comforte during the time of this my banishment Let my minde flie vnder the shadow of thy winges from the heate of worldly cogitations Let my harte pause and repose in thee my harte I say which is like vnto a spatious and tempestuous sea O God the most riche and bountifull giuer of the diuine daintie dishes of heauenlie plentie refreshe it being wearie recall it being gone astray deliuer it being in captiuitie and being by sinne as it were broken in peeces restore it to the estate of its former innocencie Beholde it standeth at thy dore knocking and calling vnto thee I beseech thee o Lord by the bowells of thy mercy in which thou hast visited vs comminge downe from heauen commaund thy gate to be opened vnto my poore wretched soule knocking at the same to the end it may freelie enter in and repose in thee and be fed by thee the breade of heauen for thou art the breade and fountaine of life thou art the light of euerlasting felicitie thou art all thinges by which the righteous doe liue that loue thee Of the desire of the soule CHAPT V. O God the light of those harts that see thee the life of those soules that loue thee the strength of those thoughtes that seeke thee graunt me grace that by loue I may alwaies adhere vnto thee Come I beseech thee into my harte and make it drunke with the plentie of thy pleasure to the end I may forget all temporall thinges whatsoeuer Verilie I am ashamed and grieued to endure such thinges as are donne in the worlde Whatsoeuer I see in this vale of miserie is displeasing vnto me whatsoeuer I heare of thinges transitorie is burdensome vnto me Helpe me o Lord my God and make my harte glad come vnto me that I may see thee But alas the house of my soule is ouer little to entertaine thee vntill thou enter into it and enlarge it It is ruinous and ready to fall wherfore I beseech thee to repaire it It hath many thinges I confesse and knowe contained in it which are displeasing in thy sight but who will cleanse it or to whom besides thee shall I crie to doe it Cleanse me o Lord from my secret sinnes and be mercifull vnto thy seruaunt in respect of other mens sinnes committed by my meanes Graunt me grace o sweete Christ o good Iesu graunt me grace I beseech thee to lay aside the burden of all carnall loue and worldly desires through the loue and desire of thee Let my soule haue dominion ouer my body reason ouer my soule thy grace ouer reason and make me in all thinges subiect to thy most holy will both without and within Afforde me this fauoure I beseech thee that my harte and tongue and all my bones may praise and magnifie thee Dilate my mind and lift vp the eies of my harte that albeit for neuer soe shorte a time my soule may attaine vnto thee the eternall wisedome abiding aboue all thinges Free me I beseech thee from the bandes with which I am bounde that forsaking all thinges transitorie I may adhere and attende vnto thee onely Of the soules felicitie being deliuered out of the prison of this earthly body CHAPT VI. HAppy is that soule which beinge freed from this earthlie prison doth freely mounte vp into heauen which beholdeth thee o sweete Lord apparantlie face to face being now noe more affraied of deathe or of any worldlie miserie but reioycinge throughe the immortalitie of euerlasting glory It liueth in repose and securitie fearing now neither deathe noâ— ennimie It enioyeth thee being a mercifull Lord whom it hath long sought and alwaies loued and being ioyned in felowship with the quires of Angells it singeth for euer mellifluous sonnets of perpetuall gladnes in praise and commendation of thy glory o Christ our King o good Iesu Verilie it becommeth as it were drunke throughe the aboundance of thy heauenlie habitation because thou dost cause it to drinke of the riuer of thy vnspeakeable delectation O howe happy is the heauenlie company of celestiall cittizens how glorious is the solemniâ—ie of all those that returne vnto thee o Lord from the toiles and trauailes of this our pilgrimage to the pleasantnes of all beauty to the beauty of all brightnes and to the dignitie of all excellencie where thy cittizens o Lord doe continuallie see thee Nothing at all is there hearde that may molest the minde What sacred Canticles what diuersitie of instruments what delightfull ditties what sweete sounds of heauenlie harmonie are there hearde incessantlie There the mellifluous organ there the most sweete melodie of Angels doe sounde forth Hymnes and admirable Canticles of Canticles euelastingly which are songe by the celestiall cittizens to thy praise and glory Noe spitefulnes or bitternes of affection is founde in that heauenly region for that neither malice nor malitious men haue there any abiding Noe aduersarie is there to impugne vs nor occasion of sinne to entice vs. There is noe want or pouertie in that place noe shame or disgrace noe brawling noe vp braiding noe blaming noe fearefullnes noe disquietnes noe paine noe doubtfullnes noe violence noe variance but contrariwise surpassing greate peace perfect charitie singing and praising of God euerlastinglie perpetuall repose ioined with securitie and ioy in the holy Ghost during all eternitie O how fortunate shall I be if after this life I shal be admitted to heare the most pleasant and sweete songes of those heauenlie cittizens if I shal be admitted I say to heare those mellifluous meeters of poetrie made to expresse the praises and honoure due to the most sacred Trinitie O how much more happy shall I be then I can imagine if I my selfe likewise shal be thought worthy to sing a songe to our Lord Iesus Christ euen one of the sweete songes of Syon Of the ioy of Paradise CHAPT VII O Liuing life o euerlasting life and euerlastinglie happie Where there is ioy without griefe rest without laboure dignitie without feare riches without sicknes plentie without want life without deathe eternitie without corruption felicitie without affliction where all good thinges are comprehended in perfect charitie where the Sainctes see God and one an other apparantlie where where there is perfect knowledge in all thinges and of all thinges where the supreame goodnes of God is behelde and the light that enlightneth all thinges is by the Saincts glorified where Gods maiestie is seene present and with this foode of life the minde of the beholders doth remaine satisfied and content They alwaies see God and by seeing long to see him they desire it without loathsomnes where the true sunne of iustice doth refreshe them all by the wonderfull light of his vnspeakeable beautie and doth in that manner enlighten all the câ—ttizens of that celestiall countrie as that they beinge but a light enlightned by God who is the light that enlightneth them doe shine more bright then the sunne and all the stars of heauen Who adhering vnto God who is
how to praise him blessed is that man whose helpe is from God who hath soe disposed the ascents of his harte in this dolefull vale of miserie that by them he may ascende vp to the place of eternall felicitie Happie are the cleane in harte for they shall see God happie are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praise thee for euer and euer A Prayer greatly mouinge the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God CHAPT XXXV O Iesu our redemption loue and desire God of God giue â—are to me thy poore vnworthy seruant To thee I câ—ll crie with a loude voyce with my whole harte To thee I call calling thee into my soule enter into the same and make it fitting for thee that thou mayest possesse it without wrinkle or blemishe of iniquitie because reason requireth that a cleane dwellinge shoulde be prepared for soe cleane a Lord to dwell in Sanctifie me therefor I beseech thee thy vessell which thou hast made cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that heere and for all eternity I may be made a fitt habitation for thy diuine maiestie O most sweete most powerfull most louing most deare most powerfull most desired most inestimable most amiable most beautifull Lord thou art more sweet then honie more white then either milke or snowe more pleasant to the tast then nectar or delitious wine more pretious then golde or pretious stones and more deare to me then all the riches and honoures of this worlde What doe I say o my God my onely hope and my surpassing great mercie What doe I say my happie and secure sweetnes What doe I say in saying these thinges Verilie I say what I am able not what I ought Woulde to God I were able to singe such hymnes of prayses as doe the quires of blessed Angells O how willinglie woulde I bestowe my selfe wholy in singing and setting forthe thy praises O how deuoutelie in the middest of thy Church would I pronounce those Canticles of celestiall melodie to the praise and glorie of thy holy name But because I cannot doe this shall I therefore holde my peace Woe be to those that haue not thee in theire mouth because thou art he that openest the mouthes of such as are mute and makest the tongues of infants to be eloqueÌ„t Woe be to those whose talke is not of thee because those that are talkatiue and full of wordes are to be esteemed as men speecheles if theire talke doth not tende to the extollinge of thy praises But who is able to praise thee worthily o vnspeakable vertue and wisedome of the Father Seeing therefore I want wordes by which I might be able sufficientlie to expresse thee o diuine worde of all power and knowledge I will in the interim say what I can vntill thou vouchsafe to call me vnto thee where I shal be able to speake what appertaineth both to thee and me Wherfore I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt not soe much consider what I say as what I desire to say Verily I greatlie desire to speake that of thee which is fittinge meete in respect that all praise thankesgiuinge and glorie is due vnto thee Thou knowest therefore o God from whom the very secrets of our hartes cannot be concealed that thou art more deare and acceptable to me then heauen and earthe and all thinges elsâ— that are therein for I loue thee aboue heauen and earthe and all other thinges contained in them yea soe greate loue is due to thy holy name as that in comparison thereof noe transitorie thinge doth deserue the fame I doe loue thee o my God very muche and doe desire to loue thee still more and more Giue me grace that I may alwaies loue thee accordinge to the greatnes of my affection and according to the greatnes of my obligation that thou onely maiest be my whole intention and my whole meditation Lett me thinke of thee in the day time without ceasinge Lett me dreame of thee in the night season Lett my soule talke to thee lett my minde discourse with thee Lett my harte be beautified by the light of thy holy sight that hauinge thee for my conductor and capitaine I may marche forewarde from vertue to venue and at length may beholde thee the God of Gods in Sion During the time of this life I doe see thee obscurelie as it were through a mrtroure or looking glasse but then I shall beholde thee apparentlie face to face where I shall knowe thee like as I am knowen of thee Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Blessed are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praiâ—e thee worlde without end I beseeche thee therfore o Lord by thy manifolde mercies by which we are deliuered from eternall death mollifie my stonie harde harte harder then either stone or iron with thy most sacred and powerfull vnction and make me at all times to become a liuinge sacrifice in thy sight by the fire of compunctioÌ„ Make me to haue alwaies in thy sight a humble and contrite harte ioyned with aboundance of teares Make me in all my desires as one wholy deade to this wretched world and through the greatnes of the feare and loue of thee to forgett all thinges transitorie in so much as that I may neither greiue nor growe gladd at any temporall thinge being free from the feare loue of whatsoever passeth away with time beinge neither depraued through flattery nor dismaied through aduersitie And for that the loue of thee is forcible like vnto death graunt I beseeche thee that the fierie and sweete force of thy loue may wholy withdrawe my minde from all thinges vnder heauen that I may adhere to thee alone being fedd with the only memorie af thy sweetnes Lett the most odoâ—iferous smell of thee o Lord descende lett it descende I beseech thee lett it descende and with it lett the mellifluous loue of thee enter into my harte Let the admirable and vnspeakable fragrant sauoure of thee come vnto me causinge in me an eternall desire and affection and producinge in my harte fountaines of water flowinge into life euerlastinge Thou o Lord art infinitely good and therefore infinitelie to be loued and praysed of those whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud O most liberall louer of men most louinge Lord and most iust iudge to whom the Father hath committed all iudgment thou perceiuest in the most wise iudgement of thy righteousnesse whether this be iust and reasonable or noe that the children of this worlde of the night and darkenesse doe loue and seeke after riches and honoures that are transitorie and cannot long continue with a farr greater desire earnestnes and studie then we thy seruants doe loue and seeke after thee our God by whom we haue been made and redeemed For if one man loueth an other with soe greate affection as that the one can scarcely endure the other to
be wanting if the wife be conioyned to her husband with that feruoure of minde as that through the greatnes of her loue shee can take noe repose being not able without greate greife to sustaine the absence of her beloued husbande with what affection desire and feruoure of minde ought that soule whoÌ„ thou hast espoused and linked vnto thee by faith and thy manifold mercies to loue thee the true God the most beautifull spouse who hast after that wonderfull manner loued and saued vs who hast donne soe many soe greate and such vnspeakeable thinges for vs. But althoughe the transitorie thinges of this worldâ— haue theire particular loues and delightes yet is the delight and content which they yeilde farre inferiour to that which proceedeth from thee o Lord our God In thee the iust man is dâ—lighted because thy loue is sweete and peaceable thou being accustomed to replenishe those hartes which thou dost possesse with vnspeakeable delight sweetnesse and quietnes Contrariwise the loue of the worlde and of the fleshe causeth a thousande woes not permittinge the soules into which it entreth to be at any repose but continually vexeth them with suspitions with diuers doubtes and perturbations Thou therfore o Lord art the delight of good and iust men and truly not without reason for that in thee is true repose and a life free from molestation He that entreth into thee o good God entreth into the ioy of his Lord and shall not be any more afraied but shall finde himselfe happily placed in a most happie habitation saying This is my rest for euermore heere I will dwell because I haue chosen the same And Againe Our Lord guideth me and I shall want nothinge he hath placed me in a place of pasture O sweete Christ o good lesu fill my harte perpetually with thy vnquenchable charitie with the continuall remembrance of thee soe that beinge become as a fierie flame I may wholy burne through the sweetnes of thy loue which loue in me let be soe greate as that whole fountaines flouddes of water may neuer be able to quenche it Make me most sweete Lord to loue thee and for thy loue to lay a side the heauie and vnsuportable burden of all earthly and carnall conscupiscences which doe molest and presse downe my wretched soule to the end that being freed from them and runninge after thee in the sweete smell of thy odoriferous ointments I may at length hauinge thee for my guide be able to attaine to the vision and fruition of thy beauâ—ie and by the same to remaine truly satisfied eternally For two seuerall loues the one good the other â—uill the one sweete the other bitter cannot in one harte possibly dwell together And therefore if any one doth loue any thinge besides thee thy charitie in him o God is not the loue of sweetnes and the sweetnes of loue for thou art that loue that afflicteth not but delighteth that loue that for euer remaineth chast and sincere that loue alwaies burneth and neuer consumeth O sweete Christ o good Iesu my loue my loue and my God inflme me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes and delectaâ—ion with thy mirth and exultation with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and good chast cleane quiet and secure to the end that being wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy inflamed with the fire of thy charity I may loue thee my God with all my harte force and strength hauinge thee at all times and in al places in my harte in my mouth and before mine cees soe that noe receptacle may be founde in me to receiue the counterfayted loue of thinges transitorie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee to the end thou maiest heare me O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the intercession prayer and request of the glorious virgin Marie thy mother and my Ladie and of all the Saintes of thy heauenly Cittie Amen A most deuoute Prayer demaunding Grace of God to praise him as wee ought CHAPT XXXVI O Christ our Lord the diuine worde of the Father whose comming into the worlde was to saue sinners I beseech thee by the bowels of thine infinite mercie amende my life make better mine actions compose my manners take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to me displeasinge to thee and giue me that which thou knowest is pleasinge to thee and profitable for me Who is there that can cleanse man from sinne conceiued in the same sauinge thou alone Thou arâ— God almighty of infinite mercy who iustifiest the wicked and raysest to life those that through sinne were deade who changest sinners from that which they were before vpholdinge them that they fall not any more Remoue from me therfore I beseeche thee whatsoeuer in me is displeasinge vnto thee Thy eies I knowe doe plainely see mine imperfections to be very manie Wherefore may it please thee to stretche forth towards me the hande of thy mercie and with the same remoue from me whatsoeuer is offensiue in me to the eies of thy diuine Maiestie My health o Lord and my sicknesse doe depende of thy power preserue I beseech thee the one and cure the other Cure me o Lord and I shal be cured saue me and I shal be saued thou art he that dost cure those thinges that are diseased keepinge them in health after they are healed thou art he that with the very becke and nod of thy heade dost repaire those thinges that are ruined and decayed For if it be thy pleasure to sowe in my hart the good seedâ— of vertues it is necessarie that first with the hande of thy pittie thou pluck vp the thornes of mine iniquities Most sweete benigne louinge deare desired beloued and most beautifull Lord powre into my harte I most hartlie beseeche thee the aboundance of thy sweetnes and charitie that I may neither desire nor as much as thinke vppon any worldly or carnall delectation but may loue thee alone hauinge thee onely in my mouthe and in my affection Write in my breaste with thy finger the sweete remeÌ„brance of thy hony sweete name by noe forgetfulnes euer to be blotted out of the same Write in the tables of my harte thy most holy will and thy iustifications that alwaies and in all places I may haue thee and thy preceptes before mine eieâ— who art a Lord of infinite sweetnes Inflame my minde with that sacred fire of thine which thou haâ—t sent into the world and dost greatlye desire that it should be kindled to the end that with teares I may daylie offer vnto thee the sacrifice of a humble and contrite harte O sweete Christ and louinge Iesu giue me as I desire as I desire with my whole hart giue
o Father of mercies Thou knowest my desire and my groaning is not hidden from thee Hide not then thy face from me any longer neither doe thou forsake me in thine anger O Father of mercies heare the lamentable complainte of me thy poore orphāt and stretche forth thy helping hande that it may drawe me out of the deepe waters out of the lake of misery and out of the duste and dreggs of iniquitie that I perish not before the eies of thy mercy and in presence of thy infinite patience but let me escape vnto thee o Lord my God that I may beholde the riches of thy kingedome and alwaies see thy face and singe praises vnto thy holy name Thou o Lord who dost thinges worthy of admiration who through the remembrance of thee makest my harte merry who hast enlightned my youthe despise not nowe my old age I beseech thee but cause my bones and gray haires to become ioyfull and youthfull like vnto the bones and hoary feathers of an Eagle The end of S. Augustins Soliloquies that is of the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God OF THE SOLILOQVIES OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOP OF HIPPON OF the vnspeakeable sweetnes of God Chapt. I. Of the misery frailtie of man Chapt. II. Of the admirable light of God Chapt. III. Of the mortalitie of mans nature Chapt. IV. What it is to become nothing Chapt. V. Of the miserable estate of the soule being in sinne Chapt. VI. Of the manifolde benefits of almightie God Chapt. VII Of the future dignity of man Chapt. VIII Of Gods omnipotent power Chapt. IX Of the incomprehensible prayse of God Chapt. X. Of the hope which we ought to haue in God Chapt. XI Of the snares of concupiscences Chapt. XII Of the miseries of man and the manifolde benefits of almightie God Chapt. XIII How God doth continuallie looke into the actions and intentions of men Chapt. XIV That man without the assistance of Gods grace is able to doe nothing of himselfe Chapt. XV. Of the diuell and his manifolde temptatations Chapt XVI That God is the light of the iust Chapt. XVII A further acknowledging of the benefits of God Chapt. XVIII Of the vehemencie of loue or charity Chapt. XIX How God hath made all thinges subiect to the seruice of man Chapt. XX. How by the consideration of benefits temporall we may gather the greatnes of those that are celestiall Chapt. XXI That the sweetnes of God doth take away the present bitternes of the world Chapt. XXII That our whole hope and the desire of our harte ought to be in God Chapt. XXIII That our saluation is from God Chapt. XXIV How without the assistance of Gods grace mans will is vnable to doe well Chapt. XXV Of the ancient benefits of almighty God Chapt. XXVI Of the Angells appointed to be the guardians of men Chapt. XXVII Of the profounde predestination and foreknowledg of almighty God Chapt. XXVIII Of those that at first are good and afterwardes become bad and contrariwise of those that at first are bad and afterwardes become good Chapt. XXIX That a faithfull soule is the sanctuarie of God Chapt. XXX That God cannot be founde either by the exteriour or interiour senses Chapt. XXXI A profession of the true faithe Chapt. XXXII The acknowledging of our owne basenes Chapt. XXXIII A consideration of Gods diuine Maiestie Chapt XXXIV Of the desire and thirst of the soule after God Chap. XXXV A further discouse of the country kingdome of heauen Chapt. XXXVI A Prayer to the holy Trinitie Chapt. XXXVII THE MANVEL OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON OTHERWISE TEARMED A litle booke treating of the comtemplation of Christ or the worde of God Stirring vpp our weake and drousi◠memorie to the desire of heauenlie felicitie AT S. OMERS For IOHN HEIGHAM Anno 1624. THE MANVEL OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON OTHERWISE TEARMED A litle booke treating of the contemplation of Christ or the worde of God Stirring vpp our weake and drousie memorie to the desire of heauenlie felicitie THE PREFACE SEing we liue amidst a multitude of snares and ginnes we easily growe colde in the loue of heauenly thinges Wherfore we stande in neede of continuall succoure and ayde that as often as we fall and faile in our dutie towardes God we may as men awakened haue recourse to him the soueraigne and supreame good For this cause I haue compiled and composed this little worke not throughe any presumptious opinion I haue of my selfe but through the great loue of my God and the desire I haue to aduance his praise to the end I might alwaies haue about me some small Manuel of shorte sentences concerning my God drawen out of the worthiest wordes and writinges of holy Fathers by the fire of reading whereof I might as often as I growe cold be inflamed with affection towardes him Now therfore assist me o my God whom I seeke and loue whom likewise with my harte and mouthe and with all my force I prayse and adore My soule which is wholy deuoted to thee and inflamed with thy loue sighing and searching earnestly after thee desiring to see thee onely taketh delight in nothing els but to speake heare write and conferre of thee and frequentlye to meditate of thy glorie to the end that the sweete remembrance of thee may be some mitigation amidst soe many stormes of affliction To thee therfore I call o most desired Lord to thee I crie with a loude voyce euen with my whole harte And when I call vpon thee I call vpon thee remaining within me for that I were meere nothing if thou were not in me neither were thou in me vnlesse I were in thee Doubtles thou art in me because thou remainest in my memorie by which I haue knowen thee and in which I doe finde thee as often as I ame mindfull of thee and ame delighted in thee or frō thee from whom by whom and in whom all thinges haue their beginning conseruation and being Of the wonderfull essence of God CHAPT I THou O Lord dost fill heauen and earthe carying all thinges without burden filling all thinges without inclusion Alwayes doing alwaies resting Gathering thinges together and yet not needie Seeking albeit nothing is wanting vnto thee louing without being afflicted iealous yet resting assured It repenteth thee and yet thou art not grieued thou art angrie and yet art appeased Thou dost alter what thou hast donne without altering thy determination Thou takest what thou dost finde hauinge neuer lost any thinge Thou reioycest in gaine althoughe thou wert neuer needie and albeit thou wert neuer couetous yet thou exactest vsurie Thou giuest more then is demaunded to him that thou act not indebted and yet to make thee indebted more continuallie is giuen thee then by thee is required And yet who is there that hath any thinge not thine Thou payest debtes being indebted to noe man and forgiuest debtes thereby loosing nothing Who art euerie where and wholie euerie where Who maiest be felt
immortall are by this meanes made immortal and incorruptible accordinge as our Lord and Sauiour hath promised saying O Father my will and desire is that those which thou hast giuen me may be present with me where I am to the end they may see my glorie that all may be one that as thou o Father art in me and I in thee euen soe they may be one in vs. Of the kingdome of heauen CHAPT VIII THe kingedome of heauen is a most happy kingdome free from death voide of end where time without succession of ages is still the same where one continuall day without interchaunge of night knoweth neither time past nor to come where the valiant souldier after many trauailes sustained and victorie obtained is with vnspeakeable guifts rewarded a crowne of endles blisse being set vpon his heade O would to God the multitude of my sinnes being forgiuen me it might please his diuine bounty to bidd me of al Christs seruants the most vnworthie to lay aside the burden of this my incorruptible body to the end I might enter into the endles ioyes of his heauenly citty there to finde rest for all eternitie that I might be placed to singe amongst the most sacred quires of those celestiall citizens that with those most blessed spirits I might helpe to sound forthe the praises of my maker and might in presence beholde the face of my God and Sauiour that I might be exemp◠from all feare of deathe and worldly miserie and might securelie reioyce through the incorruption of perpetuall immortalitie that I might be free from all blindnes of ignorance being vnited vnto him that knoweth all thinges I should little esteeme all thinges transitorie and shoulde scarce vouchsafe to cast mine eie or to thinke vpon this vale of teares any more where our life is subiect to affliction subiect to corruption where our life is replenished with al manner of bitternes being the mistres of miscreants and handmaide vnto hell it selfe whom humors puffe vp whom paines pull downe whom heates doe pearche whom the ayre maketh sicke whom feasting maketh fatt and fastinge maketh leane whom delightes make dissolute whom sorrowes doe consume whom pensiuenes doth oppresse whom security maketh dull whom riches lift vp and make stately whom pouertie doth abase and make lowly whom youth maketh to be magnified olde age to be crooked whom sicknes weakeneth and sadnes afflicteth Where the diuell lieth in waite to deceiue vs the worlde flattereth vs where the fleshe is delighted the soule is blinded and man on euery side is troubled and disquieted And close as it were at the heeles of all these euills doth furious deathe come after closinge vp the end of the delightes of this miserable life in that fashion as that being ended they are as if they had neuer beene begunne How God visiteth and comforteth that soule which with sighes and teares lamenteth his absence CHAP. IX Bvt what praises or thanks-giuing are we able o God to rendre vnto thee who ceasest not to comfort vs with the wonderfull visitation of thy grace euen amidst the manifold miseries of this our mortalitie For beholde whiles I feare what my end will be whiles I enter into consideration of my sinnes and iniquities whiles I am affrayed of thy iudgements whiles I thinke of the hower of my death whiles I shiuer and shake throughe the horrour of hell being ignorant how strictlie and seuerely my actions wil be examined by thee as alsoe not knowing what the end of them wil be Whiles with my selfe I say I consider secretly in my harte these and many other such like thinges thou o Lord my God accordinge to thy wonted goodnes dost come and comforte me poore wretche beinge wholy ouerwhelmed with heauines lifting vp my sad and sorrowfull soule amidst my manifolde wailinges and weepinges and profound sighes and lamentations aboue the highe toppes of the hilles euen vnto the bedds of sweete and fiagrant spices placing me in a place of pasture neere vnto the little brookes of sweete and pleasant waters preparing there in my presence a sumptuous banquet abounding with all varieties which may refresh my wearied spirit and make glad my sorrowfull harte At length being made stronge againe by these dainties and delicacies I growe to forget my manifold miseries for that I repose in thee the true peace being eleuated aboue all earthlie highnes Of the sweetnes of diuine loue CHAPT X. I Doe loue thee o my God I doe loue thee and doe desire to loue thee more and more Graunt me grace o Lord my God who in beauty dost surpasse the children of men that I may desire and loue thee according to the greatnes of mine affection and according to the greatnes of mine obligatiō Thou art infinite o Lord and therfore art infinitely to be loued especiallie of vs whom thou hast soe wonderfullie respected and saued for whom thou hast donne soe great thinges and such as are worthie to be admired O loue which dost alwaies burne and art neuer extinguished o sweete Christ o good Iesu my charitie and my God enflame me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes with the delight and desire of thee with thy charitie with thy mirthe and gladnes with thy mercy and gentlenes with thy pleasure and affection which is holy good chast and cleane to the end that beinge wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy made hotte with the flame of thy charitie I may loue the◠my Lord of surpassing great sweetnes and beauty with all my harte with all my soule with all my strength and with all mine intention with much cordiall contrition with many teares of deuotion with much reuerence and trembling hauing thee in my harte and in my mouth and before mine eies alwaies and euery where soe that noe place may be founde in me for the false loue of any creature Of the preparation of our Redemption CHAPT XI I Beseech thee most faire Iesu by that most sacred sheddinge of thy pretious bloude with which we are redeemed giue me contrition of harte and a fountaine of teares especiallie whiles I offer vnto thee praiers and petitions whiles I sing Psalmes of praise and thanks-giuing as often as I call to minde or speake of the mistery of our redemption being an euident token of thy infinite mercy and compassion As often as I stande at thy holie altar albeit vnworthy of soe greate an honoure desiring to offer vnto thee that wonderfull and celestiall sacrifice and oblation worthy of all reuerence and deuotion which thou o Lord my God the immaculate Priest hast instituted and appointed to be offered in remembrance of thy charitie that is of the deathe and passion which thou hast suffered for our deliuerie and for the dayly reparation of ou◠fragilitie Confirme my minde with the sweetnes of thy presence during the time of soe greate mysteries let it feele thy assistance and be filled with gladnes O fire which dost alwaies
not thirdlie to contemplate celestiall and internall thinges with a pure and cleane harte By loue first of all honest thinges are laudably donne in the worlde afterwardes the honest thinges of the worlde growe to be contemned and lastly the very secrets of God are by it seene and considered How God requireth something in vs like vnto himselfe CHAPT XIX GOd the Father is charity soe is God the SoÌ„ne the holy Ghost is the loue that proceedeth from both of them This charity and loue requireth something in vs like vnto it to witt charity by which we may be ioyned and vnited vnto God as it were by affinitie of blood Loue maketh noe difference of personnes neither doth it know how to behaue it selfe with reuerence He that loueth goeth boldlie vnto God of himselfe alone and talketh familiarlie with him fearing and doubting nothing He that loueth not liueth but in vaine But he that loueth hath his eies alwaies fixed on God whom he loueth whom he desireth on whom he thinketh in whom he is delighted by whom he is fedd and refreshed Such a man that is endewed with such deuotion doth soe singe and reade and in all his actions doth carry himselfe with that care and circumspection as if God were present before his eies as indeede he is He prayeth with that feruoure and deuotion as if he were assumpted vp into heauen and presented before the Maiestie of God that sitteth on his throne where thousandes of thousandes doe serue him and ten hundred thousande doe attende vpon him Loue causeth the soule which it visiteth throughe loue to awaken when it sleepeth It admonisheth and mollifieth it wounding it as it were to the very harte Loue enlightneth those thinges that are darke it openeth those that are shut the thinges that are colde it maketh hotte it mitigateth the minde that is frowarde angry and impatient it chaseth away vice and iniquitie it represseth all desire of carnalitie it amendeth our manners and bad customes and reformeth the spiritt making it to change its fashions Finallie it bridleth the motions of our youthe and our light actions All this doth loue when it is present but assoone as it depatteth the soule beginneth forthwith in that manner to become fainte and feeble euen as if you should wriâ—hdrawe the fire from a boyling cauldron or kettle Of the greate confidence which the soule hath that loueth God CHAP. XX. Loue without doubte is a greater thinge then can be well expressed by which the soule goeth boldlie vnto God of it selfe alone and adhereth constantlie vnto him it quessioneth and consulteth with him vpon euery occasion The soule that loueth God can thinke or speake of nothing els beside because it doth contemne and in a manner abhorre all other thinges whatsoeuer The loue of God doth change it into himselfe in that wonderful fashion as that whatsoeuer it thinketh or speaketh of doth as it were tast and smell of affection He therfore that desireth to attaine to the knowledge of God let him loue In vaine he attempteth to reade or meditate to preache or pray that loueth not The loue of God begetteth the loue of the soule and maketh it to attend to it selfe God loueth vs to noe other end but that we should loue him againe When he loueth he desireth nothing els but to be beloued knowing that those that loue him are by loue made blessed The soule that loueth addicteth it selfe wholy to the loue of God all proper affections being layed aside to the end that by louing him againe it may make some requital for the loue receiued from him And yet when it hath powred forth it selfe wholy in affection what is it in respect of the fountaine of loue froÌ„ whence it had his beginning True it is that noe true comparison can be made betweene the louer and the beloued betweene the soule and God betweene the Creator and the thing created and yet if it loue God to the vttermost of its power there remaineth nothing that it can doe more Let not that soule which loueth be affraied let that soule feare that loueth not God The soule that loueth is led with promises drawen with desires it keepeth secret its owne merits it shutteth the eies to all worldlie honoure and openeth them to the diuine pleasure relying wholie in Christs protection and doing all things with a confidence in him Through loue the soule leaueth and estrangeth it selfe from the corporall senses to the end that feeling God it may not feele it selfe This hapneth when the soule being allured throughe Gods vnspeakeable sweetnes doth as it were stâ—ale it selfe from it selfe or rather is caried and slideth away from it selfe to the end it may enioy God with much gladnes Neither is there any thinge soe sweete were it not soe shorte Loue maketh vs familiar with God familiaritie causeth blodnes blodnes taste and taste hunger The soule which is touched with the loue of God is able to thinke or desire noe other thinge but crieth out incessantlie with sighes saying Euen as the harte or stagge desireth the fountaines of water when he is pursued euen soe my soule longeth after thee o God What God hath donne for man CHAPT XXI ALmightie God through his greate loue towardes man came vnto man yea he came into man and became a man Throughe loue almightie God being inuisible in himselfe became visible like vnto his seruants Through loue he was wounded for our sinnes In the woundes of my Sauiour is a safe and secure place of repose for those that are sicke and for sinners In them I dwell securely for that the bowells of his mercie are apparant by the woundes of his body Out of the bowells of my Lord I take vnto my selfe whatsoeuer on my parte is wantinge vnto me because they flowe with mercy neither are there holes wanting by which they gush forthe vnto me Through the holes of his body the secrets of his harte are seene by me The sacred misterie of his compassion and pitty doth appeare plainely vnto me The bowels of our Lords mercy are apparantly seene in which he hath visited vs comming downe from heauen The woundes of Christ Iesu are full of mercy full of pitty full of sweetnes and charitie It is they that peirced his handes and his feete and his side with a lance Through these holes and clefts may I tast how sweete my Lord God is for that indeede he is sweete and milde and of much mercy towardes all those that in the truth call vpon him towardes all those that seeke him but especiallie towardes those that loue him Briefly in the wounds of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus an infinite ransome a multitude of sweetnes fulnes of grace and perfection of all vertues is bestowed vpon him Of the remembrance of the woundes of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ CHAPT XXII WHen any vncleane cogitation doth aâ—saulte me I am wonte to haue recourse to the woundes of Christ as to a present remedy If at
testimony against it as against the author of them All its sinnes and iniquitie are laied as it were in heapes before its eies and those which it is vnwilling to see it is forced to beholde whither it will or noe Moreouer on the one side of it it beholdeth a terrible troupe of dreadfull diuells on the other side a multitude of heauenly Angells The soule that lieth in the middest quickly perceiueth to which of these companies it appertaineth For if there be seene in it the signes and tokens of goodnes it is conforted by the comfortable speeches of the Angells and by the sweetnes of their harmonious mellody it is allured to come forthe of the body Contrariwise if the darknes of its desâ—rts and the dâ— formity of its filthine doe adiudge it to the left hande it 〈◊〉 forthwith strooken with intolerable feare it is troubled through the force of the sodaine violence that is vsed it is throwne downe beadlonge and assaulted and poore soule is forciblie pluckt out of the prison of the flesh that it may be dâ— awne to eternall torments with vnspeakeable bitternes Now after it is departed out of the body who is able to eâ— presse how many armed troupes of wicked spirits doe ly in waiâ—e to entrappe it how many bandes of frouning fieÌ„des being ready with cruell tormeÌ„ts to afflict it doe beset the way to hinder its passage And to the end it may not be able to escape and passe through them whole legions of them being gathered together after the manner of souldiers doe assault the same Wherfore to consider these and such like thinges by frequent meditation is a soueraigne meane to contemne the enticing allurements of sinne to abandon the worlde and to subdue the vnlawfull motions of the flesh and finally doth cause and conserue in vs a continuall desire of attaining to perfection which God of his mercy grauâ—t vs. Amen A Table of the Manuel of S. Augustin Bishop of Hyppon OF the wonderfull essence of God Chapt. I. Of the vnspâ— akeable knowledge of God Chapt II. Of the desire of the soule thinking on God Chapt. III. Of the miserable estate of that soule that doth neither loue nor seeke our Lord Iesus Christ Chapt. IV. Of the desiâ—e of the soule Chapt. V. Of the soules fâ—licity being deliueâ—ed out of the prison of this earthly body Chapt. VI Of the ioy of Paradise Chapt. VII Of the kingdome of heauen Chapt. VIII How God visiteth and comforteth that soule which with sighes and teare lamenteth his absence Chapt IX Of the sweetnes of diuine loue Chapt. X. Of the preparation of our Redemption Chapt. XI Of the ioy which the soule receiueth by receiuing Christ Chapt. XII That the Worde incarnate is the cause of our hope Chapt. XIII How the more we are addicted to diuine contemplation the greater delight we take therein Chapt. XIV How for Christs sake we ought to wishe for tribulations in this life Chapt. XV. By what meanes the kingdome of heauen may be purchased and gotten Ch XVI What heauen is and what happines is contained therein Chapt XVII How man can make noe other requitall vnto God for the benefits receiued from him but onely by louing him Chapt. XVIII How he requireth something in vs like vnto himselfe Chapt. XIX Of the greaâ—e confidence which the soule hath that loueth God Chapt XX. What God hath donne for man Chapt XXI Of the remembrance of the woundes of our Lord and Sauiour lesus Christ Chapt. XXII How the remembrance of Christs woundes is an approued remedy against all afflictions Chapt. XXIII A deuoute Meditation of the soule stirring vs vp to the loue of Christ Chapt. XXIV How nothing can satisfie the soule besides God the supreame good Chapt XXV What the knowledge of verity is Chapt. XXVI What the sending of the holy Ghost doth effect in vs. Chapt XXVII After what manner he that loueth God carieth himselfe Chapt. XXVIII Of true quietnes of harte Chapt. XXIX How euery thing that hindereth the soule from the sight of God ought to be auoided and detested Chapt XXX How the sight of God hath been lost by meanes of our sinne and miserie hath succeeded in place of the same Chapt. XXXI Of the goodnes of God Chapt XXXII Of the pleasant fruition of almighty God Chapt. XXXIII That the chiefe good is to be desired Chapt XXXIV Of the mutuall charity of the Saints in heauen Chapt. XXXV Of the full and perfect ioy of life euerlasting Chapt. XXXVI FINIS
whereof a iust man may vaunt or which can bringe him to glorie vnlesse thou preuent him afore hande being of him selfe vniust with thy mercy and pittie I therfore o my Saujour belieue what I haue hearde that it is thy goodnes that doth drawe me to repentance thy hony-sweete lipps haue toulde it me Noeman can come to me vnlesse my Father who hath sent me drawe him Seeinge therefore it hath pleased thee to instruct me and by instruction hast vouchsafed mercifully to enforme me I beseech thee with all the forces of my harte and minde o almightie father togeather with thy most beloued sonne I beseeche thee likewise o most sweete sonne together with the most gratious hohe Ghost vouchsafe to draw me that I may runne after thee by vertue of the sweete smel of thy preâ—ious ointmeÌ„ts The helpe of God the father is desired by the merits of God the sonne CHAPT V. VNto thee I crie o my God vnto thee I call for that thou art nighe to all those that crie and call vpon thee in the truth Thou art the truth reach me I beseech thee for thy mercies sake teache me o sacred truthe to call vpon thee in the truthe and for that I knowe not how this ought to be donne I humbly desire thee o blessed truth that thou wilt vouchsafe to teache me because wisedome without thee is meere ignorance but the knowledge of thee is an absolute science Instruct me o diuine wisedome teache me thy lawe because I assure my selfe that man shal be happie whome thou shalt vouchsafe to instruct and â—each in thy law I desire to implore thy assistance which I beseeche thee let be donne in the truth What is it to implore the assistance of the truthe in the truthe sauinge onely the assistance of the father in the sonne Thy worde therfore o holy Father is the truthe the truthe being likewise the beginninge of thy wordes For this is the beginninge of thy wordes that in the beginninge was the Worde In that beginning I adore thee whoe art the best beginninge In that worde of truthe I craue thy ayde o most absolute truthe In which worde of truthe may it please thee whoe art the selfe same truthe to direct and instruct me in the truthe for what is more sweete then to call vppon the father in the name of his onely begotten sonne to moue the father to mercie by remembrance of his childe to appease the kings sury by naminge his dearest progenie By these meanes are fellons deliuered out of prison thus they that lie fettered are freed from theire irons thus they that are condemned obtaine not onely to be quit and absolued but likewise with unexpected fauoures to he rewarded to wit by making knowen to the Princes thus incensed the loue of theire childe soe muche beloued in this manner likewise doe seruants escape the punishment of theire maisters when they haue offended whilst the sweetnes of theire children doth make intercession for them that they may be pardonned After the same manner I beseeche thee o father omnipotent by the loue of thy omnipotent sonne deliuer my soule out of prison to the end it may more freely confesse thy name I beseeche thee by thy coeternall and onely sonne deliuer me from the irons and fetters of sinne and by the intercession of thy most deare childe sittinge at thy right hande vouchsafe to restore me to life beinge by him appeased albeit my meritts doe adiudge me to be condemned Certainely I knowe noe other mediatour whome I may sende vnto thee but him onely whoe is the sacrifice offered for the reconciliation of our sinnes whoe sitteth at thy right hande makinge intercession for vs. Loe this is my aduocate with thee o God the father Loe this is that high Priest whoe needeth not to be purged with an others bloude for that he shineth beinge sprinkled with his owne Loe this is that sacred hoste soe pleasinge and ful of perfection offered and accepted so aâ—sauoure of sweetnes Loe this is that lambe without blemish who before those that sheared him heaâ—d his peace for that beinge buffeted spit vpon and reuiled he did not soe muche as open his mouth Thus he that was free from sinne tooke vpon him the burden of our sinnes and by his owne woundes cured out soares Heere man doth represent to God the Father the passion of his sonne CHAPT VI BEholde o pittifull father thy most pittifull sonne suffring such pittifull thinges for me See o most mercifull kinge whoe it is that suffereth Is not this o my Lord thy most innocent sonne whom thou dâ—dstgiue therby to deliuer thy seruant Is not this he o author of life whoe was led as a sheepe to the slaughter and being made obedient vnto thee even unto deathe feared not to vndergo that kinde of deathe which of all others is most cruell and painefull May it please thee who art the only dispenser and disposer of our safety and saluation to remember that this is he whome albe â—it thou hast begotten by thine owne vertue and diuinitie thou wouldest have notwithstandinge to be pertaker of mine infumitie This verily is thy diuiniâ—e whoe tooke vppon it my humaniâ—ie ascended the tree of the crosse and in the fleshe which it had assumed sustained greate torments O my Lord God vouch safe to ast the eies of thy maiestie vppon the worke of thine unspeakeable mercie Beholde thy sweete sonne stretched forth at lenght on the crosse Looke vppon his innocent handes gushing for the streames of innocent bloude and being pacified remit the misdeedes which my handeâ— haue committed Consider his naked side pierced throughe with a cruell lance and cleanse me in that sacred fontaine which I do belieue to haue flowed from thence See his vndefiled feete whoe neuer stoode in the way of sinners but alwaies walked in thy lawe fastned with longe and boysterous nayles and gratiously make perfect my paces in thy paths makinge me to hate and abhor all the waies of iniquitie Remoue from me the way of iniquitte and mercifullie make me to chose the way of veritie I beseeche thee o kinge of Sainctes by thy faincte of Sainctes by this my redeemer make me to runne the way of thy commaÌ„dements that I may be vnited to him in spirit who disdained not to be cloathed with my fleshe Dost thou not marke o merciful father the heade of this thy younge and dearest sonne being bowed downe on his snowe-white shoulder resolued into a deathe of vnestimable value Looke vppon the humanitie of thy beloued child most meeke creator and take compassion of the weakenes of thy weake creature His naked breast groweth white his bloudie side loketh redde his out-stretched bowells become drie his comely eies growe dimme his kingly countenance waxeth pale his longe armes growe colde and stiffe his thighes in whitenes like vnto Alablaster hange downe the water of his blessed bloude doth bathe his pierced feete Beholde o glorious father the mangled members of thy most gratious
obtaine pardon I haue directed thy Worde with my wordes whom I haue affirmed to haue beene sent for my misdeedes and haue recounted vnto thee the passion of thy most sacred sonne which I doe beleeue to haue beene suffred for my redemption I doe beleeue that his deitie sent by thee hath vouchsafed to be cloathed with my humanitie in which he thought it not strange to endure buffets bondes spittinges derision and mockinge yea to take patiently the crosse the nayles and the lances percinge This humanitie whilome subiect to the cryinge of infancy wrapped in the swadlinge cloathes of childhoode troubled with the trauailles of youthe made leane with tastinge wearied with watchinge tired with trauailinge after that cruelly treated with whipps torne with tormeÌ„ts reputed as dead endowed with the glory of his resurrection he hath caried with him vnto the heauenly felicitie and placed the same at the râ—ght hande of thy Maiestie This is that which doth implore thy mercy to pardon mine iniquitie Heere behâ—ulde o holy Faâ—her the sonne whom thou hast begotten and the seruant whom thou hast redeemed See heere the Creator and despise not his creature Gâ—atiously embrace the shepheard mercifully looke vpon the sheepe which vppon his owne shoulders he hath brought backe vnto the folde This is that most faithfull shepheard who heresofore with much and manie laboures sought the sheepe that was loste wanderinge ouer the craggie hilles and dangerous dales Who liauing at length found this one sheepe that had beene lost beinge now almost dead and fainting for want of foode with iov he laied it on his owne shouâ—ders and bindinge it fast vnto him with cordiall cordes of affection he drewe it out of the pitt of perdition and lastly holding it fast with the embracements of his mercy that it might not againe get away he brought it backe to the ninety nine that had neuer gone astray Beholde o Lord thou who aâ—t my king and God of all power beholde the good sheepheard doth yeeld thee an accompt of that which thou hast committed to his charge he hath by thy ordinance vndertaken to saue man whom he hath repaired and rendred vnto thee free from all spott of sinne Beholde thy most deerely beloued sonne hath reconciled vnto thee the creature which thou didst create of clay which had departed farr from thee Beholde the milde sheapphearde doth bringe againe to thy flocke the sheepe which the violent theife had driuen a way He representeth the seruant before thy face that did runne away through the guilt of his owne conscience to the end that he who by his owne merits deserued punishment may by the satisfaction of this soe good a Lord obtaine pardon and that he to whom hell was due for his sinnes and iniquitie may hope in shorte time by meanes of soe good a guide to be recalled to the countrie of hauenly felicitie I haue beene able of my selfe to offende thee but of my selfe I caÌ„not appease thee My God is become mine ayde to witt thy beloued sonne makinge himselfe partaker of my humanitie that he might cure mine infirmitie to the end that by the same thinge from whence arose the cause of offence he might offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise and by this might make me acceptable to thy mercie that sittinge at thy right hande he might alwaies shewe himselfe to be of the same nature and substance with me Beholde this is my hope this is my confidence If thou doest as worthily thou maiest contemne me in respect of my sinne at least looke mercifully vpon me for the loue of thy beloued sonne For thy sonnes sake pardon me his seruant Looke vpon the Sacrament of his fleshe and remit my fleshes guiltines Lett my sinnes I beseeche thee be blotted out of thy sight be they neuer soe vilde as often as thou doest see those wide open woundes of thy blessed childe Washe a way I beseeche thee the spotts of pollution and filthines where with I am defiled as often as thou doost behold the pretious bloud flowing from his sacred side And for that flesh hath caused thee to be angry leâ—t flesh 〈◊〉 wise I most humbl requâ—st thee moue thee vnto mercy that as flesh hath seâ—uced me to sin soe flesh may reduce me to pâ—rdon True it is that much is due to my impietie but much more to his pitty Great certainly is my wickednes but farr greater is his worthines For by how much higher God is then man in greatnes and exceliencie by soe much lower is mans malice to his goodnes in quality and quatitie For what hath man done and committed which the sonne of God being made man hath not redeemed What pride could swell to be soe great which so great humiâ—iâ—y did not abate and defeaâ—e What power of death coulde grow to haue soe supereminent power and dominion as that Christ had not power to destroy and pâ—ll it downe by the paine of his passion Verily o my God if the demerits of man sinning and the meritts of his crâ—ator redeeming him were weighed togeather in a ballance that is iust and euen farr greater distance and difference would be founde betweene them then is betweene the East and West or betweene the lowest hell and the highest hâ—auen Now therfore o most excellent creator of light now mercifully pardo me my sinnes for the vnspeakable labours of thy beloued sonne Lett my wickednes I beseeche thee be now forgiuen by meanes of his pitty my peruersnes through his modesty my fiercenes through his meekenes and mercie Lett his humilitie now winne my hautines his sufferance mine impatieÌ„ce his benignity mine vncourteousnes his obedience my disobedience his tranquillitie mine vnquietne his sweetnes my bitternes his mildnes my hastines his charitie mine vngentlenes A prayer to desire the assistance of the Holy-Ghost CHAPT IX VOuchsafe now o true loue of the diuinity o sacred communication of the almighty Father and his most blessed sonne O Holy Ghost the almighti aduocate the most meeke and mercifull comforter of those that mourne and are in misery vouchsafe now to flow and descende into the secret roomes of my harte by the powerfull vertue and dwellinge and abidinge in me make ioyfull by the shininge of thy bright illumination all the darksome dennes of my neglected mansion fruitfull likewise I beseeche thee by visitting me with the aboundance of the heauenly dewe of thy grace infused whatsoeuer thou shalt finde in me through longe neglect to be growne corrupt or withered Wounde with the darte of thy loue the secret places of mine inwarde man and entringe in set on fire with thy wholsome flames the internall partes of my dull affection consume likewise whatsoeuer is amisse in all the partes and powers of my body and soule within by enlightninge me with the fire of sacred deuotion Giue me to drinke of the fountaine of thy pleasure that I may not desire to taste of the poysoned sweetnes of any worldly creature Iudge me o Lord and discerne
stones thy gates are composed of the rarest pearles thy streetes paued with most pure golde in which Alleluia is ioyfullie and continuallie songe to God Thy mansions which are many are founded vpon fower square stones built of Saphires and couered ouer with tyles of golde into which none doe enter but such as are cleansed none doe dwell that are defiled Thou art beautifull and pleasant in thy delightes o HierusaleÌ„ our mother None of those thinges are suffered or seene in thee which we suffer and see in this vale of miserie In thee there is neuer any darkenes or night or any change of time The light that shineth in thee proceedeth neither stom lampes or candles nor from the moone nor from the brightnes of the starres but God of God the light of light euen Christ the sunnne of iustice giueth light in thee The white and immacultate lambe is thy most cleare and beautifull light The sunne and brightnes yea thy whole happines doth consist in the conteÌ„plation of this thy king surpassing all others in fairenes Euen the king of kinges himselfe in the middest of thee keepeth continuall residence compassed about with his seruants There are the quires of Angells singing hymnes there are the companies of the heauenly cittizens There is celebrated the sweete solemnitie and feaste of all such as returne from this sorrowfull pilgrimage vnto thy most ioyful rest There is the forseeing assembly of the Prophetes There is the mysticall nomber of the twelue Apostles There is the inuincible armie of innumerable Martyrs There is the reuerend companie of holy Confessors There are the true perfect Monkes There are the sacred Virgins and other holy woemeÌ„ who haue ouercome all worldly pleasure likewise the weakenes of theire owne nature There are those blessed boyes and girles who haue surmounted theire tender yeares by theire mature manners There are the sheepe and little lambes who as from a wolfe haue now escaped from the intangling snare of the pleasures of this life All these reioyce and triumphe in theire proper places differing ech one from an other in degree of glorie but being all alike in excesse of gladnes There charitie raigneth in full perfection because God is all in all vnto them besides whom they desire nothing whom they eternallie doe behold and by continuallie beholding him doe continuallie burne in his loue whom they alwaies doe loue and by louing doe prayse and by praysing doe loue theire whole exercise and all they haue to doe being nothing els but to praise God euerlastinglie without any difficultie Happie were I yea happie indeede for all eternitie if after the seperation of my soule from this my bodie I might be admitted to heare those Canticles of celestiall melodie which are sung in the praise of the euerlasting King by the cittizens troupes of Saints of that heauenlie countrie Happie I say yea exceeding and excessiuelie happie were I if I poore vnworthie wretch might be thought worthy to sing and in my turne to intone those celestiall Canticles if I might be neare vnto my king my God and my capitaine and might behold him in glorie euen as he vouchsafed to promise vs when he sayed O Father my will and desire is that those which thou hast giuen me be with me that they may see my glorie which I had with thee before the creatio of the world And in an other place He that ministreth vnto me lett him followe me and where I am there likewise shall my minister be And againe He that loueth me shal be loued of my Father and I will loue him and will shew my selfe vnto him A hymne of the glory of Paradyce composed by the blessed Peter Damian Cardinall of Ostia taken out of the sayings of S. Augustin CHAPT XXVI VNto the spring of endlesse life My fainting soule doth thirst Full saine the cloâ—sture of her flesh With speede shee wisheth burst She sekes shee sues shee striues exilde Her countrie to obtaine Wailing that nothing heere shee findes But miserie and paine Contemplating the glory which findes Shee when shee sinned lost Her woes encrease her greife the more To think how deare they cost For who can vtter with what ioy That happy peace delights Where Pallaces stand stately reard With liuing margarites With gold the loftie turretts shine And chambers glitter bright And all the frame with onely gemms And pretious stones is dight The streets the citty out are pau'd With golde as Christall cleen Where dirt nor rayes nor duÌ„ge annoyes Nor any filthe is seen Stormie winter scortching sommer Come neuer there to braule Rose-flowers spring continuallie With Spring continuall Lillies still white and saffron ruddie And balsame sweating growes Meades alwayes green corne alwayes grown And honie in riuers flowes Sweet spices breath out fragrant smells Rich liquors and perfumes Faire orchards ouershaded stand With fruit that nere consumes Noe varyng course of Sunne or Moone Or Starr comes there in sight The Lambe is to that happie cittie A neuer setting Light Nor Night nor Moine nor Time is there But a continuall day Where Saincts in glorie shine like SuÌ„nes And glittering beames display In triumph crown'd together they With â—oy coniubâ—laâ—e And th' battells of theire vanquish'd foe Secured now relate Purg'd cleane from either blotâ— or spott They grudg of flesh feâ—le none For flesh made now spirituall With th' Spir â—t gâ—ees in one Abounding with vntroubled peace Noe scandalls them annoy Who freed from mutabilitie Theire center reinioy Where now they present see that Truth Which mortall eyâ—s nere saw And from the euerlasting Spring A liuing sweetnesse draw Where ere they goe they still retaine The same vnaltered state Faire â—iuely cheerefull subiect to Noe change of Chance or â—ate Whose health no sicknes doth decay Whose youth noe age doth wait Whose being without passing is For Passing nowe is past They spring they bloome they flouriâ—s h stilo From all corruption free Mortallitie is swallowed vp By Immotallitie Who knowing him who all doth knowe Can ignorant not be Who in ech others patent breasts All inmost secrets see The same they will the same they nill One mind 's the same of all Though ' cording to theire seuâ—rall paines Theire guerdon's seuerall Thus what 's an others Charitie By loue soe makes her owne That what is propert'euerie one To all is common growne Where ere the bodie's'th ' Eagles there Are duely congregated And with it are those blessed Soules And Angells recreated One bread both countrie Cittizens Doth feede one breade they craue Still hungtie and yet alwayes full Still wiâ—â—ing what they haue Whom noe satiety doth cloy Whom hunger doth not bite With appetite they euer eate And still haue appetite There the melodious-singing Voyce New harmonies concents Theire eares are lull'd with sweetest sounds Of rarest instruments To him by whom they conquerd haue Due prayses there they sing O happie Soule who present dost Behold soe greate a king And from thy loftie throne suruiew ' The
essence one vertuâ— one goodnes one onely happines From whom by whom and in whom all thinges are happie what thinges soâ—uer are happie That God is the true and soueraigne life CHAPT XXXII O God the true and soueraigne lâ—fe from whome by whome and in whome all thinges doe liue what thinges soeuer doe truly and happilie liue O God the true and soueraigne bountiâ— and beautie from whom by whom and in whome all thinges are good and beautifull what thinges soeuer are good and beautifull O God whose faiâ—he dâ—th raise vsâ— whose hope doth releiue vs whose charitie doth vnite vs. O God who commaundest that we shoulde aske thee and openest to him that doth knock and call vnto thee O God from whome to be auerted is to fall to whome to be conuâ—â—ed is to rise in whome to remaine is to be immoueable O God whom noe man looseth vnlesse he be deceaued whioÌ„ noe man seeketh vnlesse he bâ— admonished whom noe man findeth vnlesse he be vndefiled O God to knowe whom is to liue to serue whom is to raigne to praife whom is the â—oules ioy and saluation I praise blâ—sse and adore thee with my lippes and harte and with all the force I haue rendring thankes to thy mercie and bountie for all the benefitts which I haue receiuâ—d from thee and singing vnto thee the hymne of thy glorie holy holy holy To thee I cry o blessed Trinity beseeching thee that thou wilt vouchsafe to come into me and make men temple fitt to receaue thy maiestie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beseech the Sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that all my sinnes and imperfections may be remoued farr from me and all holy vertues may be planted in me O God of infinite power and might of whom by whom and in whom all thinges visible and inuisible were created who dost enuiron thy workes without and replenishe them within who dost couer them aboue and sustaine them beneath protect me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and hauing my whole coÌ„fidence in thy onely mercy Preserue me I beseeche thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behinde aboue and beneathe and on euery side that noe place in me may be founde open to the assaultes and snares of mine enimies Thou art God almightie the keeper and defender of all those that trust in thee without whom no man is secure no man is free from danger Thou art God and there is noe other God but thee either in heauen aboue or on the earthe beneathe who dost great and maruailous thinges vnknowen and inscrutable in nomber infinite and innumerable To thee therefore doth truly belong all glory power and praise To thee all the holy Angells the heauens and vniuâ—rsall powers doe singe songes of thanksgiuing sounding forth thy prayses without ceasinge as creatures to theire creator as seruants to theire maister as souldiers to theme Prince and gouuernoure Finallie euery creature and eueric spiritt doth magnifie and extoll thee o sacred and inseparable Trinitie The praises of Angells and men CHAPT XXXIII TO thee all holy and humblâ— men of hartie to thee the spiritts and soules of the iust to thee all the celestiall citâ—izeÌ„s and euerie order of the heauenlie hierarchie doe singe and sounde forth praise and honoure euâ—rlastinglie in most humble manner fallinge downe adoring thee Those celestiall cittizens o Lord doe praise thee with much honoure and magnificencie Man likewise doth extâ—ll thy power containinge in himselfe a greate parte of ech other creature I my selfe alsoe albeit a poore and miserable sinner doe desire to praise thee with greate deuotion and doe withe thaâ— I coulde loue thee with most ardent affection O my God my life my strength and my praise giue me graâ—e to praise thee Giue light vnto my harte and worde vnto my mouth that my harte may thinke of thy glorie and my tongue may all the day longe singe and sounde forth thy praises But because thy praise is not seemely in my mouthe that am a sinner and a man of vncleane lipps cleanse my harte I beseâ— che thee from all vncleanlineffe of iniqnitie sanctifie me within and without o sanctifier omnipotent and make me worthy to praise thee Receiue gratiouslie and take in good parte this sacrifice of my lipps which I offer thee with my whole harte and affection and graunt that it may be acceptable in thy sight and ascende vnto thee as an odore of sweetnes Lett thy holie remembrance and thy most blessed sweetnes possesse my whole soule drawinge it vp to the loue of thinges inuisible Lett my soule passe from thinges visible to inuisible from earthly to celestiall from thinges temporall to eternall lett it mount vp by contemplation and beholde thee whose sight is soe full of admiration O eternal truthe true charitie and charitable eternitie thou art my God to thee I sigh day and night thou art my whole studie my desire is how I may come to thee because he that knoweth the truth knoweth eternity Thou o truth art ruler ouer al thinges whom we shal apparantly see after that this blinde and mortal life is ended in which we are demauÌ„ded Wher is thy God yea I my selfe doe demaunde My God where art thou Me thinke I finde my selfe somewhat comforted in thee when with wordes of exultation and confession I doe power forthe my soule vppon thee as one reioyceth at some banquet or vppon a holie day Neuerthelesse my soule is yet pensiue for that it falleth downe and becommeth as an infinite deepe pitt or rather perceiueth it selfe to be such a one as yett To whome my faith which in the night season thou hast kindled before my feete making answere saieth Why art thou sadd o my soule and why doost thou trouble me Put thy trust in God whose worde is a light vnto my feete hope and perseuere in him vntill the night be past the mother of such as sinne vntill Gods anger be past whose children in times past we haue been because we were heeretofore darknes vntill this violent inundation of waters be past vntill the day appeare and the shadowes are departed till then the residue of sinne remaineth in our bodie growen deade through iniquitie Wherefore o my soule put thy trust in our Lord in the morninge I will preisent my selfe before him and meditate vppon him and for euermore will confesse vnto him In the morninge I will present my selfe before him and by contemplation will beholde him who is the health of my countenance and my God who will reuiue our deade bodies by meanes of the holie Ghost dwellinge in vs to the end that from hence forth we may become light and the children of the light and of the day not of the night neither of darknes being as yett saued by hope True it is that heeretofore we were darknesse but now we are become light in thee our God neuertheles as yet by
me thy loue which is chast and holie that it may replenishe preserue wholy possesse me Giue me likewise I beseeche thee in token of thy loue a fountaine of teares trickling downe from mine eies that they may beare witnes of thy teÌ„der affection towardes me let them speake and declare how much my soule doth loue thee seing it cannot containe it selfe from teares by reason of the surpassing great sweetnesse surpassinge greate charitie I remember o louing Lord that good woman Anne who came to the tabernacle to desire a sonne of whom the holie scripture relateth that after her teares and prayers to this effect offered shee remained as one assured to obtaine what shee had desired Now when I call to minde this her soe greate vertue and constancie in not doubtinge to receiue what shee demaunded I caÌ„not but be greatelie greiued and ashamed1 For if a woman did thus weepe perseuer in weeping which did onelie seeke to obtaine a sonne in what manner ought my soule to lament and to continue in lamentation which doth seeke and loue God desireth to attaine vnto him how ought that soule to lament and weepe which doth seeke God day and night whâ—ch refuseth to loue any other thinge sauinge Christ alone Verilie we might very well wonder and be astonished if the teares of such a soule were not her continuall foode Wherefore I beseâ—che the take pittiâ— of me and be mercifull vnto me because the sorrowes of my harte are exceeding manie Imparte vnto me thy celestial comforte and despite not my sinfull soule for which thou hast suffered a death soe cruel Bestowe vppon me the guifte of teares proceeding from an internall affection loue towardes thee which may breake the bands of mine iniquities and alwaies fill my soule with celestiall gladnes Although I durst not demauÌ„de to be pertaker of that vnspeakeable rewarde which thou hast ordained for true perfect moÌ„kes and religious men for that I am altogether vnable to followe the footestepps of theire angelicall conuersation yet at least lett me obtaine some place or other in thy kingdome amonge the deuoute blessed woemen The wonderfull deuotion of an other deuoute woman doth likewise come into my minde who with greate loue sought thee lying in thy graue who after thy disciples were gone went not away from thy tombe but â—att still sorrowfull and lamenting and for a long time together very bitterly weeping and rising vp from the place where shee had sitten with watchfull eies and many teares shee diligently sought thee againe and againe in euery corner of thy sepulcher from which thou wert departed being risen to see if peraduenture shee might any where see and finde thee whom shee sought with soe greate affection Doubtles shee had entred and sought thee in the sepulcher diuers times before and yett all was not enoughe in respect of her ardent loue for that perseueraÌ„ce is the perfectioÌ„ of euery good action And because aboue others shee loued thee and with loue lamented thee and with lamentation sought thee and in seeking continued coÌ„stantly for this cause before all others shee deserued to finde thee to see thee and to speake vnto thee Neither was shee onely thought worthy of this one fauour alone but besides this was made the messenger Apostle vnto the Apostles themselues of thy glorious Resurrection thou gently bidding and coÌ„maunding her saying Goe tell my brethren that they goe into Galilee there they shall see me If therefore this woman did in this maner weepe and perseuere in weeping who sought thee as one shee thought to be deade albeit thou wert liuinge who touched thee with the hande of her faith how greately ought that soule to lament and persist in lamentation who beleiueth with the hart and acknowledgeth thee with the mouth to be her Reedemer and to rule and raigne both in heauen and euery where how greately ought that soule to groane and weepe who with the whole harte loueth thee and with the whole harte desireth to see thee O thou-that art the onely hope and succoure of such as are in miserie to whom we neuer pray without hope of mercie for thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake graunt me this grace I beseeche thee that as often as I thinke speake write reade or talke of thee as often as I meditate of thee and as often as I stande before thee to offer prayses prayers and sacrifice vnto thee soe often lett me with teares aboundantly sweerely weepe in thy sight that my teares may be my foode day and night Thou truly o king of glorie and maister of all vertues hast taught vs by thy worde example to lament and weepe saying blessed are they that mourne for they shal be comforted Thou thy selfe didst lament the death of thy disceased freinde and with many teares didst bewaile the cittie that in fewe yeares after was to come to ruine I beseech thee o good Iesu by those most pretious teares of thine and by all thy mercies by which thou hast in that wonderfull manner releiued our miseries graunt me the guift grace of teares which my soule doth much desire and couet because without thy guift I cannot obtaine it it being the Holy Ghost that doth effect the same whose propertie is to mollifie the harde hartes of sinners and to moue them to compunction Graunt me the guift and grace of teares like as in times past thou hast donne to our forefathers whose footestepps I ought to imitate that I may during the whole course of my life lament as they did both day and night By theire meritts and intercession who haue pleased and deuoutely serued thee take compassion of me thy vnworthy seruant being in great miserie graunt me the guift grace of teares I beseeche thee Graunt that the water of teares may flowe from mine eies as from a floude that night and day they may be vnto me in steede of foode O my God let me become as a pleasing and acceptable oblation to be sacrificed in thy sight by the fire of compunction and as a most gratefull sacrifice lett me be accepted of thee in the odoure of sweetneâ— O most louing Lord lett me become as a faire and flowing fountaine in which let this sacrifice be daily washed from the filthe of sinne For albeit by the assistance of thy grace I haue offered my selfe wholy vnto thee yet neuerthelesse I doe dailie offende in many thingeâ— throughe my exceeding greate frailtie Graunt me therefore most blessed and beloued God the guift and grace of teares especiallie through the sweetnes of thy loue and the remembrance of thy manifolde mercies prepare this banquet in thy â—ight for me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me this prerogatiue that as often as I will I may be fedd and refreshed with it Afforde me this fauour for thy mercy and goodnes sake I beseeche thee that I may soe drinke and become drunke by drinkinge of this most excellent cupp of teares
free from all affliction When shall I be admitted into that admirable beautifull house of thine where the voice of ioy and exultation doth refounde in the tabernacles of iust men They o Lord that dwell in thy house are happie because they shall praise thee euerlastingly They are happie and trulie happie indeede whoÌ„ thou hast chosen and taken vp to be heires of that celestiall beatitude Behold o Lord thy Saints doe flourishe in thy sight as a lâ—llie for that they are filled with the plentie of thy house thou giuinge them to drinke of the riuer of thy dilightful sweetnesse because thou art the fountaine of life and in thy light they doe see light soe that they the illuminated light by meanes of thee the illuminating light doe shine like vnto the sunne in thy sight O Lord of all vertues how wonderfull how beautifull how gratefull are the lodgings of thy heauenly mansion my sinfull soule doth exceedingly couet to enter into them O Lord I haue loued the beauty of thy house and the place of the habitation of thy glorie I haue desired of our Lord one thinge and I will aske it of him againe and againe to witâ— that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all my life longe Like as the harte longeth for the fountaines of waters when he iâ— pursued soe doth my soule longe after thee my God When shall I come and appeare before thee When shall I see my God whom my soule doth soe much thirst to behold When shall I see him in the lande of the liuinge for in this lande of the dyinge it is impossible with mortal eies to beholde him What shall I therfore doe poore wretche that I am being subiect to death and corruption What course shall I take As longe as we are in this corruptible bodie we are in respect of thee as strangers and pilgrims in a forraine countrie not hauinge heere any citty or certaine dwellinge but doe seeke for one in time to come because ouâ— habitation is in heauen Alas I esteeme my selfe wretched by reason of my ouer longe slay in this worlde I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar too longe hath my soule remained heere Who will giue me winges like vnto a doue that I may flie and be at rest Nothing can be to me soe pleasant and good as to be with my Lord. It is good for me to adhere to my God Giue me grace therfore I beseech thee that as loÌ„ge as I liue I may adhere to thee as it is written He that adhereth to our Lord becommeth one spiritt with him Giue me I beseech thee the winges of contemplation by which I may be able to flie vp vnto thee into heauen And for that euery thinge that is euiâ—l doth drawe vs downewarde to sinne vp holde my mynde that it fall not downe to the bottome of the obscure valley of perdition vpholde my minde least by the interposition of the shadowe of earthly thinges it be separated from thee the sonne of iustice and by the darke cloude of secular conuersation it be hindered from looking and lifting vp it selfe to celestiall contemplation For this cause I doe endeuoure to ascende vp to those ioyes of peace and to the deligthfull and quiet state of true light Vpholde my harte with thy holy hande for that without thy help it cannot ascende I doe hasten thither where surpassing greate peace raigneth and where continuall quietnes shineth Guide and conduct my soule and according to thy holy will drawe it vnto thee to the end that vnder thy conducte it may ascende vnto that region of plentie where thou dost feede Israel euerlastingly with the foode of thy veritie that there be it but in thought onely and for neuer soe shorte a time it may touche thee the supreame wisedome remaininge aboue all thinges ouer-going all thinges and gouerninge all thinges But many thinges there be which trouble my soule and hinder it that it cannot soare vp vnto thee Cause them all o Lord by thy commaundement to cease and be silent Let my soule it selfe be silente let it passe beyonde all thinges all thinges I meane created let it mounte aboue it selfe and come to thee Let it fixe the eies of its saith on thee alone the creator of all thinges lett it aspire to thee lett it attende to thee lett it meditate on thee lâ—tt it contemplate on thee lett it sett thee before its eies and thinke vpon thee in its harte who art the true and soueraigne good thinge and that ioy which shall neuer haue end For albeit the contemplations are many wherwith a deuoute soule is by thee wonderfully fedd and refreshed yet is my soule in none of them all soe much delighted and conforted as in thee and as when it doth meditate and contemplate on thee onely O how greate o Lord is the aboundaÌ„ce of thy sweetned how marueilouslie dost thou inspire and visit the hartes of such as loue thee how wonderfull is the delight of thy loue which they feele and enioy who affect and seeke nothinge but thee who desire not soe much as to thinke of any other thing sauing onely thee Happie are they whose hope iâ— in thee alone who wholy addict themselues to prayer and contemplation Happie is he that passeth his life in solitarinesse and silence taking continuall heede night and day to the custodie of his senses that euen in this life during the time of his abode in this fraile fleshe he may be able in some sorte to taste of thy vnspeakeable sweetnes I beseech thee o Lord by those most pretious woundes of thine which on the crosse thou hast suffered for the redemption of mankinde froÌ„ which hath gushed forth that most pretious blood by which we are redeemed wounde my sinfull soule for whom likewise thou hast vouchsafed to dye wounde it with the fierie and forcible darte of thy surpassing greate charitie Because the worde of God is powerful and effectual and more peircing then a two edged sworde Thou therfore o Lord who as a chosen arrowe and most sharpe sworde art able to peirce and passe thoughe the harde target of mans harte pierce my harte with the darte of thy loue that my soule may say I am wounded with thy charitie soe that from the wounde of this thy charitie teares may trickle downe day and night in greate quantitie Strike o Lord strike I most humblie beseeche thee my hard hatred soule with the pious and powerfull speare of thy loue yea peirce it to the very bottome with thy omnâ—poteÌ„t vertue Cause likewise a floude of water to flowe from my heade and a fountainâ— of teares continually to trickle downe from mine eies throughe the exceeding greate affection and desire of beholdinge thy fairnesse in such sorte as that I may weepe continuallie receyuing noe comforte duringe this present life vntill I shall be thought worthie to beholde thee in thy heauâ—nlie house my beloued and most beautifull spouse my God and my Lord
of me a poore distressed orphant I am as a poore fatherlesse childe and my soule is as a woman bereaued of her husbande Vouchsafe gratiouslie to behold the teares of my distressed orphancie and widowhoode which I offer vnto thee vntill thou returne o my God May it please thee therfore may it please thee o Lord to manifest thy selfe to me and I shall be comforted Graunt that I may see thee and I shall obtaine what I desire Make manifest thy glorie and my ioy wil be accomplished My soule hath thirsted after thee soe hath likewise my fleshe exceedingly My soule hath thirsted after God the liuinge fountaine when shall I come and be presented before the face of my Lord When wilt thou come o my comforter for whome I will wishe and earnestly waite for O that I might once behold my delight which I doe soe muche desire O howe truly shall I be satisfied when thy glorie shall appeare which I doe greatlie hunger to beholde When shall I become drunke through the plentie of thy heauenlie habitation for which I sighe soe often When wilt thou make me to drinke of the riuer of thy pleasure which I soe greâ—tely thirst and desire In the interim o Lord let my teares be my continual foode vntill it be saied vnto me Beholde thy God vntill it be saied vnto my soule Beholde thy bridegroome In the interim feede me with my sobbs and weepinges nourishe me with my sorrowes and lamentations Peraduenture my redeemer will come and visit me because he is full of mercie yea he will not be long in comminge because he is full of pittie To him be glorie during all eternitie Amen The end of the Meditations of S. Augustin A TABLE OF THE Meditations of S. Augustin Bishop of Hyppon A Prayer vnto almighty God for the amendment of our life and manners Chapt. I. Mans acknowledging his miserie his commendation likewise of Gods mercie Chapt. II. Mans complainte who for his disobedience is not hearde of God Chapt. III. The dreade of the iudge comming to iudgment Chapt. IV. The healpe of God the Father is desired by the mentts of God the soÌ„ne Chapt. V. Hâ—ere man doth represent to God the Father the passion of his sonne Chapt. VI. Heere man doth acknowledge himselfe to haue beene the cause of Christs passion Chapt. VII Heere man for his reconciliation doth propose to God the Father the passion of his sonne Chapt. VIII A Prayer to desire the assistance of the holie Ghost Chapt. IX A Prayer for one seruing God and thinking humblie of himselfe Chapt X. A Prayer to the holie Trinitie Chapt. XI The acknowledging of God almighty and of his Maiestie Chapt. XII After what manner it pleased God the Father to succoure mankinde of the incarnation of the diuine Worde and thanks for the same Chapt. XIII Of the confidence which a Christian soule ought to haue in lesus Christ and in his Passion Chapt. XIV Of the surpassing greate charitie of the eternall Father towardes mankinde Chapt. XV. Of the two-folde nature of Christ who pittieth vs and prayeth for vs Chapt. XVI Of the greate thanks giuing which maÌ„ ought to render to God for the benefit of his redemption Chapt. XVII A deuoute Prayer to our Sauiour Iesus Christ Chapt. XVIII The distinction and difference betwene that wisedome which is Gods house and that which is diuine Chapt. XIX Heere man desireth that this house of God will likewise prâ—y for him Chap. XX. Of the manifolde miseries with which mans life is replenished Chapt. XXI Of the happines of that life which God hath prepared for those that loue him Chapt. XXII Of the happines of a holie soule departing out of this worlde Chapt. XXIII A Prayer to the Saincts to succoure vs in our necessities Chapt. XXIV The soules desire to attaine to the heauenlie Cittie Hierusalem Chapt. XXV A hymne of the glorie of Paradice composed by the blessed S. Peter Damian Cardinall of Ostia monke of the holy order of S. Benneâ— taken out of the sayings of S. Augustine Chapt XXVI The continuall prayse of the soule through the contemplation of God Chapt XXVII What it is after a certaine manner to see and comprehend God and what opinion we ought to haue of him Chapt. XXVIII A Prayer shewing the manifold properties and attributes of God Chapt. XXIX Of the vnitie and pluralitie of personnes in God Chapt XXX A Prayer to the sacred Trinitie Chapt. XXXI That God is the true and soueraigne life Chapt. XXXII The prayses of Angells and men Chapt. XXXIII Heere man doth lament for that when he thinketh of God he is not moued to compunction seing the verie Angells tremble and quake when they beholde him Chapt. XXXIV A Prayer greately mouing the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God Chapt. XXXV A most deuoute prayer demaunding grace of God to prayse him as we ought Chapt XXXVI A Prayer greately stirring vp the minde to compunction if it be saied in silence with attention Chapt. XXXVII A Prayer to be saied in time of tribulation Chapt. XXXVIII A verie deuoute prayer to God the sonne Chapt XXXIX A profitable Prayer Chapt. XL. A deuoute Prayer in memorie of Christs passion Chapt. XLI FINIS THE BOOKE OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON Commonlye called his Soliloquies that is the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God AT S. OMERS For IOHN HEIGHAM Anno 1624. THE BOOKE OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON Commonlye called his Soliloquies that is the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God Of the vnspeakeable sweetnes of God CHAPT I. O Lord the strength of my soule graunt me grace I beseech thee that like as thou knowest me I may knowe thee O my comforter manifest thy selfe vnto me O light of mine eies graunt that I may see thee Come o ioy of my spirit Let me see thee o delight of my harte O life of my soule giue me grace to loue thee O Lord my God my cheife delight and sweetest solace vouchsafe to appeare vnto me for thou art my life and all the glorie of my soule O desire of my harte lett me finde thee O loue of my soule let me touche thee O heauenly bridegroome my cheife delight both without and within me let me embrace thee Let me possesse thee o euerlasting blisse lett me possesse thee in the middst of my hatte blessed life and soueraigne sweetnes of my soule Let me loue thee o Lord my fortitude my force my refuge and my deliuerer Let me loue thee o my God my helper my stronge fortresse and my swâ—ete hope in all time of distresse Let me embrace thee the onely true good let me â—nioy thee the onely best thinge Open mine eares by vertue of thy worde more peircing theÌ„ a two edged sworde to the end I may heare thy voyce Let the greatnes of thy voyce be hearde as a thunder from aboue Let the sea roare and the fulnes thereof let the earth be moued and all thinges
in them contained Enlighten mine eies o incomprehensible light sende forth thy lightning and dazell theÌ„ that they may not beholde vanitie Encreâ—se thy lightning and dazell and trouble them in that manner as that fountaines of water may appeare and the foundations of the whole worlde may be discouered O light inuisible giue me that sight that may see thee O sauoure of life create in me a newe smell which may make me runne after thee in the odoure of thy oyntments Cure my taste that it may taste knowe and discerne how greaâ—e the multitude of thy sweetnes is o Lord which thou hast kept in store for theÌ„ that are replenished with thy loue Giue me a harte o Lord that may thinke on thee a minde that may loue thee a memorie that may muse on thee an vnderstanding that may knowe thee a will that may alwaies be strongly vnited to thee the cheifest and most delightfull good Graunt that I may alwaies wisely and discreetely loue thee O life to whom all thinges liue that life which giueth me life that life which is my life that life by which I liue without which I die that life by which I am raysed and reuiued without which I perishe and am consumed that life by which I am coÌ„forted without which I am afflicted O liuing life sweete and worthy to be beloued alwaies to be remembred tell me I pray thee where art thou Where may I finde thee to the end I may leaue my selfe and liue in thee Be neere vnto me in my minde neere in my harte neere iâ— my mouthe neere in my hearing neere to succoure me in time of affliction because I languishe through thy loue because I die whensoeuer I am without thee and am raysed againe to life by thinking on thee Thy smell recreateth me thy remembrance healeth me Then shall I be satisfied and neuer before when thy glorie o life of my soule shall appeare My soule greatelie desireth and almost fainteth throughe the remembrance of thee when shall I come o my delight and be presented before thee Why dost thou hide away thy face o my ioy by which I reioyce Where art thou hidden o beautifull Lord Whom I soe much desire I smell the sweete sauoure of thee I liue and am delighted in thee and yet I doe not see thee I heare thy voyce and am reuiued But why dost thou hide thy face from me Peraduenture thou wilt say Man cannot see me and liue Let me therefore die o Lord that I may see thee let me see thee that I may die to the worlde I doe not desire to liue but to die for that my desire is to be dissolued and to be with Christ I desire to die that I may see Christ I refuse to liuâ— to the end I may liue with Christ O Lord Iesu receiue my spirit o my life receiue my soule O my delight drawe my harte vnto thee O my delightfull foode let me feede on thee O my heade vouchsafe to direct me o light of mine eies enlighten me O my melodious musique tune and order me O my sweete smell reuiue me O diuine Worde recreate me O my praise make gladde the soule of thy seruant Enter into it o my ioy that it may reioyce in thee Enter into it o soueraigne sweetnes that it may taste and sauoure those thinges that are sweete O eternall light shine vppon it that it may vnderstande knowe and loue thee For this iâ— the cause why it doth not loue thee if it doth not loue thee because it doth not knowe thee and the cause why it doth not knowe thee is for that it doth not vnderstande thee And the cause why it doth not vnderstande thee is for that it doth not comprehende thy light and the light shineth in darknes and the darknâ—s comprehendeth it not O light of my mâ—nde o bright truthe o true charitie who enlightnest euery man comminge into this worâ—dâ—e comminge I say into the wor'd but not louinge the worlde because he that loueth the worlde becommeth the ennimy of God Expell the darkenes which couereth the face of the depth of my minde that by vnderstanding it may see thee that by seinge it may knowe thee and by knowing may loue thee For whosoeuer knoweth thee loueth thee and forgetteth himselfe he loueth thee more then himselfe he leaueth himselfe and commeth to thee that he may be delighted in thee Hence it proceedeth o Lord that I doe not loue thee soe much as I ought because I doe not perfectlie knowe thee but because I knowe thee but a little I loue thee but a little and because I loue thee but a little I am but a little delighted in thee Leauing thee therfore the true internall ioy by louing thinges externall aslong as I wante thee onely I seeke after false freindshipps in those thinges that are without me And by this meanes I haue applied my harte to thinges that are vaine which with all affection and loue I ought to haue bestowed on thee alone And soe by louing vanitie I my selfe am become vaine Hence it proceedeth likewise o Lord that I doe not reioyce in thee neither doe I adhere to thee Because I delight in thinges temporall thou in thinges spirituall my whole minde thoughtes and wordes are entangled in thinges transitorie but thou o Lord dwellest in thinges that endure for all eternitie thou thy selfe being eternitie Thy habitation is in heauen mine on the earthe Thou louest those thinges that are aboue I those that are heere beneathe Thou those that are heauenly I those that are earthly And when will these thinges agree together that are soe opposite one to an other Of the miserie and frailtie of man CHAPT II. WRetche that I am when will my crowkednes be made correspondent to thy righteousnes Thou o Lord louest solitarines I to be in the companie of others Thou louest silence and I talkinge and discourse Thou louest veritie and I vanitie Thou louest cleanlines and I followe mine owne filthines What neede I say more o Lord Thou art truly good I wicked Thou art righteous I vnrighteous thou art holy I wretched thou arti ust I vniust thou art light and I am blinde thou art life and I am deade Thou art phisique and I am sicke Thou art mirthe and I am melancholy Thou art the supreame veritie and I am altogether vanitie like as euerie man liuing What shall I then say o my Creator Heare me o Creator I am thy creature I haue beene forelorne and gone astray I am thy creature and am like to die I am of thy making and am come to nothinge I am a peece of earthe framed by thee Thy handes o Lord haue made me and fashioned me those handes I say which with nayles were fastned to the crosse for me Looke I beseeche thee o Lord vpon the woundes of thy handes and contemne not me the worke of thy handes Beholde o Lord my God thou hast writteÌ„ me in thy handes reade that
any precedent merits of mine that might claime the same Of the incomprehensible prayse of God CHAPT X. WHat hath caused thee o Lord to be soe good and gratious vnto me and how shall I be able worthily to prayse thee For as thou hast made me without me according as it hath pleased thee soe likewise thou art praysed without me euen as it pleaseth thee Thou o Lord art thine owne prayse Let thy workes prayse thee o Lord according to the multitude of thy greatenes albeit thy prayse be incomprehensible It cannot be conceiued in thought nor expressed with wordes nor perceiued by the hearing because these are transitorie and fleeting but thy praise is eternall and euerlasting The thought hath his beginning and likewise his ending the voyce yeild â—th forth a sounde and the sounde sodainelie passeth away the eare heareth and the hearing quickly ceaseth without making any long stay but thy praise endureth perpetually Who then can worthily praise thee or what man is able to exprâ—sse thy praise seeing thy praise is not transitorie but durable for all eternitie That man praiseth thee that beleiueth thee to be thine owne praise That man praiseth thee that acknowledgeth that he is vnable to expresse thy praise In thee o Lord is our praise who art that praise that endureth alwaies in thee shall my soule be praised We o Lord doe not praise thee but thou thy selfe praysest thy selfe both by thy self in thy selfe we likewise haue praise in thee Then haue we true praise when we receiue praise froÌ„ thee wheÌ„ the light aproueth the light because thou that art the true light giuest true praise As often therfore as we seeke praise and commendation from any other sauing from thee soe often we loose thy praise becaÌ„use that praise passeth away but thine endureth for all eternitie If we seeke transitorie praise we loose that which endureth alwaies If therfore we desire to obtaine that praise which is euerlasting let vs not loue that which is transitorie fleeting O Lord my God the eternall praise from whom proceedeth all praise and without whom there is noe praise I am not able to prayse thee without thee let me possesse thee and I will prayse thee For what am I o Lord of my selfe that I shoulde praise thee Verily I am nothing else but dust and ashes a deade dogge turned into carion a worme and meere corruption What am I o Lord God most powerfull the breathe and life of euery liuing creature that I shoulde prayse thee whose dwelling is eternitie Shall darknes praise the light or death life Thou art the light I am darknes thou art life I am deathe Shall vanitie prayse veritie Thou art veritie and I am a man wholy addicted to vanitie How then shall I be able o Lord to prayse thee Shall my miserie prayse thee Shall that which stinketh prayse that which is sweete Shall mans mortalitie which is to day and is gone to morrowe prayse thee Shall man presume to prayse thee being but rottennes and corruption and the sonne of man being but a worme Shall he presume to prayse thee that is begotten borne and brought vp in sinne and iniquitie Verily thy prayse doth not seeme faire and commendable in the mouthe of him whose life is abominable Let thy incomprehensible power therfore o Lord my God prayse thee let thy boundlesse wisedome and vnspeakeable goodnes prayse thee Let thy supereminent clemencie and superabundant mercie prayse thee Let thy ouerlasting vertue diuinitie prayse thee Let thy most omnipotent power and thy surpassing greate liberalitie and loue by which thou hast created vs prayse thee o Lord God the verie life of my soule Of the hope which we ought to haue in God CHAPT XI BVt I o Lord that am thy creature being placed vnder the shadowe of thy winges will put my trust in thy goodnes by which thou hast created me Permit not that to perish through my malice which it hath pleased thee to make through thy greate goodnes Permit not that to perish through my miserie which that hast vouchsafed to create through thy surpassing greate mercy For what profit is there in my creation if I shall descende into corruption Hast thou o God in vaine created all the children of men Thou o Lord hast created me gouerne that which thou hast created Despise not I beseeche thee the workes of thy handes Thou hast made me of nothinge if thou o Lord doe not gouerne me I shall againe returne to nothing For like as when I was nothing of my selfe thou hast made me of nothing soe it thou doe not gouerne me I shall againe of my selfe returne to nothing Helpe me o Lord and my life that I may not perishe through my wickednes If thou o Lord hadst not created me I were nothing now for that thou hast created me I am something If thou doe not gouerne me I shall cease to be something and returne to nothing For neither my merits nor any speciall grace in me haue compelled thee to create me but thy gratious goodnes and mercie Let the same loue of thine o Lord my God which hath heeretofore enforced thee to create me enforce thee now likewise to gouerne me For what doth it profit me that thy charitie hath constrained thee to create me if I perishe in my misery and thy right hande doe not rule me Let this thy clemencie o Lord my God enforce thee to saue that which is created which hath enforced thee to create that which was vncreated Let that charitie cause thee to saue me which hath caused thee to create me being it is no lesse now then it was then thou thy selfe being that charitie who art still the same Thy hande o Lord is not growne short that it canot helpe me neither thy eare become short that it cannot heare me but my sinnes haue made a diuision betweene me and thee betweene darknes and light betweene the image of death and life betweene vanitie and veritie betweene this life of mine which changeth as the moone and that of thine which is still the fame Of the snares of concupiscence CHAPT XII THese are the shadowes of darknes with which I am ouerwhelmed in the bottomeles dongeon of this obscure prison in which I lie prostrate groueling on the grounde vntill the day appeare and the shadowes be departed and light be made in the firmament of thy vertue Let the voyce of our Lord with power and magnificence pronounce saying Let light be made and let the darknes be dispersed let the drie lande likewise appeare and let the earthe bring forth greene hearbes producing the seede and good fruite of the iustice of thy kingdome O Lord my father and God the life by which all thinges liue and without which all thinges are to be accompted as deade permit me not to linger in lewde thoughtes and deliuer me from proude and loftie lookes Take from me all carnall coÌ„cupiscence and suffer me not to be of a bold
but canst not be seene Woe art noe where wanting and yet art farre distant from the thoughtes of wicked men Who art not there absent wher thou art farre distant because where thou art absent by grace thou art present by reuenge Who art euerie where present yet canst hardly be found Whom we followe standing still and cannot ouertake Who dost containe all thinges fill all thinges enuiron all thinges surmounte all thinges sustaine all thinges Who teachest the harts of the faithfull without sounde of wordes Who art not extended by places nor changed by times neither dost thou come and goe Whose dwellinge is in that inaccessible light which neither is nor can be seene by any mortall wight Remaininge quiet in thy selfe thou dost on euerie side enuiron the whole worlde Thou canst not be cut or cleft because thou art trulie one nor deuided into partes because thou dost who lie fill beatifie aud possesse whatsoeuer is contained in the whole worlde Of the vnspeakeable knowledge of God CHAPT II. IF soe many bookes were written as with them euen the whole worlde might be filled yet thy vnspeakeable knowledge coulde not be vnfolded And for that thou art vnspeakeable thou canst not by any meane be described or defined either with wordes or writing who art the fountaine of diuine brightnes and the sunne of eternall happines Thou art greate without quantitie and therfore infinitely greate thou art good without qualitie and therfore truly and chiefely good neither is any one good but thou alone whose verie will is as the deede donne whose pleasure is reputed for power Who hast created all thinges of nothing by thine onely worde making theÌ„ voluntarily of thine own accord Who hast all creatures in thy possession hauing noe neede of them dost rule and gouerne theÌ„ without either trouble or laboure neither is there any thinge whatsoeuer either in thinges aboue or thinges beneathe that can disturbe or alter the setled order of thine Empire Who art in all places without place and art euerie where present without situation or motion Who art not the author of any euill neither art thou able to doe euill who art able to doe whatsoeuer thou wilt neither doth it repent thee after thou hast donne it By whose onely goodnes we are created by whose iustice we are chastised by whose mercie we are redeemed Whose omnipoteÌ„t power doth gouerne rule and replenish all thinges which it hath created Neuerthelesse we doe not say that thou doost fill all thinges as if they did containe thee seing they are rather contained in thee neither doe we say that thou dost fill them all particularlie neither is it lawfull to thinke that euery creature according to the greatnes of his capacitie doth containe thee that is the greatest more and the least lesse sithence thou art in them all or they all in thee Whose omnipotencie comprehendeth all thinges whatsoeuer neither can any one finde meanes to escape thy power soe that he with whom thou art not appeased will not be able to get away when thou art offended Of the desire of the soule thinking of God CHAPT III. WHerfore I inuite thee o most mercifull God to come into my soule which thou hast made readie to receiue thee by meanes of those holy desires with which thou hast inspired the same Enter into it I beseeche thee and make it fitting for thee that thou mayest possesse it which thou hast created and redeemed that as a seale I may alwayes haue thee fixed vpon my soule Forsake me not o most mercifull Lord I beseeche thee calling vpon thee for that thou hast called me before I called vpon thee and hast sought me to the end that I thy poore seruaunt shoulde seeke thee by seeking shoulde finde thee and being founde should loue thee I haue sought thee o Lord and haue founde thee and doe desire to loue thee Encrease my desire and graunt me that which I doe desire for that vnlesse thou giue me thy selfe I thy poore seruaunt cannot be satisfied albeit thou shouldest giue me whatsoeuer thou hast created Giue me thy selfe therefore o my God giue me thy selfe Beholde I loue thee and if it be but a little I will loue thee more Verilie o Lord I doe loue thee I doe desire thee exceedinglie I am much delighted with the sweete remembrance of thee For during the time that my minde doth sigh after thee whilest it meditateth of thy vnspeakeable mercie the burden of my flesh is lesse burdensome vnto me the hurly burly of my cares and cogitations doe then cease the weight of my mortalitie and manifolde miseries doth not according to its wonted manner dull me all thinges are quiet and at peace My hart burneth my minde reioâ—ceth my memorie flourisheth my vnderstanding shineth yea my whole soule is as it were rauished with the loue of thinges that are heauenlie being inflamed with a desire of seeing thee Let my soule therfore take as it were the winges of an Eagle and flie and not faile let it flie vntill it come to the beautie of thy house and to the throne of thy glorie that there in the place of thy pasture which is enuironned with pleasant riuers it may be fedd with the foode of thine internall consolation sitting at the same table on which those heauenly citâ—izens are wonte to take their refection Be thou o Lord our ioy and exultation who art our hope saluation and redemption Be thou our mirthe and gladnes who art our future happines Let my soule alwaies seeke thee and graunt that it may not fainte in seeking thee Of the miserable estate of that soule that doth neither loue nor seeke our Lord Iesus Christ CHAPT IV. WOe be to that vnhappie soule which doth neither seeke nor loue Iesus Christ our Lord for that it remaineth withered and wretched He that loueth not thee o God liueth but in vaine He that desireth to loue o Lord but not for thee is as it were a meere nothing and not worthy of any estimation He that liueth not to thee is alreadie deade He that knoweth not thee is a foole To thee therefore o most mercifull Lord I commend and commit my selfe from whom I haue receiued my being life and wisedome In thee is my hope trust and confidence by whome I hope to arise liue and obtaine euerlastinge rest and quietnes I desire loue and adore thee with whom I shall remaine raigne and be happie during all eternity That soule doubtlesse loueth the worlde which doth not seeke and loue thee it is a seruaunt to sinne a slaue to all manner of iniquitie being neuer at rest neuer in securitie Graunt o sweete Sauiour that my soule may alwaies serue thee Let my pilgrimage heere vppon earthe continually sigh after thee let my harte be enflamed with the loue of thee Let my soule o my God repose in thee let it contemplate thee in excesse of minde let it with ioyfullnes singe and sounde forthe thy prayses and let this be my
shine o loue which dost alwaies burne o sweete Christ o good Iesu the eternall and neuer failing light the breade of life who dost feede vs with thy selfe without hurte to thy selfe who art daylie eaten and yet art alwaies whole without being broken I beseeche thee o Lord to shine vppon me and to enflame me Enlighten and sanctifie me thy vessell cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that to the good of my soule I may eate the foode of thy fleshe to the end that by eating thee I may liue of thee I may liue by thee I may come to thee and repose in thee Of the ioy which the soule receiuâ—th by receiuing Christ CHAPT XII O Lord the sweetnes of loue and the loue of sweetnes Be thou my foode and let all my bowelles be filled with the delitious drinke of thy loue to the end that all my wordes and cogitations may be good and tending to edification Make me o Lord and my loue to encrease in thee that thou mayest be eaten by me worthily who art more sweete then honie more white then snowe the foode of suche as growe greate in vertue Thou art my life by which I liue my hope to which I adhere my glory which I desire to obtaine Possesse thou my hart gouerne mine intention direct mine vnderstanding lift vp my loue eleuate my minde and draw the mouthe of my soule thirsting after thee to the waters of life euerlasting Let all tumultuous thoughtes and carnall cogitations I beseeche thee holde theire peace Let all phantasies of the earth and waters of the ayre and heauens keepe silence Let all dreames and imaginarie reuelations all tongues and tokens keepe silence briefly let all thinges holde theire peace that are donne in this vale of miserie being all of them short and soone passing away Let my soule in like sorte be silent and not speake a worde let it leaue it selfe by not thinking of it selfe but of thee o my God for that thou art my true and onely hope and my whole confidence Because a parte of each one of vs as the blood and flesh is founde in thee o Lord our God in thee I say o most sweete most gratious and most milde Iesu Where therfore parte of me doth raigne there I belieue likewise to haue dominion and where my blood doth dominere there I trust to haue principalitie and power Where my fleshe is glorified there I knowe my selfe to be renowned Although I am a sinner yet I doe not despaire to be pertaker of this grace and fauoure although my sinnes doe hinder it yet my substance doth require it Although my faultes and defectes doe exclude me yet my humaine nature which is common to me with Christ doth not repell me That the Worde incarnate is the cause of our hope CHAPT XIII DOubtles God is not soe cruell as not to loue his owne fleshe members and bowells I should certainely despaire by reason of the manifolde sinnes and vices faultes and negligences which I haue committed and doe dailie and continuallie commit in thought worde and deede and by all manner of meanes by which humaine frailtie is able to offend were it not that thy diuine Worde o my God had beene made fleshe and dwelt in vs. But now I dare not despaire because he being obedient vnto thee vntil deathe euen the deathe of the Crosse hath taken our handewrittinge or obligation wherein we stoode bounde as slaues to the Diuell by sinne and fastning it to the Crosse hath crucified both sin and deathe In him I securely breathe who sitteth at thy right hande and maketh intercession for vs. Trusting therefore in his bountie I desire to come to thee in whom we are already risen againe from the deade and are reuiued with whom we haue alreadie ascended into heauen and sit with him in glorie in that happie region To thee therfore o heauenly Father be all praise glory honor and thanks-giuinge HOw the more we are addicted to diuine contemplation the greater delight we take therein CHAT XIV How sweete is the remembrance of thee vnto vs o most louing Lord who hast soe dearelie loued and saued vs who hast soe wonderfullie reuiued and exalted vs. The more I meditare of thee o most mercifull Lord the more sweete and amiable thou art vnto me And for that thy goodnes doth exceedinglie delight me I purpose as long as I liue in the place of this pilgrimage to desire and contemplate without ceasing thy wonderfull loue vnspeakeable beautie with apure intention and with a most sweete and louinge affection Because I am wounded with the darte of thy charitie I am wonderfullie enflamed with the desire of thee coueâ—ing to come to thee to see thee Wherfore I will stande vppon my guarde and will singe in spirit with watchfull eies yea I wil singe with my minde and with all my forces I will praise thee my creator and redeemer I will peâ—rce the heauens by deuotion and feruoure and will remaine with thee by a feruent desire that being detained in this present miserie with my bodie only I may in thought and affection be continuallie with thee to the end my hart may be there where thou art my desired incomparable and most beloued treasure But alas o Lord my hart is not sufficient to conteÌ„plate the glorie of thy great goodnes and pittie for that thou art a God of infinite meekenes and mercie verily thy praise thy beautie thy vertue thy glorie thy magnificence thy maiestie and thy charitie doth farre surpasse the capacitie of any mortall memorie For euen as the brightnes of thy glorie is inestimable soe likewise the largenes of thy charitie is vnspeakeable whereby thou dost adopt those to be thy children and vnite them vnto thee by loue and affection whom thou hast created of nothinge How for Christs sake we ought to wishe for tribulations in this life CHAT XV. O My soule if it were necessary daylie to suffer torments yea to endure hell it selfe for a longe time together that we might see Christ in 〈◊〉 glorie and be ioyned in felowship with the Saintes in his heauenly cittie were it not meete thinkest thou to sustaine all manner of miserie that we might be made pertakes of soe greate a good and of soe greate felicitie Let the diuells therfore endeuoure as much as they will to entrap me and by tentatious to deceiue me let longe fastinge weaken my bodie and course cloathing subdue my fleshe let trauaile trouble me and watching drie me vp to nothinge let others exclaime against me let this or that man disquiet and molest me let colde make me crooked let my conscience murmure against me let heate scorche me let my bodie be grieued my breast enflamed my stomacke puffed vp with winde my countenance wanne and withered let me be wholie afflicted with sicknes let my life consume away in sadnes and my yeares in sighes and sorrowfullnes let rottennes enter into my bones and
flowe as water out of my fleshe to the end I may finde rest in the day of aduersitie and ascende to those celestiall souldiers that haue obtained the victorie O how greate wil be the glorie and ioy of the iust and Saincts in heauen sithence the face of eache one of them shall shine as bright as the sunne at such time as our Lord shall beginne to number his chosen people in the kingdome of his Father eache one distinctly in his order and shall render to euerie one the rewardes which he promised according as by theyr actions in this life they haue deserued for â—arthly thinges giuing theÌ„ celestiall for transitory eternall for small and little most ample and immeasurable There shal be without all doubt store of happinesse and felicitie when our Lord shall leade his Saincts to the sight of his Fathers glorie making the to sit on seates celestiall to the end that God may be all in all By what meanes the kingdome of heauen may be purchased and gotten CHAPT XVI O Happie ioy and ioyfull happines to see the Saincts to be with the Saincts and to be a Sainct to see and enioy God worlde without end and longer to if longer coulde be imagined Let vs carefullie consider these thinges and feruently desire them to the end we may speedilie be ioyned to the company of the Saincts in heauen If thou demaunde how this may be donne by what merits or succoure hearken and thou shalt heare This thinge lieth in the power of the doer because the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence The kingdome of heauen o man asketh noe other price but thy selfe it is asmuch worthe as thou art Giue thy selfe therfore and thou shalt haue it Whie art thou troubled and discontent at the price Christ gaue himselfe that he might purchase thee as a kingdome vnto God the Father Giue thou thy selfe in the same manner to the end thou mightst be his kingdome and let not sinne raigne in this thy bodie which is subiect to corruption but rather let the spirit gouerne for the attaining of life euerlastinge What heauen is and what happines is contained therein CHAPT XVII LEt vs returne o my soule to the heauenlie cittie in which we are written and enrolled as cittizens of the same Let vs as cittizens of the sainctes and Gods house-holde seruants yea as Gods heires and coheires of Christ consider the felicitie of this our famous cittie to the vttermost of our possibilitie Let vs crie out with the Prophet O how glorious things are saied of thee o Cittie of God in thee is the dwellinge of all those that are trulie glad Because thou art built as a place to meete and make merrie for suche as God of his infinitie mercie dotâ—â— vouchsafe to take vnto himselfe out of this vale of miserie In thee there is noe old age nor miserie ensuing of the same in thee there is noe one lame or mamed crumpe shouldered or deformed seing all concurre into a perfect man into the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ What can be imagined more happie then this life where there is noe feare of pouertie nor feeblenes of infirmitie where noe man is wronged noe man is displeased noe maÌ„ doth enuie at an others good Where there is noe greedines of gaine noe appetite of eating or drinking where there is noe inordinate desire of honoure or ambition noe dreade of diuel or of diuellishe temptation noe horroure of hell or of hellishe damnation Where there is noe deathe either of bodie or soule but a delightfull life endles and immortall Noe euill affections or dissentioÌ„s shal be founde there but all thinges shall accorde and agree together because all the Saincts of that heauenly region shal be of one minde and affection Where there is nothing but peace and gladnes repose and quietnes Where there is perpetual brightnes not that which now is but by soe much more bright by how much more blessed because that cittie euen as it is written shall neede neither sunne nor moone but God almighty shall enlighten the same and the lampe thereof is the lambe Where the Saincts shall shine as the starrs for all eternitie and those that teache many shall in brightnes resemble the clearenes of the skie Wherfore in that place there shal be noe night noe darknes noe concourse of cloudes noe austeritie of colde or heate but that temperature of all thinges which neither eie hath seene nor eare hath hearde neither hath it entred into the harte of any man sauing of those who are founde worthy to enioy the same whose names are written in the booke of life But a greater content then this will be to be ioyned in felowship with the quires of Angells and Archangells and of all the heauenlie vertues to beholde the Patriarches and Prophets to see the Apostles and all the other Saincts and amoÌ„ge the rest our parents kinsfolke and acquaintance These thinges without doubte are very glorious but yet it is more glorious to beholde the face of God there present and the brightnes proceeding from the same which is infinitely greate Finally to see God in himselfe to see him enioy him in our selues wil be a prerogatiue of glory surpassing all the rest in excelleÌ„cy because we shall see him euerlastingly How man can make noe other requitall vnto God for the benefits receiued from him but onely by louinge him CHAP. XVIII THe soule of man being famous and renowned by being created according to the image and likenes of God hath in it selfe meanes from God by which it is alwaies admonished either to remaine with him or to returne vnto him if at any time by sinnefull affections or defects it be sperated from him Neither hath it meanes onely by which it may be able to desire and hope for mercie and pardon when it hath offended but likewise by which it may presume to aspire to the mariage of the diuine Worde yea to enter into a league of friendship with God almighty and with the kinge of Angells to drawe the sweete yoke of charity Loue causeth all this if by the will the soule make it selfe like vnto God to whoÌ„ by nature it is alreadie likened that is by louing him like as it beloued For it is loue aloue of all the motions senses and affections of the soule in which a creature may be answearable and make requitall to his creator althoughe in a farre inferior degree and measure Where loue doth arriue it carrieth away with it all the other affections and as a conqueroure maketh them captiue Loue is sufficient of it selfe it is pleasing of it selfe and for it selfe It is the merit the rewarde the cause the fruite and the helpe of it selfe for by loue we are vnited to God Loue causeth two spirits to become one making the same will and the same nill in both of them Loue teacheth vs first of all how to behaue our selues secondly to esteeme of all thinges present as if they were
any time my rebellious flesh doth chance to throwe me downe through the remembrance of the woundes of my Lord I arise againe When the diuell seeketh to entrap me I forthwith fly to the bowells of my Lords mercy and he presentlie departeth from me If the heate of vnlawfull luste doth at any time cause any inordinate motion in my flesh through the remembrance of the woundes of our Lord the sonne of God it is immediatlie mitigated In all aduersities I doe not finde a more soueraigne remedie then are the wounds which Christ suffered for me In them I sleepe securely and repose assuredly Christ hath died for vs and therfore in deathe nothing can be founde soe bitter and vnpleasing which is not sweetned and cured by Christs death and passion My whole hope is in the deathe of my Lord. His deathe is my merit succoure and saluation it is my life and resurrection our Lords mercy and compassion is the merit which I rely vpon I am not voide of merit aslonge as I haue the Lord of mercies on my parte and sit hence the mercies of our Lord are many I my selfe am likewise riche in merits By howe much the more powerfull he is to saue me by soe much the greater is my securitie Howe the remembrance of Christs woundes is an approued remedie against all afflictions CHAPT XXIII I Haue exceedingly sinned and I knowe mine offenses to be many which I haue committed and yet I doe not despaire because where sinnes haue abounded there grace hath superabounded He that despaireth of obtaining pardon for his sinnes denieth God to be mercifull He doth almightie God a greate iniurie that mistrusteth of his mercy As much as lieth in him he denieth God to haue charity truth and power in which three notwithstanding doth depend my whole confidence that is in the charitie of his adoption in the truth of his promise and in the power of his redemption Nowe therfore let my foolishe imagination murmure as much as it will saying Who art thou that speakest after this fashion how wonderfull greate I pray thee is the glory of heauen by what merits then doâ—t thou hope to obtaine the same To whom I will answere confidently saying I knowe to whom I haue committed my selfe for that throughe his surpassing great charitie he hath adopted me to be his sonne because he is true in his promise and able to performe the same and may doe whatsoeuer it pleaseth him I cannot be terrified with the multitude of my sinnes if the deathe of my Lord come into my minde because my sinnes cannot oâ—ercome him The nayles and lance doe tell me that I am truly reconciled to Christ if I loue him Longinus with his lance hath opened Christs side for me into which I haue entred and doe rest there securely He that feareth let him loue because loue chaseth forth feare Verilie the whole worlde doth not afforde such a powerfull and present medicine against the heate of dishonest pleasure as is the deathe of my redeemer He stretcheth for the his armes on the Crosse and spreadeth out his handes as one readie to embrace sinners I purpose to liue and desire to die betweene the armes of Christ that hath saued me There I will sing securely I will extoll thee o Lord for that thou hast receiued me and hast not permitted mine enimies to triumphe ouer me Our Sauiour at his death bowed downe his heade that he might giue the kisse of peace to his beloued So often doe we kisse God as we are egged forwards through his loue to doe good A deuoute Meditation of the soule stirring vs vp to the loue of Christ. CHAPT XXIV O My soule who art famous by being framed according to the likenes of God beinge bought with Christs owne blood espoused vnto him by faith endowed with the holy Ghost adorned with vertues esteemed equall with the Angells loue him of whom thou art soe much loued attende to him that attendeth to thee and seeke him that seeketh thee Loue this thy louer of whom thou art beloued with whose loue thou art preuented who is the fountaine froÌ„whence thy loue proceeded He is thy merit and rewarde he is the fruite the vse and end of thy loue Be carefull to please him that is carefull to please thee thinke on him that thinketh of thee be pure with him that surpasseth in puritie be holy with him that excelleth all others in sanctitie According as thou shalt carry thy selfe towardes God in thy conuersation in the same manner will he carrie himselfe towardes thee againe He therfore being courteous milde and full of mercy and compassion doth exact of thee that thou likewise be courteous milde sweete huÌ„ble and mercifull towardes all men Loue him o my soule who hath deliuered thee from the lake of misery and from the myre of sinne and iniquitie Choose him for thy friende especiallie who alone will faithfullie adhere vnto thee when all other thinges and friendes shal be taken from thee On the day of thy buriall when thou shalt be abandoned by all thy friendes he will not leaue thee but will defende thee from those roring and infernali fiendes ready to deuoure thee yea he will conduct thee throughe that vnknowne region and bring thee into the streetes of heauenly Syon and will place thee there with his Angells before the face of his Maiestie where thou shalt heare that Angelicall songe Holy holy holy c. The Canticle of ioy the voice of mirthe and 〈◊〉 thanks-giuing praise and perpetuall Alleluia is songe there euerlastingly There there is a heape of happines supereminent glory superaboundant gladnes and all manner of goodnes O my soule sighe vehementlie and desire earnestlie that thou maiest attaine to that celestiall citty of which soe glorious thinges are saied and in which is the dwelling place of all those that are truly glad By loue thou maiest mounte vp thither because nothing is harde nothing is impossible to an vnfained louer The soule that loueth ascendeth very often and runneth vp and downe familiarlie in the streetes of the heauenlie Hierusalem visiting the Patriarches and Prophets saluting the Apostles admiring the armies of Martyres and Confessores and considering the quires of Virgins Heauen and earthe and all thinges in them contained doe continuallie exhorte me to loue my Lord God How nothing can satisfie the soule besides God the supreame good CHAT XXV IT is impossible that the harte of man should remaine constant and stable if it be not setled in the desire of thinges eternall but being more mutable then mutabilitie it selfe it passeth from one thing to an other seeking repose where it is not for in these fraile and transitorie thinges in which the affections thereof are held captiue it cannot content it selfe and liue at quiet because it is of soe great dignitie as that nothinge but the chiefe good is able to suffice it it is likewise of that freedome as that it cannot be constrained to commit any sinne Wherfore
the proper will of euery man is the cause of his damnation or saluation neither can any thing be offered more gratefull then a good will vnto almightie God A good will doth drawe downe God vnto vs and direct vs vp vnto him By a good will we loue God and choose God we runne to God and come to God and enioy God O howe good a thing is a good will by which we are renewed and made like vnto the image and likenes of God Soe pleasinge is a good will vnto him that he will not dwell in that harte in which a good will is wantinge A good will doth cause the blessed Trinitie being of vnspeakeable Maiestie to come vnto it For God the sonne doth enlighten the same with the knowledge of the verity The holy Ghost doth enflame it with the desire of vertue God the Father doth preserue in it what he hath created least it should be lost and miscarrie What the knowledge of veritie is CHAPT XXVI BVt what is the knowledge of verity First of all it is to knowe thy selfe that thou study to be such an one as thou oughtest to be correcting and amending in thy selfe whatsoeuer thou shalt perceiue to be blame worthy Secondly to know loue God that hath created thee for in this consisteth mans whole felicitie Beholde therefore the vnspeakeable greatnes of Gods charitie towardes vs. He hath created vs of nothing and giuen vs whatsoeuer we haue But because we haue loued the guift more then the giuer the creature more then the Creator we haue fallen into the snare of the diuell by sinne and so haue beene made slaues vnto him Neuerthelesse God beinge moued with mercy hath sent his sonne to redeeme his seruants he hath likewise sent the holy Ghost to adopt those that were slaues and bond-men to be his children He hath giuen vs his sonne as the price of our redemption he hath giuen vs the holy Ghost as a priuiledge of his loue and affection finally he reserueth himselfe as the inheritance of our adoption Thus God as one most louing and full of compassion throughe the affection and loue which he did beare to man imparted vnto him not onely his riches but himselfe likewise to the end he might recouer maÌ„ not for any benefit he hoped to reape therby but for mans good and commoditie in soe much that God himselfe was borne of men that men might be borne of him againe What man is there albeit his harte were as harde as a stone whom the loue of God thus preuenting him doth not mollifie and soften especiallie such vehement loue that for mans sake he hath vouchsafed to become a man Who can possiblie thinke man worthy of hatred whose nature and similitude he seeth in the humanitie of God Verily he hateth God that hateth man and soe whatsoeuer he doth he doth but in vaine For God became man for the loue of man that he that is our Creator might be likewise our redeemer to the end man might be redeemed by one of his owne nature God likewise hath appeared in the likenes of man that he might the more familiarlie be beloued of man and that both the senses of man might be made blessed and delighted in him that is the eie of the soule in his diuinitie and the eie of the body in his humanity that soe our humaine nature by him created might within or without find foode in the same and be refreshed What the sending of the holy Ghost doth effect in vs. CHAPT XXVII OVr Sauiour therfore hath been borne vnto vs he hath likewise ben crucified and hath died for vs that by his deathe he might destroy ours And for that his sacred flesh as a cluster of grapes was caried to the presse of the Crosse and by the pressing of his passion the sweete wine of his diuinity began to runne the holy Ghost was sent to make ready the vessels of mens hartes that the new wine might be put into new vessels First that mens hartes might be made cleane that the wine might not be spilt and corrupted that was put into them and lastlie that they might be hoopt and bounde fast that the wine that was putt into them might not be lost That they might be cleansed from the ioy of iniquitie and fortified against the ioy of vanity For that which is good could not come vnlesse that which is euill were first gone The ioy of iniquitie doth corrupt and the ioy of vanitie doth spill and powre out The ioy of iniquitie doth marre the vessell and the ioy of vanitie doth fill it full of holes The ioy of iniquity is when sinne is loued and the ioy of vanitie is when thinges traÌ„sitorie are affected Purge thy selfe therfore from all wickednes that thou maiest be made a vessell apt to containe goodnes Powre forthe all bitternes that thou maiest be filled with sweetnes The holy Ghost is ioy and loue Expell from thee the Spirit of the diuell and the spirit of this world that thou maiest receiue the spirit of God The spirit of the diuell doth cause the ioy of iniquitie and the spirit of the worlde doth cause the ioy of vanity And both these ioyes are amisse for that the one of them is wicked and the other an occasion of wickednes These euill spirits therfore being expelled the spirit of God will come and enter into the tabernacle of our harte caussing a good ioy and a good loue therein by which is expelled the loue of the worlde and the loue of sinne The loue of the worlde allureth and deceiueth the loue of sinne defileth and leadeth vnto death But conrrarily the loue of God enlightneth the minde cleanseth the conscience reioyceth the soule and sheweth God apparantly vnto vs. After what manner he that loueth God carieth himselfe CHAPT XXVIII HE in whom the loue of God maketh abode is alwaies thinking wheÌ„ he shall come to God when he shall leaue the worlde when he shal be free from the corruption of the flesh hauing his harte and affection fixed on heauenly thinges that by that meanes he may finde true peace and tranquillitie of minde When he sitteth when he walketh when he resteth or when he worketh his harte departeth not from God He exhorteth all men to the loue of God and commâ—ndeth the same to euery one declaring vnto them by his harte wordes and actiòs how sweete the loue of God is and how wicked the loue of the worlde and how full of bitternes He laugeth at the glory of the worlde reproueth those that are ouer carefull in thinges temporall shewing them what a foolishnes it is to trust in thinges that are not durable He wondereth at theire blindnes that affect these thinges soe inordinately and maruaileth what should be the cause that all men doe not forsake them seing they are all transitorie soone passe away He thinketh that sweete to all men which is sweet to him that gratefull to all men which he he loueth that
abounde with all these aforesaid felicities Demaunde of the most secret corners and closets of thy hart whether they could containe the gladnes which would proceede froÌ„ soe great happines Certainely if an other whom thou didst loue aswell as thy selfe shoulde enioy the same happines thy ioy woulde be twice more then before because thou wouldest reioyce noe lesse for him then for thy selfe But if two or three or manie more should obtaine the same felicitie thou wouldest reioyce as much for each one of them as for thy selfe if thou didst loue each one of them as thy selfe How vnspeakable great ioy wil there be then in that perfect charitie of innumerable blessed Angells and men where noe man shall loue an other lesse then himselfe For euery one of them shal reioyce as much for eache one of the rest as for himselfe If therfore the harte of man shal hardlie be able to containe the ioy which it shall conceiue at his owne proper good how will it be capable of soe infinite many and great ioyes Moreouer seeing by how much the more euerie one loueth an other by soe much the more he reioyceth at the others good therfore as in that blessed felicity euery one without comparison shall loue God more then himselfe and all others that are with him soe he shall beyond all estimation farre more reioyce at the felicitie of God then at his owne and all others that are with him And albeit they shall loue God with their whole harte minde and soule yet all these art not sufficient to declare the dignitie of that loue which God will shew towardes them Verilie although they shal reioyce with their whole hart minde and soule yet all these are not enough to containe the fullnes of ioy which he will imparte vnto them Of the full and perfect ioy of life euerlasting CHAPT XXXVI O My God and my Lord my hope and the ioy of my harte tell my soule I beseech thee if this be the ioy of which thou hast spoken vnto vs by thy Sonne saying Aske and you shall haue that your ioy may be full Because I haue founde a certaine ioy altogether full yea more then ful In soe much that the harte being full the minde being full the soule being full and euerie parte of man being full there shall remaine yet an other ioy much more excellent then the former All that whole ioy therfore shall not enter into those that reioyce but al they that wholie reioyce shall enter into the ioy of their Lord. Tell me o Lord tell me thy poore vnworthy seruant in wardly in my harte if this be the ioy into which thy seruants shall enter those I meane that shall enter into the ioy of their Lord. But certainely that ioy in which thy elect shall reioyce neither eie hath seene nor care hath hearde neither hath it entred into the harte of man I haue not therfore as yet conceiued or spoken how much thy elect shall reioyce Doubtles they shall reioyce as much as they shall loue thee and they shal loue thee o Lord as much as they shall know thee And how much shall they loue thee Verily neither eie hath seene nor eare hath hearde neither hath it entred into the harte of man in this life how much they shall knowe and loue thee in the next life Giue me grace o my God to knowe and loue thee to the end I may reioyce in thee And albeit during the time of this mortal life I cannot loue thee fully yet let me profit and goe forewarde by louinge thee more and more daylie that soe at length I may loue thee perfectly Let thy knowledge here encrease in me that there it may be accomplished that here my ioy may be greate in hope and there perfect in deede I beseech thee o good God let me at length receiue that which thou hast promised to wit that my ioy may be fully accomplished In the interim let my mind mediate of it let my tongue talke of it let my harte affect it let my mouth speake of it let my soule hunger for it let my body thirst after it let my whole substaÌ„xsce desire it vntill I enter into the ioy of my Lord there to remaine for all eternitie Amen The end of S. Augustin's Manuel A WONDERFVL AND worthy saying of blessed S. Peter Damian Monke of the holy order of S. Bennet Cardinal of Ostia concerning the day of death LEt vs imagin how the time being now come in which the sinfull soule is to be seperated from the bandes of the body with how grieuous feare it is terrified with how greate anguishe of an afflicted conscience it is tormented It remembreth the thinges forbidden which it hath committed it beholdeth the commaundments of God which through negligence and contempt it hath omitted It grieueth that the time which iâ— had to doe pennance hath bene soe vainely employed it groaneth that the immutable moment of seuere reuenge is soe neare at haÌ„de not possibly to be auoided It would faine stay it is forced to depart It would faine recouer that which it hath lost and cannot be hearde It looketh backward vpon the course of its whole life past and esteemeth it to be but as it were one onelie little peace it looketh forewarde and seeth infinite worldes of time which shall neuer haue end It lamenteth therfore for hauing lost the ioyes of all eternitie which it might haue gained soe quickly It weepeth likewise that for soe short pleasure of the alluring flesh it is bereaued of the vnspeakeable sweetnes of euerlasting happines It blusheth to see that for that substance sake which is to be mâ—ate for wormes it hath neglected that which should haue bin placed amongst the quires of Angells At length it lifteth vp the eies of its minde and considering the glory of the immortall riches of heauen it is ashamed that for the loue of the beggeâ—â—e of this present life it hath lost that glory Againe when it looketh downewarde vpon the vale of this worlde as vpon a miste and contrariwise seeing aboue it the brightnes of that eternall light it plainely perceiueth that which it loued was but darknes and night if it coulde obtaine the fauoure to haue some little â—ime allotted to doe pennance and satisfaction how austere would it be in life and conuersation how many and how greate maters would it promise to performe How strictly would it binde it selfe to piety and deuotion In the meane season whilst the eie-sight faileth whilst the harte panteth whilst the throate the voyce being lost doth drawe breath with difficulty whilst the teeth by little and little growe black and as it were rusty whilst the countenance groweth pale and all the members of the body become stiffe through colde whilst these thinges I say and other such like happen as certaine signes of deathe approaching all its workes and wordess present themselues before it yea its very thoughtes are not wanting and all these giue bitter