thing can fully comfort and quiet my desire Joyn me unto thee with an unseparable band of love for thou even alone dost satisfie him that loveth thee and without thee all things are vain CHAP. XXIV Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others CHrist. Son be not curious trouble not thy self with idle cares What is this or that to thee do thou follow me For what is it to thee whether that Man be such or no or whether this Man do or speak this or that Thou shalt not need to answer for others but shalt give account of thy self Why therefore dost thou trouble thy self Behold I know every one and do see all things that are under the Sun and do understand how it is with every one what he thinks what he would and at what his intention aims All things therefore are to be commited unto me but do thou keep thy self in good peace and let the unquiet be as unquiet as they will Whatsoever they shall have done or said shall fall upon themselves for they cannot deceive me 2. Be not careful for the shadow of a great name or for the familiarity of many nor for the private affection of Men for these things both distract and greatly darken the heart I would willingly utter my words and reveal my secrets unto thee if thou didst diligently observe my coming and didst open the Door of thy heart unto me Be careful and watch in prayer and humble thy self in all things CHAP. XXV Wherein the firm peace of the heart and true spiritual profiting consisteth CHrist. Son I have said Peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world giveth give I unto you All do desire peace but all care not for those things that appertain unto true peace My peace is with the humble and meek of heart Thy peace doth consist in much patience If thou wilt hear me and follow my voice thou mayst enjoy much peace Christian. What then shall I do Lord Christ. In every thing attend unto thy self what thou doest and what thou sayest and direct thy whole intention unto this that thou mayst please me alone and desire or seek nothing besides me Of the sayings and doings of others judg nothing rashly neither do thou entangle thy self with things not commited unto thee and doing thus thou shalt be little or seldom troubled 2. But never to feel any trouble at all nor to suffer any grief of heart or body is not the state of this life but everlasting rest Think not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou have no adversary nor that all is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neither do thou then esteem highly of thy self or account thy self to
be specially beloved if thou be in great devotion and sweetness for by these things a true lover of virtue is not known neither doth the profiting and perfection of a Man consist in these things 3. Christian. Wherein then Lord Christ. In offering thy self with all thy heart unto the will of God not seeking thine own interest neither in great nor little neither for a time nor for ever so that thou keepest one and the same countenance with thanksgiving both in prosperity and in adversity weighing all things with an equal balance If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee thou preparest thy heart to suffer greater things and dost not justify thy self as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justifiest me in whatsoever I appoint and praisest my Holy name Then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace And thou shalt have undoubted hope to see my face again with great joy And if thou attain to the full contempt of thy self then shalt thou enjoy as great abundance of peace as this thy state of sojourning in this World is capable of CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble Prayer sooner gaineth than Reading CHristian Lord it is the work of a perfect Man never to slack his mind from the attentive thought of heavenly things and as it were to pass without care amongst many cares not like a dull sluggard but by the priviledge of a free mind adhering to no creature with inordinate affection 2. I beseech thee my most gracious God preserve me from the cares of this Life lest I should be too much entangled thereby And for the many necessities of the body lest I should be caught by pleasure And from whatsoever is an obstacle to the Soul lest broken with troubles I should be overthrown I say not from those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth But from those miseries that as punishments and as the common curse of mortality do weigh down and hinder the Soul of thy Servant that it cannot enter into freedom of Spirit as often as it would 3. O my God the ineffable sweetness embitter unto me all carnal comfort which may draw me away from the love of eternal things and may wickedly allure me to it self by the beholding of some present delightsome good Let me not be overcome O Lord let me not be overcome by flesh and blood Let not the World and the short glory thereof deceive me Let not the Devil and his subtil fraud supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to suffer and constancy to persevere Give me instead of all the comforts of the World the most sweet unction of thy Spirit and in lieu of carnal Love pour into my Soul the Love of thy name 4. Behold Meat Drink Cloaths and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome unto a fervent Spirit Grant me to use such refreshments moderately and not to be intangled with an over great desire of them It is not lawful to cast away all things for that nature is to be sustained But to desire superfluities and those things that are rather pleasurable thy holy Law forbiddeth For otherwise the flesh would Rebel against the Spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand govern me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That private Love most hindreth from the chiefest Good CHrist. Son thou oughtest to give all for all and to retain nothing of thy self Know that the Love of thy self doth hurt thee more than any thing in the World According to the Love and affection thou bearest them so doth every thing cleave unto thee more or less If thy love be pure simple and well ordered thou shalt be free from the bondage of things Covet not that which thou mayest not have Be not willing to have that which may hinder thee and deprive thee of inward liberty It is strange that thou committest not thy self wholly unto me from the bottom of thy heart with all things that thou canst desire or have 2. Why dost thou consume thy self with vain grief Why art thou tired with needless cares stand to my good will and thou shalt suffer no detriment at all If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be here or there to enjoy thine own commodity and pleasure thou shalt never be at quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in every thing somewhat will be wanting and in every place there will be some that will cross thee 3. Not every external thing therefore attained and heaped together helpeth thee but it rather availeth if thou despise it and dost utterly root it out from thy heart which thou must not understand only of thy revenues and wealth but of thy seeking after honor also and thy desire of vain praise all which do pass away with this world The place availeth little if the spirit of fervor be wanting neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation that is unless thou stand stedfast in me thou mayest change but not better thy self For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find not only those things which thou soughtest to fly but a great deal more A Prayer for purging the heart and obtaining of Heavenly wisdom 4. Christian. Strengthen me O God by the grace of thy holy Spirit Give me to be strengthened in my inward Man and to empty my heart of all unprofitable care and anguish not to be drawn away with the sundry desires of any thing either mean or precious but to look upon all things as passing away and that my self do also pass away together with them for nothing is permanent under the Sun where all things are vanity and vexation of spirit O how wise is he that so considereth them 5. Grant me Lord Heavenly wisdom that I may learn above all things to seek and find thee above all things to relish thee and to love thee and to think of all other things as they are according to the disposal of thy wisdom Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me For it is a great part of wisdom not to be moved with every blast of words nor to give ear to an ill flattering Syren for so we shall go on securely in the way which we have begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the Tongues of Slanderers CHrist. Son take it not grievously if some think evil of thee and speak that which thou wouldest not willingly hear Thou oughtest to judg the worst of thy self and to think no Man weaker than thy self If thou dost walk spiritually thou wilt not much esteem of flying words It is no small wisdom to keep silence in an evil time and inwardly to run to me and not to be troubled with the judgment of Men. 2. Let not thy peace be in the
Let the holy Name be blessed but to me let no part of Mens praises be given Thou art my glory thou art the joy of my heart In thee will I glory and rejoyce all the day but as for my self I will not glory but in my infirmities 6. Let the Iews seek honor one of another I will desire this which is from God alone For all humane glory all temporal honor all worldly highness compared to thy eternal glory is vanity and folly O my Truth my mercy my God most blessed Trinity to thee alone be praise honor power and glory for evermore CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporal honors CHrist. Son trouble not thy self if thou seest others honored and advanced and thy self contemned and debased Lift up thy heart unto me in Heaven and the contempt of Men on Earth will not grieve thee Christian. Lord we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity If I look well into my self I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therefore I cannot justly complain of thee 2. But because I have often and grievously sinned against thee all creatures do justly take arms against me for shame and contempt is due unto me but unto thee praise honor and glory And unless I frame my self with a very good will to be despised and forsaken of all creatures and to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtain inward peace and strength nor be spiritually enlightned nor fully united unto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in Men. CHrist. Son if the peace thou hast with any be grounded upon the opinion which thou hast of him or upon the account of thine acquaintance with him thou shalt ever be in an unconstant and enthralled condition but if thou have recourse unto the everliving and eternal Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieve thee The love of thy friend ought to be grounded in me and for me is he to be beloved whosoever he be whom thou thinkest well of and is very dear unto thee in this life No friendship can avail or continue without me neither is that love true and pure which is not knit by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends that forasmuch as appertaineth unto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of Men. Man approacheth so much the nearer unto God by how much the further off he departeth from all Earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth unto God by how much lower he descendeth into himself and how much the meaner he is in his own sight 2. But he that attributeth any good unto himself hindereth the coming of Gods grace unto him for the grace of the holy Ghost ever seeketh an humble heart If thou couldest perfectly annihilate thy self and empty thy self of all created love then should I flow into thee with great abundance of grace When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creator is taken from thee Learn to overcome thy self in all things for the love of thy Creator and then shalt thou be able to attain to divine knowledge How little soever the thing be if it be inordinately loved and regarded it defileth the soul and hindereth the enjoying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against vain and secular knowledg CHrist. Son let not the fair speeches and subtile sayings of Men move thee For the Kingdom of God consisteth not in word but in power Observe well my words for they enflame hearts and enlighten minds they cause compunction and bring sundry comforts Do thou never read to shew thy self learned or wise but labor to mortify thy sins for that will profit thee more than the knowledg of many difficult questions 2. When thou shalt have read and known many things thou oughtest ever to return to one beginning and Principle I am he that teacheth Man knowledg and give unto babes a more clear understanding that can be taught by Man He therefore to whom I speak shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in the spirit Wo be to them that enquire many curious things of Men and do little mind the way how to serve me The time will come when the Master of Masters shall appear Christ the Lord of Angels to hear the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of every one and then he will search Jerusalem with a candle and the hidden things of darkness shall be laid open and the arguings of Mens Tongues shall be silent 3. I am he that in an instant do raise up the humble mind to understand more of the eternal truth than can be gotten by Ten years study in the Schools I teach without the noise of words without the confounding of opinions without ambition of honor without the scuffling of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise Earthly things to loath things present to seek the everlasting to relish the things that are eternal to flee honors to suffer injuries to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and above all things ardently to love me 4. For a certain person by loving me entirely learned divine things and spake that which was admirable he profited more by forsaking all things than in studying subtilties To some I speak common things to others more special things to some I appear sweetly by signs and figures but to some I reveal mysteries with much light The voice of books is indeed one but it teacheth not all Men alike For I am the inward teacher I am the Truth I am the searcher of the heart the discerner of the thoughts the setter forwards of what is good distributing to every one as I judge meet CHAP. XLIV Of not drawing outward things to our selves CHrist. Son in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and esteem thy self as dead upon Earth and as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also pass by many things with a deaf ear and rather think of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is better for thee to turn thine eyes from what doth mislike thee and to leave unto every one his own opinion than to strive with contentious words If all stand well betwixt thee and God and if thou hast his judgment in thy mind thou shalt the more easily bear if thou be overcome 2. Christian. O Lord to what a pass are we come Behold we bewail a temporal loss for a little gain we toil and run and the spiritual damage of our soul is forgotten and hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is minded and that which is chiefly necessary is slightly passed over because the whole Man doth slide down into eternal things and unless he speedily repent he lieth immerst in them and that willingly CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be given to all Men and how prone Man is to offend in words CHristian Help me O Lord in my tribulation for vain
I delight to think of spiritual things For whatsoever I love thereof do I willingly speak and hear and carry home with me the forms the Ideas and representations thereof But blessed is that Man that for thee O Lord dismisseth all creatures that violently resisteth nature and through fervor of spirit crucifieth the lusts of the flesh that so with a serene conscience he may offer pure prayer unto thee and be meet to be admitted into the Angelical quire all earthly things both outwardly and inwardly being excluded CHAP. XLIX Of the desire of everlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly CHrist. Son when thou perceivest the desire of everlasting bliss to be given thee from above and desirest to depart out of the Tabernacle of this body that thou mayest behold my brightness without shaddow of turning open thy heart wide and receive this holy inspiration with thy whole desire Give greatest thanks to the Heavenly goodness that dealeth with thee so favorably visiteth thee mercifully stirreth thee up fervently holdeth thee up powerfully lest through thine own weight thou fall down to the things of Earth Neither dost thou obtain this by thy own thought or endeavor but by the mere dignation of Heavenly grace and divine favor to the end that thou mayest make a further progress in holiness and obtain greater humility and prepare thy self for future battels and endeavor to cleave unto me with the whole affection of thy heart and serve me with a fervent desire 2. Son the fire burneth many times but the flame ascendeth not up without smoak so likewise the desires of some Men burn towards Heavenly things and yet they are not free from temptation of carnal affection and therefore it is not altogether purely for the honor of God that which they so exactly request of him Such is also oftentimes thy desire which thou hast pretended to be so serious For that is not pure and perfect which is tinctured with the love of thine own proper commodity and interest 3. Ask not that which is delightful and profitable to thee but that which is acceptable to me and appertaineth to my honor for if thou judgest aright thou oughtest to prefer and follow my appointment rather than thine own desire or any desired thing I know thy desire and have heard thy frequent groans Now thou wouldest enjoy the glorious liberty of the Sons of God now doth the everlasting habitation and the Heavenly Country replenished with all joy delight thee but that hour is not yet come as yet there is another time to wit a time of war a time of labor and trial Thou desirest to be filled with the chiefest good but thou canst not attain it for the present I am he saith the Lord whom thou must patiently wait for until the Kingdom of God doth come 4. Thou art yet to be tryed upon Earth and to be exercised in many things Comfort shall be sometimes given thee but the abundant fulness thereof shall not be granted Take courage therefore and be valiant as well in doing as in suffering things contrary to nature Thou oughtest to put on the new Man and to be changed into another Man Thou must oftentimes do that which thou wouldest not and leave undone that thou wouldest do That which is pleasing to others shall go well forward that which thou wishest shall not speed That which others say shall be heard what thou sayest shall be nothing regarded Others shall ask and shall receive Thou shalt ask and not obtain 5. Others shall be great in the praise of Men but of thee there shall be no speech To others this or that shall be committed but thou shalt be accounted fit for nothing At this nature will sometimes be troubled and it is much if thou bearest it with silence In these and many such like a faithful Servant of the Lord is wont to be tried how he can deny and break himself in all things There is scarce any thing wherein thou hast had such need to dye to thy self as in seeing and suffering those things that are contrary to thy will especially when that is commanded which seemeth unto thee inconvenient or less profitable And for that thou being placed under authority darest not resist higher power therefore it seemeth hard to thee to walk at the beck of another and to leave all thine own opinion 6. But consider Son the fruit of these labors the end near at hand and the reward exceeding great and thou shalt be so far from sustaining them grievously that thou wilt take great comfort of thy patience For in regard of that little of thy will which now thou willingly forsakest thou shalt always have thy will in Heaven There thou shalt find all that thou wilt or canst desire there thou shalt enjoy all good without fear of losing it there shall thy will be ever one with me it shall not covet any outward or private thing There no Man shall withstand thee no Man complain of thee no Man hinder thee nothing come against thee but all things desired shall be there together present and refresh thy whole affection and fill it up to the brim There I will give thee glory for the reproach which here thou sufferedst the garment of praise for heaviness for the lowest place a kingly Throne for ever there shall the fruit of obedience appear the labor of repentance rejoyce and humble subjection shall be gloriously crowned 7. Now therefore be humbly obedient unto all and regard not who said or commanded this but take great heed that whether thy Superior or thy inferior or thine equal require any thing of thee or do insinuate their desire thou take it all in good part and endeavor to fulfil it with a sincere will Let one seek this another that let him ' glory in this the other in that and be praised a thousand thousand times but do thou neither rejoyce in this nor in that but in the contempt of thy self and only in my good pleasure and honor This art thou to wish that whether it be thy life or death God may be always glorified in thee CHAP. L. How a disconsolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God CHristian Lord God Holy Father be thou blessed both now and for evermore because as thou wilt so is it done and what thou doest is good Let thy Servant rejoyce in thee not in himself nor in any thing else for thou alone art the true gladness thou art my hope and my crown thou art my joy and my honor O Lord. What hath thy Servant but what he hath received from thee even without any merit of his Thine is all that thou hast given and whatsoever thou hast made I am poor and in labors from my youth and sometimes my soul is sorrowful even unto tears sometimes also it is troubled in it self by reason of evils which hang over mine head 2. I long after the joy of
remember not that I have done any good but have been always prone to sin and slow to amendment This is true and I cannot deny it If I should say otherwise thou wouldest stand against me and there would be none to defend me What have I deserved for my sins but Hell and everlasting fire I confess in very truth that I am worthy of all scorn and contempt and it is not fit that I should be remembred amongst thy holy ones And although I be unwilling to hear this yet notwithstanding for the truths sake I will lay open my sins against my self that so the sooner I may obtain mercy at thy hand 3. What shall I say being guilty and full of all confusion I have nothing to say but this I have sinned Lord I have sinned have mercy on me pardon me suffer me a little that I may bewail my grief before I go unto the land of darkness a land covered with the shadow of death What dost thou so much require of a guilty and miserable sinner as that he be contrite and humble himself for his offences Of true contrition and humbling of the heart ariseth hope of forgiveness the troubled conscience is reconciled to God the favor of God which was lost is recovered Man is preserved from the wrath to come and God and the penitent soul meet together with an holy kiss 4. Humble contrition for sins is an acceptable sacrifice unto thee O Lord savoring much sweeter in thy presence than the perfume of frankincense This is also the pleasant ointment which thou wouldest should be poured upon thy sacred feet for thou never despisest a contrite and humbled heart There is the place of refuge from the angry face of the enemy there is amended and washed away whatsoever defilement elsewhere was contracted and whatsoever is polluted CHAP. LIII That the grace of God doth not joyn it self with those that savor of Earthly things CHrist. Son my grace is precious it suffereth not it self to be mingled with external things nor earthly comforts Thou oughtest therefore to cast away all hindrances of grace if thou desire to receive the infusion thereof Choose therefore a secret place to thy self love to live alone with thy self desire the conversation of none but rather pour out devout Prayers unto God that thou mayest keep thy mind in compunction and thy conscience pure Esteem the whole world as nothing prefer attendance upon God before all outward things for thou canst not attend upou me and be delighted also in transitory vanities Thou oughtest to sequester thy self from thy acquaintance and friends and to keep thy mind void of all temporal comfort So the blessed Apostle Peter required that the faithful of Christ should keep themselves as strangers and pilgrims in this world 2. O how great a confidence shall he have at the hour of death whom no affection to any Earthly thing detaineth in the world but the sickly mind is not yet capable of so retired a heart neither doth the carnal Man understand the liberty of him who is inwardly recollected Notwithstanding if he will be truly spiritual he ought to renounce as well those which are strangers as those which are near unto him and to beware of no Man more than of himself If thou perfectly overcome thy self thou shalt with more ease subdue the rest It is a perfect victory to triumph over our selves For he that keepeth himself subject in such sort that his sensuality be subdued to reason and reason in all things be obedient to me he is truly a conqueror of himself and Lord of the world 3. If thou desire to mount unto this height thou must set out couragiously and lay the Ax to the root that thou mayst pluck up and destroy that hidden inordinate inclination to thy self and unto all private and Earthly good Of this sin that Man too inordinately loveth himself almost all dependeth whatsoever is throughly to be overcome which evil being once overcome and subdued there will presently ensue great peace and tranquillity But for that few endeavor perfectly to die unto themselves and altogether to go out of themselves therefore they remain intangled in themselves and cannot be lifted up in spirit above themselves But he that desireth to walk freely with me it is necessary that he mortifie all evil and inordinate affections and that he should not earnestly adhere unto any creature by private love CHAP. LIV. Of the different motions of Nature and Grace CHrist. Son mark diligently the motions of Nature and Grace for in a very contrary and subtil manner these are moved and can hardly be discerned but by him that is spiritually and inwardly enlightned All Men indeed desire that which is good and pretend some good in their words and deeds and therefore uuder the shew of good many are deceived Nature is crafty and seduceth intangleth and deceiveth many and always proposeth her self for her end but Grace walketh in simplicity and avoideth all shew of evil pretendeth not deceits and doth all things purely for Gods sake in whom also she finally resteth 2. Nature will not willingly die nor be kept down nor be overcome nor be subject to any nor be subdued but Grace mindeth self mortification resisteth sensuality seeketh to be subject is willing to be kept under and will not use her own liberty she loveth to be kept under discipline and desireth not to rule any but always to live and remain wholly subject unto God and for God is ready humbly to bow unto all Men. Nature striveth for her own commodity and considereth what profit she may reap by another but Grace considereth not what is profitable and commodious unto her self but rather what is profitable to many Nature willingly receiveth honor and reverence but Grace faithfully attributeth all honor and glory unto God 3. Nature feareth shame and contempt but Grace rejoyceth to suffer reproach for the Name of Jesus Nature loveth idleness and bodily rest but Grace cannot be idle but willingly imbraceth labor Nature seeketh to have those things that be curious and glorious abhorreth that which is mean and course but Grace delighteth in plain and humble things despiseth not rough things nor refuseth to wear that which is old and torn Nature respecteth temporal things rejoyceth at Earthly gain sorroweth for loss is moved with every little injurious word but Grace thinketh on that which is everlasting and cleaveth not to temporal things she is not troubled with losses nor disquieted with hard words for that she hath placed her treasure and joy in Heaven where nothing perisheth 4. Nature is covetous and doth more willingly receive than give she loveth proper and private things but Grace is bountiful and liberal to all shunneth private interest is content with a little thinketh that it is more blessed to give than to receive Nature is bent to the creatures to her own flesh to vanities and to many vagaries but Grace draweth unto God and unto goodness
renounceth creatures flyeth the world hateth the desires of the flesh restraineth wandrings abroad blusheth to be seen in publick Nature is willing to have some outward comfort wherein she may be sensibly delighted but Grace seeketh comfort in God alone and delighteth above all visible things in the highest good 5. Nature worketh all for her own gain and profit she can do nothing freely but for bestowed benefits she hopeth to obtain either that which is equal or better either praise or favor and coveteth to have her works and gifts much esteemed but Grace seeketh no temporal thing nor desireth any other reward than God alone nor asketh more of temporal necessaries than what may serve her for the obtaining of things eternal 3. Nature rejoyceth to have many friends and kinsfolks she glorieth of noble place and birth pleaseth the powerful fawneth upon the rich applaudeth those that are like her self but Grace loveth even her enemies and is not puffed up with multitude of friends nor esteemeth place or birth but where it is joyned with greater virtue she rather favoreth the poor than the rich hath more compassion of the innocent than the powerful rejoyceth in the true not in the deceitful always exhorteth good Men to labor for the better gifts and by goodness to resemble the Son of God Nature quickly complaineth of want and trouble Grace constantly endureth need 7. Nature referreth all things to her self striveth and contendeth for her self but Grace reduceth all to God from whence originally they proceed she ascribeth no good to her self neither doth she arrogantly presume she contendeth not nor preferreth her opinion before others but in every apprehension and opinion submitteth her self unto the eternal wisdom and to the divine judgment Nature coveteth to know secrets and to hear news she will appear abroad and make proof of many things by her own senses she desireth to be known and to do those things for which she may be praised and admired but Grace careth not for hearing news nor to understand curious matters for that all this springeth from the old corruption of Man seeing here is nothing new and durable upon Earth She teacheth therefore to restrain the senses to avoid vain pleasing and ostentation humbly to hide those things that are worthy of praise and admiration and of every thing and every knowledg to seek profitable fruit and the praise and honor of God she will not have her self nor hers publickly praised but desireth that God should be blessed in his gifts who of mere love bestoweth all things 8. This Grace is a supernatural light and a certain special gift of God and the proper mark of the elect and pledg of everlasting salvation which raiseth up a Man from Earthly things to love the things of Heaven and of a carnal maketh him a spiritual Man How much the more therefore Nature is depressed and subdued so much the greater Grace is infused and the inward Man daily by new visitations more reformed according to the image of God CHAP. LV. Of the corruption of Nature and efficacy of divine Grace CHristian O Lord my God who hast created me after thy Image and likeness grant me this grace which thou hast shewed to be so great and so necessary to salvation that I may overcome my wicked nature which draweth me to sin and to perdition For I feel in my flesh the Law of sin contradicting the Law of my mind and leading me captive to the obeying of sensuality in many things neither can I resist the passions thereof unless thy most holy grace fervently infused into my heart do assist me 2. Thy grace O Lord and great grace is needful that nature may be overcome which is ever prone to evil from her youth For by Adam the first Man nature being fallen and corrupted by sin the penalty of this stain hath descended upon all Mankind in such sort that nature it self which by thee was created good and upright is now accounted for the sin and for the infirmity of corrupted nature for that the motion thereof left unto it self draweth to evil and to inferior things For the little power which remaineth is like a certain spark lying hidden in ashes This is natural reason it self encompassed about with great darkness yet still retaining power to discern good and evil and the difference between true and false although it be unable to fulfil all that it approveth and enjoyeth not now the full light of truth nor the soundness of her affections 3. Hence it is my God that after the inward Man I delight in thy Law knowing thy commandments to be good just and holy reproving also all evil and sin teaching that it is to be avoided But with the flesh I serve the law of sin whilst I rather obey sensuality than reason Hence it is that to will to do good is present with me but how to perform it I find not For this cause I often purpose many good things but because I want grace to help my weakness upon a light resistance I go back and faint Hence it is that I know the way of perfection and see clearly enough what I ought to do but pressed down with the weight of mine own corruption I rise not unto what is more perfect 4. O Lord how exceeding needful is thy grace for me to begin any good work to go forward and to accomplish it For without it I can do nothing but in thee I can do all things when thy grace doth strengthen me O Heavenly grace indeed without which our most worthy actions are nothing and no gifts of nature are to be esteemed Arts riches beauty or strength wit or eloquence are of no value with thee O Lord without thy grace For gifts of nature are common to good and bad but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and love and they that bear this honorable mark are esteemed worthy of everlasting life This grace is so eminent that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles nor any speculation how high soever is of any esteem without it Neither faith nor hope nor other virtues are acceptable unto thee without love and grace 5. O most blessed Grace that makest the poor in spirit rich in virtues and makest the rich in many blessings to be humble in heart come come down unto me replenish me early with thy comfort lest my soul should faint for weariness and driness of mind I beseech thee O Lord that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace is sufficient for me though other things that nature desireth be wanting If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I will not fear any evils whilst thy grace is with me that is my strength that giveth advice and help that is stronger than all enemies and wiser than all the wise 6. Thy grace is the mistress of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the heart the solace in affliction the driver away of sorrow 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
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