nor any creature draw me vnto it for I am not to harbour an Angell but the Lord of Angels 6. And yet there is great difference betweene the Arke the Reliques therof and thy most pure body with his vnspeakable vertues betweene those legall sacrifices figures of future things and the true Sacrifice of thy body the complement of all ancient Sacrifices Why therfore do I not become more feruent in thy venerable presence Wherefore do I not prepare my selfe with greater care to receaue thy sacred gifts sith those holy ancient Patriarches Prophets yea Kings also and Princes with the whole people haue shewed so great zeale of deuotion to thy diuine seruice 7. The most denout King Dauid daunced before the Arke of God with all his force 2. Reg. 6. calling to mind the benefits bestowed in times past vpon his forefathers He made Instruments of sundry kinds he published Psalmes and appointed thē to be sung with ioy himselfe also oftentimes played vpon the harpe Being inspired with the grace of the holy Ghost he taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole hart and with pleasant voyces euery day to blesse and praise him If so great deuotion was then vsed and such memory of diuine praise before the Arke of the Testament what reuerence and deuotion is now to be performed by me and all Christian people in the presence of this Sacrament in receauing the most precious body of Christ 8. Many go to sundry places to visit the Reliques of Saints and are astonished when they heare of their miraculous works they behould the spacious buildings of their Churches kisse their sacred bones wrapped in silke and gould And behold thou art heere present with me on the altar my God the Holy of Holies the maker of all things Lord of Angels Oftentimes in those deuotions there is but curiosity of men and nouelty of the beholders in the seeing of such sights and little fruite of amendment is gotten thereby especially where there is so vnconstant wandring without true contrition But here in the Sacrament of the altar thou art present my Lord God and Man Christ Iesus where also plentifull fruite of euerlasting saluation is obtained as often as thou art worthily and deuoutly receaued No leuity no curiosity or sensuallity draweth vnto this but firme faith deuout hope and sincere charity 9. O God the inuisible Creatour of the world how wonderfully doest thou deale with vs how sweetly and graciously doest thou dispose of all things with thy elect to whome thou offerest thy selfe to be receaued in the Sacrament O this exceedeth all vnderstanding of man this chiefly draweth the harts of the deuout and inflameth their desire For thy true faithfull seruants that dispose their whole life to amendment by this most worthy Sacrament oftentimes receaue great grace of deuotion and loue of vertue 10. O admirable hidden grace of this Sacrament which only the faithfull of Christ do know but the vnfaithfull and such as are slaues vnto sinne cānot conceaue nor feele In this Sacrament spirituall grace is giuen and lost vertue is restored in the soule and beautie disfigured by sinne returneth againe This grace is sometimes so great that with the fuinesse of deuotion which is here giuen not only the mind but the weake body also feeleth great increase of strength 11. Our coldnesse negligence surely is much to be bewailed pittied that we are not drawne with greater affection to receaue Christ in whome all the hope and merit of those that are to be saued doth cō fist For he is our sanctification and redemption he is the comfort of passengers and the euerlasting fruition of Saints It is much therfore to be lamented that many do so little consider this comfortable mysterie which reioyceth heauen and preserueth the whole world O blindnes and hardnes of mans hart that doth not more deeply weigh the greatnes of so vnspeakable a gift but rather comes by the daily vse therof to regard it little or nothing 12. For if this most holy Sacrament should be celebrated in one place only and consecrated by one only Priest in the world with how great desire doest thou thinke would men be affected to that place and what esteeme would they haue of such a Priest of Almighty God by whome they might enioy the consolation of these diuine mysteries but now there are many Priests Christ is offered vp in many places that so the grace and loue of God to man may appeare so much the greater how much the more this sacred Cōmuniō is cōmon through the world Thāks be vnto thee good Iesu euerlasting Pastour of our souls that hast vouchsafed to refresh vs poore banished men with thy precious Body Bloud to inuite vs to the receauing of these mysteries with the words of thy owne mouth saying Come vnto me all ye that labour and are burdened Matt. 11. and I wil refresh you CHAP. II. That great goodnesse and charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple PRESVMING of thy goodnesse and great mercy o Lord being sicke I approach vnto my Sauiour hungry and thirsty to the fountaine of life needy to the King of heauen a seruant vnto my Lord a creature to my Creator desolate to my mer cifull comforter But whence is this to me that thou vouchsafest to come vnto me Who am I that thou shouldest giue thy selfe vnto me Luc. 1. How dare a sinner presume to ap peare before thee And thou how doest thou vouchsafe to come vnto a sinner Thou knowest thy seruant and seest that he hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this benefit vpon him I confesse therfore my vnworthinesse I acknowledg thy goodnesse I praise thy mercy and giue thee thanks for this thy vnspeakable charity For thou doest this for thine owne goodnesse not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodnesse may be better knowne vnto me thy charity more aboundantly shewed and thy humility more highly commended Since therfore it is thy pleasure and hast commanded that it should be so this thy boūty is also pleasing to me and do wish that my offences may be no hinderance 2. O most sweet and bountifull Iesu how great reuerēce thanks with perpetuall praise is due vnto thee for the receauing of thy sacred body whose worth and dignity no man is able to expresse But what shall I thinke of at this time now that I am to receaue this diuine Sacrament and to approach vnto my Lord to whome I am not able to giue due reuerence and yet I desire to receaue him deuoutly What can I thinke better and more profitable then to humble my selfe wholy before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodnesse aboue me I praise thee my God will exalt thee for euer and I do despise and submit my self vnto thee euen into the depth of my vnworthinesse 3.
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.
will become of thee when that light shal leaue thee Iob. 17. And when that doth happen remember the light may returne againe which for thy instruction and my glory I haue withdrawne for a time 5. Such proofe is often more profitable then if thou shouldest alwaies enioy prosperity according to thy desire For merits are not to be waighed in a man by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledg in Scriptures or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and replenished with diuine charity if he alwaies purely entirely seeke the honour of God if he esteeme himselfe nothing and with a sincere hart despise himselfe and reioyce more to be despised and humbled by others Ps 83. then to be honoured CHAP. VIII Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God SHAL * The Seruant I speake vnto my Lord sith I am dust and ashes If I esteeme better of my selfe behould thou staÌ„dest against me Gen. 18. and my iniquities beare true witnes neither can I speake against it But if I abase and esteeme nothing of my selfe cast of all selfe-conceipt and as I am accompt my selfe to be dust thy grace will be fauourable vnto me and thy light will be neere vnto my hart and all estimation how little soeuer shal be swallowed vp in the depth of my nothing and perish euerlastingly There thou shewest my selfe vnto me what I am what I haue byn and whither I am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my selfe behould I become nothing a masse of infirmity But if thou suddainly looke vpon me I am presently made strong and filled with new ioy And it is a great meruaile that I am so suddainly lifted vp and so graciously imbraced by thee that of myne owne waight alwaies sinke downward 2. Thy loue is cause heereof freely preuenting me and releeuing me in so many necessities preseruing me also from grieuous dangers and as I may truely say deliuering me from innumerable euills For surely by euill louing my selfe Ioan. 12. I lost my selfe and by seeking thee alone sincerly louing thee I haue found both my selfe and thee and for thy loue haue more deeply brought my selfe to nothing For that thou o most sweet Iesu dealest with me aboue all desert and aboue all that I dare hope and request 3. Blessed be thou my God for although I be vnworthy of all good yet the noblenes of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnes neuer ceaseth to do good euen to the vngratefull Matt. 5. and to them that be turned away far froÌ„ thee Turne vs vnto thee o Lord that we may be gratefull humble and deuout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be reserred vnto God as vnto the last end SONNE †Our Lord. I ought to be thy chiefest and last end if thou desire to betruly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinatly to it selfe and vnto creatures For if in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest vp within thy self Direct therfore all thinges chiefly vnto me for I am he that haue giuen all Eccles 1. Consider euery thing as flowing from the highest good and therfore all things are to be reduced vnto me as vnto their first beginning 2. Out of me as out of liuing fountaines the litle and the great the poore the rich Ioan. 4. do draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serue me shall receaue grace for grace 1. Cor. 1. But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particuler good shall not be grounded in true ioy nor enlarged in his hart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned Thou oughtest therfore to ascribe no good vnto thy selfe nor attribute the praise of vertue vnto any man but giue all vnto God without whome man hath nothing I haue bestowed all 1. Cor. 4. and will that all be returned to me againe and with great seuerity I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vaine-glory And if heauenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no enuy nor grudging of hart neither shall there be any place for selfe loue For diuine charity ouercommeth all enlargeth all the forces of the soule If thou vnderstand aright in me alone thou wilt reioyce in me alone thou wilt hope for none is good Matt. 19. Luc. 18. but God alone who is to be praised aboue all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God NOVV * The Seruant I will speake againe Lord and will not be silent I will say in the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnes Lord Ps 30. which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee But what art thou to them that loue thee What to them that serue thee with their whole hart Truely vnspeakable is the sweetnes of thy conteÌ„plation which thou bestowest on them that loue thee Gen. 1. In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnes of thy charity Ps 118. Matt. 15. for that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back againe that I might serue thee and hast commanded me to loue thee 2. O fountaine of euerlasting loue what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me euen when I withered away and perished Thou hast vsed mercy with thy seruant beyond all the expectation of my hart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit What shall I returne vnto thee for this grace Psal 115. For it is not graunted to euery one to forsake all things to renouÌ„ce the world and to vndertake a life of religion and perfection Is it much that I serue thee whome all creatures are bound to serue It ought not to seeme much vnto me to serue thee Iudic. 16. but this rather seemeth much and meruailous vnto me that thou vouchsafest to receaue into thy seruice one so poore and vnworthy to ioyne him with thy beloued seruants 3. Behould all is thine which I haue 1. Cor. 4. and wherby I serue thee And yet in very deed thou rather seruest me then I thee Behould heauen earth which thou hast created for the seruice of man are ready at hand and do daily performe whatsoeuer thou dost command and this is little Ps 90. Heb â—1 yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the seruice of man But that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serue man and promised to giue thy selfe vnto him 4 What shall I
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
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
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
in his owne throne If thou couldest purge thy selfe perfectly of all creatures Iesus would willingly dwell with thee Whatsoeuer thou puttest in men out of Iesus is all no better then lost Trust not nor rely vpon a reed full of wind for that all flesh is as hay and all the glory therof shall wither away as the flower of the field Esa 4. 3. Thou shalt quickly be deceaued if thou looke only to the outward shew of men And if in them thou seekest thy comfort and profit thou shalt often feele losse If thou seekest Iesus in all things thou shalt surely find Iesus But if thou seekest thy selfe thou shalt also find thy selfe but to thy owne harme For man doth more hurt himselfe if he seeke not Iesus then the whole world and all his aduersaries could annoy him CHAP. VIII Of familiar conuersation with IESVS VVHEN Iesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth difficult but when Iesus is absent euery thing is hard When Iesus speaketh not inwardly vnto vs our comfort is nothing worth but if Iesus speake but one word we feele much consolation Ioan. 11. Did not Mary Magdalen presently rise from the place where she wept when Martha said vnto her Thy maister is heere and calleth thee Happy is the houre when Iesus calleth from teares to spirituall ioy How dry and hard art thou without Iesus How foolish and vaine if thou desire any thing out of Iesus Matt. 16. Is not this a greater losse then if thou shouldest loose the whole world 2. What can the world profit thee without Iesus To be without Iesus is a grieuous hell and to be with Iesus is a sweete Paradise If Iesus be with thee Rom. 8. no enemy can hurt thee He that findeth Iesus findeth a good treasure Matt. 13. yea a good aboue all goods And he that leeseth Iesus leeseth too much and more then the whole world He is most poore that liueth without Iesus Luc. 12. and he most rich that is well with Iesus 3. It is a great skill to know how to conuerse with Iesus Prou. 8. and a great wisdome to know how to keep Iesus Be humble and peaceable Iesus will be with thee Be deuout and quiet and Iesus will stay with thee Thou maist driue away Iesus loose his grace if thou giuest thy selfe to outward things And if thou shouldest driue him from thee and leese him vnto whom wilt thou fly and what friend wilt thou then seeke Without a friend thou canst not well liue and if Iesus be not aboue all a friend vnto thee thou shalt be too too sorrowfull and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or reioyce in any other It is better for thee to haue all the world against thee Gal. 6. then Iesus offended with thee Amongst all things therefore that be deare vnto thee let Iesus alone be thy chiefest beloued 4. Loue all for Iesus but Iesus for himselfe Iesus Christ alone is especially to be beloued who alone is found to be good and faithfull aboue all friends For him in him Matt. 5. let aswell friends as foes be deare vnto thee and all these are to be prayed for Luc. 6. that all may know and loue him Neuer desire to be singularly commended or beloued for that appertaineth only vnto God who hath none like vnto himselfe Neither do thou desire that the hart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy hart on the loue of any but let Iesus be in thee and in euery vertuous and good man 5. Be pure and free within and intangle not thy hart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked carry a pure hart to God if thou wilt consider and proue see how sweet our Lord is And truly vnlesse thou be preuented and drawne by his grace thou shalt neuer attaine to that happines to forsake and cast away all that thou alone maist be vnited to him alone For when the grace of God commeth vnto a man then he is strong and nothing is hard vnto him And whē it goeth away he is poore weake and as it were left vnto the will of whomsoeuer will afflict him In this thou oughtest not to be deiected nor despaire but to resigne thy selfe with all indifferency vnto the will of God and to beare all things that befall thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night commeth day and after a tempest faire weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no great matter to despise humane comfort when we haue diuine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane and diuine comfort Phil. 2. and for the honour and glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of hart and to seeke himselfe in nothing nor to regard his owne merit What great matter is it if thou be cheerfull and deuout at the comming of heauenly grace This houre is wished for of all men He rideth easily whome the grace of God carrieth And what meruaile if he feele not his burden who is borne vp by the Almighty and led by the greatest guide 2. We are alwaies willing to haue something for our comfort and a man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy martyr S. Laurence ouercame the world with his Prelate because he despised whatsoeuer seemed delightsome in the world and for the loue of Christ the patiently suffered the high Priest of God S. Syxtus to be taken from him whome he most loued He ouercame therfore the loue of man by the loue of the Creator and he rather chose the diuine pleasure then humane comfort See thou also learne to forsake some necessary thing and a beloued friend for the loue of God Be not grieued when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 3. A man must fight long and with a constant mind before he get the victory and be able to place his whole hart in God When a man confideth in himselfe he easily slideth vnto humane comforts But a true louer of Christ and a diligent follower of vertue giueth not himselfe to such solace nor seeketh sensible sweetnes but rather forcible exercises and to sustaine hard labours for Christ 4. When therfore spirituall comfort is giuen thee from God receaue it thankefully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed vp ioy not too much neither do thou presume vainely but be rather the more humble for that grace and more wary and fearefull in all thy actions for that houre wil passe away and temptation will succeed Whē consolation is taken from thee despaire not presently but with humility and patience attend the heauenly visitation for God is able againe to giue thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange vnto them that haue experience in the way of
as long as aduersities happen not Many praise and blesse him as long as they receaue any comfort from him But if Iesus hide himself and leaue them but a while they fall either into complaint or into too much deiection of mind 2. But they that loue Iesus for Iesus and not for some comfort of their owne blesse him in all tribulation and anguish of hart as well as in the greatest cōfort And although he should neuer giue them comfort they notwithstanding would euer prayse him and alwaies giue him thankes 3. O how powerfull is the pure loue of Iesus Phil. 2. which is mixed with no selfe-loue nor proper interest Are they not all to be called hirelings that euer seeke comforts Do they not shew themselues to be rather louers of themselues then of Christ that alwaies thinke of their commoditie gaine Where may one be found that will serue God without looking for reward 4. It is hard to find any one so spirituall that is free from the loue of all earthly things For where is any that is indeed poore in spirit and free from all affection of creatures Far hence Prou. 31. and from the end of the world is his price If a man should giue all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should do great pennance yet is it little And if he should attaine to all knowledg he is yet far off And if he should haue great vertue and very feruent deuotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him Matt. 16. What is that That leauing all he forsake himselfe and go perfectly from himselfe and retaine nothing of self-selfe-loue And when he hath done al that he knoweth to be done let him thinke that he hath done nothing 5. Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirme himselfe to be an vnprofitable seruant as our Sauiour hath sayd When you shall haue done al things that are commanded you say We are vnprofitable seruants Luc. 17. Then may he be truly poore in spirit and naked and say with the Prophet Psal 24. I am alone and poore yet no man richer no man more powerfull no man more free thē he that can leaue himselfe and all things and put himselfe in the meanest and lowest place CHAP. XII Of the high way of the holy Crosse VNTO many seemeth hard this speach Deny thy selfe take vp thy Crosse Matt. 16. and follow Iesus But it will be much harder to heare that last word Get yee away from me Matt. 15. yee cursed into euerlasting fire For they that now willingly heare and follow the word of the Crosse shall not then feare to heare the sentence of euerlasting damnation This signe of the Crosse shall be in heauen when our Lord shall come to iudgment Then all the seruants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselues vnto Christ crucified shal draw neer vnto our Lord with great confidence 2. Why therfore fearest thou to take vp the Crosse which leadeth thee to a kingdome In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is protection against our enemies in the Crosse is infusion of heauenly sweetnes in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is ioy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity There is nor health of the soule nor hope of euerlasting life but in the Crosse Take vp therfore thy Crosse and follow Iesus thou shalt go into life euerlasting Luc. 14. He is gone before bearing his Crosse and is dead for thee on the Crosse Ioan. 19. that thou maiest also beare thy Crosse desire to dy on the Crosse with him For if thou dyest with him thou shalt also liue with him And if thou be his companion in payne 2. Cor. 1. thou shalt be partaker with him also in glory 3. Behould in the Crosse al doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life vpon it for there is no other way vnto life and vnto true inward peace but the way of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification Go where thou wilt seeke whatsoeuer thou wilt thou shalt not find a higher way aboue nor a safer way below then the way of the holy Crosse Dispose order all thinges according to thy will and iudgment yet thou shall euer find that of necessity thou must suffer somewhat either willingly or against thy will so as thou shalt neuer fully auoide the Crosse For either thou shalt feele payne in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 4. Somtimes thou shalt be forsaken of God somtimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbours which is more oftentimes thou shalt be irksome to thy selfe neither canst thou be deliuered or eased by any remedy or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it For God will haue thee learne to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholy to him and become more humble by tribulation No man hath so liuely a feeling of the passion of Christ as he who hath chaunced to suffer the like The Crosse therfore is alwayes ready euery where attendeth thee Thou canst not escape it whither soeuer thou flyest for whersoeuer thou goest thou carriest thy selfe with thee and shalt euer finde thy selfe both aboue and below without within which way soeuer thou doest turne thee alwayes thou shalt find the Crosse and euery where of necessity thou must haue patience if thou wilt haue inward peace and deserue an euerlasting Crowne 5. Yf thou beare the Crosse willingly it will beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shal be an end of suffering though heere there shall not Yf thou beare it vnwillingly thou makest for thy selfe a new burthen and increasest thy loade and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it Yf thou cast away one Crosse without doubt thou shalt find another that perhaps a more heauy 6. Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could euer auoyd Which of the Saintes in the world was without Crosses and tribulations Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was neuer one houre without paine of suffering so long as he liued Christ saith he ought to suffer Luc. 24. rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory and how doest thou seek any other way then this high way which is the way of the holy Crosse 7. The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seeke rest and ioy Thou art deceaued thou art deceaued if thou seekest any other thing then to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries Iob. 7. and inuironed on euery side with Crosses And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heauier Crosses he oftentymes findeth for the loue he beareth to
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
giue thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serue thee al the daies of my life I would I were able at least for one day to do thee some worthy acceptable seruice Thou art truly worthy of all seruice of all honour euerlasting praise Thou art my Lord and I thy poore seruant that am bound to serue thee with all my forces neither ought I euer to cease to praise thee And this I wish to do this I desire and whatsoeuer is wanting vnto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5. It is a great honour a very great glory to serue thee and to despise al things for thee For great grace shall be giuen to them that shall willingly submit themselues vnto thy most holy seruice Matt. 19. They shal receaue most sweet comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy loue shall renounce all carnall delights They shall attaine great freedome of mind Matt. 7. that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall haue left off all care of this world 6. O sweet and delightfull seruitude of God Matt. 11. 1.10.5 by which man is truly made free and holy O sacred state of religious bondage which maketh man equall to Angels pleasing to God terrible to diuels and gratefull and of great esteeme to all the faithfull O seruice to be imbraced alwaies wished for by which we obtaine the greatest good and attaine to that ioy which neuer shall haue end CHAP. XI That the desires of our hart are to be examined moderated SONNE †Our Lord. thou oughtest to learne many things more which thou hast not yet well learned * The Seruant What are those Lord That †Our Lord. thou frame thy desire wholy according to my pleasure and be not a louer of thy selfe but a diligent follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes do stir thee vp and driue thee forwards with violence but consider whether thou art moued rather for my honour then for thine owne profit If I be the cause thou wilt be wel content with whatsoeuer I shall ordaine but if there lurke in thee any selfe inclination behould this is it that hindreth thee Phil. 2. and waygheth thee downe 2. Beware therfore thou incline not too much vpon any desire that commeth to thy mind before thou aske my counsaile least perhaps afterwards it repent thee and that thou beginne now to dislike that which before did please thee and which thou earnestly desiredst as the best For euery affection that seemeth good is not presently to be followed nor euery contrary affection at the first to be sled It is expedient sometimes to vse a restraint euen in good desires endeauours least by importunity thou incur distraction of mind and by euill exāple become a scandall vnto others or being gainsaid by others thou be suddainly troubled and fall 3. Yet sometimes thou oughtest to vse violence Phil. 2. and resist manfully thy sensuall appetites Rom. 8. 2. Cor. 4. and respect not what thy body would or would not but rather to labour that euen perforce it be subiect to the spirit 2. Cor. 10. And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced vnder seruitude 1. Cor. 9. vntil it readily obey an all things and learne to be content with a litle and to be pleased with ordinary things and not to murmur against any inconuenience CHAP. XII Of the effect of Patience and of strise against Concupiscence LORD * The Seruant Heb. 10. God I perceaue patience is very necessary vnto me for that many aduersities do happen in this life Iob. 7. Howsoeuer I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without warre affliction †Our Lord. So it is Sonne And my will is not that thou seek after that peace which is voyd of temptations or that feeleth no contrarieties but then thinke that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations Iac. 1. and tried in many aduersities 2. If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the fire of Purgatory Of two euils the lesse is alwaies to be chosen That thou maist therfore auoid euerlasting punishments in the next world endeauour to suffer patiently for God the present euils of this Doest thou thinke that men of this world suffer little or nothing Thou art deceaued Looke into the life euen of them that liue in greatest delicacies and thou shalt find it otherwise But thou wilt say they haue many delights and follow their owne wills and therfore they make small accompt of their tribulations Be it so that they haue whatsoeuer they will but how long dost thou thinke it will last 3. Behould the wealthy of this world vanish away like smoke Ps 67. and there shall be no memory of their ioyes past Yea euen while they liue also they rest not in them without griefe irksomnesse and feare For the selfesame thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes the cause of sorrow vnto them much affliction They haue their desert who for that they immoderately seeke and follow delights they do not obtain them but with shame sorrow 4. O how short and deceiptful how inordinate and filthy are those pleasures Yea so senseles and blind are men that they vnderstand it not but like dumbe beasts for a little pleasure of a corruptible life they incur the eternall death of their soule Do not thou therfore my Sonne follow the disordinate inclinations of thy corrupt nature but forsake thine owne wil. Eccls. 28. Ps 36. Delight in our Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thy hart 5. If thou desire true delight and to be more plentifully comforted by me behould in the contempt of all worldly things and in the cutting off of all base delights shall be thy blessing and aboundant comfort shall be giuen thee And how much the more thou withdrawest thy selfe from all comfort of creatures so much the sweeter and more forcible consolations shalt thou find in me But at first thou canst not attaine vnto them without a certaine grief labour and strife The olde custome wil make resistance thou must ouercome it with another custome that is better Thy flesh will murmur but thou must bridle it with feruour of spirit The old serpent will sting and trouble thee but by prayer he shall be put to fight with profitable labour thou shalt shut the dore against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ SONNE †Our Lord. he that endeauoureth to withdraw himselfe from obedience withdraweth him selfe from grace And he that seeketh to haue things in priuate Matt. 16. shall loose the cōmon He that doth not willingly and freely submit himselfe to his Superiour it is a signe that his flesh is not yet perfectly obediēt vnto him but
recollect my selfe in thee that for thy loue I may not feele my selfe but thee alone aboue all sense and feeling in a manner not knowne vnto all But now I oftentimes lament Dan. 13. and beare my infelicity with griefe For that many euells occurr in this vale of miseries which do often trouble grieue and darken me often hinder and distract me allure and intangle me to the end I should not haue free accesse vnto thee and that I should not enioy those sweet and heauenly imbracings which thou alwaies giuest to the blessed and celestiall spirits Let my sighes and manifold desolation on earth mooue thee 4. O Iesus splendor of eternall glory and comfort of the pilgrime soule with thee is my tongue without voice and my silence speaketh vnto thee How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come vnto me his poore seruant and make me glad Let him put out his hand and deliuer me miserable wretch from al anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall haue no ioy full day nor houre Thou art my ioy and without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and loaden with irons vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and giuest me liberty and shewest a fauourable countenance vnto me 5. Let others seeke what they please insteed of thee but for me nothing els doth nor shall delight me but thou only my God my hope my euerlasting health I will not hould my peace nor cease to pray vntill thy grace returne againe and thou speake inwardly vnto me Behould †Our Lord. I am heere behould I come vnto thee because thou hast called vpon me Thy teares and the desire of thy soule thy humility and the contrition of thy hart haue inclined and brought me vnto thee And * The Seruant I said Lord I haue called thee and haue desired to enioy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me vp that I might seeke thee Blessed be thou therfore o Lord that hast shewed this goodnes to thy seruant according to the multitude of thy mercies 6. What hath thy seruant more to say before thee but that he do greatly humble himselfe in thy sight alwaies mindfull of his owne iniquity and basenes For there is none like vnto thee in all whatsoeuer is wonderful Ps â—5 in heauen and earth Thy words are good thy iudgments true and by thy prouidence all things are gouerned Praise therfore and glory be vnto thee o wisdome of the eternall Father let my tongue my soule all creatures togeather praise and blesse thee CHAP. XXII Of the remembrance of the manifould benefits of God OPEN * The Seruant o Lord my hart in thy Law and teach me to walke in thy commandements Grant me to vnderstand thy will * Ps 118. and to remember thy benefits as well in generall as in particuler with great reuerence diligent consideration that hence forward I may be able worthily to giue thee thanks But I know and confesse that I am not able to giue thee due thanks for the fauours which thou bestowest vpon me euen in the least moment I am lesse then the least of thy benefits when I consider the excelleÌ„cy of thy Maiesty the greatnes therof maketh my spirit to faint 2. All that we haue in our soule and body and whatsoeuer we possesse outwardly or inwardly naturally or spiritually are thy benefits and do praise thee as bountifull pious and good from whome we haue receaued all that is good Although one hath receaued more another lesse all notwithstanding are thine and without thee euen the least cannot be had He that hath receaued greater cannot glory of his owne desert nor extoll himselfe aboue others nor insult ouer the lesser for he is greater and better that ascribeth least vnto himselfe and is more humble deuout in rendring thanks And he that esteemeth him selfe basest of all men and iudgeth himselfe most vnworthy is fittest to receaue greater blessings 3. And he that hath receaued fewer ought not to be sory nor beare it impatiently nor enuy them that are enriched with greater store but attend rather vnto thee and chiefly praise thy goodnes for that thou bestowest thy gifts so bountifully so freely and so willingly without respect of persons All things proceed from thee and therfore in all things thou art to be praised Thou knowest what is fit to be giuen to euery one and why this man hath lesse and he more it is not ours but thine to determine who dost waigh in iust measure the deserts of euery one 4. Wherfore my Lord God I esteeme it as a great benefit not to haue much wherby outwardly and before men I might seeme worthy of praise and glory so that he who considereth his owne pouerty and basenes ought not therfore to conceaue griefe or sorrow or to be therfore troubled but rather to take great comfort and to be glad for that thou O God hast chosen the poore and humble 1. Cor. 1. and the despised of this world for thy selfe Ps 44. and for thy familiar domesticall friends 2. Thess 2. Witnesses are thy Apostle themselues whome thou hast appointed princes ouer all the earth And yet they liued without complaint in the world so humble and simple meane to the eyes of men without all malice and deceipt Act. 5. that they reioyced to receaue coÌ„tumelies for thy name and what the world abhorreth they imbraced with great affection 5. Nothing therefore ought so to reioice him that loueth thee and acknowledgeth thy benefits as the accomplishment of thy will in himselfe and the pleasure of thy eternal appointment wherwith he ought to be so contented and comforted that he would as willingly be the least as any would wish to be the greatest as peaceable content in the last as in the first place and as willingly to be despised and contemned and to be of no esteeme or accompt as to be preferred in honour before all others and to be greater in the world For thy will and the loue of thy glory ought to be preferred before all things and to comfort him more and please him better then all the benefits which he hath receaued or can desire CHAP. XXIII Of soure thinges that bring much peace SONNE †Our Lord. now I will teach thee the way of peace and true liberty Do * The Seruant Lord I beseech thee as thou saist for I shall be very glad to heare it Endeauour †Our Lord. Matt. 26. Io. 5.6 1. Cor. 10. my Sonne to do rather the will of another then thine owne Euer choose rather to haue lesse then more Alwaies seeke the lowest place and to be inferior to euery one Wish alwaies and pray Lue. 14. that the will of God may be wholy fulfilled in thee Behold such a man entreth into the limits
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
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
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
which surpasse the vnderstanding euen of Angels What therfore shall I vnworthy sinner earth and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mysterie 2. O Lord in sincerity of hart with a good and firme faith and at thy commaundement I come vnto thee with hope and reuerence and do verily belieue that thou art heere present in the Sacrament God and Man Thy holy pleasure is that I receaue thee and by charity do vnite my selfe vnto thee Wherfore I do recurre vnto thy Clemency and do craue speciall grace that I may wholy melt in thee and abound with loue and heerafter neuer admit any externall comfort For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soule and body the remedy of all spirituall sicknes by it my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations ouercome or weakened greater grace infused vertue increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and charity inflamed and enlarged 3. For thou hast bestowed still oftentimes doest bestow many benefits in this Sacrament vpon thy beloued that receaue it deuoutly my God the Protectour of my soule the strengthener of humane frailty and the giuer of all in ward comfort Thou impartest vnto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them vp from the depth of their owne basenes to the hope of thy protection and doest inwardly refresh and illustrate them with a certaine new grace in such sort that they who before Communion felt themselues heauy and indisposed afterwards being strengthened with heauenly meate and drinke do find in themselues a great change to the better Which thou doest so dispose to thy elect that they may truly acknowledge and patiently proue how great their owne infirmity is and what benefit and grace they receaue from thee For they of themselues are cold dull and vndeuout but by thee they are made feruent agile and full of deuotion For who is there that approaching humbly vnto the Fountaine of sweetnesse doth not carry away from thence at least some little sweetnesse Or who standing by a great fire receaueth not some small heate therby Esa 12. Leuit. 6. Thou art a fountaine alwaies full ouerflowing a fire euer burning and neuer decaying 4. Wherfore if I cannot draw at the full out of this fountaine nor drinke my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this heauenly conduite that I may draw from thence at least some small drop to refresh my thirst to the end I wither not wholy away and perish And though I be not altogeather celestiall nor so inflamed as the Cherubims Seraphims not with standing I will endeauour to apply my selfe to deuotion and dispose my heart to obtaine some small sparke of diuine fire by humble receauing of this life-giuing Sacrament And whatsoeuer is hereunto wanting in me good Iesu most blessed Sauiour do thou supply for me most benigne gratious Lord who hast vouchsafed to call vs vnto thee saying Come vnto me all ye that labour and are burdened Matt. 11. and I will refresh you 5. I labour in the sweate of my browes I am vexed with griefe of hart I am burdened with sins I am troubled with temptations I am intangled and oppressed with many euill passions and there is none to help me none to deliuer and saue me but thou Lord God my Sauiour to whome I commit my selfe and all mine that thou maist keep me and bring me to life euerlasting Receaue me to the honour and glory of thy name who hast prepared thy Body and Bloud to be my meat and my drinke Graunt Lord God my Sauiour that by frequenting thy mysteries my zeale and deuotion may increase CHAP. V. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly sunction The voice of Christ IF thou hadst angelicall purity the sanctity of S. Iohn Baptist Matt. 11. thou wert not worthy to receaue nor handle this Sacrament For it is not within the compasse of the deserts of men that man should consecrate and handle the Sacrament of Christ and receaue for food the bread of Angells Psal 77. A great mystery and great is the dignity of Priests to whome is graunted that which is not permitted to the Angells For Priests only instituted in the Church haue power to celebrate and consecrate the bodie of Christ The Priest is the Minister of God vsing the wordes of God by Gods commaundement and appointment but God is there the principall actour and inuisible worker to whome is subiect all that he pleaseth Gen. 1. Psal 148. Rom. 9. and all that he commaundeth doth obey 2. Thou oughtest therefore to giue more credit to God Almighty in this most excellent Sacrament then to thine owne sense or to any visible sign And therfore thou art to come vnto this Mystery with feare and reuerence Consider attentiuely with thy self what that is wherof the Ministry is deliuered vnto thee by the imposition of hands of the Bishop Behould thou art made a Priest consecrated to say Masse 1. Tim. ◠see now that in due time thou offer Sacrifice vnto God faithfully deuoutly and carry thy selfe so as thou maist be without reproofe Thou hast not lightned thy burthe but art now bound with a straiter band of discipline and art obliged to a more perfect degree of sanctity A Priest ought to be adorned with all kind of vertues and to giue example of good life to others His conuersation should not be according to the ordinary and common proceedings of men Phil. 3. but like to the Angels in heauen or to perfect men on earth 3. A Priest clothed in sacred garments is the Vicegerēt of Christ to pray humbly Heb. 5. with a prostrate mind vnto God for himselfe the whole people He hath before and behind the signe of the Crosse of our Lord to the end he may euer remember the Passion of Christ he beareth the Crosse before him in the Vestement that he may diligently behould the foot-steps of Christ and feruently endeauour to follow them He is behind marked with the crosse that he may patiently suffer for God whatsoeuer aduersities shall be layd vpon him by others He beareth the crosse before that he may lament his owne sinnes and the same he hath also behind that he may with a compassionate hart bewaile the offences of others and know that he is place as a mediatour betweene God and the sinner Neither ought he to cease frō praier and holy oblation till he deserue to obtaine grace and mercy When a Priest doth celebrate he honoureth God reioyceth the Angels edifieth the Church helpeth the liuing giueth rest to the dead and maketh himselfe partaker of all good deeds CHAP. VI. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion The voice of the Disciple VVHEN I weigh thy greatnesse o Lord and my vnworthinesse I tremble and am confounded in my selfe For if I come not vnto thee I fly from life if I vnworthily intrude
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