by naturall reason and which men truelye illumined with grace beholde by heauenlye contemplation Beware therefore my sonne to treate curiously of suche thinges for they passe thy knowledge and endeuour thy selfe that thou mayest be worthy so be nūbred with the least Saint that shall come to heauē And if percase a man might knowe who were holyer or who should be taken greater in the kingdome of heauen what shoulde that knowledge auayle him but if he would therby the more meeke him selfe and the more ryse thereby into the laude and praysinge of my name truelie nothinge Therefore he is much more acceptable to God that thinketh on the greatnes of his sinnes and of the littlenes of his vertues and howe farre he is from the perfectiō of the least Saint that is in heauē then he that argueth of their greatnes or of their litlenes or blessednes of life forgettinge them selfe It is better also with deuout prayers with weepinges and teares meekelie to praye to Saintes and to call to them for helpe then vaynelie to searche for their perfection They be verie well contented with the ioye that they haue if men woulde refrayne themselues from suche vayne arguments They glorifie not them selues of their merites ne they ascribe no goodnes to themselues but they referre all goodnes to me for they knowe well that I of my infinite goodnes and charitie haue geuen all vnto them And they be so muche fulfilled with loue of the godhead and with ouerpassing ioye that no glorie maye want in them nor anye felicitie And the higher that they be in heauen the meeker be they in them selues and the more nighe and the more louing to me Therefore it is written in the Apocalips that Saintes in heauen layde their crownes before God and fell prostrate on their faces before the meeke lambe that is Iesu and they woorshipped him as their Lorde God that is and shalbe lyuing euermore without ending Amen Manye searche who is highest in heauen that knowe not whether they shall be worthy to be numbred with the least that shall come thither for it is a great thinge to be the least in heauen where all be great for all that shall come thither shall be called the sonnes of God and so shall they be in deede the lest there shall be counted for a thousande and a sinner of a hundred yere shall be set at naught VVhen the Apostles asked amōg them selues who shoulde be greatest in the kingdome of heauen they heard this answer of Christ but ye sayde he be conuerted from your sinne and be made meeke as litle children ye maye not enter into the kyngdome of heauen He therefore that meeketh him selfe as this litle childe he shalbe greatest in the kingdome of heauen VVoe then be to them that disdayne to meeke them selues with litle children for the meeke part of heauen will not suffer them to enter into it wo also be vnto the proude riche men that haue their cōsolation here for when the good poore men shall enter into the kingdome of God they shall stande weepinge and waylinge without Ioye ye then ye that be meeke and poore in spirite for yours is the kingdome of God so that ye walke and houlde your iorney assuredlye in the waye of truth That all our hope and trust is to be put in God onelye The 64. Chapter O Lorde what is the trust that I haue in this life or what is my moste solace of all thinges vnder heauen Is it not thou my Lorde God whose mercy is without measure where hath it beene well with me without thee or when hath it not beene well with me thou being present I had leuer be poore with thee then rich without thee I had leuer be with thee as a pilgrime in this world then without thee to be in heauen for where thou art ther is heauē and where thou art not there is both death and hell Thou arte to me all that I desire and therefore it behoueth me to sigh to thee to crie to thee hartily to praye to thee I haue nothinge to trust in that maye helpe me in my necessities but onelye thee for thou art my hope thou art my trust thou art my comforte and thou arte my moste faithfull helper in euerye neede Man seeketh that is his but thou seekest my health and profite and turnest all thinges into the best for me for if thou sende temptations and other aduersities thou ordeinest all to my profite for thou art wont by a thousande wayes to proue thy chosen people In whiche proufe thou art no lesse to be lauded and praysed than if thou haddest fulfilled thē with heauenlie comfortes In thee Lorde therefore I put my trust and in thee I beare patientlye all my aduersities for I finde nothinge without thee but vnstablenes and follie for I see well that the multitude of worldlye freendes profiteth not nor that stronge helpers nothinge maye auayle ne wise counsayler geue profitable counsayle ne cunninge of doctours gyue consolation ne ryches delyuer in tyme of neede ne secrete place any thinge defende yf thou Lorde doe not assist helpe comforte counsail informe and defend For all thinges that seeme to be ordeined to mans solace in this world if thou be absent be right nought worth nor maye not bring to man anye true felicitie for thou art the ende Lorde of all good thinges the highnes of lyfe and the profounde wisedome of all things that is in heauen and in earth VVherfore to trust in thee aboue all thinges is the greatest comfort to al thy seruauntes To thee therefore I lifte mine eyes and in thee onely I put my trust my Lorde my God the father of mercy blesse thou and halowe thou my soule with thy heauenlie blessinges that it may be thy dwelling place and the seate of thy eternall glorie so that nothinge be founde in me at any tyme that maye offende the eye of thy maiestie Beholde me Lorde after the greatnes of thy goodnes and of thy manyfolde mercies and graciouslye heare the prayer of me thy poorest seruaunt outlawed and farre exiled into the countrey of the shadowe of death defend and keepe me amonge the manyfolde perils and daungers of this corruptible lyfe and direct me through thy grace by the waye of peace into the countrey of euerlastinge clearnes without ending Amen Finis Hereafter foloweth the fourth Booke of the folowinge of Christe which treateth moste speciallye of the Sacrament of the aultare Prologue COme to me saith our Lorde all ye that labour and be charged and I shall geue vnto you refection And the breade that I shall geue vnto you shall be my flesh for the lyfe of the worlde Take it and eate it for it is my bodye that for you shall be geuen in sacrifice doe ye this in remembrance of me for who so eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloud he shal dwell in me and I in him These wordes that I haue sayde to you be
Chapter My sonne saith our Sauiour Christe he that laboureth to withdrawe him from obedience withdraweth hym from grace And he that seeketh to haue priuate thinges loseth the thinges that be in common If a man can not gladlie submit him selfe to his superiour it is a token that his fleshe is not yet fullie obedient to the spirite but that it ofte rebelleth and murmureth Therefore yf thou desire to ouercome thy selfe and to make thy fleshe obeye meekelye to the will of the spirit learne first to obeye gladlye to thy superiour The outward enemye is the sooner ouercome yf the inner man that is the soule be not feebled nor wasted There is none worse nor any more greeuous enemye to the soule then thy selfe if thy fleshe be not well agreeinge to the will of the spirite It behoueth the therfore that thou haue a true despisinge and contempt of thy selfe yf thou wilt preuayle against thy fleshe and bloud But forasmuch as thou yet louest thy selfe inordinatlie therefore thou fearest to resigne thy will whollie to another mans will But what greate thinge is it to thee that art but doste and nought if thou subdue thy selfe to man for my sake when I that am almightie moste highe God maker of all thinges subdued my selfe mekelye to man for thy sake I made my selfe moste meeke and most lowe of all men that thou shoudest learne to ouercome thy pride through my meekenes Learne therefore thou ashes to be tractable learne thou earth and dust to be meeke and to bowe thy selfe vnder euerye mans foote for my sake learne to breake thine owne will to be subiect to all men in thine heart Rise in great wrath against thy selfe and suffer not pryde to reygne in thee but shewe thy selfe so litle and obedient and so noughtie in thine owne sight that as thee thinkes all men maye righteouslye go ouer thee and tread vpō the as vpon earth or claye O vaine man what haste thou to complaine O thou fowle sinner what mayest thou righteously say against them that reproue thee sith thou haste so ofte offended God and haste also so ofte deserued the paynes of hell But neuerthelesse my eye of mercie hath spared thee for thy soule is precious in my sight that thou shouldest thereby knowe the greate loue that I haue to thee and be therfore the more thankful to me againe and geue thy selfe to perfect true subiection and meekenes and to be ready in hart patiently to suffer for my sake thine owne contemptes and despisings whensoeuer they shal happen to fal vnto thee Amen Of the secrete and hid iudgementes of God to be considered that vve be not proude of our good deedes The .15 Chapter LOrd thou soundest thy iudgementes terribly vpon me and fillest my body bones with great feare and dreade my soule also trembleth very sore for I am greatly astonied for that I see that heauens be not clene in thy sight for sith thou foundest default in angels and sparedst thē not what shall become of me that am but vile and stinking carreyne Stars fel from heauen and I dust and ashes what should I presume Also some people that seemed to haue great workes of vertue haue fallen full lowe And suche as were fed with meate of aungels I haue seene after delyte in swynes meate that is to saye in fleshlye pleasures VVherefore it may be well sayde and verifyed that there is no holynes nor goodnes in vs if thou with drawe thy hand of mercy from vs nor that no wisedome maye auayle vs if thou Lorde gouerne it not nor any strength helpe if thou ceasse to preserue vs no sure chastitie can be if thou Lorde defende it not nor any sure keeping may profite vs if thy holy watchfulnes be not present for if we be forsaken of thee anone we be drowned and perishe but if thou a litle visite vs with thy grace we anone liue and be lifte vp agayne VVe be vnstable vnlesse thou confirme vs we be colde and dul but if by thee we be stirred to feruoure of spirite O howe meekely and abiectly ought I therfore to iudge of my selfe how much ought I in my heart to despise my selfe though I be holden neuer so good and holy in sight of the world and howe profoundly ought I to submit me to thy deepe and profound iudgementes sith I finde in my selfe nothinge els but naught and naught O substaunce that may not be pondered O Sea that may not be sailed in thee and by thee I finde that my substaunce is nothing and ouer all naught where is nowe the shadowe of this worldlye glorie and where is the trust that I had in it Truelie it is vanished awaye through the deepenes of thy secrete and hidde Iudgementes vpon me VVhat is fleshe in thy sight how may clay glorifye him selfe against his maker how may he be deceaued with vain prayses whose heart in truth is subiect to god All the worlde may not lift him vp into pride whō truth that God is hath perfectly made subiect vnto him nor he may not be deceaued with any flattering that putteth his whole trust in God For he seeth well that they that speake be vaine and nought and that they shall shortly faile with the sounde of wordes but the truth of God alway abideth Hovv a man shall order him selfe in his desires The .16 Chapter My sonne sayth our Sauiour Christ thus shalt thou say in euerye thing that thou desirest Lorde if it be thy will be it done as I aske and if it be to thy praysing be it fulfilled in thy name And if thou see it good and profitable to me geue me grace to vse it to thy honoure But if thou knowe it hurtfull to me and not profitable to the health of my soule then take from me suche desire Euery desire cōmeth not of the holy ghoste though it seeme rigteous good for it is sometime full harde to iudge whether a good spirit or an euil moueth thee to this thing or to that or whether thou be moued of thyne owne spirite Many be deceued in the ende which first seemed to haue beene moued of the holy ghoste Therfore with dreade of God and with meekenes of heart it is to desire and aske whatsoeuer commeth to our minde to be desired and asked and with a whole forsakinge of our selfe to committe all thinges to God and to saye thus Lorde thou knowest what thing is to me moste profitable doe this or that after thy will geue me what thou wilt asmuch as thou wilt and when thou wilt Doe with me as thou knowest best to be done and as it shall please thee and as shall be moste to thy honoure Put me where thou wilt and freelye doe with me in all thinges after thy will Thy creature I am and in thine handes leade me and turne me where thou wilte loe I am thy seruaunt ready to all thinges that thou commaundest for I desire not to lyue to
me but I come to sanctifie thee and to make thee better then thou were before Thou commest to be sanctified and be vnited vnto me and that thou mayest receaue a newe grace and be kindled a newe to amendement Do not forget this grace but alway with all thy diligence prepare thine heart and bringe thy beloued vnto thee and it behoueth thee not onelye to prepare thy selfe vnto deuotion before thou shalt be housled but also to keepe thy selfe therein diligentlye after the receauinge of the Sacrament And there is no lesse keeping requisite after then a deuout preparatioÌ„ is needefull before for a good keepinge after is the best preparation to receaue newe grace hereafter and a man shall be the more vndisposed thereto if he anone after he hath receaued the Sacrament geue him selfe to outward solace Beware of much speakinge abide in some secrete place and kepe thee with thy Lorde God for thou hast him that all the worlde may not take from thee I am he to whom thou must geue all so that fro henceforth thou liue not in thy selfe but onely in me That a deuout soule shoulde greatlye desire vvith all his heart to be vnited to Christe in this blessed Sacrament The .13 Chapter VVho shal graüt vnto me Lord that I maye finde thee onelie and opeÌ„ all mine heart to thee and haue thee as mine heart desireth so that no man maye deceaue me nor any creature moue me nor drawe me backe but that thou onelie speake to me and I to thee as a louer is wont to speake to his beloued and a freende with his beloued freende That is it that I praye for that is it that I desire that I may be whollie vnited to thee and that I maye withdraw my hart fro all things create and through the holie coÌ„munion and ofte saying Masse to sauor and taste eternall thinges Ah Lorde God when shall I be all vnited to thee and whollie be molten into thy loue so that I wholly forget my selfe Be thou in me and I in thee and graunt that we maye so abide alwaye together in one Verilie thou art my beloued elect and chosen before all other in whom my soule coueteth to abide all dayes of his life Thou art the Lorde of peace in whom is the soueraine peace and true rest without whom is labour and sorowe and infinite miserye Verilie thou art the head God and thy counsayle is not with wicked people but with meeke men and simple in heart O howe secrete and howe benigne is thy holy spirite which to the inteÌ„t thou woldest shewe to thy chosen people thy swetnes haste vouchedsafe to refreshe them with the most swete bread that desceÌ„deth from heauen Verilie there is none other nation so great that hath their goddes so nigh vnto them as thou Lorde God art to all thy faithfull people to whom for their daylie solace and to rayse their heartes into the loue of heauenly things thou geuest thy selfe as meat and drinke O what people be there that be so noble as the christien men are or what creature vnder heauen is so muche beloued as the deuout christien soule into whom God entreth and feedeth her with his owne glorious flesh and bloude O inestimable grace O meruaillous worthines O loue without measure singulerly shewed vnto man but what shall I yeelde againe to God for all this grace and high charitie Truelie there is nothing more acceptable to him then that I whollye geue mine heart and inwardly ioyne my selfe vnto him then shall all mine inward partes ioye in him when my soule is perfectlie vnited vnto him Then shall he say to me If thou wilte be with me I will be with thee And I shall answere to him againe and say Vouchesafe Lorde to abide with me and I will gladly abide with thee for that is all my desire that mine heart maye be fast knit vnto thee without departinge Amen Of the brenninge desire that some deuoute persons haue had to the body of Christe The 14. Chapter O Howe great multitude of sweetnes is it Lorde that thou hast hid for them that dreade thee But what is it theÌ„ for them that loue thee Verilie when I remember me of manye deuout persons that haue come to this holie Sacrament with so great feruoure of deuotioÌ„ I am then many times astonied and coÌ„founded in my selfe that I go vnto thy aultar and to the table of thy holy communion so coldely and with so litle feruour and that I abide still so drie and without any affection of hart and that I am not so whollie kindled before thee my Lorde God nor so stronglie drawen thereby in affection to thee as manie deuout persons haue beene the which of the great desire that they haue had to this holte communion and for a feeleable loue of hart that they haue had therto might not refrayne them from weping but effectuously with the mouth of their heart and bodie together opened their mouthes to thee Lorde that art the liuelie fountaine because they coulde not otherwise asswage ne tempt their huÌ„ger but that they tooke thy holie body which they did with great ioye and spirituall gredines Truelie the great brenninge sâ—ith of them is a probable argument of thy holy presence and they also knowe verily their Lorde in breaking of breade whose heartes so stronglye brenneth in them by the presence of their Lorde Iesu sacramentallye then walking with them But verily such affection and deuotion and so stronge feruour and loue be ofte time far from me Be thou there fore must swete and benigne Lorde Iesu mercifull and meeke vnto me and graunt me thy poore seruaunt that I maye feele sometime some litie part of the harty affection of thy loue in this holy Communion that my fayth maye the more recouer and amende mine hope through thy goodnes be the more perfect and my charitie being once perfectly kindled and hauing experience of the heauenlye Manna doe neuer fayle Thy mercy Lorde is stronge ynough to graunt to me this grace that I so muche desire and when the time of thy pleasure shall come beninglye to visite me with the spirit of a brenninge feruour to thee And though I doe not brenne in so great desire as suche speciall deuout persons haue done yet neuerthelesse I haue desired the grace to be inflamed with that brenninge desire praying and desiring that I maye be made partaker of all such thy feruent louers and to be numbred in their holy companye That the grace of deuotion is gotten thorough meekenes and for sakinge of our selfe The 15. Chapter IT behoueth thee abidinglie to seeke the grace of deuotion and without ceassing to aske it patientlie and faithfullie to abide it thankefullie to receaue it meekelie to keepe it studiouslie to worke with it and whollie to commit to God the time and maner of his heauenlte visitalion till his pleasure shall be to come vnto thee and principallie thou oughtest to meeke thee when thou feelest
tuam a me factus sum conturbatus That is O Lord thou hast withdrawen thy ghostlye comfortes from me and I am lefte in great trouble and heauines and yet neuertheles he dispaired not therfore but prayed hartily vnto our Lorde and sayd Ad to domine clamabo ad deum meum deprecabor That is to saye I shall busilye crye to thee O Lorde and I shall meekelye praye to thee for grace and comfort And anone he had the effecte of his prayer as he witnesseth him selfe saying thus Audiuit dominus misertus est mei dominus factus est adiutor meus That is to say Our Lorde hath heard my prayer and hath had mercy on me and hath nowe agayne sent me his helpe and ghostlye comforte And therefore he sayth afterward Lord thou hast turned my sorow into ioye and thou haste belapped me with heauenlye gladnes And if almightie God hath thus done with holy Saintes it is not for vs weake and feeble persons to dispayre though we sometime haue feruour of spirite and be sometime left colde and voyd of deuotion The holy ghoste goeth and commeth after his pleasure and therefore the holy man Iob sayth Lorde thou graciously visitest thy louer in the morning tyde that is to saye in the time of comfort and sodenlye thou prouest him that is to say in withdrawing such comfortes from him VVherein then may I trust or in whom may I haue any confidēce but onelye in the great endlesse grace and mercy of God for why the company of good men nor the felowship of deuout brethrē and faithfull frendes neither the hauing of holy bookes or deuout treatises ne yet the hearing of sweete songes or of deuout hymnes may litle auayle and bring forth but litle comfort to the soule when we are left to our owne frailtie and pouertie And when we be so left there is no better remedie but patience with a whole resigning of our owne will to the will of God I neuer yet founde any religious person so perfect but that he had sometime absentinge of grace or some minishinge of feruour and there was neuer yet anye Saint so highlie rauished but that he firste or last had some temptation He is not worthy to haue the high gift of contemplation that hath not suffred for God some tribulation The temptations goinge before were wont to be a soothfast token of heauenlie comfort shortly comminge after And to them that be founde stable in their temptatiōs is promised by our Lorde great consolation And therfore he sayth thus He that ouercommeth I shall geue him to eate of the tree of life Heauenlie comfort is somtime geuen to a man that he may after be more stronge to suffer aduersities but after followeth temptation that he be not lifte vp into pride and thinke hym selfe worthie of such consolation The ghostlie enemie sleepeth not neither is the fleshe yet fullie mortified and therefore thou shalte neuer ceasse to prepare thy selfe to ghostlye battayle for thou haste enemyes on euerie side that euer will be readie to assaile thee and hinder thy good purpose all that they can Of yeeldinge thankes to God for his manifolde graces The .10 Chapter VVhy seekest thou rest heere syth thou arte borne to laboure dispose thy selfe to patience rather then to cōfortes to beare the Crosse of penaunce rather then to haue gladnes VVhat temporall man would not gladly haue spirituall comfortes if he might alwaye keepe them for spirituall comfortes excede far all worldlie delites and all bodelie pleasures for all worldlye delites be eyther foule or vayne but ghostlie delites are onelie iocunde and honest brought forth by vertues and sent of God into a cleane soule But such comfortes no man may haue when he woulde for the time of temptation tarieth not longe The false libertie of will and the ouermuch trust that we haue in our selfe be much contrary to the heauenlie visitations Our Lorde doeth well in sendinge such comfortes but we doe not well when we yeelde no thankes therefore to him againe The greatest cause why the giftes of grace maye not lightlie come to vs is for that we be vnkind to the gyuer and yelde not thankes to him from whom all goodnes commeth Grace is alway geuen to thē that be ready to yelde thākes therfore againe And therefore it shalbe taken from the proud man that is wont to be geuen to the meke man I wold none of that consolation that should take from me compunction nor any of that contemplatiō that should lift my soule into presūption Euery high thing in sight of man is not holy nor euery desire cleane and pure euery sweet thinge is not good nor euery deere thinge to man is alwaye pleasant to God VVe shall therefore gladlie take such giftes whereby we shall be the more readie to forsake our selfe and our owne will He that knoweth the comforts that come through the gifts of grace and knoweth also how sharpe and painefull the absentinge of grace is shall not dare to thinke that any goodnes commeth of him selfe but he shall openlye confesse that of him selfe he is right poore and naked of all vertue yeelde therefore to God that is his and to thy selfe that is thine that is to say thanke God for his manifolde graces and blame thy selfe for thine offences Holde in thee alwaye â sure grounde and a sure fouudation of meekenes and then the highnes of vertue shall shortlie be geuen vnto thee for the high tower of vertue may not longe stand but if it be borne vp with the lowe foundation of meekes They that be most great in heauen be least in their owne sight and the more glorious they be the meeker they are in them selues full of truth and heauenlie ioy not desirous of any vaine glory or praisinge of man Also they that be fullie stabled and confirmed iu God maye in no wise be lifte vp into pride and they that ascribe all goodnes to God seeke no vaine glorie nor vayne praysinges in the world but they desire onlie to ioye and to be glorified in God and desire in heart that he maye be honoured lauded and praysed aboue all thinges both in him selfe and in all his Saintes and that is alwaye the thinge that perfect men moste couet and moste desire to bringe about Be thou louinge and thankfull to God for the least benefite that he geueth thee and then shalt thou be the more apte and worthie to receaue of hym more greater benefites Thinke the least gift that he geueth is great the most despisable thinges accepte as speciall giftes and as great tokens of loue for if the dignitie of the geuer be well considered no gifte that he geueth shall seeme litle It is no litle thinge that is geuen of God for though he sende paine and sorowe we shoulde take them gladlie and thankefullie for it is for our ghostlie health all that he suffereth to come vnto vs. If a man desire to holde the grace of God
swinke and sweate both day and night But alas for sorowe for the goods euerlasting and for the rewarde that may not be esteemed by mans haâ—â—e and for the high honour glory that neuer shall haue ende men be slowe to take any maner of payne and labour Be thou therefore ashamed thou slowe seruaunt of God that they be founde more ready to workes of death then thou art to works of life and that they ioy more in vanitie then thou in truth and yet they be ofte deceyued of that that they haue most trust in but my promise deceueth no man nor leaueth no man that trusteth in me without some comfort That I haue promised I will performe that I haue sayd I will fulfill to euery person so that they abide faythfully in my loue dread vnto the ende for I am the rewarder of all good men and a strong prouer of all deuout soules VVrite my wordes therefore in thy hart diligeÌ„tly and ofte thinke thou vpoÌ„ them and they shall be in time of temptatioÌ„ much necessarie vnto thee That thou vnderstandest not when thou readest it thou shalt vnderstande in the time of my visitation I am wont to visite my seruauntes two maner of wayes that is to say with temptation and with consolation and two lessons dayly I reade vnto them one wherby I rebuke their vices another whereby I stirre theÌ„ to encrease in vertues and he that knoweth my wordes and despiseth theÌ„ hath that that shall iudge him in the last day A prayer to obteyne the grace of deuotion The .4 Chapter Lord Iesu thou art all my riches and all that I haue I haue it of thee But what am I Lorde that I dare thus speake to thee I am thy poorest seruaunt a worme most abiect more poore and more dispisable than I can or bare say Beholde Lorde that I am nought that I haue nought and of my selfe I am nought worth thou art only good righteous and holy thou orderest all things thou giuest all things thou fulfillest all things with thy goodnes leauing only the wretched sinner barrain and voyde of heaueÌ„ly comfort Remember thy mercies and fill my harte with thy manifolde graces for thou wilte not that thy works in me be made in vaine How may I beare the miseries of this lyfe vnlesse thy grace and mercy doe coÌ„fort me therin Turne not thy face from me defer not thy visiting of me ne with drawe not thy comforts from me lest happily my soule be made as dry earth without the water of grace and as it were a thing vnprofitable to thee Teache me Lorde to fulfill thy will and to liue meekly and worthily before thee for thou art all my wisedome and running and thou art he that knowest me as I am and that knewest me before the world was made and before that I was borne or brought into this lyfe Hovve vve ought to be conuersant before God in truth and meekenes The 5. Chapter MY sonne sayth our lord Iesu walke before me in truth and meekenes and seeke me alwayes in simplenes and playnnes of hart He that walketh in truth shall be defended from all perils and daungers and truth shall deliuer him froÌ„ all deceyuers and from all euil sayings of wicked people If truth deliuer thee thou art very free and thou shalt litle care for the vayne sayinges of the people Lord it is true all that thou sayest be it done to me after thy saying I beseeche thee that thy truth may teache me and kepe me and finally leade me to a blessed ending and that it may deliuer me from all euil affections and from all inordinate loue that I may walke with thee in freedome of spirite and libertie of harte Then truth sayth agayne I shall teache thee what is acceptable and liking to me Thinke on thy sinnes paste with great displeasure and sorowe of harte neuer thinke thy selfe worthy to be called holy or vertuous for any good deedes that thou hast done but thinke howe great a sinner thou art beâ—apped and bounde with great and manifolde sinnes and passions and that of thy selfe thou drawest to nought soone fallest soone art ouercome soone troubled and soone art thou broken with labour and payne and thou hast nothing whereof thou mayst righteously glorifie thy selfe but many things thou hast wherfore thou oughtest to despise thy selfe for thou art more vnstable and more weake to ghostly works then thou knowest or mayst thinke Let nothing therfore seeme great to thee nothing precious nothing worthy any reputation nor woorthy to be praysed in thy sight but that is euerlasting Let the euerlastinge truth be most liking moste pleasaunt to thee aboue all other thinges and that thine owne sinne and vilenes be moste misliking and moste displeasaunt to thee Dreade nothing so much nor reproue nothing so much neyther let any thing be to thee so much hated nor flee nothing so muche as thy sinnes and wickednes for they should more displease thee then should the losse of all worldly thinges Some there be that walke not purelye before me for they through pride and curiositie of theÌ„ selues desire to searche and know high thinges of my godhead forgetting them selues the health of their owne soules such persons fall oft times into great leÌ„ptations and greeuous sinnes by their pride and curiositie for the which I am turned against them leaue them to theÌ„ selues without helpe or counsaile of me Dreade therfore the iudgemetes of God the wrath of him that is almightie and discusse not nor searche his secretes but searche well thine owne iniquities How ofte how greeuouslie thou haste offended him howe many good deedes thou haste negligeÌ„tlie omitted lefte vndone whiche thou mightest well haue doone Some persons beare their deuotion in bookes some in images some in outward tokens and figures some haue me in their mouth but litle in their heart but some there be that haue their reason cleerely illumined with the light of true vnderstandinge whereby their affectioÌ„ is so purged and purified from loue of earthly thinges that they maye alwaye couete desire heauenlie thinges in so much as it is greeuous to theÌ„ for to heare of earthly likinges and it is to them also a right great payne to serue the necessities of the body and they thinke all the time as lost wherein they go about it Suche persons feele and knowe well what the spirite of truth speaketh in their soules for it teacheth them to despise earthlie thinges and to loue heauenlie thinges to forsake the worlde that is transitorie and to desire both daye and night to come thither where is ioy euerlastinge to the which bringe vs our Lorde Iesus Amen Of the meruaillous effect of the loue of God The .6 Chapter BLessed be thou heauenlie father the father of my Lorde Iesus Christe for thou haste vouchesafed to remember me thy poorest seruant and somtime doest comfort me with thy gracious presence that am
shew to me and to all faythful people that will folow thee the very true and straite way to thy kingdome Thy holy life is our way and by thy patiēce we walke to thee who art our head and gouernour And if thou Lorde haddest not gone before and shewed vs the way who woulde haue endeuoured him to haue folowed howe many shoulde haue taried behind if they had not seene thy blessed examples goinge before VVe be yet slowe dull nowe we haue seene and hearde thy signes and doctrines what shoulde we then haue beene if we had seene no such light goinge before vs Truelie we should haue fixed our minde and loue whollye in worldlye thinges from the which keepe vs Lorde of thy great goodnes Amen Of patient suffering of iniuries and vvronges and vvho is truely patient The .21 Chapter My sonne what is it that thou speakest why complainest thou thus ceasse ceasse cōplaine no more consider my passion and the passions of my saintes and thou shalt well see that it is right litle that thou suffrest for me Thou hast not yet suffred to the shedinge of thy bloud and truelie thou haste litle suffred in comparison of them that haue suffred so many thinges for me in time past and that haue bene so strongly tempted so greeuouslye troubled and so manye wayes proued It behoueth thee therefore to remember the great greeuous thinges that other haue suffred for me that thou mayest the more lightly beare thy litle griefes and if they seeme not litle to thee loke thy impatiēce cause not that but neuertheles whether they be litle or great studie alwaye to beare them patientlie without grudginge or complayninge if thou may and the better that thou canst dispose thee to suffer them the more wiselier thou doest and the more merit shalt thou haue and thy burdē by reason of thy good custome and of thy good will shall be the lighter Thou shalt neuer saye I can not suffer this thinge of such a person nor it is not for me to suffer it he hath done me great wronge and layeth vnto my charge that I neuer thought but of another man I will suffer as I shall thinke Suche maner sayinges be not good for they consider not the vertue of patience nor of whom it shalbe crowned but they rather consider the persons and the offences done vnto them Therefore he is not truelie pacient that will not suffer but as much as he will and of whom he will for a true pacient man forceth not of whom he suffereth whether of his Prelate or of his felowe that is egall vnto him or of any other that is vnder him nor whether he be a good man and a holye or an euill man and an vnworthy but whensoeuer any aduersitie or wronge falleth vnto him whatsoeuer it be and of whom soeuer if be and howe ofte soeuer he taketh all thankfullie as of the hande of God and accompteth it as a riche gifte and a great benefite O God for he knowweth well that there is nothinge that a man may suffer for God that may passe without great merite Be thou therefore readie to battall if thou wilt haue victorie without battaile thou mayest not come to the crowne of patience and yf thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned VVherefore if thou wilt needlie be crowned resist stronglie and suffer patientlie for without laboure no man may come to rest nor without battaile no man may come to victorie O Lorde Iesu make it possible to me by grace that is impossible to me by nature Thou knowest well that I may litle suffer and that I am cast downe anone with a litle aduersitie wherfore I beseeche thee that trouble and aduersitie may hereafter for thy name be beloued and desired of me for truelie to suffer and to be vexed for thee is verie good and profitable to the health of my soule Of the knovvinge of our ovvne infirmities and of the miseries of this life The .22 Chapter I Shall knowledge against me all my vnrighteousnes and I shall confesse to thee Lorde all the vnstablenes of my hearte Ofte times it is but a litle thinge that casteth me downe maketh me dull and slowe to all good workes and sometime I purpose to stande stronglie but when a litle temptation cōmeth it is to me greate anguishe griefe and somtime of a right litle thing a greeuous temptation riseth and when I thinke my selfe to be somewhat surer and that as it seemeth I haue the higher hande sodenly I feele my selfe nere hand ouercome by a light temptatiō Beholde therfore good Lord beholde my weaknes and my frailnes best knowen to thee before all other haue mercy on me O Lord and deliuer me from the filthy dregs of sinne that my feete be neuer fixed in them But this is it that ofte grudgeth me sore and in maner cōfoundeth me before thee that I am so vnstable and weake and so feayle to resist my passions And though they drawe me not alwaye to consent yet neuerthlesse their cruell assaultes be very greeuous vnto me so that it is in maner tedious to me to liue in such battaile but yet such battaile is not all vnprofitable to me for thereby I knowe the better myne owne infirmities for I see well that such wicked fantasies doe rise in me muche sonner then they go awaye But would to God that thou moste strongest God of Israell the louer of all faythfull soules wouldest vouchsafe to beholde the labour and sorowe of me thy poorest seruant and that thou wouldest assist me in all things that I haue to do Strength me Lord with heuenlye strength so that the olde enimie the fiende nor my wretched flesh which is not yet fullye subiect to the spirite haue not power nor lordship ouer me against whom I must fight continuallye while I shall lyue in this miserable life But alas what life is this where no trouble nor miserie wanteth where also euery place is full of snares of mortall enimies for one trouble or temptation goinge awaye another commeth and the first conflict yet duringe many other sodenlye ryse more then can be thought Howe may this life therefore be loued that hath suche bitternes and that is subiect to so many miseries And howe may it be called a life that bringeth forth so many deathes so many ghostly infections and yet it is beloued muche delighted of in many persons The world is ofte reproued that it is deceiptful and vaine and yet it is not lightly forsaken especiallye when the concupiscences of the fleshe be suffered to haue rule Some thinges stirre a man to loue the worlde and some thinges to despise it the concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eye and the pride of the hart stirre man to loue the worlde But the paines and miseries that folowe of it causeth hatred and tediousnes of it agayne But alas for sorowe a litle delectation ouercommeth the minde of thē that be much set
to loue the world and dryueth out of their hartes all heauenlie desires insomuch that many accompt it as a ioye of Paradise to liue vnder such sēsible pleasures and that is because they neither haue seene nor tasted the sweetnes in God nor the inwarde gladnes that cōmeth of vertues But they that perfectly despise the worlde and that studie to liue vnder holie discipline be not ignoraunt of the heauenlie sweetnes that is promised vnto ghostlie liuers and they see also howe greeuouslie the world erreth and howe greeuouslie it is deceyued in diuers maners Hovve a man shoulde rest in God aboue all thinges The 23. Chapter ABoue all thinges and in all thinges rest thou my soule in thy Lorde God for he is the eternall rest of all Angels and saintes Geue me Lord Iesus this speciall grace for to reste me in thee aboue all creatures aboue all helth and fayrenes aboue all glorye and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all cunninge and pollicie aboue all riches craftes aboue all gladnes of bodye and soule aboue all fame and praysing aboue all sweetnes and consolation aboue all hope and repromission aboue all merite and desire aboue all giftes rewardes that thou mayest geue or sende beside thy selfe and aboue all ioy and mirth that mans heart or minde may take or feele And also aboue all Angels and Archangels and aboue the company of heauenlie spirites aboue all thinges visible and inuisible and aboue all thing that is not thy selfe For thou O Lord God art most best most highest most mightest most sufficient and most full of goodnes moste sweete moste comfortable moste fayre moste louinge moste noble and moste glorious aboue all thinge in whom all goodnes is together perfectlie and fully hath beene and shall be And therefore whatsoeuer thou geuest me beside thy selfe it is lytle and insufficient to me for my heart may not rest nor fullye be pacifyed but in thee so that it ascendeth aboue all giftes and also aboue all maner of thinges that be created O my Lorde Iesu Christ moste louing spouse moste purest louer and gouernoure of euerye creature who shall geue me winges of perfect libertie that I may fite high and rest me in thee O when shall I fullie tende to thee and see and feele how sweete thou art whē shall I wholly gather my selfe together in thee so perfectlye that I shall not for thy loue feele my selfe but thee onelie aboue my selfe and aobue all bodilie thinges and that thou visite me in such wise as thou doest visite thy faythfull louers Nowe I ofte mourne and complaine the miseries of this life and with sorowe and woe beare thē with right great heauines for many euill thinges happen daylie in this lyfe which ofte times trouble me and make me verie heauie greatlie darken mine vnderstanding They hinder me greatly and put my minde from thee and so encomber me many wayes that I can not haue free minde cleane desire to thee nor haue thy sweete imbracinges that to thy blessed Saintes be alwaye present VVherefore I beseeche thee Lorde Christ Iesu that the sighinges and the inwarde desires of my hart with my manifolde desolutions may somewhat moue thee and incline thee to heare me O Iesu the light and brightnes of euerlasting glory the ioy and comfort of all christien people that are walking labouring as pilgrimes in the wyldernes of this world my harte cryeth to thee by still desires without voyce and my silence speaketh vnto thee and sayth thus How longe carieth my Lorde God to come to me verilie I trust that he will shortlie come to me his poorest seruant and comfort me and make me ioyous glad in him And that he will deliuer me from all anguishe and sorowe Come Lord come for without thee I haue no glad daye nor houre for thou art all my ioye gladnes and without thee my soule is barren and voyde I am a wretche and in maner in prison and bounde with fetters till thou through the light of thy gracious presēce vouchsafe to visit me and to refresh me and to bring me againe to libertie of spirite and that thou vouchsafe to shewe thy fauourable and louinge countenance vnto me Let other seeke what they will but trulye there is nothinge that I will seeke nor that shall please me but thou my Lorde God my hope and euerlastinge helth I shall not cease of prayer till thy grace returne to me againe that thou speake inwardly to my soule saye thus Lo I am here I am come to thee for thou haste called me thy teares the desyre of thy hart thy meeknes and thy contrition haue bowed me downe and brought me to thee And I shall saye agayne Lorde I haue called thee and I haue desyred to haue thee ready to forsake all things for thee thou first haste stirred me to seeke thee VVherefore be thou alwaye blessed that haste shewed suche goodnes to me after the multitude of thy mercy VVhat hath thy seruant Lorde more to doe or saye but that he meeken him selfe before thy maiestie and euer haue in minde his owne iniquitie There is none like to thee Lorde in heauen nor in earth thy workes be good thy iudgementes be righteous by thy prouidence all things be gouerned VVherefore to thee which art the wisedome of the father be euerlasting ioy glory and I humbly beseech thee that my body and soule my harte and tounge and all thy creatures maye alwaye laude thee and blesse thee Amen Of remembringe of the great and manyfolde benefites of God The 24. Chapter OPen mine hart Lorde into the beholding of thy lawes and in thy cōmaundements teach me to walke geue me grace to knowe and to vnderstand thy will and with great reuerence and diligent consideratiō to remember thy manyfold benefites that I may from henceforth yeld to thee due thankes for thē againe But I knowe and confesse it for truth that I am not able to yeld to thee condigne thankinges for the least benefite that thou hast geuen me for I am lesse then the least benefite that thou hast geuen And whē I beholde thy noblenes and woorthines my spirite dreadeth and trembleth very sore for the greatnes therof O Lord all that we haue in body in soule inwardly outwardlye naturally or supernaturallye they be thy benefites and shew thee openly to be a blessed and good benefactour of whom we haue receiued such giftes And though one hath receaued more and another lesse yet they all be thy giftes without thee the least can not be had and he that hath more receaued may not rightfully glorify him selfe therein as though he had gotten it by his owne merite nor exalt him selfe aboue other nor disdayne other nor despise his inferiours therfore for he is greatest and moste acceptable to thee that least ascribeth to him selfe and that is for suche giftes the more meeke and deuout in yeldinge thankes to thee for
other all that we heare or see nor to open our hart fullye but to very fewe and to seeke thee alway that art the beholder of mans hart not so be moued with euery flake of wordes but to desire in harte that all thinges in vs inwardly and outwardlye may be fulfilled after thy will howe sure a thinge is it also for the keepinge of heauenlye grace to flee the conuersation of worldly people all that we may and not to desire thinges that seeme outwardly to be pleasaunt and liking but with all the studye of our hart to seeke such thinges as bring in feruour of spirit and amendement of life It hath bene truelie a great hurte to many persons a vertue knowen ouer timelie praysed and contrariwise it hath beene right profitable to some a grace kept in silence and not lightlie reported to other in this frayle life that is full of temptation and priule enuie That vve shall put all our confidence in God vvhen euill vvordes be spoken to vs. The .51 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lord stande stronglie and truste faythfully in me VVhat be wordes but winde they flye in the ayre out they hurte neuer a stone on the grounde And if thou knowe thy selfe not giltie thinke that thou wilt suffer gladlie suche wordes for God It is but a litle thinge for thee to suffer sometime a hastie worde sith thou art not yet able to suffer harde strokes But why is it that so litle a thinge goeth so nigh thy heart but that thou art yet fleshelie and carnall and heedest to please men more then thou shouldest And because thou dreadest to be despised thou wilt not gladlie be reproued of thine offences and thou searchest therefore busilie and with great studie how thou mayest be excuâ—ed But behoulde thy selfe well and thou shalt see that the worlde yet liueth in thee and a vaine loue also to please man VVhen thou refusest to be rebuked and punished for thy defaultes it appereth euidentlie that thou art not yet soothfastlie meeke nor that thou art not yet deade to the worlde nor the worlde to thee yet truelye crucified But heare my wordes and thou shalt not neede to eare for the wordes of ten thousand men Loe yf all thinges were sayde against thee that might be most maliciouslie and vntruelie fayned against thee what shoulde they huit if thou suffered them to ouerpasse goe awaye truelie no more then a strawe vnder thy foote one heare of thy head they might not take from thee But he that hath not a manâ— heart inwardly nor setteth not God before the eye of his soule is soone moued with a sharpe word wheÌ„ he that trusteth in me will not stand to his owne iudgement shall be free froÌ„ all mans dreade for I am the Iudge that knoweth all secrettes I knowe howe euery thinge is done and I know also both him that doth the wroÌ„g and him that it is done to Of me this thinge is wrought and by my sufferaÌ„ce it is come about that the thoughtes of mennes heartes maye be knowen and when the time commeth I shall iudge both the innocent and hym that is giltie But firste through my righteous examination I will proue them bothe The witnes of man ofte times deceaueth but my iudgement alwaye is true and shall not be subuerted And howbeit it is sometime hid and not knowen but to fewe yet it is euer true and erreth not neither may erre though in the sigâ—â— of some persons it seemeth not so Therefore in euery doubt it behoueth to runne to me and not to leane muche to thine owne reason but with euery thinge that I shall sende thee to be content for a righteous man is neuer troubled with any thinge that I shall suffer to fall vnto him insomuch that though a thing were vntruelie spoken against him he shoulde not muche care for it neither shoulde he muche ioye though he were sometyme reasonablye excused for he thinketh alwayeâ— that I am he that searcheth mans hart and that I iudge not after the outwarde apperance for ofte times it shall be founde in my sight woorthy to be blamed that in mans sight seemeth muche woorthy to be praysed O Lord God most righteous Iudge stronge and patient which knowest the frayltie and malice of man be thou my strength and wholle coÌ„fort in all my necessities for mine owne conscience Lorde suffiseth me not for thou knowest in me that I knowe not And therefore in euery reproufe I ought alway to meeken my selfe and patiently to suffer all thinges in charitie after thy pleasure Forgeue me Lorde as ofte as I haue not so done and geue me grace of greater sufferaunce in time to come Thy mercy is more profitable and more sure maye for me to the gettinge of pardon and forgeuenes of my sinnes then a trust in mine owne workes through defence of my darke conscience And though I dreede not my conscience yet I may not therefore iustifie my selfe for thy mercie remoued and taken awaye no man maye be iustified nor appere righteous in thy syght Hovve all greeuous thinges in this lyfe are gladlie to be suffered for vvinning of the lyfe that is to come The .52 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lord be not broken by impatieÌ„ce with the labour that thou hast taken for my sake nor suffer thou not tribulatioÌ„ to cast thee in dispaire nor into vnreasonable heauines or anguishe in any wise but be thou comforted strengthed in euery chaunce by my promises behests for I am able and of power to rewarde thee and other my seruauntes aboundantlie more then ye can thinke or desire Thou shalt not laboure long here nor alwaye be greeued with heauines tary a while my promises and thou shalt shortlye see an ende of all thy troubles One hour shall come when all thy labours and troubles shall ceasse and truely that hour will shortlye come for all is short that passeth with time Doe therefore as thou doest labour busily and faithfullye in my vineyarde and I shal shortly be thy reward VVrite reade singe mourne be still and pray and suffer gladlye aduersitye for the kingdome of heauen is more woorth then all these thinges and much more greater thinges then they are Peace shall come one daye which is to me knowen and that shall not be the day of this lyfe but a day euerlastinge with infinite cleerenes stedfast peace and sure rest without ending And then thou shalt not saye VVho shall deliuer me from the bodye of this death neither shalt thou neede to crie woe is me that my comming to the kingdome of heauen is thus prolonged For death shal then de destroyed and health shall be without ende of bodye soule insomuch that no maner of vnrestfulnes shall be but blessed ioye and moste sweetest and fayrest companye O if thou sawest the euerlastinge crownes of my Saintes in heauen in howe great ioye and glorye they are that sometime seemed to be vile persons and as
like to mens fables for they be in them selues soothfast true But what haue I done Lorde that thou wilt vouchsafe to geue me any heauenly consolation I knowe not that I haue done anye thing well as I should haue done but that I haue bene prone and readie to sinne and slowe to amendment This is true and I can not deny it for if I would deny it thou shouldest stand against me and no man might defend me VVhat haue I then deserued but hell and euerlastinge fire I confesse for truth that I am woorthy in this worlde of shame and despite and that it becommeth not me to be conuersant with deuout people And though it be greeuous to me to say thus yet sith the truth is so I wil confesse the truth as it is and openlye will reproue my selfe of my defaultes that I may the rather obteine of thee mercy forgeuenes But what maye I then say Lorde that thus am giltie and full of cōfusion truely I haue no mouth nor tonge to speake but onely this word I haue sinned Lorde I haue sinned haue mercy on me forgeue me and forget my trespasse suffer me a litle that I maye weepe waile my sinnes or that I passe hence to the lande of darknes couered with the shadowe of death And what doest thou Lord aske most of such a wretched sinner but that he be contrite and meeken him selfe for his sinne for in true contrition meekenes of heart is found the very hope of forgeuenes of sinne and the troubled conscience is therby cleered and the grace before lost is recouered agayne Man also is thereby defended fro the wrath to come almightie God and the penitente soule mete louinglie together in holie kissinges of heauenlye loue A meeke contrition of heart is to thee Lorde a right acceptable Sacrifice more sweetlie sauouringe in thy sight then burnynge incence It is also the precious oyntment that thou wouldest should be shed vpon thy blessed feete for a meeke and contrite heart thou neuer despisest This contrition is the place of refuge from the dreade and wrath of the enemie and therby is washed clensed whatsoeuer is before misdone or that is defiled through sinne in any maner That grace vvill not be mixt vvith loue of vvorldlye thinges The .58 Chapter My sonne grace is a precious thing and will not be mixte with anye priuate loue nor with worldlye comfortes It behoueth thee therefore to caste awaye all lettinges of grace if thou wilt haue the gratious gift thereof Those therefore a secrete place and loue to be alone and keepe thee from hearinge of vayne tales and fables and offer to God deuout prayers and praye hartily that thou mayest haue a contrite hart and a pure conscience Thinke al the world as naught and preferre my seruice before all other thinges for thou mayest not haue minde on me and therwithall delite thee in transitorie pleasures It behoueth thee therefore to withdrawe thee from thy deerest freendes and from all thine acquaintaunce and to sequester thy minde whollie fro the inordinate desire of all worldlye comfort as muche as thou mayest Thus prayed Saint Peter that all Christien people might holde them selues as strangers and as pilgrimes vpō earth for then they shoulde not set but litle price by the comfort thereof O howe suce a trust shall it be to a man at his departinge out of this world to feele inwardlie in his soule that no worldlie loue nor yet the affection of no passinge or trāsitorie thinge hath any rule in him But a weake feeble person newlie turned to God may not so lightlie haue his hart seuered from earthlie likinge nor the beastlie man knoweth not the freedome of a man that is inwardly turned to god And therefore if a man will perfectlie be spirituall and ghostlie he must aswell renounce strangers as kinsfolke and speciallie before all other that he be moste ware of him selfe for if he ouercome him selfe perfectlie he shall the sooner ouercome all other enimies The moste noble and most perfecte victorie is a man to haue the victorie of him selfe He therefore that holdeth him selfe so muche subiect that the sensualitie obeyeth to reason and reason in all thinges obeyeth to me he is the true ouercommer of hym selfe and the Lorde of the worlde But if thou couet to come to that point thou must beginne manfullie and set thy axe to the roote of the tree and fullie to cut awaye and to destroye in thee all the inordinate inclination that thou haste to thy selfe or to any priuate or materiall thinge for of that vice that a man loueth him selfe inordinatlie well nigh dependeth all that ought groundlie to be destroyed in man And if that be truely ouercome anone shall folowe great tranquilitie and peace of conscience But forasmuch as there be but fewe that labour to die to them selues nor to ouercome them selues perfectlie therefore they lye still in their fleshlie feelinges and worldlie comfortes and may in no wise rise vp in spirite aboue them selues for it behoueth him that will be free in heart haue cōtēplatiō of me to mortifie all his euill inclinations that he hath to him selfe to the world not to be bounde to any creature by any inordinate or priuate loue Of the diuersities and diuers mouinges betvvene nature and grace The 59. Chapter My sonne take good heede of the motions of nature and grace for they be verie subtil and much contrary the one to the other and hardlie may they be knowen asonder but it be by a ghostly man that through spirituall grace is inwardlye lightned in soule Euerye man desireth some goodnes and pretendeth somewhat of goodnes in all his wordes and deedes and therfore vnder pretence of goodnes many be deceaued Nature is wylie and full of deceit and draweth many to her whom she often times snareth and deceyueth euer beholdeth her owne wealth as the ende of her worke But grace walketh simplye without dereyte she declineth from all euill she pretendeth no gyle but all thinges she doth purelye for God in whom finallye she resteth Nature will not gladlye dye nor gladlye be oppressed or ouercome neither will she gladlye be vnder other ne be kept in subiection but grace studieth howe she may be mortified to the world and to the flesh She resisteth sensualitie she seeketh to be subiecte she desireth to be ouercome she will not vse her owne libertie she loueth to be holden vnder holy discipline and coueteth not to haue lordship ouer anye one creature but to lyue and to stande alway vnder the dreade of God and for his loue is alwaye readie to bowe her selfe meekely to euery creature Nature laboureth for her owne profite and aduantage muche beholdeth what winning commeth to her by other But grace beholdeth not what is profitable to her selfe but what is profytable to manye Nature receaueth gladlye honour and reuerence but grace referreth all honour and reuerence to God Nature dreadeth
beautie that was deformed through sinne returneth agayne and the grace of this Sacrament sometime is so much that of the fulnes of deuotion that commeth thereby not onelie the minde but also the feeâ—le bodye recouer their former strength But verilye it is greatlie to be sorowed that we be so slowe and negligent and that we be stirred with no more affection to receyue Christ then we be for in him standeth all merite and hope of them that shall be saued He is our health and our redemption he is the comfortour of all that liue in this worlde and the eternall rest of all Saintes in heauen And it is also greatly to be sorowed that so many take so litle heede of this high misterie which gladdeth the heauen and preserueth all the world Alas the blindnes and hardnes of mans hart that taketh no greater heede to so noble a gifte but by the dayly vsing thereof is negligent and taketh litle heede thereto If this blessed Sacrament were ministred onelie in one place coÌ„secrate but by one priest in the world with how great desire thinkest thou the people would runne to that place and to that Priest that they myght see there these heauenlie misteries Nowe there be manye priestes and Christe is offred in many places that the grace and loue of God to man maye appeare so muche the more as the holie communion is spreade the more abrode throughout the worlde thankinges be to thee therefore my Lord Iesu that thou vouchsafe to refresh vs poore outlawes with thy precious blood and to stir vs with the wordes of thine owne mouth to receiue this holie misterie sayinge come ye all to me that labour and be charged and I shall refresh you That the great goodnes and charitie of God is geuen to man in this blessed Sacrament The second Chapter O My Lorde Iesu trustinge in thy great goodnes mercye I come to the as a sicke man to him that shall heale him and as he that is hungrye thirstie to the fountayne of life that is needie to the Kinge of heauen as a seruaunt to his Lord a creature to his creator and as a desolate persoÌ„ to his meeke and blessed comfortour But howe is it that thou commest to me who am I that thou wilt geue thy selfe vnto me howe dare I a sinner appeare before thee and howe is it that thou wilt vouchsafe to come to so simple a creature Thou knowest thy seruant and seest well that he hath no goodnes of him seâ—â—e whereby thou shouldest geue this grace vnto him I confesse therefore mine owne vnworthines and I knowledge thy goodnes I prayse thy pietie and yeelde thee thankings for thy great charitie Verily thou doest all this for thine owne goodnes not for my merites that thy goodnes may therby the more appeare thy charitie the more largelie be shewed and thy meekenes the more highlie be commeÌ„ded Therefore because this pleaseth thee and thou hast coÌ„maunded that it shoulde thus be done thy goodnes also therein pleaseth me and woulde to God that mine iniquities resisted me not O my Lorde Iesu howe great reuerence and thankinges with perpetuall praysinges of thy name ought to be geuen thee for the receyuinge of thy holie bodie whose dignitie no man is able to expresse But what shall I thinke in this communion and in goeinge to my Lorde God whom I can not worship as I ought to doe and yet I desire to receyue him deuoutly But what may I think better or more healthfull to me then whollie to meeke my selfe before thee exaltinge thy infinite goodnes farre aboue me I laude thee my Lord God and shall exalt thee euerlastinglie I despise my selfe and submit me to thee and sorowe greatlie the deepenes of mine iniquitie Thou arte the Saint of all Saints and I am the filth of all sinners and yet thou enclinest thy selfe to me that am not worthye to looke towarde thee Thou commest to me thou wilt be with me thou biddest me to thy feast thou wilt geue me this heauenly meate and this Angelles foode to eate which is playnlye none other but thy selfe that art the liuely bread which desceÌ„dest from heauen and geuest lyfe to the worlde Beholde Lorde from whence all this loue proceedeth and howe great goodnes shineth vpon vs and howe great thankes prayses are due to thee therfore O howe helthful and howe profitable a counsayle was it wheÌ„ thou ordeinedst this glorious Sacrament and how sweete and ioyous a feast was it when thou gauest thy selfe as meat to be eaten O Lorde howe meruailous is thy worke howe mightie is thy vertue and howe farre vnspeakable is thy trueth By thy worde all thinges were made and all thinges were done as thou hast commaunded It is a meruaylous thinge worthy to be beleeued and farre aboue the vnderstandinge of man that thou Lorde that art God and very man art wholly conteyned vnder a litle likenes of bread and wine and art eaten without consuminge of him that taketh thee and that thou that art Lorde of all thinges and that needest nothing in this world wouldest by this glorious Sacrament dwell in vs kepe thou mine heart my body immaculate that in a glad and a pure conscience I may ofte times celebrate thy misteries and receiue them to my euerlastinge health which thou haste ordeined most speciallye to thy honour perpetuall memory O my soule be thou mery and glad for so noble a gift and so singuler a coÌ„fort left to thee in this vale of misery for as ofte as thou remembrest this mistery takest the body of Christe so ofte thou workest the worke of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merites of Christ Truely the charitie of Christ is neuer minished the greatnes of his mercy is neuer consumed and therefore thou oughtest alwaye with a newe renewing of minde to dispose thee to it and with a well aduised and a deepe consideration to thinke on this great mysterie of health It shoulde seeme to thee as newe and as pleasaunt a ioy and comfort when thou singest masse or hearest it as if Christe the same daye first entred into the wombe of the virgin and were made man or if he the same daye suffered and dyed vppon the Crosse for the health of mankinde That it is very profitable ofte to be houseled The .3 Chapter LOrde I come to the to theÌ„de that it maye be well with me through thy gifte and that I maye ioye at the holy feast that thou of thy great goodnes haste made redy for me In thee is all that I may or shoulde desire for thou art my health my redemption my hope my strength my honour and glorie Make me thy seruant this daye mery and glad in thee for I haue lifte my soule vnto thee nowe I desire deuoutlie and reuerentlie to receiue thee into mine house that I may deserue with zeale to be blessed of thee and to be accompanied amonge the children
reproue so glad in prosperitie so feeble in aduersitie so ofte purposinge many good thinges and so seldome bringinge them to effecte And when thou haste thus confessed and be wept all these defaults and such other like in thee with great sorowe and displeasure of thine owne fraylenes set thee then in a full purpose to amende thy life and to profite alwaye from better to better and then with a full resigninge and a wholle will offer thy selfe into the honour of my name in the Aulter of thy hart as sacrifice to me that is to saye faythfullie committinge to me both thy bodie and soule so that thou mayest be worthye to offer to me this high sacrifice and to receyue healthfullie the Sacrament of my holie bodie for there is no oblation more worthie nor satisfaction greater to put awaye sinne then a man to offer him selfe purelie and whollie to God with the offeringe of the bodie of Christ in masse and in holie communion If a man doe that in him is and is truelie penitent as ofte as he commeth to me for grace and forgiuenes I am the Lorde that sayth I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted to liue and I shall no more remember his sinnes but they all shall be forgeuen and pardoned vnto hym Of the oblation of Christe on the Crosse and of a full forsakinge of our selfe The 8. Chapter OVr Lorde Iesus sayth to his seruant thus As I hanginge all naked with mine armes spread abroad vpon the crosse offered my selfe to God the father for thy sinnes so that nothinge remayned in me but that all went in sacrifice to please my Father and to appease his wrath agaynst mankinde so thou oughtest to offer thy selfe freelie to God as muche as thou mayest in a pure and holie oblation daylie in the Masse with all thy power and affection VVhat require I more of thee then that thou shouldest studie whollie to resigne thy selfe vnto me for whatsoeuer thou geuest beside thy selfe I regarde it not for I looke not for thy giftes but for thee For as it shoulde not suffise to thee to haue all thinges beside me so it maye not please me whatsoeuer thou geue beside thy selfe Offer thy selfe to me and geue thy selfe all to God and thy oblation shall be acceptable Lo I offered my selfe whollye to my father for thee and I gaue my bodye and bloude to thy meate that I shoulde be all whollie thine and thou mine But if thou haue a trust in thy selfe and doest not freelye offer thee to my will thy oblation is not pleasaunt and there shall be betwene vs no perfect vnitie Therefore a free offeringe of thy selfe into the handes of God must go before all thy workes if thou wilte obteine grace and the true libertie Therefore it is that so fewe be inwardlie illuminate and free because they can not whollye forsake them selfe for my words be true but a man renounce him selfe he may not be my disciple Offer thy selfe fullie to me with all thine affection and loue Amen That vve ought to offer our selfe and all ours to God and to praye for all people The 9. Chapter LOrde all thinges be thine that be in heauen earth I desire to offer my selfe to thee in a free and perpetual oblation so that I may perpetuallie be with thee Lord in simplenes of hart I offer me this daye to thee to be thy seruant in the seruice sacrifice of laude perpetuall accept me with this oblation of thy precious bodye which I this daye offer to thee in the presence of thy holie Angels that be here present inuisible that it maye be to my health and to the health of all the people And Lorde I offer to thee all my sinnes and offences that I haue committed before thee and thy holie Angels fro the daye that I might first offende vnto this daye that thou vouchesafe through thy great charitie to put away all my sinnes to clense my cōscience of all mine offences and restore to me agayne the grace that I through sinne haue lost and that thou forgeue me all thinges past and receyue me mercifullie into a blessed kissing of peace and forgeuenes VVhat may I do then but meekelie cōfesse and bewaile my sinnes and continuallie aske mercye of thee forgeue me mercifull Lorde I beseeche thee for all my sinnes displease me muche and I will neuer commit them againe but sorow for them readie to doe penance and satisfactiō after my power Forgeue me Lorde forgeue me my sinnes for thy holie name saue my soule that thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloode I commit my selfe whollie vnto thy mercie I resigne me whollie into thy handes doe with me after thy goodnes and not after my malice and wretchednes I offer also to thee all my good deedes though they be verie fewe and imperfect that thou amende them and sanctifie them and make them likinge and acceptable to thee and alwaye make them better and better and that thou bringe me though I be a slowe and an vuprofitable person to a blessed and a laudable ende I offer also to thee all the desires of deuout persons the necessitie of mine auncesters freendes brother sister and of all my louers and of all them that for thy loue haue done good to me or to any other that haue desired asked me to praye or to doe sacrifice for them or for their freendes whether they be aliue or deade that they maye the rather feele the helpe of thy grace and the gifte of thy heauenlie consolation thy protection from all perils and the deliuerance from all payne and that they so beinge deliuered from all euils may in spirituall gladnes yeelde to thee high laude and praysinges I offer to thee also my prayer and my peaceable offeringe for all them that haue in any thinge hindred me or made me heauy or that haue done me any hurt or greeue and for all them also whom I haue at anye time made heauy troubled greued or slaundered in worde or deede wittinglye or ignorantlye that thou forgeue vs altogether our sinnes and offences against thee and of eche of vs against other and that thou Lorde take fro our heartes all suspition and indignation wrath variance and whatsoeuer may let charitie or diminish fraternall loue that eche of vs shoulde haue to other haue mercie Lorde haue mercie on all them that aske thee mercie and geue grace to them that haue neede and make vs to stande in suche case that we be worthye to haue thy grace and finallye to come to the lyfe euerlastinge Amen That the holye Communion is not lightlye to be forborne The .10 Chapter IT behoueth thee to runne ofte to the fountayne of grace and mercye and to the fountaine of all goodnes and puritie that thou mayest be healed from thy passiōs and vices and be made more stronge against all the temptations and deceytfull crafte of our enemie The fiende knowinge the greatest
thy mercie from all perils and daungers O righteous father euer to be praysed the time is come that thou wilte thy seruaunt be proued And righteouslie is it done that I now shall suffer somewhat for thee now is the hour come that thou hast knowen from the beginninge that thy seruant for a time should outwardlie be set at naught and inwardlie to liue to thee and that he shoulde a litle be despised in the sight of the world and be broken with passions and sickenes that he might after rise with thee into a newe light and be clarified and made glorious in the kingdome of heauen O holie father thou haste ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast commaunded this is thy grace to thy freende to suffer and to be troubled in this worlde for thy loue howe ofte so euer it be of what person soeuer it be in what maner soeuer thou suffer it to fall vnto him without thy counsayle prouidence nor without cause nothinge is done vpon earth Oh it is good to me Lorde that thou hast meekened me that I may therby learne to knowe thy righteous iudgementes and put from me all maner of presumption and highnes of minde And it is verie profitable to me that coÌ„fusion hath couered my face that I maye learne thereby to seeke for helpe and succour to thee rather theÌ„ to man And I haue therby learned to dreade thy secrete terrible iudgementes which scourgest the righteous maÌ„ with the sinner but not without equitie and iustice I yeelde thankes to thee that thou haste not spared my sins but haste punished me with scourges of loue and hast sent me sorowes and anguishes within and without so that there is no creature vnder heauen that may comfort me but thou Lorde God the heauenlie leach of mans soule which strikest and healest and bringest a man nigh vnto bodilie death and after restorest him to health againe that he maye thereby learne to knowe the littlenes of his owne power the more fullie to trust in thee Thy discipline is fallen vpon me and thy rod of correctioÌ„ hath taught me vnder that rodde I whollie submit me strike my backe and bones as it shall please thee make me to bowe my croked will vnto thy will make me a meeke an humble disciple as thou hast sometime done with me that I may walke all after thy wil. To thee I commit my selfe and all mine to be corrected for better it is to be corrected by thee here then in time to come Thou knowest all thinges nothinge is hidde from thee that is in mans coÌ„scieÌ„ce Thou knowest thinges to come before they fall it is not nedefull that any man teache thee or warne thee of any thinge that is done vpoÌ„ the earth Thou knowest what is speedefull for me and howe much tribulation helpeth to purge the rest of sinne in me do with me after thy pleasure and disdayne not my sinfull life to none so well knowen as it is to thee Graunt me Lorde that to knowe that is necessarie to be knowen that to loue that is to be loued that to prayse that highlie pleaseth thee that to regarde that appeareth precious in thy sight and that to refuse that is vile before thee Suffer me not to iudge after my outwarde wits nor to geue senteÌ„ce after the hearinge of vncunninge men but in a true iudgement to discerne thinges visible and inuisible and aboue all thinges alway to searche and folowe thy will and pleasure The outwarde witnes of men be ofte deceyued in their iudgementes And in likewise the louers of the worlde be deceyued through louinge onelie of visible thinges VVhat is a man the better for that he is taken better truelie nothinge For a deceitfull man deceyueth an other a vayne maÌ„ deceyueth an other and a blinde feeble creature deceyueth an other when he exalteth him and rather confoundeth him then prayseth him For why howe muche soeuer a man be in light of God so much he is and no more sayth the meeke Saint Fraunces howe holye and howe vertuous soeuer he be taken in sight of the people That it is good that a man geue hym selfe to meeke bodilye laboures vvhen he feeleth not hym selfe disposed to high vvorkes of deuotion The 56. Chapter My sonne thou mayest not alwaye stande in the high ferueÌ„t desire of vertue ne in the highest degree of contemplatioÌ„ but thou muste of necessitie through the corruption of the first sinne sometime descende to lower thinges and against thy will and with great tediousnes to beare the burden of this corruptible body for as longe as thou bearest this bodie of death thou must neede feele some tediousnes and griefe of heart and thou shalt ofte times beweepe mourne the burden of thy fleshlie feelinges and the contradictioÌ„ of thy body to thy soule for thou mayest not for the corruption thereof perseuer in spirituall studies and in heauenlye contemplation as thou wouldest doe and then it is good to thee to flie to meeke bodilie laboures and to exercise thy selfe in good outwarde workes and in a stedfast hope and trust to abide my comminge and my newe heauenlie visitations and to beare thy exile and the drines of thy hart patientlie till thou shalt be visited by me agayne and be deliuered from all tediousnes and vnquietnes of minde VVhen I shall come I shall make thee forget all thy former laboures and to haue inwarde rest and quietnes of soule I shall also laye before thee the florishing medowe of holy scripture and thou shalte with great gladnes of heart in a newe blessed feeling fele the very true vnderstaÌ„ding thereof and then quickly shalt thou runne the waye of my commaundementes and then shalt thou saye in great spirituall gladnes The passions of this world be not woorthy of theÌ„ selues to bring vs to the ioy that shall be shewed vs in the blisse of heauen To the which bring vs our Lorde Iesus Amen That a man shall not thinke him selfe vvorthy to haue comfort but rather to haue sorovve and payne and of the profite of contrition The 57. Chapter LOrde I am not woorthy to haue thy consolation nor any spirituall visitatioÌ„ and therefore thou doest righteously to me when thou leauest me needy and desolate for though I might weepe water of teares like to the Sea yet were I not woorthy to haue thy conâ—olatioÌ„ for I am worthy to haue nothing but sorowe and paine for I haue so greeuouslye and so ofte offended thee and in so many things greatly trespassed against thee Therefore I may well saye and confesse for truth that I am not woorthy to haue thy leste coÌ„solation But thou Lord benigne and mercifull that wilt not thy workes doe perish to shewe the greatnes of thy goodnes in the vessels of thy mercy aboue all my merites or desert doest vouchsafe sometime to comforte me thy seruaunt more then I can thinke or deuise Thy coÌ„solations be not