and contemptible in the sight of the world it is fruitfull and of great esteeme in the sight of God For God weigheth more with how much loue one worketh then how much he doth Hee doth much that loueth much Luk. 7. 2 He doth much that doth a thing well he doth well that rather serueth the common good of others then his owne will Phil. 2. Oftentimes it seemeth to bee charity and it is rather carnality because naturall inclination selfe-will hope of reward and desire of our owne commodity will seldome be wanting 3 He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himselfe in nothing but onely desireth in all things that the glory of God should be exalted Phil. 2.3 1. Cor. 13. He also enuieth none because he loueth no priuat good neither will he reioyce in himself but wisheth aboue al things to enioy God Psal â—7 24 He attributeth nothing that is good to any man but wholly referreth it vnto God from whom as from the fountaine all things proceed in whom finally all Saints haue perfect rest by fruition of his glory O he that had one sparke of perfect charitie how easily would hee discerne 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 himselfe or in others he ought to suffer patiently vntill God ordaine otherwise Thinke that perhaps it is better so for thy triall and patience without which our merits are not much to be esteemed Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impediments that God would vouchsafe to helpe thee and that thou mayest beare them patiently Matth. 6. Luk. 11. 2 If one that is once or twice warned doth not amend contend not with him but commit all to God that his will may be fulfilled and his name honored in all his seruants vvho knovveth hovv to turne euill into good Matth. 6. Endeauour to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others for that thy selfe also hast many things which must bee suffered by others Thess 5. Ioh. 1. Luk. 6. If thou canst not make thy selfe such an one as thou wouldest how canst thou expect to haue another in all things to thy liking Wee vvould vvillingly haue others perfect and yet vvee amend not our owne faults 3 We vvill haue others seuerely corrected and vvill not be corrected our selues The large libertie of others displeaseth vs and yet we will not haue our desires denied vs. Wee will haue others kept vnder by rigorous lawes but in no sort wil we our selues be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldome we weigh our neighbour in the same balance with our selues If all men were perfect vvhat should vvee haue to suffer of our neighbour for God 4 But novv God hath thus ordained that vve may learne to beare one anothers burden Gal. 6. for no man is without defect no man without burden no man sufficient of himselfe no man endued with so much wisdom as he needeth but we ought to beare with one another comfort one another helpe instruct and admonish one another 1. Thess 5. and 1. Cor. 12. Aduersitie best discouereth how great vertue each one hath for occasions make not a man fraile but doe shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of Religious life THou must learne to breake thy owne will in many things if thou wilt haue peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in community or in a congregation and to conuerse therein without complaint and to perseuer there faithfully vntill death Blessed is he that hath there liued well and ended happily If thou wilt perseuer in grace as thou oughtest and profit in vertue esteeme thy selfe as a banished man and a pilgrime vpon earth Thou must be contented for the loue of Christ to be esteemed as a foole in this world if thou desire to leade a vertuous and perfect religious life 2 The wearing of religious habit and shauing of the crowne doe little profit but change of manners and perfect mortification of passions make a true religious man 1. Pet. 2. He that seeketh any thing else but God and the health of his soule shal finde nothing but tribulation and sorrow Eccls. 1. 4. Neither can he remaine long in peace that laboureth not to be in the meanest place and subiect to all 3. Thou camest to serue not to be serued Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labour not to be idle or to spend thy time in talke Mat. 20. Heere in the Schoole of Christ men are prooued as gold in the fornace Heere no man can stand vnlesse hee humble himselfe vvith his vvhole heart for the loue of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers COnsider the liuely 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 doe now in these dayes Heb. 11. Alas what is our life if it be compared to them The Saints and friends of Christ serued our Lord in hunger and thirst in cold and nakednesse in labour and vvearinesse in vvatching and fasting in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2 O how many and grieuous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the rest that endeauoured to follow the steppes of Christ They hated their liues in this world Ioh. 12. that they might possesse their soules in euerlasting life Mat. 7. O how strait and poore a life led the holy Fathers in the vvildernes How long and grieuous temptations suffred they How often and how grieuously were they assaulted by their ghostly Enemie How feruent prayers offered they daily to God! How rigorous abstinence did they vse Hovv feruent zeale and care had they of their spirituall profit How strong and continuall a combate had they for the ouercomming of vices How pure and vpright intention kept they vnto God! In the day they laboured and in the night they attended to continuall prayer although when they laboured also they ceased not from mentall prayer 3 They spent all their time with profit euery houre seemed short for the seruice of God and for the great sweetnes they had in contemplation they forgot the necessity of corporall refection They renounced all riches dignities honors friends and kinsfolkes they desired to haue nothing vvhich appertained to the world they scarse tooke things necessary for the sustenance of life they grieued to serue their bodies euen it necessity They were poore in earthly things but rich in grace and vertues Outwardly they wanted but inwardly they were replenished with grace and spirituall comfort 4 They were strangers in the world but neere and familiar friends to God They seemed to themselues as nothing and abiect to this world but they were precious and beloued in the eyes of God They were grouÌ„ded in true humility liued in simple obedience walked in charity and patience and therefore they profited
that wee had spent one day well in this world Many doe reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to die perhaps it will be more dangerous for thee to liue long Blessed is hee that hath alwayes before his eyes the houre of hia death and disposeth himselfe daily therunto Eccl. 7. If thou hast at any time seen a man die thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3 When it t s morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy selfe the next morning Heb. 9. Be alwaies ready so order thy selfe that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Many die suddenly for the Sonne of Man will come when we least think of it Luk. 21. When that last houre shal come thou wilt begin to thinke far otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast beene so slack and negligent Matth. 24. Luk. 12. 4 O how wise and happy is hee that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of penance the readines of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou mayest doe much good whilest thou art wel but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to doe I know not Few doe grow better and amend themselues with sicknesse as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5 Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou doest imagine Esay 30. 31. Hier. 17. 48. It is better now to prouide in time and doe some good before thou goest then to trust in the helpe of others when thou art gone Mat. 6. If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee hereafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6 O my dearest brother from how great danger mayest thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maeyst thou bee freed if thou doest now liue fearefull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to die to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earthly things that thou mayest then freely go to Christ Chastise now thy body with pennance that thou mayst then haue assured confidence 1. Cor. 9. 7 Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luk. 12. How many haue been deceiued and taken out of this world on a sudden when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddenly slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his necke another died at his meate another when hee was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another died by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of al and the life of man passeth away like a shadow 8 Who will remember thee and vvho vvill pray for thee after thy death Iob 14 Do now beloued brother doe novv vvhat thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt die nor what shall befall thee after thy death Now whilest thou hast time heape together eternall riches Matth. 1. Luk. 11. Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Luk. 16. Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receiue thee into their euerlasting dwellings Hebr. 11. 9 Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertaine 1. Pet. 2. Keepe thy heart free and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citie Heb. 13. Send thither thy prayers daily with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happinesse to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgement and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge from whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with gifts nor admitteth excuses but judgeth according to justice Heb. 10. O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest sometimes the countenance of an angry man what answer wilt thou make to God to whō al thy wickednes is known Iob 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy selfe against that rigorous day of Iudgement in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden enough to himselfe Luk. 16. Now thy paines are profitable thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. Cor. 6. 2 The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iam. 1. who receiuing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice then for his owne wrongs Luk. 23. prayeth willingly for his aduersaries and from his hart forgiueth their offences Act. 7. delayeth not to aske forgiuenesse of whomsoeuer hee hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sinnes and vices now then to reserue them for Purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceiueth vs. 3 What other thing shal that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished hereafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe-same wherin a man hath sinned shall he be more grieuously punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwards with burning goads There shall the Gluttons be tormented with insatiable hunger and thirst There shall the lasciuious and the louers of pleasures be couered ouer vvith burning pitch and brimston The enuious like raging dogs shall there howle for griefe 4 There is no vice that shall not haue his proper torment The proud shall be full of all shame and confusion The couetous shall be in miserable want One houre of paine there shall be
more sharp then an hundred yeares of most hard pennance heere There is no rest there nor comfort for the damned Iob. 40. Heere yet sometimes our labours cease and we enioy the comfort of our friends Be now solicitous and sorrowfull for thy sinnes that in the day of judgement thou mayest bee secure in the company of the blessed soules For then shal the just stand in great constancy against those that afflicted and oppressed them Wisd 5. Then shall hee stand to judge who now doth humbly submit himselfe to the judgement of men Then shall the poore and humble haue great confidence and the proud shall be compassed about on all sides with feare 5 Then will it appeare that hee vvas vvise in this vvorld vvho had heere learned to be as a foole and dispised for Christ Then shall affliction patiently suffered delight vs and iniquity shall stoppe her mouth Then shall the deuout reioyce and the irreligious mourne Then shall the chastised flesh more flourish then if it had bin alwaies nourished in delights Psal 106. Then shall the poore garment shine and the precious robes appeare contemptiple 2. Cor. 4. Then shall the meane cottage be more commended then the sumptuous Palace Then will constant patience more auaile vs then all earthly power Then will simple obedience bee more esteemed then all worldly wisdome Esay 29. 6. Then shall a good and pure conscience yeeld vs more comfort then the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more then al the worldlings treasures Then wilt thou bee more comforted that thou hast prayed deuoutly then that thou hast fared daintily Then wilt thou be more ioyful that thou hast obserued silēce then that thou hast talked much Then will good workes appeare of much more esteem then faire words Then a strict life and hard pennance will be more pleasing then all earthly delights Accustome thy selfe now to suffer a little that thou mayst then bee deliuered from more grieuous paines Proue heere first what thou canst endure hereafter If now thou canst beare so little how wilt thou be able to endure euerlasting torments If now a little suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire doe hereafter Assure thy selfe thou canst not haue two Paradises It is impossible for thee to enioy delights heere in this world and raigne hereafter with Christ in heauen 7 If thou haddest hitherto liued alwaies in honors and delights what would it auaile thee if thou shouldest presently die Luk. 12. All is vanity but to loue God and onely to serue him Eccles 1. And he that loueth God with his whole heart needeth to feare neither death punishment judgement nor hell for perfect loue giues secure accesse to God Rom. 8. But hee that delighteth alwaies in sinne what wonder though he alwaies feare death and be terrified with the thought of judgement Yet it is good that if loue be not of force to withhold thee from sinne that at least the feare of hell may restraine thee And he that layeth aside the feare of God can neuer continue long in good state but falleth quickly into the snares of the diuell CHAP. XXV Of the feruent amendment of our whole life BE watchfull and diligent in the seruice of God and often thinke with thy selfe wherfore thou camest and why thou didst leaue the world 2. Tim. 4. Was it not that thou mightest liue to God and become a spirituall man Goe on therefore with courage thou shalt shortly receiue the reward of thy labours and there shall be no more feare nor sorrow in the confines of thy habitation Mat. 5. Apoc. 21. Thou must labour heere a while thou shalt afterwards haue great rest yea euerlasting ioy Eccles 51. If thou continuest faithfull and diligent in seruing of God doe not doubt but God will be faithfull and liberall in giuing thee reward Apoc. 21. 22. Matth. 25. Thou oughtest to haue a good hope of getting the victory but thou must not make thy selfe assured thereof lest thou waxe negligent or bee puffed vp with pride Rom. 5. 2 When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wauering betweene feare and hope did once being oppressed with griefe prostrate himselfe in a Church in praier before an Altar and said within himselfe O if I knew that I should yet perseuer He presently heard as it were a voice from God which said What if thou diddest know it what wouldest thou doe Doe now what thou wouldest doe then and thou shalt bee secure And being herewith comforted and strengthened in minde he committed himselfe wholly to the will of God that noysom anxiety ceased neither had hee any minde to search curiously any further to know what should befall him but rather laboured to vnderstand what was the perfect and acceptable will of God for the beginning and accomplishing of euery good worke Rom. 12. 3 Hope in our Lord and doe good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches thereof Psa 36. One thing there is that draweth many backe from that spirituall good the diligent amendment of their liues the horror of the difficulty and the labor of the combat But they aboue others profite most in vertue that endeauour most to ouercome those things which are grieuous and contrary vnto them For there a man profiteth more and deserueth greater grace where hee more ouercommeth and mortifieth himselfe in spirit 4 But all men haue not alike to ouercome and mortifie yet he that is zealous and diligent though hee haue more passions shall profit more in vertue then another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be lesse feruent in the pursuit of vertue Two things chiefely helpe to our amendment to wit to withdraw our selues violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labor earnestly for that vertue which we most want Be carefull also to auoide vvith great diligence those things in thy selfe which doe most displease thee in others 5 Gather some profit to thy soule out of euery occasion and wheresoeuer thou bee so as if thou seest or hearest any good stir vp thy selfe to the imitation therof But if thou seest any thing vvorthy of reproofe beware thou doest not the same And if at any time thou hast done it labour quickely to amend it As thine eye obserueth others so art thou also noted againe by others O how sweet and comfortable a thing it is to see the seruants of Christ feruent and deuout endued with vertuous and decent manners And on the contrary how pitifull and grieuous a thing it is to see them that liue in a dissolute and disordered sort not applying themselues to that for which they were called O how great domage and great danger it is to neglect the good purposes of their vocation and to busie themselues in that which appertaineth not vnto them nor is committed to their care 6 Bee mindefull of the purpose thou hast made and haue
purpose to resist with courage but when a smal temptation commeth it bringeth me into very narrow straits It is sometimes a very trifle from whence great temptations do proceed And whilst I thinke my selfe somewhat safe when I least expect it I find my selfe sometimes ouercome with a small blast 2 Behold therfore Lord my humility my frailty euery way knowne vnto thee Psalm 24. Haue mercy on me and deliuer me out of the mire of my infirmities that I sticke not fast therein let me not for euer remaine deiected Psal 68. This is that which oftentimes beareth me back confoundeth me in thy sight for that I am so subiect to fall and weak in resisting of my passions And though I do not altogether consent yet their continuall assaults are troublesome and grieuous vnto me it is tedious and a very irksome thing to liue thus daily in strife Hereby my infirmitie is made knowne vnto me for that wicked fancies doe alwayes much more easily enter in vpon me then they can be cast out againe 3 O mightie God of Israel the zealous louer of faithfull soules let it please thee to consider the labour and sorrow of thy seruant and assist him in all whatsoeuer he vndertaketh Strengthen me with heauenly force lest my old man my miserable flesh not fully as yet subiect to the spirit preuaile get the vpper hand against which I ought to fight as long as I breath in this miserable life Alas what a kind of life is this where tribulations and miseries are neuer wanting where al is set with snares and compassed with enemies For when one tribulation or temptation goeth away another commeth yea and during the first conflict also many others come vnlooked for one after another 4 And how can a life bee loued that hath so many afflictions and is subiect to so many calamities miseries How is it called a life that begetteth so many deaths plagues And yet it is loued and many seek to delight themselues therin The world is oftentimes blamed that it is deceitful and vaine yet it is not easily forsaken because the inclinations of our flesh do too much ouerrule vs. Some things draw vs to loue it others to contemne it To the loue of the world doe draw vs the concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life but the paines and miseries that do justly follow them causeth a hatred and loathsomenesse thereof 1. Ioh. 2. 5 But alas wicked pleasure ouercommeth the minde which is giuen ouer to the world and she esteemeth it a delight to be vnder thornes because shee hath neither seene nor tasted the sweetnes of God and the inward delight of vertue Iob. 30. But they that perfectly contemne the world and endeauour to liue to God vnder holy discipline these are not ignorant of the diuine sweetnes promised to the true forsakers of the world and do more clearely see how grieuously the world erreth and how it is many wayes deceiued CHAP. XXI That we are to rest in God aboue all his gifts THE SERVANT ABoue all things and in all things my soule thou shalt euer rest in God for he is the euerlasting rest of the Saints Grant me most sweet and louing Iesu to rest in thee aboue all creatures aboue all health and beauty aboue all glory and honor aboue all power and dignitie aboue all knowledge and learning aboue all riches and artes aboue all joy and gladnes aboue all fame and praise aboue all sweetnes and comfort aboue all hope and promise aboue all merit and desire aboue all gifts and presents that thou canst giue and impart vnto vs aboue all joy and jubily that the minde of man can receiue and feele lastly aboue Angels and Archangels and aboue all the heauenly Host aboue all visible and inuisible things and aboue all that that thou art not my God Rom. 8. 2 For that thou my Lord God surpassest all thou alone most high thou alone most powerfull thou alone most full and sufficient thou alone most sweete and comfortable thou alone most beautifull and louing thou alone most noble and glorious aboue all things in whom all good things together both are perfectly and euer haue beene and shall be and therefore it is too little and not sufficient whatsoeuer thou bestowest on me besides thy selfe or reuealest vnto mee of thy selfe or promisest whilest thou art not seene and not fully obtained for surely my heart cannot rest nor be fully cōtented vnlesse it rest in thee surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoeuer 3 O my most beloued Spouse Christ Iesus the most chast louer the gouernour of all creatures who wil giue me wings of true libertie to flie and rest in thee Psalm 53. O when shall it be fully granted me to consider in quietnes of mind and see how sweet thou art my Lord God! When shall I fully recollect my self in thee that for thy loue I may not feele my selfe but thee alone aboue all sense and feeling in a manner not knowne vnto al. But now I oftentimes lament and beare my infelicity with griefe Dan. 13. For that many euils occurre in this vale of miseries which do often trouble grieue and darken me often hinder and distract me allure and intangle me to the end I should not haue free accesse vnto thee and that I should not enioy those sweete and heauēly imbracings which thou alwaies giueth to the blessed celestial spirits Let my sighes and manifold desolation on earth moue thee 4 O Iesus splendor of eternal glory comfort of the pilgrime soule With thee is my tongue without voice and my silence speaketh vnto thee How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come vnto me his poore seruant make me glad Let him put out his hand and deliuer me miserable wretch from all anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall haue no joyfull day nor houre Thou art my joy without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and loaden with irons vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and giuest me liberty and shewest a fauourable countenance vnto me 5 Let others seeke vvhat they please insteed of thee but for me nothing else doth nor shall delight me but thou only my God my hope my euerlasting health I will not hold my peace nor cease to pray vntil thy grace returne againe and thou speak inwardly vnto me LORD Behold I am here behold I come vnto thee because thou hast called vpon me thy teares and the desire of thy foule thy humility and the contrition of thy heart haue inclined and brought me vnto thee SER. And I said Lord I haue called thee haue desired to enioy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me vp that I might seek thee Blessed be thou therefore O Lord that hast shewed this goodnesse to thy
abhorreth and flieth that by feruour of spirit it taketh hould on and loueth 9 It is not according to mans inclination to beare the crosse to loue the crosse to chastise and subdue the body to fly honors to suffer contumelies with a ioyfull hart to despise himselfe and to wish to be despised to beare al aduersities and domages and to desire no prosperity in this world If thou considerest thy selfe thou shalt bee able to performe no such matter of thy selfe 2. Cor. 3. But if thou trustest in our Lord strength shall be giuen thee from heauen and the world and flesh shall bee made subiect to thy command Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Diuell if thou be armed with faith and signed with the Crosse of Christ 10 Resolue therfore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull seruant of Christ to beare manfully the Crosse of thy Lord who was crucified for thy loue Prepare thy selfe to beare many aduersities and diuers kinds of troubles in this miserable life for so it will be with thee whersoeuer thou be and so surely thou wilt finde it whersoeuer thou hide thy selfe So it must be and there is no remedy or means to auoid tribulation sorow but to beare them Drink of the chalice of our Lord willingly if thou wilt be his friend desirest to haue part with him Mat. 20. Leaue the desire of comforts to God let him do therin as shal best please him Io. 28. Set thou thy heart vpon the suffering of tribulations account them the greatest comforts for that the passions of this life are not according to future glory although thou alone couldest suffer them all Rom. 8. 11 When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation shall seeme sweet and pleasant vnto thee for Christ then thou mayest thinke it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise vpon earth Galath 6. As long as it is grieuous vnto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to flie it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou fliest will follow thee euery where 12 If thou setlest thy selfe to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to die to thy selfe it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt find peace Although thou shouldest haue beene rapt euen vnto the third heauen with Paul 1. Cor. 12. thou art not for this assured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction I saith Iesus will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name Act. 9. It resteth therefore that thou suffer if thou wilt loue Iesus and perpetually serue him 13 O would to God thou wert worthy to suffer somthing for Iesus How great glory would it be vnto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour For al do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ since many suffer far greater things for the loue of the world Psal 43. 14 Know for certaine that thou oughtest to leade a dying life And how much the more euery one dyeth to himselfe so much the more doth hee begin to liue to God No man is fit to attaine vnto heauenly things vnlesse hee submit himselfe to the bearing of aduersities for Christ Nothing is more gratefull vnto God nothing more vvholesome to thee in this vvorld then to suffer vvillingly for Christ And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer aduersities for Christ then to enjoy the delight of many comforts because by these meanes thou shouldest be more like vnto Christ and more conformable to all the Saints For our merit and the perfection of our estate consisteth not in much sweetnesse and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 15 If there had beene any better thing and more profitable to the health of man then suffering surely Christ would haue shewed it by word and example But hee plainly exhorted al the disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse and saith If any man wil come after me let him deny himselfe take vp his Crosse and follow me Luk. 9. So as when we haue read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14. The end of the second Booke OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the inward speech of Christ vnto a faithfull soule I Will heare what our Lord God will speake in me Psal 84. Blessed is the soule that heareth our Lord speaking in her and receiueth from his mouth the word of comfort 1. King 3. Blessed are those ears that receiue the sound of the diuine voice and listen not to the whispering of the world Blessed indeed are those eares that harken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but vnto truth which teaceth inwardly Matth. 13. Blessed are the eyes that being shut vp to outward things are attentiue to those things that are internall Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeauour to prepare themselues more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of heauenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to attend to the seruice of God and cast from them all impediments of this world 2 Consider these things my soule and shut vp the dores of thy sensuall desires that thou mayest heare what thy Lord God speaketh in thee Psal 84. Thus saith thy beloued I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keepe thy selfe with me and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitory things and seeke those that be euerlasting Psal 34. What are temporall things but deceiuing snares And what do all creatures auaile thee if thou bee forsaken by the Creator Forsake therefore all earthly things and labour to please thy Creator and bee faithfull vnto him that thou mayest attaine vnto true happinesse CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of Words THE SERVANT SPeake Lord for thy Seruant heareth I am thy Seruant grant mee vnderstanding that I may knovv thy testimonies Stirre vp my heart to heare the words of thy mouth 1. King 3. Psalm 118. Let thy speech descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and wee shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs lest perhaps wee die Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreate speak Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. Let not Moyses speake vnto mee nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and inlightner of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2 They can pronounce words but they giue not spirit They speake meruailous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the
happy and gracious that be past this wretched life and now in blisse for they shall neuer haue any such miserie And when you feele a comfort or consolation spirituall thanke God therof and thinke the damned soules shall neuer haue any such pleasure And thus let this bee for your exercise in the datiue At night when you goe to rest first make account with your selfe and remember how you haue spent or passed the day time that was giuen you to bee vsed in vertue and how you haue bestowed your thoughts your words and your workes And if you finde no great thing amisse giue the whole laude and praise vnto our Lord God And if you perceiue contrary that you haue mispent any part thereof bee sory therefore and beseech our Lord of mercie and forgiuenes and promise and verily purpose to make amends the next day And if you haue oportunitie thereupon it shall be very conuenient for you to bee confessed the next morning and especially if the matter done said or thought by deliberate consent doe grieuously weigh and worke with a grudge in your conscience then would I aduise you neuer to eate nor drinke till you bee discharged thereof if you may conueniently get a ghostly father Now for a conclusion of this worke put before you as by case or imagination two large Cities one full of trouble turmoile and misery and let that bee hell The other Citie full of joy gladnesse comfort and pleasure and let that bee heauen Looke well on them both for in both be many dwellers and great company Then cast and thinke within your selfe what thing heere might so please you that you should choose the worse Citie or what thing should displease you on the other part whereby you should withdraw your selfe from that vertue that might conuey and bring you vnto the other Citie And when you haue studied well hereupon and can nothing finde I dare well assure you if you keepe well the precepts and counsailes of this little Lesson you shall finde the right way for the holy Ghost will instruct and teach you where you be not sufficient of your selues so you endeauour and giue diligence to beare away and follow that which heere is taught Reade it euery weeke once or twice or oftner if you will And where you profite giue the thankes laude and praise vnto our Lord God and most sweet Sauiour Iesu Christ who send you his mercie and grace that alway liueth God world without end Amen THis Lesson was brought vnto me in English of an old translation rough and rude with request to amend it I thought lesse labour to write new the whole which I haue done according to the meaning of the Authour though not word for word and in diuers places added some things following vpon the same to make the matter more sententious and full I beseech you take all vnto the best and pray for the olde wretched brother of Sion RICHARD WHITFORD A SPIRITVALL GLASSE REade distinctly pray deuoutly sigh deepely suffer patiently humble your selfe lowly giue no sentence hastily speake but seldome and that truely preuent your speech discreetly do your deeds in charitie temptations resist strongly break he head speedily weepe bitterly haue compassion tenderly do good works busily loue perseuerantly loue hartily loue faithfully loue God all-only and all other for him charitably loue in aduersitie loue in prosperitie thinke alwaies of loue for loue is none other but God himselfe Thus to loue bringeth the louer to loue without end Amen THE RVLES OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE made by IOHN PICVS the elder Earle of Mirandula FIrst if to man or woman the way of vertue doth seeme hard or painefull because wee must needes fight against the flesh the diuell and the world let him or her call to remembrance that whatsoeuer life they will choose according to the world many aduersities incommodities much heauines and labour are to be suffered Moreouer let them haue in remembrance that in wealth worldly possessions is much and long contention laborious also and therewith vnfruitfull wherein trauaile is the conclusion or end of labour and finally paine euerlasting if those things be not well ordered and charitably disposed Remember also that it is very foolishnesse to thinke to come vnto heauen by any other meanes then by the said battaile considering that our head and Master Christ did not ascend vnto heauen but by his passion and the seruant ought not to be in better estate or condition then his Master or Soueraigne Furthermore consider that this battaile ought not to be grudged at but to be desired and wished for although thereof no price or reward might ensue or happen but onely that thereby wee might bee conformed or joyned to Christ our God and Master Wherefore as often as in resisting any temptation thou doest withstand any of thy senses or wits think vnto what part of Christs passion thou mayest apply thy selfe or make thy selfe like As resisting gluttonie whilest thou doest punish thy taste or appetite remember that Christ receiued in his drinke aysell mixed with the gall of a beast a drinke most vnsauoury and loathsome When thou vvithdrawest thine hand from vnlawfull taking or keeping of any thing which liketh thine appetite remember Christs hands as they were fast nailed vnto the tree of the Crosse And resisting of pride thinke vpon him who being very God almightie for thy sake receiued the forme of a subiect and humbled himselfe vnto the most vile and reproachfull death of the Crosse And when thou art tempted with wrath Remember that hee which was God and of all men the most just and righteous when hee beheld himselfe mocked spit on scourged and punished with all dispites and rebukes and set on the Crosse betweene two theeues as if he himselfe were a false harlot hee notwithstanding shewed neuer token of indignation or that he were grieued but suffering all things with wonderfull patience answered all men most gently In this wise if thou peruse all things one after another thou mayest finde that there is no passion or trouble that shall not make thee in some part conformable or like vnto Christ Also put not thy trust in mans helpe but in the onely vertue of Christ Iesu which said Trust well for I haue vanquished the world and in another place hee saith The Prince of this world is cast out thereof Wherefore let vs trust by his onely vertue to vanquish the world and to subdue the Diuell And therefore ought wee to aske his helpe by our owne prayers and by the prayers of his blessed Saints Remember also that as soone as thou hast vanquished one temptation alway another is to bee looked for The Diuell goeth alway about and seeketh for him whom he would deuour Wherefore wee ought to serue diligently and be euer in feare and to say with the Prophet I will stand alway at my defence Take heed moreouer that not onely thou bee not vanquished of the Diuell that tempteth thee but also that thou vanquish and ouercome him And that is not onely when thou doest not sinne but also when of that thing wherein hee tempted thee thou takest occasion for to doe good As if hee offereth to thee some good act to bee done to the intent that thereby thou maist fall into vaine-glorie forthwith thou thinking it not to bee thy deede or worke but the benefite or reward of God humble thou thy selfe and judge thee to bee vnkinde vnto God in respect of his manifold benefits As often as thou doest fight fight as in hope to vanquish and to haue at the last perpetuall peace For that peraduenture God of his abundant grace shall giue vnto thee and the Diuell being confused of thy victorie shall returne no more againe But yet when thou hast vanquished beare thy selfe so as if thou shouldest fight againe shortly Thus alway in battaile thou must thinke on victory and after victory thou must prepare thee to battaile immediatly againe Although thou feelest thy selfe well armed and readie yet flye notwithstanding all occasions to sinne For as the Wiseman saith Who loueth perill shall therein perish In all temptations resist the beginning and beate the children of Babylon against the stone which stone is Christ and the children bee euill thoughts and imaginations For in long continuing of sinne seldome worketh any medicine or remedie Remember that although in the said conflict of temptation the battaile seemeth to be very dangerous yet consider how much sweeter it is to vanquish temptation then to follow sinne whereto shee inclineth thee whereof the end is repentance And herein many be foulely deceiued which compare not the sweetnesse of victorie to the sweetnesse of sinne but onely compareth battaile to pleasure Notwithstanding a man or woman which hath a thousand times known what it is to giue place to temptation should once assay what it is to vanquish temptation If thou bee tempted thinke thou not therefore that God hath forsaken thee or that hee setteth but little by thee or that thou art not in the sight of God good or perfect but remember that after Saint Paul had seene God as hee was in his Diuinitie and such secret mysteries as bee not lawfull for any man to speake or rehearse hee for all that suffered temptation of the flesh wherewith God suffered him to bee tempted lest he should be assaulted with pride Wherein a man ought to consider that Saint Paul which was the pure vessell of election and rapt into the third heauen was notwithstanding in perill to be proud of his vertues as hee saith of himselfe Wherefore aboue all temptations men or women ought to arme themselues most strongly against the temptations of pride since pride is the roote of all mischiefe against the which the onely remedie is to thinke alway that God humbled himselfe for vs vnto the Crosse And moreouer that death hath so humbled vs whether wee will or no that our bodies shall be the meat of worms lothsome and venimous FINIS
wee bee extolled in our good deeds pag. 188 What we ought to doe and say in euerie thing which we desire pag. 191 That true comfort is to be sought in God alone pag. 194 That all our care is to be placed in God pag. 196 That temporall miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently pag. 198 Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truely patient pag. 201 Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmitie and of the miseries of this life pag. 204 That wee are to rest in God aboue all his gifts pag. 208 Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God pag. 213 Of foure things that bring much peace pag. 217 Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others pag. 221 Wherein doth the firme peace of the heart and true profit consist pag. 223 Of the excellencie of a free minde which humble prayer better deserueth then reading pag. 226 That priuate loue most hindereth from the chiefest good pag. 229 Against the tongue of slanderers pag. 432 How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere pag. 233 Of crauing the diuine aide and confidence of recouering grace pag. 235 Of the contempt of all creatures to finde our Creator pag. 240 Of the deniall of our selues and forsaking our affections pag. 244 Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our finall intentions vnto God pag. 247 That God is sweet aboue all things and in all things to him that loueth pag. 249 That there is no security from temptation in this life pag. 252 Against the vaine iudgements of men pag. 255 Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtaining freedome of heart pag. 257 Of good gouernment in outward things and of recourse to God in dangers pag. 260 That a man be not ouer earnest in his affaires pag. 262 That man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing whereof he can glory pag. 264 Of the contempt of all temporall honors pag. 267 That our peace is not to be placed in men pag. 268 Against vaine and secular knowledge pag. 271 Of not drawing outward things to our selues pag. 274 That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words pag. 275 Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise pag. 280 That all grieuous things are to be endured for life euerlasting pag. 284 Of the euerlasting day and shortnesse of this life pag. 287 Of the desire of euerlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly pag. 292 How a desolate person ought to offer himselfe into the hands of God pag. 299 That a man ought to imploy himselfe in workes of humilitie when force is wanting for higher exercises pag. 305 That a man ought to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes pag. 307 That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things pag. 310 Of the different motions of Nature and Grace pag. 313 Of the corruption of nature and efficacie of diuine grace pag. 320 That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse pag. 325 That a man bee not too much deiected when he falleth into some defects pag. 329 Of not searching into high matters and into the secret iudgements of God pag. 333 That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone pag. 341 THE FOVRTH BOOKE WIth how great reuerence Christ is to be receiued pag. 349 That great goodnes and charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this SacrameÌ„t pag. 356 That it is profitable to communicate often pag. 361 That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that communicate deuoutly pag. 365 Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function pag. 371 An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion pag. 374 Of the discussing of our owne conscience and purpose of amendment pag. 375 Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selues pag. 379 That we ought to offer vp our selues and all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all pag. 381 That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne pag. 386 That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faithfull soule pag. 392 That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himself with great diligence pag. 399 That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole heart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament pag. 403 Of the feruent desire of some deuout persons to receiue the body of Christ pag. 406 That the grace of deuotion is obtained by humilitie and deniall of our selues pag. 409 That we ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ and to craue his grace pag. 412 Of burning loue and vehement desire to receiue Christ pag. 414 That a man bee not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith pag. 418 OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the Imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world HEE that followeth me walketh not in darknes saith our Lord. Ioh. 8. These are the words of Christ by which we are admonished that we ought to imitate his life and manners if we will be partakers of his diuine light and be deliuered from all blindnesse of heart Let therefore our chiefe care be to meditate vpon the life or Iesus Christ 2 The doctrine of Christ exceedeth all the doctrine of the Saints and hee that had the light of spirit would discouer therein a secret and hidden Manna But it falleth out that many who often heare the Gospell of Christ doe yet feele in themselues but slender motion of any holy desire because they are voide of the Spirit of Christ But whosoeuer will fully and feelingly vnderstand the words of Christ must endeauour to conforme his life wholly to the life of Christ 3 What will it auaile thee to dispute profoundly of the Trinitie if thou be void of humility and thereby displeasing to the Trinitie High words surely make a man neither holy nor just but a vertuous life maketh him deare to God I had rather feele compunction then vnderstand the definition thereof 1. Cor. â—â— If thou diddest know the whole Bible by heart and the sayings of all the Philosophers what would all that profit thee without charity and the grace of God Vanity of vanities and al is vanity but only to loue God and wholly to serue him Eccles 1. This is the highest wisdome by contempt of the world to tend towards the Kingdome of heauen 4 It is therefore vanity to seeke after fading riches and to repose trust in them It is also vanity to gape after honors and to climbe to high degrees It is vanity to follow the appetites of the flesh and to labour for that for which thou must afterwards suffer more griueuous punishment Vanity it is to wish to liue long and to
passe avvay Eccl. 2. Would God their life had beene answerable to their learning then had their study and reading bin to good purpose How many perish in this world by reason of vaine learning who take little care of the seruice of God Tit. 1. And because they rather choose to bee great then humble Rom. 1. therefore they vanish away in their owne thoughts Mat. 18. and 23. He is truely great that is great in charity He is truly great that is little in himselfe and that maketh no account of the height of honor He is truly wise that accounteth all earthly things as dung that he may gaine Christ And he is truly learned that fulfilleth the will of Christ and forsaketh his owne Phil. 3. CHAP. IV. Of Prudence and Fore-sight in our actions WE must not giue eare to euery suggestion or instinct but ought warily leasurely to ponder things according to the wil of God 1. Io. 4. But alas such is our weakenesse that wee rather often beleeue and speake euill of others then good Those that are perfectly vertuous do not easily giue credit to euery thing that is told them Gen. 8. for they know that humane frailtie is prone to euill and very subiect to faile in words Iam. 3. 2 It is great wisedome not to be rash in thy proceedings nor to stand stiffely in thine owne conceits Prouerb 19. as also not to beleeue euery thing which thou hearest nor presently to relate againe to others what thou hast heard or doest beleeue Prou. 17. Consult with him that is wise and of a good conscience and seeke to be instructed by a better then thy selfe rather then to follow thine owne inuentions A good life maketh a man wise according to God and giueth him experience in many things Prou. 15. and Eccl. 1. How much the humbler one is in himselfe and more subiect and resigned vnto God so much the more prudent shall hee bee in all his affaires and enioy greater peace and quiet of heart CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures TRuth not eloquence is to bee sought for in holy Scriptures Each part of them is to be read with the same spirit it was made Wee should rather search after spirituall profit in Scriptures then subtility of speech Rom. 15. We ought to reade deuout and simple books as willingly as high and learned Let not the reputation of the writer offend thee whether he be of great or small learning but let the pure word of truth moue thee to reade Search not who spake this or that but marke what is spoken 1. Cor. 2. 2 Men passe away but the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer Psal 110. and Luk. 21. God speaketh vnto vs sundry wayes without respect of persons Our owne curiosity often hindereth vs in reading of the Scriptures when as we will examine and discusse that which wee should rather passe ouer without more ado Rom. 2. 10. Col. 3. If thou desire to reape profite reade humbly plainly and faithfully neuer desire the estimation of learning Inquire willingly and heare with silence the words of holy men dislike not the Parables of Elders for they are not recounted without cause Prou. 1. and 18. CHAP. VI. Of inordinate desires and affections WHensoeuer a man desireth any thing inordinately he is presently disquieted in himselfe The proud and couetous can neuer rest The poore and humble in spirit liue together in all peace The man that is not wholly dead in himselfe is quickely tempted and ouercome in small and trifling things The weake in spirit and that is yet in a manner subiect to his appetites and prone to sensible things can hardly withdraw himselfe altogether from earthly desires And therefore hee is often afflicted when hee goeth about to retire himselfe from them and easily falleth into indignation when any opposition is made against him 2 And if he hath followed therein his appetite hee is presently disquieted with remorse of conscience for that hee yeeldeth to his passion which profiteth him nothing to the obtaining of the peace hee sought for True quiet of minde therefore is gotten by resisting our passions not by obeying them There is no peace in the heart of a carnall man nor of him that is addicted to outward things but in the spirituall and feruent CHAP. VII Of flying vaine Hope and Pride HEE is vaine that putteth his trust in men or creatures Hier. 17.1 Bee not ashamed to serue others for the loue of Iesus Christ nor to be esteemed poore in this world Presume not vpon thy selfe but place thy hope in God Psalm 30. Doe vvhat lyeth in thy power and God will assist thee Trust not in thine owne knowledge nor in the wisdome or prudence of any liuing creature but rather in the grace of God who helpeth the humble and humbleth the presumptuous and proud Hier. 9. 2 Glory not in wealth if thou haue it nor in the power of thy friends but in God who giueth all things and aboue all desireth to giue thee himselfe Extol not thy selfe for the stature and beauty of thy bodie which is dissolued disfigured with euery little sicknes Take not pleasure in thy naturall gifts or wit lest therby thou displease God to whom appertaineth all the good whatsoeuer Nature hath giuen thee 3 Esteeme not thy selfe better then others lest perhaps in the sight of God who knoweth what is in man thou be accounted worse then they Exod. 3. 12. Bee not proud of thy good workes for the iudgements of God are far different from the iudgements of men and that often offendeth him which pleaseth them Iob 9. If there be any good in thee beleeue that there is much more in others that so thou mayst the better keepe within thy heart the precious treasure of humility It is no preiudice vnto thee to esteeme thy selfe worse then all the world but it hurteth thee very much to preferre thy selfe before any one The humble enioy continuall peace but in the heart of the proud is enuy and often indignation CHAP. VIII That too much familiarity is to be shunned LAy not thy heart open to euery one but treate of thy affaires with the wise and such as feare God Eccl. 8. Conuerse not much with yong people and strangers Flatter not the rich neither doe thou appeare willingly before great personages Keep company with the humble simple deuout and vertuous and conferre with them of those things that may edifie Be not familiar with any woman but in generall commend all good women to God Prou. 5. Desire to bee familiar with God alone and his Angels and fly the knowledge of men 2 Wee must haue charitie towards all but familiaritie with all is not expedient Sometimes it falleth out that the fame of some person that is not knowne is much esteemed whose presence notwithstanding is not gratefull to the eyes of the beholders Wee thinke sometimes to please others by our company and wee rather distate them with
any one so spirituall that is free from the loue of all earthly things For where is any that is indeed poore in spirit and free from all affection of creatures Far hence and from the end of the world is his price Prou. 31. If a man should giue all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should doe great penance yet is it little And if hee should attaine to all knowledge hee is yet far off And if hee should haue great vertue and very feruent deuotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him What is that That leauing all he forsake himselfe and goe perfectly from himselfe and retaine nothing of selfe-loue Matth. 16. And vvhen hee hath done all that hee knoweth to bee done let him thinke that hee hath done nothing 3 Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirme himselfe to bee an vnprofitable seruant as our Sauiour hath said When you shall haue done all things that are commanded you say Wee are vnprofitable seruants Luk. 17. Then may he be truely poore in spirit and naked and say with the Prophet I am alone and poore yet no man more powerfull no man more free then he that can leaue himselfe and all things and put himselfe in the meanest and lowest place Psal 24. CHAP. XII Of the high way of the holy Crosse VNTO many seemeth hard this speech Deny thy selfe take vp thy crosse and follow Iesus Mat. 16. But it will be much harder to heare that last word Get ye away from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire For they that now willingly heare and follow the word of the Crosse shall not then feare to heare the sentence of euerlasting damnation This signe of the Crosse shall be in heauen when our Lord shall come to judgement Then all the seruants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselues vnto Christ crucified shal draw neere vnto our Lord with great confidence 2 Why therefore fearest thou to take vp the Crosse which leadeth thee to a Kingdome In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is protection against our enemies in the Crosse is infusion of heauenly sweetnesse in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is joy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity There is no health of the soule nor hope of euerlasting life but in the Crosse Take vp therefore thy crosse and follow Iesus and thou shalt goe into life euerlasting Hee is gone before bearing his Crosse Luc. 14. and is dead for thee on the Crosse Ioh. 19. that thou mayest also beare thy Crosse and desire to die on the Crosse with him For if thou diest with him thou shalt also liue with him And if thou bee his companion in paine thou shalt bee partaker with him also in glory 2. Cor. 1. 3 Behold in the Crosse all doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life vpon it for there is no other way vnto life and vnto true inward peace but the vvay of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification Goe where thou wilt seeke whatsoeuer thou wilt thou shalt not finde a higher way aboue nor a safer way belovv then the vvay of the holy Crosse Dispose and order all things according to thy will judgement yet thou shalt euer finde that of necessity thou must suffer somwhat either willingly or against thy will so as thou shalt neuer fully auoid the Crosse For either thou shalt feele paine in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 4 Sometimes thou shalt be forsaken of God sometimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbors which is more oftentimes thou shalt bee irksome to thy selfe neither canst thou be deliuered or eased by any remedie or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it For God wil haue thee learn to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholly to him and become more humble by tribulation No man hath so liuely a feeling of the Passion of Christ as hee who hath chanced to suffer the like The Crosse therefore is alwaies ready and euery where attendeth thee Thou canst not escape it whither soeuer thou flyest for wheresoeuer thou goest thou cariest thy selfe with thee shalt euer find thy selfe both aboue below without and within which way soeuer thou doest turne thee alwaies thou shalt find the Crosse euery where of necessity thou must haue patience if thou wilt haue inward peace and deserue an euerlasting Crowne 5 If thou beare the crosse willingly it wil beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shall be an end of suffering though heere there shall not If thou beare it vnwillingly thou makest for thy self a new burden encreasest thy load and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it If thou cast away one crosse without doubt thou shalt finde another and that perhaps a more heauy 6 Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could euer auoid Which of the Saints in the vvorld was vvithout crosses and tribulations Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was neuer one houre without paine of suffering so long as hee liued Christ saith he ought to suffer and rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory and how doest thou seeke any other way then this high way which is the way of the holy Crosse Luk. 24. 7 The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seek rest and joy Thou art deceiued thou art deceiued if thou seekest any other thing then to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries and inuironed on euery side with Crosses Iob. 7. And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heauier Crosses he oftentimes findeth for the loue he beareth to God encreaseth the griefe which hee endureth for his banishment 8 But yet this man though so many waies afflicted is not without the remedy of spirituall consolation for the great good which he perceiueth to grow vnto him by the bearing of his Crosse For whilest he willingly putteth himselfe vnder it all the burthen of tribulation is turned into the confidence of diuine comfort And how much the more the flesh is vvasted by affliction so much the more is the spirit strengthened by invvard grace 2. Cor. 11. 12. And sometimes hee is so comforted with the desire of tribulation and aduersitie for the loue of conforming himselfe to the Crosse of Christ that he would not wish at any time to bee without sorrow and tribulation because hee beleeueth that so much the more gratefull hee shall be vnto God how much the more hee can suffer for him This is not a worke of humane vertue but it is the grace of Christ that can and doth so much in fraile flesh that what naturally it alwaies
am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my selfe behold I become nothing and a masse of infirmyty But if thou suddenly looke vpon me I am presently made strong filled with new joy And it is a great meruaile that I am so suddenly lifted vp and so graciously embraced by thee that of mine owne waight alwaies sinke downeward 2 Thy loue is cause hereof freely preuenting me and releeuing mee in so many necessities preseruing mee also from grieuous dangers and as I may truly say deliuering me from innumerable euils For surely by euill louing my selfe I lost my selfe and by seeking thee alone and sincerely louing thee I haue found both my selfe and thee and for thy loue haue more deepely brought my selfe to nothing Ioh. 12. For that thou O most sweet Iesu dealest with me aboue all desert and aboue all that I dare hope and request 3 Blessed be thou my God for although I be vnworthy of all good yet the noblenes of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnes neuer ceaseth to doe good euen to the vngratefull and to them that bee turned away farre from thee Matth. 5. Turne vs vnto thee O Lord that we may bee gratefull humble and deuout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be referred vnto God as vnto the last end OVR LORD SOnne I ought to bee thy chiefest and last end if thou desire to bee truly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinately to it selfe and vnto creatures For if in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest vp within thy selfe Direct therfore al things chiefely vnto me for I am hee that haue giuen all Consider euery thing as flowing from the highest good and therefore all things are to be reduced vnto me as vnto their first beginning Eccles 1. 2 Out of mee as out of liuing fountaines the little and the great the poore and the rich doe draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serue mee shall receiue grace for grace Ioh. 4. But hee that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particular good shall not bee grounded in true ioy nor enlarged in his heart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned 1. Cor. 1. Thou oughtest therfore to ascribe no good vnto thy self nor attribute the praise of vertue vnto any man but giue all vnto God without whom man hath nothing I haue bestowed all and wil that al be returned to me againe and with great seuerity I require thanks 1. Cor. 4. 3 This is the truth that putteth to flight vaine-glory And if heauenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no enuy nor grudging of heart neither shall there bee any place for selfe-loue For diuine charity ouercommeth all and enlargeth all the forces of the soule If thou vnderstand aright in mee alone thou wilt reioyce in mee alone thou wilt hope for none is good but God alone who is to be praised aboue all things and to be blessed in all Mat. 19. Luk. 18. CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God THE SERVANT NOw I wil speake againe Lord and will not be silent I wil say in the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnes Lord which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee Psal 30. But what art thou to thē that loue thee What to them that serue thee with their whole heart Truly vnspeakable is the sweetnesse of thy contemplation which thou bestowest on them that loue thee In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnes of thy charity Gen. 1. for that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me backe againe that I might serue thee and hast commanded mee to loue thee Psalm 118. and Matth. 15. 2 O fountain of euerlasting loue what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me euen when I whithered away and perished Thou hast vsed mercy with thy seruant beyond all the expectation of my heart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit What shall I returne vnto thee for this grace Psal 115. For it is not granted to euery one to forsake all things to renounce the world and to vndertake a life of religion and perfection Is it much that I serue thee whom all creatures are bound to serue It ought not to seeme much vnto mee to serue thee but this rather seemeth much and meruailous vnto me that thou vouchsafest to receiue into thy seruice one so poore and vnworthy and to joyne him with thy beloued seruants Iudg. 16. 3 Behold all is thine which I haue and whereby I serue thee And yet in very deed thou rather seruest mee then I thee 1. Cor. 4. Behold heauen and earth which thou hast created for the seruice of man are ready at hand and doe daily performe whatsoeuer thou dost command and this is little yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the seruice of man Psa 90. Heb. 1. But that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serue man and promised to giue thy selfe vnto him 4 What shall I giue thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serue thee al the daies of my life I would I were able at least for one day to doe thee some worthy acceptable seruice Thou art truly worthy of all seruice of all honor and euerlasting praise Thou art my Lord I thy poore seruant that am bound to serue thee with all my forces neither ought I euer to cease to praise thee And this I wish to doe this I desire and whatsoeuer is wanting vnto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5 It is a great honor a very great glory to serue thee and to despise all things for thee For great grace shall be giuen to them that shall willingly submit themselues vnto thy most holy seruice They shall receiue most sweete comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy loue shall renounce all carnall delights Mat. 19. They shall attaine great freedome of mind that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall haue left off all care of this world Matth. 7. 6 O sweet and delightfull seruitude of God by which man is truely made free holy Mat. 11. 1. Ioh. 5. O sacred state of religious bondage which maketh man equal to Angels pleasing to God terrible to diuels and grateful and of great esteeme to all the faithfull O seruice to be imbraced and alwaies wished for by which we obtain the greatest good and attaine to that joy which neuer shall haue end CHAP. XI That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated OVR LORD SOnne thou oughtest to learne many
forth good and perfect fruit Lift vp my mind ouercharged with the waight of sinne draw vp my whole desire to heauenly treasures that hauing tasted the sweetnes of celestial happines it may loath to thinke of earthly vanities 6 Take me violently to thee and deliuer mee from all vnstable comfort of creatures for no created thing can fully quiet and satisfie my desire Ioyne me vnto thee with an vnspeakable band of loue for thou onely fillest the minde of him that loueth thee and without thee all things are distastefull CHAP. XXIV Of flying curious enquiry of the life of others OVR LORD SOnne be not curious trouble not thy selfe with idle cares What is this or that to thee Doe thou follow me Eccls. 3. and 1. Tim. 5. 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 answere for others but shalt giue account of thy selfe Io. 21. Why therefore dost thou trouble thy selfe Behold I know euery one what he is and doe see all things that are vnder the Sunne and do vnderstand how it is with euery one what hee thinketh what he would at what his intentiō aimeth Gal. 6. Al things therfore are to be cōmitted vnto me but doe thou keepe thy selfe in good peace and suffer the vnquiet to do as they wil. Whatsoeuer they shal haue done or said shall fall vpon themselues for they cannot deceiue me 2 Desire not too great fame in this world nor to be knowne to many nor to haue the priuate loue of men for these things breed distractions and cause great darkenes of heart I would willingly vtter my words and reueale my secrets vnto thee if thou didst diligently obserue my cōming and didst open the dore of thy heart vnto me Be careful watch in praier and humble thy selfe in all things CHAP. XXV Wherein doth the firme peace of the heart and true profit consist OVR LORD SOnne I haue said Peace I leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the world giueth doe I giue to you All do desire peace but all care not for those things that appertaine vnto true peace My peace is with the humble and meeke of heart Ioh. 4. Thy peace shal be in much patience If thou wilt heare me and follow my voice thou maist enioy much peace SER. What then shall I doe LORD In euery thing attend vnto thy selfe what thou doest what thou sayest and direct thy whole intention vnto this that thou mayest please me alone and desire or seeke nothing out of mee Of the sayings and doings of others judge nothing rashly neither do thou intangle thy self with things not committed vnto thee and doing thus it may be thou shalt be little or seldome troubled 2 But neuer to feele any trouble at all nor to suffer any griefe of hart or body is not the state of this life but of euerlasting rest Thinke not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou haue no aduersary nor that it is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neither doe thou then esteeme highly of thy selfe or imagine thy selfe to be especially beloued if thou be in great deuotion and sweetnes for in these things a true louer of vertue is not tried neither doth the profit and perfection of man consist in hauing them SER. 3 Wherein then Lord LORD In offering thy self from the very bottom of thy heart vnto the diuine seruice not seeking thine owne interest or commodity neither in great nor little neither in time nor eternity so that with equall countenance thou mayest persist in thanksgiuing both in prosperity and aduersity weighing all things with an equal ballance If thou be of such courage so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawne from thee thou prepare thy heart to suffer greater matters and not justifie thy selfe as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justifie me in whatsoeuer I appoint and praise my holy name then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace and thou shalt haue vndoubted hope to see my face againe with great joy And if thou attaine to the full contempt of thy selfe then shalt thou enioy as great abundance of peace as thy banishment may permit CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free minde which humble prayer better deserueth then reading THE SERVANT LOrd it is the worke of a perfect man neuer to slack his mind from the attentiue thought of heauenly things and as it were to passe without care through many cares not faintingly but with a certaine priuiledge of a free mind adhering by inordinate affection to no creature 2 I beseech thee most mercifull God preserue me from the cares of this life lest I should be too much intangled thereby and from the many necessities of the body lest I should be enthralled by pleasure from all hinderances of the soule lest broken with troubles I should be deiected and dismayed I mean not from those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth but from those miseries that as punishments do weigh down and hinder the soule of thy seruant with the general curse of mortality that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit as often as I would Gen. 3. Rom. 7. 3 O my God the vnspeakable sweetnesse make bitter vnto mee all carnall comfort which may draw me away from the loue of euerlasting happines and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight Rom. 12. Let not flesh and bloud ouercome mee O Lord. Let not the world the short glory therof deceiue me Let not the Diuell and his subtill fraud supplant me Giue me force to resist patience to suffer and constancy to perseuere Giue me insteed of all the comforts of the world the most sweet vnction of thy Spirit and in lieu of carnall loue powre into my soule the loue of thy name 2 Behold meat drinke cloathes and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome vnto a feruent spirit Grant mee to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to bee intangled vvith an ouer great desire of them It is not lawfull to renounce them wholy for that nature is to bee maintained but to desire superfluities and those things that doe rather delight then sustaine the Law of God forbiddeth for otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand gouerne mee and teach mee that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good OVR LORD SOnne thou oughtest to giue all for all and to retaine nothing of thy selfe Know that the loue of thy selfe doth hurt thee more then any thing in the world According to the loue and affection thou bearest them so doth euery thing cleaue vnto thee more or lesse If thy loue be pure
take courage my brethren and go forwards together Iesus will be with vs for Iesus sake we haue vndertaken this Crosse for the loue of Iesus let vs perseuere in the Crosse Hee will be our helper who is our guide and forerunner Behold our King goeth before vs who also will fight for vs let vs follow him cheerefully let vs not bee dismayed but be readie to die with courage in the battaile and let vs not blemish our glory by flying from the Crosse CHAP. LVII That a man be not too much deiected when he falleth into some defects OVR LORD SOnne patience and humilitie in time of aduersitie are more pleasing to mee then much comfort and deuotion in prosperitie Why art thou grieued for euery little trifle spoken and done against thee Although it had beene much more thou oughtest not to haue been moued But now let it passe it is not the first that hath happened nor any new thing neither shall it bee the last if thou liue long Thou art cheerefull enough as long as no aduersity occurreth Thou canst giue good counsell also and canst strengthen others with thy words but when any tribulation suddenly knocketh at thy dore thou art destitute of counsell and voide of force See therefore thy great frailtie which thou often prouest in very small occasions It is notwithstanding permitted for thy good when these and such like occasions befall thee 2 Put it out of thy heart the best thou canst and if it touch thee yet let it not deiect thee nor trouble thee long beare it at least patiently if thou canst not ioyfully Although thou bee vnwilling to heare it and feelest in thy heart some motion of disdaine yet represse thy selfe and suffer no inordinate word to passe out of thy mouth which may bee a scandall to the weake The storme which now is raised shall quickly be appeased and inward griefe shall be asswaged by the returne of grace I do yet liue saith our Lord and am ready to helpe thee and to giue thee greater comfort then before if thou put thy trust in mee and callest deuoutly vpon me Esay 49. 3 Be more patient and prepare thy selfe to greater suffering All is not lost if thou feele thy selfe often afflicted or grieuously tempted Thou art a man and not God thou art flesh not an Angell How canst thou looke to continue euer in the same state of vertue when an Angell in heauen hath fallen and the first man in Paradise lost his standing I am hee that doe giue healthfull comfort to them that mourne and doe raise vp vnto my God-head those that know their owne frailtie Gen. 3. SER. 4 Lord blessed be thy sacred Word more sweete vnto my mouth then the hony and the hony-combe What should I doe in these my so great tribulations and anguishes vnlesse thou diddest comfort mee with thy holy sweete and heauenly speeches Psal 118. What matter is it how much and what I suffer so as at length I may attaine to the hauen of blisse Grant mee a good end grant mee a happie passage out of this world Be mindfull of me my God and direct mee the straight and ready way to the euerlasting Kingdome Amen CHAP. LVIII Of not searching into high matters and into the secret iudgements of God OVR LORD SOnne beware thou dispute not of high matters not of the secret judgements of God why this man is forsaken and he assumed to so great grace why also this man is so much afflicted and he so greatly aduanced These things exceede all humane power neither can any reason or discourse of any man search out the judgement of God When the enemy therfore suggesteth these things vnto thee or some enuious people demand them of thee answere that of the Prophet Thou art just O Lord and thy judgement is right Psa 218. And againe The judgements of our Lord are true justified in thēselues Psa 18. My judgments are to be fearead not to be discussed for they are such as cannot be comprehended by the vnderstanding of man 2 In like maner I aduise thee not to enquire nor dispute of the merits of the Saints which of them is holier then the other and which is greater in the Kingdome of heauen These things oftentimes breed strife vnprofitable contentions they nourish also pride vain-glory from whēce do vsually spring enuy dissensions whilst one will needs foolishly haue this Saint preferred the other another 1. Tim. 2. To desire to know search out such things is to no purpose but to displease the Saints of whom they speake For I am not the God of dissensiō but of peace which peace consisteth rather in true humilitie then in exalting our selues 3 Some are carried with zeale of affectiō to loue these or those most but this loue is rather humane then diuine I haue made al the Saints and haue giuen them grace I haue made them partakers of my glory I know the merits of euery one I haue preuented them in the benedictions of my sweetnes I foreknew my beloued before the beginning of the world I chose thē out of the world they chose not me first Ioh. 15. I called them by grace I drew them by mercy I led them through sundry temptations I haue sent thē great inward cōforts I haue giuen thē perseuerāce I haue crowned their patiēce 4 I know the first and last I embrace all with inestimable loue I am to be praised in al my Saints I am to be blessed aboue al things and to be honored in euery one whom I haue thus gloriously exalted and predestinated without any precedent merits of their owne He therefore that contēneth one of the least of my Saints honoreth not the greatest for that I made both the lesse and the greater Iam. 2. Wisd 6. And he that dispraiseth any of my Saints dispraiseth also me al the rest in the Kingdome of heauen All are one by the band of Charity they thinke the same they will the same and are all knit together in one perfect-band of loue 5 But yet which is much more high they loue me more then themselues more then their owne merits For being rauished aboue themselues drawne out of the affection of themselues they tend wholy vnto the loue of mee in which also they rest enioying me with vnspeakable glory Nothing can put them backe nothing presse them down for being full of euerlasting truth they burne with the fire of vnquenchable charity Let therfore carnal earthly mē that can affect no other but priuate joyes forbeare to dispute of the state of Saints They adde and take away according to their owne fancies not as it pleaseth the euerlasting Truth 6 There is in many great ignorāce specially in those that bee slenderly enlightned these can seldom loue any with perfect spiritual loue They are alwaies much drawne by a natural affection humane friendship to this man or to that and according to the
that many doe so little consider this comfortable mystery which rejoyceth heauen preserueth the whole world O blindnes and hardnesse of mans hart that doth not more deeply weigh the greatnes of so vnspeakable a gift but rather comes by the daily vse thereof to regard it little or nothing 12 For if this most holy Sacrament should be celebrated in one place only consecrated by one only Priest in the world with how great desire dost thou think would men be affected to that place and what esteeme would they haue of such a Priest of almighty God by whom they might enioy the consolation of these diuine mysteries But now there are many Priests Christ is offred vp in many places that so the grace and loue of God to man may appeare so much the greater how much the more this sacred Cōmunion is cōmon through the world Thāks be vnto thee good Iesu euerlasting Pastor of our soules that hast vouchsafed to refresh vs poore banished men with thy precious Body Bloud to inuite vs to that receiuing of these mysteries with the words of thy owne mouth saying Come vnto me all ye that labour are burdened and I will refresh you Mat. 11. CHAP. II. That great goodnes and charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple PResuming of thy goodnesse and great mercy O Lord being sick I approach vnto my Sauiour hungry and thirstie to the Fountaine of life needy to the King of heauen a seruant vnto my Lord a creature to my Creator desolate to my mercifull Comforter But whence is this to me that thou vouchsafest to come vnto mee Who am I that thou shouldest giue thy selfe vnto mee Luk. 1. How dare a sinner presume to appeare before thee And thou how doest thou vouchsafe to come vnto a sinner Thou knowest thy seruant and seest that hee hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this benefit vpon him I confesse therefore my vnworthinesse I acknowledge thy goodnes I praise thy mercy and giue thee thanks for this thy vnspeakable charity For thou dost this for thine own goodnes not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodnes may be better knowne vnto me thy charity more abundantly shewed and thy humility more highly commended Since therefore it is thy pleasure and hast commanded that it should bee so this thy bounty is also pleasing to me and do wish that my offences may be no hinderance 2 O most sweet and bountiful Iesu how great reuerence and thankes with perpetuall prayse is due vnto thee for the receiuing of thy sacred Bodie whose worth and dignitie no man is able to expresse But what shall I thinke of at this time now that I am to receiue this diuine Sacrament and to approach vnto my Lord to whome I am not able to giue due reuerence and yet I desire to receiue him deuoutly What can I thinke better and more profitable then to humble my selfe wholy before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodnes aboue me I praise thee my God and wil exalt thee for euer and I do despise and submit my selfe vnto thee euen into the depth of my vnworthinesse 3 Behold thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skumme of sinners Behold thou bowest thy self downe vnto mee who am not worthy so much as to looke vp vnto thee Behold thou commest vnto me it is thy will to be with me thou inuitest me to thy banket Ps 77. Thou wilt giue me the food of heauen and bread of Angels to eat which is no other truly then thy self the liuely bread that descendest from heauen and giuest life vnto the world Ioh. 6. 4 Behold from whence this loue proceedth What kind of fauour and benignity is this which shineth vpon vs What thanks and praises are due vnto thee for these benefits O how good and profitable was thy counsell when thou ordainedst it How sweet pleasant the banket when thou gauest thy selfe to be our food How wonderfull thy work O Lord how powerfull thy vertue how vnspeakable thy truth For thou saidst the word and all things were made and this was done which thou commandest Gen. 1. Psal 148. 5 A thing of great admiration and worthy of faith and surpassing the vnderstanding of man that thou my Lord God true God and Man shouldest be wholy contained vnder a small forme of bread and wine and shouldest bee eaten by the receiuer without being consumed Thou who art the Lord of all things and standest in need of none hast pleased to dwell in vs by meanes of this thy Sacrament preserue my heart and body vnspotted that with a cheerefull and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receiue them to my euerlasting health which thou hast chiefely ordained and instituted for thy honor perpetuall memory 6 Reioyce my soule giue thanks vnto God for so noble a gift and singular comfort left vnto thee in this vale of teares For as often as thou callest to mind this mystery and receiuest the body of Christ so often dost thou worke the worke of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ For the charity of Christ is neuer diminished and the greatnes of his mercy is neuer lessened Therefore thou oughtest alwaies to dispose thy selfe hereunto by a fresh renuing of thy mind and to weigh with attentiue consideration this great mystery of thy saluation So great new and joyfull it ought to seem vnto thee when thou sayest or hearest Masse as if the same day Christ first descending into the wombe of the Virgin were become man or hanging on the Crosse did suffer and die for the saluation of mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to Communicate often BEhold O Lord I come vnto thee that I may be comforted in thy gift and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou O Lord hast prepared in thy sweetnesse for the poore Psal 67. Behold in thee is all whatsoeuer I can or ought to desire thou art my health and my redemption my hope and my strength my honor and my glory Make joyfull therefore this day the soule of thy seruant for that I haue lifted it vp to thee my sweete Iesus Psalm 85. I desire to receiue thee now with deuotion and reuerence I do long to bring thee into my house that with Zachaeus I may deserue to be blessed by thee and numbred amongst the children of Abraham My soule thirsteth to receiue thy Body my heart desireth to be vnited with thee 2 Giue thy selfe to me and it sufficeth For besides thee no comfort is auailable I cannot be without thee nor liue without thy visitation And therfore I must often come vnto thee and receiue thee as the only remedy of my health lest perhaps I faint in the way if I be depriued of thy heauenly food For so most mercifull Iesus thou once didst say preaching to the people