me and let it deliuer me from all euill affection and inordinat loue and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of hart 2. I †Our Lord. will teach thee sayth the Truth those things that are right pleasing in my sight Thinke of thy sinnes with great sorrow and grief neuer esteeme thy selfe any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner and subiect to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwaies tendest to nothing and art quickly cast downe and ouercome quickly troubled quickly dissolued Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory 2. Cor. 4. but many thinges for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou art able to comprehend 3. And therfore let nothing seeme much vnto thee whatsoeuer thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderfull nothing worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is euerlasting Let the eternall Truth aboue all things please thee Let thy owne great vnworthines alwaies displease thee Feare nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy sinnes and vices which ought to displease more then the losse of any thing whatsoeuer Some walk not sincerly in my sight Eccles 3. 2. Cor. 3. but led by a certaine curiosity and pride will know my secrets and vnderstand the high mysteries of God neglecting themselues and their owne saluation These often times for that I resist them do fall into great temptations sinnes for their pride and curiosity 4. Feare the iudgments of God dread the wrath of the almighty But discusse not the works of the Highest Search thine owne iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their deuotion only in bookes some in pictures some in outward signes and figures some haue me in their mouths but little in their harts Esa 29. There are others that being illuminated in their vnderstanding and purged in their affection do alwaies aspire with an earnest mind to euerlasting happines and are vnwilling to heare of the things of this world and do serue the necessities of nature with griefe Ps 24. and these perceaue what the spirit of truth speaketh in them Because it teacheth them to despise earthly Ps 1. and loue heauenly things to neglect the world and day and night to desire heauen CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of diume grace I praise * The Seruant thee o heauenly Father Father of my lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poore and wretched creature 2. Cor. 1. O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be vnto thee who somtimes with thy comfort refreshest me vnworthy of all comfort I euer blesse and glorify thee with thy only begotten Sonne and the holy Ghost for all worlds O God my lord the holy louer of my soule when thou shalt come into my hart all that is within me will reioyce Psal 3. Thou art my glorie and the exultation of my hart Thou art my hope Ps 31. and my refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weake in loue and imperfect in vertue I haue need to be comforted by thee visit me therfore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliuer me from euill passions and heale my hart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to loue strong to suffer and constant to perseuere 3. Loue is a great matter Matt. 11. in very truth a great good which alone maketh euery thing that is heauy light and beareth equally vnequall burthens For it carrieth a burthen without a burthen and maketh euery thing that is bitter sweet and delightsome The noble loue of Iesus enforceth man to worke great things and styrreth him vp to desire allwaies the most perfect Loue will be aloft and not kept downe with any base thinges Loue will be free from all worldly affection to the end his inward sight be not obscured that he be not intangled with the desire of any transitory gaine or troubled with the want therof Nothing is sweeter then loue nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more ample nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in heauen or in earth for that loue hath his beginning from God and cannot rest but in God aboue all creatures 4. He that loueth flyeth runneth and reioyceth he is free and not held in He giueth all for all hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest aboue all from which all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the guifts but turneth himselfe aboue all goods vnto the giuer Loue oftentimes knoweth no measure but inflameth aboue all measure Loue feeleth no burthen waieth no paines desireth aboue it strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawfull and possible It is therfore able to vndertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to effect wheras he that doth not loue fainteth and can do nothing 5. Loue alwaies watcheth Rom. 8. and sleeping sleepeth not being wearied is not tyred straitned is not pressed frighted is not troubled but like a liuely flame and burning torch breaketh vpwards and passeth through all with great security If any one loueth he knoweth what this voice crieth A lowd cry in the eares of God is the burning loue of the soule which sayth My God my loue thou art wholy mine and I wholy thine 6. Enlarge me in loue that my hart may tast how sweet it is to loue and to be dissolued and swimme in thy loue Let me be possessed by loue mounting aboue my selfe with excessiue feruour and admiration Let me sing the song of loue let me follow thee on high my beloued let my soule faint in thy praises reioycing with loue Let me loue thee more then my selfe and not my selfe but for thee and all in thee that truly loue thee as the law of loue commandeth which shineth in thee 7. Loue is swift 1. Cor. 13. sincere pious sweet and delightfull strong patient faithfull prudent suffering full of courage and neuer seeking it selfe 1. Cor. 10. For where one seeketh himselfe there he falleth from loue Loue is circumspect Ps 2. humble and vpright not remisse not mutable nor attending vnto vaine things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Loue is subiect and obedient to Superiours meane and abiect to it selfe deuout and thankefull vnto God trusting and hoping alwaies in him euen then when God imparteth no sweetnes vnto it for without sorrow none liueth in loue 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloued is not worthy to be called a louer A louer ought to imbrace willingly all that is hard and distastfull for his beloued Rom. 8. and not to turne away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP. VI.
of peace and most quiet rest Matt. 6. 2. Lord * The Seruant Matt. 5. this thy short speach containeth much perfection It is little in words but sull in sense and aboundant in fruit For if it could exactly be kept by me then should I not so easily be troubled For as often as I feele my selfe vnquiet afflicted I find that I haue straied from this doctrine But thou that canst all things and euer louest the good and profit of my soule increase in me thy grace that I may fulfill thy words and perfect mine owne health A Prayer against euill thoughts 3. My * The Seruant Ps 70. Lord God be not far from me my God haue regard to helpe me for sundry thoughts haue risen vp against me and great feares afflicting my soule How shall I passe through them without hurt How shall I breake them I saith he †Our Lord. wil go before thee and will humble the glorious of the earth I will open the dores of the prison Esa 45. and reueale vnto thee the hidden secrets Do * The Seruant Lord as thou saiest let all euill thoughts fly from before thy face This is my hope and my only comfort to fly vnto thee in all tribulation to trust in thee to call vpon thee from my hart and to expect patiently thy comfort A Prayer for enlightening of the mind 4. Enlighten * The Seruant me good Iesu with the clearnes of inward light expell all darknes of my hart Represse the many wandring thoughts and beate downe the fury of the rēptations which violently assault me Fight strongly for me and vanquish the euill beasts that is the alluring concupiscences that peace may be made in thy vertue and aboundance of thy praise sound in thy holy Court which is a pure conscience Command the winds and tempests say vnto the sea Matt. 3. Be still and to the north-wind Blow not and a great calme shall ensue 5. Send forth thy light and thy truth Psal 42. that they may shine vpon the earth for I am empty and vnprofitable earth vntill thou impartest thy light vnto me Powre out thy grace from aboue wash my hart with heauenly dew giue waters of denotion to wash the face of the earth to bring 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 celestiall happines it may loath to thinke of earthly vanityes 6. Take me violently to thee and deliuer me from all vnstable cōfort of creatures for no created thing can fully quiet satisfie my desire Ioine me vnto thee with an vnspeakable band of loue for thou only fillest the mind of him that loues thee and without thee all things are distastfull CHAP. XXIIII Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others SONNE †Our Lord. Eccls. 3. 1. Tim. 5. be not curious trouble not thy selfe 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 speake this or that Ioan. 21. Thou shalt not need to answere for others but shalt giue accompt of thy selfe Gal. 6. Why therfore dost thou trouble thy selfe Behould I know euery one what he is and do see all things that are vnder the sunne and do vnderstand how it is with euery one what he thinketh what he would and at what his intention aymeth All things therfore are to be committed vnto me but do thou keepe thy self in good peace and suffer the vnquiet to do as they will Whatsoeuer they shall haue done or sayd shall fall vpon themselues for they cannot deceaue 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 darknes of hart I would willingly vtter my words and reueale my secrets vnto thee if thou didest diligently obserue my comming and didest opē the dore of thy hart vnto me Be carefull and watch in prayer and humble thy selfe in all things CHAP. XXV VVherin doth the firme peace of the hart and true profit consist SONNE †Our Lord. I haue sayd Peace I leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the world giueth do I giue to you All do desire peace but all care not for those things that appertaine vnto true peace Ioan. 4 My peace is with the humble meeke of hart Thy peace shall be in much patience If thou wilt heare me and follow my voyce thou maist enioy much peace What * The Seruant then shall I do In †Our Lord. euery thing attend vnto thy self what thou doest what thou sayst and direct thy whole intention vnto this that thou maiest please me alone and desire or seeke nothing out of me Of the sayings and doings of others iudge nothing rashly neither do thou intangle thy selfe with things not cōmitted 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 therfore 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 Neyther do 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 3. Wherin * The Seruant then Lord In †Our Lord. offering thy selfe from the very bottom of thy hart vnto the diuine seruice not seeking thine own interest or commodity neither in great nor little neither in time nor eternity so that with equall countenance thou maist persist in thanksgiuing both in prosperity and in aduersity waighing all things with an equall ballance If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawne from thee thou prepare thy hart to suffer greater matters and not iustify thy selfe as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but iustify 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 ioy And if thou attaine to the full contempt of thy selfe then shalt thou enioy as great aboundance of peace as thy banishment may permit CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer better deserueth then reading LORD * The Seruant it is the worke of a perfect man neuer to slack his mind from
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 exceed all humane power neither can any reason or discourse of any man search out the iudgment of God When the enemy therfore suggesteth these things vnto thee or some enuious people demand theÌ„ of thee answere that of the Prophet Psal 118. Thou art iust o Lord and thy iudgment is right And againe The iudgments of our Lord are true and iustified in themselues Psal 1â— My iudgments are to be feared not to be discussed for they are such as cannot be comprehended by the vnderstanding of man 2. In like manner I aduise thee not to inquire 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 and vnprofitable contentions 1. Tim. 2. they nourish also pride vaine glory from whence do vsually spring enuy and dissentions whilst one wil needs foolishly haue this Saint preferred and the other another To desire to know and search out such things is to no purpose but to displease the Saints of whome they speake For I am not the God of dissension but of peace which peace consisteth rather in true humility then in exalting our selues 3. Some are carried with zeale of affection to loue these or those most but this loue is rather humane then diuine I haue made all 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 sweetnesse I foreknew my beloued before the beginning of the world Ioan. 15. I chose theÌ„ 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 haue sent theÌ„ great inward comforts I haue giuen them perseuerance I haue crowned their patience 4. I know the first and last I imbrace all with inestimable loue I am to be praised in all my Saints I am to be blessed aboue all things to be honoured in euery one whom I haue thus gloriously exalted and predestinated without any precedeÌ„t merits of their owne He therfore that contemneth one of the least of my Saints Iac. 2. honoureth not the greatest for that I made both the lesse and the greater Sap. 6. And he that dispraiseth any of my Saints dispraiseth also me and all 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 togeather in one perfect band of loue 5. But yet which is much more high they loue me more then theÌ„selues and more then their owne merits For being rauished aboue themselues and drawne out of the affection of themselues they tend wholy vnto the loue of me in which also they rest enioying me with vnspeakable glory Nothing can put them backe nothing presse them downe for being full of euerlasting truth they burne with the fire of vnquenchable charitie Let therefore carnall and earthlymen that can affect no other but priuate ioyes 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 ignorance specially in those that be slenderly enlightned and these can seldome loue any with perfect spiritual loue They are alwaies much drawne by a naturall affection and humane friendship to this man or to that according to the experieÌ„ce they haue of themselues in their earthly affections so they frame an imagination of heauenly things But there is an incomparable distance betweene the things which the imperfect frame in their conceipts and those which illuminated persons do see by reuelatioÌ„ from aboue 7. Beware therfore my Sonne that thou treat not curiously of these things Eccli 3. which exceed thy knowledg but rather so apply thy endeauours that thou maist at least haue the meanest place in the Kingdome of heauen And if any one did know which of the Saints exceeded others in sanctity or is esteemed greater in the Kingdome of heauen what would this knowledg auaile him vnlesse he should thereby humble himselfe the more in my sight and stirre vp his mind to praise my name with greater feruour His labour is much more acceptable vnto God that thinketh of the greatnes of his sinnes and his want of vertues how far off he is from the perfectioÌ„ of the Saints then he that disputeth of their greatnes It is better to pray to the Saints with deuotion tears and to craue their glorious suffrages with an humble mind then to search their secrets with vaine curiosity 8. They are well and right wel contented if men could content theÌ„selues and refraine from these vaine discourses They glory not of their owne merits for they ascribe no good vnto themselues but attribute all to me who of my infinite charity haue bestowed my blessings vpon them They are replenished with so great loue of my Godhead and so superaboundant ioy that there is no glory nor happines that is or can be wanting vnto them All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselues and neerer and deerer vnto me And therfore thou haft it writteÌ„ Apoc. 4. That they did cast their Crownes before God and fell down vpon their faces before the Lambe and adored him that liueth for euer 9. Many inquire who is greatest in the Kingdome of God that know not whether they shall euer be numbred there amongst the least It is no small matter to be euen the least in heauen where all are great for that all there shall be called and shal be indeed the Sonnes of God The least there shall be great among thousands and the sinner of a hundred yeares shall die Matt. 18. For when the Disciples asked who was the greater in the Kingdome of heauen they receaued this answere Vnlesse you be conuerted become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen Whosoeuer therfore shall humble himself as this little child he is the greater in the Kingdome of heauen 10. Woe be vnto them that disdaine to humble theÌ„selues willingly with little children Matt. 6. For the low gate of the Kingdome of heauen will not giue them entrance And woe be to the rich that haue their comforts heere for whilst the poore enter into the Kingdome of God they shall be wayting without Reioyce you â—hat be humble and you that be poore Matt. 5. be you glad for yours is the Kingome of God if you walke according vnto truth CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone LORD * The Seruant what trust haue I in this world Or what is the grea test
THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST Deuided into foure Bookes Written in Latin by the Learned and Deuout man THOMAS à KEMPIS Chanon-Regular of the Order of S. Augustine AND Translated into English by B. F. I H S Permissu Superiorum M.DC.XIII TO THE HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the LORD Harrodowne HONOVRABLE AND RIGHT WORTHY THE publike demonstratiō which you haue lately giuen of your true desire to follow the footsteps of our Lord vndergoing so heauy a Crosse for his sake with so ready and resolued a mind hath moued me to dedicate this little Booke of the Imitation of Christ vnto You assuring my selfe that it will be no lesse gratefull to You to see it appeare in light purged from many mistaken sentences which were in the former Translation then the reading and practice therof will be profitable to others it being so diuine and excellent a worke as in the opinion of such as can best iudge of this matter of all the Bookes which are written that treate of spirit and Christian Perfection the holy Scripture excepted it is inferiour to none if it excelleth not all No ' booke hath byn more approued by generall consent none more often printed and translated into diuers languages none more esteemed commended yea commaunded also by the chiefe Maisters of Spirit of some Religious Orders to be often read by euery one in priuate and once a weeke publikely to all So full of sweet sense is this diuine Flower that the most spirituall bees may dayly draw from thence great plenty of celestiall hony It is a dish of so diuine meate that it neuer satiates the deuout mind but as the Wisdome of God doth promise to all such as fit at that heauenly banquet so shall they find in this spirituall food The more they eate it Eccl. 4. the more they shall hunger after it And the reason heerof is for that it contayneth so great depth of spirit and so great store and variety of heauenly documents that it seemeth euer new to the Reader and like another Manna affoardeth to euery one that delightfull tast which best agreeth with the palate of his soule and none can loath it but they whose lustes do carry them to Aegyptian slauery A true Israelite may feed vpon it fourty yeares togeather and euer find such pleasing tast and increasing strength by vse therof as will sustaine him in the desert of this world enable him to goe on without fainting till he arriue at his promised inheritance of eternall rest The practise of that which this Booke doth teach couereth the soule with the rich garment of grace and adorneth it with the splendent pearles of Euangelicall Perfection which maketh vs more pleasing in the sight of God then can the deckings of all earthly iewells make the fayrest Lady in the Kingdome where you are appeare beautifull to the eyes of men It returneth aboundant Gayne for sustained Losses and enlargeth the Liberty which is now restrayned It raiseth vp to cheerefull confidence the debased head and placeth in a Throno of endles Honour those who in this world doe seeme imprisoned in the blacke cloud of disgrace To Yov therfore who haue so willingly endured the losse of your earthly substance I haue thought good to present this Euangelicall Pearle and incomparable Treasure contayned in a little roome Heere you shall find the most perfect manner of conforming our selues to Christ our heauenly Patterne and see the vertues set forth in their colours which did most shine in the life of our Lord himselfe and read in plaine and vulgar phrase those Lessons of high Perfection which are commended vnto vs by the highest Wisdome and which haue made as many Saints as they haue had diligent and obseruant followers ACCEPT therfore I beseech you this little Present presented by him who wisheth you much more temporall happinesse then your present state affoardeth and that endles glory wherof your present suffering is no vncertaine pledge This first of Nouember 1612. Yours in all duty B. F. A TABLE Of the Chapters of this ensuing Booke THE FIRST BOOKE OF the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world CHAP. 1. pag. 1. Of the hūble conceipt of our selues p. 4. Of the doctrine of truth pag. 7. Of prudence and foresight in our actions pag. 11. Of the reading of holy Scriptures pag. 13. Of inordinate desires affections pag. 14. Of flying vaine Hope Pride pag. 15. That too much familiarity is to be shunned pag. 17. Of Obedience Subiection pag. 18. Of auoiding superfluity of words pag. 20. Of the obtayning of peace and zeale of spirituall profit pag. 22. Of the profit of Aduersity pag. 25. Of resisting Temptations pag. 26. Of auoyding rash iudgment pag. 31 Of VVorkes done of Charity pag. 33. Of bearing with the defects of others pag. 34. Of Religious life pag. 36. Of the examples of the holy Fathers pag. 38. Of the Excercise of a good and Religious person pag. 42. Of the loue of Solitude Silence pag. 46. Of Compunction of hart pag. 52. Of the cōsideratiō of humane misery pag. 56. Of the consideration of Death pag. 60. Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne pag. 66. Of the feruent amendment of our whole life pag. 71. THE SECOND BOOKE OF spirituall cōuersation pag. 80. Of humble submission pag. 86. Of a good and peaceable man pag. 87. Of a pure mind vpright intentiō pag. 90. Of the consideration of ones self pag. 92. Of the cōfort of a good Conscience pag. 94. Of the loue of Iesus aboue all things pag. 97. Of familiar cōuersation with Iesus pag. 99. Of the want of all comfort pag. 102. Of thankfulnes for the Grace of God pag. 107. How few the louers of the Crosse of Christ are pag. 111. Of the high way of the holy Crosse pag. 114. THE THIRD BOOKE OF the in ward speach of Christ vnto a faithfull soule pag. 129. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of words pag. 127. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not pag. 129. That we ought to liue in truth and humility in the sight of God pag. 133. Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace pag. 136. Of the proofe of a true Louer pag. 141. That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility pag. 145. Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God pag. 149. That all things are to be referred vnto God as vnto the last end pag. 151. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God pag. 153. That the desires of our hart are to be examined moderated pag. 156. Of the effects of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence pag. 158. Of the hūble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ pag. 162. Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered least we be extolled in our good deeds pag. 164. VVhat we ought to do and say in euery
worke without charity profiteth nothing 1. Cor. 13. but whatsoeuer is done of charity be it neuer so little 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 He doth much that loueth much Luc. 7. 2. He doth much that doth a thing well he doth well that rather serueth the common good of others Phil. 2. then his owne will Oftentimes it seemeth to be 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 only 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 priuate good Ps 17. 24. neither wil he reioyce in himselfe but wisheth aboue al things to enioy God He attributeth nothing that is good to any man but wholy 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 charity how easily would he discerne that all earthly things be ful 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 vntil God ordaine otherwise Think that perhaps it is better so for thy tryall and patience without which our merits are not much to be esteemed Matt. 6. Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impedimēts Luc 11. that God would vouchsafe to help thee and that thou maist beare them patiently 2. If one that is once or twice warned doth not amend contend not with him but cōmit all to God that his will may be fulfilled Matt. 6. and his name honoured in all his seruāts who knoweth how to turne euill into good Endeauour to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others Thess 5. Io. 1. Luc. 6. for that thy selfe also hast many things which must be suffered by others 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 We would willingly haue others perfect and yet we amend not our owne faults 3. We wil haue others seuerely corrected and will not be corrected our selues The large liberty of others displeaseth vs and yet we will not haue our desires denied vs. We will haue others kept vnder by rigorous lawes but in no sort will we our selues be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldome we weigh our neighbour in the same ballance with our selues If all men were perfect what should we haue to suffer of our neighbour for God 4. But now God hath thus ordained that we 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 1. Thes 5. 1. Cor. 12. but we ought to beare with one another cōfort one another help instruct admonish one another Aduersity best discouereth how great vertue ech one hath for occasions make not a man fraile but do shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of Religious life THOV must learne to break thy owne will in many things if thou wilt haue peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in communtiy or in a congregation to conuerse therin 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 pilgrim vpon earth Thou must be cōtented for the loue of Christ to be esteemed as a foole in this world if thou desire to lead a vertuous and perfect religious life 2. The wearing of religious habit 1. Pet. 2. and shauing of the Crowne do little profit but chang of manners and perfect mortification of passiōs make a true religious man He that seeketh any thing els but God Eccls. 1. 4. and the health of his soule shall find nothing but tribulation sorrow Neither can he remaine long in peace that laboureth not to be in the meanest place and subiect to all 3. Thou camst to serue not to be serued Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labour Matt. 20. not to be idle or to spend thy time in talke Heere in the schoole of Christ men are proued as gold in the fornace Here no man can stand vnlesse he humble himselfe with his whole hart for the loue of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers CONSIDER the liuely examples of the holy Fathers Heb. 11. in whom true perfection and religion shined and thou shalt see how little it is and almost nothing which we do now in these daies 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 could and nakednesse in labour and wearines in watching and fasting in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2. O how many and grieuous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessours Virgins all the rest that endeauoured to follow the steps of Christ They hated their liues in this world Ioan. 12. that they might possesse their soules in euerlasting life Matt. 7. O How strait and poore a life led the holy Fathers in the wildernes How long and grieuous tēptations suffered they How often and how grieuously were they assaulted by their Ghostly enemy How feruent praiers offered they daily to God! How rigorous abstinence did they vse How feruent zeale and care had they of their spirituall profit How strong and continuall a combat had they for the ouercōming 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 tyme 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 honours friends and kinsfolkes they desired to haue nothing which appertained to the world they scarse tooke things necessary for the sustenance of life they grieued to ferue their bodies euen in 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 friēds to God They seemed to themselues as nothing and abiect to
grieuoufly punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwardes 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 with 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 sharpe then a hundred yeares of most hard pennance heer There is no rest there nor comfort for the damned Iob. 40. Heere yet sometimes our labours cease we enjoy the comfort of our friends Be now solicitous sorrowfull for thy sinnes that in the day of iudgment thou maist be secure in the copany of the blessed soules For then shall the iust stand in great constancy Sap. 5. against those that afflicted oppressed them Then shall he stand to iudge who now doth humbly submit himselfe to the iudgmēt of men Then shall the poore and humble haue great confidence the proud shall be compassed about on all sides with feare 5. Then will it appeare that he was wise in this world who had heere learned to be as a foole and dispised for Christ Then shall afflicti on patiently suffered delight vs and iniquity shall stop her mouth Then shall the deuout reioyce and the irreligious mourne Then shall the chasticed flesh more florish Ps 10◠then if it had byn alwaies nourished in delights Then shall the poore garment shine 2. Cor 4. the precious robes appeare contemptible Then shall the meane cottage be more commended then the sumptuous pallace Then will constant patience more auaile vs then all earthly power Then will simple obedience be more esteemed 〈◊〉 25. then all worldly wisdome 6. Then shall a good and pure conscience yield vs more comfort then the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more then all the worldlings treasures Then wilt thou be more comforted that thou hast praied 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 works appeare of much more esteeme thē faire words Then a strict life and hard pennance will be more pleasing then all earthly delights Accustome thy self now to suffer a little that thou maist then be deliuered from more grieuous paines Proue heere first what thou canst endure heerafter 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 do heerafter Assure thy selfe thou canst not haue two Paradises It is impossible for thee to enioy delights heere in this world and raigne heerafter with Christ in heauen 7. If thou hadst hitherto liued alwaies in honors and delights Luc. 12. what would it auaile thee if thou shouldest presently dy All is vanity but to loue God Eccles 1. and only to serue him And he that loueth God with his whole hart needeth to feare neither death punishment iudgment nor hell Rom. 8. for perfect loue giues secure accesse to God But he that delighteth alwaies in sinne what wōder though he alwaies feare death and be terrified with the thought of Iudgment Yet it is good that if loue be not of force to withhould thee from sinne that at least the feare of hell may restrayne 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 seruent amendment of our whole life BE watchfull and diligent in the seruice of God 2. Tim. 4. and often think with thy selfe wherefore thou camest and why thou didst leaue the world Was it not that thou mightest hue to God and become a spirituall man Go on therfore with courage Matt. 5. thou shalt shortly receaue the reward of thy labours Apoc. 21. and there shall be no more feare nor sorrow in the confines of thy habitation Thou must labour heer a while Eccles 51. thou shalt afterwards haue great rest yea euerlasting ioy Apoc 21. 22. If thou continuest faithfull and diligent in seruing of God Matt. 25. do not doubt but God will be faithfull and liberall in giuing thee reward Thou oughtest to haue a good hope of getting the victory Rom. 5. but thou must not make thy selfe assured therof least thou wax negligent or be puffed vp with pride 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 prayer before an Altar and sayd 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 wouldst thou do Do now what thou wouldest do then thou shalt be secure And being herewith comforted strengthened in mind he committed himselfe wholy to the will of God and that noysome anxiety ceased neither had he any mind 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 Rom. 12. for the beginning accōplishing of euery good worke 3. Hope in our Lord Psal 36. and do good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches therof One thing there is that draweth many back from that spirituall good and the diligent amendment of their liues the horror of the difficulty and the labour of the combat But they aboue others profit 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 he more ouercometh mortifieth himselfe in spirit 4. But all men haue not alike to ouercome and mortify yet he that is zealous and diligent though he haue more passions shall profit more in vertue then another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be lesse feruent in the pursuite of vertue Two things chiefely help to our amendment to wit to withdraw our selues violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labour earnestly for that vertue which we most want Be careful also to auoid with great diligence those things in thy selfe which do most displease thee in others 5. Gather some profit to thy soule out of euery occasion and whersoeuer thou be so as if thou seest or hearest any good stir vp thy selfe to the imitation therof But if thou seest any thing worthy of reproofe beware thou do 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
and thy prayer directed vnto Christ without ceasing If thou canst not contemplate high and heauenly things rest thy selfe in the passion of Christ and dwell willingly in the wounds of his sacred body For if thou fly deuoutly vnto his holy wounds and to the precious markes of his passion thou shalt feele great comfort in tribulation neither wilt thou much care for being despised of men and wilt easily beare the wordes of slaunderous tongues 5. Christ was also in the world despised and in great necessity Matt. 1.12.5.26 Ioan. 15. forsaken by his acquaintāce friends in the middest of slaunders Christ would suffer and be contemned darest thou complaine Christ had aduersaries and backbiters and wilt thou haue all men thy friends benefactours For what shall thy patience be crowned 2. Tim. 21. if no aduersity happen vnto thee If thou wilt suffer no aduersity how wilt thou be the friend of Christ Suffer with Christ for Christ if thou desire to raigne with Christ 6. If thou haddest once perfectly entred into the hart of Iesus and tasted a little of his burning loue then wouldest thou not weigh thy owne commodity or discommodity but wouldest rather reioyce at flaunders when they should chance to be cast vpon thee for the loue of Iesus maketh a man to despise himselfe A louer of Iesus of truth a true spirituall person and free from inordinate affections can freely turne himselfe vnto God and lift himselfe aboue himselfe in spirit and with great ioy of his soule rest in God 7. He that iudgeth of all things as they are Esa 54. and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God then men He that can liue spiritually make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of deuout exercises A spiritual mā quickly recollecteth himselfe because he neuer yieldeth ouer himselfe wholy to outward things He is not hindred by outward labour or busines which may be necessary for the time but as things fall out so he frameth himselfe vnto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth little for the vaine inuentions and peruerse inclinations of men So much is a man hindred and distracted how much he draweth matters vnto himselfe 8. If all went well with thee and thou hadest thy hart well purged all things would fall out to thy good and profit But many things displease and often trouble thee Rom. 5. 1. Cor. 4. because thou art not yet perfectly dead vnto thy selfe nor free from the affection of earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the hart of man as the impure loue to creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of heauen and often receiue internall ioy CHAP. II. Of humble submission RESPECT not much who is with thee or who is against thee Endeauour and take care that God may be for thee in euery thing thou doest Haue a good conscience Ps 27. and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hould thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord wil help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliuer thee and therfore thou oughtest to resigne thy selfe vnto him It belongs to God to help and to deliuer from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the better keeping of humility that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himselfe for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and deliuereth the humble he loueth and comforteth the humble vnto the humble man he inclineth himselfe vnto the humble he giueth great grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him vnto glory Matt. 11. Vnto the humble he reuealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inuiteth him vnto himself The humble when he hath receaued confusion is in peace for that he resteth in God and relieth not on the world Do not thinke that thou hast profited any thing vnlesse thou esteeme thy selfe inferiour to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable man FIRST keep thy selfe in peace and then maist thou pacify others A peaceable man doth more good then he that is well learned A passionate man turneth good into euill and easily belieueth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good 1. Cor. 15. He that is well in peace is not suspitious of any But he that is discontented troubled is tossed with diuers suspitions he is nether quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speake and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do Matt. 7. He cōsidereth what others are boūd to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himselfe First therfore haue a carefull zeale ouer thy selfe Act. 1. and then thou maist iustly shew thy selfe zealous of thy neighbours good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine owne deeds and thou wilt not receaue the excuses of others Gal. 6. It were more meet that thou didest accuse thy self and excusedst thy brother 1. Cor. 13. If thou wilt be borne withall beare also with another Behould how farre off thou art as yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moued with indignation but only against himselfe It is no great matter to conuerse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition 〈…〉 for that is naturally pleasing to all and euery one willingly enioyeth peace and loueth those best that agree with him But to be able to liue peaceably with the vnquiet peruerse minds or with the disorderly or such as contradict vs is a great grace and very commendable 3. Some there are that keep themselues in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselues nor suffer others to be in peace they are troublesome to others but alwaies more troublesome to themselues And others there are that keep themselues in peace and labour to bring others vnto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering then in not feeling aduersities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himselfe in peace He is a conquerour of himselfe a Lord of the world friend of Christ and heyre of heauen CHAP. IIII. Of a pure mind and vpright intention VVITH two wings man is lifted vp from earthly vanities that is with simplicity purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity fixeth the eyes of the soule in God Purity apprehendeth and tasteth his sweetnes No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing els but the will of
God increaseth the griefe which he endureth for his banishment 8. But yet this man though so many wayes afflicted is not without the remedy of spirituall consolation for the great good which he perceaueth 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 wasted by affliction 2. Cor. 11. 12. so much the more is the spirit strengthned by inward grace And sometymes he is so comforted with the desire of tribulation and aduersity for the loue of conforming himselfe to the Crosse of Christ that he would not wish at any time to be without sorrow and tribulation because he belieueth that so much the more gratefull he shall be vnto God how much the more he 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 alwayes abhorreth and flyeth 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 chastice subdue the body to fly honors to suffer contumelies with a ioyfull harte to despise himselfe and to wish to be despised to beare all aduersities and domages and to desire no prosperity in this world 2. Cor. 3. Yf thou cōsiderest thy selfe thou shalt be able to performe no such matter of thy selfe But if thou trustest in our Lord strengh shall be giuen thee from heauen and the world flesh shall be made subject to thy commaund Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Deuill if thou bee armed with faith and signed with the Crosse of Christ 10. Resolue therfore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull feruant of Christ to beare māfully 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 wil be with thee whersoeuer thou be and so surely thou wilt finde it whersoeuer thou hide thy selse So it must be and there is no remedy or meanes to auoide tribulation and sorrow but to beare them Matt. 20. Drinke of the chalice of our Lord willingly if thou wilt be his friend and desirest to haue part with him Leaue the desire of cōfortes to God let him doe therein as shall best please him Ioan. 23. Set thou thy hart vpon the suffering of tribulations and account them the greatest comfortes Rom. 8. for that the passions of this life are not condign to future glory although thou alone couldest suffer them all 11. When thou shalt come to this estate Gal. 6. that tribulation shall seeme sweet and pleasant vnto thee for Christ then thou maist thinke it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise vpon earth As long as it is grieuous vnto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to fly it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou flyest will follow thee euery where 12. Yf thou setlest thy selfe to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to dy to thy selfe it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt finde peace Although thou shouldest haue bene rapt euen vnto the third heauen with Paul 1. Cor. 12. thou art not for this assured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction I I saith Iesus will shew him how great thinges he must suffer for my name Act. 9. It resteth therfore 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 ioy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour For all do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ Ps 43. since many suffer far greater thinges for the loue of the world 14. Know for certaine that thou oughtest to lead a dying life And how much the more euery one dieth to himselfe so much the more doth he begin to liue to God No man is fit to attaine vnto heauenly thinges vnlesse he submit himselfe to the bearing of aduersities for Christ Nothing is more gratefull vnto God nothing more wholesome to thee in this world then to suffer willingly for Christ And if it were in thy choyce thou shouldest rather wish to suffer aduersities for Christ then to enioy 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 sweetnes and comfortes but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 15. If there had been any better thing and more profitable to the health of man then suffering surely Christ would haue shewed it by word and example But he plainly exhorted all the disciples that followed him Luc. 9. and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse and saith If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take vp his Crosse and follow me So as when we haue read and searched all Act. 14. let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of God The end of the second Booke OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the inward speach of Christ vnto a saithfull 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 1. Reg. 3. and receaueth from his mouth the word of comfort Blessed are those eares that receaue the sound of the diuine voice and listen not to the whisperings of the world Blessed indeed are those eares that harken not to the voice which soūdeth outwardly Matt. 13. but vnto truth which teacheth inwardly Blessed are the eies that being shut vp to outward thinges are attentiue to those things that are internall Blessed are they that enter into the inward thinges and indeauor to prepare themselues more and more by daily exercises to the attayning of heauenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to attend to the seruice of God cast from them all impedimentes of this world 2. Consider these thinges my soule and shut vp the dores of thy sensuall desires that thou maist heare what thy lord God speaketh in thee Ps 14. Thus saith thy beloued I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keep thy selfe with me and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitory thinges and seeke those that be euerlasting Ps 34. What are temporall things but deaceauing snares and what do all creatures auaile thee if thou bee forsaken by the Creatour Forsake therefore all earthly thinges and labour to please
Of the proofe of a true Louer SONNE †Our Lord. thou art not yet a strong prudent louer Wherfore * The Seruant Lord Because †Our Lord. thou giuest ouer for a small aduersity and too earnestly seekest comfort A constāt louer standeth firmely in temptations giueth not credit to the crafty persuasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity Phil. 4. so I am not vnpleasant to him in aduersity 2. A prudent louer considereth not so much the guift of his louer as the loue of the giuer He rather esteemeth the good will then the value and placeth all guifts vnder his beloued A noble louer resteth not in the gift but in me aboue any gift All therfore is not left if somtimes thou hast lesse tast of me and my Saints then thou wouldest That good and sweet desire which thou somtimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certaine tast of the heauenly Country wheron thou must not rely too much for it goeth and commeth But to fight against euill motions of the mind which may happen vnto thee Matt. 4. and to despise the suggestion of the diuell is a signe of vertue and great merit 3. Let not therfore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoeuer trouble thee Retaine a firme purpose and an vpright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddainly rapt on high and presently returnest againe vnto the accustomed vanities of thy hart For thou dost rather vnwillingly suffer them then commit them and as long as they displease thee thou striuest against them it is a merit and no losse 4. Know that thy ancient enemy doth euer striue to hinder thy desire to good and to diuert thee from all deuout exercise to wit frō the worshiping of Saints from the deuout memory of my passion frō the profitable remembrance of thy sinnes from the guard of thine own hart and from the firme purpose of profiting in vertue He thrusteth many euill thoughts into thy mind that he may cause a wearisomnes horrour in thee to draw thee from deuout prayer and reading Humble cofession is displeasing vnto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receauing the Sacrament of my Body Trust him not nor care for him although he should often set snares of deceipt to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth euill and vncleane thoughts vnto thee Say vnto him Auant filthy spirit blush miserable wretch thou art filthy that bringest such things into myne eares Matt. 4. 16. A way from me wicked deceauer thou shalt haue no part in me but Iesus shal be with me as a strong warriour and thou shalt remayne confoūded I had rather dye and vndergo any torment then to consent vnto thee Hould thy peace and be silent I will heare thee no more though thou shouldest worke me many troubles My Lord is my light and saluation Ps 26. whom shall I feare If whole armies should stand togeather against me my hart shall not feare Our Lord is my helper and my Redeemer 5. Fight like a good souldiar Ps 26. 1. Tim. 6. and if thou sometimes fall through frailety recouer greater forces then before trusting in my more aboundant grace and take great heed of vaine pleasing of thy selfe and pride This brings many into errour and makes them sometimes fall into almost incurable blindnes Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of themseues serue thee for a warning and a perpetuall humiliation CHAP. VII That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility SONNE †Our Lord. it is more profitable safe for thee to hide the grace of deuotion not to extoll thy selfe nor to speake much nor to esteeme much therof but rather to despise thy selfe and feare it as giuen to one vnworthy therof This affection is not to be cleaued vnto which may be quickly changed into the contrary Thinke when thou art in grace how miserable and needy thou art wont to be without it Neither doth therin only consist the profit of spirituall life when thou hast the grace of comfort but when thou humbly resignedly and patiently sufferest the withdrawing therof so that thou be not then lesse diligent in the exercise of prayer nor suffer thy selfe to passe ouer the rest of thy accustomed good works but that thou willingly performe what lieth in thee according as thou art able vnderstandest to be fit not neglecting thyself wholy for the drinesse and trouble of mind which thou feelest 2. There are many that when it succeedeth not well with them presently they become impatient or slouthful Hierem. 10. Rom. 9. The way of man is not alwaies in his power but it belongeth to God to giue and to comfort when he will how much he will whome he will as it shall please him and no more Some vnaduised persons haue ouerthrowne themselues for the greedy desire which they had of the grace of deuotion attempting more then they were able to performe not waighing the measure of their weaknes but following rather the desire of their hart then the iudgment of reason And because they presumed on greater matters then was pleasing to God they quickly lost their grace Esa 14. They were made needy and left in a deiected estate that built themselues nestes in heauen to the end that being humbled and impouerished they may learne not to fly with their owne wings but to liue in hope vnder my fethers They that are yet new and vnacquainted in the way of our Lord vnles they gouerne themselues by the counsaile of discreet persons may easily be deceaued and ouer throwne 3. And if they will rather follow their owne iudgment then giue credit to others that are experienced their end will be dangerous if they cannot be drawne from their owne conceipt Seldome those that are wise in their owne opinion suffer themselues humbly to be gouerned by others Psal 15. 16. A little knowledg with humility and a slender vnderstanding is better then great treasures of learning with a vaine selfe-liking It is better for thee to haue lesse then much of that wherof thou maist be proud He doth not discreetly that wholy giueth himself ouer to mirth forgetting his former pouerty and the chast feare of God which feareth to loose the grace which he hath obteyned Neither is he vertuously wise that in time of aduersity or any tribulation whatsoeuer yeildeth to despairing thoughts and thinketh and imagineth of me lesse confidently then he ought 4. He that will be ouer secure in time of peace 1. Thess 5. shall be often found in time of warre too deiected and fearfull If thou couldest alwaies continue humble and lowly within thy selfe and temper gouerne thy soule well thou shouldest not so soone fall into danger and offence It is good counsell that when thou conceauest feruour of spirit thou shouldest thinke what
the attentiue thought of heauēly things as it were to passe without care through many cares not faintingly but with a certaine priuiledg 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 least I should be too much intangled therby from the many necessities of the body least I should be enthralled by pleasure frō all hinderāces of the soule least broken with troubles I should be deiected and dismayed I meane not frō those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth but from those miseries that as punishments do weigh downe and hinder the soule of thy seruant Gen. 3. Rom. 7. with the generall curse of mortality that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit as often as it would 3. O my God the vnspeakable sweetnes make bitter vnto me all carnall comfort which may draw me away frō the loue of euerlasting happynes and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight Rom. 12. Let not flesh and bloud ouercome me o Lord. Let not the world and the short glory thereof deceaue me Let not the Diuell and his subtile 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 4. Behould meate drinke cloathes other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome vnto a feruent spirit Graūt me to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to be intangled with an ouer great desire of thē It is not lawfull to renounce them wholy for that nature is to be maintayned but to desire superfluityes and those thinges that do rather delight then sustayne the law of God forbiddeth for otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Here in I beseech thee let thy hand gouerne me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good SONNE †Our Lord. 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 simple well ordered thou shalt be free from bondage Matt. 6. Couet not that which thou maiest not haue Be not willing to haue that which may hinder thee and depriue thee of inward liberty It is a wonderfull thing that thou committest not thy selfe wholy vnto me from the bottome of thy hart with all things that thou canst desire or haue 2. Why dost thou cōsume thy selfe with vayne griefe Exod. 18. Mich. 4. Why tyrest thou thy mind with needlesse cares Resigne thy selfe to me and thou shalt feele no losse at all If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be heere or there to enioy thine owne commoditie and pleasure thou shalt neuer be in quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in euery thing somwhat will be wanting and in euery place there will be some that will crosse thee 3. Not euery externall thing therfore attained and heaped togeather helpeth thee but it rather auaileth if thou despise it and doest root it out from thy hart which thou must not vnderstand only of thy reuenewes and wealth but of the desire of honour also and vaine praise all which do passe away with this fading world The place auayleth litle Esa 4.8 if the spirit of feruour be wanting neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy hart be destitute of a true foundation that is vnlesse thou persist in me thou maist change but not better thy selfe For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find that which thou soughtest to fly and perhaps more A Prayer for cleansing the hart obtayning of heauenly wisdome 4. Confirme * The Seruant Ps 50. me Lord with the grace of thy holy spirit Giue me force to strengthen my inward man and to purge my hart from all vnprofitable care and grief Eph. 3. not to be drawne away with sundry desires of any thing eyther little or great Matt. 6. but to consider all things Eccls. 1. 2. how they are transitory and do quickly fade that my selfe do also passe away togeather with them for nothing is permanent vnder the sunne where all things are vanity and affliction of mind O how wise is he that so considereth them 5. Graunt me Lord heauenly wisdome that I may learne aboue all things to seeke and find thee aboue all things to delight in thee and to loue thee and to thinke of all created things as they are according to the dispositiō of thy wisdome Graūt me prudently to auoyd him that flatters me Eph. 4. and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me It is great wisdome not to be moued with euery blast of wordes nor to giue eare to dangerous flattery for so we shall go on securely in the way which we haue begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the tongue of Slaunderers SONNE †Our Lord. be not grieued if some thinke euill of thee and speake that which thou dost not willingly heare 1. Cor. 4. Thou oughtest to iudge the worst of thy selfe and to thinke no man weaker then thy selfe If thou walke according to spirit thou wilt not much esteeme of flying wordes It is no small wisdome to be silent in time of euill inwardly to turne to me and not to be troubled with the iudgment of men 2. Let not thy peace be in the tongues of men For whether they iudge well or euill thou art neuerthelesse alwayes the same Where is true peace and true glory Is it not in me And he that coueteth not to please men Ioan 17. nor feareth to displease them shall enioy much peace From inordinate loue and vayne feare ariseth all disquiet of hart and distraction of the senses CHAP. XXIX How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere BLESSED * The Seruant o Lord be thy name for euer since it pleaseth thee that this temptation and tribulation should fall vpon me Iob. 1. Ps 112. I cannot fly it but haue need to fly to thee that thou maist help me and turne it to my good Lord I am now afflicted and it is not well with me I am much troubled with this present griefe And now beloued Father what shall I say Matt. 26. I am taken in narrow straits saue me in this houre Yea therfore I am fallē in this houre that thou maist be glorified when I shall be greatly humbled and by thee deliuered Let it please thee Lord to deliuer me for poor wretch that I am what can I do and whither
temporall honour all worldly highnesse compared to thy eternall glory is vanity and folly O my truth my mercy my God most Blessed Trinity to thee alone be all praise honour vertue and glory for all eternity CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporall honours SONNE †Our Lord. trouble not thy selfe if thou seest others honoured and aduanced and thy self coÌ„temned and debased Lift vp thy hart vnto me in heauen and the contempt of men in earth will not grieue thee Lord * The Seruant we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity If I looke well into my selfe I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therfore I cannot iustly complaine of thee 2. But because I haue often and grieuously sinned against thee all creaturs do iustly take armes against me for shame and contempt is due vnto me but vnto thee praise honour and glory And vnlesse I do so prepare my selfe that I be willing do reioice to be despised and forsaken of all creatures to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtaine internall strength and peace nor be spiritually enlightned nor wholy vnited vnto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men SONNE †Our Lord. if the peace thou hast with any be grounded on the opinion which thou hast of him or on the contentmeÌ„t thou receauest in his company thou shalt euer be vnconstant and subiect to disquiet but if thou haue recourse vnto the euerliuing and eternall Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieue thee The loue of thy friend ought to rest in me and for me is he to be beloued whosoeuer he be whom thou thinkest well of and is verily deare vnto thee in this life No friendship can auaile or continue without me neither is the loue true and pure which they haue whose hartes are not ioyned togeather by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloued friends that forasmuch as appertaineth vnto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of men Man approacheth so much the neerer vnto God how much the further off he departeth from all earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth vnto God by how much lower he descendeth into himselfe and how much the baser he is in his owne coÌ„ceipt 2. But he that attributeth any good vnto himselfe hindreth the comming of Gods grace into him For the grace of the holy Ghost euer seeketh an humble hart If thou couldst perfectly annihilate thy self purge thy self of all created loue then should there flow into thee great abouÌ„dance of my grace When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creatour is taken froÌ„ thee Learne to ouercome thy selfe in al things for the loue of thy Creatour and then shalt thou be able to attaine to heauenly knowledg How little soeuer it be if it be inordinately loued and regarded it defileth the soule and hindreth the enioying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against vaine and secular knowledge SONNE †Our Lord. let not the fair speaches and subtile sayings of men moue thee †1. Cor. 4. For the Kingdome of God consisteth not in words but in vertue Obserue well the wordes which I speake for they inflame the hart and enlighten the mind induce coÌ„punction and bring sundry comforts Do thou neuer read to shew thy selfe learned or wise but labour to mortifie thy vices for that will profit thee more then the knowledg of many hard and difficult questioÌ„s 2. When thou shalt haue read knowne many things thou oughtest euer to returne to one beginning I am he that teacheth man all knowledg and do giue to little ones a more cleare vnderstanding then can be taught by man He therfore to whome I speake shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in spirit Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men and do little desire to know the way how to serue me The time will come when the Maister of Maisters shal appeare Christ the Lord of Angells to heare the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of euery one and then he will search Hierusalem with a candle Soph. 1. 1. Cor. 4. and the hidden things of darkenesse shall be laid open and the inuentions of tongues shall be silent 3. I am he that in an instant do raise vp the humble mind to vnder stand more reasons of the euerlasting truth then can be gotten by ten yeares study in schools I teach without noise of words without confusion of opinions without ambition of honour without contention of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise earthly things to loath things present to seeke the euerlasting to delight in the things that are eternal to fly honours to suffer scandalls to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and aboue all things feruently to loue me 4. For one by louing me entirely learned diuine things and spake wonders he prosited more in forsaking all things then in studying subtilties To some I speake ordinary things to others things more especiall to some I appeare sweetly by signes and figures but to some I reueale mysteries with much light The voice of boâ—ks is one but it teacheth not all men alike For I am the internal teacher I am the Truth the searcher of the hart the vnderstander of thoughts the setter forwards of good works distributing to euery one according to my will CHAP. XLIIII Of not drawing outward things to our selues SONNE †Our Lord. in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and esteeme thy selfe as dead vpon earth as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also passe ouer many things with a deafe eare and rather thinke of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is more profitable to turne thine eyes from the sight of vnpleasing things and to leaue vnto euery one his owne opinion then to striue with contentious wordes If thou standest well with God and considerest his iudgments thou shalt the more easily yield to the will of others 2. O * The Seruant Lord to what an estate are we come Behold we bewaile a temporall losse and for a little gaine we toyle and spare no labour the spirituall domage of our soule is forgotteÌ„ hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is alwaies remembred and that which is chiefty necessary is negligeÌ„tly passed ouer because mans nature carrieth him to externall things vnlesse he quickly returne vnto himselfe he lyeth drowned in them with delight CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words HELP me * The Seruant Lord in my tribulation for vaine is the defence of man How often haue I bene deceaued finding want of faith Psal 59. where I thought it sure And how often haue I found faith where I least expected it It is vaine therefore
thinketh it happier to giue then to receaue Nature inclineth to creatures yieldeth to her owne flesh followeth vanities and listneth to discourses but grace draweth vnto God and seeketh after vertues renounceth creatures flesh the world hateth the desires of the flesh restraineth wandrings abroad blusheth to be seene in publike Nature is willing to haue some outward comfort wherin she may delight her senses but grace seeketh comfort in God alone and delighteth aboue all visible things in the highest good 5. Nature worketh all for her owne gaine and profit she can doe nothing freely but for bestowed benefits she hopeth to obtaine either that which is equall or better either praise or fauour coueteth to haue her workes gifts much esteemed but grace seeketh no temporal thing nor asketh any other reward for her deserts then God alone not desireth more of temporall necessaries then what may serue her for the obtayning of euerlasting glory 6. Nature rejoyceth to haue many friends and kinsfolkes she glorieth of Noble birth and descent pleaseth the powerfull fawneth vpon the rich applaudeth those that are like herselfe but grace loueth her enemies is not puffed vp with multitude of friends nor esteemeth place or birth but where it is ioyned with greater vertue she rather fauoureth the poore then the rich hath more compassion of the innocent then the powerfull reioyceth in the simple respecteth not the deceiptfull exhorteth euer the good to labour for the better gifts and by vertue to resemble the sonne of God Nature quickly complaineth of any want and trouble grace constantly suffereth all kind of need 7. Nature turneth all things to her selfe striueth and contendeth for her selfe but grace reduceth all to God froÌ„ whence originally they proceed she ascribeth no good to her selfe neither doth she arrogantly presume of her selfe she contendeth not nor preferreth her opinion before others but in euery sense vnderstanding submitteth her selfe vnto the eternall wisdome and to the diuine iudgment Nature coueteth to know secrets and to heare newes she will appeare a broad and make proofe of many things by the experience of her owne senses she desireth to be known to do those things for which she may be praised and admired but grace careth not for hearing news nor to vnderstaÌ„d curious matters for that all this springeth from the ancient disorder of our corrupt nature seing nothing that is new is durable vpon earth She teacheth therfore to restraine the senses to auoid vaine pleasing and ostentatioÌ„ humbly to hide those things that are worthy of praise and admiration and of euery thing and euery knowledg to seeke profitable fruite and the praise and honour of God she will not haue her selfe nor hers publickly praised but desireth that God should be blessed in his gifts who of meere charity bestoweth all things 8. This grace is a supernaturall light and a certaine speciall gift of God and the proper marke of the elect and pledge of euerlasting saluation which lifteth vp a man from earthly basenes to loue things of heauen of a carnall maketh him a spirituall person How much the more therfore nature is depressed and subdued so much the greater grace is infused and the inward man daily by new visitations more perfected according to the Image of God CHAP. LV. Of the corruption of nature efficacy of diuine grace MY God * The Seruant who of thy meere goodnes hast created me to thy Image and likenesse Gen. 1. graunt me this grace which thou hast shewed to be so great and so necessary to saluation that I may overcome my wicked nature which draweth me to sinne and to the losse of my soule For I feele in my flesh the law of sin Rom. 7. contradicting the law of my mind and leading me captiue to obey sensualitie in many things neither can I resist the passâ—ons therof vnlesse thy holy grace feruently infused into my hart do assist me 2. Thy grace o Lord great grace is needfull that nature may be ouercome which is euer prone to euill from her youth For by Adam the first man it falling being corrupted by sinne the penalty of this staine hath descended vpon all mankind in such sort that nature it selfe which by thee was created good without defect is now accompted for vice and for the infirmitie of a corrupted nature for that the motioÌ„ therof left vnto it selfe draweth to euill and abiect things For the little force which remaineth is like a certaine sparke lying hidden in ashes This is naturall reason it selfe compassed about with great darknesse still retayning power to discerne good and euill and the distance be tweene true and false although it be vnable to fulfill all that it approueth and enioyeth not now the full light of truth nor the former integrity of her affections 3. Hence it is my God that according to my inward man I delight in thy law Rom. 7. knowing thy comman dements to be good iust and holy reprouing also all euill and sunne and do know that it is to be fled .. But in my flesh I serue the law of sirâ— whilst I rather obey sensuality then reason Hence it is that I haue a will to do good but know not how to performe it For this cause I often purpose many good things but for that I want grace to help my infirmity for a light resistance I go back and faint I know the way of perfectioÌ„ and see cleerly inough what I ought to do but pressed with the weight of mine owne corruption I rise not vnto it 4. O Lord how needfull is thy grace for me Ioan. 13. to begin any good worke 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 comfort me O heauenly grace without which our owne merits are nothing and no gifts of nature are to be esteemed Arts riches beauty strength wit or eloquence are of no worth with thee o Lord without thy grace For gifts of nature are coÌ„mon to good euil but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and loue wher with being marked they are esteemed worthy of euerlasting life This grace so much excelleth that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles nor any speculation how high soeuer is of any esteeme without it Neither faith nor hope 1. Cor. 13. nor other vertues are aceptable vnto thee without charity and grace 5. O most blessed grace that makest the poore in spirit rich with vertues and the rich in many blessings humble in hart come downe vnto me replenish me in the morning with thy coÌ„fort least my soule should faint with wearines and wither away with drinesse of mind I beseech the Lord Psal 22. that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace sufficeth though other things that nature desireth be wanting If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I
are very displeasing vnto me I will neuer commit them any more but I am sory and will be sory for thē as long as I liue and am ready to do pennance and to satisfy for thē to the vttermost of my power Forgiue me o God forgiue me my sinnes for thy holy names sake saue my foule which thou hast redeemed with thy precious Bloud Behould I commit my selfe vnto thy mercy I refigne my selfe ouer into thy hands Do with me according to thy goodnesse not according to my wickednes and manifold iniquity 4. I offer vp also vnto thee all whatsoeuer is good in me although it be very little and imperfect that thou maist amend and sanctify it that thou maist make it gratefull and acceptable vnto thee and alwaies perfect more and more that which thou hast begun and bring me also who am the slouthfull and vnprofitable creature to a good and blessed end 5. I offer vp also vnto thee all the Godly desires of deuout persons the necessities of my parents friends my brethren sisters of al those that are deere vnto me that haue done good either to myself or others for thy loue and that haue desired me to say Maste and pray for them all theirs whether they be yet aliue or already dead that they all may receaue the help of thy grace and comfort protection from dangers delinery from paine and being freed from all euills may ioyfully giue worthy thankes to thee 6. I offer vp also vnto thee my prayers and sacrifices especially for them who haue in any thing wronged grieued or slaundered me or haue done me any domage or displeasure and for those also whome I haue at any time grieued troubled and scandalized by words or deeds wittingly or at vnawares that it may please thee to forgiue vs al our sinnes offences one against the other Take o Lord from our harts all iealousie all indignation wrath contention and whatsoeuer may hurt Charity and weaken brotherly loue Haue mercy o Lord haue mercy on those that craue thy mercie giue grace vnto them that stand in need thereof and graunt that we may be worthy to enioy thy grace and attaine to life euerlasting Amen CHAP. X. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne The voice of the Beloued THOV oughtest often to haue recourse to the Fountaine of grace and of diuine mercy to the Fountaine of goodnesse and of all piety that thou maist be cured of thy sinnes and passions and deserue to be made more strong and vigilant against all temptations and deceipts of the Diuell The enemie knowing the greatest profit and remedie to consist in the holy Communion endeauoureth by all meanes and occasions to withdraw and hinder faithfull and deuout persons from it 2. Some when they purpose to receaue the sacred Communion suffer greatest assaultes of the Diuell For that wicked spirit as is written in Iob cōmeth amongst the Sonnes of God to trouble them with his accustomed malice impiety or to make them ouer fearfull perplexed that so he may diminish their affection or by his subtile assaultes take away their faith to the end they may either altogeather abstaine frō this diuine food or at least come vnto it with lesse deuotiō But there is no heed to be taken of his frauds and malicious suggestions be they neuer so filthy and hideous but all is to be turned back vpon his owne head We ought to contemne and scorne him miserable wreth and not to omit the sacred communion for his assaults and the troubles which he raiseth 3. Oftentimes also an excessiue care for the obtaining of deuotion and a certaine anxiety for the making of our Confession hindreth vs. Follow in these occasions the counself of the wise and put away all anxiety and scruple for it hindreth the grace of God and ouerthroweth deuotion Omit not for euery small vexation of the mind which happeneth to receaue this holy Sacrament but go presently to confession and willingly forgiue others whatsoeuer offences they haue done against thee and if thou hast offended any humbly craue pardon and God will willingly forgiue thee What auaileth it to delay confession and to defer receauing Purge thy selfe with speed spit out the venom presently make hast to take a remedy and thou shalt find it better then if thou deferredst it long If thou omittest it to day for this cause perhaps to morrow some greater will fall out so thou maist be hindred a long time from these diuine mysteries and become more vnfit Stirre vp thy selfe and shake off all heauinesse and flouth with the greatest force and speed thou canst For it profiteth nothing to cōtinue long in disquietnes and trouble of mind and for daily occurring impediments to withdraw thy selfe from the Sacraments Yea it hurteth very much to defer Communion long for it is wont to breed a great and dangerous dulnesse Alas some cold and dissolute people do willingly delay their confession do therfore defer the sacred Communion least they should be bound to greater watch ouer themselues 5. O how little charity weake deuotion haue they that so easily omit the receauing of these holy mysteries How happy is he and gratefull to God who ordereth so his life and keepeth his conscience in such purity that he may be readie and fit to communicate euery day if it were conuenient might be done without note If any one sometimes abstaine of humility or by reason of some lawfull impediment he is to be commended for the reuerence which therin he sheweth But if it proceedeth of coldnesse he must stir himselfe vp do what lieth in him and God will prosper his desire for the good will he hath to do it which God doth chiefly respect 6. And when any lawfull hindrance doth happen he must alwaies haue yet a good will and louing desire to communicate and so shall he not loose the fruit of the Sacrament For a deuout person may euery day and houre profitably and without let receauc Christ spiritually and yet on certaine daies and at time appointed he ought to receaue Sacramentally with a reuerend desire the Bodie of his Redeemer and rather seeke the honour and glory of God 1. Cor. 11. then his owne comfort For he cōmunicateth mystically and 〈◊〉 inuisibly fed as often as he deuoutly calleth to mind the mysterie of the Incarnation and the Passion of Christ and is inflamed with his loue 7. He that prepareth not himself but when a feast draweth neere and when custome compelleth him therunto shall often be vnprepared Blessed is he that offereth himselfe vp as an Holocaust burnt offring to our Lord as often as he doth celebrate or communicate Be not too long nor too short in saying Masse but keep the accustomed manner of those with whome thou liuest Thou oughtest not to be tedious troublesom to others but to obserue the common course according to the appointment of thy Superiours
solitary vpon the house top and thinke of thy offences in the bitternesse of thy soule For euery louer prepareth the best and fairest roome for his beloued heerin is knowne the affection of him that intertaineth his beloued 2. Know thou notwithstanding that the worth of no action of thine is able to make this preparation sufficient although thou shouldest prepare thy selfe a whole yeare togeather and thinke on nothing else but of my mercy and grace onely thou art suffred to come to my table like a beggar inuited to dinner to a rich man who hath nothing else to returne him for his benefits but to humble himselfe giue him thāks Doe what lieth in thee and do it diligently not for custome nor for necessity but with feare and reuerence and harty affection receaue the body of thy beloued Lord and God who vouchsafeth to come vnto thee I am he that haue called thee I haue commaunded it to be done I will supply what is wanting in thee come and receaue me 3. When I bestow the grace of deuotion on thee giue thankes to God for it is giuen thee not for that thou deseruest it but because I haue mercy on thee If thou haue it not but rather feele thy selfe dry continue in prayer sigh and knock and giue not ouer vntill thou deserue to receaue some crumme or drop of grace Thou hast need of me not I of thee neither comest thou to sanctify me but I come to sanctify and make thee better Thou comest that thou maist be sanctified by me and vnited vnto me that thou maist receaue new grace and be stirred vp againe to amendment Neglect not this grace but prepare thy hart with all diligence and receaue thy beloued into thy soule 4. But thou oughtest not only to prepare thy selfe to deuotion before Communion but carefully also to conserue thy selfe therin after thou hast receaued the Sacrament Neither is the carefull guard 〈◊〉 thy selfe after lesse exacted then deuout preparation before For a good guard afterwards is the best preparation thou canst make for the obtaining againe of greater grace because that mans mind becōmeth very indisposed if he presently powre himselfe out to outward comforts Beware of much talke remaine in some secret place inioy thy God For thou hast him whome all the world cannot take from thee I am he to whome thou oughtest wholy to giue thy selfe that so thou maist liue heerafter not in thy selfe but in me without all care CHAP. XIII That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole hart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament The voice of the Disciple HOVV may I obtaine this o Lord that I may find thee alone and open my whole hart vnto thee and enioy thee as my soule desireth And that no man may looke vpon me nor any creature moue me or respect me but thou alone maist speake vnto me and I to thee Exod. 33. Cāt. 8. as the beloued is wont to speake to his beloued and a friend to banquet with his friend This I pray for this I desire that I may be wholy vnited vnto thee and may withdraw my hart from all created things more more by sacred Cōmunion and often celebrating learne to tast of heauenly and euerlasting sweetnes O Lord God when shall I be wholy vnited and absorpt by thee and altogeather forgetfull of my self thou in me Ioan. 15. and I in thee and so graunt vs both to continue in one 2. Thou art my beloued Cant. 5. the choicest amōgst thousands in whom my soule hath takē pleasure to dwell all the dayes of her life Thou art my peace-maker in whome is greatest peace and true rest without whome is labour and sorrow and infinite miserie Thou art a hidden God thy counsell is not with the wicked but thy speach is with the humble simple of hart Prou. 3. O Lord how sweet is thy spirit Sap. 12. who to the end thou mightest shew thy sweetnes towards thy childrē vouchsafest to feed them with the most delightsome bread which descendeth from heauen is full of all sweetnes Surely there is no other Natiō so great Deut. ◠that hath Gods approaching vnto them as thou our God art present to all thy faithfull vnto whome for their daily comfort and for the lifting vp of their harts to heauen thou giuest thy selfe to be eaten and enioyed 3. For what other Nation is there so famous as the Christian people or what creature vnder heauen so beloued as a deuout soule to whome God himselfe commeth to feed her with his glorious flesh O vnspeakable grace O admirable fauour O infinite loue singularly bestowed vpon man Psal 115. But what shall I giue vnto our Lord in returne of this grace for so singular a charity There is no other thing more gratefull that I am able to giue then to bestow my hart wholy on my God and to vnite it perfectly vnto him Then shall all my bowels reioyce when my soule shall be perfectly vnited vnto God Then he will say vnto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee And I will answer him Vouchsafe o Lord to remaine with me and I will be with thee This is my whole desire that my hart be vnited vnto thee CHAP. XIIII Of the feruent desire of some deuout persons to receaue the Body of Christ The voice of the Disciple O HOVV great is the store of thy sweetnesse Psal 30. o Lord which thou hast hidden for them that feare thee When I remember some deuout persons who come vnto thy Sacrament o Lord with great deuotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded and blush within my selfe that I come so negligently and coldly to thy Altar to the table of holy Communion that I remaine so dry and without spirituall motiō or feeling that I am not wholy inflamed in thy presence my God nor so earnestly drawne and moued as many deuout persons haue beene who out of a vehement desire of receauing and a feeling affection of hart could not containe themselues from weeping but with the desire both of soule and body they earnestly longed after thee o God the liuely fountaine being not otherwise able to temper nor satisfie their hunger but by receauing thy body with all ioy and spirituall greedinesse 2. O most ardent faith of those persons a probable argument of thy sacred presēce Luc. 24. For these truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose hart burneth so within them whilst thou o blessed Iesu walkest with them Such desire and deuotion so vehement loue and feruency is oftentimes far off from me Be mercifull vnto me good Iesu sweet benigne Lord and graunt me thy poore needy creature to feele sometimes at least in this holy Sacramēt a little cordiall desire of thy loue that my faith may be more strengthned my hope in thy goodnesse increased and that my charity once perfectly inflamed after the
rafting of heauēly Manna may neuer decay 3. Thy mercy o Lord is able to giue me the grace I desire and to visit me in thy bounteous clemency with the spirit of feruour when it shall please thee For although I burn not with so great desire as those that are so especially deuoted vnto thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to haue this great inflamed desire praying and crauing that I may participate with all such thy feruent louers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of deuotion is obtayned by humility and deny all of our selues The voice of the Beloued THOV oughtest to seeke the grace of deuotion instantly to aske it earnestly to expect it patiently and confidently to receiue it ioyfully to keep it humbly to worke with it diligently and to cōmit the time and manner of this heauenly visitation to God vntill it shall be his pleasure to come Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy selfe when thou feelest inwardly little or no deuotion and yet not to be too much deiected nor to grieue inordinately for it God often giueth in a short moment that which he hath long time denyed he giueth sometimes in the end that which in the beginning of prayer he differred to graunt 2. If grace should be alwaies presently giuen and at hand euer with a wish it could not be well indured by a weake man Therfore deuotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy selfe and thy sinnes when it is not giuen thee or when it is secretly taken from thee It is sometimes a small matter that hindreth and hideth grace from vs if it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindreth so great a good And if thou remoue this be it great or small and perfectly ouercome it thou shalt haue thy desire 3. For presently as soone as thou giuest thy selfe to God and seekest not this nor that for thine owne pleasure or will but fetlest thy selfe wholy in me thou shalt find thy selfe vnited vnto him and quiet For nothing will tast so well and please thee so much as the will and pleasure of God Whosoeuer therfore with a sincere hart directeth his intention to God and purgeth him selfe from all inordinate loue or dislike of any creature shall be most fit to receaue grace and worthy of the gift of deuotion For our Lord bestoweth his blessing there where be findeth his vessels empty And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh these basest things and dieth to him selfe by contempt of him selfe so much the more speedily grace commeth entreth in more plentifully and lifteth vp the hart that is free to a higher state of grace 4. Then shall be see and abound Psa 60. and wonder and his hart shall be enlarged because the hand of our Lord is with him and he hath put himselfe wholy into his hand for euer Behold so shall the man be blessed that seeketh Almighty God with his whole hart and taketh not his soule in vaine This man deserueth great grace of diuine vnion in receauing the holy Eucharist for that he regardeth not his owne deuotion and comfort but aboue all deuotion and comfort he prizeth the honour and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ and to craue his grace The voice of the Disciple O MOST sweet louing Lord whome I now desire to receaue deuoutly thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sinnes I am oppressed how often I am grieued tempted troubled and defiled I come vnto thee for remedy I craue of thee thy heauenly comfort and the ease of my paine I speake to him that knoweth all thinges to whome all my secrets are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me Thou knowest what it is wherof aboue all things I stand in most need and how poore I am in vertues 2. Behould I stand before thee poore and naked calling for grace and crauing mercy Refresh this thy hungry and needy creature giue heate vnto my coldnesse with the fire of thy loue giue light vnto my blindnesse with the brightnesse of thy presence Turne all earthly things vnto me into bitternesse all things grieuous and contrary into patience all base and created things into contempt and obliuion Lift vp my hart to thee in heauen and suffer me not to wander vpon earth be thou only sweet and delightsome vnto me from henceforth for euermore for thou only art my meate and my drinke my loue and my ioy my delight and all my good 3. O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholy inflame burn and change me into thee that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward vnion and melting of burning loue Suffer me not to goe from thee hungrie and dry but deale mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What meruaile if I should be wholy inflamed by thee and dye in my selfe sith thou art fire euer burning and neuer decaying loue purifying the hart inlightening the vnderstanding CHAP. XVII Of burning loue vehement desire to receaue Christ The voice of the Disciple VVITH great deuotion burning loue with most hartie affection and feruour I desire to receaue thee o Lord as many Saints and deuout persons haue desired thee when they receaued thy Sacrament who were most pleasing vnto thee in holinesse of life and most feruēt in deuotion O my God the euerlasting loue my whole good my happinesse without end I would gladly receaue thee with the most vehement desire and worthy reuerence that any of the Saints euer had or could feele 2. And although I be vnworthy to haue all those feelings of deuotion yet I offer vnto thee the whole affection of my hart as if I alone had those most sweet inflamed desires yea whatsoeuer also a deuout mind can conceaue and desire all that with greatest reuerence and most inward affection I offer and present vnto thee I wish to referue nothing to my selfe but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my selfe and all mine vnto thee my Lord God my Creatour and my Redeemer I desire to receaue thee this day with such affection reuerence praise and honour with such gratitude worthinesse and loue with such faith hope and purity as thy most blessed Mother the glorious Virgin Mary receaued and desired thee when she humbly and deuoutly answered the Angell who declared vnto her the mystery of the Incarnation and sayd Behold the handmaid of our Lord Luc. 1. let it be done vnto me according to thy word 3 And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist cheerfully leaped with ioy of the holy Ghost whilst he was yet shut vp in his mothers wombe and afterwards seing Iesus walking amongst men humbling himselfe very much said with deuout affection The friend of the Bridegrome that