patiently for God the present evils of this Dost thou think that the Men of this World suffer little or nothing Look into the life even of them that live in greatest delicacies and thou shalt find it otherwise But thou wilt say they have many delights and follow their own wills and therefore they make small account of their tribulations Be it so that they have whatsoever they will but how long dost thou think it will last 3. Behold the wealthy of this World vanish away like smoak and there shall be no memory of their joys past Yea even while they live also they rest not in them without bitterness irksomeness and fear For the self same thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes unto them the cause of sorrow They have their desert who for that they inordinately seek and follow delights they do not enjoy them but with shame and sorrow 4. O how short and false how inordinate and filthy are all those pleasures Yet so Drunken and Blind are Men that they understand it not But like Dumb beasts for a little pleasure of a corruptible life they incur the Eternal death of their Soul Do not thou therefore my Son go after thy Lusts but forsake thine own will Psal. 37. Delight in the Lord and he will give thee the desires of thy heart 5. For if thou desire true delight and to be more plentifully comforted by me behold in the contempt of all wordly things and in the cutting off all base delights shall be thy blessing and abundant comforts shall be given thee And how much the more thou withdrawest thy self from all comfort of Creatures so much the sweeter and more powerful consolations shalt thou find in me But at first thou canst not attain unto them without fome sorrow nor without a laborious conflict Thy old custom will make resistance and thou must overcome it with another custom that is better Thy flesh will murmur but thou must bridle it with fervor of Spirit The old Serpent will sting and trouble thee but by Prayer he shall be put to flight and by profitable industry thou shalt stop the way against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a Subject according to the example of Christ. CHrist. Son he that endeavoreth to withdraw himself from obedience withdraweth himself from grace And he that seeketh things private shall lose the publick He that doth not willingly and freely submit himself to his Superior it is a sign that his flesh is not as yet perfectly obedient unto him but oftentimes kicketh and murmureth against him Learn therefore readily to submit thy self to thy Superior if thou desirest to subdue thine own flesh For the outward enemy is sooner overcome if the inward Man be not wasted There is no worse enemy nor more troublesome to the Soul than thou art unto thy self not agreeing well with the Spirit Thou must of necessity have a true contempt of thy self if thou wilt prevail against flesh and blood 2. Because thou lovest thy self as yet too inordinately therefore thou art afraid to resign thy self wholly to the will of others But what great matter is it if thou that art Dust and nothing submit thy self to a Man for God when I the Almighty and highest Soveraign who created all things of nothing humbly submitted my self unto Man for thee I became the most humble and abject of all Men that thou mightest overcome thy pride with my humility Learn to obey thou that art Dust. Learn to humble thy self thou Earth and Clay and put thy self under the Feet of all Men. Learn to break thine own will and to yield thy self to all Subjection 3. Be vehement against thy self and suffer not pride to live in thee But so humble and submit thy self to all that every one may go over thee and tread thee as dirt of the Streets under their Feet Vain Man what canst thou complain of What canst thou answer foul sinner to them that reprove thee who hast so often offended God and so many times deserved Hell But mine eye hath spared thee because thy Soul was precious in my sight that thou mightest know my Love and always remain thankful for my benefits and that thou mightest continually give thy self to true subjection and humility and mightest bear patiently the contempt of thy self CHAP. XIV Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered lest we be exalted in our good deeds Christian. Thou thunderest forth thy Judgments over me O Lord and shakest all my bones with fear and trembling and my Soul is fore afraid I stand astonished when I consider that the Heavens are not pure in thy sight If thou hast found wickedness in Angels and hast not pardoned them what shall become of me Stars fell from Heaven and what do I presume that am Dust They whose works seemed commendable fell into the lowest misery And I have seen them that did eat the Bread of Angels to be delighted with the husks of Swine 2. There is therefore no sanctity if thou O Lord withdrawest thy hand No wisdom availeth if thou ceasest to Govern No strength helpeth if thou leavest to defend No chastity is secure if thou dost not protect it No custody of our own profitable if thy sacred watchfulness be not present For if we be left of thee we sink and perish but if thou vouchsafest to visit us we are raised up and live We are inconstant but by thee we are established we wax cold but by thee we are enflamed 3. O how meanly and humbly ought I to think of my self how little yea nothing ought I to esteem it if I seem to have any good O Lord with what profound Humility ought I to submit my self to thy bottomless judgements where I find my self to be nothing else but nothing and nothing O unmeasurable weight O sea that can never be passed over where I find my self only and wholly nothing Where then is the lurking hole of glory Where is the confidence conceived of virtue All vain glorying is swallowed up in the deep of thy judgements over me 4. What is all flesh in thy sight Shall the clay glory against him that frameth it How can he be lifted up with vain words whose heart is truly subject to God All the world cannot lift him up whom the Truth hath subjected unto it self Neither shall he be moved with the Tongues of all his praisers that hath setled his whole hope in God For as for them that speak behold they all are nothing they shall pass away with the sound of their words but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever CHAP. XV. How we are to stand affected and what we are to say in every thing which we desire CHrist. Son say thus in every thing Lord if it be pleasing unto thee let this be done in this sort Lord if it be to thy honor let this be done in thy Name Lord if thou seest it expedient for me and allowest it
deceived CHAP. XXI That we are to rest in God above all his gifts and benefits CHristian Above all things and in all things O my soul thou shalt ever rest in the Lord for he is the everlasting rest of the Saints Grant me O most sweet and loving Jesus to rest in thee above all creatures above all health and beauty above all glory and honor above all power and dignity above all knowledg and subtilty above all riches and arts above all joy and gladness above all fame and praise above all sweetness and comfort above all hope and promise above all desert and desire above all gifts and presents that thou canst give and impart unto us above all mirth and jubilee that the mind of Man can receive and feel lastly above Angels and Archangels and above all the Heavenly host above all visible and invisible things and above all that thou art not O my God 2. For that thou my Lord God art best of all thou alone art most high thou alone most powerful thou alone most full and sufficient thou alone most sweet and solacing thou alone most lovely and loving thou alone most noble and glorious above all things in whom all good things together both perfectly are and ever have been and shall be and therefore it is too little and not sufficient whatsoever thou bestowest on me besides thy self or revealest unto me of thy self or promisest whilest thou art not seen and not fully obtained for surely my heart cannot truly rest nor be fully contented unless it rest in thee and surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoever 3. O my most beloved Bridegroom Jesus Christ the most pure lover the governor of all creatures O that I had the wings of true liberty that I might flie and rest in thee O when shall it be fully granted me to consider in quietness of mind and see how sweet thou art my Lord God! When shall I fully gather up my self into thee that by reason of my love to thee I may not feel my self but thee alone above all sense and feeling in a manner not known unto every one but now I oftentimes sigh and bear my infelicity with grief for that many evils occurr in this vale of miseries which do often trouble grieve and overcloud me often hinder and distract me allure and intangle me for that I can have no free access unto thee nor enjoy thy sweet embracings wherewith thou ever favorest the blessed Spirits O let my sighs and manifold desolations on Earth affect thee 4. O Jesus the brightness of eternal glory and comfort of the pilgrim soul with thee is my tongue without voice and my very silence speaketh unto thee How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come unto me his poor Servant and make me glad Let him put forth his hand and deliver miserable me from all anguish Come O come for without thee I shall have no joyful day nor hour for thou art my joy and without thee my table is empty A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and loaden with Irons until thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and settest me at liberty and shewest a friendly countenance unto me 5. Let others seek what they please instead of thee but for me nothing else doth nor shall delight me but thou only my God my hope my everlasting salvation I will not hold my peace nor cease to pray until thy grace return again and thou speak inwardly unto me Christ. Behold I am here behold I come unto thee because thou hast called upon me Thy tears and the desire of thy soul thy humiliation and the contrition of thy heart have inclined and brought me unto thee Christian. And I said Lord I have called thee and have desired to enjoy thee being ready to refuse all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me up that I might seek thee Blessed be thou therefore O Lord that hast shewed this goodness to thy Servant according to the multitude of thy mercies 6. What hath thy servant more to say before thee but that he do greatly humble himself in thy sight always mindful of his own iniquity and vileness For there is none like unto thee in all whatsoever is wonderful in Heaven and Earth Thy works are very good thy judgments true and by thy providence all things are governed Praise therefore and glory be unto thee O wisdom of the Father let my mouth my soul and all creatures together praise and bless thee CHAP. XXII Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God CHristian Open O Lord my heart in thy Law and teach me to walk in thy Commandments Grant me to understand thy will and to remember thy benefits as well in general as in particular with great reverence and diligent consideration that henceforward I may be able worthily to give thee thanks But I know and confess that I am not able in the least point to give thee due thanks for the favors which thou bestowest upon me I am less than the least of all thy benefits and when I consider thy noble bounty the greatness thereof maketh my spirit to faint 2. All that we have in our soul and body and whatsoever we possess outwardly or inwardly naturally or supernaturally are thy benefits and do speak thee bountiful merciful and good from whom we have received all good things Although one have received more another less all notwithstanding are thine and without thee even the least cannot be had He that hath received greater cannot glory of his own desert nor extol himself above others nor insult over the lesser for he is greater and better that ascribeth least unto himself and is more humble and religious in rendring thanks And he that esteemeth himself vilest of all Men and judgeth himself most unworthy is fittest to receive great blessings 3. And he that hath received fewer ought not to be sorry nor take it grievously nor envy them that are enriched with greater store but attend rather unto thee and highly praise thy goodness for that thou bestowest thy gifts so bountifully so freely and so willingly without respect of persons All things proceed from thee and therefore in all things thou art to be praised Thou knowest what is fit to be given to every one and why this Man hath less and he more it is not ours but thine to judge who dost exactly know what is meet for every one 4. Wherefore my Lord God I esteem it as a great mercy not to have much of that which outwardly and in the opinion of Men might seem worthy of glory and applause so that he who considereth the poverty and unworthiness of his person ought not therefore to conceive grief or sorrow or to be therefore troubled but rather to take great comfort and to be glad for that thou O God hast chosen the poor and humble and the despised of this world for thy self and for thy familiar and domestick attendants
there so famous as the Christian People or what creature under heaven so beloved as a religious soul to whom God himself cometh to feed her with his glorious flesh O unspeakable grace O admirable condescent O infinite love singularly bestowed upon Man But what shall I give unto the Lord in return of his grace for so eminent an expression of thy love There is no other thing more acceptable that I am able to give than to give my heart wholly to my God and to unite it most inwardly unto him Then shall all my inward parts rejoyce when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God Then he will say unto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee And I will answer him Vouchsafe O Lord to remain with me and I will gladly be with thee This is my whole desire that my heart be united unto thee CHAP. XIV Of the fervent desire of some devout Persons to receive the Body of Christ. The voice of the Discipie O How great is thy goodness O Lord which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee When I remember some devout persons who come unto thy Sacrament O Lord with greatest devotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded and blush within my self that I come so formally and coldly to thy Table of the holy Communion that I remain so dry and without heart affection That I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence my God nor so earnestly drawn and affected as many devout persons have been who out of a vehement desire of the Communion and a feeling affection of heart could not contain themselves from weeping but with the desire both of soul and body they earnestly longed after thee O God the living Fountain being not otherwise able to allay nor satisfie their hunger but by receiing thy body with all joy and spiritual greediness 2. O the most ardent faith of those persons A clear argument of thy sacred presence For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose heart burneth so mightily within them whilst thou O blessed Jesus conversest with them Such desire and devotion so vehement love and fervency is oftentimes far from me Be merciful unto me good Jesus sweet and gracious Lord and grant me thy poor needy creature to feed sometimes at least in this holy Communion somewhat of thy hearty affectionate love that my faith may be more strengthened my hope in thy goodness increased and that my charity once perfectly enflamed after the tasting of Heavenly Manna may never decay 3. Thy mercy O Lord is able to give me the grace I desire and to visit me most mercifully with the spirit of fervor when it shall please thee For although I burn not with so great desire as those that are so singularly devoted to thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to have this great inflamed desire praying and craving that I may participate with all such thy fervent lovers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and denial of our selves The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to seek the grace of devotion instantly to ask it earnestly to expect it patiently and with confidence to receive it gratefully to keep it humbly to work with it diligently and to commit the term and manner of this Heavenly visitation to God until it shall please him to come unto thee Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy self when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion and yet not to be too much dejected nor to grieve inordinately God often giveth in a short moment that which he hath long time denied he giveth sometimes in the end that which in the beginning of prayer he deferred to grant 2. If grace should be always presently given and at hand ever with a wish the weak Man could not well bear it Therefore the grace of devotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy self and thy sins when it is not given thee or when it is secretly taken away It is sometimes a small matter that hindereth and hideth grace from us if yet it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindereth so great a good And if thou remove this be it great or small and perfectly overcome it thou shalt have thy desire 3. For presently as soon as thou from thy whole heart givest thy self to God and seekest not this nor that for thine own pleasure or will but setlest thy self wholly in him thou shalt find thy self united and quiet for nothing will relish so well and please thee so much as the good pleasure of the divine will Whosoever therefore with a single heart lifteth up his intention to God and purgeth himself from all inordinate love or dislike of any created thing he shall be the most fit to receive grace and meet for the gist of devotion For the Lord bestoweth his blessings there where he findeth the vessels empty And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh these low things and the more he dieth to himself by contempt of himself so much the more speedily grace shall come and enter in more plentifully and raise up higher the heart that is thus free 4. Then shall he see and be filled and wonder and his heart shall be enlarged within him because the hand of the Lord is with him and he hath put himself wholly into his hands for ever Behold so shall the Man be blessed that seeketh God with his whole heart and busieth not his soul in vain This man obtaineth the great favor of divine union in receiving the holy Eucharist for that he respecteth not his own devotion and comfort but above all devotion and comfort the honor and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessities to Christ and crave his grace The voice of the Disciple O Most sweet and loving Lord whom I now desire to receive with all devotion thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sins and evils I am oppressed how often I am grieved tempted troubled and defiled I come unto thee for remedy I crave of thee comfort and succor I speak to him that knoweth all things to whom all my inward parts are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me Thou knowest what good things I stand in most need of and how poor I am in vertues 2. Behold I stand before thee poor and naked calling for grace and craving mercy Refresh thy hungry beggar inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love inlighten my blindness with the brightness of thy presence Turn all earthly things to me into bitterness all things grievous and cross into patience all low and created things into contempt and oblivion Lift up my heart to thee in Heaven and suffer me not to wander upon Earth Be thou only sweet unto me from henceforth for evermore for thou only
be cast upon thee For the love of Jesus maketh a man to despise himself A lover of Jesus and of the Truth and a true inward Christian and one free from inordinate affections can freely turn himself unto God and lift himself above himself in Spirit and with the greatest enjoyment of his Soul rest in God 7. He that judgeth of all things as they are and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God than men He that can live inwardly and make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of Religious exercises A Spiritual man quickly recollecteth himself because he never poureth out himself wholly to outward things He is not hindred by outward labor or business which may be necessary for the time But as things fall out so he frameth himself unto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth not for the strange and perverse carriages of men So much is a man hindred and distracted by how much he draweth external matters unto himself 8. If all went well with thee and if thou wert all purged all things would fall out to thy good and advantage But many things displease and often trouble thee because thou art not yet perfectly dead unto thy self nor separated from all earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the heart of man as the impure love to Creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of Heaven and often receive internal joy CHAP. II. Of humble submission REspect not much who is with thee or who is against thee But endeavor and take care that God may be with thee in every thing thou doest Have a good Conscience and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hold thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord will help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliver thee and therefore thou oughtest to resign thy self unto him It belongs to God to help and to deliver from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the keeping us more humble that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himself for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and delivereth the humble he loveth and comforteth the humble unto the humble man he enclineth himself unto the humble he giveth great Grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him unto Glory Unto the humble he revealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inviteth him unto himself The humble person though he suffer shame is yet in peace for that he resteth in God and not in the World Do not think that thou hast profited any thing unless thou esteem thy self inferior to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable Man FIrst keep thy self in peace and then mayst thou pacifie others A peaceable man doth more good than he that is well Learned A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily believeth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good He that is well in peace is not suspicious of any But he that is discontented and troubled is tossed with divers suspicions He is neither quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do He considereth what others are bound to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himself First therefore have a careful zeal over thy self and then thou mayst justly shew thy self zealous also of thy neighbors good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine own deeds and thou wilt not receive the excuses of others It were more meet that thou didst accuse thy self and excusest thy Brother If thou wilt be born withal bear also with another Behold how far off thou art yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moved with indignation but only against himself It is no great matter to converse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition for that is naturally pleasing to all and every one willingly enjoyeth peace and loveth those best that agree with him But to be able to live peaceably with unquiet and perverse men or with the disorderly or such as contradict us is a great grace and a very commendable and manly deed 3. Some there are that keep themselves in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselves nor suffer others to be in peace Some there are who are troublesome to others but always more troublesome to themselves And others there are that keep themselves in peace and labor to bring others unto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering than in not feeling adversities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himself in peace He is a conqueror of himself a Lord of the world a friend of Christ and heir of Heaven CHAP. IV. Of a pure mind and upright intention WIth Two wings Man is lifted up from earthly vanities that is with simplicity and purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity doth intend God Purity doth apprehend and take him No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from all inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing else but the will of God and the good of thy neighbor thou shalt enjoy internal liberty If thy heart were sincere and upright then every creature would be unto thee a looking glass of life and a book of holy doctrine There is no creature so little and abject that representeth not the goodness of God 2. If thou wert inwardly good and pure then thou wouldest be well able to see and understand all things without any impediment A pure heart penetrateth Heaven and Hell Such as every one is inwardly so he judgeth outwardly If there be joy in the world surely a Man of a pure heart possesseth it And if there be any where tribulation and affliction an evil conscience best feels it As Iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh all bright like fire so he that wholly turneth himself unto God is purged from all fulness and slothfulness and is changed into a new Man 3. When one beginneth to wax cold then he is afraid of a small labor and willingly receiveth external comfort But when he once beginneth to overcome himself perfectly and to walk manfully in the way of God then he esteemeth those things to be light which before seemed grievous unto him CHAP. V Of the consideration of ones self WE cannot trust much to our selves for that grace oftentimes and understanding is wanting There is but little light in us and that which we have
Prophets from the beginning and cease not in these days to speak to every one but many are hardned and deaf to my speech The greater number do more willingly listen to the world than to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh than the will of God The world promiseth temporal and small things and is served with great eagerness I promise most high and eternal things and the hearts of Men are nothing moved therewith Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me with equal care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are served Blush O Sidon saith the Sea And if thou ask the cause hear wherefore For a little Prebend a long journey is undertaken for everlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny sometimes there is foul contention sor a vain thing and sleight promise Men cease not to toil day and night 3. But alas for an unchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honor and glory without end they are loth to take the least pains Blush therefore slothful and complaining Servant that they are found to be more ready to distruction than thou to life They rejoyce more in vanity than thou in the truth And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceiveth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will give that which I have promised I will fulfil that which I have said but to him that remains faithful in my love to the end I am the rewarder of all that are good and do try my devout servants with strong trials 4. Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them for they will be very necessary in time of temptation What thou understandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visit my elect two several ways to wit with temptation and comfort And I daily read two lessons unto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of virtues He that hath my words and despiseth them hath within himself that shall judg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of devotion 5. O Lord my God thou art to me whatsoever is good Who am I that dare speak unto thee I am thy poorest servant and a most vile worm much more poor and contemptible than I can or dare express Remember yet O Lord that I am nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good just and holy thou canst do all things thou doest all things thou fillest all things only the sinner thou sendest empty away Remember thy mercies and fill my heart with thy grace who will not that thy works be void and in vain 6. How can I bear up my self in this miserable life unless thou strengthen me with thy mercy and grace Turn not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort lest my soul become as the thirsty land unto thee Lord teach me to fulfil thy will teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdom thou dost truly know me and didst know me before the world was made and before I was born in the world CHAP. IV. That we ought to live in truth and humility before God CHrist. Son walk before me in sincerity and truth and ever seek me in simplicity of heart He that walketh before me in truth shall be defended from evil incursions and the Truth shall deliver him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked If the Truth shall have made thee free thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for the vain speeches of Men. Christian. Lord it is true According as thou saidst so I beseech thee let it be with me let thy Truth teach me and keep me and bring me safe to an happy end Let it deliver me from all evil affection and inordinate love and I shall walk with thee in great freedom of heart 2. Christ. I will teach thee saith the Truth these things that are right and pleasing in my sight Think of thy sins with great displeasure and grief and never esteem thy self any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner thou art subject to and encumbred with may passions Of thy self thou always tendest to nothing thou art quickly cast down quickly overcome quickly troubled quickly dissolved Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory but many things for which thou oughtest to despise thy self for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend 3. And therefore let nothing seem much unto thee whatsoever thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderful let nothing seem worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly and commendable to be desired but that which is everlasting Let the eternal Truth above all things please thee Let thy own great unworthiness always displease thee Fear nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy vices and sins which ought to displease more than the losses of any thing whatsoever Some walk not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity and pride will know my secrets and understand the high things of God neglecting themselves and their own salvation These oftentimes for that I resist them do fall into great temptations and sins for their pride and curiosity 4. Fear the judgments of God dread the wrath of the Almighty But discuss not the works of the highest Search thine own iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their religion only in Books some in pictures some in outward signs and figures Some have me in their mouths but little in their hearts There are others that being illuminated in their understandings and purged in their affection do always breath after things eternal and are unwilling to hear of the things of this world and do serve the necessities of nature with grief and these perceive what the Spirit of Truth speaketh in them because it teacheth them to despise Earthly and love Heavenly things to neglect the world and all the day and night to desire Heaven CHAP. V. Of the wonderful effect of divine Love CHristian I praise thee O Heavenly Father Father of my Lord Jesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poor Creature O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be unto thee who sometimes with thy comfort refreshest me unworthy of all comfort I ever bless and glorifie thee with thy only begotten Son and the holy Ghost for ever and ever O Lord God the holy lover of my soul when thou shalt come into my heart all that is within me will rejoyce Thou art my glory and the exultation of my heart Thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weak in love and imperfect in virtue I have need therefore
to be strengthened and comforted by thee visit me therefore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliver me from evil passions and heal my heart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to Love strong to suffer and constant to persevere 3. Love is a great thing in very truth a great good which alone maketh every thing that is heavy light and beareth equally that which is unequal For it carrieth a Burden without a Burden and maketh every thing that is bitter sweet and savoury The noble Love of Jesus inforceth Man to do great things and stirreth him up to desire always what is most perfect Love will be aloft and not kept down with any base thing Love will be free and loose from all worldly affection to the end its inward sight be not prejudiced that it be not either entangled by any temporal prosperity or subdued by adversity Nothing is sweeter than Love nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more large nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in Heaven or in Earth Because Love is born of God and cannot rest but in God above all Creatures 4. He that loveth flyeth runneth and rejoyceth he is free and not held in He giveth all for all and hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest above all from whence all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the gifts but turneth himself above all goods unto the giver Love oftentimes knoweth no measure but is inflamed above all measure Love feeleth no burden weigheth no pains desireth above its strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawful and possible It is therefore able to undertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to pass whereas he that doth not Love fainteth and lyes down 5. Love watcheth and sleeping sleepeth not Being wearied is not tired straitned is not pressed frightned is not troubled But like a lively flame and burning Torch breaking upwards and securely passeth through all If any one loveth he knoweth what this voice cryeth A loud cry in the ears of God is the ardent affection of the Soul which saith My God my Love thou art wholly mine and I wholly thine 6. Enlarge me in Love that with the inward mouth of my heart I may taste how sweet it is to Love and to be melted and swim in thy Love Let me be possessed by Love mounting above my self with excessive fervor and admiration Let me Sing the Song of Love let me follow thee on high my Beloved let my Soul rejoycing through Love spend it self in thy Praise Let me Love thee more than my self and not my self but for thee and all in thee that truly Love thee as the law of Love commandeth which shineth out from thee 7. Love is swift sincere pious pleasant and delightful strong patient faithful prudent long-suffering manly and never seeking it self For where one seeketh himself there he falleth from Love Love is circumspect humble and upright not softly nor light not attending unto vain things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Love is subject and obedient to Superiors mean and abject to it self devout and thankful unto God trusting and hoping always in him even then when God imparteth no sweetness unto it For without sorrow none liveth in Love 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloved is not worthy to be called a Lover A Lover ought to embrace willingly all that is hard and distasteful for his Beloved and not to turn away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP VI. Of the proof of a true Lover CHrist. Son thou art not yet a strong and prudent Lover Christian. Wherefore Lord Christ. Because thou givest over for a small adversity and too greedily seekest comfort A strong Lover standeth firmly in temptations and giveth not credit to the crafty perswasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity so I am not unpleasant to him in adversity 2. A prudent Lover considereth not so much the gift of his Lover as the Love of the giver He rather esteemeth the good will than the value and placeth all gifts under his Beloved A noble Lover resteth not in the gift but in me above every gift All therefore is not lost if sometimes thou hast less taste of me than thou wouldest That good and sweet affection which thou sometimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certain fore-taste of the heavenly Country whereon thou mayest not rely too much for it goeth and cometh But to fight against evil motions of the mind which may happen unto thee and to despise the suggestions of the Devil is a notable sign of virtue and shall have great reward 3. Let not therefore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoever trouble thee Retain a strong purpose and an upright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddenly rapt on high and presently returnest again unto the accustomed vanities of thy heart For thou dost rather unwillingly suffer them than commit them and as long as they displease thee and thou strivest against them it is matter of reward and no loss 4. Know that thy antient enemy doth ever strive to hinder thy desire to good and to deliver thee from all religious exercise to wit from the devout memory of my passion from the profitable remembrance of thy sins from the guard of thine own heart and from the firm purpose of profiting in virtue He injecteth many evil thoughts into thy mind that he may cause a wearisomness and horror in thee to draw thee from Prayer and Holy reading Humble confession is displeasing unto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receiving the Sacrament Trust him not nor care for him although he should often set snares of deceit to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth evil and unclean thoughts unto thee Say unto him Away unclean Spirit blush miserable wretch thou art very unclean that bringest such things unto mine ears Away from me wicked deceiver thou shalt have no part in me But Jesus shall be with me as a strong Warrior and thou shalt stand confounded I had rather die and undergo any torment than consent unto thee Hold thy peace and be silent I will hear thee no more though thou shouldest work me many troubles The Lord is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear If whole Armies should stand together against me my heart shall not fear The Lord is my helper and my redeemer 5. Fight like a good Soldier and if thou sometimes fall through frailty take greater strength than before trusting in my more abundant grace and take great heed of vain pleasing of thy self and of pride This brings many into error and makes them sometimes fall into almost incurable blindness Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of
be specially beloved if thou be in great devotion and sweetness for by these things a true lover of virtue is not known neither doth the profiting and perfection of a Man consist in these things 3. Christian. Wherein then Lord Christ. In offering thy self with all thy heart unto the will of God not seeking thine own interest neither in great nor little neither for a time nor for ever so that thou keepest one and the same countenance with thanksgiving both in prosperity and in adversity weighing all things with an equal balance If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee thou preparest thy heart to suffer greater things and dost not justify thy self as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justifiest me in whatsoever I appoint and praisest my Holy name Then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace And thou shalt have undoubted hope to see my face again with great joy And if thou attain to the full contempt of thy self then shalt thou enjoy as great abundance of peace as this thy state of sojourning in this World is capable of CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble Prayer sooner gaineth than Reading CHristian Lord it is the work of a perfect Man never to slack his mind from the attentive thought of heavenly things and as it were to pass without care amongst many cares not like a dull sluggard but by the priviledge of a free mind adhering to no creature with inordinate affection 2. I beseech thee my most gracious God preserve me from the cares of this Life lest I should be too much entangled thereby And for the many necessities of the body lest I should be caught by pleasure And from whatsoever is an obstacle to the Soul lest broken with troubles I should be overthrown I say not from those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth But from those miseries that as punishments and as the common curse of mortality do weigh down and hinder the Soul of thy Servant that it cannot enter into freedom of Spirit as often as it would 3. O my God the ineffable sweetness embitter unto me all carnal comfort which may draw me away from the love of eternal things and may wickedly allure me to it self by the beholding of some present delightsome good Let me not be overcome O Lord let me not be overcome by flesh and blood Let not the World and the short glory thereof deceive me Let not the Devil and his subtil fraud supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to suffer and constancy to persevere Give me instead of all the comforts of the World the most sweet unction of thy Spirit and in lieu of carnal Love pour into my Soul the Love of thy name 4. Behold Meat Drink Cloaths and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome unto a fervent Spirit Grant me to use such refreshments moderately and not to be intangled with an over great desire of them It is not lawful to cast away all things for that nature is to be sustained But to desire superfluities and those things that are rather pleasurable thy holy Law forbiddeth For otherwise the flesh would Rebel against the Spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand govern me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That private Love most hindreth from the chiefest Good CHrist. Son thou oughtest to give all for all and to retain nothing of thy self Know that the Love of thy self doth hurt thee more than any thing in the World According to the Love and affection thou bearest them so doth every thing cleave unto thee more or less If thy love be pure simple and well ordered thou shalt be free from the bondage of things Covet not that which thou mayest not have Be not willing to have that which may hinder thee and deprive thee of inward liberty It is strange that thou committest not thy self wholly unto me from the bottom of thy heart with all things that thou canst desire or have 2. Why dost thou consume thy self with vain grief Why art thou tired with needless cares stand to my good will and thou shalt suffer no detriment at all If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be here or there to enjoy thine own commodity and pleasure thou shalt never be at quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in every thing somewhat will be wanting and in every place there will be some that will cross thee 3. Not every external thing therefore attained and heaped together helpeth thee but it rather availeth if thou despise it and dost utterly root it out from thy heart which thou must not understand only of thy revenues and wealth but of thy seeking after honor also and thy desire of vain praise all which do pass away with this world The place availeth little if the spirit of fervor be wanting neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation that is unless thou stand stedfast in me thou mayest change but not better thy self For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find not only those things which thou soughtest to fly but a great deal more A Prayer for purging the heart and obtaining of Heavenly wisdom 4. Christian. Strengthen me O God by the grace of thy holy Spirit Give me to be strengthened in my inward Man and to empty my heart of all unprofitable care and anguish not to be drawn away with the sundry desires of any thing either mean or precious but to look upon all things as passing away and that my self do also pass away together with them for nothing is permanent under the Sun where all things are vanity and vexation of spirit O how wise is he that so considereth them 5. Grant me Lord Heavenly wisdom that I may learn above all things to seek and find thee above all things to relish thee and to love thee and to think of all other things as they are according to the disposal of thy wisdom Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me For it is a great part of wisdom not to be moved with every blast of words nor to give ear to an ill flattering Syren for so we shall go on securely in the way which we have begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the Tongues of Slanderers CHrist. Son take it not grievously if some think evil of thee and speak that which thou wouldest not willingly hear Thou oughtest to judg the worst of thy self and to think no Man weaker than thy self If thou dost walk spiritually thou wilt not much esteem of flying words It is no small wisdom to keep silence in an evil time and inwardly to run to me and not to be troubled with the judgment of Men. 2. Let not thy peace be in the