be thy punishment and thou storest up greater fewel for that flame In what thing a Man hath sinned in the same shall he be the more grievously punished There shall the slothful be pricked forward with burning goads and the gluttons be tormented with great hunger and thirst There shall the luxurious and lovers of pleasures be bathed in burning pitch and stinking brimstone and the envious like mad Dogs shall howl for very grief 4. There is no sin but shall have its proper torment There the proud shall be filled with all confusion the covetous shall be pinched with miserable penury one hour of pain there shall be more bitter than a Thousand years of the sharpest pennance here There is no quiet no comfort for the damned there yet here we have some intermission of our labors and enjoy the comfort of our friends Be now sollicitous and sorrowful because of thy sins that at the day of judgment thou mayest be secure with the company of blessed souls For then shall the righteous with great boldness stand against such as have vexed and oppressed them then shall he stand to judg Men who doth now humbly submit himself to the censures of Men. Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence but the proud Man shall be compassed with fear on every side 5. Then will it appear that he was wise in this world who had learned for Christ to be a fool and despised Then shall every affliction patiently undergone delight us when the mouth of iniquity shall be stopped up Then shall the devout rejoyce and the profane shall mourn Then shall he more rejoyce that hath beat down his own flesh than he that hath abounded in all pleasure and delight Then shall the poor attire shine gloriously and the precious robes seem vile and contemptible Then shall be more commended the poor cottage than the gilded palace Then will constant patience more avail us than all earthly power Then simple obedience shall be preferred before all worldly wisdom 6. Then shall a good and clear conscience more rejoyce a Man than the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more than all the worldings treasure Then wilt thou be more comforted that thou hast prayed devoutly than that thou hast fared daintily Then wilt thou be more glad thou hast kept silence than that thou hast talked much Then will good works avail more than many goodly words Then a strict life and severe repentance will be more pleasing than all earthly delights Accustome thy self now to suffer a little that thou mayest then be delivered from more grievous pains Prove first here what thou canst endure hereafter If now thou canst endure so little how wilt thou then be able to endure perpetual torments If now a little suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire do hereafter Assure thy self thou canst not have two Paradises it is impossible to enjoy delights in this world and after that to reign with Christ. 7. Suppose thou hast hitherto lived always in honors and delights what would all this avail thee if thou wert to die at this instant All therefore is vanity but to love God and serve him only For he that loveth God with all his heart is neither afraid of death nor punishment nor of judgement nor of hell for perfect love gives secure access to God But he that takes delight in sin what marvel is it if he be afraid both of death and judgment Yet it is good although love be not yet of force to withhold thee from sin that at least the fear of hell should restrain thee But he that layeth aside the fear of God can never continue long in good estate but falleth quickly into the snares of the Devil CHAP. XXV Of the zealous amendment of our whole life BE watchful and diligent in the service of God and often bethink thy self wherefore thou camest hither and why thou hast left the world Was it not that thou mightest live to God and become a spiritual Man Be fervent then to come forward for shortly thou shalt receive a reward of thy Labors there shall not be then any fear of sorrow in thy coasts Labor but now a little and thou shalt find great rest yea perpetual joy to thy soul. If thou continuest faithful and fervent in doing good no doubt but God will be faithful and liberal in rewarding thee Thou oughtest to have a good hope for getting the victory but thou must not be secure lest thou wax either negligent or proud 2. When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wavering between fear and hope did once being oppressed with grief humbly prostrate himself in a Church in prayer and said within himself O if I knew that I should yet persevere he presently heard within him an answer from God which said What if thou didst know it what wouldest thou do Do now what thou wouldest do then and thou shalt be secure And being herewith comforted and strengthened he committed himself wholly to the will of God and that noysome anxiety ceased neither had he any mind to search curiously any further to know what should befal him but rather labored to understand what was the perfect and acceptable will of God for the beginning and accomplishing of every good work 3. Hope in the Lord and do good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches thereof One thing there is that draweth many back from a spiritual progress and the diligent amendment of their lives viz. The horror of the difficulty or the labor of the combat But they above others improve most in virtue that endeavor most to overcome those things which are grievous and contrary unto them For there a Man improveth more and obtaineth greater grace where he more overcometh himself and mortifieth himself in spirit 4. But all Men have not alike to overcome and mortifie yet he that is zealous and diligent though he have more passions shall profit more in virtue than another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be less fervent in the pursuit of virtue Two things especially much further our amendment to wit to withdraw our selves violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labor earnestly for that virtue which we most want Be careful also to avoid with great diligence those things in thy self which do commonly displease thee in others 5. Gather some profit to thy soul wheresoever thou be so as if thou seest or hearest of any good examples stir up thy self to the imitation thereof But if thou seest any thing worthy of reproof beware thou do not the same And if at any time thou hast done it labor quickly to amend it As thine eye observeth others so art thou also noted again by others O how sweet and pleasant a thing it is to see the Servants of Christ fervent and devout endued with virtuous and decent manners And
THE CHRISTIANS PATTERN or The Imitation of CHRIST Printed by J R. for Iohn Williams at y e Crowne in St Paules Church yard 1677 THE Christians Pattern OR A DIVINE TREATISE OF THE Imitation of Christ. Written Originally in Latin by THOMAS of KEMPIS above 200. Years since Faithfully Englished And Printed in a large Character for the benefit of the Aged LONDON Printed for Richard Wellington at the Sign of the Lute in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1695. The Contents of the Chapters The First Book CHAP. I. OF the Imitation of Christ and contempt of all worldly vanities Pag. 1 Of the humble conceit of our selves 3 Of the doctrine of Truth 6 Of wisdom and providence in our actions 10 Of the reading of holy Scriptures 11 Of inordinate affections 12 Of flying vain hope and pride 13 That too much familiarity is to be shunned 15 Of obedience and subjection 16 Of avoiding superfluity in words 17 Of the obtaining of peace and zealous desire of profiting in grace 19 Of the profit of adversity 22 Of resisting temptations 23 Of avoiding rash judgment 27 Of works done of Charity 29 Of bearing with the defects of others 30 Of a retired life 32 Of the examples of the holy Fathers 34 Of the exercise of a good and religious person 37 Of the love of solitude and silence 41 Of compunction of heart 46 Of the consideration of humane misery 49 Of the meditation of death 54 Of judgement and the punishment of Sins 58 Of the zealous amendment of our whole life 63 The Second Book CHAP. I OF the inward life 70 Of humble submission 75 Of a good and peaceable Man 76 Of a pure mind and upright intention 78 Of the consideration of ones self 80 Of the joy of a good conscience 82 Of the love of Iesus above all things 84 Of familiar conversation with Iesus 86 Of the want of all comfort 89 Of thankfulness for the grace of God 93 How few the lovers of the Cross os Christ are 97 Of the high way of the holy Cross. 99 The Third Book CHAP. I. OF the inward speech of Christ unto a faithful soul. 108 That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words 110 That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not 112 That we ought to live iu truth and humility before God 116 Of the wonderful effect of divine love 119 Of the proof of a true Lover 123 That grace is to be hid under the veil of humility 126 Of a mean conceit of our selves in the sight of God 130 That all things are to be referred unto God as unto the last end 132 That the world being despised it is a sweet thing to serve God 133 That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated 137 Of Patience and of striving against concupiscence 139 Of the humble obedience of a subject according to the example of Christ. 142 Of the secret judgment of God to be considered lest we be exalted in our good deeds 144 How we are to stand affected and what we are to say in every thing which we desire 146 That true comfort is to be sought in God alone 149 That all our care is to be placed in God 150 That temporal miseries after the example of Christ must be born patiently 152 Of suffering of injuries and who is proved to be truly patient 154 Of the acknowledging of our own infirmities and of the miseries of this life 157 That we are to rest in God above all his gifts and benefits 160 Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God 164 Of four things that bring much peace 167 Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others 170 Wherein the firm peace of the heart and true spiritual profiting consisteth 172 Of the excellency of a free mind which humble Prayer sooner gaineth than Reading 174 That private love most hindreth from the chiefest Good 176 Against the tongues of slanderers 179 How we ought to call upon God and bless him when tribulation draweth near 180 Of craving the divine aid and confidence of recovering grace 182 Of the contempt of all creatures to find out the Creator 186 Of denial of our selves and forsaking all inordinate desires 189 Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our final intentions unto God 191 That God is sweet above all things and in all things to him that loveth 193 That there is no security from temptation in this life 195 Against the vain judgments of Men. 197 Of a full and pure resignation of our selves for the obtaining freedom of heart 199 Of good government in outward things and of recourse to God in dangers 202 That a Man be not over earnest in his affairs 204 That a Man hath no good of himself nor any thing whereof he can glory 205 Of the contempt of all temporal honors 208 That our peace is not to be placed in Men. 209 Against vain and secular knowledg 211 Of not drawing outward things to our selves 213 That credit is not to be given to all Men and how prone Man is to offend in words 214 Of putting our trust in God when evil words arise 218 That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting 221 Of the everlasting day and shortness of this life 224 Of the desire of everlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that sight valiantly 228 How a disconsolate person ought to offer himself into the Hands of God 233 That a Man ought to imploy himself in works of Humility when strength is wanting for higher imployments 238 That a Man ought to esteem himself not worthy of comfort but rather to deserve stripes 239 That the grace of God doth not joyn it self with those that savor of Earthly things 242 Of the different motions of Nature and Grace 244 Of the corruption of Nature and efficacy of divine Grace 250 That we ought to deny our selves and imitate Christ by the Cross. 254 That a Man be not too much dejected when he falleth into some defects 257 Of not searching into high matters and into the secret judgments of God 259 That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone 265 The Fourth Book CHAP I. WIth how great reverence Christ ought to be received 270 That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to Man in this Sacrament 277 That it is profitable to communicate often 281 That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly 284 Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Ministerial function 288 An interrogation of the exercise before Communion 290 Of the discussing of our own conscience and purpose of amendment 291 Of the oblation of Christ on the Cross and resignation of our selves 294 That we ought to offer up our selves and all that is ours unto God and to pray for all 296 That the holy communion is not lightly to be forborn 299 That the body of Christ and the holy Scriptures
goods And he that loseth Jesus loseth too much and more than the whole world He is most poor that liveth without Jesus and he is most rich that is well with Jesus 3. It is a piece of great skill to know how to converse with Jesus and great wisdom to know how to keep Jesus Be humble and peaceable and Jesus will be with thee Be devout and quiet and Jesus will stay with thee Thou mayest soon drive away Jesus and lose his grace if thou turn aside to outward things And if thou shouldest drive him from thee and lose him unto whom wilt thou flie and what friends wilt thou then seek Without a friend thou canst not well live and if Jesus be not above all a friend unto thee thou shalt be too sorrowful and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or rejoyce in any other It is better for thee to have all the world against thee than Jesus offended with thee Amongst all things therefore that be dear unto thee let Jesus alone be thy chiefest beloved 4. Love all for Jesus but Jesus for himself Jesus Christ alone is singularly to be beloved who alone is found to be good and faithful above all friends For him and in him let as well friends as foes be dear unto thee and all these are to be prayed for that all may know and love him Never desire to be singularly commended or beloved for that appertaineth only unto God who hath none like unto himself Neither do thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy heart on the love of any but let Jesus be in thee and in every good Man 5. Be pure and free within and intangle not thy heart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked and to carry a pure heart to God if thou wouldest be free to consider and see how sweet the Lord is And truly unless thou be prevented and drawn by his grace thou shalt never attain to that happiness to forsake and cast off all that thou alone mayest be united to him alone For when the grace of God cometh unto a Man then he is made able for all things And when it goeth away he is poor and weak and as it were left only unto the lash and scourge of every adversary In this thou oughtest not to be dejected nor despair but to resign thy self with all indifferency unto the will of God and to bear all things that befal thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night cometh day and after a tempest fair weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no hard matter to despise humane comfort when we have divine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane and divine comfort and for the Glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of heart and to seek himself in nothing nor to regard his own merit What great matter is it if thou be chearful and devout at the coming of grace This hour is wished for of all Men. He rideth easily enough whom the grace of God carrieth And what marvel if he feel not his burden who is born up by the Almighty and led by the soveraign guide 2. We are always willing to have something for our comfort and a Man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy martyr St. Laurence overcame the world with his Prelates because he despised whatsoever seemed delightsom in the world and for the love of Christ patiently suffered Sixtus to be taken from him whom he most dearly loved He overcame therefore the love of Man by the love of the Creator and he rather chose the divine good pleasure than humane comfort See thou also learn to forsake some necessary thing and a beloved friend for the love of God Be not grieved when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 3. A Man must fight long and mightily with himself before he get the full victory over himself and be able to draw his whole heart in to God When a Man trusteth in himself he easily slideth unto humane comforts but a true lover of Christ and a diligent follower of virtue betakes not himself to humane comforts nor seeketh such sensible sweetnesses but rather hard exercises and to sustain great labors for Christ. 4. When therefore spiritual comfort is given thee from God receive it thankfully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed up joy not too much neither do thou presume vainly but be rather the more humble for that gift and more wary and sollicitous in all thine actions for that hour will pass away and temptation will succeed When consolation is taken from thee despair not presently but with humility and patience wait for the Heavenly visitation for God is able again to give thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange unto them that have experience in the way of God for the great Saints and ancient prophets had oftentimes experience of such kind of vicissitudes 5. For which cause one under the enjoyment of divine favor said I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved But in the want of this he addeth what he found in himself saying thou turn'dst thy face from me and I became troubled Yet doth he not despair in the midst of these changes but more earnestly prayeth unto the Lord and saith Unto thee O Lord will I cry and I will pray unto my God Lastly he receiveth the fruit of his prayer and witnesseth that he was heard saying The Lord hath heard me and taken pity on me the Lord is become my helper But wherein Thou hast turned saith he my sorrow into joy and thou hast compassed me about with gladness If great Saints have been so dealt withal we that are weak and poor ought not to despair if we be sometimes fervent and sometimes cold for the Spirit cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will For which cause blessed Job saith Thou visitest him early in the morning and suddenly thou provest him 6. Whereupon therefore can I hope or wherein ought I to trust but in the great mercy of God alone and in the only hope of heavenly grace For whether I enjoy the presence of good Men or religious brethren or faithful friends or holy Books or excellent treatises or sweet songs and hymns all these help little and have little savor when grace forsaketh me and I remain left in mine own poverty At such time there is no better remedy thà n patience and the ordering of my self according to the will of God 7. I never found any so religious and devout that hath not had sometimes a withdrawing of grace or felt not some decrease of zeal There was never Saint so highly rapt and illuminated who first or last was not tempted For he is not
Prophets from the beginning and cease not in these days to speak to every one but many are hardned and deaf to my speech The greater number do more willingly listen to the world than to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh than the will of God The world promiseth temporal and small things and is served with great eagerness I promise most high and eternal things and the hearts of Men are nothing moved therewith Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me with equal care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are served Blush O Sidon saith the Sea And if thou ask the cause hear wherefore For a little Prebend a long journey is undertaken for everlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny sometimes there is foul contention sor a vain thing and sleight promise Men cease not to toil day and night 3. But alas for an unchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honor and glory without end they are loth to take the least pains Blush therefore slothful and complaining Servant that they are found to be more ready to distruction than thou to life They rejoyce more in vanity than thou in the truth And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceiveth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will give that which I have promised I will fulfil that which I have said but to him that remains faithful in my love to the end I am the rewarder of all that are good and do try my devout servants with strong trials 4. Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them for they will be very necessary in time of temptation What thou understandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visit my elect two several ways to wit with temptation and comfort And I daily read two lessons unto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of virtues He that hath my words and despiseth them hath within himself that shall judg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of devotion 5. O Lord my God thou art to me whatsoever is good Who am I that dare speak unto thee I am thy poorest servant and a most vile worm much more poor and contemptible than I can or dare express Remember yet O Lord that I am nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good just and holy thou canst do all things thou doest all things thou fillest all things only the sinner thou sendest empty away Remember thy mercies and fill my heart with thy grace who will not that thy works be void and in vain 6. How can I bear up my self in this miserable life unless thou strengthen me with thy mercy and grace Turn not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort lest my soul become as the thirsty land unto thee Lord teach me to fulfil thy will teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdom thou dost truly know me and didst know me before the world was made and before I was born in the world CHAP. IV. That we ought to live in truth and humility before God CHrist. Son walk before me in sincerity and truth and ever seek me in simplicity of heart He that walketh before me in truth shall be defended from evil incursions and the Truth shall deliver him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked If the Truth shall have made thee free thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for the vain speeches of Men. Christian. Lord it is true According as thou saidst so I beseech thee let it be with me let thy Truth teach me and keep me and bring me safe to an happy end Let it deliver me from all evil affection and inordinate love and I shall walk with thee in great freedom of heart 2. Christ. I will teach thee saith the Truth these things that are right and pleasing in my sight Think of thy sins with great displeasure and grief and never esteem thy self any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner thou art subject to and encumbred with may passions Of thy self thou always tendest to nothing thou art quickly cast down quickly overcome quickly troubled quickly dissolved Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory but many things for which thou oughtest to despise thy self for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend 3. And therefore let nothing seem much unto thee whatsoever thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderful let nothing seem worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly and commendable to be desired but that which is everlasting Let the eternal Truth above all things please thee Let thy own great unworthiness always displease thee Fear nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy vices and sins which ought to displease more than the losses of any thing whatsoever Some walk not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity and pride will know my secrets and understand the high things of God neglecting themselves and their own salvation These oftentimes for that I resist them do fall into great temptations and sins for their pride and curiosity 4. Fear the judgments of God dread the wrath of the Almighty But discuss not the works of the highest Search thine own iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their religion only in Books some in pictures some in outward signs and figures Some have me in their mouths but little in their hearts There are others that being illuminated in their understandings and purged in their affection do always breath after things eternal and are unwilling to hear of the things of this world and do serve the necessities of nature with grief and these perceive what the Spirit of Truth speaketh in them because it teacheth them to despise Earthly and love Heavenly things to neglect the world and all the day and night to desire Heaven CHAP. V. Of the wonderful effect of divine Love CHristian I praise thee O Heavenly Father Father of my Lord Jesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poor Creature O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be unto thee who sometimes with thy comfort refreshest me unworthy of all comfort I ever bless and glorifie thee with thy only begotten Son and the holy Ghost for ever and ever O Lord God the holy lover of my soul when thou shalt come into my heart all that is within me will rejoyce Thou art my glory and the exultation of my heart Thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weak in love and imperfect in virtue I have need therefore
good shall not be grounded in true joy nor enlarged in his heart but shall be many ways encumbred and straitned Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe nothing of good unto thy self nor attribute goodness unto any Man but give all unto God without whom Man hath nothing I have bestowed all and will that all be returned unto me again and with great strictness I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vain Glory and if heavenly grace and true Love enter in there shall be no envy nor straitness of heart neither shall there be any place for self-self-love For Divine Love overcometh all and enlargeth all the powers of the Soul If thou beest truly wise in me alone thou wilt rejoyce in me alone thou wilt hope For none is good but God alone who is to be praised above all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That the World being despised it is a sweet thing to serve God CHristian Now I will speak again O Lord and will not be silent I will say in the ears of my God my Lord and my King that is on High Psal. 31. O how great is the abundance of thy goodness O Lord which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee But what art thou to them that Love thee What to them that serve thee with their whole heart Truly unspeakable is the sweetness of contemplating thee which thou bestowest on them that Love thee In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetness of thy Love For that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back again that I might serve thee and hast commanded me to Love thee 2. O Fountain of everlasting Love what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me even when I wasted away and perished Thou hast shewed mercy to thy Servant beyond all my expectation And hast exhibited thy favor and friendship beyond all merit What shall I return unto thee for this grace For it is not granted to every one to forsake all things to renounce the World and to undertake a life of Religious retiredness It is much that I should serve thee whom all Creatures are bound to serve It ought not to seem much unto me to serve thee but this rather seemeth much and marvellous unto me that thou vouchsafest to receive into thy service one so poor and unworthy and to joyn him with thy beloved Servants 3. Behold all is thine which I have and whereby I serve thee And yet contrarywise thou rather servest me than I thee Behold Heaven and Earth which thou hast created for the service of Man are ready at hand and do daily perform whatsoever thou dost command and this is little yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the service of Man But that which excelleth all this is that thou thy self hast vouchsafed to serve Man and hast promised to give thy self unto him 4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serve thee all the days of my life I would I were able at least for one day to do thee some worthy service Thou art truly worthy of all service of all honor and everlasting praise Thou art truly my Lord and I thy poor Servant that am bound to serve thee with all my might neither ought I ever to be weary of praising thee And this I wish to do this I desire and whatsoever is wanting unto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5. It is great honor a great glory to serve thee and despise all things for thee For great grace shall be given to them that shall willingly subject themselves to thy most holy service They shall receive the most sweet comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy love shall renounce all carnal delights they shall attain great freedom of mind that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall have left off all worldly care 6. O sweet and delightful service of God by which Man is truly made free and holy O sacred state of religious employment which maketh Man equal to Angels pleasing to God terrible to Devils grateful and of great esteem to all the faithful O service to be imbraced and always wished for by which we obtain the greatest good and attain to that joy which never shall have end CHAP. XI That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated CHrist. Son thou oughtest to learn many things more which thou hast not well learned Christian. What are those Lord Christ. That thou frame thy desires wholly according to my pleasure and be not a lover of thy self but an affectionate follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes enflame thee and drive thee forwards with violence But consider whether thou art moved rather for my honor than for thine own profit If I be the cause thou wilt be well content with whatsoever I shall ordain But if there lurk in thee any self-seeking behold this is it that hindereth thee and weigheth thee down 2. Beware therefore thou lean not too much upon thy own preconceived desire without asking my counsel lest perhaps afterwards it repent thee and thou begin now to dislike that which before did please thee and which thou earnestly desiredst as the best For every affection that seemeth good is not presently to be followed nor every contrary affection at the first to be avoided It is expedient sometimes to use a restraint even in good desires and endeavors lest by importunity thou incurre distraction of mind and by thy want of self-government beget a scandal unto others or being gainsaid by others thou be suddenly troubled and fall 3. Yet sometimes thou oughtest to use violence and resist manfully thy sensual appetites and respect not what the flesh would or would not but rather to labor that even perforce it be subject to the spirit And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced under servitude until it readily obey in all things and learn to be content with a little and to be pleased with plain things and not to murmure against any inconvenience CHAP. XII Of patience and of striving against conoupiscence CHristian Lord God I perceive patience is very necessary unto me for that many adversities do happen in this life For howsoever I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without war and affliction Christ. So it is Son And my will is not that thou seek after that peace which is void of temptations or that which feeleth no contrariety but then think that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations and tried in many adversities 2. If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the Fire hereafter Of two evils the less is always to be chosen That thou maist therefore avoid everlasting punishment in the next World endeavor to suffer
less to be loved and praised then if thou didst fill me with Heavenly comforts 3. In thee therefore O Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I find all to be weak and unconstant whatsoever I behold out of thee For neither can many friends avail nor strong helpers aid nor wise councellors give any profitable answer nor the Books of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliver nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy self dost not assist help strengthen comfort instruct and keep us 4. For all things that seem to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee are nothing and do bring indeed no felicity at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the height of life the depth of wisdom and the strongest comfort of thy servants is to trust in thee above all things To thee therefore do I lift up mine eyes in thee O my God the Father of mercies I put my trust Bless and sanctifie my soul with thy Heavenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternal glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy glory that may offend the eyes of thy Majesty According to the greatness of thy goodness and multitude of thy mercies look upon me and hear the prayer of thy poor Servant who is far exiled from thee in the land of the shadow of death Protect and keep the soul of thy Servant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by thy grace accompanying me direct it by the way of peace to the country of everlasting light Amen THE FOURTH BOOK A devout Exhortation unto the holy Communion The voice of Christ. COme unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you saith the Lord. The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world Take ye and eat that is my body that is given for you Do this in remembrance of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him The words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and life CHAP. I. With how great reverence Christ ought to be received The voice of the disciple THese are thy words O Christ the everlasting Truth though not spoken all at one time nor written in one and the self same place Because therefore they are thine and true they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me They are thine and thou hast spoken them and they are mine also because thou hast spoken them for my salvation I willingly receive them from thy mouth that they may be the deeper imprinted in my heart These so gracious words so full of sweetness and love do encourage me but mine own offences do dishearten me and my impure conscience driveth me back from the receiving of so great mysteries The sweetness of thy words doth encourage me but the multitude of my sins doth oppress me 2. Thou commandest me to come confidently unto thee if I will have part with thee and to receive the food of immortality if I desire to obtain everlasting life and glory Come saist thou unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I wil refresh you O sweet and loving word in the ear of a sinner that thou my Lord God shouldest invite the poor and needy to the participation of thy most holy body But who am I Lord that I may presume to approach unto thee Behold the Heavens cannot contain thee and thou saist Come ye all unto me 3. What meaneth this so gracious a condescension and this so loving invitation How shall I dare to come that know not any good in my self whereupon I may presume How shall I bring thee unto my House that have so often offended thy most gracious countenance The Angels and the Archangels honor thee the Saints and just Men do fear thee and saist thou Come ye all unto me Unless thou O Lord didst say it who would believe it to be true And unless thou didst command it who would attempt to come unto thee Behold Noah a just Man labored a Hundred years in the making of the Ark that he might be saved with a few and how can I in one hours space prepare my self to receive with reverenee the Maker of the world 4. Moses thy great Servant and thy especial friend made an Ark of incorruptible wood which also he covered with most pure Gold to put the Tables of the Law therein and I a corruptible creature how shall I dare so lightly to receive the Maker of the Law and the giver of life Solomon the wisest of the Kings of Israel bestowed Seven years in building a magnificent Temple to the praise of thy Name and celebrated the feast of Dedication thereof Eight days together he offered a Thousand peace-offerings and he solemnly set the Ark in the place prepared for it with the sound of Trumpets and joy and I the most miserable and poorest of Men how shall I bring thee into my House that can scarce spend one half hour religiously And I wish I could once spend about one half hour in a worthy and due manner 5. O my God how much did they endeavor to please thee and alas how little is that which I do How little time do I spend to prepare my self to receive I am seldom wholly recollected very seldom free from all distraction and yet surely no unbecoming thought ought to appear in the comfortable presence of thy Deity nor any creature wholly take me up for I am not to harbor an Angel but the Lord of Angels 6. And yet there is great difference between the Ark of the Covenant with its reliques and thy most pure body with its unspeakable virtues between those legal Sacrifices figures of future things and the true Sacrifice of thy body the complement of all antient Sacrifices Why therefore am I not more zealous in thy venerable presence Wherefore do I not prepare my self with greater care to receive thy holy things sith those holy antient Patriarchs and Prophets yea Kings also and Princes with the whole people have shewed such an affectionateness of devotion to thy divine service 7. The most devout King David danced before the Ark of God with all his might calling to mind the benefits bestowed in times past upon his Forefathers He made instruments of sundry kinds he published Psalms and appointed them to be sung with joy he also oftentimes sung to the harp being inspired with the grace of the holy Ghost He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart and with pleasant voices every day to bless and praise him If so great devotion was then used and such celebrating of divine praise before the Ark of the Testament what reverence and devotion is now to be performed by me and all Christian people at the Sacrament in receiving the
most precious body of Christ 8. O God the invisible Creator of the world how wonderfully dost thou deal with us how sweetly and graciously dost thou dispose of all things with thine elect to whom thou offerest thy self to be received in the Sacrament O this exceedeth all understanding This chiefly draweth the hearts of the religious and inflameth their affections For thy true faithful Servants that dispose their whole life to amendment by this most precious Sacrament oftentimes gain much of the grace of devotion and love of holiness 9. O the admirable and hidden grace of this Sacrament which only the faithful ones of Christ do know but the unbelieving and such as are slaves unto sin cannot have experience thereof In this Sacrament spiritual grace is given and strength which was lost is restored in the soul and the beauty disfigured by sin returneth again This grace is sometimes so great that out of the fulness of devotion which is here given not only the mind but the weak body also feeleth great increase of strength 10. Our coldness and negligence surely is much to be wailed and pittied that we are not drawn with greater affection to receive Christ in whom all the hope and merit of those that are to be saved doth consist For he is our sanctification and redemption he is the comfort of those who are here but travellers and the everlasting fruition of Saints It is much therefore to be lamented that many do so little consider this comfortable mystery which rejoyceth Heaven and preserveth the whole world O the blindness and hardness of Mans heart that doth not more deeply weigh so unspeakable a gift but rather cometh by the daily use thereof to regard it little or nothing 11. For if this most holy Sacrament should be celebrated in one place only and consecrated by one only Minister in the world with how great desires dost thou think would Men be affected to that place and to such a Minister that they might enjoy the celebration of these divine mysteries But now there are many Ministers and Christ is offered in many places that so the grace and love of God to Man may appear so much the greater how much the more this sacred Communion is spread through the world Thanks be unto thee good Jesus the everlasting shepherd that hast vouchsafed to refresh us who are poor and in a state of banishment with thy precious body and blood and to invite us to the receiving of these mysteries with the words of thy own mouth saying Come unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you CHAP. II. That the great goodness and love of God is exhibited to Man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple IN confidence of thy goodness and great mercy O Lord being sick I approach unto my Savior being hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of life needy to the King of Heaven a Servant unto my Lord a creature to my Creator being disconsolate I come to thee my merciful comforter But whence is this to me that thou vouch-safest to come unto me Who am I that thou shouldest give thy self unto me How dare a sinner appear before thee And how is it that thou dost vouchsafe to come unto a sinner Thou knowest thy Servant and seest that he hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this favor upon him I confess therefore my unworthiness and I acknowledg thy goodness I praise thy mercy and give thee thanks for this thy transcendent love For thou dost this for thine own sake not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodness may be better known unto me thy love more abundantly shewed and thy gracious condescension may be the more eminently set forth Since therefore it is thy pleasure and thou hast commanded that it should be so this thy favor is also dearly pleasing to me and I wish that my sins may be no hindrance herein 2. O most sweet and benign Jesus how great reverence and thanks together with perpetual praise is due unto thee for the receiving of thy sacred body whose preciousness no Man is able to express But what shall I think of at this Communion now that I am to approach unto my Lord whom I am not able duly to honor and yet I desire to receive him with devotion What can I think better and more profitable than to humble my self wholly before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodness above me I praise thee my God and will exalt thee for ever and I do despise and submit my self unto thee in a deep sense of my own unworthiness 3. Behold thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skum of sinners Behold thou inclinest unto me who am not worthy so much as to look up unto thee Behold thou comest unto me It is thy will to be with me thou invitest me to thy banquet Thou wilt give me the food of Heaven and bread of Angels to eat which is no other indeed than thy self the living bread that descendest from Heaven and givest life unto the world world 4. Behold from whence doth this love proceed What a gracious condescension of thine appeareth herein How great thanks and praises are due unto thee for these benefits O how good and profitable was thy councel when thou ordainedst it How sweet and pleasant the banquet when thou gavest thy self to be our food How wonderful is this thy doing O Lord how mighty is thy power how unspeakable is thy truth For thou sayest the word and all things were made and this was done which thou commandest 5. A thing of great admiration that thou my Lord God true God and Man shouldest be exhibited unto us by the Elements of Bread and Wine Thou who art the Lord of all things and standest in need of none had pleased to dwell in us by means of this thy Sacrament preserve my heart and body unspotted that with a chearful and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receive them to my everlasting health which thou hast chiefly ordained and instituted for thy honor and for a perpetual memorial 6. Rejoyce O my soul and give thanks unto God for so noble a gift and so singular a comfort left unto thee in this vale of tears For as often as thou callest to mind this mystery and receivest the body of Christ so often dost thou remember the work of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ. For the love of Christ is never diminished and the greatness of his propitiation is never exhausted Therefore thou oughtest always to dispose thy self hereunto by a fresh renewing of thy mind and to weigh with attentive consideration this great mystery of thy salvation So great new and joyful it ought to seem unto thee when thou comest to these holy mysteries as if the same day Christ first descending into the womb of the Virgin were become Man or hanging on the
forgiven him CHAP. VIII Of the oblation of Christ on the Cross and resignation of our selves The voice of the Beloved AS I willingly offered up my self unto God my Father for thy sins my hands being stretched forth on the Cross and my body naked so that nothing remained in me that was not wholly turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the divine Majesty so oughtest thou also to offer up thy self willingly unto me every day as a pure and holy oblation with all thy might and affections in as hearty a manner as thou canst What do I require of thee more than that thou entirely resign thy self unto me Whatsoever thou givest besides thy self is of little account in my sight for I seek not any gift of thine but thy self 2. As it would not suffice thee to have all things whatsoever besides me so neither can it please me whatsoever thou givest if thou offerest not thy self Offer up thy self unto me and give thy self wholly for God and thy offering shall be acceptable Behold I offered up my self wholly unto my Father for thee and gave my whole body and blood for thy food that I might be wholly thine and thou remain mine But if thou abidest in thy self and dost not offer thy self up freely unto my will thy oblation is not entire neither will the union between us be perfect Therefore a free offering up of thy self into the hands of God ought to go before all thy actions if thou wilt obtain freedom and grace For this cause so few become inwardly free and illuminated for that they are loth wholly to deny themselves My saying is undoubtedly true unless a Man forsake all he cannot be my Disciple If thou therefore desirest to be my Disciple offer up thy self unto me with thy whole affections CHAP. IX That we ought to offer up our selves and all that is ours unto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THine O Lord are all things that are in Heaven and in Earth I desire to offer up my self unto thee as a free oblation and to remain always thine O Lord in the simplicity of my heart I offer my self unto thee this day for a sacrifice of a perpetual praise to be thy Servant for ever Receive me with this holy oblation of thy precious body and may this be for my good and the good of all thy People 2. I offer unto thee O Lord all my sins and offences which I have committed before thee and thy holy Angels from the day wherein I first could sin to this hour upon thy merciful altar that thou mayest consume and burn them all with the fire of thy love and wash out all the stains of my sins and cleanse my conscience from all offences and restore to me again thy grace which I lost by sin forgiving me all my offences and receiving me mercifully to the kiss of peace 3. What can I do with my sins but humbly confess and bewail them and intreat always thy favor I beseech thee hear me graciously when I stand before thee my God All my sins are very displeasing unto me I will never commit them any more but I bewail and will bewail them as long as I live and am purposed to repent and according to my utmost power to please thee Forgive me O God forgive me my sins for thy holy Names sake save my soul which thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood Behold I commit my self unto thy mercy I resign my self into thy Hands Do with me according to thy goodness not according to my wickedness and iniquity 4. I offer up also unto thee all whatsoever is good in me although it be very little and imperfect that thou mayest amend and sanctify it that thou mayest make it grateful and acceptable unto thee and always perfect it more and more and bring me also who am a slothful and unprofitable profitable creature to a good and blessed end 5. I offer up also unto thee all the godly desires of pious persons the necessities of parents friends brethren sisters and of all those that are dear unto me and that have done good either to my self or to others for thy love and that have desired and begged of me to pray for them and all theirs that they all may receive the help of thy grace and comfort protection from dangers deliverance from pain and being freed from all evils may joyfully give worthy thanks unto thee 6. I offer up also unto thee my Prayers especially for them who have in any thing wronged grieved or slandered me or have done me any damage or displeasure and for those also whom I have at any time sadded troubled grieved and scandalized by words or deeds wittingly or at unawares that it may please thee to forgive us all our sins and offences one against another Take O Lord from our hearts all jealousy indignation wrath and contention and whatsoever may hurt charity and lessen brotherly love Have mercy O Lord have mercy on those that crave thy mercy give grace unto them that stand in need thereof and grant that we may be counted worthy to enjoy thy grace and attain to life everlasting Amen CHAP. X. That the holy communion is not lightly to be forborn The voice of the beloved THou oughtest often to have recourse to the Fountain of grace and of divine mercy to the Fountain of goodness and of all benignity that thou maist be healed of thy sins and passions and be made more strong and vigilant against all the temptations and deceits of the Devil The enemy knowing the great good and advantage which comes by the holy Communion endeavoreth by all means and occasions to withdraw and hinder faithful and pious persons from it 2. Some when they purpose to fit themselves for the holy Communion suffer worse assaults of the Devil For that wicked spirit as it is written in Iob cometh amongst the sons of God to trouble them according to his accustomed malice or to make them over fearful and perplexed that so he may diminish their affection or by subtile assaults take away their faith to the end they may either altogether forbear the Communion or at least come unto it but coldly But there is no heed to be taken of his frauds and suggestions be they never so filthy and hideous but all is to be turned back upon his own head Thou oughtest to contemn and scorn him a miserable wretch and not to omit the holy Communion for his assaults and the troubles which he raiseth 3. Oftentimes also an excessive care for the obtaining such a degree of devotion and some anxiety about confessing thy sins hindereth thee Follow herein the counsel of the wise and put away all doubt and scruple for it is an hindrance to the grace of God and prejudiceth the devotion of the mind For every small vexation and trouble omit not the holy Communion but the sooner confess thy sins and willingly forgive others
art my meat and my drink my love and my joy my sweetness and all my good 3. O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholly inflame burn and conform me unto thy self that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union and by the meltings of ardent love Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and dry but deal mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What marvel is it if I should be wholly inflamed by thee and die from my self sith thou art fire always burning and never decaying love purifying the heart and enlightning the understanding CHAP. XVII Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ. The voice of the Disciple ple WIth great devotion and ardent love with most hearty affection and fervor I desire to receive thee O Lord as many Saints and devout persons have desired thee when they received thy Sacrament who were most pleasing unto thee in holiness of life and most fervent in devotion O my God my everlasting love my whole good my happiness without end I would gladly receive thee with the most vehement desire and most worthy reverence that any of the Saints ever had or could feel 2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion yet I offer unto thee the whole affection of my heart as if I alone had all those highly pleasing inflamed desires yea and whatsoever also an holy mind can conceive and desire all that with greatest reverence and most inward affection I offer and present unto thee I desire to reserve nothing to my self but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my self and all mine unto thee my Lord God my Creator and my Redeemer I desire to receive thee this day with such affection reverence praise and honor with such gratitude worthiness and love with such faith hope and purity as thy most holy Mother the glorious Virgin Mary received and desired thee when she humbly and devoutly answered the Angel who declared unto her the mystery of the Incarnation and said Behold the handmaid of the Lord let it be done unto me according to thy word 3. And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist chearfully leaped by reason of the holy Ghost whilest he was yet shut up in his Mothers womb and afterwards seeing Jesus walking amongst Men humbling himself very much said with devout affection The friend of the Bridegroom that standeth and heareth him rejoyceth with joy for the voice of the Bridegroom so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my self up to thee with my whole heart Wherefore I offer also and present unto thee the joys fervent affections mental excesses and supernal illuminations and Heavenly visions of all devout hearts with all the vertues and praises celebrated and to be celebrated by all creatures in Heaven and Earth for my self and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou maist be worthily praised and glorified for ever 4. Receive my Lord God my wishes and desires of giving thee infinite praise and thanks which according to the measure of thy unspeakable greatness are most worthily due unto thee These I yield thee and desire to yield thee every day and moment I do entreat and invite all Heavenly minds and all the devout Servants to give thanks and praises together with me 5. Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnifie thy holy and sweet Name with great joy and fervent devotion and let all that reverently and devoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receive it with full faith find grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for me a sinful creature And when they shall have obtained their desired devotion and joyful union and depart from thy sacred Heavenly Table well comforted and marvellously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul. CHAP. XVIII That Man be not a curious searcher of the Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense to faith The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to beware of curious and unprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not be plunged in the depths of doubts He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by thy glory God is able to work more than Man can understand A pious and humble inquiry of truth is tolerable so it be always ready to be taught and do endeavor to walk in the sound doctrines of the Fathers 2. Blessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult ways of questions and goeth on in the plain and assured path of Gods Commandments Many have lost devotion whilest they would search after high things Faith and a sincere life required at thy hands not height of understanding nor a diving deep into the mysteries of God If thou dost not understand nor conceive those things that are under thee how shalt thou be able to comprehend those that are above thee Submit thy self to God and let thy sense be subject to faith and the light of knowledg shall be given thee in that degree as shall be profitable and necessary for thee 3. Some are grievously tempted about faith and the Sacrament but this is not to be imputed to them but rather to the Enemy Be not thou anxious nor dispute with thy thoughts neither do thou give answer to the doubts cast in by the Devil but believe the words of God believe his Saints and Prophets and the wicked Enemy will flie from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the Servant of God to suffer such things For the Devil tempteth not unbelievers and sinners whom he already securely possesseth but he sundry ways tempteth and vexeth the faithful and religious 4. Go forward therefore with a sincere and undoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with unfeigned reverence And whatsoever thou art not able to understand commit securely to Almighty God God deceiveth thee not he is deceived that trusteth to much to himself God walketh with the simple revealeth himself to the humble giveth understanding to the little ones openeth the sense to pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Humane reason is weak and may be deceived but true faith cannot be deceived 5. All reason and natural search ought to follow faith not to go before nor infringe it For faith and love do here chiefly excell and work in a hidden manner in this most holy and excellent Sacrament God who is everlasting and of infinite power doth great and inscrutable things in Heaven and in Earth and there is no searching out of his wonderful works If the works of God were such as might be easily comprehended by humane reason they were not to be called wonderful and unspeakable FINIS
are most necessary unto a faithful soul. 304 That he who is to communicate ought to prepare himself with great diligence 309 That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto Christ in the Sacrament 312 Of the fervent desire of some devout persons to receive the Body of Christ. 314 That the grace of devotian is obtained by humility and denial of our selves 316 That we ought to manifest our necessities to Christ and crave his grace 319 Of fervent love and vehement desire to receive Christ. 321 That Man be not a curious searcher of the Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense to faith 324 THE FIRST BOOK CHAP. I. Of the Imitation of Christ and contempt of all wordly vanities HE that followeth me walketh not in darkness saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ by which we are admonished that we ought to imitate his life and manners if we will be truly inlightned and be delivered from all blindness of heart Let therefore our chiefest endeavor be to meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ. 2. The doctrine of Christ exceedeth all the doctrines of holy Men and he that hath the Spirit will find therein an hidden Manna But it falleth out that many who often hear the Gospel of Christ are yet but little affected because they are void of the Spirit of Christ. But whosoever will fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ. 3. What will it avail thee to dispute profoundly of the Trinity if thou be void of humility and art thereby displeasing to the Trinity High words surely make a Man neither holy nor just but a virtuous life maketh him dear to God I had rather feel compunction than understand the definition thereof If thou didst know the whole Bible and the sayings of all the Philosophers by heart what would all that profit thee without the love of God and without grace Vanity of vanities and all is vanity but to love God and to serve him only This is the highest wisdom by contempt of the world to tend towards the Kingdom of Heaven 4. It is therefore vanity to seek after perishing riches and to trust in them It is also vanity to hunt after honors and to climb to high degree It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and to labor for that for which thou mayest afterwards suffer more grievous punishment Vanity it is to wish to live long and to be careless to live well It is vanity to mind only this present life and not to foresee those things which are to come It is vanity to set thy love on that which speedily passeth away and not to hasten thither where everlasting joy is permanent 5. Call often to mind that Proverb That the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing Endeavor therefore to withdraw thy heart from the love of visible things and to turn thy self to the invisible For they that follow their sensuality do stain their own consciences and loose the favor of God CHAP. II. Of the humble conceit of our selves ALL Men naturally desire to know but what availeth knowledg without the fear of God Surely an humble Husbandman that serveth God is better than a proud Philosopher that neglecting himself laboreth to understand the course of the heavens Who so knoweth himself well groweth more mean in his own conceit and delighteth not in the praises of Men. If I understood all things in the world and were not in charity what would that help me in the sight of God who will judg me according to my deeds 2. Cease from an inordinate desire of knowing for therein is much distraction and deceit The learned are willing to seem so to others and to be accounted wise There be many things which to know doth little or nothing profit the soul and he is very unwise that is intent upon other things than those that may avail him for the welfare of his soul. Many words do not satisfie the soul but a good life comforteth the mind and a pure conscience giveth great assurance in the sight of God 3. How much the more thou knowest and how much the better thou understandest so much the more grievously shalt thou therefore be judged unless thy life be also more holy Be not therefore extolled in thine own mind for any Art or Science which thou knowest but rather let the knowledg given thee make thee more humble and cautious If thou thinkest that thou understandest and knowest much know also that there be many things more which thou knowest not Affect not to be overwise but rather acknowledg thine own ignorance Why wilt thou prefer thy self before others sith there be many more learned and skilful in the Scripture than thou If thou wilt know or learn any thing profitably desire to be unknown and to be little esteemed of by Man 4. The highest and most profitable reading is the true knowledg and consideration of our selves It is great wisdom and perfection to esteem nothing of our selves and to think always well and highly of others If thou shouldst see another openly sin or commit some hainous offence yet oughtest thou not to esteem the better of thy self for thou knowest not how long thou shalt be able to remain in good estate We are all frail but thou oughtest to esteem none more frail than thy self CHAP. III. Of the doctrine of truth HAppy is he whom Truth by it self doth teach not by figures and words that pass away but as it is in its self Our own opinion and our own sense do often deceive us and it discerns little What availeth it to cavil and dispute about dark and hidden things whereas for being ignorant of them we shall not be so much as reproved at the day of judgment It is a great folly to neglect the things that are profitable and necessary and give our minds to that which is curious and hurtful we have eyes and see not 2. And what have we to do with Genus and Species the dry notions of Logicians He to whom the Eternal Word speaketh is delivered from a world of unnecessary conceptions From that one Word are all things and all speak that one and this is the Beginning which also speaketh unto us No Man without that Word understandeth or judgeth rightly He to whom all things are one he who reduceth all things to one and seeth all things in one may enjoy a quiet mind and remain peaceable in God O God who art the Truth make me one with thee in everlasting charity It is tedious to me often to read and hear many things In thee is all that I would have and can desire Let all Doctors hold their peace let all creatures be silent in thy sight Speak thou alone unto me 3. How much the more one is united within himself and becometh inwardly simple and pure so
much the more and higher things doth he understand without labor for that he receiveth intellectual light from above A pure sincere and stable Spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works for that it works all to the honor of God and inwardly being still and quiet seeks not it self in any thing it doth Who hinders and troubles thee more than the unmortified affections of thine own heart A good and godly Man first of all disposeth within himself those things which he is outwardly to act neither do they draw him to the desires of an inordinate inclination but he ordereth them according to the prescript of right reason Who hath a greater combat than he that laboreth to overcome himself This ought to be our endeavor to conquer our selves and daily to wax stronger and to make a further growth in holiness 4. All perfection in this life hath some imperfection mixt with it and no knowledg of ours is without some darkness An humble knowledg of thy self is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning yet learning is not to be blamed nor the mere knowledg of any thing whatsoever to be disliked it being good in it self and ordained by God but a good conscience and a vertuous life is always to be preferred before it But because many endeavor rather to get knowledg than to live well therefore they are often deceived and reap either none or very slender profit of their labors 5. O if Men bestowed as much labor in the rooting out of vices and planting of vertues as they do in moving of questions Neither would there so much hurt be done nor so great scandal be given in the world nor so much looseness be practised in religious Houses Truly at the day of Judgment we shall not be examined what we have read but what we have done not how well we have spoken but how religiously we have lived Tell me now where are all those Doctors and Masters with whom thou wast well acquainted whilst they lived and flourished in learning Now others possess their livings and perhaps do scarce ever think of them In their life-time they seemed something but now they are not spoken of 6. O how quickly doth the glory of the world pass away O that their life had been answerable to their learning then had their study and reading been to good purpose How many perish in this world by reason of vain-learning who take little care of the serving of God And because they rather choose to be great than humble therefore they become vain in their imaginations He is truly great that is great in charity He is truly great that is little in himself and that maketh no account of any height of honor He is truly wise that accounteth all earthly things as dung that he may gain Christ. And he is truly learned that doeth the will of God and forsaketh his own will CHAP. IV. Of wisdom and providence in our actions WE must not give ear to every saying or suggestion but ought warily and leisurely to ponder things according to the will of God But alas such is our weakness that we rather often believe and speak evil of others than good Those that are perfect Men do not easily give credit to every thing one tells them for they know that humane frailty is prone to evil and very subject to fail in words 2. It is great wisdom not to be rash in thy proceedings nor to stand stiffely in thine own conceits as also not to believe every thing which thou hearest nor presently to relate again to others what thou hast heard or dost believe Consult with him that is wise and conscientious and seek to be instructed by a better than thy self rather than to follow thine own inventions A good life maketh a Man wise according to God and giveth him experience in many things How much the humbler one is in himself and more subject and resigned unto God so much the more prudent shall he be in all his affairs and enjoy greater peace and quiet of heart CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures TRuth not eloquence is to be sought for in holy Scripture Each part of the Scripture is to be read with the same Spirit wherewith it was written We should rather search after our spiritual profit in the Scriptures than subtilty of speech We ought to read plain and devout books as willingly as high and profound Let not the authority of the Writer offend thee whether he be of great or small learning but let the love of pure truth draw thee to read Search not who spake this or that but mark what is spoken 2. Men pass away but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever God speaks unto us sundry ways without respect of persons Our own curiosity often hindreth us in reading of the Scriptures when as we will examine and discuss that which we should rather pass over without more ado If thou desire to reap profit read humbly plainly and faithfully never desire the estimation of learning Inquire willingly and hear with silence the words of holy Men dislike not the parables of the Elders for they are not recounted without cause CHAP. VI. Of inordinate affections WHensoever a Man desireth any thing inordinately he is presently disquieted in himself The proud and covetous can never rest The poor and humble in Spirit live together in all peace The Man that is not yet perfectly dead to himself is quickly tempted and overcome in small and trifling things The weak in Spirit and he that is yet in a manner carnal and prone to sensible things can hardly withdraw himself altogether from earthly desires And therefore he is often afflicted when he goeth about to withdraw himself from them and easily falleth into indignation when any opposition is made against him 2. And if he hath followed therein his appetite he is presently disquieted with remorse of conscience for that he yielded to his passion which profiteth him nothing to the obtaining of the peace he sought for True quietness of heart therefore is gotten by resisting our passions not by obeying them There is no peace in the heart of a carnal Man nor of him that is addicted to outward things but in the spiritual and fervent Man CHAP. VII Of flying vain hope and pride HE is vain that putteth his trust in Man or Creatures Be not ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ nor to be esteemed poor in this world Presume not upon thy self but place thy hope in God Do what lieth in thy power and God will assist thy good affection Trust not in thine own knowledg nor in the subtilty of any living Creature but rather in the grace of God who helpeth the humble and humbleth those that are self-presuming 2. Glory not in wealth if thou have it nor in friends because potent but in God who giveth all things and above all desireth to give thee himself
of true judgment If God were always the pure intention of our desire we should not be so much troubled through the repugnance of our carnal mind 2. But oftentimes something lurketh within or else occurreth from without which draweth us after it Many secretly seek themselves in their actions and know it not They seem also to live in good peace of mind when things are done according to their will and opinion but if things succeed otherwise than they desire they are straightways troubled and much afflicted The diversities of judgments and opinions cause oftentimes dissentions between religious and devout Persons between Friends and Countrymen 3. An old custom is hardly broken and no Man is willing to be led further than himself can see If thou dost more rely upon thine own reason or industry than upon that power which brings thee under the obedience of Jesus Christ it will be long before thou become illuminated for God will have us perfectly subject unto him and that being enflamed with his love we transcend the narrow limits of humane reason CHAP. XV. Of works done of Charity FOr no worldly thing nor for the love of any Man is any evil to be done but yet for the profit of one that standeth in need a good work is sometimes to be intermitted without any scruple or changed also for a better For by doing this a good work is not lost but changed into a better The exterior work without charity profiteth nothing but whatsoever is done of charity be it never so little and contemptible in the sight of the world it becomes wholly fruitful For God weigheth more with how much love one worketh than how much he doeth He doeth much that loveth much 2. He doeth much that doeth a thing well he doeth well that rather serveth the community than his own proper will Oftentimes it seemeth to be charity and it is rather carnality because natural inclination self-will hope of reward and desire of our own interest will seldom be away 3. He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himself in nothing but only desireth in all things that the glory of God should be exalted He also envieth none because he affecteth no private good neither will he rejoyce in himself but wisheth above all things to be made happy in the enjoyment of God He attributeth nothing that is good to any Man but wholly referreth it unto God from whom as from the fountain all things proceed in whom finally all the Saints do rest as in their highest fruition O he that had but one spark of true charity would certainly discern that all earthly things be full of vanity CHAP. XVI Of bearing with the defects of others THose things that a Man cannot amend in himself or in others he ought to suffer patiently until God order things otherwise Think that perhaps it is better so for thy trial and patience without which all our good deeds are not much to be esteemed Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impediments that God would vouchsafe to help thee and that thou mayest bear them patiently 2. If one that is once or twice warned will not give over contend not with him but commit all to God that his will may be fulfilled and his name honored in all his servants who well knoweth how to turn evil into good Endeavor to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others of what sort soever they be for that thy self also hast many things which must be suffered by others If thou canst not make thy self such an one as thou wouldst how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking We would willingly have others perfect and yet we amend not our own faults 3. We will have others severely corrected and will not be corrected our selves The large liberty of others displeaseth us and yet we will not have our desires denied us We will have others kept under by strict laws but in no sort will our selves be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same ballance with our selves If all Men were perfect what should we have to suffer of our neighbor for God 4. But now God hath thus ordered it that we may learn to bear one anothers burden for no Man is without fault no Man but hath his burden no Man sufficient of himself no Man wise enough of himself but we ought to bear with one another comfort one another help instruct and admonish one another Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath for occasions make not a Man frail but do shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of a retired life THou must learn to break thy own will in many things if thou wilt have peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in a religious community and to converse therein without complaint and to persevere therein faithfully until death Blessed is he that hath there lived well and ended happily If thou wilt persevere in grace as thou oughtest and profit in virtue esteem thy self as a banished Man and a pilgrim upon earth Thou must be contented for Christs sake to be esteemed as a fool in this world if thou desire to lead an holy life 2. The wearing of a religious habit and shaving of the crown do little profit but change of manners and perfect mortification of passions make a true religious Man He that seeketh any thing else but God and the salvation of his soul shall find nothing but tribulation and sorrow Neither can he remain long in peace that laboreth not to be the least and subject to all 3. Thou camest to serve not to rule Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labor not to be idle or to spend thy time in talk Here therefore Men are proved as gold in the furnace Here no Man can stand unless he humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers COnsider the lively examples of the holy Fathers in whom true perfection and religion shined and thou shalt see how little it is and almost nothing which we do now in these days Alas what is our life if it be compared to them The Saints and Friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst in cold and nakedness in labor and weariness in watchings and fastings in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2. O how many and grievous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the rest that endeavored to follow the steps of Christ They hated their lives in this world that they might possess their souls in everlasting life O how strict and self-renouncing a life led those holy Fathers in the wilderness How long and grievous tentations suffered they How often were they assaulted by the enemy What frequent and fervent prayers offered they to God! How rigorous an abstinence did
our future amendment and proficiency in spiritual things CHAP. XXIII Of the meditation of Death THere will very quickly be an end of thee here therefore see what will become of thee hereafter To day a Man to morrow none and out of sight out of mind O the stupidity and hardness of Mans Heart who thinketh only upon the present and hath no more care of what is to come Thou shouldest so order thy self in all thy thoughts and actions as if to day yea this very moment thou wert ready to depart Hadst thou a clear conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death It were better to avoid sin than to fly death If thou art not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow To morrow is uncertain and how knowest thou that thou shalt live till to morrow 2. What availeth it to live long when we are so little the better by long living Alas length of days doth oftner make our sins the greater than our lives the better O that we had spent but one day well in this world Many there are who count how long it is since their conversion and yet ful slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment of life If to die be accounted dreadful to live long may perhaps prove more dangerous Happy is he that always hath the hour of his death before his eyes and daily prepareth himself for to die If at any time thou hast seen another Man die make account thou must also pass the same way 3. When it is morning think thou mayest die before night and when evening comes dare not to promise thy self the next morning Be thou therefore always in a readiness and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared Many die suddenly and when they look not for it for the Son of Man will come when we think not of his coming When that last hour shall come thou wilt begin to have a far different opinion of thy whole life that is past and be exceeding sorry thou hast been so careless and remiss 4. O how wise and happy is he that now laboreth to be such an one in his life as he wisheth to be found at the hour of his death A perfect contempt of the world a fervent desire to go forward in vertue the love of discipline the painfulness of repentance the readiness of obedience the denying of our selves and the bearing any affliction for the love of Christ patiently will give us great confidence we shall die happily Whilst thou art in health thou mayest do much good but when thou art sick I see not what thou art able to do Few by sickness grow better and more reformed as also they who wander much abroad seldom thereby become holy 5. Trust. not to friends and kindred neither do thou put off the care of thy souls welfare till hereafter for Men will sooner forget thee than thou art aware of It is better to look to it betime and do some good beforehand than to trust to other Mens courtesies If thou beest not careful for thy self now who will be careful for thee hereafter The time that is now present is very precious now are the days of salvation now is the acceptable time But alas that thou shouldst spend thy time so idlely here where thou mightest purchase to live eternally hereafter The time will come when thou shalt desire one day or hour to amend in and I cannot say that it will be granted thee 6. O beloved from how great danger mightest thou deliver thy self from how great fear free thy self if thou wouldst be always mindful of death Labor now to live so that at the hour of death thou mayest rather rejoyce than fear learn now to die to the world that thou mayest then begin to live with Christ. Learn now to contemn all earthly things that thou mayest freely go to Christ. Chastise thy body now by repentance that thou mayest then have assured confidence 7. Ah fool why dost thou think to live long when thou canst not promise to thy self one day How many have been deceived and suddenly snatcht away How often dost thou hear these reports Such a Man is slain another Man is drowned a third breaks his neck with a fall from some high place this Man died eating and that Man playing One perished by fire another by the sword another of the plague another was slain by Thieves Thus death is the end of all and Mans life suddenly passeth away like a shaddow 8. Who shall remember thee when thou art Dead Do do now my beloved whatsoever thou art able to do for thou knowest not when thou shalt die nor yet what shall befal thee after thy death Now whilst thou hast time heap unto thy self everlasting riches think on nothing but the salvation of thy soul care for nothing but the things of God Make now friends to thy self by honoring the Saints of God and imitating their actions that when thou failest in this short life they may receive thee into everlasting habitations 9. Keep thy self as a stranger and pilgrim upon the earth and as one to whom the affairs of this world do nothing appertain Keep thy heart free and lifted up to God because thou hast here no abiding city Send thither thy daily prayers and sighs together with thy tears that after death thy spirit may with much happiness pass to the Lord. Amen CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgment and the punishment of Sins IN all things have a special aim to thy end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that severe Judg to whom nothing is hid who is not pacified with gifts nor admitteth any excuses but will judg according to right and equity O wretched and foolish sinner who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry Man what answer wilt thou make to God who knoweth all thy wickedness Why dost thou not provide for thy self against that great day of judgment when no Man can excuse or answer for another but every one shall have enough to answer for himself Now are thy pains profitable thy tears acceptable thy groans audible thy grief pacifieth God and purgeth thy soul. 2. The patient Man hath a great and wholesome purgatory who though he receive injuries yet grieveth more for the malice of another than for his own wrong who prayeth willingly for his adversaries and from his heart forgiveth their offences he delayeth not to ask forgiveness of whomsoever he hath offended he is sooner moved to compassion than to anger he often offereth an holy violence to himself and laboreth to bring the body wholly into subjection to the spirit It is better to purge out our sins and cut off our vices here than to keep them to be punished hereafter Verily we do but deceive our selves through an inordinate love of the flesh 3. What is it that that infernal fire feeds upon but thy sins The more thou sparest thy self now and followest the flesh so much the more hereafter shall
be cast upon thee For the love of Jesus maketh a man to despise himself A lover of Jesus and of the Truth and a true inward Christian and one free from inordinate affections can freely turn himself unto God and lift himself above himself in Spirit and with the greatest enjoyment of his Soul rest in God 7. He that judgeth of all things as they are and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God than men He that can live inwardly and make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of Religious exercises A Spiritual man quickly recollecteth himself because he never poureth out himself wholly to outward things He is not hindred by outward labor or business which may be necessary for the time But as things fall out so he frameth himself unto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth not for the strange and perverse carriages of men So much is a man hindred and distracted by how much he draweth external matters unto himself 8. If all went well with thee and if thou wert all purged all things would fall out to thy good and advantage But many things displease and often trouble thee because thou art not yet perfectly dead unto thy self nor separated from all earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the heart of man as the impure love to Creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of Heaven and often receive internal joy CHAP. II. Of humble submission REspect not much who is with thee or who is against thee But endeavor and take care that God may be with thee in every thing thou doest Have a good Conscience and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hold thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord will help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliver thee and therefore thou oughtest to resign thy self unto him It belongs to God to help and to deliver from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the keeping us more humble that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himself for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and delivereth the humble he loveth and comforteth the humble unto the humble man he enclineth himself unto the humble he giveth great Grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him unto Glory Unto the humble he revealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inviteth him unto himself The humble person though he suffer shame is yet in peace for that he resteth in God and not in the World Do not think that thou hast profited any thing unless thou esteem thy self inferior to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable Man FIrst keep thy self in peace and then mayst thou pacifie others A peaceable man doth more good than he that is well Learned A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily believeth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good He that is well in peace is not suspicious of any But he that is discontented and troubled is tossed with divers suspicions He is neither quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do He considereth what others are bound to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himself First therefore have a careful zeal over thy self and then thou mayst justly shew thy self zealous also of thy neighbors good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine own deeds and thou wilt not receive the excuses of others It were more meet that thou didst accuse thy self and excusest thy Brother If thou wilt be born withal bear also with another Behold how far off thou art yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moved with indignation but only against himself It is no great matter to converse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition for that is naturally pleasing to all and every one willingly enjoyeth peace and loveth those best that agree with him But to be able to live peaceably with unquiet and perverse men or with the disorderly or such as contradict us is a great grace and a very commendable and manly deed 3. Some there are that keep themselves in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselves nor suffer others to be in peace Some there are who are troublesome to others but always more troublesome to themselves And others there are that keep themselves in peace and labor to bring others unto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering than in not feeling adversities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himself in peace He is a conqueror of himself a Lord of the world a friend of Christ and heir of Heaven CHAP. IV. Of a pure mind and upright intention WIth Two wings Man is lifted up from earthly vanities that is with simplicity and purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity doth intend God Purity doth apprehend and take him No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from all inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing else but the will of God and the good of thy neighbor thou shalt enjoy internal liberty If thy heart were sincere and upright then every creature would be unto thee a looking glass of life and a book of holy doctrine There is no creature so little and abject that representeth not the goodness of God 2. If thou wert inwardly good and pure then thou wouldest be well able to see and understand all things without any impediment A pure heart penetrateth Heaven and Hell Such as every one is inwardly so he judgeth outwardly If there be joy in the world surely a Man of a pure heart possesseth it And if there be any where tribulation and affliction an evil conscience best feels it As Iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh all bright like fire so he that wholly turneth himself unto God is purged from all fulness and slothfulness and is changed into a new Man 3. When one beginneth to wax cold then he is afraid of a small labor and willingly receiveth external comfort But when he once beginneth to overcome himself perfectly and to walk manfully in the way of God then he esteemeth those things to be light which before seemed grievous unto him CHAP. V Of the consideration of ones self WE cannot trust much to our selves for that grace oftentimes and understanding is wanting There is but little light in us and that which we have
worthy of the high contemplation of God who hath not been exercised with some tribulation for Gods sake For temptation going before is wont to be a sign of ensuing comfort And unto those that are proved by temptations heavenly comfort is promised He that shall overcome saith he I will give him to eat of the Tree of life 8. But divine comfort is given that a Man may be stronger to bear adversities There followeth also temptation lest he should wax proud of any good The Devil sleepeth not neither is the flesh as yet dead therefore cease not to prepare thy self to the battel For on thy right hand and on thy left are enemies that never rest CHAP. X. Of thankfulness for the grace of God WHy seekest thou rest since thou art born to labor Dispose thy self to patience rather than to comfort and to the bearing of the Cross rather than to gladness What secular person is there that would not willingly receive spiritual joy and comfort if he could always have it For spiritual comforts exceed all the delights of the world and pleasures of the flesh All worldly delights are either vain or unclean but spiritual delights are only pleasant and honest sprung from virtue and infused by God into pure minds But no Man can always enjoy these divine comforts according to his desire for the time of temptation is not long away 2. False freedom of mind and great trust of our selves is very contrary to heavenly visitations God doth well in giving the grace of comfort but Man doth evil in not returning all again unto God with thanksgiving And therefore the gifts of grace cannot flow in us because we are not thankful to the giver and return them not wholly to the head-fountain For grace ever attendeth him that is thankful and from the proud shall be taken that which is wont to be given to the humble 3. I desire not that consolation that taketh from me compunction nor do I affect that contemplation which leadeth to haughtiness of mind For all that is high is not holy nor all that is sweet good nor every desire pure nor every thing that is dear unto us is grateful to God I do willingly accept of that Grace whereby I may ever become more humble and affected with an holy fear and be made more ready to forsake my self He that is taught by the gift of grace and school'd by the scourge of the withdrawing thereof will not dare to attribute any good to himself but will rather acknowledg himself poor and naked Give unto God that which is Gods and ascribe unto thy self that which is thine own that is give thanks to God for his grace and acknowledg that nothing is to be attributed to thee but only sin and the punishment due thereunto 4. Set thy self always in the lowest place and the highest shall be given thee for the highest consist not without the lowest The chiefest Saints before God are the least in their own judgments and how much the more glorious so much the humbler within themselves Those that are full of truth and Heavenly glory are not desirous of vain glory Those that are firmly setled and grounded in God can no way be proud And they that ascribe all unto God what good soever they have received seek not glory one of another but would have that glory which is from God alone and desire above all things to praise God in himself and in all the Saints and always tend unto the same 5. Be therefore thankful for the least gift so shalt thou be meet to receive greater Let the least be unto thee also as the greatest and the most contemptible as an especial gift If thou consider the worth of the giver no gift will seem little or of too mean esteem For it is not little that is given by the most high God Yea if he should give punishment and stripes it ought to be grateful for that he doth it always for our welfare whatsoever he permitteth to happen unto us He that desireth to keep the grace of God let him be thankful for the grace given and patient for the taking away thereof Let him pray that it may return Let him be wary and humble lest he lose it CHAP. XI How few the lovers of the Cross of Christ are JEsus hath now many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom but few bearers of his Cross. He hath many desirous of comfort but few of tribulation He findeth many companions of his table but few of his abstinence All desire to rejoyce with him few will suffer any thing for him or with him Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of Bread but few to the drinking of the Cup of his passion Many reverence his miracles few follow the ignominy of his Cross. Many love Jesus as long as adversities happen not Many praise and bless him as long as they receive any comforts from him But if Jesus hide himself and leave them but a while they fall either into complaint or into too much dejection of mind 2. But they that love Jesus for Jesus and not for some comfort of their own bless him in all tribulation and anguish of heart as well as in the greatest comfort And although he should never give them comfort they notwithstanding would ever praise him and always give him thanks 3. O how powerful is the pure love of Jesus which is mixed with no self-love nor proper interest Are not all those to be called hirelings that ever seek comforts Do they not shew themselves to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ that always think of their own commodity and gain Where may one be found that will serve God freely 4. It is hard to find any one so spiritual that is stript of the love of all earthly things For where is any one to be found that is indeed poor in spirit and free from all affection of creatures He 's a Jewel of such price as is scarce to be met with in these parts If a Man should give all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should outwardly express great repentance yet it is little And if he should attain to all knowledg he is yet afar off And if he should be of great virtue and very fervent devotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him What is that that leaving all he forsake himself and go wholly from himself and retain nothing of self-love And when he hath done all that he knoweth to be done let him think that he hath done nothing 5. Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirm himself to be an unprofitable servant as our Saviour hath said when you shall have done all things that are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit and say with the Prophet I am alone and poor yet no man richer no Man
to be strengthened and comforted by thee visit me therefore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliver me from evil passions and heal my heart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to Love strong to suffer and constant to persevere 3. Love is a great thing in very truth a great good which alone maketh every thing that is heavy light and beareth equally that which is unequal For it carrieth a Burden without a Burden and maketh every thing that is bitter sweet and savoury The noble Love of Jesus inforceth Man to do great things and stirreth him up to desire always what is most perfect Love will be aloft and not kept down with any base thing Love will be free and loose from all worldly affection to the end its inward sight be not prejudiced that it be not either entangled by any temporal prosperity or subdued by adversity Nothing is sweeter than Love nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more large nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in Heaven or in Earth Because Love is born of God and cannot rest but in God above all Creatures 4. He that loveth flyeth runneth and rejoyceth he is free and not held in He giveth all for all and hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest above all from whence all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the gifts but turneth himself above all goods unto the giver Love oftentimes knoweth no measure but is inflamed above all measure Love feeleth no burden weigheth no pains desireth above its strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawful and possible It is therefore able to undertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to pass whereas he that doth not Love fainteth and lyes down 5. Love watcheth and sleeping sleepeth not Being wearied is not tired straitned is not pressed frightned is not troubled But like a lively flame and burning Torch breaking upwards and securely passeth through all If any one loveth he knoweth what this voice cryeth A loud cry in the ears of God is the ardent affection of the Soul which saith My God my Love thou art wholly mine and I wholly thine 6. Enlarge me in Love that with the inward mouth of my heart I may taste how sweet it is to Love and to be melted and swim in thy Love Let me be possessed by Love mounting above my self with excessive fervor and admiration Let me Sing the Song of Love let me follow thee on high my Beloved let my Soul rejoycing through Love spend it self in thy Praise Let me Love thee more than my self and not my self but for thee and all in thee that truly Love thee as the law of Love commandeth which shineth out from thee 7. Love is swift sincere pious pleasant and delightful strong patient faithful prudent long-suffering manly and never seeking it self For where one seeketh himself there he falleth from Love Love is circumspect humble and upright not softly nor light not attending unto vain things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Love is subject and obedient to Superiors mean and abject to it self devout and thankful unto God trusting and hoping always in him even then when God imparteth no sweetness unto it For without sorrow none liveth in Love 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloved is not worthy to be called a Lover A Lover ought to embrace willingly all that is hard and distasteful for his Beloved and not to turn away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP VI. Of the proof of a true Lover CHrist. Son thou art not yet a strong and prudent Lover Christian. Wherefore Lord Christ. Because thou givest over for a small adversity and too greedily seekest comfort A strong Lover standeth firmly in temptations and giveth not credit to the crafty perswasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity so I am not unpleasant to him in adversity 2. A prudent Lover considereth not so much the gift of his Lover as the Love of the giver He rather esteemeth the good will than the value and placeth all gifts under his Beloved A noble Lover resteth not in the gift but in me above every gift All therefore is not lost if sometimes thou hast less taste of me than thou wouldest That good and sweet affection which thou sometimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certain fore-taste of the heavenly Country whereon thou mayest not rely too much for it goeth and cometh But to fight against evil motions of the mind which may happen unto thee and to despise the suggestions of the Devil is a notable sign of virtue and shall have great reward 3. Let not therefore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoever trouble thee Retain a strong purpose and an upright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddenly rapt on high and presently returnest again unto the accustomed vanities of thy heart For thou dost rather unwillingly suffer them than commit them and as long as they displease thee and thou strivest against them it is matter of reward and no loss 4. Know that thy antient enemy doth ever strive to hinder thy desire to good and to deliver thee from all religious exercise to wit from the devout memory of my passion from the profitable remembrance of thy sins from the guard of thine own heart and from the firm purpose of profiting in virtue He injecteth many evil thoughts into thy mind that he may cause a wearisomness and horror in thee to draw thee from Prayer and Holy reading Humble confession is displeasing unto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receiving the Sacrament Trust him not nor care for him although he should often set snares of deceit to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth evil and unclean thoughts unto thee Say unto him Away unclean Spirit blush miserable wretch thou art very unclean that bringest such things unto mine ears Away from me wicked deceiver thou shalt have no part in me But Jesus shall be with me as a strong Warrior and thou shalt stand confounded I had rather die and undergo any torment than consent unto thee Hold thy peace and be silent I will hear thee no more though thou shouldest work me many troubles The Lord is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear If whole Armies should stand together against me my heart shall not fear The Lord is my helper and my redeemer 5. Fight like a good Soldier and if thou sometimes fall through frailty take greater strength than before trusting in my more abundant grace and take great heed of vain pleasing of thy self and of pride This brings many into error and makes them sometimes fall into almost incurable blindness Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of
Let the holy Name be blessed but to me let no part of Mens praises be given Thou art my glory thou art the joy of my heart In thee will I glory and rejoyce all the day but as for my self I will not glory but in my infirmities 6. Let the Iews seek honor one of another I will desire this which is from God alone For all humane glory all temporal honor all worldly highness compared to thy eternal glory is vanity and folly O my Truth my mercy my God most blessed Trinity to thee alone be praise honor power and glory for evermore CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporal honors CHrist. Son trouble not thy self if thou seest others honored and advanced and thy self contemned and debased Lift up thy heart unto me in Heaven and the contempt of Men on Earth will not grieve thee Christian. Lord we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity If I look well into my self I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therefore I cannot justly complain of thee 2. But because I have often and grievously sinned against thee all creatures do justly take arms against me for shame and contempt is due unto me but unto thee praise honor and glory And unless I frame my self with a very good will to be despised and forsaken of all creatures and to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtain inward peace and strength nor be spiritually enlightned nor fully united unto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in Men. CHrist. Son if the peace thou hast with any be grounded upon the opinion which thou hast of him or upon the account of thine acquaintance with him thou shalt ever be in an unconstant and enthralled condition but if thou have recourse unto the everliving and eternal Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieve thee The love of thy friend ought to be grounded in me and for me is he to be beloved whosoever he be whom thou thinkest well of and is very dear unto thee in this life No friendship can avail or continue without me neither is that love true and pure which is not knit by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloved friends that forasmuch as appertaineth unto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of Men. Man approacheth so much the nearer unto God by how much the further off he departeth from all Earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth unto God by how much lower he descendeth into himself and how much the meaner he is in his own sight 2. But he that attributeth any good unto himself hindereth the coming of Gods grace unto him for the grace of the holy Ghost ever seeketh an humble heart If thou couldest perfectly annihilate thy self and empty thy self of all created love then should I flow into thee with great abundance of grace When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creator is taken from thee Learn to overcome thy self in all things for the love of thy Creator and then shalt thou be able to attain to divine knowledge How little soever the thing be if it be inordinately loved and regarded it defileth the soul and hindereth the enjoying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against vain and secular knowledg CHrist. Son let not the fair speeches and subtile sayings of Men move thee For the Kingdom of God consisteth not in word but in power Observe well my words for they enflame hearts and enlighten minds they cause compunction and bring sundry comforts Do thou never read to shew thy self learned or wise but labor to mortify thy sins for that will profit thee more than the knowledg of many difficult questions 2. When thou shalt have read and known many things thou oughtest ever to return to one beginning and Principle I am he that teacheth Man knowledg and give unto babes a more clear understanding that can be taught by Man He therefore to whom I speak shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in the spirit Wo be to them that enquire many curious things of Men and do little mind the way how to serve me The time will come when the Master of Masters shall appear Christ the Lord of Angels to hear the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of every one and then he will search Jerusalem with a candle and the hidden things of darkness shall be laid open and the arguings of Mens Tongues shall be silent 3. I am he that in an instant do raise up the humble mind to understand more of the eternal truth than can be gotten by Ten years study in the Schools I teach without the noise of words without the confounding of opinions without ambition of honor without the scuffling of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise Earthly things to loath things present to seek the everlasting to relish the things that are eternal to flee honors to suffer injuries to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and above all things ardently to love me 4. For a certain person by loving me entirely learned divine things and spake that which was admirable he profited more by forsaking all things than in studying subtilties To some I speak common things to others more special things to some I appear sweetly by signs and figures but to some I reveal mysteries with much light The voice of books is indeed one but it teacheth not all Men alike For I am the inward teacher I am the Truth I am the searcher of the heart the discerner of the thoughts the setter forwards of what is good distributing to every one as I judge meet CHAP. XLIV Of not drawing outward things to our selves CHrist. Son in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and esteem thy self as dead upon Earth and as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also pass by many things with a deaf ear and rather think of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is better for thee to turn thine eyes from what doth mislike thee and to leave unto every one his own opinion than to strive with contentious words If all stand well betwixt thee and God and if thou hast his judgment in thy mind thou shalt the more easily bear if thou be overcome 2. Christian. O Lord to what a pass are we come Behold we bewail a temporal loss for a little gain we toil and run and the spiritual damage of our soul is forgotten and hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is minded and that which is chiefly necessary is slightly passed over because the whole Man doth slide down into eternal things and unless he speedily repent he lieth immerst in them and that willingly CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be given to all Men and how prone Man is to offend in words CHristian Help me O Lord in my tribulation for vain
Cross did suffer and die for salvation of Mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often The voice of the Disciple BEhold O Lord I come unto thee that I may be comforted in thy gift and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou O God hast prepared in thy goodness for the poor Behold in thee is all whatsoever I can or ought to desire thou art my salvation and my redemption my hope and my strength my honor and my glory make joyful therefore this day the soul of thy Servant for that I have lifted it up to thee O Lord Jesus I desire to receive thee now with devotion and reverence I do long to bring thee into my house that with Zacheus I may obtain to be blessed by thee and to be numbred amongst the Children of Abraham My soul thirsteth to receive thy body my heart desireth to be united with thee 2. Give thy self to me and it sufficeth for besides thee no comfort is available I cannot be without thee nor live without thy visitation And therefore I must often come unto thee and receive thee for the welfare of my soul lest perhaps I faint in the way if I be deprived of thy Heavenly food For so most merciful Jesus thou once didst say preaching to the people and curing sundry diseases I will not send them home fasting lest they faint in the way Deal thou therefore in like manner now with me who hast vouchsafed to leave thy self in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithful For thou art the sweet refection of the soul and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heir of everlasting glory It is necessary for me that do often fall and sin and so quickly wax dull and faint that by frequent prayer and confession and receiving of thy holy body I renew cleanse and inflame my self lest perhaps by long abstaining I should fall from my holy purpose 3. For the imaginations of Man are prone unto evil from his youth and unless some divine remedy help him he quickly slideth to worse This holy Communion therefore draweth back from evil and strengtheneth in good For if I be now so often slack and cold when I communicate or celebrate what would become of me if I received not this remedy and sought not after so great an help Though every day I be not fit nor well prepared to communicate I will endeavor notwithstanding at due times to receive the divine mysteries and to be partaker of so great a grace For this is one chief comfort of a faithful soul whilest she wandreth from thee in this mortal body that being often mindful of her God she receive her beloved with a devout mind 4. O the wonderful condescent of thy mercy towards us that thou O Lord God the Creator and giver of life to all spirits dost vouchsafe to come unto a poor soul and with thy whole Deity and Humanity to replenish her hunger O happy mind and blessed soul that obtains to receive thee her Lord God with devout affection and in receiving of thee to be filled with spiritual joy O how great a Lord doth she entertain How beloved a guest doth she harbor How pleasant a companion doth she receive How faithful a friend doth she take in How lovely and noble a spouse doth she embrace She embraceth him who is to be loved above all that is beloved and above all things that may be desired Let Heaven and Earth and all their furniture be silent in thy presence for what praise and beauty soever they have it is received from thy bounty and shall not equal the beauty of thy Name whose wisdom is infinite CHAP. IV. That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly The voice of the Disciple MY Lord God prevent thy Servant with the blessings of thy sweetness that I may approach worthily and devoutly to thy glorious Sacrament stir up my heart unto thee and deliver me from all dulness visit me with thy salvation that I may taste in spirit thy sweetness which plentifully lieth hid in this Sacrament as in a fountain Enlighten also my eyes to behold so great a mystery and strengthen me to believe it with undoubted faith For it is thy work and not Mans power thy sacred institution not Mans invention For no Man is of himself able to comprehend and understand these things which surpass the understanding even of Angels What therefore shall I unworthy sinner dust and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mystery 2. O Lord in the simplicity of my heart with a good and firm faith and at thy commandment I come unto thee with hope and reverence and do truly believe that thou art present in the Sacrament Thy will is that I receive thee and that by love I unite my self unto thee Wherefore I implore thy mercy and do crave thy special grace to the end I may wholly melt and flow over with love unto thee and hereafter never harbor any external comfort For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soul and body the remedy of all spiritual weakness hereby my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations overcome or weakned greater grace is infused virtue begun increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and love inflamed and enlarged 3. For thou hast bestowed and still oftentimes dost bestow many benefits in this Sacrament upon thy beloved ones that communicate devoutly O my God the Protector of my soul the strengthner of humane frailty and the giver of all inward comfort Thou impartest unto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them up from the depth of their own dejectedness to hope in thy protection and dost inwardly refresh and illustrate them with new grace so that they who before Communion felt themselves heavy and indisposed afterwards being refreshed with Heavenly meat and drink do find in themselves a great change to the better And in such a way of dispensation thou dealest with thy elect that they may truly acknowledg and patiently prove how great their own infirmity is and what goodness and grace they receive from thee For they of themselves are cold dull and undevout but by thee they are made fervent chearful and full of devotion For who is there that approaching humbly unto the fountain of sweetness doth not carry away from thence at least some little sweetness Or who standing by a great fire receiveth not some small heat thereby Thou art a fountain always full and overflowing a fire ever burning and never decaying 4. Wherefore if I cannot draw out of the full fountain it self nor drink my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this Heavenly conduit that I may draw from thence at least some small drop to refresh my thirst that so I may not be wholly dried up And though I be not altogether Heavenly nor so inflamed as the Cherubins and Seraphins notwithstanding I will
there so famous as the Christian People or what creature under heaven so beloved as a religious soul to whom God himself cometh to feed her with his glorious flesh O unspeakable grace O admirable condescent O infinite love singularly bestowed upon Man But what shall I give unto the Lord in return of his grace for so eminent an expression of thy love There is no other thing more acceptable that I am able to give than to give my heart wholly to my God and to unite it most inwardly unto him Then shall all my inward parts rejoyce when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God Then he will say unto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee And I will answer him Vouchsafe O Lord to remain with me and I will gladly be with thee This is my whole desire that my heart be united unto thee CHAP. XIV Of the fervent desire of some devout Persons to receive the Body of Christ. The voice of the Discipie O How great is thy goodness O Lord which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee When I remember some devout persons who come unto thy Sacrament O Lord with greatest devotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded and blush within my self that I come so formally and coldly to thy Table of the holy Communion that I remain so dry and without heart affection That I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence my God nor so earnestly drawn and affected as many devout persons have been who out of a vehement desire of the Communion and a feeling affection of heart could not contain themselves from weeping but with the desire both of soul and body they earnestly longed after thee O God the living Fountain being not otherwise able to allay nor satisfie their hunger but by receiing thy body with all joy and spiritual greediness 2. O the most ardent faith of those persons A clear argument of thy sacred presence For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose heart burneth so mightily within them whilst thou O blessed Jesus conversest with them Such desire and devotion so vehement love and fervency is oftentimes far from me Be merciful unto me good Jesus sweet and gracious Lord and grant me thy poor needy creature to feed sometimes at least in this holy Communion somewhat of thy hearty affectionate love that my faith may be more strengthened my hope in thy goodness increased and that my charity once perfectly enflamed after the tasting of Heavenly Manna may never decay 3. Thy mercy O Lord is able to give me the grace I desire and to visit me most mercifully with the spirit of fervor when it shall please thee For although I burn not with so great desire as those that are so singularly devoted to thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to have this great inflamed desire praying and craving that I may participate with all such thy fervent lovers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and denial of our selves The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to seek the grace of devotion instantly to ask it earnestly to expect it patiently and with confidence to receive it gratefully to keep it humbly to work with it diligently and to commit the term and manner of this Heavenly visitation to God until it shall please him to come unto thee Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy self when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion and yet not to be too much dejected nor to grieve inordinately God often giveth in a short moment that which he hath long time denied he giveth sometimes in the end that which in the beginning of prayer he deferred to grant 2. If grace should be always presently given and at hand ever with a wish the weak Man could not well bear it Therefore the grace of devotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy self and thy sins when it is not given thee or when it is secretly taken away It is sometimes a small matter that hindereth and hideth grace from us if yet it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindereth so great a good And if thou remove this be it great or small and perfectly overcome it thou shalt have thy desire 3. For presently as soon as thou from thy whole heart givest thy self to God and seekest not this nor that for thine own pleasure or will but setlest thy self wholly in him thou shalt find thy self united and quiet for nothing will relish so well and please thee so much as the good pleasure of the divine will Whosoever therefore with a single heart lifteth up his intention to God and purgeth himself from all inordinate love or dislike of any created thing he shall be the most fit to receive grace and meet for the gist of devotion For the Lord bestoweth his blessings there where he findeth the vessels empty And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh these low things and the more he dieth to himself by contempt of himself so much the more speedily grace shall come and enter in more plentifully and raise up higher the heart that is thus free 4. Then shall he see and be filled and wonder and his heart shall be enlarged within him because the hand of the Lord is with him and he hath put himself wholly into his hands for ever Behold so shall the Man be blessed that seeketh God with his whole heart and busieth not his soul in vain This man obtaineth the great favor of divine union in receiving the holy Eucharist for that he respecteth not his own devotion and comfort but above all devotion and comfort the honor and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessities to Christ and crave his grace The voice of the Disciple O Most sweet and loving Lord whom I now desire to receive with all devotion thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sins and evils I am oppressed how often I am grieved tempted troubled and defiled I come unto thee for remedy I crave of thee comfort and succor I speak to him that knoweth all things to whom all my inward parts are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me Thou knowest what good things I stand in most need of and how poor I am in vertues 2. Behold I stand before thee poor and naked calling for grace and craving mercy Refresh thy hungry beggar inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love inlighten my blindness with the brightness of thy presence Turn all earthly things to me into bitterness all things grievous and cross into patience all low and created things into contempt and oblivion Lift up my heart to thee in Heaven and suffer me not to wander upon Earth Be thou only sweet unto me from henceforth for evermore for thou only