Adoration Thanksgiving to God Annihilation of thy selfe now so wholly swallowed up in God become one spirit with him whereby thou maist say Possesse Me O Lord for I am thine and hence forth Nothing shall seperate me from the Charity of JESUS CHRIST And froÌ„ hence will flow such an aboundant sweetnesse of peace tranquillity into all the powers of the soul that she will feele her selfe to be in a manner transformed into a Divine Being For having a lively Apprehension Philothea that God is in Thee as the Life of thy heart has so united thy heart to himselfe that thou livest breathest movest only by influences received from him Thou wilt soon Imagine that He is as much in Thee as carefull of thy Beeing actions as if He where no where but in Thee nor cared for any creature besides Thee Whence will arise so delightfull a serenity in thy Conscience so admirable a Tranquillity in thy whole spirit that Thou wilt think thy selfe beginning actually to Possesse God gloriously And wilt therefor fly from all creatures least they disturb thy conferences with thy heavenly Espous the chast Embracements he then gives Thee Abandoning thy selfe wholly to his Providence as if Nothing were in the world but only God Thy selfe COLLOQUIE Alas My God! how far am I from feeling these delicious Motions of thy all-comforting Spirit within Me Thou fillest all Creatures giving life motion to all dost wonderfully lead them all to their proper Ends yet have I not yeilded my selfe up to Thee to be guided by Thee the fountain of all Goodnesse unto thy selfe My only Happinesse O that thou woulds't powre into my heart a torreÌ„t of Love wherby I may be violently carried towards Thee drowned in Thee O Infinite Sea ever overflowing with sweetnesse Mercy Then shall I abandon all thinges for Thee then nothing shall relish to me but Thee nor will I then care how thou disposest of me Draw Me O Lord I will run after Thee in the odour of thy oyntments I will rejoyce be glad in Thee mindfull of thy breasts above Wine the righteous shall then Love Thee Amen EIGTH DAYES VOYAGE God Speaking to the Soul THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Hearken to God CONSIDERATION COnsider That although by our Flight from Creatures the frequent Sallies our heart makes towards God we may arrive to some degree of spirituall Tranquillity yet this will not be compleat or permanent unlesse we grow dumb to all Creatures oft enter into conference with God have our Eares open only to harken what the Holy Ghost speaks in us whereby to confirme our hearts in the search of rest joy in Him as our substantiall happinesse We must therefor Philothea observe a strict Silence as a most necessary preparation of our hearts to appeare in Gods presence conferr with him for he reveales not himselfe to a soul busied in harkning to conferring with Creatures Nor can we profitably apply our minds to the practice of a recollected spirituall Life if our Eares be open to wordly tumults or tongues loosened to discourse on the varieties thereof No noyse was heard in the building of Salomons Temple nor may any disturbance be found in Us while Gods Holy Spirit builds up our Heart into a Temple of grace Holynesse If thy heart be not warmed burn within thee with the vehemency of divine Love while JESUS confers with thee in thy way to perfection 't is because thou hast not been attentive to his Inspirations Be thou silent therefor Philothea at all times but particularly when wher it is required by the constitutions of that state thou hast chosen least thy heart being opened the balsom of Gods Grace evaporate loose its Vertue or be poysoned with the stenches which may proceed from sinfull conversation Be silent too when injur'd or reprehended in conformity to JESUS CHRIST when arraigned for his life a sharp word provokes wrath excuses deprive patience of its due merit But especially thou must be silent during this thy spirituall Retirement for the Holy Ghost will not make thy heart its Sanctuary or deliver his Oracles therin unlesse thou banish thence all danger of casting forth baits of sin to others by thy tongue or sucking in the Venom of evill thoughts into thy own heart by thy Eares unles thou dost seriously apply thy selfe to harken unto what he reveales of himselfe to Thee for thy encouragement to persever in thy blessed choyce the encrease of spitual comfort in thee AFFECTION Ah my soul wilt thou abandon thy Creator for Creatures or deprive thy selfe of the delicious conferences embracements of thy Heavenly Espous for the vain sinfull conversation of Worldlings O my God I perceive I am yet far off from the perfection of holy solitude having hitherto lavisht away so much precious time in unprofitable sinfull discourses O that I could recall those many houres dayes yeeres of my life now past gone whereof I must one day render a severe account Alas my God did st observe all moments of Time allowed us to serve Thee to sue for pardon of sins encrease of Vertue freedom in holy conferences with Thee who could sustain the bitternâ—sse of thy iust wrath Speak now O Lord thy servant will give eare unto thee RESOLUTION I will hence forth place a strict guard upon my lips eares observing a religious silence at all times places conformably to my calling the example of my Saviour JESUS amidst his false accusers but particularly during my Retirement to the end I may heare the Voice of my Beloved speaking the language of peace comfort within me that I may improve my spirit by his heavenly Colloquies encrease my Love duty to him And therefor I will make a daily Examin of my selfe how I spend my time that no moment of my life may passe without some advance in piety nor any of Gods Inspirations be uncomplyed with Call therefor upon me now O Lord I will give eare unto Thee thou thalt blesse the works of my hands SECOND POINT Gods Speaks by Visible Creatures CONSIDERATION COnsider That Our Glorious God created all the Visible Things in this Great World not only to preserve us by their use in this mortall Life but especially that in them he might shaddow out unto us his own Majesty the good things prepared for us in Heaven with Himselfe Their perfection order usefullnesse declare the greatnesse of his Glory Wisdom Bounty they are stepps whereby we may clime up to God in them discover how admirable how amiable how adorable he is in Himselfe they are so many Tongues without cease speaking to us the Infinite Excellencies of their Creatour inviting us to admire love adore that Divine Essence wherin all are contain'd from whence they all had still continue their Being Clime therefor
Oh! how happy are they O Lord who eate drink at thy divine table where they see Thee cleerly love Thee ardently praise Thee incessantly possesse Thee with a fulnesse of ioy Exultation whilst I here perish with hunger thirst in this sacred Mist of thy Divine Essence am not permitted to behold the cleere Light of thy glorious face My soul O God thirsteth to behold Thee as thou art enjoy Thee fully yet thou hidest thy selfe from Me. Reveale thy face to Me O my most amiable God for my soul hath languished after my Beloved Oh when shall I come appeare in the presence of my God RESOLUTION I will night day mourne for the absence of my Beloved oft send missivs of Love holy desires unto him earnestly requesting Him to shew his face to Me therefor I will ever study to render my soul amiable to Him that Nothing may be found in me displeasing to him or which may make him hide his face from Me I will seek out all means whereby I may allure him to exhibite his gracious glorious presence to Me in his own pure Essence therby alleviate the painfulnesse of this my earthly pilgrimage for Thou O Lord hast promised If we aske we shall receive if we seek we shall find if we knock it shall be opened unto us our Ioy shall be full none shall take it from us THIRD POINT The souls repose in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That the sweet Repose of the soul in God is attained sometimes by the naturall Industry of the Affective part thereof aided by certain passing flashes of divine Lights graces whereby making Enquirie through Creatures or contemplating God by what he has revealed of himselfe she discovers him to be very Glorious Amiable then by Anagogicall Motions she sweetly powres herselfe into God by Acts of Admiration Love Adoration Thanksgiving thus takes her Repose in him But this delicious Repose is more efficaciously permanently obtain'd by means of divine Irradiations wherby our bountifull Espous compassionating the languors of the soul fainting in the search of him dissipates the Mist wherin we hitherto sought Him opens the treasures of his Majesty shews his amiable face more plainly to her infusing into her an attractive sweetnesse by his more cleer gracious presence whence still arise new Illustrations of the soul discoveries without end of Gods Intensive extensive Perfections most delicious streamings of the heart towards her Beloved by sublime acts of Love Adoration Whence proceed a hearty compunction for the sins committed by the World against so gracious glorious a Father of pure Lights restlesse strivings to be inseparably united with God transformed into him by likenesse in the powers operations of the spirit at length has a most amorous slumber in God For although the heart still watcheth in contemplation of the Beauty of her Beloved yet she sweetly sleepes in his Embracements wherby she is oft so abstracted from herselfe all feeling of sensible Creatures that she seems wholly out of herselfe through excesse of admiration Love causing an unexpressible sweetnesse Tranquillity Joy in all the Regions of the Soul This is a most sublime degree of Happynesse Philothea nor may it be attained but by a permanent Contemplation most ardent Love of God in himselfe by extraordinary Illustrations heats of divine Grace Wherefor let it not suffice Thee to have sued oft to be admitted unto a tast of these delicious Wines of thy Beloved no Philothea Thou must be importune with God for it closing up thy heart to all earthly cōforts imaginable powring it forth night day by sighs earnest Entreaties ere God will come to Thee by an open discovery of his amiablenesse make his aboad with Thee by stronger friendshipps lead thee forth to the pleasant Orchards of his divine Love admitt thee to a sweet Repose in himself AFFECTION How happy wouldst thou be My soul were there an universall silēce in al the Regions of the soul no Clouds of distractions a cleernesse freedom in contemplating embracing our Most Glorious God! O that this Orient Sun would arise in my heart dissipate the Mist wherein I now labour sigh after my Beloved then may I discover how beautifull how amiable how desirable he is Nor shall I then care for any earthly comforts but shall ever rejoyce in the fulnesse of content ioy of my heavenly Espous be filled with his sweetnesse O Incomprehensible O Ineffable Sweetnesse above Honey honey-comb the odour of sweetest spices RESOLUTION I will for ever abandon all desires of earthly consolations only thirsting after comforts from God the Fountain Abysse of all sweetnesse And therefor I wil ever keep my Mind fixt on God earnestly craving to be admitted unto his amiable presence delicious Embracements opening my heart to entertain work with all his Irradiations of himselfe into Me Attraction of Me unto himselfe to take my Repose in him For Thy lipps O most Lovely above Men Angels are as a Honey combe distilling honey milk are under thy tongue the odour of thy garments as the odour of Frankincense THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Loves Ascents NO sooner is the Soul entred the Paradice of her God there admitted to the delicious Embracements of her heavenly Espous but he opens the spring of his speciall graces powres into her heart pure plentifull streames of Divine Love gentlely flowing in her with an excesse of sweetnesse consolation On the pleasant banks of this sacred River God plants two living Trees one of Light to cleer the Understanding the other of fire to enflame the Will each bearing twelve most delicious Fruits which are the Effects of the Unitive Life of the soul transformed in to God by Love Oh Philothea how happy wilt thou be maist be admitted to set by these Chrystall streams repose under the shade of this Tree of Life tast its fruit First God Awakes the soul fainting through long Enquirie frequēt sighs after her Beloved during her aboad search of Him in the divine Mist then he powres into her a most delicious Savour feeling of his more immediate cleer presence which so seizeth on the heart that it presently fills it with an Over-swelling Ioy which makes the Eyes overflow with Teares of love the tongue by Spirituall Cantiques witnesse the inward Jubily of the spirit Whence often proceeds a Spirituall inebriation which renders the soul unable to discern where she is or what she doth sometimes causeth faintings swoundings of the body in which state the heart feeles a wonderfull Opening or dilatation to welcome the caresses of her divine Espous wherby she is Wounded deep with Love Languishes with new desires of she knows not what it is or how to expresse it thus she falls
separate the One from the Other As God caused the brightness of Christs tranfigur'd body on Mount Thabor which signifies the cleerness cheerfulness of our Spirit in holy actions so also he caused that darkness which o'respred the earth whilst CHRISTS body was disfigur'd on Mount Calvarie whereby is represented the droughts of a Soul in this state of spirituall desolation Wherefor behave thy felfe very cautiously in the pursuance of Christian perfection so that whither thou hast a feeling of piety or whither God for reasons known to himselfe deprives Thee thereof keep the same Evenness of heart constancy in thy duties during both States still multiplying acts of Love renewing thy purposes resigning thy selfe to Gods decrees concerning Thee following the direction of his Holy Spirit under whose conduct thou art now become conformable to thy sufferring Espous Imagine therefor that JESUS CHRIST has nayled Thee to this Cross through the great Love he has towards Thee to the end thou flyest not from him abandon the charge he has taken of thee or quitt thy customary duties that he may behold thy conflicts harken to thy mournfull sights supplications may more readily infuse spirituall helps wherefor humbly open thy heart to him disclosing all thy wants weakness advise also with some prudent person whom thou hast chosen for thy Guid follow his counsells punctually ever closeing with an entire Resignation to his sacred Will who thus Visits Thee COLLOQUIE What hast thou done My Innocent Lord that thou art thus severely treated Thy body is covered with wounds thy bloud streams forth from every part thy hands feet are nailed to the Cross thy head is crowned with thorns thy heart is peirced with a speare thy Soul fild to the brim with desolation when thou cryedst My God My God why hast thou forsaken Me Oh what Love what Mercy is here I have sinned the Son of God is smitten Oh rather let me fuffer who have provoked thy wrath Whither I feel the sweetness of thy comfortable presence or thou dost permit Anxieties to oppresse my spirit I will equally love Thee obey thy will And I will blesse God at all times his prayses shall ever be in my lips because he will be my Salvation in the day of sorrow SECOND DISCOURSE Phìlotheas Choyce HAving thus prosperously Philothea though with much difficulty in thy ten daies Voyage to Perfection passed through thy holy Solitude arrived to Mount Calvarie there found thy Crucifyed Lord the Author Exemplar Finisher of all Perfection repose thy selfe with joy under the shade of the Crosse offring up thy heart to him to be united with his by Love made conformable to his Will in all thy affections actions saying Behold I have gone far flying from the World its Vanities made my habitation in the Wilderness Under his shadow whom my Soul desireth will I sett This is my Resting place for ever ever here will I dwell because I have chosen it O blessed Flight O pleasant Repose O Divine Choyce whereby thy Soul will become a stranger to the Earth where she lives freely converse with God whom she loves Then make a breife review of thy ten daies Retirement See whither thou hast that value of Solitude its Entertainments which the perfectiō thereof deserveth And what inclinations thou hast to persever therein whither thou hast a cordiall apprehension of thy Sinfull State the Means God has established for thy salvation Whither thy Passions be any thing abated thy heart unchayned from Creatures that it may joyfully Fly to God Whither thou hast a perfect Calme in thy Soul canst Give eare to the whisperings of thy heavenly Espous beest every way fitted to take thy Repose in God And lastly whither thou hast a hearty resentement of the suffrings of thy Crucifyed Lord a willingness to Imitate him in his bitter seperations a desire to be wholly united to him in that sad ignominious state for unless thy heart be now united ūto that of JESUS suffring thou maist not hope hereafter to be united unto thy JESUS triumphing Fix thy Eie therefor steadily upon thy soveraign Lord bleeding dying upon the Cross thereby draw a Coppy in thy own heart by his wounded feet order thy affections by his peirced hands rectify thy actions by his crowned head purify thy thoughts by his opened side regulate thy Love by his sorrowfull Soul draw in thine the picture of Compassion imitation That for ever after the life of JESUS may be made manifest in Thee COLLOQUIE Behold here O Victorious Saviour of Men Angels my languishing sighing heart earnestly sueing to become One with Thee transformed into the likeness of thy love-wounded heart dying to all things but Thee that henceforth Thou onely maist live in me I for ever in Thee without being seperated from Thee O Amiable Union O delicious Transformation O Divine Life Oh that thou wouldest deep engrave in my heart the Image of thy Cross all thy suffrings thereon that as a bundle of myrrhe they may ever lay in my bosom by a perpetuall Memory of thy Love therein towards Me. To Thee therefor doe I now for ever sacrifize my whole heart to be wounded with the darts of thy ever flaming love that all my Affections Actions Thoughts Desires Ioyes may be ordred by Thee begin from Thee end in Thee O Endless End and Abysse of all Happiness Amen FINIS MEDITATIONS UPON THE PASSION For every day of the week SVNDAY Washing of the Feet CONS 1. Who washeth God thy Creatour Redeemer giver of all good things 2. Whose feet he washeth of ignoble persōs great sinners his own betrayer 3. Why he washeth to give example of meekness teach us to cleanse our Soul ere we approach his Altar Affect Oh my JESU that I could love thee all creatures as I ought thou desirest Resolve To practise the Vertue of Charitie shun Envie in occasions best known to thy self MVNDAY Prayer in the garden CONS 1. How CHRIST prayeth kneeling prostrate with instancy thou how tipid 2. What 's his prayer That his Chalice may passe yet with resignation to obey his Fathers will doe thou pray thus 3. How he sweats bloud in great drops in great sorrows wilt thou rely on thy own strength Affect Oh my JESU that I could hūble my self to Thee all creatures for thee Resolve To practise Humilitie shun Pride c. TWESDAY Mocking before Herod CONS 1. How JESUS betrayed apprehended manicled is led to Annas Caiphas Pilate Herod Follow him in this sorrowfull Pilgrimage 2. How He is every where falsly accused yet is silent be silent too when injur'd 3. How before Herod he is cloathed mocked as a Foole if thou beest a Christian imitate CHRISTS self-denyall Affect Oh my JESU that I could contemn my own will for thy sake Resolve To practise Self-denyall shun self-love c. WEDNESDAY Whipping at the Pillar CONS 1. How JESUS led back to Pilate is there accused as a Blasphemer Seducer Traitor Barabbas though a Murderer is perfer'd before him canst repine when vilifyed 2. How that Innocent Body unclothed bound to the Pillar is whipt for thy sins I sin Thow suffrest 3. How barbarously those Soldiers treat thy JESUS Oh cruelly this he suffers for the Bath thy heart in his saving bloud Affect Oh my JESU that I could bear all Crosses from all persons for the love of Thee Resolve To practise Patience shun Anger c. THVRSDAY Crowning with Thorns CONS 1. How JESUS thus bleeding is crownd with sharp Thorns this Crown is instead of a Crown of Glory 2. How they cloath him in scarlet put a reed in his hand for a Scepter then kneeling deride Him Thou art a King indeed reign for ever in my heart 3. How JESUS thus adorned is led forth by Pilate shown to the Jewes with Behold á Man O sad Spectacle Yet still they cry Crucify Him Oh the heavy weight of my sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could obey Thee even to loss of life Resolve To practise Obedience shun Sloath c. FRYDAY Carrying the Cross CONS 1. How JESUS thus derided whipped crowned goes forth carrying the Cross whereon he is to be sacrifized for thy Sins 2. What shouts of joy the Jewes make after Him through the streets of Jerusalem thus is Innocency despised 3. How the devout woemen meet bewaile Him thy hard heart sheds not one Teare amidst these sorrows or for thy sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could abandon all sensuall satisfactions for the Love of Thee Resolve To practise Temperance shū Gluttony c. SATVRDAY Crucifying of Iesus CONS 1. How JESUS with much pain shame arrived to Mount Calvary is again uncloath'd thus all his soares are renewed My Sins not blotted out by Repentance shall one day be disclosed to the whole World 2. How they streatch thy JESUS upon the Cross fastnīg him with nayles therunto thē raise him up where he hangs betweē two theeves Oh what ignominy 3. How He there hangs for the space of three houres reviled by Jews Gentiles forsaken by his Disciples drenched with gall vineger peirced to the heart with a speare yet He prays for his Enemies Enter make thy aboade in that love-wounded-Heart Affect Oh my JESU that I could imitate Thee in the purity of thy Life Doctrine Resolve To practise Modesty shun All contrary Therunto c. FINIS
in his Passion to redeeme Man from the tyranny of sin satan What greater argument of Love could God give to Miserable Man then this then when the Jews sought to destroy him all mankind had abandond him even then to bestow on us not fading honours riches or pleasures but himselfe who is the Maker of the whole world that as a Ransom to discharge us from our Captivity as a Physitian to cure our Spirituall diseases as a Father to protect us as an Espouse to comfort us as the Earnest of his eternall glory what greater bounty then this If the Jews with so great Reverence assisted at offred up their Sacrifices of beasts surely We should with far greater Veneration piety approach to our Altars whereon the living God in our Nature is offred up a Propitiatiō for the sins of the World a Reconciliation between God Man a Source of all blessings of grace glory No sooner does the Priest pronounce those words whereby that Mystery is wrought but the substance of the bread wine is changed into the body bloud of JESUS CHRIST the sensible elements thereof only remaining there he is whole in every part in all places where he is consecrated without division or multiplication in him selfe or departing from the right hand of the Father Certainly Philothea This guift that bounty these wonders wrought for our reparation from our sinfull state should strongly engage our hearts in Loue Duty to God AFFECTION I adore Thee my soveraign Lord hidden in this Divine Mystery acknowledge Thee to be there really present God Man my Redeemer Sanctifyer Glorifyer Alas My God all my Good how little have I hitherto thought on this thy inestimable love bounty to me whereby to releiue me from the slavery of sensuality satan to heale the deep wounds of my sinfull soul fill it with enlivning sanctifying graces what have I returned to God for all these favours bestowed upon me I will approach to Gods Altar with a repentant heart eate there the bread of salvation will call on the Name of God RESOLUTION I will ever have a lively faith towards this Mystery of the Holy Eucharist confirmed to me by CHRISTS own words the authority of Apostles Fathers the consent of all ancient modern Christians united under one supream head CHRISTS Vicar on Earth I will lay open all my wants weaknessesse before my Soveraign Lord here really present confiding in his comforting helps for the freeing my Mind from distractions Will from sinfull affections that I may profitably approach to him eate of that living bread sacrifize my soul to him by abnegation of my will my body by Obedience to Christian Duties SECOND POINT Fruits of the Holie Sacrament CONSIDERATION COnsider That approaching to Gods holy Altar there eating of that repayring fruit of the Tree of life We become like the Sacred Virgin conceiving him in her womb therefor should study to imitate her Humilitie Obedience Faith Charity whereby she was fitted to that great work raised to familiar conferences with JESUS CHRIST which we specially aime at in our holy Retyrement We become also Temples of God therefor our hearts should be Altars whereon to offer up our enflamed thoughts desires admitting no negotiation there but what may tend to the cleansing our souls from evill affections adorning them with divine vertues whereby it may be fitted to entertayn this heavenly Guest Had JESUS CHRIST when on Earth vouchsafed to make his aboade with us as in Bethania with Mary Martha with what solicitude would we have prepared all things befitting his sacred presence that nothing might appear in us undecent or wanting where with to give him a ioyfull welcome The like care should now be had My Philothea especially since he comes here to us in his glorifyed body environed with Angels invisibly present with hands full of blessings to bestow upon us In JESUS CHRIST abides the fulnesse of the Divinity therefor He giving him selfe to us in this heavenlie Manna containing all sweetnesse he gives withall the whole treasury of his heavenly guifts graces whereby the soul is cleansed from veniall sins mortall inculpably forgotten in confession Reason receives cleerer lights of spirituall truths the Will is enflamed to Christiā Duties the Conscience eased Inclinations to evil are weakned our Love to heavenly things strengthned encreased O living food of Angels be thou my Dayly bread fill my soul with thy divine sweetnesse that my conversation may be in heaven by the Imitation of the life of those blessed spirits by hopes of feeding for ever on that bread in the kingdom of thy Father AFFECTION Oh that I might conceive JESUS in my heart by Love bring him forth by performance of his Will then should I truly feed on this bread of Angels But alas too often have I approached Gods Altar with a Spirit full of earthly desires too frequently have I entertaind the great Lord of the world in a soul defiled with sinfull affections tepid in divine Exercises distracted with worldly sollicitudes therefor I still remain dry barren to good actions insensible to the comforting presence of JESUS within me Oh that Gods holy Spirit would overshadow my soul cleanse it from all imperfections enflame it with heavenly loue replenish it with his gracious blessings that it may be a fitt Sanctuary for the Saviour of Men Angels RESOLUTION I will banish forth of my heart whatever may displease my Divine Espouse adorning it with Vertues holy desires whereby it may be prepared to entertain him experiēce the sweetnesse of his comforting presence And I will endeavour that my outward decency in behaviour conversation may testify the inward tranquillity alacrity of my spirit an earnest longing to be One with him Live Thou O JESUS in my soul that I may live by the heat of thy divine flames walk by the light of thy inspirations from Vertue to Vertue till I see Thee my God in thy holy Sion THE THIRD POINT Intention in Communion CONSIDERATION COnsider That if in all actions of this life we study to have a due upright intention this ought then especially to be when we approach to the Holy Sacrament that great proofe of Gods Love to mankind that efficacious means of confirming us in our spirituall life a most assured pledg of our future blessed life above We may not then venture hither of meer custome or for companie sake nor to purchase a vain esteem of holinesse or an encrease of temporall blessings or some spirituall gust or sweetnesse in that great Act of Christian worship No Philothea we must goe to God for God himselfe that our loue to him may be greater our devotions quicker our Spirits stronger in performing the will of our Soveraign Lord and
God as a sheep that is lost seek thou thy servant I will not be unmindfull of thy commandements RESOLUTION I will not only henceforth mortify the senses of my body but the passions of my mind also that with my heart as well as lips I may honour glorifie my Saviour And I will stricktly examine every motion of my sensuall appetite that I may discover its maladies order its affections prevent those disquiets which my Passions have hitherto raised in Me That My beloved may say to Me Thou art a Garden of delights inclosed a spring shut up a fountain sealed THIRD POINT Mortification the property of a Christian CONSIDERATION COnsider That by means of this Mortification of our senses passions we are placed in a degree of perfection above beasts who being voyd of reason seek their content happinesse in sensuall delights therefor those carnall hearts which still wallow in the puddle of earthly pleasures following the allurements of sensible objects the disorders of their own passions degenerate into beasts Wheras Mortification is the speciall badg property of a true Christian Man who living according to reason grace crucifies the flesh with its concupiscences thereby belongeth to Christ But especially this perfect mortification of our sensuall appetites is the proper Companion true signet of the solitarie soul who retyring from worldly conversation obliges her selfe to imitate JESUS CHRIST in his sufferings to follow the stepps of the most zealous Christians of all Ages by resisting the irregular desires of sensualitie that the flesh may obey the spirit our spirit the Will of God for the Sanctification of the whole Man If therefor Philothea Thy senses passions have hitherto been loosly kept strayed after inordinate satisfactions now thou must have a watchfull care over them fasten them to the Crosse of Mortification promptly joyfully frequently perseverently universally that as all have been Ministers of vncleanesse they may also be promoters of pyety thy Eies in contemplating thy Crucifyed Redeemer reading holy bookes thy Eares in harkning to devout sermōs thy Tongue in prayer pious discourses thy Hands in performing good works thy Feet in visiting holy places thy whole body in bearing patiētly the miseries of this mortall Life undergoing acts of pennance for satisfaction of past prevention of new sins so contrary to thy Christian profession the great design now in hand AFFECTION I acknowledg my Dearest Lord that through thy precious bloud I am regenerated from my sinfull state sanctifyed to Christian holy duties strongly fortifyed agaynst the corrupted inclinations of my own sensualitie outward charms of earthly delights yet Alas how oft how vilely have I transgressed thy commands my own promises to be one of thy flock to become a mortified Christian to abandon all worldly contents suffer whatever austerities tribulations rather then to loose any part in Thee thy blessed Kingdome prepared for Me But thou O Lord art sweet mild aboundest with Mercies Have Mercy upon me O God have mercy upon me for my soul hath trusted in Thee RESOLUTION I will take a speciall View of all abuses committed through immortification of my senses passions consider all my evill Inclinations where at what time towards what Objects I am aptest to comply with them I will waryly watch over all my waies prevent dangers undertake such Mortifications as may keep my heart closse to my God stedfast in the observance of his Holy Commandements strengthen me O Lord with thy grace My Appetite shall be subject to Me I shall have power over it THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Dammages incurrd by Immortification AS the Love of God ioyned with selfe Contempt builds up the Citty of God in us so selfe Love reaching to the contempt of Gods holy Commandements that of Satan This Selfe-love is the First Mover in the sphear of the unmortifyed soul of all the passions of our sensualitie whence proceed all those calamities of sinfull desires the following disorders which restlesly warr agaynst Gods spirit in Us heavyly presse Us down even agaynst our Wills to those Miseries we now groan under long to be freed from Our first Parents complying with an Immoderate Appetite of the fruit of one forbiddē Tree amongst so many thousand excellent Ones allowed by Almighty God for their Use pleasure notwithstanding Gods severe prohibition under payn of his high dispeasure a tedious life forrowfull death all those penalties which daily draw so many teares from our Eies sighs from our hearts has brought Gods heavy wrath upon themselves us all those Rebellions of sensualitie Errours in understanding difficulties in obeying that torrent of cares sorrows which continually afflict our spirits yet We still add to our Miseries by an over-ready sideing with these our unruly passions Appetites What grater mishapp can befal a Soveraign Prince then to be deposed his Throne spoyled of his royall Prerogatives dignity to be banisht forth his own Dominiōs Thus it is with us now Each one of us had a peacefull kingdom within himselfe was Supream Lord therein in his Originall state No sooner did selfe Love creep in to our hearts seduce the powers of the soul to prefer sensualitie to reason Justice but God permits our Passions to overrun us tyrannize within us whence arise those varieties of Concupiscences boylings roulings of our affections Love Hatred Hopes Feares those numberlesse disquiets which torture our unmortifyed spirits He takes from us the safeguard of Justice Innocency whereby we are become unable to governe our hearts in the flight of evill pursuance of approved Good And we are banisht forth that Paradice which was the seat of our Earthly happinesse the Image of the heavenly are here condemn'd through sweats sighs Innumerable sorrows to weare out an anxious painfull Life These be the Miseries we have incurr'd Philothea through Immortification of our senses passions are still increased in us by giving reynes to our heady disorderly sēsualitie as we dayly experience in the misgovernment of our lives actions which certainly none can seriously consider without an extream horrour confusion Thou must therefor earnestly endeavour to suppresse all inordinate suggestions desires of flesh bloud through consideration of the great humiliation bitter sorrows the eating one forbidden Aple cost the Son of God The severe prohibitions God has made against unlawfall concupiscences his cōmands that we mortify our carnall appetites crucify our flesh chastise our bodies hate deny our selves The Examples of all the Saints Lovers of solitude the great dammages we have already still may incurr by consenting to our vicious affections Then by examining what passions abound most in Thee how thou maist timely prevent dangers of raising
Creatures lay lurking within thee in thy bosom with what chaines thy heart is linked to them by what means they may be slackned by what degrees broken a sunder Are they Riches Beauty Cloaths some deare Friend all must be cast forth thy heart that the God of purity peace may enter therein abide with Thee No prophane Altar may stand in Gods temple nor can we together serve God Mammon If God be able to fill thy heart make it happy let not any creature presume to challenge any corner thereof AFFECTION Oh that my God would break asunder all those chains which so strongly bind me to creatures then will I fly to him with the wings of an ardent Love abandonning all for him My heart has been too long fill'd possest of Vanity O that I had a new a disinterested an unspotted heart that would be a fitt Temple wherein to entertayn so glorious a Guest Give me then a clean heart a heart of Love O Soveraign Lord of Hearts thou shalt for ever command therein I will ever abide with Thee by contemplation of thy selfe RESOLUTION I will no longer delay my flight from Creatures to God or only stand to file off the fetters that fasten me to them but will presently break them in peices cast them from Me that I may freely entirely possesse my God Nothing that is agaynst him nothing without him nothing as my felicity besides him shall enjoy any part in Me. Adieu therefor all yee Creatures that may hinder my society with God Honours wealth pleasures parents friends I abandon all that may possesse my heart unjustly hinder it from being the pure Temple of my eternall God My heart O God I give to Thee both because Thou lookest for it lovest it saying My Child give me thy heart because Thou only dost deserve it without thee it is never at rest SECOND POINT Flight from our selves CONSIDERATION COnsider That as our first Flight towards God is made by a withdrawing our affections from creatures forth of our selves that we may the more freely unite our selves to God so the second Flight must be by abstracting our affections even from the outward man that is part of our selves by reason of its great neernesse intimacy with us may the more easily doe us harme This is a dangerous Enemy indeed because most neer most dear most importune evermore worketh against our spirituall progresse however Philothea if thou dost trust in God use strong endeavours thou wilt sooÌ„ make a considerable advance in this Victory over thy selfe When therefor selfe Love prompts thee to seek after any sensuall satisfaction take no notice at all of it If it growes more petulant importune reproach it with its own corruption blindnesse But if it persevers becomes insolent then Kill slay it by the sword of Austeritie rigorous Mortification so wilt thou Philothea by degrees triumph over thy selfe be able to doe beare or forbeare what ever thy spirit will with little repugnance or repining of thy sensuall appetite Thus thou feest how strict a guard our Solitary pilgrim must have over her selfe in her advance to Perfection since to purchase true happinesse 't is not enough to quitt affections to outward Creatures unlesse we also by a perfect abrenunciation of selfe Love private interest overcome that which is part of our very selves AFFECTION Oh that I could truly say My heart now â—â—â—th but it is not my heart which liveth but CHRIST who liveth in Me Live then sweet JESU in my heart as the heart the life the soul of my heart possesse it wholly permit no love to harbour therin which hath not its beginning from thee or at least is not consistent with Thee then will I sing My God is a strong warrier has overthrown my enemies RESOLUTION I renounce defie Thee O treacherous selfe Love which hast so often sought still intendest the ruin of my better selfe I will henceforth only esteem that selfe Love which will preserve my spirit safe in the last day and will therefor warily watch over all the motions of my heart examining all its designs projects ordering it according to the Will of my Soveraign Lord Master THIRD POINT Flight from Spiritall Comforts CONSIDERATION COnsider That to accomplish our Flight to God in himselfe wee must be willing even to be abandoned of God himselfe when he so wils it that is to say Out of our sincere love to him willingly to want those graces comforts whereby he uses to sustain his servants in their combatts advances in the way of Perfection This is that sublime state of perfection whereunto the holy Espouse was arrived when she cryed out Fly from me O my Beloved A state wherein the soul seeks not after any sensible feeling of the sweetnesse of divine Inspirations but is contented to be wholly abandoned of all inward consolations of the spirit the savory gusts of the gracious presence of Almighty God to be exposed to inward anxieties spirituall conflicts as if she were actually in the state of sin really deprived of Gods Love his Sanctifying graces This is an admirable Flight indeed Philothea yet very necessary if we ayme at the height of solitary Perfection whereby the heart must be prepared to whatever condition God alots it Examine then whither thou hast a sincere Resolution to quitt all things beneath God to love him although thou should'st not reap thence any sensible fruit or consolation during this present life AFFECTION Oh infinite beauty of my wholly amiable Creatour who would not love Thee even for thy own sake since thou art nothing but Goodnesse O you Cittizens of the heavenly Hierusalem I adjure you when you meet my Beloved that you tell him I languish with Love because he is wholly desirable chosen of thousands RESOLUTION I will Love my God for his own sake because he is wholly lovely not for any spirituall gust or comfort which may arise from the presence of his graces those good thoughts affectioÌ„s it pleaseth him to work in me I will so love Thee My only Soveraign Lord that if I were God not Thou I would cease to be God that Thou alone mightest be the God of my soul My God all THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Vanity of Creatures ALl creatures are either things abroad or wee our selves both are full of Vanity hinder the solitary soul from flying unto God We must therfor speedily goe forth the Sodom of this world seperate our selves from outward creatures For how can The heart enjoy the sweetnesse of solitary perfection if it wanders abroad after sensible contentments feeds upon the trash of earthly pleasures Say then Philothea Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity empty unconstant which is not my God Why then shall I permitt my affections to be
chained to these transitorie things since with them I cannot enjoy God my only comforter Wherefor Consider what creature in the whole world of what ever Excellency or worth can be a fitt object of thy Love Is it the world in generall with all its beauty delights Or is it some select peice thereof Some high dignity aboundance of wealth honorable friends variety of pleasures or some especially amiable Creature Alas Philothea seest thou not that all these things are subject to change unconstant empty goods which once possest soon vanish leaving nothing behind them but a restlessenesse of new desires disquiets of conscience are consequently unable to appease the thirst of our languishing fainting spirit Make then a generous strong Purpose to abandon all Creatures for thy Creatour since he alone can fill thy soul say to God Oh! that I could die to all Creatures that I may live only to Thee thou in Me Having thus stript thy selfe of all outward Creatures Enter into thy selfe make a diligent survay of thy heart search every corner thereof till thou hast discovered what passions of selfe Love private interest lay lurking therein what difficulty thou hast to submit thy judgment to quitt selfe esteem to abandon old freindships familiarities to leave inbred customs to wave thy affection to proper interest What time hath been lost in giving way to inward heats of passions what neglect in curbing ordring thy appetites say with the holy Prophet I will begin from the morningh watch to kill the sinners of the Earth chase them forth of the Citty of my God This Citty of God Philothea is thy own heart thence must thou banish all inordinate desires which are as the little foxes in the Cantiques that destroy the Vineyard of our beloved COLLOQUIE I will goe to my God declare to him the wandrings rowlings of my disorderly spirit whereby deserting him I have followed the footsteps of those who seeking content from Creatures have gone astray from the holy folds of their Creator I see my errour O my God My heart has too long sweated fainted in searching happinesse from things beneath Thee whereby I find my hands still empty my daies to have faded away in Vanity because I sought not my comfort from Thee who alone art All Good able to fill the longings of my thirsty soul Oh that thou wouldst free me from the disorders of my concupiscences knock off those many strong chaines which bind me to the Vanities of this Life Then will I soar up as an Eagle in Contemplation of thy glory fly with the wings of Love feed on Thee SECOND DISCOURSE Spirituall Indifferency BEsides this abstraction of our spirit from all Creatures abroad at home in our own bosom we must endeavour Philothea to be wholly resigned to Gods Will concerning us and willingly to be deprived of all savour sweetnes of his Love towards us so long as He pleaseth as if he had abandoned us leaving us to combat alone with an army of desolatiōs sorrowes To this end we must study to Love God simply purely in for himselfe without any mixture of selfe love therin Having a perfect Indifferency to all his counsels decrees touching us that whither he leads us up Mount Thabor to contemplate the glorious Transfiguration of JESUS CHRIST or to Mount Calvarie there to behold the Ignominy of his Passion we may have a preparation of heart to either may confidently say My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared to run the way of thy Commandements Thou must also Philothea have a readinesse to be deprived of the sensible delights of Gods gracious presence in Thee a willingnesse to be excluded thence till the soul quitting this Mortality arrives happily to the Haven of everlasting blisse O happy indifferency wherein the solitary soul for the pure Love of her heavenly Espous can be contented to want those amorous delightfull embracements where with he uses to entertain his best servants And since thou art thus resign'd to be deprived of these savoury feelings of Gods Love to Thee thou must be further willing to suffer all calamities with thy crucifyed Saviour But alas Philothea this is a heavy tryall nor may all the torments imaginable of the body be compared to this desolatiō of the spirit Desire not therefor to experience it but endeavour to bid even this tribulation welcome when ever it pleases God that it befalls Thee And even at that time be thou as ready to perform all good actions to suffer all contradictions to stick close to thy accustomed Duties during that aridity of thy spirit with as great courage alacrity as if thy soul did then swim with excesse of spirituall comforts This is an Eminent degree of Perfection a mark of inhabiting Grace in Thee although perhaps thou feelest not then the sensible sweetnesse thereof Nor shouldst thou at all complain of Gods hardnesse to Thee in that thy desolate state but rather with affectionate sighs shouldst bewayl the absence of thy Beloved yet caring not to be compassionated or comforted therein but rather desiring so to cōtinue till thy dying day without the least sense of love of thy heavenly Espous in Thee if it so please him COLLOQUIE O happy Indifferency of heart to all earthly heavenly consolations thou alone canst free me from all anxious hopes feares of this Miserable Life leave me wholly fixed in the will of God to be ordred according to his holy pleasure Oh that I could love the My glorious Lord purely for thy own sake not seeking any comfort thence but rather contenting my selfe to be for ever banisht from the feeling of all spirituall sweetnesse exposed to any desolation even then readily complying with the duties belonging to my present calling without bewayling my selfe either for Gods severity towards me or for my own misfortune Then should I voluntarily Sacrifize to Thee confesse to thy Name O God because it is good for thereby I shall be delivered from all tribulation my Eie shall look down upon my Enemies Amen SEVENTH DAYES VOYAGE Tranquillity of Spirit THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Life of the Spirit CONSIDERATION COnsider That having taken A Flight from all things of this world raised our hearts above the spheare of all earthly Creatures present comforts through a desire to rest in God as the only Center scope of all our hopes We must carefully study to establish in our selves a perfect Tranquillity of our Spirit that whatever befall us or whatsoever our obligations be according to our present calling nothing may be able to disturbe its inward peace or shake our divine Resolutions Endeavour therefor Philothea that thy spirit live her own life not according to the flesh wherein she abides or the world that encompasses both but wholly spiritually as the blessed spirits of God now
Man so must my contemplation Union be with Thee a Glorious God a suffring Man by partaking the joys of One sorrows of the other I will therefor ever aspire to be with Thee in the glory of thy Father yet will joyfully cast my self into the Sea of Love thy bleeding heart that through it I may swim to the haven of thy hidden Divinity Come then all torments of heaven Earth presse heavy upon Me I shall never sink as long as supported by the saving Grace of my Victorious Redeemer Oh that I were grown'd by the teeth of wild beasts torn by racks scorched with burning flames so I may enjoy CHRIST Rather here O Lord rather here then where thy wrath never ceases for thou wilt lead me forth this prison shew me all thy Glory I shall confess unto thy Name RESOLUTION I will for ever make my habitation in the wounded heart of my Crucified Lord therein read over the vast book of Love Suffring that by it I may govern my life actions not contenting my selfe with an empty Name void of the substance perfection of a Christian Therefor I will joyfully welcome all tribulations as speciall Guifts of God tokens of his love given to cure the soares of my sinfull Soul exercise Vertue preserve to life everlasting for who ever lives holyly shall suffer persecution nor may the Crown of endless Glory be purchased at an easy rate I will therefor cheerfully take up my Cross rank my selfe amongst thy zealous servants follow thee my suffring Lord for Blessed is he who suffers for thee because when he is tryed he shall receive a Crown of life Immortality SECOND POINT Expropriation of Friends CONSIDERATION COnsider that to attain to this high state of Christian Perfection Union with CHRIST suffring we must willingly abandon all earthlie contents embrace all tribulations with joy in Imitation of JESUS CHRIST it being much harder consequently a greater perfection to beare great crosses with patience then perform heroick acts of Vertue without difficultie for our Vertue is not then firm when not shaken but when not shaken though most assayled by adversity therefor our perfection grows with proportion to our suffrings in the society of our suffring Saviour whose Pilgrimage from the cribb to the Cross began in tears ended in bloud since therefor Philothea thou art by profession à Christian by speciall Resolution a seeker of highest Perfection CHRISTS sorrows suffrings cross must be unto thee a Rule of life the Center of all thy motions the more conformable thou art to him in these the greater will thy perfectiō now be happiness hereafter Behold then with a stedfast Eie the Saviour of the World hanging on the Cross as in his Passiō so in his death abandoned by his Apostles Disciples al his usuall train of applauding attendāts He who in his glory was guarded with millions of Angels to whom all knees bowe who is the Image Splendour of the glory of his eternal Father is now forsaken by All. Love made him our Brother by assuming our Nature compassion our Physitian by his healing doctrine sacraments Mercy our Ransom by his own bitter death discharging our debts now alas he is abandon'd of all He descended from the noblest Princes Preists Prophets of Israël by his temporall birth he healed lame blind dumb lepers all diseases by his Divine power All men Angels for ever glorious with God are happy through the Efficacy of his peace-speaking bloud they have now alas all deserted him This is the paterne which we must Imitate Philothea e're we can attain the perfection we aime at We must be entirely resigned to abandon be abandoned by all even our dearest most obliged friends This may seem hard indeed it is so For Friendship is a Vertue Charity is yet a greater it is hard therefor to perswade from actiōs arising from so sublime a cause yet is it mainly necessary if we will become perfect when the pruning time is come superfluous shoots must be cutt off else few small fruit All earthlie friendships are superfluous in order to inward perfection therefor should be lopt off that the sap of grace may quietly fructify in us to life everlasting under the conduct of our Divine Guide Example Tell me Philothea canst thou like well a treason in thy bosom friend Surely thou canst not If David had been cursed by his enemies he could have borne it but to be hurt by a friend by one that had prayd with him in Gods holy House that was an unsupportable Cross And what 's more frequent even with those who abandoning the world should abandon its weakness mutability yet through variety of opiniōs dispositions oft break betray a friends confidence If then for the love of thy heavenly Espous thou hast forsaken parents kindred all worldly friends for the same love enter not now or at least break off any singularity of affectiō even towards thy companions in the study of perfection not onely because singularity is ever prejudiciall in professours of a Cōmon Life whence propriety of affections as well as of temporall goods must be banisht as nurses of suspitions jealousies many private feudes but especially because they hazard the loss of our inward tranquillity in case our friend to whom we have imprudently disclosed the secrets of our heart betrays his trust using our freedom to our confusion Wherefor be cautious in trusting thy heart strings to any but as the Wise Heathen sayd Ever converse with thy friend as one who may prove thy Enemy For as it is the nature of fire to burne so of sinners to be weak selfe interested take a View of they past life experience will teach Thee most friendships of thy bosom-friends to have been grounded on self-profit therefor have ended in discontents enmities Besides the superfluity treachery of friendships they are great impediments of Vertue while many thoughts are spent in them to the breach of in ward peace loss of precious time neglect of heavenly conferences with our Divine Espous I doubt not Philothea but thou hast had many speciall deare friends much delighted to abide conferr with them what profit thence Alas much Vanity time lost languishings of heart or sin Even now then knock off these troublesome slackles whereby thou art fettred to Creatures however deare to Thee least thou present God with a broken divided heart whereas he gave demands A whole sound that thou owest to him hadst thou many thousands AFFECTION Ah! how hard is it to be abandon'd by all friends who may comfort us in our desolations But I know will adore the power that works this happy separation perhaps thou hadst for ever perished O my Soul hadst not not thus lost thy friend or abandond him for God Alas
25. § 8. A Method of Meditation p. 28. § 9. Choyce of a Guide p. 34. § 10. Exercises in Solitude p. 39. § 11. Distribution of time p. 42. A Practise of ten Daies Solitude J. Daies Voyage Inducements to Solitude The Morning Exercise 1. Point Dignitie of Solitude p. 49. 2. point Innocency of Solitude p. 53. 3. point Necessitie of Solitude p. 56. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Gods Favours to us p. 60. 2. Discourse Our Returns to God p. 64. II. Daies Voyage Entertaynments in Solitude The Morning Exercise 1. Point Humility Austerity p. 68. 2. point Patience Obedience p. 72. 3. point Charity Perfection p. 76. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Love of Solitary places p. 80. 2. Discourse Exercises in Solitude p. 84. III. Daies Voyage Man in his sinfull State The Morning Exercise 1. Point Vileness of the body by Nature p. 90. 2. point Wretchedness of the Soul by sin p. 94. 3. point Ignorance of our future state p. 98. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Our weakness to Good p. 102. 2. Discourse Our proneness to Evill p. 106. IV. Daies Voyage Man repaired by Iesus Christ The Morning Exercise 1. Point Institution of the Holy Sacrament p. 111. 2. point Fruits of the H. Sacrament p. 116. 3. point Intention in Communion p. 119. An Oblation before Cōmunion p. 122. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Preparation to the Holy Sacrament p. 122. Advises for a generall Confession p. 124. Philotheas Covenant with God p. 125. 2. Discourse Behaviour in receiving the Holy Sacrament p. 126. V. Daies Voyage Mortification of Sensuality The Morning Exercise 1. Point Mortification of the Senses p. 130. 2. point Mortificatiō of the Passions p. 134. 3. point Mortification the property of a Christian p. 136. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Dammages incur'd by Immortification p. 140. 2. Discourse Necessity Use of Mortification p. 144. VI. Daies Voyage Flight of the Soul to God The Morning Exercise 1. Point Flight from Creatures p. 150. 2. point Flight from our selves p. 153. 3. point Flight from spirituall Comforts p. 156. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Vanity of Creatures p. 158. 2. Discourse Spirituall Indifferency p. 161. VII Daies Voyage Tranquillity of Spirit The Morning Exercise 1. Point Life of the Spirit p. 165. 2. point Mentall Recollection p. 168. 3. point Union of the Spirit with God p. 172 The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Loves Tryall p. 176. 2. Discourse Loves Entertainments p. 179. VIII Daies Voyage God Speaking to the Soul The Morning Exercise 1. Point Harken to God p. 184. 2. point God speaks by Visible Creatures p. 188. 3. point God speaks by Man p. 192. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse God speaks by his Son Incarnate p. 197. 2. Discourse God reveals himselfe p. 201. IX Daies Voyage Repose of the Soul in God The Morning Exercise 1. Point The Soul hidden in God p. 204. 2. point Search of God in God p. 208. 3. point The Souls repose in God p. 212. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Loves Ascents p. 216. 2. Discourse Loves Descents p. 219. X. Daies Voyage Highest Christian Perfection The Morning Exercise 1. Point Union with Christ suffring p. 226. 2. point Expropriation of Friends p. 233. 3. point Selfe-Denyall p. 239. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Spirituall Desolation p. 244. 2. Discourse Philotheas Choyce p. 248. Meditations upō the Passion for every day of the weeke p. 252. PHILOTHEA INVITED TO BEGIN HER PILGRIMAGE TAke Leave Philothea bid thy Friends depart Let nothing earthly now come neer thy heart Whilst thou retyrest sighing all alone Recounting all the ills which thou hast done This is Gods way to heare his Voyce in Thee And search thy heart in inward privacie Which fil'd with thoughts of heav'n-aspiring joyes And lodg'd in shades exempt from vulgar noise Winged with chast desires sacred vows Upwards doth mount to meet her heav'nly Spous And heare Loves whispers charming up above To fix her self i th' center of her Love From whose Embraces may she not depart But grasp that heav'nly armefull neer her heart No Gemme no hidden treasure like to this 'T is Heav'ns delight alone Mans Crown Bliss O blessed dayes O purely sweet content Whil'st thus in Paradise thy time is spent Oh may such thoughts thy spirit alway move Thus mayst thou ever live to be in love 'T is Heav'n on Earth thus sweetly to discover Heavn'ns joyes on Earth have thy God thy Lover RICH BVLSTRODE Interior Templ Lond Armig. PHILOTHEA'S PILGRIMAGE TO PERFECTION The Preface to PHILOTHEA Contayning Instructions for Solitude §. 1. Excellency of Holy Solitude SInce thou art in good earnest resolved MY PHILOTHEA to begin thy Pilgrimage to Perfection by entring holy Solitude therein for a while to conferr with the beloved of thy soul touching the present future state thereof how thou standest affected to Piety how thou maist better thy selfe in thy progresse towards heaven by cleansing thy heart intirely from those stains blemishes which are incident to corrupt fraile Nature by strengthning it with pious considerations enflamed affections efficacious resolutions to the redeeming of lost time reforming such errours evill inclinations as are insensibly crept into thy soule I cannot more fittly addresse my selfe to thee then with the hearty well-wishes of holy Tobie to his Sonne Walke well God be in thy way his holy Angell accompany Thee Nor may we doubt but that the same Divine Clemency which hath inspired Thee with a will to undertake this Holy Voyage will inable Thee with his blessings make Thee so to prosper profitt thy selfe in the pursuance of this blessed designe that it will be unto the eternall honour of the Divine Majestie an ample increase of Piety spirituall comfort in thy own soule If any employment be heavenly upō Earth doth consequently belong to the duty of a good upright Christian it is the serious practise of retired solitude by which the soule doth unspeakably promote her selfe towards the end of her creation which is to know God to love him above all things created In Solitude we ransack our hearts we discover our secret enemies there lurking in our breasts strongly armed grapple with them expel them prevent their reentrance into our soules By it we dissable ill customes settle our selves to an eager use of means to doe well fitt our minds to all good duties against all crosse events By it we descry our naturall weaknes to vertue obtain redresse prevent temptations cheere up our hearts feeble tyred out with temptatiōs adversities temper our use of creatures gaine more light to our knowledge more heate to our affections more life to our devotions more vigour courage in our callings therby wee become strangers to the earth by a just estimate of earthly things which are transitory vaine enter into a sweet fruition of invisible comforts Wee therein contemplate JESUS CHRIST
the practise of holy Meditation In this Experience will be every ones best Counseller If place permits no other Isaacs posture to meditate walking is very good But kneeling with hands crossed on the breast the eyes shutt face towards heaven sometimes prostrate on the ground is a posture more genuine naturall How ever it be be sure the frame of thy body testifie profound reverence towards God help to raise thy thoughts affections thitherward Our devotions will be most kindly whē the composure of the body which is the souls instrument is most humble respectfull this also must needs be sometimes varied according to the subject of thy Contemplation §. 7. Subject of Solitary thoughts Now for the subject matter wheron thou art to feed during this holy Solitude thou must use great circumspectiō I doubt not Philothea there be many Contemplatiues but not all good ones One meditates how to doe his Neighbour a mischeife another how to sin unseene these are those who as David sayes Doe meditate Iniquity in their beds Others are buisy in the search of the hidden causes of visible effects so seeking to be acquainted with the whole world become strangers to their owne home whilst they seek to know others are quite unknowne to them selves Doe you therefore choose to meditate on that may doe thee good The God that made us the vilenesse of our body by Nature the wretchednesse of our soule by sin the aboundance of temptations the danger of sudden death the beauty of Vertue JESUS CHRIST who bought us the joyes of Heaven he purchased for us the mysteries of his life Death Resurrection the benefitt of the Sacraments our vocation to Christianity the payns of Hell the glorious estate of the Blessed such like are fitt objects I should think to entertayne thy felfe there in Earthly things proffer themselves on their own accord with importunity but if they were any thing worth they would not be so forward Heavenly things must be sued unto with eagernesse their hardnesse to be obtayned argues their worth the necessity of serious meditation thereby to sollicite them The harder they are to prosecute the more precious they are being obtayned therefore the more worthy our Endeavour While the soule is takē up with the thought of God Godlinesse it cannot miscarry Yet I advise thee to be cautious in matters of faith where more of beleife admiration is to be used then of reason discourse And that matter without exception is best herein which workes compunctiō in the heart most stirrs up to devotion incites strongly to the love of God as the End to Vertue as the means to him wherein experience will be a great mistresse §. 8. A Methode of Meditation IT remains now that I say something of the forme Methode which thou art to observe in dividing thy Meditatiō in handling the parts points thereof But this hath much variety amongst Contemplatives each way is usefull laudable as it is fitted to persons that use it For since there be different mansions in Gods glory no wonder there should be different means to purchase them according to the variety of each ones disposition All are not equally either worldly or Contemplative so neither equally disposed for the like Illuminations nor capable of pursueing the same heads or points of Meditation S. Bonaventures Methode usually practised amongst us liked of by the best is breife easy well ordred much helps the Memory a faculty which hath great influēce in this blessed work According to this Meditation or mentall prayer is divided into three parts which are Preparation Meditation which being the cheife part retains the generall name Conclusion Preparation maketh way for Meditation Meditation ruminates upon the matter giveth strength life to our Recollection Conclusion closeth up the whole Exercise Preparation first places us in the presence of God with whom wee are to make our speciall conference to our advancement comfort with all feare reverence Then secondly it chooseth the Mystery or subject whereon wee intend as present to settle our thoughts Thirdly it implores helpe from Heaven whereby our weaknesse may be sustained in this heavenly work enabled resolutely to goe through with it And truly sith the ancient Heathens never attempted any notable businesse without a solemne apprecation of good successe a Christian or Religious soule should not presume to undertake a spirituall work of such importance as this is without first craving aide from heaven wherein we are unable to doe well without Gods assistāce We must therefore beg earnestly that the progresse of our Meditation may be guided blessed by him that he would banish all distractions enlighten our understanding quicken our judgment rectify our will whett our affections to heavenly things kindle our devotion so enlarge our hearts towards himselfe that wee may find our Imperfections abated vertue strengthned our soule every way bettered by our Solitude Meditation hath also three parts Consideration ponders seriously the subject wee have chosen thereby to stirr up our Affectiōs to God goodnesse thereon to ground our ensueing Resolutiōs But care must be taken that the mind be not wracked by a too vehement inquiry for this will tire out the phansy interrupt the cheife work It will suffice to take the most pregnant obvious Lett these Considerations be but three at the most And if thy soule finds sufficient satisfaction light fruit in the first of them dwell there without going further give way to the Holy Ghost to work his will in thee But if thou findest not there the expected successe passe quietly on to another but besure to goe on sweetly easily in thy search without tiring thy selfe too much thou wilt find little pleasure in the Kernell if thou breakest thy teeth with the shell Affection succeedeth where to if our Consideratiōs reach not they wil prove vain or to little purpose For this is the soule of Meditation to which the former parts serve only as instruments As we are reasonable Creatures by our reason discourse so are we Christians Religious by our good will affections towards heavenly things Wherefore the former labour of the mind being undertakē to move the Affective part of the soule after the understāding hath traverst the point proposed the will must endeavour by applying herselfe therto with all earnestnesse to find some feeling relish in it which fruit through Gods blessing will follow a deliberate Consideration of some moveing object And in these Affections we must permit our soule to spread dilate as much as possible if thou findest thy heart to pant swell with aboundant sweetnesse ease it by some gentle Aspirations amorous sighs as God shall then inspire Thee The last is Resolution wherein the soule bewayling her poverty dulnesse imperfections which may happily appear then in
a sweet tranquillitie in our spirits a readiness to Christian Duties to lead for a time the life of an Angell AFFECTION Oh Innocent Solitude how happens it that I have been so long a stranger to Thee Alas by conversing with worldly Creatures I have too long wearyed my selfe in vain sullied the bright garment of my baptismall puritie ocntracted a multitude of evill inclinations which now press heavelie upon my conscience O how deplorable is the condition of wretched worldlings who busyed on creatures are exposed to infinite dangers of sin scarce ever think of coming forth of them even for a season to promote their happiness for ever I blesse Thee my bountifull Lord that thou hast inspired me to abandon them now to consider love Innocent Solitude Oh Innocent Solitude My soul hath thristed after Thee as a Hart after the fountain of living waters I will not rest night or day till I enter into the joys of my Lord. RESOLUTION I will hereafter embrace all occasions of Retiremēt from amongst Creatures preferring the Innocent entertaynmēts of Solitude to all other earthly conditions that I may therby purchase a pure quiet spirit being out of the reach of the allurements of sensible transitorie things may with the greater freedome study the will of my divine Master become neerer to him by Innocency of heart tranquillitie of passions a readiness to all heavenly divine actions THIRD POINT Necessity of Solitude CONSIDERATION COnsider that a Voluntarie withdrawing thy selfe from thy usuall cōmerce with Creatures for a time is highlie necessarie In order to that dutie thou owest to God He being the supreame End of our whole selvs actions this our mortall Pilgrimage being exposed to manifold distractions some time must needs be sett a part for a more serious reflection on that our blessed End the usefullest means wherby to attain to it that therby we may renew in us the knowledg of our Christian speciall Duties to God encrease in us a willingnesse to comply with them This cannot be done more substantially then in our Retyrement where our Minds freed from the tumults of ourward cares are aptest to receive more cleare lights from heaven stronger flames of love to spirituall eternall good things Also in order to that state of life wherin we already are or by Gods providence may one day be for by means of that state God intends to bring Thee home to himselfe in our Retyrement we may learne what love we owe to that our state of life as the only way by which God means to lead us to the possession of life everlasting that therfor we must beare with the frailties of those weak mortalls with whom we therein live labour joyntly to gain heaven the Imperfections of some few not at all derogating from the sanctitie of that state in its selfe if we love it that wil ever appeare in our Obedience to the Laws Customes therin required in the execution of their commands whom God hath placed over us must be accountable for us Likewise in regard of our selus That by help of this our Solitude we may understand how our hearts stand affected to good evill in what dangers of sin we now are or by ill habits or conversation may be what rules of pietie may best help to settle us in the constāt practise of Vertue That discovering our faults wants we may the more readily give eare to the inward Calls of our heavenly Espouse suspect all motions of our own wills strengthen decayed fervour by strōger Resolutiōs that nothing may stop us in our Pilgrimage to that comfortable Perfection which Crowns all What are thy intentions Philothea hast thou a reall desire to learn the art of well-living to follow Gods call to honour thy present state of life to make a discovery of thy faylings work with those lights graces God bestows on thee for that end AFFECTION O how vile is Earth when I lift up my Eies to Heaven O Ancient O Eternall Beautie why am I so long ignorant of Thee Thou hast mercifully drawn me forth the tabernacles of sinners inspired me to follow Thee in the companie of those who seek thy face alwaies walk the way that leads to Thee O true light O onlie life of my soul say thou unto me I am thy Salvation strong helper I shall be able to keep my Covenant made with thee reforming all disorders of my life past in all things seeking a conformitie to thy will RESOLUTION Farwell all yee vain seducing Creatures sith my God has made me for him selfe my heart shall be restless till it rests in him I will therefore henceforth place all my happiness in studying to know obey my spirituall Lord Master in loving complying with the duties of my present state as he hath commanded me in having a strickt guard over all my thoughts words actions at all times in all places with all persons that they may be agreeable to his holie will Make me Thou O my God to know my End that I may also know what is wanting to me THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Gods Favours to us THer 's none but loves what is good therefor should love that most which is best when a Prince opens his Treasurie proclaimes a largess every one is ready to run reach forth his hand open his bosome to receive part of his bountie covets what he values most Philothea we should be ever like our selus Our divine Espouse inviting us to a spirituall conference in holie Solitude with him offers many rich presents to us lights of revealed truths to shew the secret paths that lead to him helps of grace to support encourage us that we may walk steadilie in them not faint before we come to our journeys end harken then to his divine call lay all things else aside run to him streach forth thy hand open thy heart to entertain those precious guifts he is so desirous to bestow on thee Every guift grows according to the proportion of miserie from which it frees us the hapiness that it brings with it the greater our crimes the heavier our chains the more noysome the dungeon wherin we lay the greater also would be our pardon freedom ransom thence but if we be moreover raised to the highest friendship tranquillitie of spirit libertie of mind desirable no guift can be greater then that Thus t' is with thee My Philothea in thy holie Retyrement Worldly Conversation is full of dangers of sin admitts of few helps to pietie causeth great tepiditie remissness in Christian Duties being either without God or working contrary to his Commandements but in our heavenlie solitude there be ever great calms of passions strong helps of pietie an earnest zeale of Gods honour our own duties to him our
helps to our wants what he requires of us My Soul is prepared O God My Soul is prepared to sing praise thee Imitate the Patience Obedience of my Saviour JESUS THIRD POINT Charitie Perfection CONSIDERATION COnsider That as without Charitie there is no true Vertue or meritorious action so no hopes to advance in Solitarie perfection it being the aime accomplishment of Gods Law therfor must be one of our cheife Entertainments in our spirituall retreat first in order to God whom we ought to love above all things created as infinitely lovely in himselfe our supream Good then in oder to others as Images of God companions in our claim to heaven but especially if our Solitude be claustrall or Religious consequently permanent in the societie of many persons joined in the same intention profession who are to be all united one with the other in doing suffring Such a Societie represents that blessed Communion of the Saints in heaven as well in God the Center of their Loves as between themselvs by a mutuall congratulation at each others Combatts with sensualitie Victories over sin Satan speciall favours from their blessed Redeemer And indeed without Charitie the highest state of Perfection is imperfect ruinous by reason of our naturall frailties crosse accidents which through Gods permission oft try our constancy in good purposes Have a care then Philothea that a sweet complyance with the Inclinatiōs of others a pleasant bearing with their Imperfections an inviolable tie of love be so deep rooted in thy Soul that it never fade or faile whatever difference of dispositions qualities or other Motive of dislike may arise And of this be sure to make a strickt Examine Where How With whom and how oft thou hast herein beē defective And whether thou beest able to complie with the duties of this Queen of Vertues Without which no socretie no place no employment can be pleasant propounding likewise efficacious Motives means when how to practise it And that nothing may be wanting to compleat the happiness of our solitarie Entertainments we must practise Perfection that is all vertuous holie actions which may give a perfect Integritie to the whole Christian Man This is not gained by meer solitariness but by living in Solitude with the traine of all good Vertues for want wherof the Angels were banisht the heavenlie Adam the earthlie Paradice though both places of exceeding Perfection So that it is not the place wherin thou livest nor the attire thou wearest nor the purposes or Vows thou maist make will make thee perfectly vertuous but an entire Integritie of thy life in that thou doest now profess Wherfor if it be a sin to live ill t' is a sacriledg to be wicked in holie solitude Make here Philothea a generall survay of all thy Imperfections faults together with a generous resolution of fullfilling all Justice in Perfection AFFECTION Oh deep fountain of divine Love flow sweetlie into my Soul wash thence the blotts of my Iniquities coole the heats of my inordinate passions Oh heavenlie fire consume the drosse of my sinfull actions warm my heart with holy desires That I may serve Thee My glorious God with a clean heart love all Creatures in Thee for Thee compassionating their frailties comforting them in their Combats treating with all as fellow servants of the great Lord of the world my future partners in his heavenly joys blessings RESOLUTION I will enter Covenant with my God to acknowledg him the fapream Lord of my life actions to sacrifice to him the first fruits of my heart to love him in himselfe all his Creatures to beare with them compassionate releive them to prevent each one in the spirit of lenitie mildness alwaies to study an integritie uprightness of of life conversation before God Man that I may resist the evill Daie stand perfect in all things THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Love of solitarie places THe world being full of sin afflictions of spirit t' is expedient we should fly to the Mountains of holie Solitude there to secure our selvs from its dangers to bewaile the perilous condition of worldlings rejoyce in the Sanctuarie of our Blessed God To this we must dispose our selvs by the love of solitarie retired places wherin our heavenlie Espouse delights to dwell T is there O Philothea that the beloved of thy soul will give Thee the sweet caresses of inward joy tranquillitie which the world may promise but can never bestow Beware then that whilst here retyred thou suffrest not to be in Thee any desire of conversing with Creatures howsoever deare unto Thee for that will disorder the sweet serenitie of thy retreat Say therfore with the Royall Prophet Dilate my heart O Lord I will run the way of thy Commandements for the words of thy lips I will keep hard waies We must also wish well even to a permanent state of solitude a constant perseverance therin if God should call us to it for thus have many happy Religious Souls been in all Ages of the Church inclosed in Monasteries so that no accesse may be had to them or so much as discourse with them but by speciall licence on some urgent occasiō that breifely at their Grates And in that their Retreat they enjoyed a content with God not to be exprest even by them that feele it It is hard indeed at first to abandon Parents all our antient freinds acquaintance heartily to renounce the charms of worldly pleasures yet no sooner is the foote sett into holie Solitude but there follows some feeling content even at the first entrance which makes them say with Saint Peter Oh how delightfull is it to abide here And with holie David This shall be my rest for ever ever here will I dwell because I have chosen it They discern perfectly that their Solitude is a Sanctuarie a Tower of defence against the assaults of spirituall Enimies O unspeakable Happiness to have not only a safeguard against the temptations of the world but the very invisible attempts of the devill The feet O Philothea of a Solitarie Soul are already standing in the immortall Courts of the heavenlie Hierusalem As soon therfore as thou art crept into thy private Cell or Closett check presently all inclinations to outward things resolue henceforth to withdraw thy selfe by degrees from all such divertisements which will prove at last to be empty vain comforts COLLOQUIE Oh how heavie tyresome are the chains of mortall cares compliances yet how unwilling are we to shake them off as if we loved liked well our own miseries dangers far better O my God far better is one houre with Thee in holie Contemplation then Millions of years in the fading delights of this world yet with a heavy heart
Master JESUS CHRIST offers him selfe on the Altar of his Crosse to his heavenly Father a Sacrifice of Prayse Impetration Suffrage with the same intention ought we to entertain JESUS in our hearts by thankfulnesse for his manifold favours imploring grace mercy for our selves Spirituall releife for all distressed souls ever mindfull of his bitter Passion that the fruits thereof may be liberally applyed to us we may become suffring members with our Divine Head encreasing in all perfection freedom with God in our Contemplations being entirely transformed into Him on whom our Spirits here feed that we may have no life knowledge affection or motion in us but what proceeds from ends in him AFFECTION Alas my Deerest Lord I have been too carelesse in my adresses to Thee How often have I frequented thy holy Altars with vain weak desires not loving Thee there for Thy selfe but receiving Thee of dull custome or for some present gust in Thee Not solicitous to cherish the good desires conceived by thee or a willingnesse to beare Crosses for thee thus am I become unworthy that thou entrest the house of my soul live there but if thou Say'st the word my Spirit shall be healed RESOLUTION I will hence forth set some speciall time a part wherein to discusse rectifye my intention before I approach to eate of this living bread that God may be glorifyed all Christian souls may reap spirituall profit by the use of this great Mystery will say AN OBLATION BEFORE COMMVNION O Blessed JESUS in union of that love wherewith thou did'st offer thy selfe a Sacrifice to thy Father on the Altar of the Crosse and in conformity to that intention thou then hadst I this day offer up to thee my Communion as a Sacrifice of Praise Impetration Suffrage for my selfe all others to whom I am obleiged by Obedience Iustice or Charitie in that degree I am obleiged which I beseech thee through the merits of thy bitter Passion may be acceptable to Thee Amen THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Preparation to the Holie Sacrament NOne will undertake any great work without carefull preparation of all things necessary for its due performance If we use a cautious providence in all our humane actions ordinary conversation this should rather be observed when we intend to enter the Holie of Holies there feed on the Bread of Angels our powerfull Creator mercifull Redeemer Just Judge The Paschall Lamb was but a dark barren figure of this gracious Sacrifice yet the Jews eat not thereof without much cleanesse circumspection alacrity of Spirit Saint John Baptist esteems not himselfe worthy to unloose CHRISTS shoes Saint Peter to fayle in the same Boat with him the devout Centurion to entertain him under his roofe nor should we presume to appear before him in the Holy Eucharist or there receive him within our breast without great feeling of Love Veneration If JESUS CHRIST be a Mirrour without spot no stain of sin should then be seen in our soul within or undecency in the outward habit of our body if he be there a God of Love Peace to us we may not touch or feed on him unlesse reconciled to Heaven Earth in Imitation of the Primitive Christians who meeting at this great Mystery were of one heart one spirit ADVISES FOR A GENERALL CONFESSION Now therefore My Philothea thy heavenly Espouse having led thee some steps down towards his Cellar of rich Gracious wines there disclosed to Thee part of his spirituall treasures hidden pathes of divine Love to the end thou maist duly prepare thy selfe to eate also of this Bread of life find no impediment in thy progresse to perfection I advise thee to dispose thy selfe towards a Generall Confession in case Thy spirituall Guid iudg that expedient profitable for Thee Although perhaps thou art not conscious of any grevious sin not formerly discovered yet since even of a forgiven sin we may not be without feare we cannot be too solicitous in cleansing our hearts removing all obstacles of divine Lights Graces Wherefor Philothea doe this now once for ever but doe it simply plainly without feare or anxiousness unto a person chosen amongst a thousand by whose advice thou maist be wholly directed for the manner of it how thou art afterwards to behave thy selfe should scruples arise Which ended blesse God for his mercies towards Thee prostrate in spirit before thy Crucifix pronounce the following Covenant PHILOTHEA'S COVENANT WITH GOD. I N. Placed in the presence of Almighty God the whole Court of heaven having considered the aboundant Love wherewith God hath created me sanctifyed me in holy Baptisme sustained me in my manifold sins transgressions at length called me to this state of life wherein I now am preserving me there from many dangers of offending him inspiring sorrow for my failings a desire to love obey him Doe with my whole soul abhor all the sins of my life past renew my promises to be his loyall obedient servant doe firmely purpose all the dayes of my life to shun all dangers of sin to apply my selfe to the observance of his holie Commandments my own Resolutions And if at any time I break this my Covenant I will as soon as I perceive my errour returne again to God by a hearty repentance confession of all my sins ingratitude Accept O my God this my Protestation made before Thee grant me grace to observe it to the end of my life that I may alwaies abide in thy holy feare die in thy sweet peace with ioy at the last day arise to a blessed Communion of the Saints in thy never ending glory Amen SECOND DISCOURSE Behaviour in receiving the Holie Sacrament BEing thus prepared to entertain JESVS CHRIST in thy heart our endeavours must be by amorous sighs aspirations full of ioy for the approach of our blessed Lord to expresse the longing desire we have of his coming into us The happy Issue of an Important affaire or purchase of some speciall temporall blessings usually takes up the best thoughts most serious wishes of earthlie minds But if our minds be heavenly we will ever think on thirst after this delicious visit of our Divine Espouse Anciently Christians frequented often this heavenlie banquet thence gayned that Sanctity fervour we admire in the Martyrs Hermits holie Virgins of that Age Though worldly ties the manifold distractions whereto our mortality is subject permits not daily Cōmunion yet could we dayly eate this divine Bread our hearts would be accustomed to pious affections strengthned against occurring temptations weaned from those sensuall liberties we now so unwillingly abandon That morning thou intendest Philothea to receive the holie Eucharist think how earnestlie JESUS CHRIST longeth to take up his lodging within thee therefor he sends his
them And by what means thou canst best moderate thy affections in the presence of sensuall allurements or when violently transported with them towards some beloved Object most deare to Thee COLLOQUIE Oh! who will give Me water to my head a fountain of teares to my Eies I will night day bewaile the disorders of my corrupted sensualitie the tumults of my unbridled passions the follies of my youth Ah! my God thou hast commanded it I find it by woefull experience to be true That my inordinate mind is become a punishment to its selfe those Vanities wherein I have endeavored to glutt my heart powre forth my spirit has rendred me burthensome to my selfe But thou art iust O God hast mett with me in my own wayes payd me in my own coyne punishing me in that wherein I sought my sollace content happinesse Oh! that thou wouldst streach forth thy hand touch my heart my wicked waies shall become streight even command O God these tempests storms of my Passions to cease there shall be a calme in my spirit my flesh shall hope to see my God my Salvation SECOND DISCOURSE Necessity use of Mortification AS the Apostate Angells lost their glorious seats in Heaven through an inordinate complacence in their own perfections our first Parents theirs in the Earthly Paradice by complying with their immoderate concupiscence so we must repayre the ruines of the One recover the happinesse of the other by chastising our sensualitie moderating its irregular sinfull desires which we shall easily experience to be the surest means of attaining to perfection if we consider that no true Vertue can be practis'd or preserved without this Mortification that by it we purchase what ever happinesse a Christian may experience in this life or hope for hereafter Holy Gospell tells us That we cannot be CHRISTS Disciples worthy of his love here or his blessed society in heaven unlesse we take up his Crosse dispise all motions of sensualitie crucify our flesh with its vices concupiscences and therefor if any danger arise of prevaricating Gods Law or our own Vowes we are oblidged under the heavy penalty of incurring Gods wrath loosing our right to his Glory to suppresse the rebellious desires of our passions As being the fomenters rootes of all sin disorders in us wherefor the Holy Apostle Whence doe warrs strifes arise in us but from the concupiscences which war in our fleshly members These therfor must necessarily My Philothea be well guarded ordred in thee if thou desire that Gods Spirit abide in thee speak the language of peace to thy heart lead thee through the easy even paths of his Love to the Perfection thou aimest at This Mortification of senfes passions brings also with it a sweet repose quiet of conscience For being freed from inward commotions of sensuall affections not moved by outward allurements there will be a pleasant harmony between sense Reason Grace under the supream government of a blessed God a resignation to all Varieties of this life a willingnesse to accept of what ever condition may befall us a promptnesse to all actions of piety selfe-contempt mortification By this means Philothea thou wilt enjoy a perfect tranquillity of spirit in order to God to whose will thou wilt promptly submitt without repining at those adversities which through his sweet providence are permitted to befall thee In order to Thy selfe being freed from the disquietts of a troubled Mind whereas they who give themselves over to the satisfying their unmortifyed appetites returning to themselves by reflexion on their folly find their hearts overcharged with remorse terrours of their own guilt wherby they become unsupportable to themselves lastly thou wilt enjoy a most entire content in order to thy Neighbour whose passions or malice will not be able to shake thy Resolutions or disturbe thy inward tranquillity of spirit now arrived to a high pitch of Insensibilitie to all things of this life Moreover by This Mortification is purchased an assurance of future happinesse The ioyes of heaven Philothea have many great Excellencies prerogatives they abound with peace plenty which must be purchased by poverty of spirit they afford a perfect rest to be gayned by great Labour they bring with them a solid permanent Comfort to be obtayned with much sorrow patience they abide for an endlesse Eternity which must be procured by an entire Mortification of our senses passions a killing of those that would work Iniquity in Gods Holy Citty This is the way Philothea which all the Saints have walked before us it is the advise of Our heavenly Lord that we take up our Crosse follow him For what proportion can there be between a Member flowing with sensuall delights a Head crowned with Thornes Call thy selfe therefor to a strict account consider what progresse thou hast made in this way to Paradice purpose seriously to practise this retyrednesse of thy senses passions from the disorders of sensuall pleasures vanities of this World unto the blessed content of the Inward Man COLLOQUIE Ah my God! I have been sick sorely wounded with the arrowes of my carnall desires the manifold charms of creatures still I lay fettred in the chains of my inordinate affections yet am unwilling to be healed of my distempers or freed from my beloved captivity How oft have I sayd to my soul arise from thy drowsinesse shake of thy shackles make hast to thy healing saving Samaritan And yet I have still lingred loath to break off with my ancient passions to abandon my accustomed follies Oh! that Thou my God wouldst break in peices these chains of my passionate desires heale my wounds deliver me from the prison of my sensuall affections then shall I with ioy abide amidst the temptations allurements of this wretched Mortality tast how sweet it is to adhere to God shall hope to be filled with the torrent of heavenly pleasure the plenty of his Holy House Amen SIXT DAYES VOYAGE Flight of the heart to God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Flight from Creatures CONSIDERATION COnsider That having now allayed the heats of inward passions by a voluntarie restraint of the senses from outward objects readinesse to embrace mortifications The solitarie soul must withdraw herselfe from all Creatures whatsoever that the wings of the heart be not entangled by them we hindred in our Flight to God We must then have a simple Aversion from Creatures a quiet Conversion of the Heart into its selfe in which God abides teaches governs since nothing beneath God can satisfy the languishing of the soul no wonder she turns her selfe from Creatures enters into her selfe there seeks what may be mett with unto her more cordiall satisfaction See therefor Philothea what beloved
live in Heaven by contemplating loveing delighting in God what appertains to his their own blessed Life Although our soul confined now to this corruptible body depends theron for action motion in this our sinfull state has ever a naturall inclination to abide with it therefor with pain departs from it yet being she receives not her own life from the body but is Life its selfe gives life action to the body she may live within her selfe having no regard to the inclinations motions of the body This she may soon perceive in her selfe if she treads not the paths of sensuality which lead to earthly contents but those of the spirit which tend to holy divine actions in Imitation of the Angelicall spirits whose workings are to be ever fix't in the Contemplation of God the execution of his commands Imagin therefor That thou kneelest upon some high Mountain before thy Crucifix thence dost behold all earthly Creatures in their severall degrees employments each one busied in the search of happinesse in that they love most that all these thinges suddenly fade away thy selfe fallest also into a trance dyest so dost abide till JESUS descending from his Crosse enters into thee now againe thou livest yet not thou but JESUS CHRIST in Thee Being thus dead to the World only living by the spirit of JESUS how spirituall divine should thy life actions bee AFFECTION How happy woulds't thou be My soul if wholly dead to flesh bloud independent on all earthly creatures thou couldst live the life of an Angell wholly drowned in God relying upon the lights Graces comforts which proceed from him Oh what ioy what happinesse to be dead to this World all the Vanities thereof to live worke only by the enlivening Spirit of JESUS How holy would thy thoughts how heavenly thy desires how enflamed would thy affections then be towards spirituall divine things RESOLUTION I will hence forth lead a spirituall life having my mind still bent upon God his holy Will even in all my ordinary duties endeavouring to lead an Angellical life as if already seperated from this heavy burthen of Mortality without need of earthly supportations And I will be so watchfull over my actions as if I only lived by the Spirit of JESUS had no life or motion but what proceeded from him Then freed from the law of death which abounded in Me through my sinfull passions I shall serve God in the newnesse of my spirit heare what Gods Spirit speaketh to the Church SECOND POINT Mentall Recollection CONSIDERATION COnsider That to improve the soul in her inward Tranquillity she must endeavour to be Recollected within her selfe in all places at all times with all persons amidst whatsoever employments we are by our present state of Life obleiged unto This inward Recollection of the Spirit is easie very delightfull for although the soul be now lodged in the body as her prison the varieties of occasions which run through the cours of this mortall life much solicite her abroad to seek means how to make her prison more tolerable thereby hinders her in the free use of her spirituall faculties distract her thoughts from God heavenly things yet is she not a slave to any passion of the body especially being now healed repaired by JESUS CHRIST therefore she may by means of a mentall retreat into her selfe purchase a continuall Recollection amidst the greatest tumults distractions which may befall her Build up therefor Philothea an Hermitage within thy heart erect an Altar place thereon JESUS CHRIST in the most amiable posture Imaginable whatsoever employment distraction or spirituall distresse presses it selfe upon Thee depart not thence but there lay open thy wants weaknesse confer with him of thy progresse impediments to Perfection harkening carefully what he sayes to Thee if some violent disquiet compells thy thoughts abroad endeavour to re-enter speedily into this thy Hermitage bewaile thy inconstancy renew thy purposes of Mentall Recollection AFFECTION Ah my soul upon how slight occasions has thy thoughts been distracted thy mind lost its frequently resolved Tranquillity in the performance of thy usuall duties How O my God am I so suddenly carryed away with these outward objects employments Surely were I truly Spirituall I should without pain or distraction even in the midst of the Varieties of this life convers with God Oh that thou wouldest build up the ruins of Israël sanctify my heart a tabernacle to thy name then may I seek my beloved within Me receive from him A Kisse of peace RESOLUTION I will not only love the solitude of the body but of the Mind also will build up in my heart a holy Hermitage befitting the presence of my JESUS thither will I stil retyre my selfe ever conferring with him of his loves to me my slownesse of returning love to him discovering all my wants his helps to become perfect in a spirituall Way that I may thereby enjoy the tranquillity of my spirit what ever occasions of Obedience Charity or complyance with my own necessities call me forth this corporall Retirement O Who will give me that I may ever sett by this fountain of living waters in the solitude of my own heart there will I sigh mourn while I think of the heavenly Sion THIRD POINT Union of the Spirit with God CONSIDERATION COnsider That as God only is the supream Good happinesse of the Immortall soul so cannot she experience any true compleat Tranquillity within herselfe unlesse being inwardly united to him she becomes One spirit with him be as it were transformed into a supernaturall Divine BEEING by a reciprocation of Love conformity of Will communication in all those guifts graces spirituall blessings whereby in this her Pilgrimage she may be cloathed with a likenesse to God enjoy that cleerenesse of Understanding alacrity of Will calmnesse of passions universall purity sweetnesse ioy in the whole spirit which God usually imparts only to his most speciall favorites This Deifying Union Philothea of the soul with God will wonderfully work in Thee a cleer knowledge of the emptinesse vanity nakednesse of all Creatures breed in Thee a Loathing towards the best of them cause in thy heart a restlesse Desire to see possesse embrace God in the simplicity purity of his own Essence without mixture of any thing beneath himselfe for his sake thou wilt Stripp thy selfe willingly of all Creatures in ward inclinations of Will Passions welcome whatever calamities miseries may befall Thee For what is there in the whole World which that soul will not readily want doe or suffer to whom God is All-in-all surely in this delicious Union Espousall Transformation by Love the soul must needs experience God a rich
bountifull most comfortable Giver If therefor either the delighfull or profitable things of this life has yet any power over thy affections or the tribulations thereof doe still presse down thy spirit to any greife or disquiet Thou art not as yet strongly united to God enamour'd on his ravishing Beauty or arrived to the delicious harbour of spirituall peace Tranquillity Wherefor Thou maist imagin thy self to be a Reed floating to fro in the Sea of the Divinity now tossed above now under water hither and thither as thou art driven by the force of those Divine Waves so that in what ever condition thou art whatsoever happens to Thee thou maist attribute all to Gods Spirit moving upon these divine Waters in by which thou now livest movest Thus no comforts will puff up or humiliation beat down thy spirit but thou wilt ever have a generous courage pleasant evennesse of thy whole selfe amidst all the chances of this thy mortall state how ever violent they be AFFECTION Ah my soul why hast thou not hitherto aspired after this Divine BEEING to live love move to God only in the fullnesse of his own Essence O Abysse of all comfont swallow up my heart in thy delicious depths let me perish to all things but Thee never repine at any thing being so nigh to Thee O my JESU O fathomlesse fountain of Love Oh who will give Thee unto me My Brother sucking the breasts of my Mother that I may find Thee embrace Thee then none shall despise me RESOLUTION I will for ever fix my heart earnest desires only on my God thirsting to be united wholly to him for his sake I will abandon whatsoever is not consistent with him or may separate my heart from him therefor My whole study henceforth shall be to discover the poverty of Creatures to loath all earthly comforts to empty my heart of all affections to them amidst all accidents of this life to carry an even calme heart Then shall I tast see how sweet God is to those who love the Peace of his holy Citty THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Loves Tryall GOds Spirit settles not but upon an humble meek heart which having had a relish how sweet God is earnestly sues to be admitted into the ioyes of her heavenly Lord enjoy a perfect Tranquillity peace in her whole selfe yet willingly resignes her selfe to his Will for the manner thereof contentedly expecting the happy time of his delicious Visitation and the fruits theirof To this Visitation she must prepare her selfe by an Inward Retirement of her selfe within her selfe whereby weaned wholly from all love towards creatures she feels such a passionate languishing desire to be One with God that she has an extream pain irksomnesse when forced to use outward helps of meat sleep divertisements such like necessary supports of decaying nature desirous rather if so it may please God to be ever employed in mentall Elevations to entertain her selfe in contemplating conferring caressing her beloved Espous then to enjoy any earthly satisfaction however necessary to her Neither may this heaven-thirsting foul only content her selfe with this inward Retreat of the spirit into its selfe by loathing all Creatures abroad but she must also aspire to a Nakednesse of her selfe in her selfe whereby raised even to the highest degree of Contemplation Love Union with God she is willing to be deprived of all sweetnesse which usually flowes thence And although in this state she looks on God as her only treasure haveing right to Him grounded on his own promises To spouse himselfe to her in Justice kindnesse mercies for ever yet is she contented still to lay at the Gate of happinesse there patiently humbly begging some few crumms from Gods heavenly table to be admitted to tast of his delicious Wines neverthelesse resigning her selfe to be denyed that favour as long as it so pleases him ever esteeming either her selfe unworthy thereof or Gods time not to be as yet come COLLOQUIE How happy wert thou My soul hadst thou no other employment on Earth then to contemplate the beauty of God love him glorify his Name O my God that I were wholly exempt from the use of perishing Creatures needing no other food then Thee the only true Life of my Spirit but yet far happier should I be if loathing all Creatures drown'd in the Sea of the Divinity I could be resigned to the losse of all sweetnesse which may arise from the greatest Illuminations Extasies of Love in Thee patiently expecting my gracious admittance unto thy comfortable presence Then shall I be my Beloveds he will turne his face towards Me. SECOND DISCOURSE Loves Entertainments THe soul being thus resigned to the want of all Eartly comforts sweetnesse of divine Love Gods delicious presence with her may humby soare up to heaven endeavour an Union with God a fruition of him in Himselfe by such helps as he shall graciously inspire which we must readily entertain carefully comply with for our spirituall advance towards Perfection Wherefor Philothea thou must accustome thy selfe to spirituall Introversions of the Mind into its selfe therin quietly contemplating God in thy own Beeing often sallying forth by Jaculatory Aspirations amorous sighs towards heavenly things as What art thou O my God what am I My God my All Oh that I could love Thee as I ought which must be leisurely made attentively consider'd that they may work a feeling love in thy heart whereby it may by degrees be enflamed melt into affections of hope desire joy or such like whence thou wilt find an admirable sweetnesse calme to arise in thy spirit Thou must also endeavour to have a strong apprehension of Gods presence with Thee which may be had either by an efficacious beleife that God is substatially present in all places of the World as our soul is in all parts of the body without any separation from its selfe or by Imagining him to be especially in the Center of thy heart as the soul heart life thereof animating quickning it by his presence Whence we shall find our spirits stird up to a cordiall reverence towards the Majesty of God so nigh unto us a readinesse to referr all our thoughts words actions to God seated in the Center of the heart as the Judge of their Worth last happy End of all its Motions And by this means without recourse to Creatures only by a simple apprehension of Gods presence in Thee a reference of thy whole life to Him as thy Mysticall life thou wilt have an easinesse in abandoning creatures a great quietnesse in thy whole soul Having gained these Lights wherby to discern Gods greatnesse in himselfe presence to thee Cast thy selfe into the immense Sea of his Essence admitting no other motion in Thee but of Admiration
up to this Great glorious God speaking to Thee by simple or unmixt bodyes such as are the Elements heavens behold how the Earth hangs ballanced in the midst of the World by its own weight enriched within with mines of Gold precious stones seeds of all sorts without garnished with flowers fruits many kinds of living creatures how the Water cleaves sphearally to the Earth runs through about it in Seas Rivers Springs of different Vertues How the Aire is perspicuous dissolves into showres to moisten the Earth abounds with all sorts of birds for our profit pleasure How Fire has its light heat flames how Heaven is adorned with stars moves without cease by its influences conserves things beneath in their Being due temper Then ascend to Mixt Bodyes voyd of life contemplate the Variety Vertues of sulphurs mettals stones gummes consider then the perfection multitude of Vegitable creatures as seeds plants herbs leaves blossoms flowers fruits Lastly take a View of Sensible Creatures voyd of Reason such as be the severall sorts of Beasts of the Earth fish in the sea fowles of the Aire God speaks to us Philothea by all these Visible creatures their Being growth properties declare his Power whereby they are created their Order Varietie number discovers his Wisdom their usefulnesse both to preserve our bodyes raise up our souls speaks his admirable Love Bounty to us AFFECTION How full is the World of the Majesty Glory of God! how carelesse hast thou been my soul in these Visible things to admire the Invisible Power Wisdom Bounty of the Maker Governour Lord of All Thy own kingdom above O God where all obey thy Will is surely very glorious since Thou hast furnished this our earthly habitation for sinners those who rebell agaynst thy holy Commandements with such Excellent admirable Creatures Who would not in all these love adore the God of all Let the Heavens speak forth thy Glory the firmament thy wonders for thou art Great Wonderfull thy Wisdom is without End RESOLUTION I will attentively read over the Book of Creatures that I may therein learn how full of Majesty Wisdom Goodnesse God is who has communicated such Perfection Order profitablenesse to Visible Creatures I will admire Him in All using them as steps wherby to clime up to him therefor I will be carefull not to abuse them contrary to the End God has ordained placing my felicity in his helps to it least hereafter they become my chastisers whē all Creatures shall fight Gods war agaynst Sinners How wonderfull are thy works O Lord Thou hast created all things in Wisdom Thou hast rejoyced me in them I will delight in the works of thy hands THIRD POINT God speaks by Man CONSIDERATION COnsider That all Creatures beneath Man are only the Footsteps of God representing some one or other perfection of that infinite Abysse but Man himselfe is the true Image Likenesse of God As a Little world he contayneth within himselfe the Excellencies dispersed through the Greater expresseth in some degree those in God the Fountain Authour of both therefor in the beginning of the Creatiō he is establish't Soveraign Lord of all the earth with its ornaments is his pavement meadows and garden Waters his baths fishponds Vallies his cellars storehouses Hills his Walls pillars Heaven the roofe that covers all the stars are the windowes wherby he has a glimpse of Gods glory which shines upon him enlightens the world discovers the beauty of this our earthly habitation Looke over the whole fabrik of Man behold Philothea how the Immortall mind is linked to mortall flesh In the body what comelinesse of limmes proportion of Members variety order use of senses without Entrails within what aptnesse of organs for life action motion what capacity of the spiritualizing Endowments of Agility Clarity Impassibility Subtility wherby it putts on the very likenesse of the glorifyed Angells In the Soul how Excellent the prerogatives of being an Immortall Invisible spirit The memory how vast for objects time circumstances of both the Understanding how active boundlesse reaching as high as God above diving into the Abysse of Nothing The Will how free to good evill What variety of subordinate powers passions operations What capacity of sciences Arts Vertues Morall Divine also of the Sight eternall Possession of God in himselfe All which with a loud voice speak how glorious God is in his own Being happinesse how wonderfull his providence is in our creation conduct to our supreme End should stirr us up to a serious attention admiration love of him strongly engage us to apply all these outward inward Guifts according to the intent of our Wise Creatour And although Mans disobedience to God wrought sin darknesse in his soul wherby she became unable to contemplate or move towards him yet being repayred by the Mercies of JESUS CHRIST the Light of our spirituall World we are agayn establisht in a spirituall Life capacity to supernaturall gracious actions By divine Faith we see heare what God reveales of himselfe the way that leads towards him by Hope we Savour the sweetnesse of Heaven Vertue by Charity we have a foretast of the ioyes of the Saints already touch embrace God with the armes of an Extaticall love begin to sing Salomons Song of Songs which by the sensible pleasantnesse of creatures abroad leads the now Purged Illuminated Perfect soul to an intellectuall Light Harmony Odour Savour Embracement of her heavenly Espous Who seated in the midst of the heart as on an Imperiall Throne environed with a Mysticall Quire of Angelicall Spirits Seraphins by Love Cherubins by knowledge Throns by Justice Mercy Dominations by Majesty Principalities by Government Powers by Salvatiō Vertues by helping Graces Archangels by speciall revelations Angels by continuall presence to us by himselfe inspires a divine life directs the powers passions of the soul inclines to heavenly thoughts actions by his Holy Spirit sent into all parts of this our lesser World produces those wonderfull workings of Love feelings of Gods Intimacy to us tranquillity of the whole Man We experience in our Pilgrimage to perfection performance of the duties thereof wherby we become Images of the heavenly Hierusalem where God lives eternally in his glorious Saints AFFECTION Thou wert within Mee O most amiable God I have sought Thee abroad defiled my heart by Cleaving to these outward Beauties whilst Thou O Soveraign Beauty of all Creatures abidest in the sanctifyed soul as in thy proper kingdom What hopes may I have to contemplate thy glorious face who livest in an unaccessible light or to approach unto thy presence who art an ever flaming
fire since I am ignorant of thy wonders wrought in my own Spirit so nigh intimate to Me I have too late considered thee O Ancient beauty shining in all creatures I have too slowly given Eare to Thee who speakest to me by all creatures by thy Guifts dost incessantly call upon Me to admire love Thee the Giver of all Thou hast engraven the light of thy face upon Me O Lord thereby given gladnesse in my heart RESOLUTION I will hence forth preserve Gods sacred Image by him self Imprinted in my soul frō being soyled or blasted by sinfull affections that therin as in a cleer Myrrour I may contemplate his Majesty beauty amiablenesse admire him in all the perfections of my body mind order all the powers endowments of both to the execution of his Will aspire to an endlesse conjunction with that divine Exemplar wherby so many rich beautifull Coppies have been drawn Therefor all thy Works in me shall confesse unto thee they shall tell the glory of thy kingdom shall speak the greatnesse of thy power THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE God speaks by his Son Incarnate GOd formerly spoke to Man by his Prophets in figures riddles now in his own Son by whom as God he in the beginning made all things now as Visible in our Mortall flesh discovers the breadth length height depth of all divine Mysteries of grace glory that we may comprehend with all the Saints his exceeding great Love towards us may be replenished with the fulnesse thereof If God descends to us taking our Nature we should by contemplation of the Incarnate Word ascend to God drown our selves in the Sea of his Essence therefor JESUS CHRIST by his gracious Doctrine and efficacious examples is the Way we must walke in our Pilgrimage to heavenly Perfection his sacred life Crosse was the book of all the Saints unlesse we bath our hearts in the bleeding wounds of this Lamb slayn for our sins we may have no part in the Tree of Life planted in the paradice of God This Union of God Man in One Person shows gods Infinite Power Mans Redemption through CHRISTS sorrows suffrings speak him an Abysse of Wisedom the Guift of his only Son in our Weak nature to dignify save sanctify it declares his Wonderfull Bounty Thus Philothea we have accesse to the Divinity of God by the Humanity of JESUS CHRIST in whom he has reveal'd the treasures of all divine knowledg Love Now therefor clime up Mount Calvary there contemplate this Man of sorrows fastned to the Tree of shame See who 't is that suffers The Creator of all things the Saviour of Men Angels the Rewarder of all good evill deeds What his condition Gods only Son an Innocent Man one that loves us dearly To what end to free us from the tyranny of satan to sanctify our sinfull hearts to restore us to our lost seats in Gods glorious kingdō What were his torments Much sorrow in the Garden many stripes in Hierusalem a shamefull death upon the Crosse And what profit thence Therby is declared the detestablenesse of sin expiated by this bloudy sacrifice the dreadfulnesse of hell fire extinguisht by that precious bloud the obstinacy of sinners still crucifying in them selves the son of God by their ungratitude the Amiablenesse of Vertue recommended to us with so many sighs teares drops of bloud the Ioyes of Heaven recover'd at so deer a rate our Duty to God through Mercy giving his only Son to us through Justice sacrifyzing that Son for us through Wisdom exalting him from the Crosse to an equallity of glory att his Right hand where we shall hereafter find him if we now follow him COLLOQUIE Thy words are living full of force O Lord more peircing then a two edged sword Oh that thou wouldst awake my slumbring soul deep wound my spirit with admiration of thy boundlesse Love in the humble Incarnation gracious Doctrine moving Examples bitter passion of thy beloved Son My habitation rest shall henceforth be in thy sacred Wounds O Saviour of the World by them I will find entrance to thy bowells of Mercy there discover the overflowings of thy Love-swelling heart towards sinners thy hidden Divinity for by these we have plentifull redemption strong helpes fulnesse of hopes Oh stretch forth thy arms once streached on the Crosse for me embrace my soul languishing to be with Thee Then will I live dy in thy wounded heart by that Gate enter into the citty of my God find whom my soul loveth SECOND DISCOURSE God reveales himselfe HAving now passed by all Creatures who are the Guards of our Earthly Citty in the search of thy Beloved clime up Philothea the mountain of Visions approach Gods Flaming Bush of reuealed Mysteries harken what he there speakes to Thee of the Majesty of his own Essence the Beauty of his heavenly Kingdom the Glory of his blessed Attendants wherby to enflame thy amorous heart with new desires of Communion in happinesse with the already glorifyed Saints Angels Divine Scripture as Gods book discovers those Excellencies of God which reason reaches not he only inspires who invites the humble to ascend higher Hence as from the fountain of Paradice stream forth four sacred delicious Rivers not to be waded through without Divine Helps History describes Gods Wonders to his chosē people wherby to draw their hearts sweetly from things of this world Allegories teach what we must beleive of God Tropes inform us of what must be done or omitted in order to the joyes of Heaven but the pleasant streames of Anagogies which are greatest deepest doe wonderfull enlighten heat raise our spirits up towards God there fix our thoughts loves where our hopes are already placed This Mysticall river empties it selfe in the vast Sea of the Divinity where God One in Essence Three in Persons within himselfe Infinite in Being Happinesse all perfections receives no addition of Good from our best Endeavours nor any detriment by overflowing to us communicating his greatest Guifts amongst us He without change or labour knows produces governs all things in all times places leading each by their speciall wayes to their last Ends. In his glorious Kingdom he is environed with many millions of immortall blessed Spirits who divided into nine Quires make up the Heavenly Hierarchy of Saints Angels happy in the Vision possessiō of God are distinguished by their proper Excellencies of nature grace glory wherin there is no temptation sin or misery feared nor fulnesse of happinesse joy or peace wanting to them all enjoying God in him possessing what soever may compleat the delightfulnesse of that glorious blessed state which Neither Eie has seen nor tongue can rehearse nor can the heart of Man conceive COLLOQUIE Oh how
glorious how pleasant how delightfull is the Kingdom of the Saints where Thou O God happy in thy selfe art the happinesse of thy glorifyed servants No greife all content is there where thou dost abide through a fulnes of their Love ever flowing towards thee Oh that thou would'st transport me forth of this kingdō of darknesse misery that I may with a fixed Eie ever behold Thee the Light which no darknesse comprehends possesse Thee the Peace that surpasses all Imagination then will the rowlings longings of my faynting heart have an End it will appear in me that I have been in a Region of Light Peace am full of both I in Iustice shall appear in thy sight shall be satiated when thy Glory appears Amen NINTH DAYES VOYAGE Repose of the soul in God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT The soul hidden in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That Beginners in the Contemplative life goe frō Creatures to God admiring loving Him by the beauty lovelynesse discoverd in them Proficients look on God as he is revealed by divine faith by that dimme light make pleasant sallies towards him by acts of admiration love restlesse desires to live move in by to God But they who are now happily arrived to the state of Perfection which thou aymest at Philothea in this thy solitary Pilgrimage doe contemplate Gods Majesty Beauty Glory as if cleerly revealed seen in Himselfe by an Illapse of God into the sanctifyed soul of the soul into God in whom she hides herselfe reposeth without disturbance enjoyes a fulnesse of content without wandring abroad Thus S. Paul even in this life could say that his life was hidden with CHRIST in God that his conversation was even then in heaven having placed his happinesse in spirituall divine actions wherby his soul ever moved towards God emptyed its selfe into him concealing himselfe from the World by bearing with ioy the Miseries mortifications therof contrary to the custome of those who living in the World live wordly And thus the lives of the Saints have been ever accounted folly their deaths dishonourable whereas they live with in God a divine life contented to know love move in him according to the lights helps received from him It is in our power Philothea through divine helps to lead this hidden life in God have our conversation in heavē even abiding or Earth in our mortall flesh but thou must then be very pure holy having thy Soul cleansed from all sin sinfull inclinations pressing towards earthly satisfactions for no spot or stain enters that beautifull cleer region of the Saints Thou must also be cloathed with the garment of Charity towards all cōply with divine Inspirations putting on JESUS Christ by imitatiō of his mortifications prōptnesse in obeying his counsells Thus abiding in the world thou wilt not be of the World or be known by it having not its livery on nor performing its actions But God will acknowledge thee to be his in whom thou now livest hast a Divine Being in Him therefor maist say I live now not in my selfe but in God my life my sweet repose my finall happinesse AFFECTION O admirable sweetnesse of this Divine Being of the Soul hidden from the World in God! even in this life thou maist ascend thither my Soul quitting earthly conversation comforts passing the Starrs transported above the Quires of glorious Angels drowning thy selfe in the Abysse of Gods infinite Essence O who will give me the wings of a Dove I will fly repose in God My heart hath desired his face my Soul covets his presence O beautifull Face O delicious presence O rich aboad in God in the fulness of the Saints only the clean of heart may abide there RESOLUTION I will hide my selfe from the world casting off its livery which are worldly vain actions abandoning all earthly conversation which may soyle my heart And I will henceforth live in God by contēplating his Glory performing heavenly actions ordring my whole life according to his holy Will not regarding what passeth here on earth as if not att all belonging to Me or the life of One hidden living in God Oh that my Soul were swallowed up in that Divine Sea God in Me I in God besides Nothing As I began from Thee so will I end in Thee O End without End SECOND POINT Search of God in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That being now entred into God there as Moses on Gods Holy Mountain hidden in a Divine Mist we must search into him endeavour to discover plainly what he is how amiable is his hidden beauty we so thirst to behold enjoy This must be performed by an act of pure Contemplation without depending on created Images or discourse of reason but as if the Eie of the Soul were dazled with the beams of Gods Divine unaccessible Light diffused through that Mist She must simply consider God to be so full of Majesty so Good so Glorious that he can never be seen loved or admired as he is or we ought so that what ever we conceive of him is far beneath the Excellencies of his Being what ever we admire in him he is incomparably more admirable how ever we love him he is infinitely more amiable lovely desirable although each one should love him as much as all the Saints Angels together can for a whole Eternity love him Wherefor the amorous soul will be ever busied in searching into God discovering his hidden perfections in that divine Mist being unable to discern cleerly even what she there already sees therefor cryes out to God Shew me thy face And although she therein feeles a most excessive sweetnesse ioy yet she is ignorant both what it is whence it comes therfor acknowledges him to be infinitely more excellent delightfull then she is able to expresse or imagine as it hapned to S. Paul in his divine rapture If thou wert extrem hungry Philothea didst stand betwixt two tables loathing the meat of the one not permitted to tast of the other what conflicts would'st thou then feele Thus it will be if the soul be hidden in this divine Mist for being wearied with the search of her beloved in created Likenesse not permitted to contemplate the naked Essence of God in its selfe cleerly though present with her she still inquires after him loaths the obscurity wherein she is through her own weaknesse thirsts to be filled with a cleer Vision full Fruition of God in himselfe oft looks forth to make a better discovery of him entertains all his inspirations as so many Whisperings of her Espous sighs amorously for his delaying the comfortable Revelation of himselfe to her as one drunk with love sends messages to him by all she meets that She lanquishes with Love AFFECTION