that Manna is come downe from heauen And hee which ministreth true bread from heauen doth giue also a good vnderstanding to the taster that hee maie knowe how euerie good giuing and euerie gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of lightes This word now saith hee is from God Without him there is nothing I haue all things from him Furthermore this spirituall man hee woondereth and lamenteth that hee so lightlie esteemeth so excellent a good thing by the which hee is not a little blessed and whie also he dooth not oftener bend his heart to heare and to see that than the which nothing is more sweete and blessed to be desired And would to God hence-forth I might thus doo For this exceedinglie dooth delight mee and more will delight mee the more I giue my selfe vnto these meditations Oah that my beloued would come into mine heart that I might taste the sweetnes of his apples Oah that hee would decline vnto mee and showe himselfe to mee and mee to himselfe Hee is my felicitie and mine onlie delight Now begin I to couet and desire and greatlie to loue this good thing in whome all good things are this ioie in whome is all ioie this one thing in whome are all things small and great base and hie yet nothing created but without all conceipt of man the beginning and the ende of all the good things which hee hath formed Hence it is that now and then I would thoroughlie bee replenished with this good thing and filled with that so heauenlie ioie and I couet after a sort euen to be swallowed vp and consumed vtterlie of him that mine insatiable desire might once be satisfied in such sort that nothing in mee might bee mine but his onlie whose the fire and heate of loue is whose this woonderfull worke is also that so I might the more greedilie be carried to himâ—ward and be made one spirit together with him Notwithstanding all this doth not puffe vp the godlie man or make him to thinke himselfe some-what or to despise others or to iudge inferiors for hee knoweth that whatsoeuer hee hath commeth not of himselfe but it is the free gift of God that thereby hee is not to waxe proude when hee perceaueth himselfe to be so comforted of the Lord. For hee seeketh not the praise of man he careth not for foraine fauor but hee seeketh the beloued his praise and his fauor hee onlie desireth in whome hee hath all things and shall finde more than all these things because hee preferreth his loue his sweetenes and the ioiefull enioieng of him before all transitorie things and his honor hee seeketh and sigheth for aboue all things else And therefore he cannot be proude nor boast of anie thing God hee is his glorie his praise and his comfort God euen hee is his true and perfect ioie his soueraigne and sole happines all his desire and perfection And which more is hee would haue others also thus to reioice with him and to enioie such felicitie without ende both in this world and in heauen too For this is his desire and praier that God would reueale himselfe to all men and that hee would vouchsafe to conuert and drawe all vnto him that he alone might be praised and glorified for hee is both loue it selfe and such a fountaine of loue as neuer can be drawen drie For hee dooth more loue all men than all men set together can loue him Notwithstanding it liketh him well if anie man haue a desire to loue him from the botome although hee cannot sounde vnto the depth For hee in louing deuoureth vanquisheth and surpasseth all CHAP. 9. A desire of the Soule that no earthlie creature maie carrie her awaie vnto vanitie BEhold I would take my flight far off and lodge in the mountaines Oah how profitable how sweete and how ioiefull a thing is it to sit solitarilie in silence to talke with God and to enioie the onlie good thing in which are all good things Would to God I were so conioined to that all simple and onlie good thing that I might be moued with none affections and distractions of transitorie things nor curiouslie fasten mine eies vpon anie creature and visible thing O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer from the bodie of this death Alas how often dieth my soule for the creatures which she loueth oah manie times she forgetteth her creator and is carried awaie for their sakes Mine vnstable minde now willeth this thing now that thing now it is heere now there seeking but not finding rest in creatures because there is no creature which can yeeld full satietie to be enioied though it hath some delectation for vse The heart of man is vnsearchable and who can knowe it O Lord thou knowest the thoughts of men that they are vane O eternall God most hie and infinite the creator and gouernor of all things I am thy creature which thou hast made by thy power Thou hast made mee that I should loue thee and gladlie would I loue thee but I cannot as I would For I am fettered with vane loue and with clammie affections of transitorie things from which while I would rid my selfe hardlie or not at all can I so doo without great paine Oah how soone would theie flie and perish if thou Christ wert sweet and didest â—auor in my nostrels Notwithstanding sometime through the sight of the minde I doo behold thine inuisible things by the creation of the world and thee also the soueraigne felicitie the true and eternall God And gladlie would I continue in these meditations but forthwith I knowe not with what winde I am blowen awaie from them and helde downe like a miser by the loue and waight of visible things Behold I firmelie doo purpose in mine hart as it were making a couenant betweene mee and thee that for thy noble and pretious loue I will neither loue nor looke vpon anie creature but will contemne all things yea my selfe and all mine but straight-waie worldlie fleshlie and familiar cogitations doo ascend into mine heart as though in them were a certaine felicitie and as though if I contemned them I were to forgo some great good thing and these beare a good countenance but they hide the wofull ende showing what is present but hiding the inconuenience that will ensue as though euerie-where and in all creatures thou art to be sought and that nothing were to be neglected or despised which hath bin made of my God and thus they withdrawe mee oftentimes fro my purpose and at the length vtterlie seduce mee Oah how vane and deceiptfull and almost nothing are thinges which now stand and florish proued to bee which flieng awaie after their sudden ioies doo leaue mee among the thornes and briars of a guiltie conscience But woe is mee Lord yea woe againe to mee because so soone I haue beleeued and
ouer mine hart which forthwith driueth out the cloudes of all wicked cogitations whereby I doo enioie the long desired cleerenes of God his light Because no vncleane nor filthie thing can stand where he entereth in for hee loueth puritie and is the ingraffer of the same so that of necessitie all satanicall illusion together with the pomps of this world must be packing Therefore my passions and tentations which I did endure being supprised I began both the more euidentlie to knowe and the more earnestlie to loue and the more hartelie to praise him for vouchsafing at the length to beate back the damned crewe of the wicked from assailing mee For theie doo disturbe my peace and sin dooth so shut vp my mouth that I am ashamed to speake vnto my welbeloued But in vaine doo theie bend themselues against his power and wisedome because euen in a moment he can slide downe into mine hart and poure in secretlie good motions that I maie both contemne and vtterlie neglect all their priuie whisperings O my faithfull and all happie freend take mee so vnto thee whensoeuer thou shalt perceaue mine affections to be either pressed downe at anie time with the waight of sin or to be held with vnnecessarie busines that I maie not wander far astraie from thee after the swarme of wicked cogitations and so ouerhastelie be depriued of thy grace without which I shall not be able to enioie thy freendship For thou art my Lord and my God which by thy word doost both heale and sanctifie which holdest my soule in life and sufferest not my feete to slip but deliuerest mee from the euill daie and from the snares of death Oah how manie haue bin cast off and vtterlie perished that haue bin much more innocent than I am And therefore my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within mee blesse his holie Name My soule I saie praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits It is all too little and far vnsufficient whatsoeuer thou shalt either thinke or speake or promise to his praise For hee exceedeth all praise and is much sweeter than anie musick Wherefore my soule cleaueth to thee alone and loueth thee aboue all other gifts notwithstanding it be exceedinglie beutifull and sweete which of meere good will thou hast sent vnto mee For thou alone art the spouse as for all things else theie are gifts and arguments of loue In steed of thee I will not loue them neither will I beleeue that anie thing or all things in the world can suffice mee if I haue not thee for in so dooing I maie perchance forgoe thee with them too Thou giuest me leaue to vse manie things for thy sake but I maie not enioie so much as one thing in thy steed And therefore ô Christ my sweete spouse I haue preferred thee afore all other things and my care hath bin aboue all things to loue thee Wherefore grant that blessedlie I maie enioie thee and in that vnion euerlastinglie to triumph in happines together with thee But how far am I come I haue lengthened my speech more than perhaps you would But pardon me good freend For I haue bin carried aloft through the loue of mine especiall and onlie freend and would to God it would please him still to lift vp both mee and you too in contemplation Let him prouide an heauenlie ascension but let vs not keepe a base going downe M. Aske you mee whether I am forsaken at anie time of my beloued S. Yea I saie so M. But how doo you behaue your selfe in trooble S. I take all things as patientlie as I can expecting his comming Naturalie I am grieued but as touching my spirit I haue inward patience that my griefe prooue not incurable For I forget not how hee that loueth liueth in paine I liue by faith I beleeue the holie Scriptures I giue credit to the words of comfort And although I endure affliction yet I doubt not neither in deede ought I to doubt but that God when it pleaseth him can send mee ease For true and to be credited are those woordes which are declared Because the verie sancts themselues haue bin exercised in manie and proued in like things Nature continuallie dooth wish for quietnes and seeketh to be comforted in some thing but the spirit notwithstanding is readie to sustaine whatsoeuer the wil of God is I should endure If therefore I shall be lesse zelous and lesse willing to doo good my punishment shall be the more greuous Though he slaie me saith the wiseman yet will I trust in him If I loue virtues patience is a great virtue therefore let patience euermore bee retained For the more praise we purchase the more paines we take in bringing things to passe And that our virtue maie be proued and made the more glorious we are commonlie exercised by contrarie euents Therefore whensoeuer anie such triall shal happen be not out of hart neither fall downe but reteine thou patience and extoll the righteousnes of God The Lord is not so hard and pittilesse that he can suffer you to abide long vncomforted Onlie haue a care that you neither lament immoderatlie nor yet murmur against the righteous and iust God because you are forsaken least the wicked spirit doo send vnto you more greeuous tentations of your faith whereby being ouerfearefull you shall extreemelie bee afflicted Wherefore beare a little and suppresse your sorowe although the griefe both of your hart and bodie be neuer so great Abide constant in that good purpose which at the first you intended to keepe For it is good especiallie at such an extremitie to cast all confidence vpon the beloued Looke thou patientlie for God his heauenlie comfort so shall you speedelie perceaue a speciall fauor and sight of God Lo you haue a faithfull witnesse saieng I waited patientlie for the Lord and hee inclined vnto mee and heard my crie And that in your neede you maie finde the like fauor I doo wish you both earnestlie to praie your selfe and desire others to praie for you also and so commit your selfe wholie and is priuie vnto the things to come Euen I the Lord which haue doon all things in measure number and weight I am the creator both of heauen and earth the ruler of this world the knower of hidden things the reuealer of secrets the possessor of the whole world and the beholder of the causes of all particulars I am God and change not who haue continuallie with me the causes of all changes in the world I am God the almightie whose power is inuincible I am God the most high whose highnes can not bee attained I am God the most righteous whose beeing can not be conceaued I am for my presence euerie-where and yet no where to be seene I am the most spirituall and farthest from the senses of man I
beare all things yet neuer burdened and I fill and rule each place and yet vnstretched I behold both things past and things to come alike as though theie were present I surpasse all creatures both spirituall and corporall I am diuerslie to be named yet no thought is able to conceaue mee as I am I shewe my selfe suddenlie and forth-with when one would little thinke I am gone againe I am in deede the inuisible God which after a thousand waies declare my presence to my freends And thus I spake vnto the louing soule I will hide my face for a little season I will forsake her for a while to see if her loue be pure and vnfained It is a great matter to loue vnfainedlie For that is to loue mee neither for her owne sake nor for anie temporall commoditie or spirituall comfort but to loue mee and mee onlie and that for mine owne sake and that to the end and that in hope of nothing at mine hands It is not in euerie one thus to loue mee but this prerogatiue of pure louing is properlie to the perfect soule But she that is yet vnperfect hath great neede often to be prooued and exercised that she maie know both how much she loueth mee and how greatlie she despiseth her selfe For you said in your hart Trulie I doo loue Christ yea and often you repeate the same thing I loue him in deede But I credit not woords or thoughts onlie For I will make due triall of that loue When I am present and speake faire when I either put or encrease good motions in the minde when I grante prosperitie most commonlie or pleasure then can you saie with all deuoutnes O my beloued I doo loue you And you saie well For I am greatlie to be loued and you are at no time either to thinke or speake otherwise than freendlie and honorablie of mee But for prosperitie and good turnes onlie to loue and to commend mee what great thing is it Because euen sinners doo the same For when theie haue receiued what naughtelie theie craued theie oftentimes blesse mee for the same But praise is not seemelie in the mouth of the sinner He therefore which either for some profit or comfort receaued dooth loue me dooth no more than a couetous man dooth But exceede him I saie exceede him and proceede vnto greater righteousnes Be ashamed still to be weake and tender learne to eate mans meate bee not still fed with the milke of children Attaine thou to the companie of the stout Dauids that can hold both speare and swoord and shield Take vp the crosse and folowe mee Make haste to be in the number of them which haue learned to beare diuers afflictions and much banishment for my name sake You are too much giuen vnto ease I purpose to trie you and to turne vnto the other side that you maie knowe what you can suffer least you seeme ouer innocent and holie in your owne conceipt Tribulation and anger and mine heauie displeasure together with sore tentations of wicked spirits shall come vpon you Some vniustlie shall spoile you of your goodes others shall take no compassion vpon you others shall defame others shall resiste others shall ouercharge others shall carrie you perforce whether you would not goe some outwardlie others inwardlie shall trooble you Some shall be aduanced vnto hie degree and honor but you shall be left vnto reproches and endure seruile paines In all these yea and in greater things you shall be prooued whether you are a valiant soldior of mine or no. I will depart and not giue ouer vntill I haue made sufficient triall whether you blesse mee to my face Now if I finde that from the hart vnfainedlie you doo loue mee and continuallie doo praise my name then is it meete that from thenceforth I call you Spouse and that you shall haue a secret chamber with mee But if I perceiue that you cannot Beare my correction but will iudge my punishment to be ouer-sharp and still bewaile mine absence wishing for mee with hartie and earnest desire I will sende you my staffe that you maie arise thereby and afterward my selfe will come and restore you againe vnto my woonted fauor For it is not my will that you should vtterlie faint because him that loueth mee I will loue to the ende And although your loue be not so perfect as could be wished yet I will not despise you but prouide that you maie growe on in louing For my care is that you doo well and therefore mistrust mee not I knowe what you can endure which maketh mee to temper my course that you be not tempted aboue your strength and so faint And if I staie in your opinion some-what too long looke for mee vntill the daie of my visitation For comming I will come and performe my promise Bee you still in praier still meditating vpon the holie scripture and alwaie be patient and suffer I am not ignorant but your griefe will be much but so quicklie to be ouerthrowen and to bee out of all hope of my returne I cannot like that Where is your faith A great faith you had neede of especiallie on this behalfe for although you see not mee yet are you seene of mee into whose hands you are to commend both your selfe and all that you haue For although you are not priuie to my iudgements yet hauing a strong faith you must of necessitie saie Righteous art thou ô Lord and iust are thy iudgements So then be of good comfort for this affliction is not to your destruction but for the glorie of God I denied your petition because I would haue due proofe of your faith and loue For all this I did that you should well vnderstand both your owne weakenes and my goodnes I knowe what you are better than your selfe dooth Yea I haue knowen you thoroughlie not of late but from euerlasting Wherefore acknowledge the benefit which you haue by mee behold how miserable you should bee if once I forsake you As yet you haue not profited sufficientlie in the knowledge of your selfe And because it is verie expedient that you haue that knowledge my will was that by experience you should attaine thereunto It is verie good for you to be forsaken to be troobled to be humbled sometime that so the better you maie euen sensiblie perceaue your owne weakenes I knowe right well this will make you a good disciple of mine And what I praie you haue you lost if heereby you prooue more wise and watchfull Oftentimes you are too arrogant and forgetfull of your selfe thinking that goodnes to be within you which is not self-selfe-loue doth deceaue you and while you thinke not of the giuer you doo abuse the gift I made you drunke but you forgat how the grape did growe vpon mine owne vine Trie your selfe a little acknowledge your strength If that which you had came of your selfe whie did you
presence I will bewaile thine absence because euen this is a token of loue and a great pleasure to the louing soule Now then the sense of this sentence appeareth Because it is rightlie said of the louing soule how the more feruentlie she loueth and the more earnestlie she longeth after eternall things the more trulie she feeleth the power thereof working within her Theie are not cold woords but to the vnkinde soule neither deafe organs but to the hardened hart The louing and zelous soule knoweth this well and is so often inflamed in hart as she is pricked with the desire of eternall peace And therefore shee speaketh to thee her Lord God not to men of whome she would not be knowen And although sometime she talketh with men yet that which theie heare is to the outward sense But whatsoeuer she saith to thee it is to the verie soule and rather by sighing of the hart than by sounding words Lo saith she in peace is my most bitter bitternes As if she said After that of thy goodnes I returned vnto the peace of minde the transitorie state of the world began to be still more grieuous vnto mee For I see in this peace how far I am separated from the soueraigne peace And in deede beeing first busied with earthlie desires and mooued with diuers passions I was greatlie hindered from spirituall cogitations and so from heauenlie contemplation after which I should haue much longed but that could I least of all doo because through slothfulnes I did forgo all sense of inward sorowe But nowe seeing the troobles of idle thoughts are taken awaie I doo somewhat rest in the peace of conscience and am drawen vnto heauenlie matters with mine whole hart and I do more lament that I do not enioie the good things of God than erst I did moorne being vexed with the troobles of this world So that it is bitternes to my soule euen to liue in this world and to go vnder the heauie burden of sin But it is bitterest of all when somuch as I maie all mine affections being gathered together I doo enioie now the good things of the hart and bend my selfe euen with hartie zeale toward the armes of eternall peace and yet maie not attaine thereunto because of the bonds of my mortall state And this makes mee euen with griefe of hart to crie vnto thee and to saie O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death There is none so greuous a burden vnto me as stil to wander frō thee by liuing in the world for laboring in loue I wish for no comfort beside thee For by good experience I haue long sithence learned that my soule can neither be satisfied with the good things of this world nor yet be blessed vntill she be ioined vnto thee in the celestiall habitation For as exceedinglie she doth loue burne and vse contemplation while she is in the bodie so will her desire be insatiable vntill the bodie be laide off And therefore her ende must be made perfect by attaining the souereigne felicitie and the light of thy countenance O King of heauen so amiable in all respects ô my all louelie beloued euen wholie to be desired when wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance when wilt thou satisfie my longing with the well of life My soule hath much thirsted after thee and greatlie will be troobled vntill she attaine thee Liuing in the world and not seeing thee I can take no comfort of whatsoeuer I beholde so greatelie dooth zeale waxe hot that not once but often I breake into these words When shall I come and appeere before the face of my God And this loue of mine cesseth not but encreaseth more and more in such sort that I am driuen euen to weepe night and daie while continuallie I doo thinke with my selfe Where is now my God For it is a comfort to the louing soule to weepe for thy sake while she must want her desire and still expect thy comming And these teares doo more feede and refresh the louing soule than if she enioied all the things of this world For did she loue them she would not weepe for thee Oah how blessed and pleasing to thee is the sheading of such teares For theie doo both kill the desires of secular and temporall ioies and also theie obteine the celestiall consolation And therefore none doo shed such holie teares but theie which are both singularlie in loue and verie notablie religious Far of another kinde be the teares of such as miserablie be troobled in this world For one man weepeth because he is sick another for that he is oppressed another because he is iniured another because his minde is contraried but it is thou religious soule onlie which powrest forth teares euen of pure loue to thy Sauior-ward as for temporall damage and worldlie causes theie trooble thee not for thou submittest thy selfe to the righteous iudgement of God and art thankefull And for so dooing let no worldlie creature iudge thee either foolish or impatient because thy teares doo not greeue but comfort theie doo not blur the face but wash it theie hurt not the eies but theie purifie the sight of the minde Howbeit let others conceaue heereof as theie will I cannot but thinke otherwise than well of you for I doo wish to drinke deep of such teares S. If you wish to weepe with mee then maie you bee comforted with mee Oah that your soule were as I am you could neuer forget what I doo feele I knowe whome I credit and sure I am it is a more easie thing to denie that there is anie heauen and earth than that there is a God And I knowe also hee is my full happines and that I shall neuer bee blessed vntill I haue an absolute sight of his maiestie Whose sight because it is not yet granted me nor alwaies assured me doth make me to lamēt inasmuch as I am depriued of happines wrapped in the darknes of this life and downpeised with the waight of mine owne infirmitie that I am not of power to suffer that wonderfull light and that whatsoeuer I do think cōcerning the glorie of heauen is so litle and ouershadowed as it were with a cloude Hence it is that I dooble my complaint in steede of a song and while theie still saie vnto mee Where is thy God my spirit is the more troobled For thus I thinke then Where is my felicitie where is the full ioie of mine hart where is my true peace and reste Where be all the good things that are vnspeakeable but onlie in my God And when shall I enioie them vnlesse I be ioined vnto him hauing nothing betweene Yea when shall I there bee I knowe not but I beleeue well I doo hope well but yet I haue not Whie then where is my God whome I loue so and yet I see him not Through whose loue I
mercie and in louing O Sauior to whome none is to be compared thou art aboue all to be loued and to be worshipped O Sonne of God by whome wee are also the sonnes of God and of whome we are called Christians thou art of all good men to be serued most religiouslie and aboue all O freend of all freends King of heauen and earth Lord of angels conqueror of diuels drawe mee after thee least I fall and so rest vnder the heauie burden of sin Poure out thy grace send mee thy comfortable dewe from aboue that trulie I maie perceaue how thou art the procurer and the open fountance of all mercie L. I am in deede the spring of holie loue and of chaste and religious feare of godlie conference and of sweete consolation Therefore when you doo heare my name reioice with your whole hart and magnifie the goodnes of your God In honoring mee you honor the Father which is God as I am For I am Iesus the Sonne of God and this name shal I haue while the world endureth But what is Iesus euen the Sonne of the liuing God the Sauior of the world the King of heauen and earth the Lord of Angels the redeemer of the faithfull and the iudge of quick and dead And what is Iesus the hope of the godlie the comfort of the desolaâ—e the peace of the meeke the riches of the poore the glorie of the humble the strength of the weake the waie of such as wander the light of such as see not the staff of such as walke not the oile of such as feele not the staie of the oppressed the helpe of the troobled and the singular refuge of all good men Blesse the Sonne with the Father and so God will blesse you Giue honor also and glorie to the Father whensoeuer you praise mee His glorie is my ioie and my praise is his worship Place mee and the Father as a seale vpon thine hart and as a token vpon thine arme Therefore sit you or stand you or praie or reade or wright or worke you let my name Iesus and God be often reuerendlie in your mouth but continuallie in your harte S. O grante it maie be so good Iesus and let all people tribes and tonges serue thee and let all creatures bowe at thy presence Let heauen saie Raigne thou Iesus let the earth make answere yea for euer and euer let him raigne Yea let all Sanctes confesse thy glorious Name and all good people reioice before the Father and thee his lambe and our Lord Iesus Christ Amen CHAP. 25. That for God his benefits we are to thanke him BLessed be the glorious Name of the Lord for euermore O Lord my God let all my dooings all my reading all my wrighting my thoughtes words and vnderstanding tend vnto the aduancement of thine honor Yea let mee both begin my busines in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing That which thou hast giuen that receaue againe and from whence the streames doo flowe thether let them returne It neuer goeth better with mee neither dooth it realish better to my soule than when vnfeinedlie I doo ascribe all to thee whatsoeuer I haue either doon or thought as I should My desire is to render thankes which I then doo as I ought when for that I haue receaued and thou hast giuen I ascribe all praise to thee and nothing to my selfe For what can I a wicked and vnprofitable seruant render vnto thee my God Alas all that I can doo yea if I should doo all which thou commandest to be doon it is to none effect So that I am brought vnto nothing and rightlie humbled And in deede it is verie well that I am so brought downe that thou alone maist bee iustified and haue the praise of all and that vile dust maie at no time glorie in it selfe Howbeit I minde not to surcesse but will extoll thee both with hart and mouth For albe I discharge not my dutie therein as I ought yet ought I to speake of thy goodnes and not be silent O my God thou art my glorie my praise shall alwaies be of thee He that would but a little consider of thy glorie and knowe what it is to glorie in the Lord how would he despise all outward glorie He that would euen but a little taste of thy sweetnes how quicklie would he loath as most bitter the pleasure of this world He which would receaue euen but a small sparcle of loue into his breaste howe would hee burne in affection For full gladlie would hee contemne all thinges to haue thy freendship and would count it all sweete and easie to be borne whatsoeuer he should doo or suffer for thy loue sake Hee that would consider in his minde thy goodnes to man-ward how would he reioice and run after thee Hee would seeke nothing so charelie he would keepe nothing so warelie he would pursue nothing so egerlie as to serue thee For in louing he would feele no burden because loue would beare all burdens So then theie which complaine of the burden doo plainlie declare how theie haue litle true loue in them To serue of loue is of all others the greatest pleasure and comfort in labor True loue dooth neither respect commoditie nor feare damage but in all things seeketh that which may please thee Oah Christ how sweete is thy loue how well dooth it sound how sweetlie dooth it enter how stronglie dooth it binde Oah that it would fast binde mee to thy continuall seruice oah that it would wholie take me and wholie subdue me and wholie and altogether make me to be thine For then and not before am I free when I am taken of thy loue and vtterlie depriued from all that mine is O my Lord I am thy seruant yea thy seruant am I because thou hast redeemed mee I am thy seruant with a verie good will and am not ashamed to be properlie thine I wish not to be mine owne man againe and therefore Lord helpe mee that I maie be freed from that which naturallie is mine Oah blowe and kindle and inflame the fire of my zeale so shall mine hart boile and become pure cleare and pleasant for thy loue expelleth vice and consumeth sin Laie thou fast hold vpon the band of loue and I shall stand and continue in thy seruice Full well I wot no good can my seruice doo you Lord but all the benefit redoundeth to my selfe if I doo that which I knowe is acceptable in thy sight Would I did and hid not that I reuealed and concealed not thy workes Lord When shall I be able worthelie to consider the manifold benefits conferred vpon mee of God! Mercifullie hast thou delt with thy seruant ô Lord but alack I neuer thanked thee for the same as thou deseruedst And therefore am
things both in heauen and in earth but small things in thine eies SOVLE Surelie I take all things but for trifles MAN What then seekest thou Whome would you haue without these And where will you finde him if not in these things Hath he either name or place or habitation to be sought by Where is the place where his honor dwelleth of which in a certaine psalme thou sangest saying O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honor dwelleth Make answere I praie thee For if thou canst show mee him I will go with thee and wee will seeke him together yea and he shall be thy God and my God and wee shall be full happie when wee haue found him and hold him SOVLE What aske you this at mine hands Or whie so curiouslie do you enquire of this matter of me Thinke you I can or am able to vtter such things What though gladlie I would conceaue not yet that what through the rarenes of the thing and the deepnes of the mysterie I am restrained back What aske you mee Aske them who haue both heard and seene they are such as better can describe him whome you seeke But rather aske him that knoweth all things For he it is of whome we speake that both best can tell you who himselfe is yea and best declare the place of his owne aboade Euen he it is and none other which teacheth man knowledge and giueth his grace also to the humble Make recourse vnto him which reuealeth himselfe when hee will and to whome he will neither is there anie beside him that can open Hee alone can reueale to thee what the ioie is of such as loue him and that far more excellentlie than I can tell you MAN But why speake you on this wise ô holie and humble Soule Thinke not that I would know that of you which neither ought to bee knowen nor can bee vttered Keep your secret to your selfe let your doore still abide shut vpon you let the seale of faith remaine vncancelled neither let the vale for me bee remoued from the sanctuarie Eate you holie bread by your selfe in the chappell go in into the tabernacle of your house ascend into the vpper parlor enter into the cellar of the eternall king or which is more noble and soundeth more sweetlie euen into the bride-chamber of your celestiall spouse I know it is written It is not good to take the childrens bread and to cast it to whelps I know this I saie and haue read it but marke againe what followeth and take pittie vpon me according to the words of her that said The whelpes doo eate of the â—romms which fall from their maisters table And therefore hide not that fro mee which I demaund but of the greatnes of your inward pleasures poure-out euen a sparcle of the firie loue Giue me one small drop of pretious wine send forth some little sauour of the best ointment whose chiefest part and louelie comâ—ort is well and vsuallie knowne to thee that I also maie taste thereof Whie linger you Satisfie my desire and open the doore to a freend now at this third knock O beloued speake of the welbeloued let not mee bee neglected If you cannot describe him rightlie as he is yet speake of him so well as you can For indeed as he is who is able to describe him Yea who is able to conceaue the describer Therefore if not as in himselfe he is yet tell me what thou thinkest of him If not what to himselfe yet vtter out how good hee hath bin to thee For who euer shall search forth what he is in himselfe Thou wilt neuer doo it because thou hast plainlie confessed and not denied how speaking of him Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it Whether shall I goe from thy Spirit If then thou art not able to knowe thine owne spirit which the creator and quickner of all spirits hath made how at anie time wilt thou knowe him which is vncreated Did not this make thee all amazed to saie O Lord who is like vnto thee Notwithstanding of all frendship by some similitude describe him whose essence thou hast not yet attained vnto Neither is it for you to denie to showe him in part whome you thinke can not wholie bee reuealed S. I must needs saie you are too curious and importune vpon mee Thou searchest all my priuities and lettest in thine hand into the secrets of my chamber I sent thee vnto him and commest thou againe vnto mee Seeke you mee or him But I praie you of what spirit art thou Bee still I beseech thee and trouble mee not For whome thou seekest hee is aboue mee M. But can hee that seeketh after God so easelie giue ouer Protract not to speake for you maie comfort mee forth-with How long will you keepe mee in suspense What doo you saie and vnsaie As I liue I will not giue ouer except you blesse mee For I compt it a blessing if thou showe mee my God Now therefore if thou hast seene him tell mee plainlie and I will take him vpon my shoulders S. I knowe thou hast a great desire and a loue vnto the creator But a great thing is it which you require at mine hands and such a thing as I am in doubt whether it maie be done or no. Hee whome thou seekest knoweth it right well for it is not in mee to let thee know so much Your demaund seemeth vnto mee to be like that of the Spouse which in the Songs did saie Show mee ô thou whome my soule loueth where thou feedest Wilt thou then learne of me who this is or what good hee hath done with mee Doubtlesse it is not in mee to show you But you are not content neither his greatnes who exceedeth the heauens can deterre you nor my weakenes which in his eies am nothing make you to desist Whie hast thou laid this burden vpon mee I am not able to tell thee vntill I goe into the sanctuarie of God and vnderstand the same Whie are you so desirous to know that which maie not be vttered M. And will you not Oh how faine would I bee instructed For those things wee are most earnest to know which the most hardlie maie bee reuealed Notwithstanding once againe I praie you be not so hard as altogether to be silent Thinke not that forthwith I will vtter what you shall saie vnto our enemies I will keepe your saieng as a friend yea as a verie friend ought to doo You maie boldlie tell mee your mind secretlie Lo wee two be heere alone neither I with lightnes nor you with arrogancie are delighted but in him which hath giuen vs vnderstanding euen of him will wee speake And if happelie he come while we are talking let vs giue place and let him be betweene vs. If he vouchsafe
drunke thereof the sharper shall his torments bee because the whole pleasure of this world shall more speedelie passe awaie than the winde and leaue to their louers paines and burnings Therefore out of my sight thou deceiptfull glorie of the world and all foolish pleasure of the flesh Manie you doo drawe and deceiue but in the ende you leaue and destroie them Woe to them which beleeue thee woe to them which be there drowned But come and come nigh mee most holie humilitie and the full renouncing of all worldlie pompes and neuer doo thou leaue mee ô thou sweete remembrance of my present pilgrimage What am I but ashes and earth and whether tende I but towardes earth Oah how wretched am I become how iustlie maie I lament when I thinke vpon my pilgrimage and how little I am priuie how I shall ende the same If I liue well and continue so there is no cause whie I should feare an euill death But who can glorie of a good life and of a pure conscience Hee which knoweth himselfe to be such a one let him reioice in the Lord and take compassion vpon mee a sinner To liue I haue no desire because miserie enuironeth mee on euerie side to die an euill conscience is affraide for to answeare God it hath not one for a thousand The Prophet was not so in a feare which said Mine heart is prepared ô God mine heart is prepared O Lord the God of my saluation let my life come vnto a good ende and prolong not the daies of my lamentation With sorowe I came into this prison and without griefe I shall not get out S. Long doo I thinke this life and the rather because of the continuall miserie and troubles which I finde therein but in truth it is not long for it passeth awaie more swiftlie than a Poste To a man that liueth in paine and miserie all time is long and hee compteth a daie for a yeere This maketh my life tedious vnto mee and so much the more it dooth trouble mee as the more trulie I consider all the miseries of the same But if happelie anie consolations and ioie come betweene it standeth mee vpon to looke about whether they bee of God or no If they beâ— of God I accept them gladlie but yet I knowe not how long they will continue yet howe shorte soeuer they bee they like and please mee well But would to God hee would powre them largelie vpon mee and cause them to continue with mee a long while But the ioies and pleasures which are not of God are vile and vading albe to the showe they appeare sweete and pleasant Thus euen thus passeth awaie this life replenished continuallie both with good and euill things Therefore so long as I liue in this world I am a poore pilgrime I cannot trulie saie I haue enough because presentlie there is saâ—ietie of no good thing but the good thing which I looke for thou art in whome I beleeue So that when thy glorie hath appeared and replenished mee then euen then I will acknowledge that I haue enough But in the meane while because this word is hidden fro mee much griefe and sorowe dooth enuiron my soule And therefore beeing mindfull of thine holie saieng I repeate this often-times My soule is verie heauie euen vnto the death Well were it with mee if this houre were come and that neither griefe nor sorowe did possesse mee But Lord I beseech thee let thy goodnes conserue mee CHAP. 6. 1. An ardent desire of the soule to bee loosed from sinne and from the troubles of this world BRing my soule out of prison The greatnes of my sorowe will not suffer mee to bee still For whie doo I yet liue in this world I knowe not what I can doo heere Slowlie God hee knoweth I go forward in virtue naie would to God I went not backward O Lord what a pleasure shouldest thou doo mee if speedelie thou wouldest take mee out of this life that a woorser thing come not vnto mee My life alas sigheth in paine and in weldoing amendeth not If thou looke for my conuersion I repent not by the same but doo abuse thy long sufâ—ering if thou punish mee I doo â—ardlie show patience because thou pursuest drie stuble Whie then doost thou not quite take awaie thy seruant Whie doo I liue vpon the earth that is whie doo I dwell among good people and yet reforme not my life and manners Whie so vnwoorthelie and dangerouslie keepe I the place of some better person and yet walke so careleslie and so coldlie in this life Thus powre I out this wofull thing which I consider of in the eares of my God Yet gratious Lord crie not out in thine anger against me Cut downe the tree and cast it into the fire I accuse mine infirmitie before thee that I maie finde grace in thy sight through my confession It is my part to accuse but it belongeth vnto thee to show mercie It is my part to weepe and to sigh bitterlie but it belongeth vnto thee Lord mercifullie to comfort Wherefore my Lord and God either giue mee more grace in this life or take me speedelie out of this world that the rent bee not woorser For to liue long and not to cesse from ill liuing is but to augment the punishment of hell Neither can I awaie with such a life as knoweth neither how to proceede in virtue nor to bewaile wickednes For that partie which leadeth an holie and righteous life is greeued at the heart whensoeuer hee offendeth and that he maie in grace and virtue encrease more and more it is alwaies his desire What shall hee doo which knoweth himselfe dailie to offend and that his flesh greeuouslie dooth rise against the spirit who also beeing ouercome with tediousnes sometime and cooled with negligence and idlenesse dooth giue ouer to resist or else laieng aside the spirituall weapons dooth folow the swing of the flesh whether his owne wil dooth drawe him Alas Lord and God such a one alas draweth nigh vnto the gates of death and liuing in the flesh runneth into the death of the soule Oah how is euerie one to take heede that hee bee not seduced and supplanted of the enimie No man is suâ— from temptation no man is pure from sinne but all the sort of vs are fraile But Lord thou which art almightie and knowest all things raise vp the broken in heart and clense the vncleane from all filthines renue a new spirit within his bowels that all faintnes and lazenes may leaue him that spirituall zeale may returne and that thy loue may continue vnmooueable within him vnto the ende For he onlie wanteth thine assistance who is peâ—sed downe with his owne waight neither is hee able to cast off the loade of sinne vntill thou sende strength from heauen of power to loase the hard fetters
thing is but one thing I loue but one thing I require but one thing and this one thing is better to mee than all other things either in heauen or earth If thou hast founde such a good thing my counsell is that you hold and keepe it for whoâ—e sake you haue contemned all things For hauing that it shall not grieue you to want other things naie you will iudge it reason for the getting thereof that you doo both giue and suffer all things Now therefore ô my soule seeke thou after so singular and superexcellent a good thing So long as you liue in the flesh you are of necessitie to seeke because that cannot too carefullie be sought for which can at no time sufficientlie be comprehended But then shall you cesse seeking when the houre of enioieng is once come For then shal he be all in all euen he which alone is all sufficient for all and euerie man And although there too hee must be sought where he is continuallie sound yet is hee not there sought with labor as in this world but with surpassing pleasure and loue What he is in this life to the godlie it maie be declared by his manifold titles and such as haue experience of his goodnes knowe verie well how it maie be showen Notwithstanding consider what the names of God are as I haue learned them in the schoole of experience I will recite a few but the grace of his spirit maie put you in minde of manie mo beside Lo hee is a spouse to such as loue but to such as still serue him in feare a dreadfull Lord Hee is a father to good children but to the obstinatelie wicked a seueare iudge To the sick he is a physition and to the whole wholesome foode To the ignorant a teacher and to the obedient an euerlasting Sauiour Hee is the waie for beginners the truth for proceeders the life for the absolute performers of his holie will Hee is the hope of repenters and a surpassing comforter of the righteous Hee is a crowne for the humble and a punishment for the proude In darkenes hee is a light and in the night a lanterne Hee giueth medicine to the diseased soules and much wine of comfort to the sorowfull With such as stand to the battell hee standeth with such as proceede in their iornie he walketh with such as feruentlie make haste hee runneth with such as mount in diuine contemplation he flieth Doo you praie hee is present with you Doo you reade hee is talking with you Doo you meditate hee is still with you One and the same God worketh in all these things showing himselfe to euerie one euen as hee thinketh good in his words there is no fault and his works are past finding out For great and vnsearchable are his iudgements and no man is tâ— saie vnto him whie doost thou soâ— or whie doost thou chuse this maâ— rather than that man It is follie for a man to reason aâ—gainst the almightie and all the will of Adams children is vane anâ— to no purpose How like you these things and how dooth God sauor vnto you S. Hee seemeth sweete vnto mee neither am I offended at his works Hee is righteous and who can rebuke him of ill dealing Hee that so dooth dooth set himselfe against God and shal be reprooued of his irreprehensible light M. But what thou hast heard what is it in his presence scarse vndoubtedlie so much as a sparcle without that which is hidden within Aske you what that is I must saie I knowe it not it is altogether aboue my capacitie euen as a certaine cloude far off whose beginning and ende are vnknowen And therefore meditate rather and thinke more often vpon the base humanitie of Iesus and doo not mount vp too high least of his glorious maiestie you be confounded But forsomuch as burning loue dooth now and then forget all reuerence and feare you are in that respect the more to be borne withall if sometime being extreemelie set on fire with the loue of Iesus you doo consider not onlie how hee cried in the manger and how hee hanged vpon the crosse but also how hee raigneth nowe in heauen all gloriouslie and ruleth all things vnder heauen most wonderfullie S. O most louelie Iesu gladlie doo I folow thee in earth but more gladlie would I folow thee vnto heauen Where my treasure is there would mine hart be also Oah thou art my treasure thou which art at the right hand of the father art deerer to mee than anie creature For my sake thou wast incarnate for my sake thou wast eleuate Thou diddest leaue thy selfe an example vpon earth thou keepest thy selfe for a reward in the heauens Vpon thee therefore mine eies are fixed and after thee doo my feete trace To thee mine hart saith my face seeketh thee ô Lord I will continualie seeke thy face O Lord how long wilt thou hide the sight of thy glorie Whie hiâ— est thou thy face and takest mee for thine enemie Thou knowest right well my mind wil be distracted hether and thâ—ther and be diuerslie beate vntill it be fast ioined to thee her freende in the heauens For the force of loue knoweth not how to be quiet but vnceâ—santlie maketh enquirie of her louer sendeth forth messengers and dobleth praiers neither doth it so giue ouer because loue will altogether possesse that which it desireth Therefore drawe mee that I maie begin zelouslie to run after thee I had neede to be drawen and with great force to be drawen For vnlesse thou drawe none wil come none will folow because euerie one is naturallie inclined to himselfe-ward But if thou once drawe lo then I doo hasten then I run then I waxe hot But if thou doo not drawe I doo neither run nor seeke yea scarse haue I anie desire at all to folowe If thou reach out thine hand I doo run so much the more swiftlie as thou forceablie doost drawe This is the voice of my louer drawing And when I am â—ift vp from the earth I will drawe all men vnto mee O sweete Iesu drawe mee after thee and then not I onlie but all shal run after thee by the sauor of thine ointments First therefore drawe mee after thee then let others folow seeing an example of good life But that we maie not waxe proude it is good that we marke this withall howe that wee began to run not through our owne strength but by the sauor of thine ointments This is the heauenlie drawing without which no man can go forward no not so much as begin as likewise thou didest saie No man can come vnto mee except my father drawe him So that whome the father draweth he foloweth thee and forsaketh himselfe He seemed to be well drawen that said Master I will folow thee
mine hart bee acceptable in thy sight What can bee more comfortable What more ioiefull to the faithfull Soule than still deuoutlie to meditate vpon her Lord God that whome she cannot as yet behold in a cleere and blessed sight at the least she maie as it were make him present by earnest calling him into minde Therefore let her behold him as in a glasse darkelie whome she is not to see face vnto face And albe she maie not haue a full sight of him in his maiestie yet let her search for him by types in the Scriptures Oah that the care to seeke the face of the Lord did neuer waxe cold within me but dailie more and more encreased Howbeit the soule that loueth God hath a wonderfull desire to enioie the sight of God For to see him is happines in deed and the absolute felicitie Wherefore she desireth this blessednes that her whole appetite hauing attained her ende she maie be satisfied and at quiet for nothing in the world is able to content her For long experience hath taught her that the more she estraieth from celestiall happines the more vnhappie and vnquiet she is in asmuch as in this world nothing is permanent or durable that maie assuage the heate of her affection So then let her make returne vnto him that made her and let her desire to be blessed of him who at the firste created her For doubtlesse he that made the soule must satisfice the soule with good things Because such a desire hath he instilled into her that hee beeing gon nothing will content her nor anie ioie comfort her greatlie And therefore soule of mine stand not heere still for this is no place of rest for thee but mount aloft ascende vnto him that made thee For he hath now sent his messengers and biddeth thee to ascend So manie desires of eternall life as he inspireth so manie messengers he dooth sende Which beeing entertained prepare thy selfe to the iornie Then goest thou on when thou desirest to see him when thou laborest to please him when thou renouncest this world when thou doost whatsoeuer thou doost euen of pure loue to him-ward For had he not first sought thee and powred holie cogitations into thy brest thou couldest neuer seeke him For that soule dooth languish not for loue but through wearines which is not inlightened with the beames of the eternall Sonne But if through the sweete blastes of the Southren winde her frosen coldnes and sorowe be once resolued then by reason of the light inspired and incomprehensible diuinitie she beginneth to sweat through the hotnes of loue Oah infinite heate of the true Sonne what boilings doost thou cause then within the hart of the louer Thou dissoluest the darkenes of a sorowfull minde and bringest the laborsome toile vnto nothing The long time and daies of pouertie thou doost comfort and that abundantlie with one simple beame of thy glorious light O salue of the sorowfull ô shining light of such as wander and seeke Shine thou continuallie vpon me prepare thou a mansion place within me euen till thine euerlasting light doo appeere Oah how sweete and how comfortable will thy presence bee seeing euen of a little remembrance so vnspeakeable ioie dooth arise Howe gladlie can I turne vnto thee how frankelie doo I renounce euen this world that I maie be comforted with thine heauenlie fauor For it will be none hard matter for the soule which longeth for the sight of thy countenance to bereaue her selfe of all outward pleasure when she shall either feele nowe a greater in the minde or verie shortlie expect with a perfect faith for the same Furthermore none is to be so foolish as to thinke that thou wilt leaue the deuout soule anie long while vncomforted or that the gifts of thy fauor which she is to receaue for all her conquests ouer nature shall be small for no earthlie comfort whatsoeuer it bee or whence soeuer it arise is anie whit comparable either in the qualitie or quantitie of sweetnes to the heauenlie ioie And therefore labor thou ô faithfull soule to showe thy selfe such toward thine heauenlie spouse Christ that hee maie continuallie be gratious and fauorable vnto thee for through him and in him you shall in most abundant manner finde that which exceedinglie shall minister comfort vnto you in all extremities The oftener you haue accesse vnto him and the nigher you doo approch vnto his side the sweeter hee will appeere and the more amiable in your eies But if you withdrawe your selfe then the losse wil be your owne and he abiding in his beautie shall feele neither griefe nor trooble You stand in neede of his but he of no mans goodnes So that you maie become blessed through him but so cannot hee by your proceeding Hee alone sufficeth himselfe hee alone can neither bee augmented nor diminished Through his goodnes all things are whatsoeuer bee whether theie haue life sense or vnderstanding And therefore iust it is that all creatures euerlastinglie should blesse him Oah how gladlie would I discourse and speake of him vnto thee if I were able sufficientlie so to doo But what He neither is nor maie be vttered Againe as he cannot be vttered by meanes so can he not be conceaued in minde Which being so thinke notwithstanding of thy Creator so well as man maie taking the remembrance of his abundant sweetnes for a comfort vntill such time as hee reuealeth the sight of his owne countenance vnto thee in the heauens CHAP. 20. 1. A complaint of the Soule for the want of her blessed state 2. What weeping pleaseth God 3. Who trulie blessed 4. A description of God I Said in mine hart I am cast out of thie sight Mine hart is wounded within me throgh the long differring of thy glorie I will speake therefore and reason with my grieued Soule The great zeale of loue compelleth mee to speake and suffereth nothing to be concealed from thee What then shall I saie Lo my God in peace is my most bitter bitternes Hee that is ignorant wotteth not the meaning heereof But it is not so with mee I knowe and I vnderstand it and therefore I am not ashamed to sing with the Prophet I speake to thee my Lord who knowest all things and giuest both knowledge and vnderstanding according to thy good pleasure that neither I maie glorie more than is meete I should nor the foole aduance mee when in truth I am simple I maie confesse then what I haue receaued from thee And yet what neede haue I to tell you thereof when as you are neither ignorant nor can take anie pleasure of the same Againe what comfort can come vnto you which art the comfort of the comfortlesse So that the profit is mine which doo lack the consolation of woords thereby to stir vp mine affection to thee-ward and to finde some ease for my desolate soule For seeing I maie not behold thy
am so often wounded through whose absence I am so grieued through whose gratious visitation so refreshed sometime Where is my God whome euen once to see is to knowe all things Where is my God in whome both mine hart and my flesh doo so earnestlie desire to reioice Where is my God for whose loue I suffer such paine and sorowe His verie remembrance is sweete but his presence is more louelie and expelleth all sadnes fro mine hart Where is mine hope and my crowne Is it not in thee my God and in thy blessed countenance Oah showe mee once thy glorie and thy face so will I cesse to complaine If I contende a little with thee ô blame mee not extreeme zeale of good will hath manie woonderfull deuises I am driuen to expect and moued still to long and so this ioiefull combat dooth continue CHAP. 21. 1. The delaieng of the happie is patientlie to be borne 2. The felicitie of the life to come 3. with a Praier for the same O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honor dwelleth How gladlie I would be with thee thou knowest full well ô my God and how entirelie I desire the same I am not able sufficientlie to expresse I wish it not onlie when I am euill at ease but also what prosperitie soeuer I enioie my desire is to bee with thee But how shall my longing be satisfied Heere it greeueth mee to continue and yet of necessitie I must but my desire is to be with thee and I maie not yet And therefore I see no remedie but that I am with patience to endure this delaie and to refer my wishing to thine holie will For what Is it meete I should murmur when it must be so God forbid Againe I haue the examples of manie of Gods children which haue vsed long patience in this life and yet their harts were in heauen Therefore if thy will be to prolong my pilgrimage I am willing to abide and obeie your pleasure Howbeit that with lesse griefe I may beare my longing to be with thee I will till that time still meditate with my selfe of that celestiall habitation Yet I presume not to pierce into the least of those ioies which thou hast prepared for such as loue thee but of this and that I will meditate to the end that mine affection being pressed downe and infected oftentimes it maie be stirred vp and lifted into the hope of eternall blisse O that that daie had once shined whether then had the ioies of heauen rauished mee How merrie at the hart should I be then and how happie should I thinke my selfe How happie should I then bee enioieng a continuall peace From thencefoorth should I make none enquirie for anie thing seeing no secret could be hid But my life is spent in darkenes and therefore no maruell though my sight doo dazel betweene the cloudes of glorie Notwithstanding I will lift vp mine eies and though a far off behold and salute that holie citie Ierusalem builded in the heauen euen of liuelie stones namelie of holie angels and men replenished continuallie with praise mirth and magnifieng the Lord their God for euer and euer Now therefore my soule take vnto thee the wings of desire and flie vpward flie I saie from all bodelie senses ascend from the visible forme of this world vnto the holie house of God euen vnto the newe Ierusalem builded substantiallie in aie lasting peace crowned with glorie and honor and blessed with the abundance of all good things Lo wonderfull and vnspeakeable are the things of heauen which no man either can or maie vtter No sense is able to conceaue neither can the vnderstanding of man attaine to knowe howe God is in his sanctes glorious and woonderfull in his maiestie Mount thou in cogitation euen vnto the hiest things stretch thy desire into the euerlasting eternitie and saie with the Prophet Glorious things are spoken of thee ô citie of God There whatsoeuer can be wished of man is had and what is once got is kept without care God there is beheld face to face cleerelie trulie continuallie and eternallie There the blessed and all glorious Trinitie in one vnseparable vnitie which of all the blessed citizens of heauen is woorshipped praised and magnified is perfectlie knowen There is mine onlie and right singularlie beloued freend which is more pretious to mee than all riches and the treasure aboue all to bee desired euen my Lord Iesus Christ the immortall spouse of the Church in whome are hid but yet reuealed to the sanctes from the beginning of the world the whole treasure of wisedome and knowledge O how iocund are the sanctes now before the face of the most holie who is the cause and spring of their blessednes For there hee speaketh vnto them not in parables but plainlie of the Father Hee is their booke euen the woord which in the beginning was with God teaching all things and performing all things so that theie want nothing in glorie O blessed and euerlasting glorie not of small remembrance but all happie in God his presence There is also the most glorious Mother of our Sauior and constant virgine Maâ—â—e bewtiâ—â—eng the whole celestiall courte with her comlines and bewtie compassed and accompanied with troupes of virgins as with sweete roases and lilies of the valies There be the angels and archangels placed in order who moste cheerefullie sound forth the praises of God â— There bee the Patriarches and Prophets euen theie which beeing filled long ago with the holie Ghost did foretell of Christ his comming whome nowe theie both knowe and euermore confesse to be their Lord and Sauior the King of kings and perfect God There theie behold eie to eie their Redeemer whome long theie looked for and for whose comming theie longed There be the Lordes Apostles and Disciples those most reuerend and renowmed Fathers which were filled with holines and grace and laide a strong foundacion of the Catholique faith There especiallie shineth that reuerend man Iohn which baptized our Sauior Christ and was a speciall freend of my Spouse There is Peter and Paule and Andrewe and Philip and Thomas and Iames and Iohn and all the other Apostles and Euangelistes pillers of the Church To keepe the faith and to follow the example of these men is the readie waie vnto euerlasting life Moreouer there be the valiant Martyrs enriched with their proper blood and euerlastinglie blessed with Christ whose bodies though theie were most cruellie flean yet could not their soules by anie torments be seuered from Christ. Also there be the noble Confessors which contemned this present life that theie might be in heauen There be the great and glorious Doctors that were so carried aloft in contemplation of which many haue left a liuelie image of holines in their wrightings There be yong men and