much the more this sacred Communion is common through the world 49 Thankes be unto thee good Iesu everlasting Pastour of our soules that hast vouchsafed to refresh us poore and banished men with thy precious Body and Blood 50 And to invite us to the receiving of these mysteries with the words of thy owne mouth saying Come unto me all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you CHAP. II. That great goodnesse and charity of God is bestowed upon man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple PResuming of thy goodnesse and great mercy O Lord being sick I approach unto my Saviour hungry and thirsty to the fountaine of life needy to the King of heaven a servant unto my Lord a creature to my Creator desolate to my mercifull comforter 2 But whence is this to me that thou vouchsafest to come unto me Who am I that thou shouldest give thy selfe unto me 3 How dare a sinner presume to appeare before thee And thou how doest thou vouchsafe to come unto a sinner 4 Thou knowest thy servant and seest that he hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this benefit upon him 5 I confesse therefore my unworthinesse and I acknowledge thy goodnesse I praise thy mercy and give thee thankes for this thy unspeakable charity 6 For thou doest this for thine owne sake not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodnesse may be better knowne unto mee thy charity more abundantly shewed and thy humility more highly commended 7 Since therefore it is thy pleasure and hast commanded that it should be so this thy bounty is also pleasing to me and doe wish that my offences may be no hindrance unto it 7 O most sweet and bountifull Iesu how great reverence and thanks with perpetuall praise is due unto thee for the receaving of thy sacred body whose worth and dignity no man is able to expresse 8 But what shall I think of at this time now that I am to receive this divine Sacrament and to approach unto my Lord to whom I am not able to give due reverence and yet I desire to receave him devoutly 9 What can I thinke better and more profitable then to humble my selfe wholly before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodnesse above me 10 I praise thee my God and will exalt thee for ever and I doe despise and submit my selfe unto thee even into the depth of my unworthinesse 11 Behold thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skum of sinners behold thou bowest thy selfe downe unto me who am not worthy so much as to look up unto thee 12 Behold thou comest unto me it is thy will to be with me thou invitest me to thy banquet 13 Thou wilt give me the food of heaven and bread of Angels to eat which is no other truly then thy selfe the lively bread that descendedst from heaven and givest life unto the world 14 Behold from whence this love proceedeth what kind of favour and benignity is this which shineth upon us What thankes and praises are due unto thee for these benefits 15 O how good and profitable was thy counsell when thou ordainedst How sweet and pleasant the banquet when thou gavest thy selfe to be our food 16 How wonderfull thy worke O Lord how powerfull thy vertue how unspeakable thy truth For thou saidst the word and all things were made and this was done which thou commandest 17 A thing of great admiration and worthy of faith and surpassing the understanding of man that thou my Lord God true God Man shouldst be exhibited unto us by the elements of bread and wine and thy body worthily receaved should be the spirituall food of our soule 18 Thou who are the Lord of all things and standest in need of none hast pleased to dwell in us by meanes of this thy Sacrament 19 Preserve my heart and body unspotted that with a cheerefull and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receave them to my everlasting health which thou hast chiefly ordained and instituted for thy honour and perpetuall memory 20 Rejoyce O my soule and give thankes unto God for so noble a gift and singular comfort left unto thee in this vale of teares 21 For as often as thou callest to mind this mystery and receavest the body of Christ so often dost thou remember the worke of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ. 22 For the charity of Christ is never diminished and the greatnesse of his mercy is never drawne dry 23 Therefore thou oughtest alwaies to dispose thy selfe hereunto by a fresh renewing of thy minde and to weigh with attentive consideration this great mystery of thy salvation 24 So great now and joyfull it ought to seeme unto thee when thou commest to the holy Communion as if the same day Christ first descended into the wombe of the Virgin were become man or hanging on the crosse did suffer and dye for the salvation of mankinde CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often The voice of the Disciple BEhold O Lord I come unto thee that I may be comforted in thy gifts and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou O Lord hast prepared in thy sweetnesse for the poore 2 Behold in thee is all whatsoever I can or ought to desire thou art my health and my redemption my hope and my strength my honour and my glory 3 Make joyfull therefore this day the soule of thy servant for that I have lifted it up to thee my sweet Iesus I desire to receave thee now with devotion and reverence 4 I doe long to bring thee into my house that with Zachreus I may obtaine to be blessed by thee and numbred amongst the children of Abraham 5 My soule thirsteth to receave thy body my heart desireth to be united with thee 6 Give thy selfe to me and it sufficeth For besides thee no comfort is availeable I cannot be without thee nor live without thy gracious visitation 7 And therefore I must often come unto thee and receave thee as the only remedy of my health lest perhaps I faint in the way if I be deprived of thy heavenly food 8 For so most mercifull Iesus thou once didst say preaching to the people and curing sundry diseases I will not send them home fasting lest they faint in the way 9 Deale thou therefore in like manner now with me who hast vouchsafed to leave thy selfe in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithfull 10 For thou art the sweet refection of the soule and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heire of everlasting glory 11 It is necessary for me that doe so often fall and sinne so quickly waxe dull and faint that by often prayers and confessions and receaving of thy sacred body I renew clense and inflame my selfe lest perhaps by long abstayning I fall from my holy purpose 12 For man is prone unto evill from his youth
When thy last sand shall be runne out thou wilt have a farre diffetent opinion of thy whole life that is past and be exceeding sorry thou hast been so carelesse and remisse 15 O how wise and happy is he that now laboureth to be such a one in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death 16 To contemne the world perfectly to goe forward in vertue zealously to love reprose willingly to amend our lives seriously to obey superiors gladly to denie himselfe throughly and to suffer affliction for his sake patiently make us confident we shall die happily 17 Whilst thou art in health thou maist doe many good deeds but when thou art sick I see not what thou art able to doe 18 Few in the weaknesse of their bodies gather strength to their soules as they who are walking abroad are seldome setled at home 19 Trust not to freinds and kindred neither doe thou put off the care of thy soule till hereafter for men will sooner forget thee then thou art aware of 20 It is better to look to it betime and doe some good a fore hand then to trust to other mens curtesies 21 If thou dost not provide for thy selfe in this world who will have care of thee in that which is to come 22 The time that is now present is very precious now is the day of salvation now is the acceptable time 23 But alas that thou shouldst spend thy time so idlely here where thou mightst purchase to live eternally hereafter 24 The time will come when thou shalt desire one day or houre to amend in and 't is a great question whether it will be granted thee 25 O be loved from how great danger mightst thou deliver thy selfe from how great feare free thy selfe if thou wouldst be now fearfull and carefull how to die 26 Labour now to live so that at the houre of death thou maist rather rejoyce then fear learn now to die to the world that thou maist begin to live with Christ. 27 Learn now to contemn all earthly things that thou maist freely goe to Christ. 28 Chastise thy body now by Repentance that thou maist then have assured confidence 29 Ah foole why dost thou think to live long when thou canst not promise to thy selfe one day how many have been deceived and suddenly snatcht away 30 How often dost thou hear these reports such a man is slain another is drowned a third breaks his neck with a fall this man died eating and that man playing 31 One perished by fire another by the sword another of the plague and another was slain by theeves thus death is the end of all and mans life passeth away like a shadow 32 Who shall remember thee when thou art dead and who shall pray for thee when thou canst not help thy selfe 33 Doe doe now my beloved whatsoever thou art able to doe for thou knowest not when thou shalt die not yet what shall befall thee after thy death 34 Now whilst thou hast time heap unto thy selfe everlasting treasures think on nothing but the salvation of thy soule care for nothing but the service of thy God 35 Make now friends to thy selfe by honouring the Saints of God and imitating their vertues that when thou failest in this short life they may receive thee into everlasting habitations 36 Esteem thy selfe as a stranger and Pilgrime upon the earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertain 37 Keep thy heart free from the world and lifted up directly unto God because thou hast here no abiding city 38 Send thither thy daily praiers and sighes joyned with unfained tears that after death thy spirit may be happily commended into the hands of the Almighty CHAP. XXIIII Of Iudgment and the punishment of Sinnes IN all thy waies have a speciall aim to thy end for how canst thou be able to stand before a severe Iudge to whom nothing is hid 2 Who is not pacified with gifts nor admitteth any frivolous excuses but will judge according to right and equity 3 O wretched and foolish sinner who sometimes fearest the countenance of an angry and ignorant man what answer wilt thou make to an angry and all-knowing God 4 Why dost not thou provide for thy selfe against that great day of Iudgment when no man can excuse or answer for another buâ— every one shall have enough to answer for himselfe 5 Now are thy paines profitable thy tears acceptable thy groans audible thy griefe pacifieth for thy sinnes and prepareth thy soule 7 The patient man hath a great and vvholesome purgatory who though he receive injuries yet grieveth more for the malice of an other then for his own wrongs 8 Who prayeth willingly for his adversaries and from his heart forgiveth their offences and delaieth not to aske forgivenesse of whomsoever he hath offended 9 Who is sooner moved to compassion then to anger who often offereth violence to himselfe and laboureth earnestly to bring the body into subjection to the spirit 10 It is better to purge our sinnes and offences here then keepe them to be purged and punished hereafter verily we doe but deceive our selves through an inordinate love of the flesh 11 What else will that fire consume but thy sins the more thou sparest thy selfe and followest thy pleasure now so much the more hereafter shall be thy punishment and a greater fewel added to that flame 12 In what thing a man hath sinned in the same shall he be punished there shall the sloathfull be pricked forward with burning goads and the gluttons vexed with great hunger and thirst 13 There shall the lascivious and loves of pleasure be bathed in burning pitch and stinking brimstone and the envious like mad doggs shall howle for very griefe 14 There is no fault but shall have its proper and peculiar torment there the proud shall be filled with all horrour and confusion the covetous shall be pinched with exceeding penury one houre of pain there shall be more bitter then a thousand years of the sharpest pennance here 15 There is no quiet no comfort for the damned there yet here we have some intermission of our labours and injoy the comfort of our friends 16 Be now solicitous and sorrowfull for thy sinnes that at the day of judgment thou maist be secure with the company of blessed soules 17 For then shall the righteous with great boldnesse stand against such as have vexed and oppressed them then shall he sit to judge men who is now content to be judged of men 18 Then shall the poor and humble have great confidence but the proud man shall be compassed with feare on every side 29 Then will it appeare that he was wise in this world who had learned for Christ to be a foole and despised 30 Then shall affliction patiently undergone delight us when the mouth of iniquity shall be stopped up then shall the devout rejoyce and the prophane mourne 31 Then shall he more rejoyce
and unlesse this divine remedy helpe him he quickly slideth to worse 13 This holy communion therefore draweth back from evill and comforteth in good 14 For if I be now so often slack and negligent when I communicate or officiate what would become of mee if I receaved not this remedy sought not after so great helpe 15 Though every day I be not sit not well prepared to communicate I will endeavour notwithstanding at convenient times to receave the divine mysteries and make my selfe partaker of so great a grace 16 For this is the only chiefe comfort of a faithfull soule whilest she wandreth from thee in this mortall body that being mindfull of her God she often receave her beloved with a devout minde 17 O wonderfull benignity of thy mercy towards us that thou Lord God the Creator and giver of life to all spirits doest vouchsafe to come unto a poore soule 18 And with thy whole Deity and Humanity to turn her hunger into satiety â— o happy minde and blessed soule that is vouchsafed to receave thee her Lord God with devout affection and in receaving of thee to be filled with spirituall joy 19 O how great a Lord doth she entertaine How beloved a guest doth she harbour how pleasant a companion doth she receave how faithfull â— friend doth she accept how beautifull and noble a spouse doth she imbrace 20 Shee imbraceth him who is to be loved above all that is beloved and above all things that may be desired Let heaven and earth all their beauty be silent in thy presence 21 For what beauty and praise soever they have it is receaved from thy honour and shall not equall the beauty of thy name of whose wisdome there is no end CHAP. IV. That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly The voice of the Disciple O My Lord God prevent thy servant in the blessings of thy swetnesse that I may attaine thy favour to approach worthily and devoutly to the holy Sacrament 2 Stirre up my heart unto thee deliver me from all heavinesse slothâ—â— visit me with thy comfort that I may tast in spirit thy sweetnesse which iâ— this Sacrament as in a fountain plentâ— fully lyeth hid 3 Give light also to mine eyes â— behold so great a mystery and strong then me to believe it with undoubteâ—â— faith 4 For it is thy worke and noâ— mans power thy sacred institution noâ— mans invention 3 For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend and understand thâ—â— things which surpasse the deepest reach even of Angels 4 What therefore shall Iunworthy sinner earth and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mystery 5 O Lord in syncerity of my heart with a good and firme faith and at thy commandement I come unto thee with hope and reverence and doe verily believe that thou God and Man affordest a gracious presence at this Sacrament 6 Thy holy pleasure is that I receave thee and by charity doe unite my selfe unto thee 7 Wherefore I doe flee unto thy clemency and doe crave speciall grace that I may wholly melt in thee and abound with love and hereafter never admit any externall comfort 8 For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soule and body the remedy of all spirituall sicknesse 9 By it my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations overcome or weakned greater grace infused vertue increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and charity inflamed and enlarged 3 For thou hast bestowed still oftentimes doest bestow many benefits in this Sacrament upon thy beloved that receave it devoutly 11 O my God the Protectour of my soule the strengthener of humane frailety and the giver of all inward comfort 12 Thou impartest unto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them up from the depth of their own basenesse to the hope of thy protection and doest inwardly refresh and illustrate them with a certain new grace 13 In such sort that they who before Communion felt themselves heavy and indisposed afterwards being strengthened with heavenly meate and drinke doe find in themselves a great change to the better 14 Which thou dost so dispose to thy elect that they may truly acknowledge and patiently proove how great their own infirmitie is and what benefit and grace they receave from thee 15 For they of themselves are cold dull and undevout but by thee they are made fervent cheerefull and full of devotion 16 For who is there that approaching humbly unto the fountaine of sweetnesse doth not carry away from thence at least some litle sweetnesse 17 Or who standing by a great fire receaveth not some small heat thereby Thou art a fountaine alwaies full and overflowing a fire ever burning and never decaying 18 Wherefore if I cannot draw at the full out of the fountaine nor drink my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this heavenly conduite that I may draw from thence at least some small droppe to refresh my thirst to the end I wither not away and utterly perish 19 And though I be not altogether celestiall nor so inflamed as the Cherubims and Seraphims notwithstanding I will endeavour to apply my selfe to devotion and dispose my heart to obtaine some small sparke of divine fire by humble receaving of this life-giving Sacrament 20 And whatsoever is hereunto wanting in me good Iesu most blessed Saviour doe thou supply for me most benigne and gracious Lord who hast vouchsafed to call all unto thee saying Come unto mee all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you 21 I labour in the sweate of my browes I am vexed with griefe of heart I am burdened with sinnes I am troubled with temptations I am intangled and oppressed with many evill passions 22 And there is none to helpe me none to deliver and save me but thou Lord God my Saviour to whom I commit my selfe all mine that thou maist keep me and bring me to life everlasting 22 Receave me to the honour and glory of thy name who hast prepared thy Body and Bloud to be my meat drinke 23 Grant O Lord God my Saviour that by frequenting thy mysteries my zeale and devotion may increase more and more CHAP. V. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function The voice of Christ. IF thou hadst angelicall purity and the Sanctity of S. Iohn Baptist thou â—vert not worthy to receive nor handle â—his Sacrament 2 For it is not within the compasse of the deserts of men that man should consecrate and handle the Sacrament of Christ receive for food the bread of Angels 3 A great mystery and great is the dignity of Priests to whom is granted that which is not permitted to the Angels 4 For Priests alone rightly instituted in the Church have power to ceâ—ebrate and consecrate the Body of Christ. 5 The Priest is the Minister of God using the words of God by the
commandement and appointment of of God but God is there the principal Author and invisible Worker to whom is subject all that he pleaseth and all that he commandeth doth obey 6 Thou oughtest therefore to give more credit to God Almighty in this most excellent Sacrament then to thine owne sense or to any visible signe And theresofore thou art to come unto this mystery with feare and reverence 7 Consider attentively with thy selfe and see what that is whereof the Ministry is delivered unto thee by the imposition of the hands of the Bishop 8 Behold thou art made a Priest and consecrated to officiate see now that in due time thou offer Sacrifice unto God faithfully and devoutly and carry thy selfe so as thou maist be without reproof 9 Thou hast not lightned thy burthen but are now bound with a straiter bond of discipline and art obliged to a more perfect degree of sanctity 10 A Priest ought to be adorned with all kind of vertues and to give example of good life to others 11 His conversation should not be according to the ordinary and common proceedings of men but like to the Angels in heaven or to perfect men on earth 12 A Priest clothed in sacred garments is the Vicegerent of Christ to pray humbly and with a prostrate mind unto God for himselfe and the whole people 13 And know that he is placed as a modiatour betweene God and the sinner Neither ought he to cease from praior and holy oblation till he obtaine grace and mercy 14 When a Priest doth celebrate he honoureth God rejoyceth the Angels edlfieth the Church helpeth the living and maketh himselfe partaker of all good deeds CHAP. VI. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion The voice of the Disciple VVHen I weigh thy greatnesse O Lord and mine unworthinesse I tremble and am confounded in my selfe 2 For if I come not unto thee I fly from life and if I unworthily intrude my selfe I incurre thy displeasure 3 What therefore shall I doe my God my Helper and my Counsellour in necessitie 4 Teach me the right way appoint me some briefe exercise sutable to this holy mystery of the sacred Communion 5 For it is good for me to know how I should reverently and devoutly prepare my heart unto thee for the profitable receiving of thy Sacraments or for the celebrating of so great and divine a Sacrifice CHAP. VII Of the discussing of our owne conscience and purpose of amendment The voice of the Beloved ABove all things the Priest of Goâ— ought to come to celebrate hanâ—dle and receive this Sacrament witâ— great humility of heart and lowly reverence with a full faith and a godly desire of the honour of the divine Majestie 2 Examine diligently thy conscience and to thy power purge clense it with true contrition and humble confession 3 So as there may be nothing in thee that may be burdensome unto thee or that may breed thee remorse of conscience and hinder thy free accesse to these heavenly mysteries 4 Repent thee of all thy sinnes in generall and in particular bewaile thy daily offences And if thou hast time confesse unto God in the secret of thy heart all the miseries of thy disordered passions 5 Lament and grieve that thou are yet so subject to sensualitie 6 So addicted unto the world 7 So unmortified in thy passions so full of the motions of concupiscence 8 So unwatchful over thy outward senses 9 So often entangled with many vaine fantasies 10 So vehemently inclined to all outward things 12 So wonderfull negligent in the interiour 13 So prone to laughter and inmodesty 14 So hard to teares and compunction 15 So prompt to ease and pleasures of the flesh 16 So dull to austeritic and fervour 17 So curious to heare newes and see vaine sights 18 So slack to imbrace that which tends to thine owne humiliation and contempt 19 So covetous of abundance so â—â—iggardly in giving 20 So fast in keeping 21 So inconsiderate in speech 22 So unbridled to silence 23 So loose in manners 24 So couragious in deeds 25 So greedy to meat 26 So deafe to the Word of God 27 So hasty to rest 28 So slow to labour 29 So watchfull to tales 30 So drowsy to watch in the service of God 31 So hasty to the end thereof 32 So inconstant in attention 33 So negligent in saying thy praiers 34 So undevout in celebrating the Communion 35 So dry in receiving 36 So quickly distracted 37 So seldome wholly recollected 38 So suddenly moved to an anger 39 So apt to take displeasure against another 40 So prone to judge 41 So severe to reprehend 42 So joyfull in prosperity 43 So weake in adversitie 44 So often purposing much good and performing litle 45 These and other thy defects confessed and bewailed with sorrow and great dislike of thine owne infirmity make a firme purpose alwaies to amend thy selfe and to goe forwards in vertue 46 Then with full resignation and with thy whole will offer thy selfe up to the honour of my name a perpetuall sacrifice in the Altar of thy heart 47 Faithfully committing thy body and soule unto me that so thou maist also obtain that favour to come worthily to offer sacrifice unto God and to receive profitably the Sacrament of my body 48 For there is no oblation worthy nor satisfaction greater for the washing away of sinnes then to offer up our selves unto God purely wholly in the holy Communion 49 And when a man shall have done what lyeth in him and shall be truly penitent as I live saith our Lord who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be converted and live and I will not remember hir sinnes any more but they shall be all forgiven him and fully pardoned CHAP. VIII Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selves The voice of the Beloved AS I willingly offered up my selfe unto 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 divine wrath 2 So oughtest thou also to offer up thy selfe willingly unto me daily as a pure and holy oblation with thy whole force and desire in as hearty manner as thou canst 3 What doe I require of thee more then that thou resigne thy selfe wholly unto me 4 Whatsoever thou givest besides thy selfe is of litle accompt in my sight for I seeke not thy gift but thee 5 As it would not suffice thee to have all things whatsoever besides me so neither can it please me whatsoever thou givest if thou offerest not up thy selfe Offer thy selfe unto me and give thy selfe all that thou art for God and thy offering shall be gratefull 6 Behold I offered up my selfe wholly unto my Father for thee and gave my whole body and blood for thy food that I might be wholly thine and thou remain mine 7
Of flying vaine Hope and Pride 16 Of avoiding too much familiarity 18 Of obedience and Subjection 19 Of avoiding superfluity of words 21 Of obtaining peace and desire of profiting 23 Of the profit gotten by adversity 26 Of resisting Temptations 28 Of avoiding rash judgement 34 Of workes proceeding from Charity 36 Of bearing with other mens defects 37 Of solitary life 40 Of the example of holy Fathers 41 Of the exercise of good religious persons 45 Of the love of solitude and silence 50 Of compunction of heart 56 Of the consideration of humane misery 60 Of the meditation of death 65 Of Iudgement and punishment of sinnes 71 Of the zealous amendment of our whole life 77 THE SECOND BOOK OF inward Conversation 84 Of humble submission 90 Of a good and peaceable man 91 Of a pure mind and upright intention 94 Of the consideration of ones selfe 96 Of the joy of â— good conscience 98 Of the love of Iesus above all things 101 Of familiar conversation with Iesus 103 Of the want of all comfort 106 Of thankfulnesse for the grace of God 112 How few the lovers of the Crosse of Christ are 116 Of the high way of the holy Crosse. 119 THE THIRD BOOK OF the inward speech of Christ to a faithfull soule 130 That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words 132 That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not 135 A prayer to implore the grace of devotion 137 That we ought to live in truth and humility in the sight of God 138 Of the wonderfull effect of divine grace 141 Of the proofe of a true lover 146 That grace is to be hid under the veile of humility 150 Of a mean conceipt of our selves in the sight of God 154 That all things are to be reserved unto God as unto the last end 156 That despising the world it is sweet to serve God 158 That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated 162 Of the effect of Patience and of strife against concupiscence 164 Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ. 167 Of the secret Iudgements of God to be considered lest we be extolled in our good deeds 169 What we ought to doe and say in every thing which we desire 172 A Prayer for the fulfilling of the will of God 174 That true comfort is to be sought in God alone 175 That all our care is to be placed in God 177 That temporall miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently 179 Of suffering of injuries and who is proved to be truly patient 181 Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity and of the miseries of this life 184 That we are to rest in God above all his gifts 187 Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God 192 Of foure things that bring much peace 197 A prayer against evill thoughts 197 A prayer for the enlightning of the mind 198 Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others 200 Wherein doth the firme peace of the heart and true proficiency consist 20â— Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer better obtaineth then reading 204 That private love most hindreth from the chiefest good 206 A Prayer for cleansig the heart and obtaining of heavenly wisdome 208 Against the tongue of Slanderers 210 How we ought to call upon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere 211 Of craving the divine aid and confidence of recovering grace 212 Of the contempt of all creatures to find our Creator 217 Of the deniall of our selves and forsaking all our affections 220 Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our finall intentions unto God 223 That God is sweet above all things and in all things to him that loveth 225 That there is no security from temptation in this life 225 Against the vaine Iudgements of men 230 Of a full and pure resignation of our selves from the obtaining freedome of heart 232 Of good government of outward things and of recourse to God in dangers 235 That a man be not over earnest in his affaires 237 That a man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing whereof he can glory 238 Of the contempt of all temporall honours 241 That our peace is not to be placed in men 242 Against vaine and secular knowledge 245 Of not drawing outward things to our selves 247 That credit is not to be given to all men and how prone man is to offend in words 249 Of putting our trust in God when evill words arise 253 That all grievous things are to be endured for life everlasting 257 Of the everlasting day and shortnesse of this life 259 Of the desire of everlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly 264 How a desolate person ought to offer himselfe into the hands of God 270 That a man ought to imploy himselfe in works of humility when force is wanting for higher exercises 276 That a man ought to esteeme himselfe unworthy of comfort and to have deserved stripes 277 That the grace of God is not given to those that savour of earthly things 280 Of the different motions of Nature and Grace 283 Of the corruption of nature and efficacy of divine grace 289 That we oâ—ght to deny our selves and imitate Christ by the Crosse. 294 That a man be not too much deiected when he â—alleth into some defects 297 Of not searching into high matters and into the secret judgements of God 300 That all our hope aâ—d trust is to be fixed in God alone 307 THE FOVRTH BOOK A Devout exhortation unto the blessed Sacrament 311 With how great reverence Christ ought to be received 312 That great goodnesse and charity of God is bestowed upon man in this Sacrament 321 That it is profitable to communicate often 326 That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly 330 Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function 335 An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion 337 Of the discussing of our own conscience and purpose of amendment 338 Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selves 342 That we ought to offer up our selves and all that is ours unto God and to pray for all 344 That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne 348 That the Body of Christ and the holy Scriptures are most necessary unto a faithfull soule 353 That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence 360 That a devout soule ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto Christ in the Sacrament 363 Of the fervent desire of some devout persons to receave the body of Christ 366 That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility deniall of our selves 369 That we ought to manifest our necessity unto Christ and to crave his grace 372 Of burning love and vehement desire to receive Christ. 374 That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense unto faith 378 FINIS
spirit of contrition 25 And say with the Prophet feed me O Lord with the bread of tears and give me plenteousnesse of tears to drink CHAP. XXII Of the Consideration of humane misery MIserable thou art wheresoever thou be or whithersoever thou turnest unlesse thou turne thy selfe un to God 2 Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldst or desirest for who is he that hath all things accoording to his mind 3 Neither I nor thou nor any man upon the earth there is none in this world be he King or Pope without some tribulation or other 4 Who is then in the best estate or condition even he who for God's sake can suffer affliction 5 Many weake and fraile men can say O what an happy life hath such a one how wealthy how mighty he is in how great honour and credit 6 But lift up thine eyes to the riches of heaven and thou shall perceive that all the goods of this life are nothing so be accounted of 7 They are very uncertain rather burthensome then delightfull because they are never enjoyed without carefulnesse and feare 8 Mans happinesse consisteth not in having abundance of wealth but a meane estate should content him it is truly misery enough even to live upon the earth 9 The more a man hungreth after godlinesse the more he abhorreth this life because he seeth more cleerly and perceiveth more sensibly the defects of humane corruption 10 For to eat and to drink to sleep and to watch to labour and to rest and to be subject to other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a devout mind that would gladly be free and delivered from sinne 11 For the inward man is much oppressed with these outward and corporall necessities whilst we live in this world 12 Therefore the holy Prophet prayeth with great devotion to be delivered from them saying draw me O Lord out of my necessities 13 But woe be to them that know not their owne misery and a greater woe to them that take delight in this miserable and corruptible life 14 And some there be so much dote upon it although with great labour and paines they can scarce get bread to eat yet could they live here alwaies they would care but litle for the Kingdome of heaven 15 O how mad are these in their braines and faithlesse in their hearts who lie so deeply drowned in the earth that they can think of nothing but earthly things 16 But miserable wretches as they are they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile and vaine that was which they loved 17 Whereas the Saints of God and all the fast friends of Christ looke not on those things which pleased the flesh and flourished for a time but panted after everlasting rreasures with all greedinesse and desire 18 Their whole desire was carried upward to things durable and invisible that the desire of things visible might not draw them to things below 19 O Brother loose not thy confidence to come forward in godlinesse there is yet time the houre is not yet past 20 Why wilt thou deferre thine amendment from day to day arise and begin this very instant and say now is the time to be doing now is the time to be working now is the best time to amend my selfe 21 When thou art ill at ease and much troubled then is the time to profit best thou must passe through fire and water before thou comest to a place of refreshing 22 Vnlesse thou offer violence to thy selfe thou shalt never get the victory over sinne so long as we carry about us this fraile body of ours we can never be without sinne or live without sorrow 23 We could gladly be quiet and freed from all misery but seeing by sin we have lost our innocency we have by that also forfeited our felicity 24 Therefore we must hold our selves content and expect the mercy of God till this our iniquitie be put away and this mortality of ours be swallowed up of life 25 O how great is humane frailty which is alwaies prone to evill to day thou confessest thy sinnes and to morrow thou committest the very same thou hast confessed 26 Now thou art in the mind to looke well unto thy waies and within a while thou so behavest thy selfe as though thou hadst never any such mind at all 27 Good cause have we therefore to humble our selves and never to have any great conceit of our worth we are so fraile in our nature so inconstant in our courses 28 Besides that may quickly be lost by our owne negligence which by the grace of God and our owne great paines we have scarce at length obtained 29 What will become of us in the end who begiu to waxe cold so timely 30 Woe be unto us if we will now give our selves to ease as if all were in peace and safetie when yet there appeareeh no signe of sanctity in our conversations 31 We have need like young beginners be newly instructed againe to good manners if happily there be any hope of our future amendment and spirituall progresse CHAP. XXIII Of the meditation of Death THere will very quickly be an end of thee here therefore see what will become of thee hereafter To day a man to morrow none and out of sight out of mind 2 O the stupidity and hardnesse of mans heart who thinketh only upon the present and hath no care of the time to come 3 Thou shouldst so order thy selfe in all thy thoughts and actions as if to day yea this very moment thou we it ready to depart 4 Hadst thou a clear conscience thou wouldst not greatly feare death care not so much for the death of this body as the sinne of thy soule 5 If thou art not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow thou knowest not what will be to morrow and how knowest thou that thou shalt live till to morrow 6 What are we the better to live long if we prove not the better by long living for length of daies doth oftnes make our sinnes the greater then our lives the better 7 O that we had spent but one day well in this world 8 Many keepe in mind how long it is since their conversion and yet forget to fructifie in a holy conversation 9 If to die be accounted dreadfull to live long may prove more dangerous happy is he that hath his end before his eies and prepareth himselfe to die daily 10 If at any time thou hast seen an other man die make account thou must follow him he hath shewed thee but the way 11 When it is morning think thou maist die before night and when evening comes presume not upon next morning 12 Be thou therefore alwaies in a readinesse and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared 13 Many die suddenly and when they look not for it for the sonne of man will come when we think not of his comming 14
shall not then feare to heare the sentence of everlasting damnation 3 This signe of the Crosse shall be in heaven when our Lord shall come to Iudgment 4 Then all the servants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselves unto Christ crucified shall draw neere unto our Lord with great confidence 5 Why therefore fearest thou to take up 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 6 In the Crosse is infusion of heavenly sweetnesse in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is joy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity 7 There is no health of the soule nor hope of everlasting life but in the Crosse. Take up therefore thy Crosse and follow Iesus and thou shalt goe into life everlasting 8 He is gone before bearing his Crosse and is dead for thee on the Crosse that thou maist also beare thy Crosse and desire to die on the Crosse with him 9 For if thou diest with him thou shalt also live with him and if thou be his companion in paine thou shalt be partaker with him also in glory 10 Behold in the Crosse all doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life upon it for there is no other way unto life and unto true inward peace but the way of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification 11 Goe where thou wilt seeke whatsoever thou wilt thou shalt not find a higher way above nor a safeâ—â— way below then the way of the holy Crosse. 12 Dispose and order all things according to thy will and judgment yet thou shalt ever find that of necessity thou must suffer some-what either willingly or against thy will 13 So as thou shalt never fully avoid the Crosse for either thou shalt feele paine in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 14 Sometimes thou shalt be forsaken of God sometimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbours and which is more oftentimes thou shalt be irksome to thy selfe 15 Neither canst thou be delivered or cased by any remedy or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it 16 For God will have thee learne to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholly to him and become more humble by tribulation 17 No man hath so lively a feeling of the Passion of Christ as he who hath chanced to suffer the like The Crosse therefore is alwaies ready and every where attendeth thee 18 Thou canst not escape it whither soever thou fliest for wheresoever thou goest thou carriest thy selfe about with thee and thou shalt ever find thy selfe 19 Turne thy selfe upward turne thy selfe downward turne thee within or turne thee without 20 Which way soever thou doest turn thee alwaies thou shalt find the Crosse. 21 And every where of necessity thou must have patience if thou wilt have inward peace and obtaine an everlasting Crowne 22 If thou beare the Crosse willingly it will beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shall be an end of suffering though here there shall not 23 If thou beare it unwillingly thou makest for thy selfe a new burthen and increasest thy load and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it doe what thou canst 24 If thou cast away one Crosse without doubt thou shalt find another and that perhaps a more heavy 25 Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could ever avoid which of the Saints in the world was without crosses and tribulations 26 Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was never one houre without paine of suffering so long as he lived Christ saith he ought to suffer and rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory 27 And how doest thou seeke any other way then this Kings high way which is the way of the holy Crosse 28 The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seeke rest and joy 29 Thou art deceived thou art deceived if thou seekest any other thing theÌ„ to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries and invironed on every side with crosses 30 And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heavier Crosses he oftentimes findeth for the love he beareth to God encreaseth the griefe which he endureth for his banishment 31 But yet this man though so many wayes afflâ—cted is not without the ease of consolation for the great good which he perceiveth to grow unto him by the bearing of his Crosse 32 For whilest he willingly putteth himselfe under it all the but then of tribulation is turned into the confidence of divine consolation 33 And how much the more the flesh is wasted by affliction by so much the more is the spirit strengthened by inward grace 34 And sometimes he is so strengthened with the â—eeling of tribulation and adversity for the love of conforming himselfe to the Crosse of Christ that he would not wish at any time to be without sorrow and tribulation 35 Because he beleeveth that so much the more acceptable he shall be unto God how much the more for number weight he can suffer for him 36 This is not the power of man but it is the grace of Christ that can and doth so much in fraile â—lesh that what naturally it alwaies abhorreth and flieth that by fervour of spirit it taketh hold on and loveth 37 It is not according to mans inclination to bear the Crosse to love the Crosse to chastise the body and bring it into subjection to shun promotion 38 To suffer contumelies with a joyfull heart to despise himselfee and to wish to be despised to beare all adversities and damages and to desire no prosperity in this world 39 But if thou depend upon thy selfe thou shalt be able to performe no such matter of thy selfe 40 But if thou trustest in our Lord strength shall be given thee from heaven and thou shalt subdue under thee both the world and the flesh 41 Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Divel if thou be armed with faith and rely upon Christ crucified 42 Resolve therefore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull servant of Christ to beare manfully the Crosse of thy Lord who out of love unto thee was crucified for thee 43 Prepare thy selfe to beare many adversities and diverse kinds of troubles in this miserable life for so it will be with thee wheresoever thou be and so surely thou wilt find it wheresoever thou hide thy selfe 44 So it must be and there is no remedy or meanes to avoid tribulation and sorrow but to beare them 35 Drink of the Cup of our Lord with a good affection if thou wilt be his friend and desirest to have part with him As touching consolation referre that to the will of God let him doe therein as shall best please him but yeeld thou thy selfe
to the bearing of adversity and account it as the greatest comfort 46 Set thou thy heart upon the suffering of tribulations and account them the greatest comforts 47 For that the passions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed although thou alone couldest suffer them all 48 When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation for Christ's sake shall seeme sweet and pleasant unto thee then think it is well with thee for thou hast found a Parradise upon earth 49 As long as it is grievous unto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to fly it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou fliest will follow thee every where 50 If thou setlest thy selfe to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to die to thy selfe it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt find peace 51 Although thou shouldest have been rapt even unto the third heaven with Paul thou art not by this secured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction 52 I saith IESVS will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name It resteth therefore that thou suffer for him if thou wilt love IESUS and perpetually serve him 53 O would to God thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Iesus how great glory would it be unto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour 54 For all doe commend patience thought few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a litle for Christ since many suffer far great things for the love of the world 55 Know for certaine that thou oughtest to lead a dying life And how much the more every one dieth to himselfe so much the more doth he begin to live unto God 56 No man is sit to attaine unto heavenly things unlesse he submit himselfe to the bearing of adversities for Christ. 57 Nothing is more gratefull unto God nothing more wholesome to thee in this world then to suffer willingly for Christ. 58 And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer adversities for Christ then to enjoy the delight of many comforts 59 Because by these meanes thou shouldst be more like unto Christ and more conformable to all Saints 60 For our good workes and the perfectioÌ„ of our estate consisteth not in much sweetnesse and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 61 If there had been any better thing and more profitable to the soules health then suffering surely Christ would have shâ—wed it by word and example 62 But he plainly exhorted all the disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse 63 And saith if any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take up his Crosse and follow me 64 So as when we have read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of God The end of the second Book OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. I. Of the inward speech of Christ to a faithfull soule I Will heare what our Lord God will speake in me Blessed is the soule that heareth our Lord speaking in hâ—â— and receiveth from his mouth the word of comfort 2 Blessed are those eares that receive the sound of the divine voice and listen not to the whisperings of the world 3 Blessed indeed are those eares that hearken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but unto truth which teacheth inwardly 4 Blessed are the eyes that being shut up to outward things are attentive to those things that are within 5 Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeavour to prepare themselves more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of heavenly secâ—ets 6 Blessed be they that delight to attend the service of God and cast from them all impediments of this world 7 Consider these things my soule and shut up the doores of thy sensuall desires thâ—â— thou maist heare what thy Lord God â—â—eaketh in thee 8 Thus saith thy beloved I am thy safâ—â—y thy peace and thy life Keepe thy selfe withâ—â—e and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitâ—ry things and seeke those that be everlasting 9 What are all temporall things but deceiving snares and what doe all creatures availe thee if thou be forsaken by the Creator 10 Forsake therefore all earthly things and labour to please thy Creator and be faithful unto him that thou maist attaine unto true happinesse CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words SPeake Lord for thy servant heareth I am thy servant grant me understanding that I may know thy testimonies 2 Stir up my heart to heare the words of thy mouth let thy speech descend as the dew into my soule 3 The children of Israel in times past said unto Moses Speake thou unto us and we shall heare theâ—e let not our Lord speake unto us least perhaps we die 4 Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreat speake Lord for thy servant heareth 5 Let not Moses speake unto me nor any of the Pâ—ophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and enlightner of all the Prophets 6 For thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit me nothing 7 They can pronounce words but they give not spirit They speak marveilous well but if thou hold thy peace they inflame not the heart 8 They deliver the letters but thou openest the sense They bringforth mysteries but thou disclosest the understanding of sealed things 9 They declare thy commandements but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou givest strength to walke in it 10 They work only exteriorly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hearts They water outwardly but thou givest fruitfulnesse They sound forth wordes but thou givest understanding to the hearing 11 Let not therefore Moses speak unto me but thou my Lord God the everlasting truth lest perhaps I should dye and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly only and not enflâ—med within 12 Lest the word heard and not fulfilled knowen and not loved believed and not observed should increase my punishment 13 Speak therefore Lord for thy servant heareth for thou hast the words of everlasting life Speak unto me to the comfort of my soule and to the amendment of my whole life and to thy praise and glory and everlasting honour CHAP. III. â—hat the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not SOnne hear my words wordes of great comfort excelling all the knowledge of the Philosophers and wise men of this world 2 My wordes are spirit and life not to be wâ—ighed by the understanding of man Thâ—y are not to be drawn to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be received with all
be known to many nor to have the private love of men for these things breed distractions and cause great darknesse of heart 9 I would vvillingly utter my words reveale my secrets unto thee if thou diddest diligently observe my comming and diddest open the dore of thy heart unto mee 10 Be carefull in thy courses and watch in thy prayers and humble thy selfe in all things CHAP. XXV Wherein doth the firme peace of the heart and true proficiency consist SOnne I have said Peace I leave to you my peace I give to you not as the world giveth doe I give to you 2 All doe desire peace but all care not for those things that appertain unto true peace My peace is with the humble and meeke of heart 3 Thy peace shall be in much patience if thou wilt heare me and follow my voice thou maist enjoy much peace 4 What then shall I doe 5 In every thing attend unto thy selfe what thou doest and what thou sayest and direct thy whole intention unto this that thou maiest please me alone and desire or seeke nothing out of mee 6 But of the sayings and doings of others judge nothing rashly neither doe thou intangle thy selfe with things not committed unto thee and doing thus it may be thou shalt be litle 〈◊〉 seldome troubled 7 But never to feele any trouble at all nor to suffer any griefe of heart or body is not the state of this life but of everlasting rest 8 Think not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou have no adversary 9 Nor that it is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neither doe thou then esteem highly of thy selfe or imagine thy selfe to be especially beloved if thou be in great devotion and sweetnesse 10 For in these things a true lover of vertue is not tryed neither doth the proficiency and perfection of man consist in having them 11 Wherein then Lord 12 In offering thy selfe from the very bottome of thy heart unto the will of God not seeking thine owne interest or commodity neither in great nor litle neither for a time nor for ever 13 So that with equall countenance thou maist persist in thanksgiving both in prosperity and in adversity weighing all things with an equall ballance 14 If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee thou prepare thy heart to suffer greater matters 15 And not justify thy self as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justify me in whatsoever I appoint and praise my holy name 16 Then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace and thou shalt have undoubted hope to see my face a gaine with great ioy 17 And if thou attaine to the full contempt of thy selfe then shalt thou enioy as great aboundance of peace as thy banishment may permit CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer better obtaineth then reading LOrd it is the worke of a perfect man never to slack his mind from the attentive thought of heavenly things and as it were to passe without care through many cares 2 Not faintingly but with a certaine priviledge of a free mind adhering by inordinate affection to no creature 3 I beseech thee most mercifull God preserve me from the cares of this life least I should be too much intangled hereby and from the many necessities of the body least I should be enthralled by pleasure 4 From all hindrances of the soule least broken with troubles I should be dejected and dismayed I meane not from those things that all worldly vanity so greatly desireth 5 But from those miseries that as punishments doe weigh downe and hinder the soule of thy servant with the generall curse of mortality that it cannot enter into the liberty of the spirit as often as it would 6 O my God the unspeakable sweetnesse make bitter unto me all carnall comfort which may draw me away from the love of everlasting happinesse and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight 7 Let not flesh and blood O my God let not flesh and blood Let not the world and the short glory thereof deceive me 8 Let not the Divel and his subtile fraud supplant me Give me force to resist patience to suffer and constancy to persevere 9 Give me insteed of all the comforts of the world the most sweet unction of thy spirit and in lieu of carnall love powre into my soule the love of thy name 10 Behold meat drink cloathe◠and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burden some unto a fervent spirit 11 Grant me to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to be intangled with an over-great desire of them 12 It is not lawfull to renounce them wholly for that nature is to be sustained but to desire superfluities and those things that doe rather delight then sustaine the Law of God forbiddeth 3 For otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand govern me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That private love most hindreth from the chiefest good SOnne thou oughtest to give all for all and to retaine nothing of thy selfe Know that the love of thy selfe doth hurt thee more then any thing in the world 2 According to the love and affection thou bearest them so doth every thing cleave unto thee more or lesse If thy love be pure simple and well ordered thou shalt be free from bondange 3 Covet not that which thou maist not have Be not willing to have that which may hinder thee and deprive thee of inward liberty 4 It is a wonderful thing that thou committest not thy selfe wholly unto me from the bottome of thy heart with all things that thou canst desire or have 5 Why doest thou consume thy self with vaine griefe Why tirest thou thy mind with needlesse cares Stand to my curtesy and thou shalt be no looser by it 6 If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be here or there to enjoy thine owne commodity and pleasure thou shalt never be in quiet nor free from trouble of mind 7 For in every thing somewhat will be wanting and in every place there will be some that will crosse thee 8 Not every external thing therefore attained and heaped together helpeth thee but it rather availeth if thou despise it and dost root it out from thy heart 9 Which thou must not understand only of thy revenewes and wealth but of the desire of honour also and vaine praise all which doe passe away with this fading world 10 The place availeth litle if the spirit of fervour be wanting neither shal that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation 11 That is unlesse thou persist in me thou maist change but
spirit remaineth alwaies one in the midst of these changes not heeding what he seeketh in himselfe or which way the winde of mutability bloweth 5 But that the whole intention of his minde may tend as it ought to the most perfect and best end 6 For so he may continue one and the selfe same without any change in the midst of so many sundry chances directing alwaies the sincere eye of his intention unto me 7 And how much purer the eye of the intention is so much the more constantly doth he passe through the variety of many contrary waves 8 But in many things the eye of a sincere intention waxeth blind for it quickly looketh upon some delightsome object that occurreth 9 And it is rare to find one that is wholly free from all blemish of seeking himselfe 10 So the Iewes in times past came into Bethania to Martha Mary not for Iesus alone but to see Lazarus also 11 The eye of our intention therefore is to be purged that it may be sincere and pure and to be directed unto me neglecting the multitude and â—ariety of earthly objects CHAP. XXXIV That God is sweet above all things and in all things to him that loveth BEhold my God and behold all things What would I have more and what more happy thing can I desire 2 O sweet and comfortable word but to him that loveth the word not the world nor those things that are in the world 3 My God and all things Inough is said to him that understandeth and it is pleasant to him that loveth to repeat it often 4 For when thou art present all things doe yeeld delight but when thou art absent all becomes irksome Thou givest quiet of heart and much peace and pleasant joy 5 Thou makest men thinke well of all and praise thee in all things neither can any thing please us long without thee 6 But if it be pleasant and delightsome thy grace must be present and it must be seasoned with the sweetnesse of thy wisdome 7 what can be distastfull unto him to whom thou art pleasing And whom thou delightest not to him what can be pleasant 8 But the wise of the world they that have their contentment in sensuall things cannot attain to thy wisdome for in the world is much vanity and in the flesh is death 9 But they that follow thee by the contempt of worldly things and mortification of the flesh are proved to be truly wise for they are changed from vanity to truth from flesh to spirit 10 To these God is sweet and what good soever is found in creatures they wholly referre unto the praise of their Maker 11 Notwithstanding great yea very great is the difference between the sweetnes of the Creatour and of the creature of eternity and of time of uncreated and created light 12 O everlasting light surpassing all created lights cast forth the beams of thy brightnesse from above and pierce the most Mward corners of my heart 13 Purify rejoyce clarify and quicken my spirit with all the powers thereof that I may cleave unto thee with excesse of unspeakable joy 14 O when will that blessed and desired houre come that I may be filled with thy presence and thou maist be unto me all in all 15 As long as this is not granted me I shall not have full nor perfect joy Alas my old man yet liveth in mee he is not wholly crucified he is not perfectly dead 16 He doth yet covet strongly against the spirit moveth civill wars and suffereth not the Kingdome of my soule to be in peace 17 But thou that rulest the powers of the sea and asswagest the motions of the waves rise and help me 18 Dissipate the people that desire warre and destroy them in thy might and let thy hand be glorified 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 there is no security in this life as long as thou livest thou shalt alwaies have need of spirituall armour 2 Thou livest among enemies art assaulted on all sides if thererefore thou defendest not thy selfe on every side with the shield of patience thou canst not be long unwounded 3 Moreover if thou sixe not thy heart on me with a sincere will to suffer all things for me thou canst not sustaine the heat of this battaile nor get that victorious crown which they have that are in glory 4 Thou oughtest therefore manfully to goe through all and to use a strong hand against whatsoever withstandeth thee 5 For to him that overcometh is given Manna and to the negligent is left much woe 6 If thou seekest rest in this world how wilt thou then attain to everlasting rest Give not thy selfe to much ease but to much patience 7 Seek true peace not in earth but in heaven not in men nor in any creature but in God alone 8 Thou oughtest for the love of God willingly to undergoe whatsoever labours to endure whatsoever griefes temptations vexations anxieties necessities infirmities injuries detractions reprehensions humiliations confusions corrections and contempts 9 These helpe to the attaining of vertue these try a Novice of Christ these make up an heavenly Crowne 10 I will give an everlasting reward for a short labour and infinite glory for transitory confusion 11 Thinkest thou that thou shalt alwaies have spirituall consolations at will My Saints had not so but many afflictions and sundry temptations and many discomforts 12 All which they endured patiently and trusted rather in God then in themselves knowing that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to obtain future glory 13 Wilt thou have that straight waies which many after teares and great labours have hardly obtained Expect the comming of thy Lord do manfully be of good courage 14 Feare not doe not fly but offer both body soul 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 sixe thy heart stedfastly on God and feare not the judgments of men when thy conscience giveth testimony of thy justice and innocencie 2 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 3 The most part of men are given to talke much and therefore litle care is to be had of their words neither is it possible to satisfie all 4 Though the Apostle endeavour to please all in our Lord and made himselfe all unto all yet he litle regarded that he was judged by humane judgment 5 He did for the edification and health of others as much as he could and lay in him yet could he not hinder but that he was sometimes judged and despised by others 6 Therefore he committed all to God who knew all and defended himselfe
But if thou abidest in thy selfe and doest not offer thy selfe up freely unto my wil thy oblation is not entire neither shall the union betweene us be perfect 8 Therefore a free offering up of thy selfe into the hands of God ought to goe before all thy actions if thou wilt obtaine freedome and grace 9 For this cause so few become inwardly illuminated and enjoy true libertie of heart for that they doe not resolve wholly to denie themselves 10 My saying is undoubtedly true Vnlesse one forsake all he cannot be my Disciple If thou therefore wish to be mine offer up thy selfe unto mee with thy whole desires CHAP. IX That we ought to offer up our selves and all that is ours unto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THine O Lord are all things that are in heaven and in earth I desire to offer up my selfe unto thee as a free oblation and to remaine alwaies thine 2 O Lord in sincerity of my heart I offer my selfe unto thee this day in sacrifice of perpetuall praise to be thy servant for ever 3 Receive me with this holy oblation of thy precious body which in the presence of the Angels invisibly attending here upon thee I offer up this day unto thee that it may be to the health of my soule and the salvation of all thy people 4 I offer unto thee O Lord all my sinnes and offences which I have committed in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels from the day wherein I first could sinne to this houre upon thy holy Altaâ—â— 5 That thou maist consume and burne them all with the fire of thy charitie 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 forgiving me all my offences and receiving me mercifully in the kisse of peace 6 What can I doe for my sinnes but humbly confesse and bewaile them and intreate alwaies for mercy without intermission I beseech thee heare me in thy abundant mercy when I stand before thee my God! 7 All my sinnes are very displeasing unto me I will never commit them any more but I am sory and will be sory for them as long as I live and am ready to repent and doe any thing that may move thee to pardon them 8 Forgive me O God forgive me my sinnes for thy holy names sake save my soule which thou hast redeemed with thy most precious Blood 9 Behold I commit my selfe unto thy mercy I resigne my selfe over into thy hands doe with me according to thy goodnesse not according to my wickednesse and manifold iniquitie 10 I offer up also unto thee all whatsoever is good in me although it be very litle and imperfect that thou maist amend and sanctifie it that thou maist make it gratefull and acceptable unto thee 11 And alwaies perfect more and more that which thou hast begun and bring me also who am the slothfull and unprofitable servent to a good and blessed end 12 I offer up also unto thee all the godly desires of devout persons the necessitie of my parents and friends my brethren and siâ—ters and of all those that are deare unto me and that have done good either to my selfe or others for thy love 13 And that have desired mee to pray for them and all theirs that they all may receive the helpe of thy grace and comfort protection from dangers delivery from paine and being freed from all evils may joyfully give worthy thankes to thee 14 I offer up also unto thee my praiers and sacrifices especially for them who have in any thing wronged grieved or standered me or have done me any damage or displeasure 15 And for those also whom I have at any time grieved troubled and scandalized by words or deeds wittingly or at unawares that it may please thee to forgive us all our sinnes and offences one against another 16 Take O Lord from our hearts all jealousie all indignation wrath and contention and whatsoever may hure charitie and weaken brotherly love 17 Have mercy O Lord have mercy on those that crave thy mercy give grace unto them that stand in need thereoff and grant that we may be worthy to enjoy thy grace and attain unto life everlasting Amen CHAP. X. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest often to have recourse to the Fountaine of grace and of divine mercy to the Fountaine of goodnesse and of all purity that thou maist be cured of thy sinnes and passions and be made more strong vigilant against all temptations and deceipts of the Divell 2 The enemy knowing the greatest profit and remedy to consist in the holy Communion endeavoureth by all meanes and occasions to withdraw hinder faithfull and devout persons from it 3 Some when they purpose to receave the sacred Commnnion suffer greatest assaults of the Divell 4 For that wicked spirit as is written in Iob commeth amongst the Sons of God to trouble them with his accustomed malice and impiety or to make them overfearefull and perplexed 4 That so he may diminish their affection or by his subtile assaults take away their faith to the end they may either altogether abstaine from this divine food or at least come unto it with lesse devotion 5 But there is no heed to be taken of his fraudes and malicious suggestions be they never so filthy and hideous but all is to be turned back upon his own head 6 Thou oughtest to contemne scorne him miserable wretch and not to omit the sacred communion for his assaults and the troubles which hee raiseth 7 Oftentimes also an excessive care for the obtaining of devotion and a certain anxiety for the making of thy confession hindereth thee 8 Follow in these occasions the counsell of the wise and put away all anxiety and scruple for it hindreth the grace of God and over throweth devotion 9 Omit not for every small vexation of the minde which hapneth to receave this holy Sacrament 10 But goe presently to confesse thy sinnes and willingly to forgive others whatsoever offences they have done against thee and if thou hast offended any humbly crave pardon and God will willingly forgive thee 11 What availeth it to delay confession to deferre receaving Purge thy selfe with speed spit out the venom presently make hast to take a remedy and thou shalt finde it better then if thou deferredst it long 12 If thou omittest it to day for this cause perhaps to morrow some greater will fall out and so thou maist be hindred a long time from these divine mysteries and become more unfit 13 Stirre up thy selfe and shake off all heavinesse and sloth with the greatest force and speed thou canst 14 For it profiteth nothing to continue long in disquietnesso trouble of mind and for daily occurring impediments to withdraw thy selfe from the Sacraments 15 Yea it hurteth very much
to defer Communionlong for it is wont to breed a great and dangerous dulnesse 16 Alas some cold and dissolute people doe willingly delay their confession and doe therefore deferre the sacred Communion lest they should be bound to greater watch over themselves 17 O how litle charity and weak devotion have they that so easily omit the receaving of these holy mysteries 18 How happy is he and gratefull to God who ordereth so his life and keepeth his conscience in such purity that he may be ready and fit to communicate every day if it were covenient and might be done without notice taken 19 If any one sometimes abstaine of humility or by reason of some lawfull impediment he is to be commended for the revorence which therein it shewed 20 But if it proceedeth of coldnesse he must stirre himselfe up and doe what lyeth in him and God will prosper his desire for the good will hee hath to doe it which God doth chiefly respect 21 And when any lawfull hinderance doth happen he must alwaies have yet a good will and loving desire to communicate and so shall he not loose the fruit of the Sacrament 22 For a devout person may everyday and houre profitably and without let receave Christ spiritually 23 And yet on certain daies and at time appointed he ought to receave Sacramentally with an affectionate reverence the Body of his Redeemer and rather seeke the honour and glory of God then his own comfort 24 For he communicateth mystically and is invisibly fed as often as he devoutly calleth to mind the mystery of the incarnation and the Passion of Christ and is inflamed with his love 25 He that prepareth not himselfe but when a feast draweth neere and when custome compelleth him thereunto shall often be unprepared 26 Blessed is he that offereth himselfe as an Holocaust and burnt offering to our Lord as often as he doth celebrate or communicate 27 Be not too long nor too short in officiating but keep the accustomed manner of those with whom thou livest 28 Thou oughtest not to be tedious and troublesome to others but to observe the common course according to the appointment of thy Superiours 29 And rather frame thy selfe to the profit of others then to thine own devotion or desire CHAP. XI That the Body of Christ and the holy Scriptures are most necessary unto a faithfull soule The voice of the Disciple O Most sweet Lord Iesu how great is the delight of a devout soule that feasteth with thee in thy bntiquet 2 Where there is no other meat offered to be eaten but thy selfe her only beloved and most to be desired above all the desires of her heart 3 And verily it would be a great comfort unto me to powre out teares from the bottome of my heart in thy presence and with devout Magdalen to wash thy feet with the teares of mine eyes 4 But where is this devotion where is so plentifull shedding of holy teares Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels my whole heart should be inflamed and dissolve into teares for joy 5 For I enjoy thee in the sacrament truly present though darkned in a shadow 6 For to behold thee in thine own divine brightnesse mine eyes would not be able to endure it neither could the whole world stand in the cleerenesse of the glory of thy Majesty 7 I doe really enjoy and adore him whom the Angels adore in heaven but I as yet for the time in faith they in his proper forme and without shadow 8 I ought to be contented with the light of true faith and to walke therein untill the day of everlasting brightnesse break forth and the shaddowes of figures passe away 9 But when that shall come which is perfect the use of Sacraments shall cease For the blessed in heavenly glory need not the remedy of Sacraments who rejoyce without end in the presence of God 10 Beholding his glory face to face and being transformed 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 ever 11 Whilest I remember these wonderfull works even all spirituall comfort whatsoever becometh very tedious unto me for that as long as I behold not my Lord openly in his glory I make no accompt of whatsoever I see or heare in this life 12 Thou art my witnesse O God that nothing can comfort me no creature give me rest but thou my God whom I desire to behold everlastingly 13 But this is not possible whilest I remaine in this mortall life therefore I must frame my selfe to much patience and submit my selfe to thee in all my desires 14 For thy Saints also O Lord who now rejoyce with thee in the Kingdome of heaven whilest they lived expected in faith and great patience the comming of thy glory 15 What they believed I believe what they hoped for I expect whither they are come I trust by thy grace I shall also come 16 In the meane time I will goe forward in faith strengthened by the examples of the Saints 17 I have also devout bookes for my comfort and for the guide of my life and above all these thy most holy Body for a singular remedy and â—efuge 18 For I perceive two things to be chiefly necessary for me in this life without which this miserable life would be insupportable unto me 19 Whilest I am kept in the prison of this body I acknowledge my selfe to stand in need of two things to wit food and light 29 Thou hast therefore given unto me weak creature thy sacred Body for the refection of my soule body and hast set thy word as a light unto my feet 30 Without these two I could not well live For the word of God is the light of the soule and thy Sacrament the bread of life 31 These also may be called the two tables set on the one side and the other in the store-house of the holy Church 32 One is the table of the holy Altar containing the sacred bread that is the precious body of Christ 33 The other is of the divine law containing holy doctrine teaching true faith and certainly leading to the part of the Temple within the veile where are the Holy of Holies 34 Thanks be unto thee Lord 〈◊〉 light of everlasting light for thy able of holy doctrine at which thou â—â—vest us by thy servants the Prophets and Apostles and other Doctors â—5 Thanks be unto thee Creatour and redeeâ—â—er of man who to manifest thy charity to the whole world hast prepared a great supper wherein thou hast offered to be eaten not the mysticall lambe but thine own most sacred Body and Blood 36 Rejoycing all the faithfull with thy holy banquet replenishing them to the full with thy heavenly cuppe 37 In which are all the delights of heaven and the holy Angels doe feast with us but with a more happy sweetnesse 38 O
how great and honourable is the office of Priests to whom it is granted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Majesty with their lips to blesse him with their hands to hold him with their own mouth to receave him and to administer him to others â—2 O how clean ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the body How unspotted the heart of the Priest into whom the Author of purity so often entreth 40 Nothing but holy no word but chast and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receaveth the Sacrament of Christ. 41 Simple and chast ought to be the eyes that are wont to behold the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted up to heaven that use to handle the Creator of heaven and earth 43 Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Be ye holy for that I your Lord God am holy 43 Assist us Almighty God with thy grace that we who have undertaken the office of Priesthood may serve thee worthily and devoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience 44 And if we cannot live in so great innocency as we ought to doe grant us notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we have committed 43 And in the spirit of humilitie and syncere intention to serve thee hereafter with more fervour and devotion CHAP. XII That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himself with great diligence The voice of the Beloved I Am the lover of purity and the giver of all sanctity I seeke a pure heart there is the place of my râ—st Make ready and adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Passeover for my Disciples 2 If thou wilt have me come unto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leaven and make clean the dwelling of thy heart shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices 3 Sit like a sparrow solitary â—â—on the house top and think of thy offence in the bitternesse of thy soule 4 For every lover prepareth â—he best and fairest roome for his beloved and herein is known the affection of him that entertaineth his beloved 5 Know thou notwithstanding that the worth of no action of thine is able to make this preparation sufficient although thou shouldest preparâ— thy selfe a whole yeare together and thinke on nothing else 6 But of my mercy and grace only thou art suffred to come to my table like a begger invited to dinner to a rich man who hath nothing else to returne him for his benefits but to humble himselfe and give him thanks 7 Doe what lieth in thee and doe it diligently not for custome nor for necessity but with feare and reverence and hearty affection receave the body of thy beloved Lord and God who vouchsafeth to come unto thee 8 I am he that have called thee I have commanded it to be done I will supply what is wanting in thee come and receave me 9 When I bestow the grace of devotion on thee give thanks to God for it is given thee not for that thou deservest it but because I have mercy on thee 10 If thou have it not but rather feele thy selfe dry continue in prayer sigh and knock and give not over untill thou hast attained to some crumme or drop of saving grace 11 Thou hast need of me not I of thee neither comest thou to sanctify me but I come to sanctify and make thee better 12 Thou comest that thou maist be sanctified by me and united unto me that thou maist receave new grace and be stirred up againe to amendment 13 Neglect not this grace but prepare thy heart with all diligence receave thy beloved into thy soule 14 But thou oughtest not only to prepare thy selfe to devotion before Communion but carefully also to conserve thy selfe therein after thou hast receaved the Sacrament 15 Neither is the carefull guarde of thy selfe after lesse exacted then devout preparation before 16 For a good guard afterwards is the best preparation thou canst make for the obtaining againe of greater grace 17 Because that mans minde becometh very indisposed if he presently powre himselfe forth to outward comforts Beware of much talke remaine in some secret place and enjoy thy God 18 For thou hast him whom all the world cannot take from thee I am he to whom thou oughtest wholly to give thy selfe that so thou maist live hereafter not in thy selfe but in me without all care CHAP. XIII That a devout soule ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto Christ in the Sacrament The voice of the Disciple HOw may I obtaine this O Lord that I may finde thee alone and open my whole heart unto thee and enjoy thee as my soule desireth 2 And that no man may look upon mee nor any creature move mee or respect mee but thou alone maist speake unto me and I to thee as the beloved is wont to speak to his beloved a friend to baÌ„quet with his frieÌ„d 3 This I pray for this I desire that I may be wholly united unto thee and may withdraw my heart from all created things and more by sacred Communion and often celebrating learne to tast of heavenly and everlasting sweetnesse 4 O Lord God when shall I be wholly united unto thee and swallowed up by thee and altogether forgetfull of my selfe thou in me and I in thee and so grant us both to continue in one 5 Thou art my beloved the choisest amongst thousands in whom my soule hath taken pleasure to dwell all the daies of her life 6 Thou art my peace-maker in whom is greatest peace and true rest without whom is labour and sorrow and infinite misery 7 Thou art a hidden God and thy counsell is not with the wicked but thy speech is with the humble and simple of heart 8 O Lord how sweet is thy spirit who to the end thou maist shew thy sweetnesse towards thy children vouchsafe to feed them with the most delightsome bread which descendeth from heaven and is full of all sweetnesse 9 Surely there is no other Nation so great that hath Gods approaching unto them as thou our God art present to all thy faithfull 10 Vnto whom for their daily comfort and for the lifting up of their hearts to heaven thou givest thy selfe to be eaten and enjoyed 11 I or what other Nation is there so famous as the Christian people or what creature under heaven so beloved as a devout soule to whom God himselfe commeth to feed her with his glorious flesh 12 O unspeakable grace O admirable favour O infinite love singularly bestowed upon man 13 But what shall I give unto our Lord in returne of this grace for so singular a charity 14 There is no other thing more gratefull that I am able to give then to bestow my heart wholly on my God and to unite it perfectly unto him 15 Then shall all my bowels re-rejoyce when my soule
shall be perfectly united unto God Then he will say unto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee 16 And I will answer him Vouchsafe O Lord to remaine with me I will very gladly be with thee This is my whole desire that my heart be united unto thee CHAP. XIV Of the fervent desire of some devout persons to receave the body of Christ. The voice of the Disciple O How great is the store of thy sweetnesse O Lord which thou hast hidden for them that fear thee 2 When I remember some devout persons who come unto thy Sacrament O Lord with great devotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded blush within my selfe that I come so negligently and coldly to thy altar and to the table of the holy Communion 3 That I remaine so dry and without any hearty affection that I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence my God 4 Nor so earnestly drawne and moved as many devout persons have been who out of a vehement desire of receaving and a feeling affection of heart could not containe themselves from weeping 5 But with the desire both of soule and body they earnestly longed after thee O God the lively fountaine being not otherwise able to temper not satisfie their hunger but by receaving thy body with all joy and spirituall greedinesse 6 O most ardent faith of those persons a probable argument of thy sacred presence 7 For these truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose heart burneth so within them whilest thou O blessed Iesu walkest with them 8 Such desire and devotion I seldome find in me so vehement love and fervency is oftentimes farre off from mee 9 Be mercifull unto mee good Iesu sweet and benigne Lord and grant me thy poore needy creature to feele sometimes at least in this holy Sacrament a litle hearty desire of thy love 10 That my faith may be more strengthened my hope in thy goodnesse increased and that my charity once pefectly inflamed after the tasting of heavenly Manna may never decay 11 Thy mercy O Lord is able to give me the grace I desire and to visâ—â— me in thy bounteous clemency with the spirit of fervour when it shall please thee 12 For although I burne notwith so great desire as those that are so especially devoted unto thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to have this great inflamed desire 13 Praying and craving that I may participate with all such thy fervent lovers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and deniall of our selves The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to seeke the grace of devotion instantly to aske it earnestly to expect it patiently and confidently to receave it joyfully to keep it humbly to worke with it diligently 2 And to commit the time and manner of this heavenly visitation to God untill it shall be his pleasure to come 3 Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy selfe when thou feelest inwardly litle or no devotion and yâ—t be not too much dejected nor grieve inordinaâ—ly for it 4 God often giveth in a short moment that which he hath a long time denyed he giveth sometimes in the end that which in the begining of prayes he deferred to grant 5 If grace should bee alwaiâ—s presently given and at hand ever with a wish it could not be well indured by a weak man 6 Therefore devotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy selfe and thy sinnes when it is not given thee or when it is secretly taken from thee 7 It is sometimes a small matter that hindreth and hideth grace from us if it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindreth so great a good 8 And if thou remove this be it great or small and perfectly overcome it thou shalt have thy desire 9 For presently as soone as thou givest thy selfe to God with thy whole heart and seekest not this nor that for thine own pleasure or will but setlest thy selfe wholly in him thou shalt find thy selfe united unto him and quiet 10 For nothing will tast so well and please thee so much as the good will and pleasure of almighty God 11 Whosoever therefore with a sincere heart directeth his intention to God and â—mptieth himselfe of all inordinate love 〈◊〉 dislike of any creature shall be most fit to receave grace and worthy of the gift of devotion 12 When a vessell is full already all that you powre in runneth quite beside For our Lord bestoweth his blessings there where he findeth his vessels empty 13 And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh the basest things and dieth to himselfe by contempt of himselfe 14 So much the more speedily grace commeth and entreth in more plentifully and lifteth up the heart that is free to a higher state of grace 15 Then shall he see and abound and wonder and his heart within shall be enlarged because the hand of our Lord is with him and he hath put himselfe wholly into his hand for ever 16 Behold so shall the man be blessed that seeketh Almighty God with his whole heart and busieth not his soule in vaine 17 This man procureth great grace of divine union in receaving the holy Eucharist for that he regardeth not his own devotion and comfort but above all he prizeth the honour and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessity unto Christ and to crave his grace The voice of the Disciple O Most sweet and loving Lord whom I now desire to receive devoutly thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sinnes I am oppâ—essed how often I am grieved tempted troubled and defiled 2 I come unto thee for remedy I crave of thee thy heavenly comfort the â—ase of my paine 3 I speak to him that knoweth all things to whom all my secrets are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me 4 Thou knowest what it is wherof above all I stand in most need and how poore I am in vertues 5 Behold I stand before thee poore and naked calling for grace and graving mercy 6 Refresh this thy hungry needy creature give heat unto my coldnesse with the fire of thy love give light unto my blindesse with the brightnesse of thy presence 7 Turne all earthly things into bitternesse to me all things grievous contrary into patience all base and created things into contempt and oblivion 8 Lift up my heart to thee in heaven and suffer me not to wander upon earth be thou only sweet and delightsome unto me from henceforth for evermore 9 For thou only art my meat and my drinke my love and my ioy my delight and all my good 10 O thâ—t with thy presence thou wouldest wholly inflame burne and change me into thee that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward union
11 Alas what a kind of life is this where tribulations and miseries are never wanting where all is set with snares and compassed with enemies 12 For when one tribulation oâ— temptation goeth away another commeth yea and during the first conflict also many others come unlooked for one after another 13 And how can a life be loved that hath so many afflictions and is subject to so many calamities and miseries 14 How is it called a life that begetteth so many deaths and plagues And yet it is loved and many seeke to delight themselves therein 15 The world is oftentimes blamed that it is deceiptfull and vaine and yet it is not easily forsaken because the inclinations of our flesh doe too much over-rule us 16 Some things draw us to love it others to contemne it To the love of the world doe draw us the concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life 17 But the paines miseries that doe justly follow them cause a hatred and loathsomnesse thereof 18 But alas wicked pleasure overcommeth the mind which is given over to the world and shee esteemeth it a delight to be under thornes because she hath neither seene nor tasted the sweetnesse of God and the inward delight of vertue 19 But they that perfectly contemne the world and endeavour to live to God under holy discipline 20 These are not ignorant of the divine sweetnesse promised to the true forsakers of the world and doe more cleerely see how grievously the world erreth and how it is many waies deceaved CHAP. XXI That we are to rest in God above all his gifts ABove all things and in all things my soule thou shalt ever rest in God for he is the everlasting rest of the saints 2 Grant me most sweet loving Iesu to rest in thee above all creatures above all health and beauty above all glory and honour 3 Above all power and dignity above all knowledge and learning above all riches and arts above all joy and gladnesse 4 Above all fame and praise above all sweetnesse and comfort above all hope and promise above all merit and desire 5 Above all gifts and presents that thou canst give and impart unto us above all joy and jubily that the mind of man can receive and feele 6 Lastly above Angels and Archangels and above all the heavenly Host above all visible and invisible things and above all that thou my God art not 7 For that thou my Lord God surpassest all thou alone art most high thou alone most powerfull thou alone most full and sufficient thou alone most sweet and comfortable 8 Thou alone most beautifull and loving thou alone most noble and glorious above all things in whom all good things together both perfectly are and ever have been and shall be 9 And therefore it is too litle and not sufficient whatsoever thou bestowest on me besides thy selfe or revealest unto me of thy selfe or promisest whiles thou art not seen and not fully obtained 10 For surely my heart cannot rest nor be fully contented unlesse it rest in thee and surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoever 11 O my most beloved spouse Christ Iesus the most chast lover the governour of all creatures who will give me wings of true liberty to fly and rest in thee 12 O when shall it be fully graunted me to consider in quietnes of mind and see how sweet thou my Lord God art 13 When shall I fully recollect my selfe in thee that for thy love I may not feele my selfe but thee alone above all sense and feeling in a manner not commonly known 14 But now I oftentimes lament and bear my infelicity with griefe 15 For that many evills occurre in this vale of miseries which doe often trouble grieve and darken mee 16 Often hinder and distract me allure and intangle mee 17 To the end I should not have free accesse unto thee and that I should not enjoy those sweet and heavenly imbracings which thou alwaies givest to the blessed and celestiall spirits Let my sighs and manifold desolation on earth moove thee 18 O Iesus splendor of eternall glory comfort of the pilgrime soule with thee is my tongue without voyce and my silence speaketh unto thee 19 How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come unto me his poore servant and make mee glad 20 Let him put out his hand and deliver me miserable wretch from all anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall have no joyfull day nor houre 21 Thou art my joy and without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and Ioaden with irons 22 Vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and givest me liberty and shewest a favourable countenance unto me 23 Letothers seek what they please insteed of thee but for mee nothing else doth nor shall delight mee but thou only my God my hope my everlasting health 24 I will not hold my peace nor cease to pray untill thy grace returne againe and thou speak inwardly unto mee 25 Behold I am here behold I come unto thee because thou hast called upon mee 26 Thy teares and the desire of thy soule thy humility and the contrition of thy heart have inclined and brought me unto thee 27 And I said Lord I have called thee and have desired to enjoy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me up that I might seeke thee 28 Blessed be thou therefore O Lord that hast shewed this goodnes to thy servant according to the multitude of thy mercies 29 What hath thy servant more to say before thee but that he doe greatly humble himselfe in thy sight and be alwaies mindfull of his owne iniquity and basenesse 30 For there is none like unto thee in all whatsoever is wonderfull in heaven and earth Thy wordes are good thy judgements true and by thy providence all things are governed 31 Praise therefore and glory be unto thee O wisdome of the eternall Father let my tongue my soule and all creatures together praise and blesse thee CHAP. XXII Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God OPen O Lord my heart in thy Law and teach me to walke in thy commandements 2 Grant me to understand thy will and to remember thy benefits as well in generall as in particular with great reverence and diligent consideration that henceforward I may be able worthily to give thee thanks 3 But I know and confesse that I am not able to give thee due thanks for the favours which thou bestowest upon me even in the least moment 4 I am lesse then the least of all thy benefits bestowed upon me and when I consider the excellency of thy Majesty the greatnesse there of maketh my spirit to faint 5 All that we have in our soule body and whatsoever we possesse outwardly or inwardly naturally or spiriuallyl are thy benefits doe praise
thee as bountifull pious and good from whom we have received al that is good 6 Although one hath receaved more another lesse all notwithstanding are thine and without thee even the least cannot be had 7 He that hath receaved greater cannot glory of his owne desert nor extoll himselfe above others nor insult over the lesser 8 For he is greater and better that ascribeth least unto himselfe and is more humble and devout in rendring thanks 9 And he that esteemeth himself basest of all men and judgeth himselfe most unworthy is fittest to receave greater blessings 10 And he that hath receaved fewer ought not to be sorry nor beare it impatiently nor envy them that are enriched with greater store 11 But attend rather unto thee chiefly praise thy goodnesse for that thou bestowest thy gifts so bountifully so freely and so willingly without respect of persons 12 All things proceed from thee and therefore in all things thou art to be praised thou knowest what is fit to be given to every one 13 And why this man hath lesse and he more it is not ours but thine to determine who dost weigh in just measure the good behaviour of every one 14 Wherefore my Lord God I esteeme it as a great benefit not to have much whereby outwardly and before men I might seeme worthy of praise glory 15 So that he who considereth his own poverty and basenesse ought not therefore to conceave griefe or sorrow or to be therefore troubled but rather to take great comfort and to be glad 16 For that thou O God hast chosen the poore and humble and the despised of this world for thy selfe and for thy familiar and domesticall friends 17 Witnesses are thy Apostles themselves whom thou hast appointed Princes over all the earth 18 And yet they lived without complaint in the world so humble and simple o the eyes of men without all malice and deceipt 19 That they reioyced to receive contumelies for thy name and what the world abhorreth they imbraced with great affection 20 Nothing therefore ought so to reioyce him that loveth thee and acknowledgeth thy benefits as the accomplishment of thy will in himselfe the pleasure of thy eternall appointment 21 Wherewith he ought to be so contented and comforted that he would as willingly be the least as any would wish to be the greatest and as peaceable and content in the last as in the first place 22 And as willingly to be despised and contemned and to be of no esteem or accompt as to be preferred in honour before all others 23 And to comfort him more and please him better then all the benefits which he hath receaved or can desire CHAP. XXIII Of four things that bring much peace SOnne now I will teach thee the way of peace and true liberty 2 Doe Lord I beseech thee at thou saiest for I shall be very glad to heare it 3 Endeavour my Sonne to doe rather the will of another then thine own Ever choose rather to have lesse then more 4 Alwaies seeke the lowest place and to be inferior to every one 5 Wish alwaies and pray that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee behold such a man entreth into the limits of peace and most quiet rest 6 Lord this thy short speech containeth much perfection it is litle in words but full in sense and aboundant in fruit 7 For if it could exactly be kept by me then should I not so easily be troubled For as often as I feele my selfe unquiet and afflicted I finde that I have strayed from this doctrine 8 But thou that canst doe all things and ever lovest the good and profit of my soule increase in me thy grace more and more that I may fulfill thy words and perfect mine owne health A prayer against evill thoughts MY Lord God be not farre from me my God have regard to help me for sundry thoughts have risen up against me and great feares afflicting my soule 2 How shall I passe through them without hurt How shall I break through them without danger 3 I saith he will goe before thee and will humble the glorious of the earth 4 I will open the doores of the prison and reveale unto thee the hidden secrets 5 Doe Lord as thou saiest and let all evill thoughts fly from before thy face 6 This is my hope and my only comfort to fly unto thee in all tribulation to trust in thee to call upon thee from my heart to expect patiently thy comfort A prayer for the enlightning of the minde ENlighten me good Iesu with the clearnesse of inward light and expell all darknesse from the habitation of my heart 2 Represse the many wandring thoughts and beat downe the fury of the temptations which violently assault me 3 Fight strongly for mee and vanquish the euill beasts that is the allureing concupiscences that peace may be made by thy vertue and aboundance of thy praise sound in thy holy Court which is a pure conscience 4 Command the windes and tempests say unto the sea be still and to the North-wind blow not and a great calme shall ensue 5 Send forth thy light and thy truth that they may shine upon the earth for I am an empty and unprofitable peece of earth untill thou imparlight unto me 6 Poure out thy grace from above wash my heart with heavenly dew give water of devotion to wash the face of the earth to bring forth good and perfect fruit 7 Lift up my minde overcharged with the weight of sinne draw up my whole desire to heavenly treasures 8 That having tasted the sweetnesse of celestiall happinesse it may loath to think of earthly vanities 9 Take me violently to thee and deliver me from all unstable comfort of creatures for no created thing can fully quiet and satisfy my desire 10 Ioyne me unto thee with an unseparable band of love for thou only fillest the mind of him that loves thee and without thee all things are vaine and frivolous CHAP. XXIIII Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others SOnne be not curious trouble not thy self with idle cares What is this or that to thee doe thou follow me 2 For what is it to thee whether that man be such or no or whether this man doe or speak this or that 3 Thou shalt not need to answer for others but shalt give accompt of thy selfe why therefore dost thou trouble thy selfe 4 Behold I know every one what he is and doe see all things that are under the sunne 5 And doe understand how it is with every one what he thinketh what he would and at what his intention aymeth 6 All things therefore are to be committed unto mee but doe thou keep thy selfe in good peace and suffer the unquiet to trouble himselfe as much as he will 7 Whatsoever he shall have done or said shall fall upon himselfe for he cannot deceave me 8 Desire not too great fame in this world nor to