and rather frame thy selfe to the profit of others then to thine owne deuotion or desire CHAP. XI That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faythfull soule The voice of the Disciple OMOST sweet Lord Iesu how great is the delight of a deuout soule that feasteth with thee in thy banquet where there is no other meate offered to be eaten but thy selfe her only beloued and most to be desired aboue all the desires of her hart And verily it would be a great comfort vnto me to powre out teares from the bottome of my hart in thy presence Luc. 7. and with deuout Magdalen to wash thy feet with the teares of mine eyes But where is this deuotion Where is so plentifull shedding of holy teares Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels my whole hart should be inflamed and dissolue into teares for ioy For I enioy thee in the Sacrament really present although hidden vnder another forme 2. For to behould thee in thine owne diuine brightnesse mine eyes would not be able to endure it neither could the whole world stand in the clearnesse of the glory of thy Maiesty Thou therfore prouidest for my weaknesse in that thou couerest thy selfe vnder the Sacrament I do really enioy and adore him whome the Angels adore in heauen but I as yet for the time in faith they in his proper forme and without shaddow I ought to be contented with the light of true faith and to walke therin vntill the day of euerlasting brightnesse breake forth and the shaddowes of figures passe away But when that shall come which is perfect 1. Cor. 13. the vse of Sacraments shall cease For the blessed in heauenly glory need not the remedy of Sacraments who reioyce without end in the presence of God behoulding his glory face to face and being trāsformed by his brightnesse into the brightnesse of the incomprehensible Deity they tast the word of God made flesh as he was from the beginning and as he remaineth for euer 3. Whilst I remember these thy wonderfull works all spirituall cōfort whatsoeuer becometh very tedious vnto me for that as long as I behould not my Lord openly in his glory I make no accompt of whatsoeuer I see or heare in this life Thou art my witnes o God that nothing can comfort me no creature giue me rest but thou my God whome I desire to behould euerlastingly But this is not possible whilst I remaine in this mortall life Therfore I must frame my selfe to much patience submit my selfe to thee in all my desires Heb 10. 11. For thy Saints also o Lord who now reioyce with thee in the Kingdome of heauen whilest they liued expected in faith and great patience the comming of thy glory What they belieued I belieue what they hoped for I expect whither they are come I trust I shall come by thy grace In the meane time I will goe forward in faith strengthened by the examples of the Saints I haue also deuout bookes for my comfort and for the guide of my life and aboue all these thy most holy Body for a singular remedie and refuge 4. For I perceaue two things to be chiefly necessary for me in this life without which this miserable life would be insupportable vnto me Whilst I am kept in the prison of this bodie I acknowledge my selfe to stand in need of two things to wit food and light Thou hast therfore giuen vnto me Ioan. 6. weake creature thy sacred Bodie for the refection of my soule bodie and hast set thy word as a light vnto my feet Psal 118. without these two I could not well liue For the word of God is the light of the soule thy Sacrament the bread of life Psal 22. Heb. 9. c 13. These also may be called the two tables set on the one side the other in the store-house of the holy Church One is the table of the holy Altar conteyning the sacred bread that is the precious body of Christ the other is of the diuine law conteyning holy doctrine teaching true faith and certainely leading to the part of the Temple within the veile where are the Holy of Holies Thanks be vnto thee Lord Iesu light of euerlasting light for thy table of holy doctrine at which thou seruest vs by thy seruants the Prophets and Apostles other Doctours 5. Thanks be vnto thee Creatour and Redeemer of man who to manifest thy charity to the whole world hast prepared a great supper Luc. 14. wherin thou hast offered to be eaten not the mysticall lambe but thine owne most sacred Body and Bloud Ioan. 6. reioycing all the faithfull with thy holy banquet and replenishing them to the full with thy heauenly Cuppe Psal 22. in which are all the delights of heauen Sap. 16. and the holy Angels do feast with vs but with a more happy sweetnesse 6. O how great and honorable is the office of Priests to whome it is graunted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Maiesty with their lips to blesse him with their hands to hould him with their own mouth to receaue him and to administer him to others O how cleane ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the body How vnspotted the hart of the Priest into whome the Author of purity so often entreth Nothing but holy no word but chast and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receaueth the Sacrament of Christ 7. Simple and chast ought to be the eyes that are wont to behould the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted vp to heauen that vse to handle the Creator of heauen and earth Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Be ye holy Leuit. 19. 20. for that I your Lord God am holy 8. Assist vs Almighty God with thy grace that we who haue vndertaken the office of Priesthood may serue thee worthily and deuoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience And if we cannot liue in so great innocency as we ought to do graunt vs notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we haue committed and in the spirit of humility and sincere intention to serue thee heerafter with more feruour CHAP. XII That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence The voice of the Beloued I AM the louer of purity Psal 23. Matt. 5. and the giuer of all sanctitie I seek a pure hart and there is the place of my rest Marc. 14. Luc. 22. Make ready adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Pasch with my Disciples If thou wilt haue me come vnto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leauen 1. Cor. 5. and make cleane the dwelling of thy hart shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices sit like a sparrow
how sweet and comfortable a thing it is to see the seruants of Christ feruent and deuout endued with vertuous and decent manners And on the contrary how pittifull and grieuous a thing it is to see them that liue in a dissolute and disordered sort not applying themselues to that for which they were called O how great domage and great danger it is to neglect the good purposes of their vocation and to busy themselues in that which appertaineth not vnto them Eccles 3. nor is committed to their care 6. Be mindfull of the purpose thou hast made and haue alwaies before the eyes of thy soule the picture of thy Sauiour crucifyed Thou hast good cause to be ashamed looking vpon the life of Christ seing thou hast so slackly endeauoured to conforme thy selfe vnto him though thou hast walked a long time in the way of the seruice of God A religious person that exerciseth himselfe seriously and deuoutly in the most holy life and passion of our Lord shall there aboundantly find whatsoeuer is necessary and profitable for him neither shall he need to seeke any thing elswhere Gal. 2. 6. but only in Iesus O if Iesus crucifyed would come into our harts how quickly and fully should we be instructed in all truth 7. A feruent religious person taketh and beareth all well that is commanded him but he that is negligent and cold hath tribulation vpon tribulation and on all sides is afflicted for he is void of inward consolation is forbidden to seck externall comforts A religious person that liueth not according to discipline is in great danger of the ruine of his soule He that seeketh liberty and ease shall euer liue in disquiet for one thing or other will alwaies displease him 8. How do so many other religious persons who liue vnder the strict rule of Monasticall discipline They seldome go abroad they liue retiredly they feed meanly they are cloathed coursely they labour much speak little watch long rise early spend much time in prayer read often and keep themselues in all kind of discipline Consider the Carthusians Cistercians and the Religious men and women of diuers Orders how they rise euery night to sing praises vnto God And how vnseemly then it is for thee to be slouthfull in so holy a worke when as so great multitudes of religious persons do begin to glorify God 9. O that we had nothing els to do but alwaies with our mouth and whole hart to praise our Lord God! O that thou mightest neuer haue need to eate nor drinke nor sleepe but mightest alwaies praise God and only imploy thy selfe in the exercises of spirit thou shouldst then be much more happy then now thou art when for so many necessities thou art cōstrained to serue thy body Would God these necessities were not at all but only the spirituall refections of the soule which alas we tast of too seldome 10. When a man commeth to that estate that he seeketh no comfort of any creature then doth he begin to take perfect contentment delight in God Then shall he be contented with whatsoeuer doth befall him in this world Then shall he neither reioyce in great matters Rom. 11. nor be sorrowfull for small but with great integrity and confidence commit himselfe to God who shall be vnto him all in all to whom nothing doth perish nor dy but all things do liue vnto him and serue him at a beck without delay 11. Remember alwaies the end Eccles 7. and how that time lost neuer returnes Without care and diligence thou shalt neuer get vertues If thou beginnest to wax could Apoc. 3. it will be euill with thee but if thou giue thy selfe to feruour of spirit thou shalt find much peace and feele lesse labour through the assistance of Gods grace and loue of vertue The feruent and diligent man is ready and prepared for all things Eccls. 19. It is harder to resist vices and passions then to toile in bodily labours He that auoideth not small faults by little and little falleth into greater Thou wilt alwaies reioyce in the euening if thou spend the day profitably Be watchfull ouer thy selfe stir vp thy selfe warne thy selfe and whatsoeuer becomes of others neglect not thy selfe The greater violence thou vsest against thy selfe the more thou shalt profit The end of the first Booke OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. Of spirituall conuersation THE kingdome of God is within you Luc 7. saith our Lord. Ioel. 2. Turne thee with thy whole hart vnto our Lord and forsake this miserable world and thy soule shall find rest Learne to despise exteriour things Rom. 19. to giue thy self to the interiour thou shalt perceaue the kingdome of God to come into thee For the king dome of God is peace and ioy in the holy Ghost which is not giuen to the wicked Christ will come vnto thee Psal 44. and shew thee his diuine comfort if thou prepare for him a worthy mansion within thee All his glory and beauty is within and there he pleaseth himselfe The inward man he often visits and hath with him sweet discourses pleasant comfort much peace wonderfull familiarity 2. O faithfull soule make ready thy hart for this bridegrome that he may vouchsafe to come vnto thee and dwell within thee For he saith If any loue me he wil keep my word and we will come vnto him Ioan. 14. and will make our aboad with him Giue therfore vnto Christ a place in thy hart and deny entrance to all others When thou hast Christ thou art rich and he wil suffice thee He will be thy faithfull and prouident helper in all things so as thou shalt not need to trust in men For men are soone changed and quickly decay but Christ remaineth for euer Ioan. 12. and standeth firmely vnto the end 3. There is little trust to be put in a fraile and mortall man Hier. 17. though he be profitable and deare vnto thee neither oughtest thou much to be grieued if somtimes he crosse and contradict thee They that to day take thy part to morrow may be against thee and so on the contrary they often turne like vnto the wind Put all thy trust in God and feare and loue him 1. Pet. 5. Heb. 13. He will answere for thee and do in al things what is best Thou hast not heere a dwelling Citty and whersoeuer thou be thou art a stranger and pilgrime neither shalt thou euer haue rest vnlesse thou be perfectly vnited vnto Christ 4. Why dost thou linger and make delaies heere Phil. 3. since this is not the place of thy rest In heauē ought to be thy dwelling Sap. 5. and all earthly things are to be regarded as it were in the way All things passe away and thou togeather with them Beware thou cleaue not vnto them least thou be enthralled and so doest perish Let thy thought be on the highest
as long as aduersities happen not Many praise and blesse him as long as they receaue any comfort from him But if Iesus hide himself and leaue them but a while they fall either into complaint or into too much deiection of mind 2. But they that loue Iesus for Iesus and not for some comfort of their owne blesse him in all tribulation and anguish of hart as well as in the greatest cōfort And although he should neuer giue them comfort they notwithstanding would euer prayse him and alwaies giue him thankes 3. O how powerfull is the pure loue of Iesus Phil. 2. which is mixed with no selfe-loue nor proper interest Are they not all to be called hirelings that euer seeke comforts Do they not shew themselues to be rather louers of themselues then of Christ that alwaies thinke of their commoditie gaine Where may one be found that will serue God without looking for reward 4. It is hard to find any one so spirituall that is free from the loue of all earthly things For where is any that is indeed poore in spirit and free from all affection of creatures Far hence Prou. 31. and from the end of the world is his price If a man should giue all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should do great pennance yet is it little And if he should attaine to all knowledg he is yet far off And if he should haue great vertue and very feruent deuotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him Matt. 16. What is that That leauing all he forsake himselfe and go perfectly from himselfe and retaine nothing of selfe-loue And when he hath done al that he knoweth to be done let him thinke that he hath done nothing 5. Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirme himselfe to be an vnprofitable seruant as our Sauiour hath sayd When you shall haue done al things that are commanded you say We are vnprofitable seruants Luc. 17. Then may he be truly poore in spirit and naked and say with the Prophet Psal 24. I am alone and poore yet no man richer no man more powerfull no man more free thē he that can leaue himselfe and all things and put himselfe in the meanest and lowest place CHAP. XII Of the high way of the holy Crosse VNTO many seemeth hard this speach Deny thy selfe take vp thy Crosse Matt. 16. and follow Iesus But it will be much harder to heare that last word Get yee away from me Matt. 15. yee cursed into euerlasting fire For they that now willingly heare and follow the word of the Crosse shall not then feare to heare the sentence of euerlasting damnation This signe of the Crosse shall be in heauen when our Lord shall come to iudgment Then all the seruants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselues vnto Christ crucified shal draw neer vnto our Lord with great confidence 2. Why therfore fearest thou to take vp the Crosse which leadeth thee to a kingdome In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is protection against our enemies in the Crosse is infusion of heauenly sweetnes in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is ioy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity There is nor health of the soule nor hope of euerlasting life but in the Crosse Take vp therfore thy Crosse and follow Iesus thou shalt go into life euerlasting Luc. 14. He is gone before bearing his Crosse and is dead for thee on the Crosse Ioan. 19. that thou maiest also beare thy Crosse desire to dy on the Crosse with him For if thou dyest with him thou shalt also liue with him And if thou be his companion in payne 2. Cor. 1. thou shalt be partaker with him also in glory 3. Behould in the Crosse al doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life vpon it for there is no other way vnto life and vnto true inward peace but the way of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification Go where thou wilt seeke whatsoeuer thou wilt thou shalt not find a higher way aboue nor a safer way below then the way of the holy Crosse Dispose order all thinges according to thy will and iudgment yet thou shall euer find that of necessity thou must suffer somewhat either willingly or against thy will so as thou shalt neuer fully auoide the Crosse For either thou shalt feele payne in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 4. Somtimes thou shalt be forsaken of God somtimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbours which is more oftentimes thou shalt be irksome to thy selfe neither canst thou be deliuered or eased by any remedy or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it For God will haue thee learne to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholy to him and become more humble by tribulation No man hath so liuely a feeling of the passion of Christ as he who hath chaunced to suffer the like The Crosse therfore is alwayes ready euery where attendeth thee Thou canst not escape it whither soeuer thou flyest for whersoeuer thou goest thou carriest thy selfe with thee and shalt euer finde thy selfe both aboue and below without within which way soeuer thou doest turne thee alwayes thou shalt find the Crosse and euery where of necessity thou must haue patience if thou wilt haue inward peace and deserue an euerlasting Crowne 5. Yf thou beare the Crosse willingly it will beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shal be an end of suffering though heere there shall not Yf thou beare it vnwillingly thou makest for thy selfe a new burthen and increasest thy loade and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it Yf thou cast away one Crosse without doubt thou shalt find another that perhaps a more heauy 6. Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could euer auoyd Which of the Saintes in the world was without Crosses and tribulations Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was neuer one houre without paine of suffering so long as he liued Christ saith he ought to suffer Luc. 24. rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory and how doest thou seek any other way then this high way which is the way of the holy Crosse 7. The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seeke rest and ioy Thou art deceaued thou art deceaued if thou seekest any other thing then to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries Iob. 7. and inuironed on euery side with Crosses And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heauier Crosses he oftentymes findeth for the loue he beareth to
Behould thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skum of sinners behold thou bowest thy selfe downe vnto me who am not worthy so much as to looke vp vnto thee Behould thou commest vnto me it is thy will to be with me Psal 77. thou inuitest me to thy banquet Ioan. 6. Thou wilt giue me the food of heauen and bread of Angels to eate which is no other truely then thy selfe the liuely bread that descendest from heauen and giuest life vnto the world 4. Behould from whence this loue proceedeth what kind of fauour and benignity is this which shineth vpon vs What thankes and praises are due vnto thee for these benefits O how good and profitable was thy counsell when thou ordainedst it How sweet pleasant the banquet when thou gauest thy selfe to be our food How wonderfull thy worke o Lord how powerfull thy vertue how vnspeakable thy truth For thou saidst the word Gen. 1 Psal 148. and all things were made this was done which thou commanndest 5. A thing of grâ—at admiration and worthy of faith and surpassing the vnderstanding of man that thou my Lord God true God Man shouldest be wholy coÌ„teyned vnder a small forme of bread wine and shouldest be eaten by the receauer without being coÌ„sumed Thou who art the Lord of all things and standest in need of none hast pleased to dwell in vs by meanes of this thy Sacrament preserue my heart and body vnspotted that with a cheerfull and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receaue theÌ„ to my euerlasting health which thou hast chiefly ordained instituted for thy honour and perpetuall memory 6. Reioyce my soule and giue thanks vnto God for so noble a gift and singular comfort left vnto thee in this vale of teares For as often as thou callest to mind this mysterie and receauest the body of Christ so often dost thou worke the worke of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ For the charity of Christ is neuer diminished and the greatnesse of his mercy is neuer lessened Therefore thou oughtest alwaies to dispose thy selfe hereunto by a fresh renewing of thy mind and to weigh with attentiue consideration this great mystery of thy saluation So great new and ioyfull it ought to seeme vnto thee when thou sayest or hearest Masse as if the same day Christ first descending into the wombe of the Virgin were become man or hanging on the crosse did suffer and dye for the saluation of mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often BEHOLD o Lord I come vnto thee Ps 67. that I may be comforted in thy gift and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou o Lord hast prepared in thy sweetnesse for the poore Behold in thee is all whatsoeuer I can or ought to desire thou art my health and my redeÌ„ption my hope and my strength my honour and my glory Make ioyfull therefore this day the soule of thy seruant Psal 85. for that I haue lifted it vp to thee my sweet Iesus I desire to receaue thee now with deuotion and reuerence I do long to bring thee into my house that with Zachaeus I may deserue to be blessed by thee and numbred amongst the children of Abraham My soule thirsteth to receaue thy body my heart desireth to be vnited with thee 2. Giue thy selfe to me and it sufficeth For besides thee no comfort is auailable I cannot be without thee nor liue without thy visitation And therefore I must often come vnto thee and receaue thee as the only remedy of my health least perhaps I faint in the way if I be depriued of thy heauenly food For so most mercifull Iesus thou once didst say preaching to the people and curing sundry diseases Matt 15. I will not send them home fasting Matt. 8. least they faint in the way Deale thou therfore in like maÌ„ner now with me who hast vouchsafed to leaue thy selfe in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithfull For thou art the sweet refection of the soule and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heire of euerlasting glory It is necessary for me that do so often fall and sinne so quickly wax dull and faint that by often praiers confession and receauing of thy sacred body I renew clense and inflame my selfe least perhaps by long abstayning I fall from my holy purpose 3. For man is prone vnto euill from his youth Gen. 8. and vnlesse this diuine remedie help him he quickly slideth to worse This holy CoÌ„munion therfore draweth back from euill and comforteth in good For if I be now so often slack and negligent when I communicate or say Masse what would become of me if I receaued not this remedy and sought not after so great a help Though euery day I be not fit nor well prepared to say Masse I will endeauour notwithstanding at conuenient times to receaue the diuine mysteries and make my selfe partaker of so great a grace For this is the onely chiefe comfort of a faithfull soule whilst she wandreth froÌ„ thee in this mortall body that being mindfull of her God she often receaue her Beloued with a deuout mind 4. O wonderfull benignity of thy mercy towards vs that thou Lord God the Creatour and giuer of life to all spirits doest vouchsafe to come vnto a poore soule with thy whole Godhead and humanity to replenish her hunger O happy mind and blessed soule that deserueth to receaue thee her Lord God with deuout affection and in receauing of thee to be filled with spirituall ioy O how great a Lord doth she intertaine How beloued a ghest doth she harbour how pleasant a companion doth she receaue how faithful a friend doth she accept how beautifull and noble a spouse doth she imbrace she imbraceth him who is to be loued aboue all that is beloued and aboue all things that may be desired Let heauen and earth and all their beauty be sileÌ„t in thy presence For what beauty and praise soeuer they haue it is receaued from thy bounty and shall not equall the beauty of thy name of whose wisdome there is no end Psal 146. CHAP. IIII. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that communicate deuoutly The voice of the Disciple MY Lord God Psal 20. preuent thy seruant in the blessings of thy sweetnesse that I may deserue to approach worthily and deuoutly to thy holy Sacrament stirre vp my heart vnto thee and deliuer me froÌ„ all heauines and slouth Psal 105. visit me with thy comfort that I may tast in spirit thy sweetnesse which plentifully lyeth hid in this Sacrament as a fountaine Giue light also to mine eyes to behold lo great a mystery and strengthen me to belieue it with vndoubted faith For it is thy worke and not mans power thy sacred institution not mans inuention For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend vnderstand these things
thing which we desire pag. 166. That true comfort is to be sought in God alone pag. 169. That all our care is to be placed in God pag. 171. That temporall miseries by the exāple of Christ are to be born patiently pag. 173. Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truly patient pag. 175. Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity and of the miseries of this life pag. 178. That we are to rest in God aboue all his gifts pag. 181. Of the remembrance of the manifould benefits of God pag. 186. Of foure things that bring much peace pag. 190. Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others pag. 193. VVherin doth the firme peace of the hart and true profit consist pag. 194. Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer bettter deserueth then reading pag. 197. That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good pag. 199. Against the tongue of Slaūderers pag. 202. How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere pag. 203. Of crauing the diuine aide confidence of recouering grace pag. 205. Of the contempt of all creatures to find our Creatour pag. 209. Of the denyall of our selues and for saking our affections pag. 212. Of Inconstancy of hart and of directing our finall intentions vnto God pag. 215. That God is sweet aboue all things and in all things to him that loueth pag. 216. That there is no security from temptation in this life pag. 219. Against the vain iudgmēts of men pag. 221. Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtaining freedome of hart pag. 223. Of good gouernment in outward things of recourse to God in dāgers pag. 226. That a man be not ouer earnest in his affaires pag. 228. That man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing wherof he can glory pag. 229. Of the cōtempt of all temporal honours pag. 232. That our peace is not to be placed in men pag. 233. Against vain secular knowledg pag. 235. Of not drawing outward things to our selues pag. 238. That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words pag. 239. Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise pag. 243. That all grieuous things are to be endured for life euer lasting pag. 247. Of the euerlasting day and shortnesse of this life pag. 249. Of the desire of euerlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly pag. 254. How a desolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God pag. 259. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in works of humilty when force is wāting for higher exercises pag. 265. That a man ought to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes pag. 266. That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things pag. 269. Of the different motions of Nature Grace pag. 272. Of the corruption of nature efficacy of diuine grace pag. 278. That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse pag. 282. That a man be not too much deiected whē he falleth into some defects pag. 285. Of not searching into high matters and into the secret iudgmēts of God pag. 288. That all our hope trust is to be fixed in God alone pag. 295. THE FOVRTH BOOKE VVITH how great reuerence Christ is to be receaued pag. 300. That great goodnesse charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament pag. 308. That it is profitable to communicate often pag. 313. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that cōmunicate deuoutly pag. 317. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function pag. 321. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion pag. 325. Of the discussing of our owne conscience purpose of amendment pag. 326. Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse resignation of our selues pag. 329. That we ought to offer vp our selues and all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all pag. 331. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne pag. 335. That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faithfull soule pag. 340. That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence pag. 346. That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole hart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament pag. 349. Of the feruent desire of some deuout persōs to receaue the body of Christ pag. 352. That the grace of deuotiō is obtained by humility denial of our selues pag. 354. That we ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ to craue his grace pag. 357. Of burning loue and vehement desire to receaue Christ pag. 359. That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacramēt but an hūble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith pag. 363. OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world HE that followeth me Ioan. 8. walketh not in darknesse saith our Lord. These are the words of Christ by which we are admonished that we ought to imitate his life and manners if we will be partakers of his diuine light and be deliuered from all blindnesse of hart Let therfore our chiefest care be to meditate vpon the life of Iesus Christ 2. The doctrine of Christ exceedeth all the doctrine of the Saints and he that had the light of spirit would discouer therin a secret and hidden Manna But it falleth out that many who often heare the Ghospell of Christ do yet feele in themselues but slender motion of any holy desire because they are void of the spirit of Christ But whosoeuer will fully and feelingly vnderstand the words of Christ must endeauour to conforme his life wholy to the life of Christ 3. What will it auaile thee to dispute profoundly of the Trinity if thou be voyd of humility and therby displeasing to the Trinity High words surely make a man neither holy nor iust but a vertuous life maketh him deare to God I had rather feele compunction then vnderstand the definition therof 1. Cor. 13. If thou didest know the whole Bible by hart and the sayings of all the Philosophers what would all that profit thee without charity and the grace of God Vanity of vanities and all is vanity but only to loue God Eccles 1. and wholy to serue him This is the highest wisdome by contempt of the world to tend towards the Kingdome of heauen 4. It is therfore vanity to seeke after fading riches and to repose trust in them It is also vanity to gape after honours and to climbe to high degrees It is vanity to follow the appetites of the flesh and to labour for that for which thou must afterwards suffer more grieuous punishment Vanity it is to wish to liue long and to be carelesse to liue well It is vanity to mind only
this present life and not to foresee those things which are to come It is vanity to set thy loue on that which speedily passeth away and not to hasten thither where euerlasting ioy is permanent 5. Call often to mind this prouerbe That the eye is neuer satisfied with seeing Eccles 1. nor the eare filled with hearing Endeauour therfore to withdraw thy hart from the affection of visible things and to turne thy selfe to the inuisible For they that follow their sensuality do staine their owne consciences and loose the grace of God CHAP. II. Of the humble conceipt of our selues ALL men by nature desire to know Eccl. 1. Arist l. 1. metaph cap. 1. but what auaileth knowledg without the feare of God Surely an humble husbandman that feareth God is better then a proud Philosopher that neglecting himselfe laboureth to vnderstand the course of the heauēs Who so knoweth himselfe well groweth daily more contemptible in his owne conceipt and delighteth not in the praises of men If I vnderstood all that is to be knowne in the world and were not in charity what would that help me in the sight of God who will iudge me according to my deedes 2. Giue not thy selfe to inordinate desire of knowledg for therin is much distraction and deceipt The learned are willing to seeme so to others 1. Cor 8. and to be accoumpted wise There be many things which to know doth little or nothing profit the soule and he is very vnwise that bestoweth his labour about other things then those that may auaile him for the health of his soule Many words do not satisfy the desires of the hart but a good life comforteth the mind and a pure conscience giueth great assurance in the sight of God 3. How much the more thou knowest and how much the better thou vnderstandest so much the more grieuously shalt thou therfore be iudged vnlesse thy life be also more holy Be not therfore extolled in thy owne mind for any art or science which thou knowest but rather let the knowledge giuen thee make thee more fearefull If thou thinkest that thou vnderstandest and knowest much know also that there be many things more which thou knowest not Rom. 12. Thinke not too well of thy selfe but rather confesse thine ignorance Why wilt thou prefer thy selfe before others sith there be many more learned skilfull in the Law then thou If thou wilt know or learne any thing profitable desire not to be knowne and to be little esteemed of by men 4. The highest and most profitable reading is the true knowledge consideration of our selues It is great wisdome and perfection to esteeme nothing of our selues to thinke alwaies well and commendably of others If thou shouldest see another openly sinne or commit any heynous offence yet oughtest thou not to esteeme the better of thy selfe for thou knowest not how long thou shalt be able to remayne in good estate Gen. 8. We are all frayle but thou oughtest to esteeme none more frayle then thy selfe CHAP. III. Of the doctrine of Truth HAPPY is he whome Truth by it selfe doth teach Ps 93.1 not by figures and voices that passe away but as it is in it selfe Our owne opinion and sense do often deceaue vs and it discernes little Eccl. 3. What auaileth it to dispute and contend about darke and hidden things wheras for being ignorant of them we shall not so much as once be reprehended at the day of iudgment It is a great folly to neglect the things that are profitable and necessary and giue our minds to that which is curious and hurtfull Ps 113. we haue eyes and do not see 2. And what haue we to do with the terms and distinctions of Logitians He to whome the eternall Word speaketh is deliuered from multitudes and diuersities of opinions By that one Word all things do speake and all declare the same and this is the beginning and that which speaketh vnto vs. No man without that Word vnderstandeth or iudgeth rightly He to whome all things are one who draweth all things to one and seeth all things in one may enioy a quiet mind and remaine peaceable in God O God the eternall Truth make me one with thee in euerlasting charity It is tedious to me often to read heare many things In thee is all that I would haue and can desire Let all Doctours hold their peace let all creatures be silent in thy sight speak thou alone vnto me 3. How much the more one is retired within him selfe Matt. 11. Luc. 10. and becommeth inwardly sincere and pure so much the more and higher mysteries doth he vnderstand without labour for that he receaueth light of vnderstanding from aboue A pure sincere and stayed spirit is not distracted though he be imploied in many workes for that he worketh all to the honour of God and laboureth for inward trāquillity without seking himself in any thing he doth Who hinders and troubles thee more then the vnmortified desires of thine owne hart A good and deuout man first of all disposeth in himselfe his outward works neither do they draw him to the desires of an inordinate inclination but he ordereth thē to the prescript of reason Who hath a greater combate then he that laboureth to ouercom himselfe This ought to be our endeauour to conquer our selues daily to wax stronger and be more able to subdue our passions and alwaies in this way to get some ground 4. All perfection in this life hath some imperfections mixt with it no knowledg of ours is void of darknesse and ignorance An humble knowledg of thy self is a more secure way to God then a deepe search after learning yet learning is not to be blamed nor the only knowledg of any thing whatsoeuer is to be disliked it being good in it selfe and ordained by God but a good conscience and a vertuous life is to be preferred before it And for that many endeauour rather to get knowledg then to liue well therfore they are often deceiued and reape either none or very slender profit of their labours 5. O if men bestowed as much labour in the rooting out of vices and planting of vertues as they doe in moouing doubts and questions neither would there so much hurt be done nor so great scandall be giuen in the world nor so much loosnes be practised in places erected for vertue Matt. 23. Truly at the day of ludgment we shall not be examined what wee haue read but what we haue done nor how well we haue spoken but how vertuously we haue liued Tell me now where are all those great Doctours and Maisters with whom thou wast well acquainted whilst they lyued flourished in learning Now others possesse their liuings perhaps do scarce euer thinke of thē In their life time they seemed somthing and now they are not spoken of 6. O how quickly doth the glory of this world passe away Eccles 2.
worke without charity profiteth nothing 1. Cor. 13. but whatsoeuer is done of charity be it neuer so little and contemptible in the sight of the world it is fruitfull and of great esteeme in the sight of God For God weigheth more with how much loue one worketh then how much he doth He doth much that loueth much Luc. 7. 2. He doth much that doth a thing well he doth well that rather serueth the common good of others Phil. 2. then his owne will Oftentimes it seemeth to be charity and it is rather carnality because naturall inclination selfe-will hope of reward and desire of our owne commodity will seldome be wanting 3. He that hath true and perfect charity seeketh himselfe in nothing but only desireth in all things that the glory of God should be exalted Phil. 2.3 1. Cor. 13. He also enuieth none because he loueth no priuate good Ps 17. 24. neither wil he reioyce in himselfe but wisheth aboue al things to enioy God He attributeth nothing that is good to any man but wholy referreth it vnto God from whom as from the fountaine all things proceed in whom finally all Saints haue perfect rest by fruition of his glory O he that had one sparke of perfect charity how easily would he discerne that all earthly things be ful of vanity CHAP. XVI Of bearing with the defects of others THOSE things that a man cannot amend in himselfe or in others he ought to suffer patiently vntil God ordaine otherwise Think that perhaps it is better so for thy tryall and patience without which our merits are not much to be esteemed Matt. 6. Thou oughtest to pray notwithstanding when thou hast such impedimēts Luc 11. that God would vouchsafe to help thee and that thou maist beare them patiently 2. If one that is once or twice warned doth not amend contend not with him but cōmit all to God that his will may be fulfilled Matt. 6. and his name honoured in all his seruāts who knoweth how to turne euill into good Endeauour to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others Thess 5. Io. 1. Luc. 6. for that thy selfe also hast many things which must be suffered by others If thou canst not make thy selfe such an one as thou wouldest how canst thou expect to haue another in all things to thy liking We would willingly haue others perfect and yet we amend not our owne faults 3. We wil haue others seuerely corrected and will not be corrected our selues The large liberty of others displeaseth vs and yet we will not haue our desires denied vs. We will haue others kept vnder by rigorous lawes but in no sort will we our selues be restrained And thus it appeareth how seldome we weigh our neighbour in the same ballance with our selues If all men were perfect what should we haue to suffer of our neighbour for God 4. But now God hath thus ordained that we may learne to beare one anothers burden Gal. 6. for no man is without defect no man without burden no man sufficient of himselfe no man endued with so much wisdom as he needeth 1. Thes 5. 1. Cor. 12. but we ought to beare with one another cōfort one another help instruct admonish one another Aduersity best discouereth how great vertue ech one hath for occasions make not a man fraile but do shew what he is CHAP. XVII Of Religious life THOV must learne to break thy owne will in many things if thou wilt haue peace and concord with others It is no small matter to dwell in communtiy or in a congregation to conuerse therin without complaint and to perseuer there faithfully vntill death Blessed is he that hath there liued well and ended happily If thou wilt perseuer in grace as thou oughtest and profit in vertue esteeme thy selfe as a banished man and a pilgrim vpon earth Thou must be cōtented for the loue of Christ to be esteemed as a foole in this world if thou desire to lead a vertuous and perfect religious life 2. The wearing of religious habit 1. Pet. 2. and shauing of the Crowne do little profit but chang of manners and perfect mortification of passiōs make a true religious man He that seeketh any thing els but God Eccls. 1. 4. and the health of his soule shall find nothing but tribulation sorrow Neither can he remaine long in peace that laboureth not to be in the meanest place and subiect to all 3. Thou camst to serue not to be serued Know that thou wast called to suffer and to labour Matt. 20. not to be idle or to spend thy time in talke Heere in the schoole of Christ men are proued as gold in the fornace Here no man can stand vnlesse he humble himselfe with his whole hart for the loue of God CHAP. XVIII Of the examples of the holy Fathers CONSIDER the liuely examples of the holy Fathers Heb. 11. in whom true perfection and religion shined and thou shalt see how little it is and almost nothing which we do now in these daies Alas what is our life if it be compared to them The Saints and friends of Christ serued our Lord in hunger and thirst in could and nakednesse in labour and wearines in watching and fasting in prayer and holy meditations in persecutions and many reproaches 2. O how many and grieuous tribulations suffered the Apostles Martyrs Confessours Virgins all the rest that endeauoured to follow the steps of Christ They hated their liues in this world Ioan. 12. that they might possesse their soules in euerlasting life Matt. 7. O How strait and poore a life led the holy Fathers in the wildernes How long and grieuous tēptations suffered they How often and how grieuously were they assaulted by their Ghostly enemy How feruent praiers offered they daily to God! How rigorous abstinence did they vse How feruent zeale and care had they of their spirituall profit How strong and continuall a combat had they for the ouercōming of vices How pure and vpright intention kept they vnto God! In the day they laboured and in the night they attended to continuall prayer although when they laboured also they ceased not from mentall prayer 3. They spent all their tyme with profit euery houre seemed short for the seruice of God and for the great sweetnes they had in contemplation they forgot the necessity of corporall refection They renounced all riches dignities honours friends and kinsfolkes they desired to haue nothing which appertained to the world they scarse tooke things necessary for the sustenance of life they grieued to ferue their bodies euen in necessity They were poore in earthly things but rich in grace and vertues Outwardly they wanted but inwardly they were replenished with grace and spirituall comfort 4. They were strangers in the world but neere and familiar friēds to God They seemed to themselues as nothing and abiect to
this world but they were precious and beloued in the eyes of God They were grounded in true humility liued in simple obedience walked in charity and patience and therfore they profited dayly in spirit and obteyned great grace in Gods sight They were giuen for an example and patterne of pefection in Gods Church and their example should more styr vs vp to a desire of our spirituall profit then the number of the luke-warme and dissolute liuers draw vs to the neglect therof 5. O how great was the feruour of all religious persons in the beginning of their holy institution How great was their deuotion to prayer How diligent emulation of vertue How exact discipline florished How great reuerence and obedience vnder the rule of their Superiour obserued they in all things Their footsteps yet remaining do testify that they were indeed holy and perfect men who fighting so valiantly trode the world vnder their feet Now he is greatly accompted of that breaketh not the rule and that can with patience endure that which he hath professed 6. O couldnes and negligence of our time that we so quickly decline from our first feruour and are come to that passe that very slouth and couldnes of spirit makes our owne liues tedious vnto vs Would to God the desire to profit in vertue did not wholy sleepe in thee who hast often seene the holy examples of deuout and religious soules CHAP. XIX Of the Exercise of a good and Religious person THE life of a Religious person ought to shine with all vertues Matt. 5. that he may inwardly be such as outwardly he seemeth to men And with reason thou oughtest to be much more within then is perceaued without Ps 33. Heb. 4. Ps 15. for God behouldeth the hart whom we ought most highly to reuerence whersoeuer we are and walke in purity like Angels in his sight and to renew dayly our purposes and styr vp our selues to feruour as though this were the first day of our conuersion and to say Help me my God in this my good purpose and in thy holy seruice and graunt that I may now this day begin perfectly for that which I haue done hitherto is nothing 2. According to our purpose shal be the successe of our profit and much diligence is necessary to him that will profit much And if he that firmely purposeth often faileth what shall he do that seldome purposeth any thing or with little certainty It may fall out sundry waies that we leaue off our purpose and if for light occasiōs we omit our accustomed exercises it seldome passeth without some losse The purpose of iust men is rather grounded vpon the grace of God then on their owne wisdome in whom also they alwaies haue confidence in whatsoeuer they take in hand For man doth purpose Prou. 16. but God disposeth neither is the way of man in his owne hands 3. If an accustomed exercise be sometimes omitted for some worke of charity or of intention to profit our neighbour it may easily afterward be recouered Eccles 7. but if it be lightly left through inconstancy or negligence it is an offence and will proue hurtfull Though we endeauour what we can yet shall we faile in many things But yet we must alwaies purpose somthing certaine especially against that which most hinders vs We must examine well and order both our exteriour and interiour actions for that both are expedient for our progresse in vertue 4. If thou canst not alwaies recollect thy selfe yet do it somtimes and that at least once euery day to to wit in the morning or euening In the morning make thy good purpose Deut. 4. in the euening examine thy selfe what thou hast byn that day in word deed or thought for that in these oftentimes perhaps thou hast offended God and thy neighbour Arme thy selfe with courage against the malicious attempts of thine enemy Refraine Gluttony thou shalt more easily bridle all the disordered inclinations of the flesh Neuer be altogeather idle but either reading or writing or praying or meditating or labouring somthing of profit for the common good but bodily exercises are to be discreetly vsed and not to be vndertaken equally of all 5. Those things that be not cōmon are not to be done in the sight of all for priuate things are best done in secret But thou must beware thou neglect not that to which thou art bound by common rule and be ready in performing thy priuate deuotions but hauing fully faithfully accomplished all thy duties and those things that were enioyned thee if thou hast further leasure returne to thy selfe as thy deuotion desireth All cannot vse the same exercise but one is more conuenient for this person another for that According to the diuersity of times also diuers exercises are fitting for some suite better with festiuall dayes others with daies of labour We haue need of one kind in temptations and of others in time of peace and quiet We desire to thinke of other things when we are sorrowfull then we do when we are cheerfull in our Lord. 6. When principall feasts draw neere good exercises are to be renewed the intercessions of Saints more feruently to be implored Frō feast to feast we should make some good purpose as though we were then to depart out of this world to come to the euerlasting feasts of heauen And therfore we ought to prepare our selues carefully at holy times and to liue more deuoutly and to keep more exactly all things that we are to obserue as though shortly we were to receaue reward of our labour at Gods hands 7. And if it be differred let vs think that we were not well prepared Rom. 8. nor worthy as yet of so great glory as shall be reuealed in vs at the time appointed and let vs labour to prepare our selues better for our departure Blessed is that seruant sayth S. Luke the Euangelist whom when his Lord commeth Luc. 12. he shall find watching Matt. 24. verily I say vnto you he shall place him ouer all that he possesseth CHAP. XX. Of the loue of Solitude and Silence SEEKE a fit time to attend to thy selfe and often thinke of the benifits of God Leaue curious things Read ouer such matters as may cause rather compunction thē the labour of much study If thou withdraw thy selfe from superfluous talke and idle wandring about as also from hearing of newes and tales thou shalt find sufficient and fit time to thinke of good things The greatest Saints auoyded the company of men as much as they could Heb. 3. and chose to liue to God in secret 2. One said As often as I haue bene amongst men Senec. ep 7. I haue returned lesse man The same we find by experience when we talke long It is easier to keep silence altogeather then not to exceed in words It is easier for a man to keepe home then to demeane himselfe as he ought in all things abroad He
Sap. 4. If thou be not prepared to day Matt. 24. 25. how wilt thou be prepared to morrow To morrow-day is vncertaine and whether thou shalt see it or no thou knowest not 2. What doth it auaile vs to liue long when we do so little amend A long life doth not alwaies make vs better nay rather it oftentimes heapeth vpon vs a greater load of sinnes O that we had spent one day well in this world Many do reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to dye perhaps it will be more dāgerous for thee to liue long Blessed is he that hath alwaies before his eyes the houre of his death Eccles 7. and disposeth himselfe dayly therunto If thou hast at any time seene a man dye thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3. When it is morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night Heb. 9. and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy self the next morning Be alwaies ready and so order thy life that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Luc. 21. Many dye suddainly for the Sōne of man will come when we least thinke of it Matt. 24. Luc. 12. When that last houre shall come thou wilt begin to think farre otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast bene so slack and negligent 4. O how wise and happy is he that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of pennance the readinesse of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou maist do much good whilest thou art well but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to do I know not Few do grow better and amend thē selues with sicknes as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5. Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours Esa 30. 31. Herem 17. 48. neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou dost imagine It is better now to prouide in time Matt. 6. and do some good before thou goest then to trust in the help of others when thou art gone If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee herafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6. O my dearest brother from how great danger maist thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maist thou be freed if thou dost now liue fearfull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to dye to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earth ly things that thou maist then freely go to Christ 1. Cor. 9. Chastice now thy body with pennance that thou maist then haue assured confidence 7. Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luc. 12. How many haue byn deceaued and taken out of this world on a suddaine when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddainely slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his neck another dyed at his meate another when he was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another dyed by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of all and the life of man passeth away like a shaddow 8. Who will remember thee and who will pray for thee after thy death Iob. 14. Do now beloued brother do now what thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt dye nor what shall befall thee after thy death Matt. 1. Luc. 11. Now whilst thou hast time heape togeather eternall riches Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Luc. 16. Heb. 11. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receaue thee into their euerlasting dwellings 9. Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime 1. Pet. 2. and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world do nothing appertaine Keep thy hart free Heb. 13. and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citty Send thither thy prayers dayly with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happines to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou willt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge frō whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with guifts Heb. 10. nor admitteth excuses but iudgeth according to instice O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest somtimes the countenance of an angry man what answere wilt thou make to God to whome all thy wickednes is knowne Iob. 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy self against that rigorous day of iudgment Luc. 16. in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden inough to himselfe Now thy pains are profitable 2. Cor. 6. thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iac. 1. who receauing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice Luc. 23. then for his owne wrongs prayeth willingly for his aduersaries Act. 7. and from his hart forgiueth their offences delayeth not to aske forgiuenes of whomsoeuer he hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sins and vices now then to reserue them for purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceaueth vs. 3. What other thing shall that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished heerafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe same wherin a man hath finned shall he be more
God increaseth the griefe which he endureth for his banishment 8. But yet this man though so many wayes afflicted is not without the remedy of spirituall consolation for the great good which he perceaueth to grow vnto him by the bearing of his Crosse For whilest he willingly putteth himselfe vnder it all the burthen of tribulation is turned into the confidence of diuine comfort And how much the more the flesh is wasted by affliction 2. Cor. 11. 12. so much the more is the spirit strengthned by inward grace And sometymes he is so comforted with the desire of tribulation and aduersity for the loue of conforming himselfe to the Crosse of Christ that he would not wish at any time to be without sorrow and tribulation because he belieueth that so much the more gratefull he shall be vnto God how much the more he can suffer for him This is not a worke of humane vertue but it is the grace of Christ that can and doth so much in fraile flesh that what naturally it alwayes abhorreth and flyeth that by feruour of spirit it taketh hould on and loueth 9. It is not according to mans inclination to beare the Crosse to loue the Crosse to chastice subdue the body to fly honors to suffer contumelies with a ioyfull harte to despise himselfe and to wish to be despised to beare all aduersities and domages and to desire no prosperity in this world 2. Cor. 3. Yf thou cōsiderest thy selfe thou shalt be able to performe no such matter of thy selfe But if thou trustest in our Lord strengh shall be giuen thee from heauen and the world flesh shall be made subject to thy commaund Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Deuill if thou bee armed with faith and signed with the Crosse of Christ 10. Resolue therfore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull feruant of Christ to beare māfully the Crosse of thy Lord who was crucified for thy loue Prepare thy selfe to beare many aduersities and diuers kinds of troubles in this miserable life for so it wil be with thee whersoeuer thou be and so surely thou wilt finde it whersoeuer thou hide thy selse So it must be and there is no remedy or meanes to auoide tribulation and sorrow but to beare them Matt. 20. Drinke of the chalice of our Lord willingly if thou wilt be his friend and desirest to haue part with him Leaue the desire of cōfortes to God let him doe therein as shall best please him Ioan. 23. Set thou thy hart vpon the suffering of tribulations and account them the greatest comfortes Rom. 8. for that the passions of this life are not condign to future glory although thou alone couldest suffer them all 11. When thou shalt come to this estate Gal. 6. that tribulation shall seeme sweet and pleasant vnto thee for Christ then thou maist thinke it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise vpon earth As long as it is grieuous vnto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to fly it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou flyest will follow thee euery where 12. Yf thou setlest thy selfe to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to dy to thy selfe it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt finde peace Although thou shouldest haue bene rapt euen vnto the third heauen with Paul 1. Cor. 12. thou art not for this assured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction I I saith Iesus will shew him how great thinges he must suffer for my name Act. 9. It resteth therfore that thou suffer if thou wilt loue Iesus and perpetually serue him 13. O would to God thou wert worthy to suffer somthing for Iesus how great glory would it be vnto thee what ioy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour For all do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ Ps 43. since many suffer far greater thinges for the loue of the world 14. Know for certaine that thou oughtest to lead a dying life And how much the more euery one dieth to himselfe so much the more doth he begin to liue to God No man is fit to attaine vnto heauenly thinges vnlesse he submit himselfe to the bearing of aduersities for Christ Nothing is more gratefull vnto God nothing more wholesome to thee in this world then to suffer willingly for Christ And if it were in thy choyce thou shouldest rather wish to suffer aduersities for Christ then to enioy the delight of many comforts because by these meanes thou shouldest be more like vnto Christ and more conformable to all the Saints For our merit and the perfection of our estate consisteth not in much sweetnes and comfortes but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 15. If there had been any better thing and more profitable to the health of man then suffering surely Christ would haue shewed it by word and example But he plainly exhorted all the disciples that followed him Luc. 9. and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse and saith If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take vp his Crosse and follow me So as when we haue read and searched all Act. 14. let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of God The end of the second Booke OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the inward speach of Christ vnto a saithfull soule I Will heare what our Lord God will speake in me Psal 84. Blessed is the soule that heareth our Lord speaking in her 1. Reg. 3. and receaueth from his mouth the word of comfort Blessed are those eares that receaue the sound of the diuine voice and listen not to the whisperings of the world Blessed indeed are those eares that harken not to the voice which soūdeth outwardly Matt. 13. but vnto truth which teacheth inwardly Blessed are the eies that being shut vp to outward thinges are attentiue to those things that are internall Blessed are they that enter into the inward thinges and indeauor to prepare themselues more and more by daily exercises to the attayning of heauenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to attend to the seruice of God cast from them all impedimentes of this world 2. Consider these thinges my soule and shut vp the dores of thy sensuall desires that thou maist heare what thy lord God speaketh in thee Ps 14. Thus saith thy beloued I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keep thy selfe with me and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitory thinges and seeke those that be euerlasting Ps 34. What are temporall things but deaceauing snares and what do all creatures auaile thee if thou bee forsaken by the Creatour Forsake therefore all earthly thinges and labour to please
thy Creatour and be faithfull vnto him that thou maist attaine vnto true happines CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardely without noyse of VVordes SPEAKE Lord The Seruant for thy seruant heareth I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies 1. Reg. 3. Ps 118. Stir vp my hart to heare the wordes of thy mouth Let thy speach descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and we shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs least perhaps we dye Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 3. I humbly and earnestly intreat speak Lord for thy seruant heareth Let not Moyses speake vnto me nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and enlightener of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2. They can pronounce words but they giue not spirit They speake maruelous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the hart They deliuer the letters but thou openest the sense They bring forth mysteries but thou disclosest the vnderstanding of sealed thinges They declare thy commaundemēts but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou giuest strength to walke it They worke only exterioutly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hartes They water outwardly but thou giuest fruitfulnes They sound forth wordes but thou giuest vnderstanding to the hearing 3. Let not therfore Moyses speak vnto me but thou my Lord God the euerlasting truth least perhaps I should dye and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly only and not inflamed within least the word heard and not fulfilled knowen and not loued belieued not obserued should increase my iudgment Speake therefore Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. for thou hast the words of euerlasting life Speake vnto me to the comfort of my soule and to the amendment of my whole life Ioan. 6. and to thy prayse and glory and euerlasting honor CHAP. III. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not SONNE †Our Lord. heare my words wordes of great comfort excelling al the knowledg of the Philosophers and wise men of this world My wordes are spirit and life not to be waighed by the vnderstanding of man Ioan. 6. They are not to be drawne to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be receaued with al humility and great affection And I said * The Seruant Psal 93. Blessed is the man whō thou shall instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy law that thou maist giue him quietnes from euill daies and that he be not destroyed vpon earth 2. I saith our †Our Lord. Heb. 1. Lord haue taught the Prophets from the beginning and cease not continually to speake to euery one but many are deafe and giue no eare to my speach The greater number doe more willingly listen to the world then to God follow sooner the desires of their fleshe then the will of God The world promiseth temporall small things and is serued with great diligence I promise most high and eternall thinges and the hartes of men are nothing moued with it Who is he that serueth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world the Lords therof are serued Esa 23. Blush Sidon saith the sea And if thou aske the cause heare wherefore For a little prebend a long iorney is vndertaken for euerlasting life many will scarce once lift a foote from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny somtimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleight ptomise men doubt not to toile day and night 3. But alas for an vnchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honour and glory without end they are loath to take the least paines Blush therefore flouthfull and complayning seruant that they are found more ready to distruction then thou to life They reioyce more at vanity then thou at truth Rom. 1. Matt. 24. And yet they are somtimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceaueth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will giue that which I haue promised I will fulfill that which I haue said Apoc. 2 but to him that remaines faithfull in my loue to the end I am the reward of all good Matt. 5.15 and do try my deuout seruants in forcible proofes 4. Write my words in thy hart and thinke diligently of them for they will be necessary in time of tēptation What thou vnderstandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visite my elect two seuerall waies to wit with temptation and comfort And I dayly read two lessons vnto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of vertues He that hath my words despiseth them hath within himselfe that shall iudg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of denotion 5. Lord * The Seruant my God thou art all that I can desire Who am I that dare speak vnto thee I am thy poorest seruant Gen. 18. and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I can or dare expresse Remember Lord that I am nothing haue nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good iust and holy thou canst do all things performest all things leauing only a sinner voide of all good Call to mind thy mercies and fill my hart with thy grace who wilt not that thy workes be voyd 6. How can I support my selfe in this miserable life vnlesse thy mercy and grace comfort me Psal 68. Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort least my soule become as earth without water vnto thee Lord teach me to fulfill thy will Ps 142. teach me to line worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou dost perfectly know me and didest know me before the world was made and before I was borne in the world CHAP. IIII. That we ought to line in truth and humility in the sight of God SONNE * Our Lord. walke in my sight in sincerity and truth and euer seeke me in playnes of hart Gen. 17. Sap. 1. He that walketh in my sight in truth shall be defended from euill incursions and truth shall deliuer him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked 1. Ioan 8. If truth shall haue deliuered thee thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for vaine speaches of men Lord * The Seruant it is true According as thou saist so I beseech thee let it be done with me and keepe me bring me to a happy end Let thy truth teach
Ps 4. in thee one chiefest eternall good I will sleep and rest Amen CHAP. XVI That true comfort is to be sought in God alone VVHATSOEVER * The Seruant I can desire or imagine for my comfort I looke not for it in this life but hereafter For if I should alone haue all the comforts of the world and might enioy all the delights therof it is certaine that they could not long endure Wherfore my soule thou canst not be fully comforted nor haue perfect delight but in God Psal 76. the comforter of the poore and the receauer of the humble Expect a while my soule expect the diuine promise and thou shalt haue aboundance of all good things in heauen If thou desire inordinatly the things that are present thou shalt loose the celestiall and eternall Haue temporal things in vse and the eternall in desire Thou canst not be filled with any temporall goods because thou art not created to enioy them 2. Although thou enioyest all that is created yet canst thou not be happy therby nor blessed but in God that hath created all things Sap. 2. thy whole beatitude and happines consisteth not such as is seene and coÌ„mended by the foolish louers of the world but such as the good faithful seruants of Christ expect Phil. 3. and the spirituall and cleane of hart whose conuersation is in heauen somtimes take a tast of Vaine and short is all human comfort Blessed and true is the comfort which is receaued inwardly from truth A deuout man euery where carrieth with him Iesus his comforter and sayth vnto him Be present with me Lord Iesus in euery place and time Let this be my comfort to be alwaies willing to want all human comfort And if thy comfort be wanting let thy will iust proofe be vnto me as the greatest comfort Ps 102. for thou wilt not be angry alwaies neither wilt thou threaten for euer CHAP. XVII That all our care is to be placed in God SONNE †Our Lord. suffer me to do with thee what I please I know what is expedient for thee Thou thinkest as man thou iudgest in many things as humane affection perswadeth thee * The Seruant Matt. 6. Ioan. 6. Lord what thou saiest is true Thy solicitude for me is greater then all the care that I can take for my selfe For he standeth at too great a hazard that casteth not his whole care vpon thee Lord so that my will may remaine right and firme in thee do with me whatsoeuer it shall please thee For it cannot be but good whatsoeuer thou doest with me 2. If it be thy will I should be in darknes be thou blessed and if it be thy will I should be in light be thou againe blâ—ssed If thou vouchsafest to coÌ„fort me be thou blessed and if thou wilt afflict me be thou also euer blessed Sonne †Our Lord. so thou oughtest to be as ready to suffer as to receaue ioy Thou oughtest to be as willing to be poore and needy as plentifull and rich 3. Lord * The Seruant I wil willingly suffer for thee whatsoeuer thy pleasure is shall befall me I will receaue indifferently from thy hand Iob. 2. good and euill sweet and sower delightfull and sorrowfull and giue thee thanks for all that happeneth vnto me Keep me from all sinne Ps 22. and I will neither feare death nor hell so as thou dost not for euer cast me from thee and blot me out of the booke of life what tribulation soeuer befal me shall not hurt me CHAP. XVIII That temporall miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently SONNE †Our Lord. I descended from Heauen for thy health I tooke vpon me thy miseries Ioan. 8. my charity not any necessity drawing me therunto that thou mightest learne patience and not refuse to beare temporall miseries For from the houre of my birth Esa 53. vntill my death on the Crosse I was not without suffering of griefe Luc. 2. I suffered great want of temporall things I often heard many complaints against me I bare patienly shame and reproaches for benefits I receaued ingratitude for miracles blasphemies for heauenly doctrine reprehensions 2. Lord * The Seruant for that thou wert patient in thy life-time chiefly in fulfilling the commandment of thy Father it is reason that I miserable sinner should haue patience in all things according to thy will Ioan. 5. and for myne owne health beare the burthen of this corruptible life as long as thou wilt For although this present life be burdensome yet notwithstanding it is now by thy grace made very meritorious and by thy example and the footsteps of thy Saints more plaine and tollerable to the weake Yea much more comfortable also then it was in times past in the old law when the gate of heauen remained shut and the way also to heauen seemed darker when so few tooke care to seeke after thy Kingdome Neither they also that then were iust Matt. 7. and were ordained to be saued could enter into the heauenly glory before thy passion and the debt of thy sacred death was discharged 3. O how great thanks am I bouÌ„d to giue thee that thou hast vouchsafed to shew vnto me and to all faith ful soules a direct sure way to thy euerlasting kingdome For thy life is our way and by holy patience we go vnto thee that art our Crowne If thou hadst not gone before vs and taught vs who would haue taken care to follow Alas how many would stay behind and remaine far off if they beheld not thy excellent examples Behould we are yet could although we haue heard of so many of thy wonders Ioan. 12. and thy heauenly documents what would become of vs if we had not so great light to follow thee CHAP. XIX Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truly patient VVHAT is it †Our Lord. thou sayest Sonne Cease to complaine considering my passion and that of my other Saints Thou hast not yet made resistance to the sheeding of bloud Heb. 12. It is but little thou sufferest in comparison of them that haue suffered so much Heb. 11. so strongly tempted so grieuously afflicted so many waies tried exercised Thou oughtest therfore to call to mind the heauy sufferings of others that thou maist the easier beare the little aduersities which thou sufferest And if they seem not little beware least thy impatience because therof Yet whether they be little or great endeauour to beare all patiently 2. How much the better thou disposest thy selfe to suffering so much the more wisely thou doest and so much the more doest thou merit thou shalt more easily also endure it if thy mind be prepared thy selfe accustomed therunto Do not say I cannot suffer these things of such a one at the hands of such a person nor such things are not to be suffered by me
for he hath done me great wrong and vpbraided me with those thinges which I neuer thought or but or another I wil willinglie suffer and as I shall see cause Such a thought is foolish it considereth not the vertue of patience nor by whome it shall be crowned but rather wargheth the persons and the iniuries offered 3. He is not truly patient that will nor suffer but as much as he thinketh good and by whome he listeth But he that is indeed patient mindeth not by whome he is exercised whether by his Superiour or some of his equals or by his inferior whether by a good and holy man or by a peruerse and vnworthy person But indifferently from all creatures how much soeuer or how often soeuer any aduersity happeneth vnto him he taketh all thankfully as from the hands of God and esteemeth it a great gaine for that nothing before God how little soeuer so it be suffered for God can be without merit 4. Be thou therfore alwaies prepared for the fight if thou wilt haue the victory Without combat thou canst not attaine vnto the Crowne of patience If thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned But if thou desirest to be crowned 2. Tim. 2. fight manfully and endure patiently without labour there is no comming to rest nor without fight can the victory be obtained Lord * The Seruant let that be made possible to me by thy grace which seemeth impossible to me by nature Thou knowest that I can suffer little that I am quickly dismayed when a small aduersity ariseth Let all exercise of tribulation be made pleasing vnto me and be wellcome for thy name for to suffer and to be troubled for thee is very profitable for my soule CHAP. XX. Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity and of the miseries of this life I will * The Seruant Psal 31. confesse against me my iniustice I will confesse vnto thee o Lord my infirmity Oftentimes it is a small matter that discomforteth and grieueth me I purpose to resist with courage but when a small tēptation commeth it bringeth me into very narrow straits It is somtimes a very trifle from whence great temptations do proceed And whilest I thinke my selfe somwhat lase when I least expect it I find my selfe sometimes ouercome with a small blast 2. Behould therfore Lord my humility Psal 24. and my frailty euery way knowne vnto thee Ps 68. Haue mercy on me and deliuer me out of the mire of my infirmities that I stick not fast therin let me not for euer remaine deiected This is that which oftentimes beareth me back and confoundeth me in thy sight for that I am so subiect to fall weake in resisting of my passions And though I do not altogeather consent yet their continuall assaults are troublesome and grieuous vnto me and it is tedious a very irksome thing to liue thus daily in strife Hereby my infirmity is made knowne vnto me for that wicked fancies do alwaies much more easily enter in vpon me then they can be cast out againe 3. O mighty God of Israel the zealous louer of faithfull soules let it please thee to consider the labour and sorrow of thy seruant and assist him in all whatsoeuer he vndertaketh Strengthē me with heauenly force least my old man my miserable flesh not fully as yet subiect to the spirit preuaile and get the vpper hand against which I ought to fight as long as I breath in this miserable life Alas what a kinde of life is this where tribulations and miseries are neuer wanting where all is set with snares and compassed with enemies For when one tribulation or temptation goeth away another commeth yea and during the first conflict also many others come vnlooked for one after another 4. And how can a life be loued that hath so many afflictions and is subiect to so many calamities and miseries How is it called a life that begetteth so many deaths and plagues And yet it is loued and many seeke to delight themselues therin The world is oftentimes blamed that it is deceiptfull and vaine and yet it is not easily forsaken because the inclinations of our flesh do too much ouerrule vs. Some things draw vs to loue it others to contemne it To the loue of the world do draw vs the concupiscence of the flesh 1. Ioan. 2. the cōcupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life but the paynes and miseries that do iustly follow them causeth a hatred and loathsomnes therof 5. But alas wicked pleasure ouercommeth the mind which is giuen ouer to the world Iob. 30. she esteemeth it a delight to be vnder thornes because she hath neither seene nor tasted the sweetnes of God and the inward delight of vertue But they that perfectly contemne the world and endeauour to liue to God vnder holy discipline these are not ignorāt of the diuine sweetnes promised to the true forsakers of the world and do more cleerly see how grieuously the world erreth and how it is many waies deceaued CHAP. XXI That we are to rest in God aboue all his gifts ABOVE * The Seruant all things and in all things my soule thou shalt euer rest in God for he is the euerlasting rest of the Saints Grant me most sweet and louing Iesu Rom. 8. to rest in thee aboue all creatures aboue al health and beauty aboue all glory and honour aboue all power and dignity aboue all knowledg and learning aboue all riches and arts aboue allioy and gladnes aboue all same and praise aboue all sweetnes and comfort aboue all hope and promise aboue all merit and desire aboue all gifts and presents that thou canst giue impart vnto vs aboue all ioy and iubily that the mind of man can receaue and feele lastly aboue Angels and Archangels and aboue all the heauenly Host aboue al visible and inuisible things and aboue all that that thou art not my God 2. For that thou my Lord God surpassest all thou alone most high thou alone most powerfull thou alone most full and sufficient thou alone most sweet and comfortable thou alone most beautifull and louing thou alone most noble and glorious aboue all things in whome all good things togeather both are perfectly and euer haue beene and shall be and therfore it is too little and not sufficient whatsoeuer thou bestowest on me besides thy selfe or reuealest vnto me of thy selfe or promisest whilst thou art not seene and not fully obtained for surely my hart cannot rest nor be fully cōtented vnlesse it rest in thee and surmount all gifts and creatures what soeuer 3. O my most beloued spouse Christ Iesus the most chast louer the gouernour of all creatures Ps 53. who wil giue me winges of true liberty to fly and rest in thee O when shall it be fully granted me to consider in quietnes of mind see how sweet thou art my Lord God! When shal I fully
the attentiue thought of heauēly things as it were to passe without care through many cares not faintingly but with a certaine priuiledg of a free mind adhering by inordinate affection to no creature 2. I beseech thee most mercifull God preserue me from the cares of this life least I should be too much intangled therby from the many necessities of the body least I should be enthralled by pleasure frō all hinderāces of the soule least broken with troubles I should be deiected and dismayed I meane not frō those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth but from those miseries that as punishments do weigh downe and hinder the soule of thy seruant Gen. 3. Rom. 7. with the generall curse of mortality that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit as often as it would 3. O my God the vnspeakable sweetnes make bitter vnto me all carnall comfort which may draw me away frō the loue of euerlasting happynes and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight Rom. 12. Let not flesh and bloud ouercome me o Lord. Let not the world and the short glory thereof deceaue me Let not the Diuell and his subtile fraud supplant me Giue me force to resist patience to suffer and constancy to perseuere Giue me insteed of all the comforts of the world the most sweet vnction of thy spirit and in lieu of carnall loue powre into my soule the loue of thy name 4. Behould meate drinke cloathes other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome vnto a feruent spirit Graūt me to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to be intangled with an ouer great desire of thē It is not lawfull to renounce them wholy for that nature is to be maintayned but to desire superfluityes and those thinges that do rather delight then sustayne the law of God forbiddeth for otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Here in I beseech thee let thy hand gouerne me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good SONNE †Our Lord. thou oughtest to giue all for all and to retaine nothing of thy selfe Know that the loue of thy selfe doth hurt thee more then any thing in the world According to the loue and affection thou bearest them so doth euery thing cleaue vnto thee more or lesse If thy loue be pure simple well ordered thou shalt be free from bondage Matt. 6. Couet not that which thou maiest not haue Be not willing to haue that which may hinder thee and depriue thee of inward liberty It is a wonderfull thing that thou committest not thy selfe wholy vnto me from the bottome of thy hart with all things that thou canst desire or haue 2. Why dost thou cōsume thy selfe with vayne griefe Exod. 18. Mich. 4. Why tyrest thou thy mind with needlesse cares Resigne thy selfe to me and thou shalt feele no losse at all If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be heere or there to enioy thine owne commoditie and pleasure thou shalt neuer be in quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in euery thing somwhat will be wanting and in euery place there will be some that will crosse thee 3. Not euery externall thing therfore attained and heaped togeather helpeth thee but it rather auaileth if thou despise it and doest root it out from thy hart which thou must not vnderstand only of thy reuenewes and wealth but of the desire of honour also and vaine praise all which do passe away with this fading world The place auayleth litle Esa 4.8 if the spirit of feruour be wanting neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy hart be destitute of a true foundation that is vnlesse thou persist in me thou maist change but not better thy selfe For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find that which thou soughtest to fly and perhaps more A Prayer for cleansing the hart obtayning of heauenly wisdome 4. Confirme * The Seruant Ps 50. me Lord with the grace of thy holy spirit Giue me force to strengthen my inward man and to purge my hart from all vnprofitable care and grief Eph. 3. not to be drawne away with sundry desires of any thing eyther little or great Matt. 6. but to consider all things Eccls. 1. 2. how they are transitory and do quickly fade that my selfe do also passe away togeather with them for nothing is permanent vnder the sunne where all things are vanity and affliction of mind O how wise is he that so considereth them 5. Graunt me Lord heauenly wisdome that I may learne aboue all things to seeke and find thee aboue all things to delight in thee and to loue thee and to thinke of all created things as they are according to the dispositiō of thy wisdome Graūt me prudently to auoyd him that flatters me Eph. 4. and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me It is great wisdome not to be moued with euery blast of wordes nor to giue eare to dangerous flattery for so we shall go on securely in the way which we haue begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the tongue of Slaunderers SONNE †Our Lord. be not grieued if some thinke euill of thee and speake that which thou dost not willingly heare 1. Cor. 4. Thou oughtest to iudge the worst of thy selfe and to thinke no man weaker then thy selfe If thou walke according to spirit thou wilt not much esteeme of flying wordes It is no small wisdome to be silent in time of euill inwardly to turne to me and not to be troubled with the iudgment of men 2. Let not thy peace be in the tongues of men For whether they iudge well or euill thou art neuerthelesse alwayes the same Where is true peace and true glory Is it not in me And he that coueteth not to please men Ioan 17. nor feareth to displease them shall enioy much peace From inordinate loue and vayne feare ariseth all disquiet of hart and distraction of the senses CHAP. XXIX How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere BLESSED * The Seruant o Lord be thy name for euer since it pleaseth thee that this temptation and tribulation should fall vpon me Iob. 1. Ps 112. I cannot fly it but haue need to fly to thee that thou maist help me and turne it to my good Lord I am now afflicted and it is not well with me I am much troubled with this present griefe And now beloued Father what shall I say Matt. 26. I am taken in narrow straits saue me in this houre Yea therfore I am fallē in this houre that thou maist be glorified when I shall be greatly humbled and by thee deliuered Let it please thee Lord to deliuer me for poor wretch that I am what can I do and whither
light surpassing al created lights cast forth the beams of thy brightnesse from aboue and pierce the most inward corners of my hart purifie reioyce clarifie quicken my spirit with all the powers therof that I may cleaue vnto thee with excesse of vnspeakable ioy O when will that blessed and desired houre come that I may be filled with thy presence and thou maist be vnto me all in all things as long as this is not graunted me I shall not haue full nor perfect ioy Alas my old man yet liueth in me Rom. 7. he is not wholy crucified he is not perfectly dead He doth yet couet stroÌ„gly against the spirit and moueth ciuill warres and suffereth not the kingdome of my soule to be in peace 4. But thou that rulest the powers of the sea Ps 88. and asswagest the motion of the waues Psal 7â— rise and help me dissipate the people that desire war and destroy them in thy might and let thy hand be glorified Ps 30. for there is no hope nor refuge for me but in thee my Lord God CHAP. XXXV That there is no security from temptation in this life SONNE †Our Lord. there is no security in this life as loÌ„g as thou liuest thou shalt alwayes haue need of spirituall armour Thou liuest amoÌ„g enemies Iob. 7. and art assaulted on all sides if therfore thou defendest not thy selfe on euery side with the shield of patieÌ„ce 2. Cor. 6. thou canst not be long vnwounded Moreouer if thou fixe not thy hart on me with a sincere will to suffer all things for me thou canst not sustaine the heate of this battaile nor get that victorious crowne which they haue that are in glory Thou oughtest therefore manfully to goe through all to vse a strong hand against whatsoeuer withstaÌ„deth thee For to him that ouercommeth is giuen Manna Apoc. 2. and to the negligent is left much woe 2. If thou seekest rest in this world how wilt thou then attaine to euerlasting rest Giue not thy selfe to much ease but to much patience Seeke true peace not in earth but in heauen not in men nor in any creature but in God alone Thou oughtest for the loue of God willingly to vndergoe whatsoeuer labours to endure whatsoeuer griefes temptations vexations anxieties necessities infirmities iniuries detractions reprehensions humiliatioÌ„s confusions corrections and contempts these help to the attaining of vertue these trye a Nouice of Christ these make a heaueÌ„ly crown I will giue an euerlasting reward for a short labour and infinite glory for transitory confusion 3. Thinkest thou that thou shalt alwaies haue spirituall consolations at will My Saints had not so but many afflictions and sundry temptations and many discomforts all which they endured patiently and trusted rather in God then in themselues Rom. 8. knowing that the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the deseruing of future glory Wilt thou haue that straight waies which many after teares and great labours haue hardly obteined Expect the comming of thy Lord Ps 26. do manfully be of good courage feare not do not flye but offer both body and soule for the glory of God I will reward thee in most plentifull manner and I will be with thee in all thy tribulations CHAP. XXXVI Against the vaine Iudgments of men SONNE †Our Lord. fixe thy hart stedfastly on God and feare not the iudgments of men when thy conscience giueth testimony of thy iustice and innocency It is a good and a happy thing to suffer in that sort neither will it be burdensome to an humble mind nor to him that trusteth rather in God then in himselfe The most part of men are giuen to talke much and therfore little care is to be had of their words Cor. 9. neyther is it possible to satisfy all Though the Apostle endeauoured to please al in our Lord Cor. 4. and made himselfe all vnto all yet he little regarded that he was iudged by humane day â—ol 1. 2. He did for the edification health of others as much as he could and lay in him yet could he not hinder but that he was sometimes iudged and despised by others Therfore he committed all to God who knew all defended himselfe with patience and humility against euill tongues and such as thought vanities and lyes and spake what they listed Yet sometimes notwithstanding he answered least the weake might haue receaued scandall by his silence 3. Who art thou that fearest a mortall man to day he is and to morrow he is not seene Feare God the terror of men shall not trouble thee 2. Mac. 2. What harme can the wordes or iniuries of any do thee he rather hurteth himselfe then thee Rom. 2. neyther can he auoyd the iudgments of God be he what he will 1. Cor. 11. Haue thou God before thine eyes and contend not with complayning wordes And if for the present thou seemest to be troaden down Heb. 12. and to suffer shame confusion without desert do not repine neyther doe thou lessen thy crowne by thy impatience but rather lift vp thine eyes to me in heauen I am able to deliuer thee from all shame and wrong and to repay euery one according to their works CHAP. XXXVII Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtayning freedome of heart SONNE †Our Lord. leaue thy selfe thou shalt find me Make choice of nothing appropriate nothing to thy selfe and thou shalt euer gaine For greater grace shall alwaies be giuen thee when thou dost perfectly resigne thy selfe and not turne back to take thy selfe againe Lord * The Seruant how often shall I resigne my selfe and wherein shall I forsake my selfe Allwaies †Our Lord. and in euery thing as wel in little as in great I do except nothing but do require that thou be as it were naked and void of all things Otherwise how canst thou be perfectly mine and I thine vnlesse both within and without thou be free froÌ„ all self-wil And how much the sooner thou dost this so much the better shalt thou find thy selfe and how much the more fully and sincerely thou dost it so much the more shalt thou please me and so much the more shalt thou gaine 2. Some there are that resigne themselues but with some exceptioÌ„ For they put not their whole trust in God and therfore do labour to prouide for themselues Some also at the first do offer all but afterwards being assailed with temptations do returne againe to that which they had left and therefore they go not forwards in the way of vertue These shall not attaine to the true liberty of a pure hart nor to the grace of my diuine familiarity vnlesse they first make an entire resignation and offer themselues a daily sacrifice vnto me For without this can neuer be obtained the vnion with me wherewith my Saints enioy me 3. I haue often said vnto
comfort that all thinges vnder heauen do yield me Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number Where hath it bene well with me without thee Or when could it be ill with me when thou wert present I had rather be poore for thee then rich without thee I rather choose to be a Pilgrime in earth with thee then to possesse heauen without thee Where thou art there is heauen and there is death and hell where thou art not Thou art my desire and therfore it behoueth me to send forth deep sighes from my hart and crie and pray vnto thee For I haue none to trust vnto none that can help me in tyme of necessity but thee alone my God Thou art my hope and my trust thou art my comforter and most faithfull vnto me in all my distresses 2. All men seeke their owne gaine Phil. 2. thou only seekest my saluatiō and my profit and turnest all things to my good Although thou permittest many temptations to assault me many aduersities to befall me yet thou ordainest all this to my good and profit who art wont to proue thy beloued seruants a thousand waies In which proofe thou oughtest no lesse to be loued and praysed then if thou didest replenish me with heauenly comforts 3. In thee therefore my Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I finde all to be weake and vnconstant whatsoeuer I behould out of thee For neither can many friends auaile nor forcible helpers aid nor wise counsellours giue profitable answere nor the bookes of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliuer nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy selfe doest not assist help comfort instruct and keep vs. 4. For all things that seeme to be ordayned for the rest and solace of man when thou art absent are nothing and do bring indeed no ioy nor comfort at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the light of life the depth of wisdome and the most forcible comfort of thy seruants is to trust in thee aboue all things To thee therefore doe I lift vp myne eyes In thee my God the Father of mercies I put my whole trust Blesse and sanctifie my soule with thy heauenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternall glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy greatnes that may offend the eyes of thy Maiesty According to the greatnesse of thy goodnesse multitude of thy mercies take pitty vpon me and heare the prayer of thy poore seruant who is farre exiled from thee in the land of the shaddow of death Protect and keep the soule of thy seruant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by the assistance of thy grace direct it in the way of peace to the country of euerlasting light Amen The end of the third Booke OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE FOVRTH BOOKE A deuout Exhortation vnto the blessed Sacrament The voice of Christ COME vnto me all ye that labour are burdened Matt. 11. I will refresh you saith our Lord. The bread which I will giue Ioan. 6. is my flesh for the life of the world Matt. 26. Take yee and eate this is my body that shall be deliuered for you 1. ◠1.11 Doe this for the commemoration of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud remaineth in me and I in him Ioan. 6. The words which I haue spoken vnto you are spirit and life CHAP. I. VVith how great reuerence Christ ought to be receaued THESE are thy words o Christ euerlasting Truth though not spoken all at one time nor written in one and the selfe same place Because therefore they are thine and true they are all thankfully faithfully to be receaued by me They are thine and thou hast spoken thē and they are mine also because thou hast spoken them for my saluation I willingly receaue them from thy mouth that they may be the deeper imprinted in my hart These deuout words so full of sweetnesse and loue doe stirre me vp but mine owne offences doe amaze me and my impure conscience driueth me back from the receauing of so great mysteries The sweetnesse of thy words doth encourage me but the multitude of my sinnes do oppresse me 2. Thou commaundest me to come confidently vnto thee if I will haue part with thee and to receaue the food of immortality if I desire to obtaine euerlasting life and glory Come sayst thou vnto me all ye that labour and are burdened Matt. 11. and I will refresh you O sweet and louely word in the eare of a sinner that thou my Lord God shouldest inuite the poore and needy to receaue thy most blessed body But who am I Lord that I may presume to approach vnto thee behould the heauens cannot containe thee and thou sayst Come ye all vnto me Matt. 12. 3. What meaneth this most pious benignity and so louing inuitation How shal I dare to come that know not any good in me wherevpon I may presume How shall I bring thee into my house that haue often offended thy most gracious countenance The Angels and the Archangels honour thee the Saints and iust men do feare thee and thou saist Matt. 11. Come ye all vnto me Vnlesse thou o Lord didst say it who would belieue it to be true And vnlesse thou didst cōmaund it who would dare to come vnto thee Behould Noe a iust man laboured a hundred yeares in the building of the Arke Gen. 6. that he might be saued with a few and how can I in one houres space prepare my selfe to receaue with reuerence the maker of the world 4. Moyses thy great seruant especiall friend made an Arke of incorruptible wood which also he couered with most pure gold to put the Tables of the Law therein and I a rotten creature how shall I so lightly dare to receaue the maker of the Law and the giuer of life Salomon the wisest of the Kings of Israel 3. Reg. 6. bestowed seauen yeares in building a magnificent Temple in praise of thy name celebrated the feast of the Dedication therof eight daies togeather 3. Reg. 8. he offered a thousand peaceable sacrifices and set the Ark in the place prepared for it with the sound of trumpets and ioy and I the most vnhappy and poorest of men how shall I bring thee into my house that can scarce spend one halfe houre deuoutly and I would to God it were once almost one halfe houre in worthy and due māner 5. O my God how much did they endeauour to please thee and alas how little is that which I doe How short time do I spend when I prepare my selfe to receaue I am seldome wholy recollected very seldome altogeather free from distraction and yet surely no vndecent thought should occurre in the presence of thy Deity
my selfe I incurre thy displeasure What therfore shall I do my God my helper and my counsellour in necessity 2. Teach me the right way appoint me some brief exercise sutable to this holy mysterv of sacred Communion For it is good for me to know how I should reuerently deuoutly prepare my heart vnto thee for the profitable receauing of thy Sacrament or for the celebrating of so great and diuine a Sacrifice CHAP. VII Of the discussing of our owne conscience and purpose of amendment The voice of the Beloued ABOVE all things the Priest of God ought to come to celebrate handle and receaue this Sacrament with great humility of hart and lowly reuerence with a full faith and a Godly desire of the honour of the diuine Maiesty Examine diligently thy conscience and to thy power purge and clense it with true contrition and humble confession so as there may be nothing in thee that may be burdensome vnto thee or that may breed thee remorse of conscience and hinder thy free accesse to these heauenly mysteries Repent thee of all thy sinnes in generall and in particuler bewaile thy daily offences And if thou hast time confesse vnto God in the secret of thy hart all the myseries of thy disordered passions 2. Lament and grieue that thou art yet so subiect to sensuality and so addicted to the world so vnmortified in thy passions so full of the motions of concupiscence so vnwatchfull ouer thy outward senses so often intangled with many vaine fantasies so vehemently inclined to outwardthings so negligent in the interiour so prone to laughter and immodesty so hard to teares cōpunction so prompt to ease pleasures of the flesh so dull to austerity feruour so curious to heare newes and see vaine sights so slack to imbrace that which tends to thine owne humiliation and contempt so couetous of aboundance so niggardly in giuing so fast in keeping so inconsiderate in speach so vnbridled to silence so loose in manners so outragious in deedes so greedy to meate so deafe to the word of God so hasty to rest so slow to labour so watchful to tales so drowsy to watch in the seruice of God so hasty to the end therof so inconstant in attention so negligent in saying thy office so vndeuout in saying Masse so dry in receauing so quickly distracted so seldome wholy recollected so suddainly moued to anger so apt to take displeasure against another so prone to iudge so seuere to reprehend so ioyfull in prosperity so weake in aduersity so often purposing much good and performing little 3. These and other thy defects confessed bewailed with sorrow and great dislike of thine owne infirmity make a firme purpose alwaies to amend thy selfe and to go forwards in vertue Then with full resignation and with thy whole will offer thy selfe vp to the honour of my name a perpetuall sacrifice in the altar of thy hart faithfully committing thy body soule vnto me that thou maist so also deserue to come worthily to offer sacrifice vnto God and to receaue profitably the Sacrament of my body 4. For there is no oblatiō more worthy nor satisfaction greater for the washing away of sinnes then to offer vp our selues vnto God purely and wholy with the oblation of the Body of Christ in the Masse and in Communion And when a man shal haue done what lyeth in him and shall be truly penitent as I liue Ezec. 18. saith our Lord who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted and liue I will not remember his sinnes any more but they shall be all forgiuen him and fully pardoned CHAP. VIII Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selues The voice of the Beloued AS I willingly offered vp my selfe vnto God my Father with my hands stretched forth on the Crosse and my body naked for thy sinnes so that nothing remained in me that was not turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the diuine wrath so oughtest thou also to offer vp thy selfe willingly vnto me daily in the Masse as a pure and holy oblation with thy whole force and desire in as harty a manner as thou canst What do I require of thee more Prou. 23. then that thou resigne thy selfe wholy vnto me Whatsoeuer thou giuest besides thy selfe is of little accompt in my sight for I seeke not thy gift but thee 2. As it would not suffice thee to haue all things whatsoeuer besides me so neither can it please me whatsoeuer thou giuest if thou offerest not vp thy selfe Offer thy selfe vnto me and giue thy selfe all that thou art for God and thy offering shall be gratefull Behould I offered vp my selfe wholy vnto my Father for thee and gaue my whole body bloud for thy food that I might be wholy thine and thou remaine mine But if thou abidest in thy self and doest not offer thy selfe vp freely vnto my will thy oblation is not entire neither shall the vnion betweene vs be perfect Therfore a free offering vp of thy selfe into the hands of God ought to go before all thy actions if thou wilt obtaine freedome and grace For this cause so few become in wardly illuminated and enioy true liberty of hart for that they do not resolue wholy to deny themselues My saying is vndoubtedly true Ioan. 14. Vnlesse one forsake all he cannot be my Disciple If thou therfore wish to be mine offer vp thy self vnto me with thy whole desires CHAP. IX That we ought to offer vp our selues all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THINE O Lord are all things that are in heauen and in earth Psal 23. I desire to offer vp my self vnto thee as a free oblation and to remaine alwaies thine O Lord in sincerity of my hart I offer my selfe vnto thee this day in sacrifice of perpetuall praise to be thy seruant for euer Receaue me with this holy oblation of thy precious body which in the presence of the Angells inuisibly attending heere vpon thee I offer vp this day vnto thee that it may be to the health of my soule and the saluation of all thy people 2. I offer vnto thee o Lord all my sinnes offences which I haue committed in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels frō the day wherin I first could sinne to this houre vpon thy holy altar that thou maist consume and burne them al with the fire of thy charity and wash out all the staines of my sinnes and cleanse my conscience from all offence and restore to me againe thy grace which I lost by sinne forgiuing me all my offences and receauing me mercifully in the kisse of peace 3. What can I do for my sinns but humbly confesse and bewaile them Psal 31. and intreat alwaies for mercy without intermission I beseech thee heare me in thy aboundant mercy when I stand before thee my God All my sinnes
solitary vpon the house top and thinke of thy offences in the bitternesse of thy soule For euery louer prepareth the best and fairest roome for his beloued heerin is knowne the affection of him that intertaineth his beloued 2. Know thou notwithstanding that the worth of no action of thine is able to make this preparation sufficient although thou shouldest prepare thy selfe a whole yeare togeather and thinke on nothing else but of my mercy and grace onely thou art suffred to come to my table like a beggar inuited to dinner to a rich man who hath nothing else to returne him for his benefits but to humble himselfe giue him thāks Doe what lieth in thee and do it diligently not for custome nor for necessity but with feare and reuerence and harty affection receaue the body of thy beloued Lord and God who vouchsafeth to come vnto thee I am he that haue called thee I haue commaunded it to be done I will supply what is wanting in thee come and receaue me 3. When I bestow the grace of deuotion on thee giue thankes to God for it is giuen thee not for that thou deseruest it but because I haue mercy on thee If thou haue it not but rather feele thy selfe dry continue in prayer sigh and knock and giue not ouer vntill thou deserue to receaue some crumme or drop of grace Thou hast need of me not I of thee neither comest thou to sanctify me but I come to sanctify and make thee better Thou comest that thou maist be sanctified by me and vnited vnto me that thou maist receaue new grace and be stirred vp againe to amendment Neglect not this grace but prepare thy hart with all diligence and receaue thy beloued into thy soule 4. But thou oughtest not only to prepare thy selfe to deuotion before Communion but carefully also to conserue thy selfe therin after thou hast receaued the Sacrament Neither is the carefull guard 〈◊〉 thy selfe after lesse exacted then deuout preparation before For a good guard afterwards is the best preparation thou canst make for the obtaining againe of greater grace because that mans mind becōmeth very indisposed if he presently powre himselfe out to outward comforts Beware of much talke remaine in some secret place inioy thy God For thou hast him whome all the world cannot take from thee I am he to whome thou oughtest wholy to giue thy selfe that so thou maist liue heerafter not in thy selfe but in me without all care CHAP. XIII That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole hart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament The voice of the Disciple HOVV may I obtaine this o Lord that I may find thee alone and open my whole hart vnto thee and enioy thee as my soule desireth And that no man may looke vpon me nor any creature moue me or respect me but thou alone maist speake vnto me and I to thee Exod. 33. Cāt. 8. as the beloued is wont to speake to his beloued and a friend to banquet with his friend This I pray for this I desire that I may be wholy vnited vnto thee and may withdraw my hart from all created things more more by sacred Cōmunion and often celebrating learne to tast of heauenly and euerlasting sweetnes O Lord God when shall I be wholy vnited and absorpt by thee and altogeather forgetfull of my self thou in me Ioan. 15. and I in thee and so graunt vs both to continue in one 2. Thou art my beloued Cant. 5. the choicest amōgst thousands in whom my soule hath takē pleasure to dwell all the dayes of her life Thou art my peace-maker in whome is greatest peace and true rest without whome is labour and sorrow and infinite miserie Thou art a hidden God thy counsell is not with the wicked but thy speach is with the humble simple of hart Prou. 3. O Lord how sweet is thy spirit Sap. 12. who to the end thou mightest shew thy sweetnes towards thy childrē vouchsafest to feed them with the most delightsome bread which descendeth from heauen is full of all sweetnes Surely there is no other Natiō so great Deut. ◠that hath Gods approaching vnto them as thou our God art present to all thy faithfull vnto whome for their daily comfort and for the lifting vp of their harts to heauen thou giuest thy selfe to be eaten and enioyed 3. For what other Nation is there so famous as the Christian people or what creature vnder heauen so beloued as a deuout soule to whome God himselfe commeth to feed her with his glorious flesh O vnspeakable grace O admirable fauour O infinite loue singularly bestowed vpon man Psal 115. But what shall I giue vnto our Lord in returne of this grace for so singular a charity There is no other thing more gratefull that I am able to giue then to bestow my hart wholy on my God and to vnite it perfectly vnto him Then shall all my bowels reioyce when my soule shall be perfectly vnited vnto God Then he will say vnto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee And I will answer him Vouchsafe o Lord to remaine with me and I will be with thee This is my whole desire that my hart be vnited vnto thee CHAP. XIIII Of the feruent desire of some deuout persons to receaue the Body of Christ The voice of the Disciple O HOVV great is the store of thy sweetnesse Psal 30. o Lord which thou hast hidden for them that feare thee When I remember some deuout persons who come vnto thy Sacrament o Lord with great deuotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded and blush within my selfe that I come so negligently and coldly to thy Altar to the table of holy Communion that I remaine so dry and without spirituall motiō or feeling that I am not wholy inflamed in thy presence my God nor so earnestly drawne and moued as many deuout persons haue beene who out of a vehement desire of receauing and a feeling affection of hart could not containe themselues from weeping but with the desire both of soule and body they earnestly longed after thee o God the liuely fountaine being not otherwise able to temper nor satisfie their hunger but by receauing thy body with all ioy and spirituall greedinesse 2. O most ardent faith of those persons a probable argument of thy sacred presēce Luc. 24. For these truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose hart burneth so within them whilst thou o blessed Iesu walkest with them Such desire and deuotion so vehement loue and feruency is oftentimes far off from me Be mercifull vnto me good Iesu sweet benigne Lord and graunt me thy poore needy creature to feele sometimes at least in this holy Sacramēt a little cordiall desire of thy loue that my faith may be more strengthned my hope in thy goodnesse increased and that my charity once perfectly inflamed after the