be thy punishment and thou storest up greater fewel for that flame In what thing a Man hath sinned in the same shall he be the more grievously punished There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning goads and the gluttons be tormented with great hunger and thirst There shall the luxurious and lovers of pleasures be bathed in burning pitch and stinking brimstone and the envious like mad Dogs shall howl for very grief 4. There is no sin but shall have its proper torment There the proud shall be filled with all confusion the covetous shall be pinched with miserable penury one hour of pain there shall be more bitter than a Thousand years of the sharpest pennance here There is no quiet no comfort for the damned there yet here we have some intermission of our labors and enjoy the comfort of our friends Be now sollicitous and sorrowful because of thy sins that at the day of judgment thou mayest be secure with the company of blessed souls For then shall the righteous with great boldness stand against such as have vexed and oppressed them then shall he stand to judg Men who doth now humbly submit himself to the censures of Men. Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence but the proud Man shall be compassed with fear on every side 5. Then will it appear that he was wise in this world who had learned for Christ to be a fool and despised Then shall every affliction patiently undergone delight us when the mouth of iniquity shall be stopped up Then shall the devout rejoyce and the profane shall mourn Then shall he more rejoyce that hath beat down his own flesh than he that hath abounded in all pleasure and delight Then shall the poor attire shine gloriously and the precious robes seem vile and contemptible Then shall be more commended the poor cottage than the gilded palace Then will constant patience more avail us than all earthly power Then simple obedience shall be preferred before all worldly wisdom 6. Then shall a good and clear conscience more rejoyce a Man than the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more than all the worldings treasure Then wilt thou be more comforted that thou hast prayed devoutly than that thou hast fared daintily Then wilt thou be more glad thou hast kept silence than that thou hast talked much Then will good works avail more than many goodly words Then a strict life and severe repentance will be more pleasing than all earthly delights Accustome thy self now to suffer a little that thou mayest then be delivered from more grievous pains Prove first here what thou canst endure hereafter If now thou canst endure so little how wilt thou then be able to endure perpetual torments If now a little suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire do hereafter Assure thy self thou canst not have two Paradises it is impossible to enjoy delights in this world and after that to reign with Christ. 7. Suppose thou hast hitherto lived always in honors and delights what would all this avail thee if thou wert to die at this instant All therefore is vanity but to love God and serve him only For he that loveth God with all his heart is neither afraid of death nor punishment nor of judgement nor of hell for perfect love gives secure access to God But he that takes delight in sin what marvel is it if he be afraid both of death and judgment Yet it is good although love be not yet of force to withhold thee from sin that at least the fear of hell should restrain thee But he that layeth aside the fear of God can never continue long in good estate but falleth quickly into the snares of the Devil CHAP. XXV Of the zealous amendment of our whole life BE watchful and diligent in the service of God and often bethink thy self wherefore thou camest hither and why thou hast left the world Was it not that thou mightest live to God and become a spiritual Man Be fervent then to come forward for shortly thou shalt receive a reward of thy Labors there shall not be then any fear of sorrow in thy coasts Labor but now a little and thou shalt find great rest yea perpetual joy to thy soul. If thou continuest faithful and fervent in doing good no doubt but God will be faithful and liberal in rewarding thee Thou oughtest to have a good hope for getting the victory but thou must not be secure lest thou wax either negligent or proud 2. When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wavering between fear and hope did once being oppressed with grief humbly prostrate himself in a Church in prayer and said within himself O if I knew that I should yet persevere he presently heard within him an answer from God which said What if thou didst know it what wouldest thou do Do now what thou wouldest do then and thou shalt be secure And being herewith comforted and strengthened he committed himself wholly to the will of God and that noysome anxiety ceased neither had he any mind to search curiously any further to know what should befal him but rather labored to understand what was the perfect and acceptable will of God for the beginning and accomplishing of every good work 3. Hope in the Lord and do good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches thereof One thing there is that draweth many back from a spiritual progress and the diligent amendment of their lives viz. The horror of the difficulty or the labor of the combat But they above others improve most in virtue that endeavor most to overcome those things which are grievous and contrary unto them For there a Man improveth more and obtaineth greater grace where he more overcometh himself and mortifieth himself in spirit 4. But all Men have not alike to overcome and mortifie yet he that is zealous and diligent though he have more passions shall profit more in virtue than another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be less fervent in the pursuit of virtue Two things especially much further our amendment to wit to withdraw our selves violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labor earnestly for that virtue which we most want Be careful also to avoid with great diligence those things in thy self which do commonly displease thee in others 5. Gather some profit to thy soul wheresoever thou be so as if thou seest or hearest of any good examples stir up thy self to the imitation thereof But if thou seest any thing worthy of reproof beware thou do not the same And if at any time thou hast done it labor quickly to amend it As thine eye observeth others so art thou also noted again by others O how sweet and pleasant a thing it is to see the Servants of Christ fervent and devout endued with virtuous and decent manners And
art my meat and my drink my love and my joy my sweetness and all my good 3. O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholly inflame burn and conform me unto thy self that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union and by the meltings of ardent love Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and dry but deal mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What marvel is it if I should be wholly inflamed by thee and die from my self sith thou art fire always burning and never decaying love purifying the heart and enlightning the understanding CHAP. XVII Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ. The voice of the Disciple ple WIth great devotion and ardent love with most hearty affection and fervor I desire to receive thee O Lord as many Saints and devout persons have desired thee when they received thy Sacrament who were most pleasing unto thee in holiness of life and most fervent in devotion O my God my everlasting love my whole good my happiness without end I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire and most worthy reverence that any of the Saints ever had or could feel 2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion yet I offer unto thee the whole affection of my heart as if I alone had all those highly pleasing inflamed desires yea and whatsoever also an holy mind can conceive and desire all that with greatest reverence and most inward affection I offer and present unto thee I desire to reserve nothing to my self but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my self and all mine unto thee my Lord God my Creator and my Redeemer I desire to receive thee this day with such affection reverence praise and honor with such gratitude worthiness and love with such faith hope and purity as thy most holy Mother the glorious Virgin Mary received and desired thee when she humbly and devoutly answered the Angel who declared unto her the mystery of the Incarnation and said Behold the handmaid of the Lord let it be done unto me according to thy word 3. And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist chearfully leaped by reason of the holy Ghost whilest he was yet shut up in his Mothers womb and afterwards seeing Jesus walking amongst Men humbling himself very much said with devout affection The friend of the Bridegroom that standeth and heareth him rejoyceth with joy for the voice of the Bridegroom so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my self up to thee with my whole heart Wherefore I offer also and present unto thee the joys fervent affections mental excesses and supernal illuminations and Heavenly visions of all devout hearts with all the vertues and praises celebrated and to be celebrated by all creatures in Heaven and Earth for my self and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou maist be worthily praised and glorified for ever 4. Receive my Lord God my wishes and desires of giving thee infinite praise and thanks which according to the measure of thy unspeakable greatness are most worthily due unto thee These I yield thee and desire to yield thee every day and moment I do entreat and invite all Heavenly minds and all the devout Servants to give thanks and praises together with me 5. Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnifie thy holy and sweet Name with great joy and fervent devotion and let all that reverently and devoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receive it with full faith find grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for me a sinful creature And when they shall have obtained their desired devotion and joyful union and depart from thy sacred Heavenly Table well comforted and marvellously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul. CHAP. XVIII That Man be not a curious searcher of the Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense to faith The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to beware of curious and unprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not be plunged in the depths of doubts He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by thy glory God is able to work more than Man can understand A pious and humble inquiry of truth is tolerable so it be always ready to be taught and do endeavor to walk in the sound doctrines of the Fathers 2. Blessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult ways of questions and goeth on in the plain and assured path of Gods Commandments Many have lost devotion whilest they would search after high things Faith and a sincere life required at thy hands not height of understanding nor a diving deep into the mysteries of God If thou dost not understand nor conceive those things that are under thee how shalt thou be able to comprehend those that are above thee Submit thy self to God and let thy sense be subject to faith and the light of knowledg shall be given thee in that degree as shall be profitable and necessary for thee 3. Some are grievously tempted about faith and the Sacrament but this is not to be imputed to them but rather to the Enemy Be not thou anxious nor dispute with thy thoughts neither do thou give answer to the doubts cast in by the Devil but believe the words of God believe his Saints and Prophets and the wicked Enemy will flie from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the Servant of God to suffer such things For the Devil tempteth not unbelievers and sinners whom he already securely possesseth but he sundry ways tempteth and vexeth the faithful and religious 4. Go forward therefore with a sincere and undoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with unfeigned reverence And whatsoever thou art not able to understand commit securely to Almighty God God deceiveth thee not he is deceived that trusteth to much to himself God walketh with the simple revealeth himself to the humble giveth understanding to the little ones openeth the sense to pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Humane reason is weak and may be deceived but true faith cannot be deceived 5. All reason and natural search ought to follow faith not to go before nor infringe it For faith and love do here chiefly excell and work in a hidden manner in this most holy and excellent Sacrament God who is everlasting and of infinite power doth great and inscrutable things in Heaven and in Earth and there is no searching out of his wonderful works If the works of God were such as might be easily comprehended by humane reason they were not to be called wonderful and unspeakable FINIS
of true judgment If God were always the pure intention of our desire we should not be so much troubled through the repugnance of our carnal mind 2. But oftentimes something lurketh within or else occurreth from without which draweth us after it Many secretly seek themselves in their actions and know it not They seem also to live in good peace of mind when things are done according to their will and opinion but if things succeed otherwise than they desire they are straightways troubled and much afflicted The diversities of judgments and opinions cause oftentimes dissentions between religious and devout Persons between Friends and Countrymen 3. An old custom is hardly broken and no Man is willing to be led further than himself can see If thou dost more rely upon thine own reason or industry than upon that power which brings thee under the obedience of Jesus Christ it will be long before thou become illuminated for God will have us perfectly subject unto him and that being enflamed with his love we transcend the narrow limits of humane reason CHAP. XV. Of works done of Charity FOr no worldly thing nor for the love of any Man is any evil to be done but yet for the profit of one that standeth in need a good work is sometimes to be intermitted without any scruple or changed also for a better For by doing this a good work is not lost but changed into a better The exterior work without charity profiteth nothing but whatsoever is done of charity be it never so little and contemptible in the sight of the world it becomes wholly fruitful For God weigheth more with how much love one worketh than how much he doeth He doeth much that loveth much 2. He doeth much that doeth a thing well he doeth well that rather serveth the community than his own proper will Oftentimes it seemeth to be charity and it is rather carnality because natural inclination self-will hope of reward and desire of our own interest will seldom be away 3. He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himself in nothing but only desireth in all things that the glory of God should be exalted He also envieth none because he affecteth no private good neither will he rejoyce in himself but wisheth above all things to be made happy in the enjoyment of God He attributeth nothing that is good to any Man but wholly referreth it unto God from whom as from the fountain all things proceed in whom finally all the Saints do rest as in their highest fruition O he that had but one spark of true charity would certainly discern that all earthly things be full of vanity CHAP. XVI Of bearing with the defects of others THose things that a Man cannot amend in himself or in others he ought to suffer patiently until God order things otherwise Think that perhaps it is better so for thy trial and patience without which all our good deeds are not much to be esteemed Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impediments that God would vouchsafe to help thee and that thou mayest bear them patiently 2. If one that is once or twice warned will not give over contend not with him but commit all to God that his will may be fulfilled and his name honored in all his servants who well knoweth how to turn evil into good Endeavor to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others of what sort soever they be for that thy self also hast many things which must be suffered by others If thou canst not make thy self such an one as thou wouldst how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking We would willingly have others perfect and yet we amend not our own faults 3. We will have others severely corrected and will not be corrected our selves The large liberty of others displeaseth us and yet we will not have our desires denied us We will have others kept under by strict laws but in no sort will our selves be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same ballance with our selves If all Men were perfect what should we have to suffer of our neighbor for God 4. But now God hath thus ordered it that we may learn to bear one anothers burden for no Man is without fault no Man but hath his burden no Man sufficient of himself no Man wise enough of himself but we ought to bear with one another comfort one another help instruct and admonish one another Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath for occasions make not a Man frail but do shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of a retired life THou must learn to break thy own will in many things if thou wilt have peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in a religious community and to converse therein without complaint and to persevere therein faithfully until death Blessed is he that hath there lived well and ended happily If thou wilt persevere in grace as thou oughtest and profit in virtue esteem thy self as a banished Man and a pilgrim upon earth Thou must be contented for Christs sake to be esteemed as a fool in this world if thou desire to lead an holy life 2. The wearing of a religious habit and shaving of the crown do little profit but change of manners and perfect mortification of passions make a true religious Man He that seeketh any thing else but God and the salvation of his soul shall find nothing but tribulation and sorrow Neither can he remain long in peace that laboreth not to be the least and subject to all 3. Thou camest to serve not to rule Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labor not to be idle or to spend thy time in talk Here therefore Men are proved as gold in the furnace Here no Man can stand unless he humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers COnsider the lively examples of the holy Fathers in whom true perfection and religion shined and thou shalt see how little it is and almost nothing which we do now in these days Alas what is our life if it be compared to them The Saints and Friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst in cold and nakedness in labor and weariness in watchings and fastings in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2. O how many and grievous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the rest that endeavored to follow the steps of Christ They hated their lives in this world that they might possess their souls in everlasting life O how strict and self-renouncing a life led those holy Fathers in the wilderness How long and grievous tentations suffered they How often were they assaulted by the enemy What frequent and fervent prayers offered they to God! How rigorous an abstinence did
our future amendment and proficiency in spiritual things CHAP. XXIII Of the meditation of Death THere will very quickly be an end of thee here therefore see what will become of thee hereafter To day a Man to morrow none and out of sight out of mind O the stupidity and hardness of Mans Heart who thinketh only upon the present and hath no more care of what is to come Thou shouldest so order thy self in all thy thoughts and actions as if to day yea this very moment thou wert ready to depart Hadst thou a clear conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death It were better to avoid sin than to fly death If thou art not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow To morrow is uncertain and how knowest thou that thou shalt live till to morrow 2. What availeth it to live long when we are so little the better by long living Alas length of days doth oftner make our sins the greater than our lives the better O that we had spent but one day well in this world Many there are who count how long it is since their conversion and yet ful slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment of life If to die be accounted dreadful to live long may perhaps prove more dangerous Happy is he that always hath the hour of his death before his eyes and daily prepareth himself for to die If at any time thou hast seen another Man die make account thou must also pass the same way 3. When it is morning think thou mayest die before night and when evening comes dare not to promise thy self the next morning Be thou therefore always in a readiness and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared Many die suddenly and when they look not for it for the Son of Man will come when we think not of his coming When that last hour shall come thou wilt begin to have a far different opinion of thy whole life that is past and be exceeding sorry thou hast been so careless and remiss 4. O how wise and happy is he that now laboreth to be such an one in his life as he wisheth to be found at the hour of his death A perfect contempt of the world a fervent desire to go forward in vertue the love of discipline the painfulness of repentance the readiness of obedience the denying of our selves and the bearing any affliction for the love of Christ patiently will give us great confidence we shall die happily Whilst thou art in health thou mayest do much good but when thou art sick I see not what thou art able to do Few by sickness grow better and more reformed as also they who wander much abroad seldom thereby become holy 5. Trust. not to friends and kindred neither do thou put off the care of thy souls welfare till hereafter for Men will sooner forget thee than thou art aware of It is better to look to it betime and do some good beforehand than to trust to other Mens courtesies If thou beest not careful for thy self now who will be careful for thee hereafter The time that is now present is very precious now are the days of salvation now is the acceptable time But alas that thou shouldst spend thy time so idlely here where thou mightest purchase to live eternally hereafter The time will come when thou shalt desire one day or hour to amend in and I cannot say that it will be granted thee 6. O beloved from how great danger mightest thou deliver thy self from how great fear free thy self if thou wouldst be always mindful of death Labor now to live so that at the hour of death thou mayest rather rejoyce than fear learn now to die to the world that thou mayest then begin to live with Christ. Learn now to contemn all earthly things that thou mayest freely go to Christ. Chastise thy body now by repentance that thou mayest then have assured confidence 7. Ah fool why dost thou think to live long when thou canst not promise to thy self one day How many have been deceived and suddenly snatcht away How often dost thou hear these reports Such a Man is slain another Man is drowned a third breaks his neck with a fall from some high place this Man died eating and that Man playing One perished by fire another by the sword another of the plague another was slain by Thieves Thus death is the end of all and Mans life suddenly passeth away like a shaddow 8. Who shall remember thee when thou art Dead Do do now my beloved whatsoever thou art able to do for thou knowest not when thou shalt die nor yet what shall befal thee after thy death Now whilst thou hast time heap unto thy self everlasting riches think on nothing but the salvation of thy soul care for nothing but the things of God Make now friends to thy self by honoring the Saints of God and imitating their actions that when thou failest in this short life they may receive thee into everlasting habitations 9. Keep thy self as a stranger and pilgrim upon the earth and as one to whom the affairs of this world do nothing appertain Keep thy heart free and lifted up to God because thou hast here no abiding city Send thither thy daily prayers and sighs together with thy tears that after death thy spirit may with much happiness pass to the Lord. Amen CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgment and the punishment of Sins IN all things have a special aim to thy end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that severe Judg to whom nothing is hid who is not pacified with gifts nor admitteth any excuses but will judg according to right and equity O wretched and foolish sinner who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry Man what answer wilt thou make to God who knoweth all thy wickedness Why dost thou not provide for thy self against that great day of judgment when no Man can excuse or answer for another but every one shall have enough to answer for himself Now are thy pains profitable thy tears acceptable thy groans audible thy grief pacifieth God and purgeth thy soul. 2. The patient Man hath a great and wholesome purgatory who though he receive injuries yet grieveth more for the malice of another than for his own wrong who prayeth willingly for his adversaries and from his heart forgiveth their offences he delayeth not to ask forgiveness of whomsoever he hath offended he is sooner moved to compassion than to anger he often offereth an holy violence to himself and laboreth to bring the body wholly into subjection to the spirit It is better to purge out our sins and cut off our vices here than to keep them to be punished hereafter Verily we do but deceive our selves through an inordinate love of the flesh 3. What is it that that infernal fire feeds upon but thy sins The more thou sparest thy self now and followest the flesh so much the more hereafter shall
we quickly lose by our negligence and oftentimes we do not perceive our own inward blindness We often do evil and excuse it worse We are sometimes moved with passion and we think it to be Zeal We reprehend small things in others and pass over greater matters in our selves We quickly feel and weigh what we suffer at the hands of others but we mind not what others suffer from us He that doth well and rightly considers his own works will find little cause to judg hardly of another 2. The inward Christian preferreth the care of himself before all other cares And he that diligently attendeth unto himself doth seldom speak much of others Thou wilt never be so inwardly religious unless thou pass over other Mens matters with silence and look especially to thy self If thou attend wholly unto God and thy self thou wilt be little moved with whatsoever thou seest abroad Where art thou when thou art not with thy self And when thou hast run over all what hast thou then profited if thou hast neglected thy self If thou desirest peace of mind and true union thou must put all things behind thee and look only upon thy self 3. Thou shalt therefore profit much if thou keep thy self free from all temporal cares Thou shalt greatly decrease if thou esteem any thing of this world Let nothing be greater unto thee nothing acceptable but only God himself or that which is of God Esteem all comfort vain which thou receivest from any creature A soul that loveth God despiseth all things that be inferior unto God God alone is everlasting and of infinite greatness filling all creatures the souls solace and the true joy of the heart CHAP. VI. Of the joy of a good conscience THe glory of a good Man is the testimony of a good conscience Have a good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy A good conscience is able to bear very much and is very chearful in adversities An evil conscience is always fearful and unquiet Thou shalt rest sweetly if thy heart do not reprehend thee Do thou never rejoyce but when thou hast done well Sinners have never true mirth nor feel inward peace because there is no peace to the wicked saith the Lord. And if they should say We are in peace no evil shall fall upon us and who shall dare to hurt us Believe them not for upon a sudden will arise the wrath of God and their deeds shall be brought to nought and their thoughts shall perish 2. To glory in tribulation is no hard thing for him that loveth for to glory so is to glory in the Cross of our Lord. That glory is short which is given and received from Men. Sorrow always accompanieth the glory of the world The glory of the good is in their consciences and not in the tongues of Men. The gladness of the just is of God and in God and their joy is of the truth He that desireth true and everlasting glory careth not for that which passeth away with time And he that seeketh temporal glory or contemneth it not from his heart sheweth himself but little to esteem of the glory of Heaven He enjoyeth great tranquility and peace of mind that careth neither for the praises nor dispraises of Men. 3. He will easily be content and pacified whose conscience is pure He is not the more holy though thou commend him nor the more abject though thou dispraise him What thou art that thou art neither canst thou be said to be greater than what thou art in the sight of God If thou consider what thou art within thee thou wilt not care what Men say of thee Man seeth in the face but God looketh into the heart Man considereth the deeds but God weigheth the intention To do always well and to esteem little of himself is a sign of an humble soul. To refuse to be comforted by any creature is a sign of great purity and inward confidence 4 He that seeketh to witness for himself from without doth shew that he hath wholly committed himself unto God For not he that commendeth himself the same is approved saith blessed Paul but whom God commendeth To walk inwardly with God and not to be possessed with any outward affection is the state of a spiritual Man CHAP. VII Of the love of Iesus above all things BLessed is he that understandeth what it is to love Jesus and to despise himself for Jesus Thou oughtest to leave thy beloved for thy beloved for that Jesus will be beloved alone above all things The love of things created is deceitful and unconstant the love of Jesus is faithful and constant He that cleaveth unto creatures shall fall with that which is subject to fall He that embraceth Jesus shall stand firmly for ever Love him and keep him for thy friend who when all go away will not forsake thee nor suffer thee to perish in the end Thou must once be left of all whether thou wilt or no. 2. Keep close to Jesus both in life and death and commit thy self unto his trust who when all fail can alone help thee Thy beloved is of that nature that he will not admit of a corrival but will have thy heart alone and sit like a King in his own throne If thou couldest purge thy self perfectly of all creatures Jesus would willingly dwell with thee Whatsoever thou reposest in Men out of Jesus is all no better than lost Trust not nor rely upon a reed full of wind for that all flesh is grass and all the glory thereof shall wither away as the flower of the field 3. Thou shalt quickly be deceived if thou look only to the outward shew of Men. And if in them thou seekest thy comfort and profit thou shalt often feel loss If thou seekest Jesus in all things thou shalt surely find Jesus But if thou seekest thy self thou shalt also find thy self but to thine own harm For Man doth more hurt himself if he seek not Jesus than the whole world and all his adversaries could annoy him CHAP. VIII Of familiar conversation with Iesus WHen Jesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth difficult but when Jesus is absent every thing is hard When Jesus speaketh not inwardly unto us our comfort is nothing worth but if Jesus speak but one word we feel much consolation Did not Mary presently rise from the place where she wept when Martha said unto her The Master is come and calleth for thee Happy is the hour when Jesus calleth from tears to spiritual Joy How dry and hard art thou without Jesus How foolish and vain if thou desire any thing out of Jesus Is not this a greater loss than if thou shouldest lose the whole world 2. What can the world profit thee without Jesus To be without Jesus is a grievous Hell and to be with Jesus is a sweet Paradise If Jesus be with thee no enemy can hurt thee He that findeth Jesus findeth a good treasure yea a good above all
goods And he that loseth Jesus loseth too much and more than the whole world He is most poor that liveth without Jesus and he is most rich that is well with Jesus 3. It is a piece of great skill to know how to converse with Jesus and great wisdom to know how to keep Jesus Be humble and peaceable and Jesus will be with thee Be devout and quiet and Jesus will stay with thee Thou mayest soon drive away Jesus and lose his grace if thou turn aside to outward things And if thou shouldest drive him from thee and lose him unto whom wilt thou flie and what friends wilt thou then seek Without a friend thou canst not well live and if Jesus be not above all a friend unto thee thou shalt be too sorrowful and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or rejoyce in any other It is better for thee to have all the world against thee than Jesus offended with thee Amongst all things therefore that be dear unto thee let Jesus alone be thy chiefest beloved 4. Love all for Jesus but Jesus for himself Jesus Christ alone is singularly to be beloved who alone is found to be good and faithful above all friends For him and in him let as well friends as foes be dear unto thee and all these are to be prayed for that all may know and love him Never desire to be singularly commended or beloved for that appertaineth only unto God who hath none like unto himself Neither do thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy heart on the love of any but let Jesus be in thee and in every good Man 5. Be pure and free within and intangle not thy heart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked and to carry a pure heart to God if thou wouldest be free to consider and see how sweet the Lord is And truly unless thou be prevented and drawn by his grace thou shalt never attain to that happiness to forsake and cast off all that thou alone mayest be united to him alone For when the grace of God cometh unto a Man then he is made able for all things And when it goeth away he is poor and weak and as it were left only unto the lash and scourge of every adversary In this thou oughtest not to be dejected nor despair but to resign thy self with all indifferency unto the will of God and to bear all things that befal thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night cometh day and after a tempest fair weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no hard matter to despise humane comfort when we have divine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane and divine comfort and for the Glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of heart and to seek himself in nothing nor to regard his own merit What great matter is it if thou be chearful and devout at the coming of grace This hour is wished for of all Men. He rideth easily enough whom the grace of God carrieth And what marvel if he feel not his burden who is born up by the Almighty and led by the soveraign guide 2. We are always willing to have something for our comfort and a Man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy martyr St. Laurence overcame the world with his Prelates because he despised whatsoever seemed delightsom in the world and for the love of Christ patiently suffered Sixtus to be taken from him whom he most dearly loved He overcame therefore the love of Man by the love of the Creator and he rather chose the divine good pleasure than humane comfort See thou also learn to forsake some necessary thing and a beloved friend for the love of God Be not grieved when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 3. A Man must fight long and mightily with himself before he get the full victory over himself and be able to draw his whole heart in to God When a Man trusteth in himself he easily slideth unto humane comforts but a true lover of Christ and a diligent follower of virtue betakes not himself to humane comforts nor seeketh such sensible sweetnesses but rather hard exercises and to sustain great labors for Christ. 4. When therefore spiritual comfort is given thee from God receive it thankfully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed up joy not too much neither do thou presume vainly but be rather the more humble for that gift and more wary and sollicitous in all thine actions for that hour will pass away and temptation will succeed When consolation is taken from thee despair not presently but with humility and patience wait for the Heavenly visitation for God is able again to give thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange unto them that have experience in the way of God for the great Saints and ancient prophets had oftentimes experience of such kind of vicissitudes 5. For which cause one under the enjoyment of divine favor said I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved But in the want of this he addeth what he found in himself saying thou turn'dst thy face from me and I became troubled Yet doth he not despair in the midst of these changes but more earnestly prayeth unto the Lord and saith Unto thee O Lord will I cry and I will pray unto my God Lastly he receiveth the fruit of his prayer and witnesseth that he was heard saying The Lord hath heard me and taken pity on me the Lord is become my helper But wherein Thou hast turned saith he my sorrow into joy and thou hast compassed me about with gladness If great Saints have been so dealt withal we that are weak and poor ought not to despair if we be sometimes fervent and sometimes cold for the Spirit cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will For which cause blessed Job saith Thou visitest him early in the morning and suddenly thou provest him 6. Whereupon therefore can I hope or wherein ought I to trust but in the great mercy of God alone and in the only hope of heavenly grace For whether I enjoy the presence of good Men or religious brethren or faithful friends or holy Books or excellent treatises or sweet songs and hymns all these help little and have little savor when grace forsaketh me and I remain left in mine own poverty At such time there is no better remedy thà n patience and the ordering of my self according to the will of God 7. I never found any so religious and devout that hath not had sometimes a withdrawing of grace or felt not some decrease of zeal There was never Saint so highly rapt and illuminated who first or last was not tempted For he is not
to be strengthened and comforted by thee visit me therefore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliver me from evil passions and heal my heart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to Love strong to suffer and constant to persevere 3. Love is a great thing in very truth a great good which alone maketh every thing that is heavy light and beareth equally that which is unequal For it carrieth a Burden without a Burden and maketh every thing that is bitter sweet and savoury The noble Love of Jesus inforceth Man to do great things and stirreth him up to desire always what is most perfect Love will be aloft and not kept down with any base thing Love will be free and loose from all worldly affection to the end its inward sight be not prejudiced that it be not either entangled by any temporal prosperity or subdued by adversity Nothing is sweeter than Love nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more large nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in Heaven or in Earth Because Love is born of God and cannot rest but in God above all Creatures 4. He that loveth flyeth runneth and rejoyceth he is free and not held in He giveth all for all and hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest above all from whence all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the gifts but turneth himself above all goods unto the giver Love oftentimes knoweth no measure but is inflamed above all measure Love feeleth no burden weigheth no pains desireth above its strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawful and possible It is therefore able to undertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to pass whereas he that doth not Love fainteth and lyes down 5. Love watcheth and sleeping sleepeth not Being wearied is not tired straitned is not pressed frightned is not troubled But like a lively flame and burning Torch breaking upwards and securely passeth through all If any one loveth he knoweth what this voice cryeth A loud cry in the ears of God is the ardent affection of the Soul which saith My God my Love thou art wholly mine and I wholly thine 6. Enlarge me in Love that with the inward mouth of my heart I may taste how sweet it is to Love and to be melted and swim in thy Love Let me be possessed by Love mounting above my self with excessive fervor and admiration Let me Sing the Song of Love let me follow thee on high my Beloved let my Soul rejoycing through Love spend it self in thy Praise Let me Love thee more than my self and not my self but for thee and all in thee that truly Love thee as the law of Love commandeth which shineth out from thee 7. Love is swift sincere pious pleasant and delightful strong patient faithful prudent long-suffering manly and never seeking it self For where one seeketh himself there he falleth from Love Love is circumspect humble and upright not softly nor light not attending unto vain things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Love is subject and obedient to Superiors mean and abject to it self devout and thankful unto God trusting and hoping always in him even then when God imparteth no sweetness unto it For without sorrow none liveth in Love 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloved is not worthy to be called a Lover A Lover ought to embrace willingly all that is hard and distasteful for his Beloved and not to turn away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP VI. Of the proof of a true Lover CHrist. Son thou art not yet a strong and prudent Lover Christian. Wherefore Lord Christ. Because thou givest over for a small adversity and too greedily seekest comfort A strong Lover standeth firmly in temptations and giveth not credit to the crafty perswasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity so I am not unpleasant to him in adversity 2. A prudent Lover considereth not so much the gift of his Lover as the Love of the giver He rather esteemeth the good will than the value and placeth all gifts under his Beloved A noble Lover resteth not in the gift but in me above every gift All therefore is not lost if sometimes thou hast less taste of me than thou wouldest That good and sweet affection which thou sometimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certain fore-taste of the heavenly Country whereon thou mayest not rely too much for it goeth and cometh But to fight against evil motions of the mind which may happen unto thee and to despise the suggestions of the Devil is a notable sign of virtue and shall have great reward 3. Let not therefore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoever trouble thee Retain a strong purpose and an upright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddenly rapt on high and presently returnest again unto the accustomed vanities of thy heart For thou dost rather unwillingly suffer them than commit them and as long as they displease thee and thou strivest against them it is matter of reward and no loss 4. Know that thy antient enemy doth ever strive to hinder thy desire to good and to deliver thee from all religious exercise to wit from the devout memory of my passion from the profitable remembrance of thy sins from the guard of thine own heart and from the firm purpose of profiting in virtue He injecteth many evil thoughts into thy mind that he may cause a wearisomness and horror in thee to draw thee from Prayer and Holy reading Humble confession is displeasing unto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receiving the Sacrament Trust him not nor care for him although he should often set snares of deceit to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth evil and unclean thoughts unto thee Say unto him Away unclean Spirit blush miserable wretch thou art very unclean that bringest such things unto mine ears Away from me wicked deceiver thou shalt have no part in me But Jesus shall be with me as a strong Warrior and thou shalt stand confounded I had rather die and undergo any torment than consent unto thee Hold thy peace and be silent I will hear thee no more though thou shouldest work me many troubles The Lord is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear If whole Armies should stand together against me my heart shall not fear The Lord is my helper and my redeemer 5. Fight like a good Soldier and if thou sometimes fall through frailty take greater strength than before trusting in my more abundant grace and take great heed of vain pleasing of thy self and of pride This brings many into error and makes them sometimes fall into almost incurable blindness Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of
themselves serve thee for a warning and keep thee perpetually humble CHAP. VII That grace is to be hid under the veil of Humility CHrist. Son it is more profitable and safe for thee to hide the grace of devotion not to extol thy self nor to speak much nor to esteem much thereof but rather to despise thy self and fear it as given to one unworthy thereof This affection is not to be cleaved unto which may be quickly changed unto the contrary Think when thou art in grace how miserable and needy thou art wont to be without grace Neither doth therein only consist the proficiency of a spiritual life when thou hast the grace of comfort but when thou humbly self-denyingly and patiently sufferest the withdrawing thereof so that thou be not then less diligent in the exercise of prayer nor suffer the rest of thy accustomed duties to be neglected but that thou willingly perform what lieth in thee according to the best of thy power and understanding not neglecting thy self wholly for the dryness and trouble of mind which thou feelest 2. There are many that when it succeedeth not well with them presently they become impatient or slothful The way of Man is not always in his power but it belongeth to God to give and to comfort when he will and how much he will and whom he will as it shall please him and no more Some unadvised persons have overthrown themselves for the greedy desire which they had of the grace of devotion attempting more than they were able to perform not weighing the measure of their weakness but following rather the desire of their heart than the judgment of reason And because they presumed on greater matters than was pleasing to God they quickly lost his grace They became needy and left in a dejected estate that built themselves nests in Heaven to the end that being humbled and impoverished they might learn not to flie with their own wings but to trust under my wings They that are yet but novices and unacquainted in the way of the Lord unless they govern themselves by the counsel of discreet Persons may easily be deceived and overthrown 3. And if they will rather follow their own judgment than give credit to others that are experienced their end will be dangerous if they will not be drawn from their own conceit Seldom those that are selfwise suffer themselves humbly to be governed by others A little knowledg with Humility and a slender understanding is better than great measures of learning with a vain self-liking It is better for thee to have little than much of that whereof thou mayest be proud He doth not discreetly that wholly giveth himself over to mirth forgetting his former poverty and the chaste fear of God which feareth to lose the grace which he hath obtained Neither is he virtuously wise that in time of adversity or any tribulation whatsoever yieldeth to despairing thoughts and thinketh and imagineth of me less confidently than he ought 4. He that will be over secure in time of peace shall be often found in time of war too dejected and fearful If thou couldest always continue humble and lowly within thy self and order and govern thy spirit well thou shouldest not so soon fall into danger and offence It is good counsel that when fervor of spirit is kindled within thee thou shouldest think what will become of thee when that light shall leave thee And when that doth happen remember the light may return again which for thy instruction and my glory I have withdrawn for a time 5. Such proof is often more profitable than if thou shouldest always enjoy prosperity according to thy desire For a Mans worthiness is not to be judged by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledg in Scripture or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and filled with divine love if he always purely and entirely seek the honor of God if he esteem himself nothing and unfriendly despise himself and rejoyce more to be despised and humbled by others than to be honored CHAP. VIII Of a mean conceit of our selves in the sight of God CHristian Shall I speak unto my Lord sith I am Dust and Ashes If I esteem better of my self behold thou standest against me and my iniquities bear true witness against me Neither can I speak against it But if I abase and esteem nothing of my self and cast off all self-esteem and as I am account my self to be Dust thy grace will be favorable unto me and thy light will be near unto my heart and all self-esteem how little soever shall be swallowed up in the deep Valley of my nothingness and perish everlastingly There thou shewest my self unto me what I am what I have been and whither I am come for I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my self behold I become nothing but mere weakness But if thou suddenly look upon me I am presently made strong and filled with new joy And it is a great marvel that I am so suddenly lifted up and so graciously embraced by thee that of mine own weight always sink downward 2. Thy Love is cause hereof freely preventing me and relieving me in so many necessities preserving me also from grievous dangers and delivering me as I may truly say from innumerable evils For surely by inordinate loving my self I lost my self and by seeking thee alone and purely loving thee I have found both my self and thee and by that Love have more deeply brought my self to nothing For that thou O most sweet Lord dealest with me above all desert and above all that I dare hope and request 3. Blessed be thou my God for although I be unworthy of any benefits yet the nobleness of thy bounty and thy infinite goodness never ceaseth to do good even to the ungrateful and to them that be turned away far from thee Turn us unto thee O Lord that we may be thankful humble and holy for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be referred unto God as unto the last end CHrist. Son I ought to be thy chiefest and last end if thou desirest to be truly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinately to it self and unto Creatures For if in any thing thou seekest thy self thou presently faintest and driest up within thy self Refer therefore all things chiefly unto me for I am he that have given all Consider every thing as flowing from the Highest good and therefore all things are to be reduced unto me as unto their Original 2. Out of me as out of a living Fountain the little and the great the poor and the rich to draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serve me shall receive grace for grace But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particular
good shall not be grounded in true joy nor enlarged in his heart but shall be many ways encumbred and straitned Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe nothing of good unto thy self nor attribute goodness unto any Man but give all unto God without whom Man hath nothing I have bestowed all and will that all be returned unto me again and with great strictness I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vain Glory and if heavenly grace and true Love enter in there shall be no envy nor straitness of heart neither shall there be any place for self-love For Divine Love overcometh all and enlargeth all the powers of the Soul If thou beest truly wise in me alone thou wilt rejoyce in me alone thou wilt hope For none is good but God alone who is to be praised above all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That the World being despised it is a sweet thing to serve God CHristian Now I will speak again O Lord and will not be silent I will say in the ears of my God my Lord and my King that is on High Psal. 31. O how great is the abundance of thy goodness O Lord which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee But what art thou to them that Love thee What to them that serve thee with their whole heart Truly unspeakable is the sweetness of contemplating thee which thou bestowest on them that Love thee In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetness of thy Love For that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back again that I might serve thee and hast commanded me to Love thee 2. O Fountain of everlasting Love what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me even when I wasted away and perished Thou hast shewed mercy to thy Servant beyond all my expectation And hast exhibited thy favor and friendship beyond all merit What shall I return unto thee for this grace For it is not granted to every one to forsake all things to renounce the World and to undertake a life of Religious retiredness It is much that I should serve thee whom all Creatures are bound to serve It ought not to seem much unto me to serve thee but this rather seemeth much and marvellous unto me that thou vouchsafest to receive into thy service one so poor and unworthy and to joyn him with thy beloved Servants 3. Behold all is thine which I have and whereby I serve thee And yet contrarywise thou rather servest me than I thee Behold Heaven and Earth which thou hast created for the service of Man are ready at hand and do daily perform whatsoever thou dost command and this is little yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the service of Man But that which excelleth all this is that thou thy self hast vouchsafed to serve Man and hast promised to give thy self unto him 4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serve thee all the days of my life I would I were able at least for one day to do thee some worthy service Thou art truly worthy of all service of all honor and everlasting praise Thou art truly my Lord and I thy poor Servant that am bound to serve thee with all my might neither ought I ever to be weary of praising thee And this I wish to do this I desire and whatsoever is wanting unto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5. It is great honor a great glory to serve thee and despise all things for thee For great grace shall be given to them that shall willingly subject themselves to thy most holy service They shall receive the most sweet comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy love shall renounce all carnal delights they shall attain great freedom of mind that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall have left off all worldly care 6. O sweet and delightful service of God by which Man is truly made free and holy O sacred state of religious employment which maketh Man equal to Angels pleasing to God terrible to Devils grateful and of great esteem to all the faithful O service to be imbraced and always wished for by which we obtain the greatest good and attain to that joy which never shall have end CHAP. XI That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated CHrist. Son thou oughtest to learn many things more which thou hast not well learned Christian. What are those Lord Christ. That thou frame thy desires wholly according to my pleasure and be not a lover of thy self but an affectionate follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes enflame thee and drive thee forwards with violence But consider whether thou art moved rather for my honor than for thine own profit If I be the cause thou wilt be well content with whatsoever I shall ordain But if there lurk in thee any self-seeking behold this is it that hindereth thee and weigheth thee down 2. Beware therefore thou lean not too much upon thy own preconceived desire without asking my counsel lest perhaps afterwards it repent thee and thou begin now to dislike that which before did please thee and which thou earnestly desiredst as the best For every affection that seemeth good is not presently to be followed nor every contrary affection at the first to be avoided It is expedient sometimes to use a restraint even in good desires and endeavors lest by importunity thou incurre distraction of mind and by thy want of self-government beget a scandal unto others or being gainsaid by others thou be suddenly troubled and fall 3. Yet sometimes thou oughtest to use violence and resist manfully thy sensual appetites and respect not what the flesh would or would not but rather to labor that even perforce it be subject to the spirit And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced under servitude until it readily obey in all things and learn to be content with a little and to be pleased with plain things and not to murmure against any inconvenience CHAP. XII Of patience and of striving against conoupiscence CHristian Lord God I perceive patience is very necessary unto me for that many adversities do happen in this life For howsoever I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without war and affliction Christ. So it is Son And my will is not that thou seek after that peace which is void of temptations or that which feeleth no contrariety but then think that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations and tried in many adversities 2. If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the Fire hereafter Of two evils the less is always to be chosen That thou maist therefore avoid everlasting punishment in the next World endeavor to suffer
Witnesses are thy Apostles themselves whom thou hast made Princes in all the Earth And yet they lived without complaint in the world so humble and simple without all malice and deceit that they also rejoyced to suffer reproach for thy Name and what the world abhorreth they embraced with great affection 5. Nothing therefore ought so to rejoyce him that loveth thee and acknowledgeth thy benefits as thy will in him and the good pleasure of thy eternal appointment wherewith he ought to be so contented and comforted that he would as willingly be the least as any would wish to be the greatest and as peaceable and contented in the last as in the first place and as willing to be despised and contemned and to be of no esteem or account as to be preferred in honor before all others and to be greater in the world For thy will and the love of thy glory ought to be preferred before all things and to comfort him more and please him better than all the benefits which either he hath received or may receive CHAP. XXIII Of Four things that bring much peace CHrist. Son now I will teach thee the way of peace and true liberty Christian Do Lord I beseech thee as thou sayest for I shall be very glad to hear it Christ. Endeavor my Son to do rather the will of another than thine own Ever choose rather to have less than more Always seek the lowest place and to be inferior to every one Wish always and pray that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled filled in thee Behold such a Man entreth into the bounds of peace and quietness 2. Christian. Lord this thy short speech containeth much perfection It is little in words but full in sense and abundant in fruit For if it could faithfully be kept by me then should I not so easily be troubled For as often as I feel my self unquiet and afflicted I find that I have strayed from this Doctrine But thou that canst do all things and ever lovest the profiting of my soul increase in me thy grace that I may fulfil thy words and work out mine own salvation A Prayer against evil thoughts 3. My Lord God be not far from me my God have regard to help me for sundry thoughts have risen up against me and great fears afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through them without hurt How shall I utterly break them Christ. I saith he will go before thee and will humble the great ones of the earth I will open the Doors of the Prison and reveal unto thee hidden secrets Christian. Do Lord as thou sayest and let all my evil thoughts fly from before thy face This is my hope my only comfort to fly unto thee in every tribulation to trust in thee to call upon thee from my heart and to expect patiently thy comfort A Prayer for enlightning of the Mind 4. Enlighten me O good Jesus with a clear-shining inward light and drive away all darkness from the habitation of my heart Repress my many wandring thoughts and utterly break in pieces those temptations which violently assault me Fight strongly for me and vanquish those evil beasts I mean those inticing desires of the flesh that so peace may be obtained by thy power and that abundance of thy praise may sound in the holy Court of a pure conscience Command the Winds and Tempests say unto the Sea Be still and to the North Wind Blow not and a great calm shall ensue 5. Send forth thy light and thy truth that they may shine upon the earth for I am as the earth without form and void until thou enlighten me Pour out thy grace from above let thy Heavenly dew distil upon my heart supply fresh streams of grace to water the face of the Earth that it may bring forth good and excellent fruit Lift up my mind which is pressed down by the weight of sins Draw up my whole desire to Heavenly things that having tasted the sweetness of supernal happiness it may be irksome to me even to think of earthly vanities 6. Pluck me and deliver me from all the unlasting comfort of creatures for no created thing can fully comfort and quiet my desire Joyn me unto thee with an unseparable band of love for thou even alone dost satisfie him that loveth thee and without thee all things are vain CHAP. XXIV Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others CHrist. Son be not curious trouble not thy self with idle cares What is this or that to thee do thou follow me For what is it to thee whether that Man be such or no or whether this Man do or speak this or that Thou shalt not need to answer for others but shalt give account of thy self Why therefore dost thou trouble thy self Behold I know every one and do see all things that are under the Sun and do understand how it is with every one what he thinks what he would and at what his intention aims All things therefore are to be commited unto me but do thou keep thy self in good peace and let the unquiet be as unquiet as they will Whatsoever they shall have done or said shall fall upon themselves for they cannot deceive me 2. Be not careful for the shadow of a great name or for the familiarity of many nor for the private affection of Men for these things both distract and greatly darken the heart I would willingly utter my words and reveal my secrets unto thee if thou didst diligently observe my coming and didst open the Door of thy heart unto me Be careful and watch in prayer and humble thy self in all things CHAP. XXV Wherein the firm peace of the heart and true spiritual profiting consisteth CHrist. Son I have said Peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world giveth give I unto you All do desire peace but all care not for those things that appertain unto true peace My peace is with the humble and meek of heart Thy peace doth consist in much patience If thou wilt hear me and follow my voice thou mayst enjoy much peace Christian. What then shall I do Lord Christ. In every thing attend unto thy self what thou doest and what thou sayest and direct thy whole intention unto this that thou mayst please me alone and desire or seek nothing besides me Of the sayings and doings of others judg nothing rashly neither do thou entangle thy self with things not commited unto thee and doing thus thou shalt be little or seldom troubled 2. But never to feel any trouble at all nor to suffer any grief of heart or body is not the state of this life but everlasting rest Think not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou have no adversary nor that all is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neither do thou then esteem highly of thy self or account thy self to
Let the holy Name be blessed but to me let no part of Mens praises be given Thou art my glory thou art the joy of my heart In thee will I glory and rejoyce all the day but as for my self I will not glory but in my infirmities 6. Let the Iews seek honor one of another I will desire this which is from God alone For all humane glory all temporal honor all worldly highness compared to thy eternal glory is vanity and folly O my Truth my mercy my God most blessed Trinity to thee alone be praise honor power and glory for evermore CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporal honors CHrist. Son trouble not thy self if thou seest others honored and advanced and thy self contemned and debased Lift up thy heart unto me in Heaven and the contempt of Men on Earth will not grieve thee Christian. Lord we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity If I look well into my self I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therefore I cannot justly complain of thee 2. But because I have often and grievously sinned against thee all creatures do justly take arms against me for shame and contempt is due unto me but unto thee praise honor and glory And unless I frame my self with a very good will to be despised and forsaken of all creatures and to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtain inward peace and strength nor be spiritually enlightned nor fully united unto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in Men. CHrist. Son if the peace thou hast with any be grounded upon the opinion which thou hast of him or upon the account of thine acquaintance with him thou shalt ever be in an unconstant and enthralled condition but if thou have recourse unto the everliving and eternal Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieve thee The love of thy friend ought to be grounded in me and for me is he to be beloved whosoever he be whom thou thinkest well of and is very dear unto thee in this life No friendship can avail or continue without me neither is that love true and pure which is not knit by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends that forasmuch as appertaineth unto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of Men. Man approacheth so much the nearer unto God by how much the further off he departeth from all Earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth unto God by how much lower he descendeth into himself and how much the meaner he is in his own sight 2. But he that attributeth any good unto himself hindereth the coming of Gods grace unto him for the grace of the holy Ghost ever seeketh an humble heart If thou couldest perfectly annihilate thy self and empty thy self of all created love then should I flow into thee with great abundance of grace When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creator is taken from thee Learn to overcome thy self in all things for the love of thy Creator and then shalt thou be able to attain to divine knowledge How little soever the thing be if it be inordinately loved and regarded it defileth the soul and hindereth the enjoying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against vain and secular knowledg CHrist. Son let not the fair speeches and subtile sayings of Men move thee For the Kingdom of God consisteth not in word but in power Observe well my words for they enflame hearts and enlighten minds they cause compunction and bring sundry comforts Do thou never read to shew thy self learned or wise but labor to mortify thy sins for that will profit thee more than the knowledg of many difficult questions 2. When thou shalt have read and known many things thou oughtest ever to return to one beginning and Principle I am he that teacheth Man knowledg and give unto babes a more clear understanding that can be taught by Man He therefore to whom I speak shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in the spirit Wo be to them that enquire many curious things of Men and do little mind the way how to serve me The time will come when the Master of Masters shall appear Christ the Lord of Angels to hear the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of every one and then he will search Jerusalem with a candle and the hidden things of darkness shall be laid open and the arguings of Mens Tongues shall be silent 3. I am he that in an instant do raise up the humble mind to understand more of the eternal truth than can be gotten by Ten years study in the Schools I teach without the noise of words without the confounding of opinions without ambition of honor without the scuffling of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise Earthly things to loath things present to seek the everlasting to relish the things that are eternal to flee honors to suffer injuries to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and above all things ardently to love me 4. For a certain person by loving me entirely learned divine things and spake that which was admirable he profited more by forsaking all things than in studying subtilties To some I speak common things to others more special things to some I appear sweetly by signs and figures but to some I reveal mysteries with much light The voice of books is indeed one but it teacheth not all Men alike For I am the inward teacher I am the Truth I am the searcher of the heart the discerner of the thoughts the setter forwards of what is good distributing to every one as I judge meet CHAP. XLIV Of not drawing outward things to our selves CHrist. Son in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and esteem thy self as dead upon Earth and as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also pass by many things with a deaf ear and rather think of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is better for thee to turn thine eyes from what doth mislike thee and to leave unto every one his own opinion than to strive with contentious words If all stand well betwixt thee and God and if thou hast his judgment in thy mind thou shalt the more easily bear if thou be overcome 2. Christian. O Lord to what a pass are we come Behold we bewail a temporal loss for a little gain we toil and run and the spiritual damage of our soul is forgotten and hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is minded and that which is chiefly necessary is slightly passed over because the whole Man doth slide down into eternal things and unless he speedily repent he lieth immerst in them and that willingly CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be given to all Men and how prone Man is to offend in words CHristian Help me O Lord in my tribulation for vain
renounceth creatures flyeth the world hateth the desires of the flesh restraineth wandrings abroad blusheth to be seen in publick Nature is willing to have some outward comfort wherein she may be sensibly delighted but Grace seeketh comfort in God alone and delighteth above all visible things in the highest good 5. Nature worketh all for her own gain and profit she can do nothing freely but for bestowed benefits she hopeth to obtain either that which is equal or better either praise or favor and coveteth to have her works and gifts much esteemed but Grace seeketh no temporal thing nor desireth any other reward than God alone nor asketh more of temporal necessaries than what may serve her for the obtaining of things eternal 3. Nature rejoyceth to have many friends and kinsfolks she glorieth of noble place and birth pleaseth the powerful fawneth upon the rich applaudeth those that are like her self but Grace loveth even her enemies and is not puffed up with multitude of friends nor esteemeth place or birth but where it is joyned with greater virtue she rather favoreth the poor than the rich hath more compassion of the innocent than the powerful rejoyceth in the true not in the deceitful always exhorteth good Men to labor for the better gifts and by goodness to resemble the Son of God Nature quickly complaineth of want and trouble Grace constantly endureth need 7. Nature referreth all things to her self striveth and contendeth for her self but Grace reduceth all to God from whence originally they proceed she ascribeth no good to her self neither doth she arrogantly presume she contendeth not nor preferreth her opinion before others but in every apprehension and opinion submitteth her self unto the eternal wisdom and to the divine judgment Nature coveteth to know secrets and to hear news she will appear abroad and make proof of many things by her own senses she desireth to be known and to do those things for which she may be praised and admired but Grace careth not for hearing news nor to understand curious matters for that all this springeth from the old corruption of Man seeing here is nothing new and durable upon Earth She teacheth therefore to restrain the senses to avoid vain pleasing and ostentation humbly to hide those things that are worthy of praise and admiration and of every thing and every knowledg to seek profitable fruit and the praise and honor of God she will not have her self nor hers publickly praised but desireth that God should be blessed in his gifts who of mere love bestoweth all things 8. This Grace is a supernatural light and a certain special gift of God and the proper mark of the elect and pledg of everlasting salvation which raiseth up a Man from Earthly things to love the things of Heaven and of a carnal maketh him a spiritual Man How much the more therefore Nature is depressed and subdued so much the greater Grace is infused and the inward Man daily by new visitations more reformed according to the image of God CHAP. LV. Of the corruption of Nature and efficacy of divine Grace CHristian O Lord my God who hast created me after thy Image and likeness grant me this grace which thou hast shewed to be so great and so necessary to salvation that I may overcome my wicked nature which draweth me to sin and to perdition For I feel in my flesh the Law of sin contradicting the Law of my mind and leading me captive to the obeying of sensuality in many things neither can I resist the passions thereof unless thy most holy grace fervently infused into my heart do assist me 2. Thy grace O Lord and great grace is needful that nature may be overcome which is ever prone to evil from her youth For by Adam the first Man nature being fallen and corrupted by sin the penalty of this stain hath descended upon all Mankind in such sort that nature it self which by thee was created good and upright is now accounted for the sin and for the infirmity of corrupted nature for that the motion thereof left unto it self draweth to evil and to inferior things For the little power which remaineth is like a certain spark lying hidden in ashes This is natural reason it self encompassed about with great darkness yet still retaining power to discern good and evil and the difference between true and false although it be unable to fulfil all that it approveth and enjoyeth not now the full light of truth nor the soundness of her affections 3. Hence it is my God that after the inward Man I delight in thy Law knowing thy commandments to be good just and holy reproving also all evil and sin teaching that it is to be avoided But with the flesh I serve the law of sin whilst I rather obey sensuality than reason Hence it is that to will to do good is present with me but how to perform it I find not For this cause I often purpose many good things but because I want grace to help my weakness upon a light resistance I go back and faint Hence it is that I know the way of perfection and see clearly enough what I ought to do but pressed down with the weight of mine own corruption I rise not unto what is more perfect 4. O Lord how exceeding needful is thy grace for me to begin any good work to go forward and to accomplish it For without it I can do nothing but in thee I can do all things when thy grace doth strengthen me O Heavenly grace indeed without which our most worthy actions are nothing and no gifts of nature are to be esteemed Arts riches beauty or strength wit or eloquence are of no value with thee O Lord without thy grace For gifts of nature are common to good and bad but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and love and they that bear this honorable mark are esteemed worthy of everlasting life This grace is so eminent that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles nor any speculation how high soever is of any esteem without it Neither faith nor hope nor other virtues are acceptable unto thee without love and grace 5. O most blessed Grace that makest the poor in spirit rich in virtues and makest the rich in many blessings to be humble in heart come come down unto me replenish me early with thy comfort lest my soul should faint for weariness and driness of mind I beseech thee O Lord that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace is sufficient for me though other things that nature desireth be wanting If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I will not fear any evils whilst thy grace is with me that is my strength that giveth advice and help that is stronger than all enemies and wiser than all the wise 6. Thy grace is the mistress of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the heart the solace in affliction the driver away of sorrow the
advise thee not to enquire nor dispute of the merits of the Saints which of them is holier than the other and which is greater in the Kingdom of Heaven These things oftentimes breed strife and unprofitable contentions they nourish also pride and vain glory from whence do spring envy and dissentions whilst one will proudly prefer this and the other another To desire to know and search out such things is to no purpose nor would it please the Saints for I am not the God of dissention but of peace which peace consisteth rather in true humility than in self exaltation 3. Some are carried with zeal of affection to love these or those most but this love is rather humane than divine I am He who made all the Saints and have given them grace I have given them glory I know what every one hath deserved I have prevented them with the blessings of my goodness I foreknew my beloved before the beginning of the world I chose them out of the world they chose not me first I called them by grace I drew them by mercy I led them through sundry temptations I have poured into them glorious comforts I have given them perseverance I have crowned their patience 4. I know both the first and the last I embrace all with inestimable love I am to be praised in all my Saints I am to be blessed above all things and to be honored in every one whom I have thus gloriously exalted and predestinated without any precedent merits of their own He therefore that contemneth one of the least of my Saints honoreth not the greatest for that I made both the less and the greater and he that dispraifeth any of my Saints dispraiseth also me and all the rest in the Kingdom of Heaven There all are one through the bond of love they think the same they will the same and they all love one another 5. But yet which is much more high they love me more than themselves and are drawn out of all themselves or any merits of their own For being ravished above self-self-love they are wholly carried out to love me in whom also they do fruitively rest Nothing can turn them back nothing can press them down for being full of the eternal Truth they burn with the fire of unquenchable love Let therefore carnal and natural Men who can affect no other but their private joys forbear to dispute of the state of Saints They add and take away according to their own fancies not as it pleaseth the eternal Truth 6. Many are ignorant but specially those that be slenderly enlightned and these can seldom love any with a perfect spiritual love They are as yet much drawn by a natural affection and humane friendship to this Man or to that and according to the experience they have of themselves in their Earthly affections so they frame an imagination of Heavenly things But there is an incomparable distance between the things which the imperfect ones imagine in their conceits and those which the illuminated ones do see by revelation from above 7. Beware therefore my Son that thou treat not curiously of these things which exceed thy knowledg but rather so apply thy endeavors that thou mayest at least have the meanest place in the Kingdom of Heaven And if any one did know which of the Saints exceed others in sanctity or were greater in the Kingdom of Heaven what would this knowledg avail him unless he should thereby humble himself the more in my sight and should rise up into the greater praising of my name He pleaseth God much better that thinketh of the greatness of his sins and the smalness of his graces and how far off he is from the perfection of the Saints than he that disputeth of their greatness or littleness 8. They are well and right well contented if Men could content themselves and refrain from these vain discourses They glory not of their own merits for they ascribe no good unto themselves but attribute all to me who of my infinite love have given them all things They are filled with so great love of the Divinity and with such an overflowing joy that there is no glory nor happiness that is or can be wanting unto them All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselves and nearer and dearer unto me And therefore it is written That they did cast their Crowns before God and fell down upon their face before the Lamb and adored him that liveth for ever and ever 9. Many inquire who is greatest in the Kingdom of God that know not whether they shall ever be numbred there amongst the least It is a great thing to be even the least in Heaven where all are great for that all there shall be called and shall be indeed the Sons of God The least shall become a Thousand and the sinner of an Hundred years shall die For when the Disciples asked who should be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven they received this answer Unless you be converted and be come as little Children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little Child the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven 10. Wo be unto them that disdain to humble themselves willingly with little Children For the low gate of the Kingdom of Heaven will not give them entrance And wo be to the rich that have their comforts here for whilest the poor enter into the Kingdom of God they shall stand lamenting without Rejoyce you that be humble and you that be poor be you glad for yours is the Kingdom of God if you walk according to the truth CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone CHristian Lord what trust have I in this life Or what is the greatest comfort that all things under Heaven do yield me Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number Where hath it been well with me without thee Or when could it be ill with me when thou wert present I had rather be poor for thee than rich without thee I rather choose to be a pilgrim on Earth with thee than to possess Heaven without thee Where thou art there is Heaven and there is death and Hell where thou art not Thou art my desire and therefore it behoveth me to sigh and cry and pray unto thee For I have none fully to trust in none that can seasonably help me in my necessities but thee alone my God Thou art my hope thou art my trust thou art my comforter and most faithful unto me in all things 2. All Men seek their own gain thou only seekest my salvation and my profit and turnest all things to my good Although thou exposest me to divers temptations and adversities yet thou orderest all this to my advantage who art wont to try thy beloved ones a Thousand wayes In which trial thou oughtest no