Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	body_n	soul_n	spirit_n	15,742	5	5.7619	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19433	The interiour occupation of the soule Treating of the important businesse of our saluation with God, and his saints, by way of prayer. Composed in French for the exercise of that court, by the R. Father, Pater Cotton of the Societie of Iesus, and translated into English by C.A. for the benefit of all our nation. Whereunto is prefixed a preface by the translator, in defence of the prayers of this booke, to the saints in heauen.; Interioure occupation d'une âme devote. English	Coton, Pierre, 1564-1626.; Anderton, Christopher, attributed name.; Apsley, Charles, attributed name.; C. A., fl. 1619.	1618 (1618)	STC 5860; ESTC S108849	75,781	318

didst bring to the world the most happy newes that euer was or shall be by the loue of him who sent thee to the honour of him who was by thee Named and Announced and for the regard to her to whome thou broughtest the'mbassage obtaine for me the grace that I may be obedient to the Father pleasing to the Sonne and singularly deuoted to the Mother 2. O if I so willingly conceiued and so readily consented to the voyce of my God as did the blessed Virgin to thine I should march apace to perfection I beseech thee by the ioy that the spirit felt when the Diuine word effected thy word putting on the ragges of our mortalitie that thou wilt be pleased to obtaine for mee this fauour of God that I neuer resist his inspirations that I be attentiue to his voyce that for lacke of execution I make not sad the holy Ghost Obtaine I say for me this grace thou speciall embassador of the Diuinitie 3. Embassadour of God Legate of Paradice Nuncies of the coelestiall Empire if any thing bee cause of our ruines for repayring of which the Son of God espoused himselfe to a nature inferiour to thine it was frailtie and ignorance This appertaineth to the soule that to the body From both th' one and th' other thou art free being a spirit and full of knowledge I dare then adiure thee by that which thou art to remedy that which I am and to obtaine of him who did according to thy word more for me then thou shalt euer be able to doe that I may know from henceforth his holy will in all thinges and that in the execution I may be strong and puissant Thy most holy Name signifieth diuine force and valour obtaine for me this force against our common aduersaties and against the most daungerous enemie that I knowe which is the loue of my selfe 4. I salute thee and thanke thee with all my hart messenger of happy newes and I be●eech thee to encrease my obligacion by encreasing the seruice which by me thou maist render then when thou shalt obtaine for me the grace not to be as thou art but together with thee a fit Instrument and Organe to set forth the glory of God Title 9. To the Angell Guerdian 1. GOuernour of my life guide of my pilgrimage Torchbearer of my vnderstanding maister of my soule what thankesgiuing shall I render vnto thee for the infinite obli●ations ●a poore sinner haue vnto thee whome thou hast serued and assisted though vnworthy and vngratefull from the instant of my birth preseruing mee from so many euils of sinne as I might haue incurred from so many dangers as my body hath passed and had fallen into haddest thou not fauoured mee If I should thanke thee as often as I breath I could not satisfie my obligation neither will I nor can I doe it but in him by whom and for whose loue thou hast beene so faithfull to mee Aske then thy recompence of him for so many benefits and permit not that I dye vngratefull towards thee least I dye miserable in the fight of God 2. Vnfatigable friend the infamous odour of my sinnes might haue caused thee to haue withdrawne thy selfe from me as stinke chaseth away Doues and smoke Bees And yet notwithstanding thou hast had patience to stay neere to this dunghill with charitie greater then tongue can vtter and with longanimitie altogether Angelicall Thankes be giuen vnto thee by all the courts of Heauen and by all those creatures which haue interest in my saluation all whom thou hast together with mee obliged vnto thee If euer I come as by thy mediation I hope I shall to the hauen of beatitude I will render vnto thee O my louing and beloued Patro● the principall and arrerages of so many so speciall and so particular obligations in the presence of him whom thou incessantly lookest in the face How often had I fallen into riuers into flames into dungeons into the hands of my visible and inuisible enemies How often had Sathan styfled mee whilest I was drinking eating sleeping walking especially at those times when he perceiued mee to be out of the grace of God if thou O my guide and singuler benefactor hadst not broken his strength and dissipated his designes 3. So many times thou hast saued my life as thou hast preserued me from deadly sinne so many times thou hast rendered vnto me my life as thou hast raysed me out of deadly sinne A life a thousand times more precious then that of the body and consequently a benefit as much greater as aeternitie exceedeth time grace nature the glorious state of the Saintes the miserable condition of the damned Thankes therefore be vnto thee as many times as there are moments in time o● imaginable minutes in aeternitie 4. What shall I say of thy going from God to vs and returning from vs to God exciting the one appeasing the other carrying vp our prayers and bringing downe his presents what of so many inspirations secret motions benigne influences so many interiour and exteriour endes so many Angelicall inuentions deuises stratagems of Charitie as thou hast vsed to retire mee from vice and the inclinations of a corrupt nature to draw me to the loue of him whom loue made to dye for me There is no meanes how in this vally of teares and in the midst of this Aegyptian darknesse I may know the thousand part of these oblgations and how shall I then bee able to acknowledge them Finish then O sage Pilot this my perilous Nauigation end this chiefe work which hitherto hath put thee to so great paine For if thou shalt haue fully accomplished this I shall haue meanes to recompence that which is past to repaire that which is lost and to make euen my debts Looke well then into it as is thy custome O my guide it concernes thee exceeding much seeing thereupon depends the glory of God and the saluation of a soule cōmitted to thy charge 5. And if it be possible that thou shouldst not be interessed in my saluation I am content that thou neglect both th' one and th' other Hee which was made man for mee that liued heere for me that dyed for me that hath giuen me his body for meat and his bloud for drinke hee that hath honoured mee with the title of sonne and brother hee that calleth and nameth himselfe my spouse hee who bowing downe the Heauens of his greatnesse vouchsafed to serue mee hee that would dye againe if it were needfull and for me endure againe all that hee hath suffered hee I say perswades yea nothing else Do then that which thou shalt iudge to be according to his will Sweet friend and charitable tutor I will put no other rule no no other then thou thy selfe dost put which is the very great glory of him to whom wee all appertaine by condition obligation and election to whome be all praise honour and glory world without end Title 10. To the Angels 1.

and seeing that thou hast bestowed such vertue vpon the plants the stones the hearbes seeing the Sunne by the aspect and influence of the Beames doth worke such wonders in nature euen to the making and forming of mettalls in the very bowels of the earth seeing also the Adamant draweth vnto it the yron Amber the straw the Starre the steele by reason of a kinde of simpathie and naturall impression which thou the author of nature hast giuen vnto them Is it conuenient that thy most holy body and incomparable treasure honour my body with his presence that thy most precious bloud be in me and that thy diuine humanitie should really touch mine and not lift vp my soule to thy diuinitie Permit not this monster in Grace and this prodigious wonder in nature 13. Bestow vpon me the charitie which thou didst so straitly recommend vnto thy Apostles and graunt vnto me the guift of prayer and teares as well to accompany thee in thy prayers as that I may be able to resist my temptations according to thy instruction 14. By the feare which ceazed upon the inferiour part of thy soule and by the streames of bloud which did wonderfully run downe caused by thy sorrowe and vehement apprehension I beseech thee my benigne Redeemer to assist me at the houre of my death and to doe me the fauour that albeit my life hath beene so vnprofitable vnto thee yet at last I may honour and serue thee by my death which I desire may bee no other then that which thou shalt Iudge to be for thy greater glory 15. Grant that by the stroke of thy worde I may lay a long thy enemies and mine That I may be tyed and manacled in ropes and chaynes of thy loue That with thee and no otherwise I may appeare before the Tribunall of God thy Father That the Spirit of sweetnesse and meeknesse which thou didst holde towards that accursed fellow which did blindfold thee may accompany me in all occasions That I may be clothed with a white robe of Innocencie and with the purple garment of charitie that by the merrit of thy whipping my body may be a sanctified vessell instrument of thy glory That in vertue of the Crowne of Thornes which pierced thine head I neuer consent to any euil thoughts but especially to such as tend to any pride 16. When will the houre be when one seeing me may say not in derision as it was said of thee but in sinceritie and truth Beholde the man of God bring this to passe my sweet Iesus by the merrits of thy most profound humilitie 17. Then I shall be content with quietnes of minde hear the sentence and iudgement which the wicked shall giue of me and little regard what the world esteemeth of me at this time which passeth though it should be a definitiue sentence of death as vniust and detestable as was that which was pronounced against thee 18. I shall carrie the Crosse with thee such a Crosse I say as it shall please thy diuine prouidence to lay vpon my shoulder I shall edifie by my example the predestinate soules the true daughters of the heauenly Sion 19. But when shall I haue spoiled my selfe of selfe loue whē shall I be as it were naked in respect of thinges of this world to be nayled with thee to the Crosse It shall be then when the nayles of thy feet shal nayle my affections the nayles of thy hands my actions the Speare that pierced thy side shall pierce all my intentions 20 Wash me ô my God God liuing and dying for my loue wash me in the bloud which flowed from thy sacred person so as from hence-foorth I may appeare before thee as a newe washed sheep comne out of the pond as a Lamb without spot readie to be sacrificed 21. Pardon and forgiue all those which wish or doe me euill help all those which are in deadly sinne and neere to their end that they dye not in that pittifull estate as thou didst help the good Theefe in his extreamitie Commend me with the beloued disciple to the protection of thy vnspotted Mother acomplish in me the thirst of thy desires Consume whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee consummate all thy mercies towards me Abandō me not leaue me neuer alone Receaue my soule into thy hands as God thy father receaued thine at thy giuing vp thy Ghost Deliuer from Purgatorie the soules which are in paine as thou deliueredst the holy Fathers out of Lymbus where they were detayned Giue vs such a resurrection to life by grace as that we neuer more die by sinn And seeing that our hart ought to be where our treasure is seeing that thou the Lord of the world art placed at the right hand of thy Father lift vs vp to thee and transport our affections aboue the heauens Finally impart vnto vs some part of those graces bestowed vpon thy Apostles Disciples vpon the day of Penthecost that from hence foorth we may become the Temple of thy glorye thy heretage the chosen people with which thou takest pleasure to make thy abode Prayers and considerations as it were in passing according to the occurrences that fall out euery day Title 28. When a man is tempted 1. I Protest my GOD that I giue no consent in any sort to this temptation and that my will desireth the cōtrary of that which is proposed with as great affection proceeding from reason as I feele inclinations arising from sensualitie 2 I thanke thee O my gracious Creator that sence or feeling and consent or yeelding are two different thinges For if euery feeling were a yeilding ioyned with offence of thy diuine Maiestie I were vtterly vndone Temptation hath the one in his holde but none shall haue possession of the other but thy diuine Maiesty The world the flesh and the Deuill haue a power to make me feele but my consent or yeelding shall be euer in thy power 3. My God leaue me not alone deliuer me frō my selfe 4. I cannot liue without thee make mee then I pray thee liue to thee Title 29. When any thing falleth out that pleaseth vs. 1. IT is thou my sweet Iesu who art the author of all reasonable contentment from thee proceedeth all pure consolation I desire it not then but from thee in thee by thee and for thee Dispose thou otherwaies when thou shalt be pleased to depriue mee of it and I shall accommodate mee thereunto with all resignation and indifferencie Title 30. When any thing displeaseth vs. 1. I Accept of this displeasure as a present sent vnto me from my beloued Iesus Christ accoūting my selfe too happy y● I may be worthy to participate to carry and to kisse his Crosse 2. The beloued of my soule shall be placed in my bosome as a bundle of Mirrhe 3. Looke with how great affection I desire to be deliuered of this affliction with no lesse I aske and aske againe the continuance thereof if O my God it

shall be for thy greater glory Title 31. In obeying our Superiours 1. I Honour thee O my God in them as in thy Image and protest that all the seruice I doe them I doe it for thee 2. I will loue them in thee and thee in them and will doe them no reuerence neither interiour nor exteriour but with intention that all redound vnto thee Title 32. In seeing the magnificencie of the Court. 1. FArre greater things are recounted of thee O heauenly Sion 2. All that I see here are no better then the sweepings of Heauen 3. When shall I see thee in thy owne brightnesse O King of glory 4. All this greatnesse passeth with the figure of the world but the greatnesse of Heauen continueth eternally Title 33. At our going out of our Lodging 1. SEt my feet in thy paths O my God my way my truth and my life 2. Make me auoide and shun all bad company and turne away from mee all occasion of sinne 3. The Riuers run to the Sea the Starres holde alway their course the Elements tend to their Sphere all heauy thinges naturally descend to the Center Euen so I goe to thee Center of my affections Sphere of my soule Heauen full of benigne influence great Ocean of Charitie and Mercie Title 34. In beholding any Garden or Meddow 1. O Architect of the world which hast powred forth vpon this immouable and insensible world so great beautie and such varietie of odours and colours why dost thou not the same to the territorie of my soule 2. If the earth of the dying be so beautifull how beautifull is the land of the liuing 3. The dewe the rayne the influences of Heauen are not so necessarie for these flowers as the grace of God and fauourable aspect of the holy Ghost are necessarie for my soule Title 35. In seeing a Field Couered with Flowers 1. THe odour of the Son of God and the blessed Virgin Mary is like to the odour of a field vpon which our Lord hath powred out his blessings 2. If heauen were locally to be deuided to all the blessed Saints as was the Land of promise to the Israelites euery one should haue more for his part then the whole world what do I then here and what stayeth me here O my God Title 36. When one smelleth to a Nosgay 1 O how much sweeter art thou my sweete and beloued Iesus 2. When thou shalt be pleased O the loue of my soule thou shalt smell in me the Rose of Charitie the Lilly of Puritie the Violet of humilitie the Gilliflower of hope 3. I would and desire many things according to sense many things which I cannot get I make of them all a Nosegay as beeing your spouse to present vnto thee O the Spouse of my soule Title 37. When we admire the beautie of any building 1. EVen so the Birds highly prize esteeme the Rockes where they build their nests and the Ants their little holes where they lodge 2. All this is common both to the friends and enemies of God 3. What an habitation is that which thou reseruedst for thy Children O God of Israell what and how delightfull shall be the Tabernacles of Iacob seeing thou art so liberall to the tabernacles of Moab 4. One day in the house of God is more worth thē a thousand yeares in this base lodging in which the Beasts lodge with me 5. If such bee the habitation of the body exposed to sinne and subiect to death what shall be the habitation of the soule when it shall bee by grace impeccable as it is by nature immortall Title 38. When you beholde your selfe in a Glasse 1. Sweet IESVS the looking glasse of my life when shall I see my selfe in thee and thee in mee 2. My onely desire bee to please thee and my onely feare be to displease thee 3. I shall be beautifull in thy eyes when I shal be displeasing in my owne 4. The beautie of the body withereth and rotteth if it be not accompanied with the beautie of the soule 5. I will looke vpon the life of Saintes to behold in it as in a glasse my owne deformities 6. There are certaine persons which are alwaies running to their Looking-glasses I will haue no other looking-glasse but thee O Sonne of God in whom the Father as in a glasse seeth his owne essence and beholdeth his perfections 7. O what a looking glasse is that in which God the Father taketh a view of himselfe wherein consisteth his blessednesse Thou art the looking-glasse O eternall worde which representeth the essence substance thou takest from him Title 39. In putting on our Apparell 1. I Stand in more neede of vertues with which to adorne my soule then of this apparell wherewith I set forth my body Cloth me O my God with thy grace and couer my spirituall nakednesse with the rich robe of perfect Charitie 2. Iesus my loue when shall I put on thee pardon me the too great sollicitude and the ouer long time I spend in apparelling and decking my body a sacke of wormes a tombe of death a masse of flesh which is neuer satisfied 3. How long shal I serue with such attention this my slaue and pamper this my domestical enemie 4. I deserue not the name of a Christian nor so much as to appeare in thy presence if I haue not at least as great care of the beautie of my soule as I am sollicitous about the beautie of my body 5. Should I not now bee a Saint if I had done and endured thought and cast about as much for the one as I haue done for the other pardon me this vanitie O my God by the merits of Iesus Christ thy Son who is the true and amiable beautie 6. What were the cogitations and thoughts of the Mother of God of St. Edowing Dutches of Poland of St. Elizabeth Queene of Hungarie when they did put on their apparell 7. Our naturall and borrowed dresses put the crowne of Thornes vpon thy head our cherry-red vermilion adorne thy face with bloud and spittle I protest to thy diuine Maiesty in the presence of the Angels Saints that all the sollicitude care paine that I will henceforth take about this my miserable body shall be purely and simplie to discharge the vocation to which it hath pleased thee to call me beseeching thee not to permit that any thing be in me that may offend thee or be an occasiō of offence to any 8. I had rather be the foulest creature in the world then that my body should bee but once the occasion of any ones falling but into only one deadly sinne Make then of it O my God an Organ of Puritie and an instrument of thy Glory Title 40. Inputting off our Apparell 1. THis body of mine is nothing else but the garment of my soule which I must put off when the night of death approacheth 2. I will treat my body from henceforth as I would wish to haue