flowe as water out of my fleshe to the end I may finde rest in the day of aduersitie and ascende to those celestiall souldiers that haue obtained the victorie O how greate wil be the glorie and ioy of the iust and Saincts in heauen sithence the face of eache one of them shall shine as bright as the sunne at such time as our Lord shall beginne to number his chosen people in the kingdome of his Father eache one distinctly in his order and shall render to euerie one the rewardes which he promised according as by theyr actions in this life they haue deserued for â—arthly thinges giuing theÌ„ celestiall for transitory eternall for small and little most ample and immeasurable There shal be without all doubt store of happinesse and felicitie when our Lord shall leade his Saincts to the sight of his Fathers glorie making the to sit on seates celestiall to the end that God may be all in all By what meanes the kingdome of heauen may be purchased and gotten CHAPT XVI O Happie ioy and ioyfull happines to see the Saincts to be with the Saincts and to be a Sainct to see and enioy God worlde without end and longer to if longer coulde be imagined Let vs carefullie consider these thinges and feruently desire them to the end we may speedilie be ioyned to the company of the Saincts in heauen If thou demaunde how this may be donne by what merits or succoure hearken and thou shalt heare This thinge lieth in the power of the doer because the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence The kingdome of heauen o man asketh noe other price but thy selfe it is asmuch worthe as thou art Giue thy selfe therfore and thou shalt haue it Whie art thou troubled and discontent at the price Christ gaue himselfe that he might purchase thee as a kingdome vnto God the Father Giue thou thy selfe in the same manner to the end thou mightst be his kingdome and let not sinne raigne in this thy bodie which is subiect to corruption but rather let the spirit gouerne for the attaining of life euerlastinge What heauen is and what happines is contained therein CHAPT XVII LEt vs returne o my soule to the heauenlie cittie in which we are written and enrolled as cittizens of the same Let vs as cittizens of the sainctes and Gods house-holde seruants yea as Gods heires and coheires of Christ consider the felicitie of this our famous cittie to the vttermost of our possibilitie Let vs crie out with the Prophet O how glorious things are saied of thee o Cittie of God in thee is the dwellinge of all those that are trulie glad Because thou art built as a place to meete and make merrie for suche as God of his infinitie mercie dotâ—â— vouchsafe to take vnto himselfe out of this vale of miserie In thee there is noe old age nor miserie ensuing of the same in thee there is noe one lame or mamed crumpe shouldered or deformed seing all concurre into a perfect man into the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ What can be imagined more happie then this life where there is noe feare of pouertie nor feeblenes of infirmitie where noe man is wronged noe man is displeased noe maÌ„ doth enuie at an others good Where there is noe greedines of gaine noe appetite of eating or drinking where there is noe inordinate desire of honoure or ambition noe dreade of diuel or of diuellishe temptation noe horroure of hell or of hellishe damnation Where there is noe deathe either of bodie or soule but a delightfull life endles and immortall Noe euill affections or dissentioÌ„s shal be founde there but all thinges shall accorde and agree together because all the Saincts of that heauenly region shal be of one minde and affection Where there is nothing but peace and gladnes repose and quietnes Where there is perpetual brightnes not that which now is but by soe much more bright by how much more blessed because that cittie euen as it is written shall neede neither sunne nor moone but God almighty shall enlighten the same and the lampe thereof is the lambe Where the Saincts shall shine as the starrs for all eternitie and those that teache many shall in brightnes resemble the clearenes of the skie Wherfore in that place there shal be noe night noe darknes noe concourse of cloudes noe austeritie of colde or heate but that temperature of all thinges which neither eie hath seene nor eare hath hearde neither hath it entred into the harte of any man sauing of those who are founde worthy to enioy the same whose names are written in the booke of life But a greater content then this will be to be ioyned in felowship with the quires of Angells and Archangells and of all the heauenlie vertues to beholde the Patriarches and Prophets to see the Apostles and all the other Saincts and amoÌ„ge the rest our parents kinsfolke and acquaintance These thinges without doubte are very glorious but yet it is more glorious to beholde the face of God there present and the brightnes proceeding from the same which is infinitely greate Finally to see God in himselfe to see him enioy him in our selues wil be a prerogatiue of glory surpassing all the rest in excelleÌ„cy because we shall see him euerlastingly How man can make noe other requitall vnto God for the benefits receiued from him but onely by louinge him CHAP. XVIII THe soule of man being famous and renowned by being created according to the image and likenes of God hath in it selfe meanes from God by which it is alwaies admonished either to remaine with him or to returne vnto him if at any time by sinnefull affections or defects it be sperated from him Neither hath it meanes onely by which it may be able to desire and hope for mercie and pardon when it hath offended but likewise by which it may presume to aspire to the mariage of the diuine Worde yea to enter into a league of friendship with God almighty and with the kinge of Angells to drawe the sweete yoke of charity Loue causeth all this if by the will the soule make it selfe like vnto God to whoÌ„ by nature it is alreadie likened that is by louing him like as it beloued For it is loue aloue of all the motions senses and affections of the soule in which a creature may be answearable and make requitall to his creator althoughe in a farre inferior degree and measure Where loue doth arriue it carrieth away with it all the other affections and as a conqueroure maketh them captiue Loue is sufficient of it selfe it is pleasing of it selfe and for it selfe It is the merit the rewarde the cause the fruite and the helpe of it selfe for by loue we are vnited to God Loue causeth two spirits to become one making the same will and the same nill in both of them Loue teacheth vs first of all how to behaue our selues secondly to esteeme of all thinges present as if they were
that my soule may onely thirst and growe drie through the loue of thee forgetting all worldlie vanitie and miserie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the prayers and intercession of our blessed Lady the glorious Virgin Marie and of all the Saints of thy heauenlie Cittie Amen A Prayer greately stirring vp the minds to compunction if it be saied in silence with attention CHAPT XXXVII O Lord Iesu o mercifull Iesu o good Iesu who hast vouchsafed to die for our sinnes and hast risen againe for our iustification I beseech thee by thy glorious resurrâ—ction raise me vp from the sepulcher of sinne and graunt me daylie a parte in this first resurrection that in the last likewise I may be thought worthie to receiue a portion O most sweete most benigne most louing most deare most inestimable most desired most amiable and most beautifull Lord who hast ascended into heauen in glorious and triumphant manner and as a puissant Prince sittest at the right hande of God the Father drawe me vp vnto thee that I may runne after thee being allured by the sent of thy ointments soe sweetelie smelling that I may runne without ceasing thou drawing and conducting me running drawe the mouth of my thirstie soule I beseech thee to those riuers aboue of euerlasting satietie nay rather leade me to the fountaine of life my God and my life that there I may drinke according to my capacitie in suche sorte as that I may be able to liue eternallie For thou with thy sacred and blessed mouth hast affirmed If any one thirst lett him come to me and he shall drinke and be satisfied O fountaine of life graunt that my thirstie soule may alwaies drinke of thee that according to thy holie and true promisâ— waters of life may flowe from my bellie O fountaine of life fill my minde with the streame of thy delight make my hart drunke with the sober drunkennes of thy loue that I may forget all thinges that are vaine and worldly and may continuallie haue thee in my memorie euen as it is written I haue been mindfull of God and haue been delighted Giue me thy holie spiritt whom those waters did signifie which thou didst promise to bestowe vpoz those that doâ— thirst after thee Graunt I beseeche thee that I may tende and aspire thither with my whole desire and affection whither we beleiue thou didst ascende the foâ—â—th day after thy Resurrection that I may be detained iâ— this vale of miserie in body onely being in thought and desire continually with thee to the end my harte may remaine there where thou art my desired incomparable and most beloued treasure For in the greate deluge of this life where we are â—ossed to and from with continuall tempests finding â—oe firme standing or assured place where the doue may fixe her foote for neuer soe small a space heere I say in this wretched worlde noe certaine peace or assured rest is to be expected for that where soeuer we are warres and dissensioÌ„s doe molest vs our enimies on all sides doe assaulte vs out wardly are fightes inwardlye teares And for that we consist of a two-folde substance partly of earth partly of heauen our body which is subiect to corruption is a clogg to the soule not suffering it to soare vp to celestiall contemplation Wherefore my minde being my compagnion freinde cominge as one wearied on the way lieth sicke and diseased being rent maÌ„gled by those vanities throughe which it hath passed it is exceeding hungrie and thirsty and I haue nothing to sett before it because I am poore and needy Thou therefore o Lord my God who art riche in goodnes and giuest in aboundance the dainties and delicacies of celestiall fulnes giue meate to my minde being wearied recollect it beinge distracted restore it to healthe being rent and mangled Beholde o Lord how it standâ—th at thy dore knocking I beseech thee by the bowells of thy coÌ„passion in which thou hast vouchsafed to visit vs coming downe vnto vs from heauen open the hande of thy pitty to my afflicted minde knockinge and calling vnto thee commaunde likewise by thy accustomed courtesie that it may enter and be brought in vnto thee that it may rest and repose in thee and lastly by thee may be refreshed fedd who art the liuing and heauenly bread with which being filled and strength being recouered let it ascende to the thinges aboue it and being lifted vp with the winge of holy desire from this vale of teares and lamentation let it soare vp to the heauenly kingdome Let my soule I beseech thee o Lord take the winges of an Eagle and fly without failing let it fly without ceasing vntill it come to the beautie of thy house and vnto the place of thy glorious habitation that there in the place of thy pasture which is enuiroÌ„ned with pleasant riuers it may be fedd with the foode of thy internall consolation sitting at the same table on which those heauenly citizens are wonte to take theire refection Graunt that my hart may rest in thee o my God my hart I say which is as aspatious sea tossed too and froo with continuall floudes Thou therfore o Lord who hast commaunded the windes and sea after which a greate calme did ensue come and walke vpon the waues of my harte to the end that all thinges within me may be stil and quiet that soe I may embrace thee the onely good thinge which I desire to possesse and may contemplate thee the gratfull light of mine eies being freede from the darke mist of troublesome thoughtes Let my minde o Lord flie and retire it selfe vnder the shadowe of thy winges from the inordinate heate of worldly cogitations that sittinge there in the temperate ayre of thy refreshing it may ioyfullie sing saying I will sleepe and repose in the peace of this one thinge that is of God alone O Lord my God let my soule sleepe I beseech thee by abandonning whatsoeuer is amisse lett it sleepe by hating wickednes and by louinge iustice For what thinge is there that can or ought to be more pleasing and delightfull vnto vs then amidst the darknes and manifold bitternes of this present life to desire diuine sweetnes and to sighe after eternall happines there to fixe the minde where it is most certaine true ioyes are to be founde O most sweete most louinge most benigne most charitable most inestimable most desired most beloued and most beautifull Lord when shall I see thee WheÌ„ shall I be presented before thee When shall I be satisfied by beholding thy beautie When wilt thou deliueâ— me out of this obscure prison that I may freely confesse thy holy name that from hence forth I may be
mine aduersarie o Lord is wily turning and winding diuers waies soe that the wilines of his waies and the forme of his countenance is very hardly knowne vnles thou illuminate our vnderstanding For sometimes he is heere sometimes there sometimes he transformeth himselfe into a wolfe sometimes into darknes sometimes into light vsing diuersitie of temptations according to qualities places and times and according to the variation of thinges For to deceiue those that are sad he seemeth to be sad to mocke those that are merrie to delude spirituall men he changeth himselfe into an Angell of light to subdue those that be feirce he becommeth milde like a lambe and to deuoure those that are milde he becommeth feirce like a wolfe All these temptations he putteth in practice according to the like-lihoode he hath that they will take effect to the end he may terrifie some with feare by night others with the arrowe that flyeth by day others with ghosts and gastly vsions walking in darknes others through feare of inuasions others with diabolicall temptations that happen at noone day Who then is able to knowe these thinges and to finde out his fallacies Who is able to describe the forme of his attire the hideous order of his teethe Beholde he hadeth his arrowes in the quiuer and couereth his snares vnder the forme of light in soe much that it is a thing almost impossible to perceiue them vnlesse we receiue light from thee o Lord who art our hope by which we may see all thinges Neither doth he hide his subtile snares in the workes of the fleshe onely which are easiely perceiued nor in vices onely but alsoe in Religious actes themselues making vices to seeme vertues and changing himselfe into an Angell of light These and many other abhominable enterprises doth this sonne of Belial SataÌ„ the diuell endeuoure to practice against vs lying in waite sometimes like a Lion sometimes like a Dragon openly and secretely within and without by day and by night to bereaue vs of our soules But thou o Lord who sauest those that truste in thee deliuer vs from him we beseeche thee that he may greiue to see vs deliuered and thou for the same maiest by vs be praysed o Lord our God A further acknowledging of the benefits of God CHAPT XVIII I Therfore the son of thy handemaide hauing alreaddy committed and commended my selfe into the hands of thy mercie will now with my whole harte confesse vnto thee o Lord my deliuerer and call to minde all the benefits which thou hast bestowed vpon me during my whole life euen from mine infancie Because I knowe that ingratitude doth very much displease thee being the roote of all spirituall euill and a winde that doth blaste and burne vp whatsoeuer is good hindering the fountaine of thy diuine goodnes from flowing into vs by meanes whereof our euill actions that were forgiuen and forgotten are againe remembred and our good workes become deade and are noe more obtained Wherefore o Lord my deliuerer I will giue thee thankes least I be founde to be vngratefull vnto thee for that thou hast deliuered me As often as that infernall Dragon hath swallowed me downe thou o Lord hast drawen me violently out of his mouth As often as I haue sinned and he was ready to deuoure me thou o Lord my God hast preserued me When I offended thee by breaking thy commaundements he stoode readie to hale me away to hell if thou hadst not hindered him I did offend thee and thou didst defende me I did not respect thee yet thou didst protect me I departed from thee seeking to ioyne my selfe to mine aduersarie and thou didst affright him to the end he shoulde not entertaine me These benefits o Lord my God thou didst bestowe vpon me and I knew it not Truly thou hast diuers times dealt in this mercifull manner with me deliueringe me out of the iawes of the Diuell snatching me out of the mouthe of the Lion yea thou hast often times saued me from fallinge into the pitt of eternall damnation I little thinking whither I was going Verily I haue descended to the very gates and thou hast kept me from entring in I drewe nigh to the dores of death and by meanes of thee they haue not beene shutt vpon me Thou hast deliuered me many times o my Sauiour from corporall deathe after the like manner When greuious sicknesses did afflict me when diuers dangers did affright me thou o Lord didst still assist and mercifullie saue me deliuering me both by sea and lande from fire and sworde and from all aduersitie Thou â—ruly o Lord didst knowe full well that if then I had chanced to dye my soule had gone to hell and I shoulde haue beene damned euerlastinglie But thy mercy and grace o Lord my God hath preuented me sauing me from the death both of soule and body These and many other benefits thou hast bestowed vpon me and I was blinde did not perceiue it vntill thou didst enlighten me Now therefore o Lord my God the light of my soule my life by which I liue the light of mine eies by which I see beholde thou hast enlightned me and I doe knowe thee because I doe liue by thee for which I doe hartely thanke thee offering thee prayses according to my poore abilitie although they are small of little value and nothing answerable to the manifold benefitts which I haue receiued froÌ„ thee Because thou art my onely God my kinde creator who louest our soules and hatest nothing that thou hast made Beholde I o Lord the cheife of al those sinners that thou hast saued will confesse and acknowledge the manifolde benefits which I haue receiued from thee to the eÌ„d I may stirre vp others to doe the like and be a witnes of thy wonderfull mercy because thou hast deliuered me from the lowest hell not once or twice or thrice onely but an huÌ„dred yea a thousande times I alwaies went on towardes hell and thou didst bring me back againe continuallie soe that if thou wouldest thou mightest a thousand times haue iustly damned me Yet thou wouldest not because thou dost loue our soules and in hope that we will amend and doe pennance thou dost as it were winke at our wickednes o Lord our God of much mercy in all thy wayes Now therfore o Lord my God I doe see and perceiue these thinges by meanes of the light which thou hast giuen me and my soule doth as it were faint by thinking of thy maruailous greate mercy towardes me for that thou hast deliuered my soule from the deepest hell and hast restored me to life I was wholie deade thou hast wholie raysed me Wherfore sithence that my whole life doth depende wholy of thee I doe wholy offer my whole selfe vnto thee Let my whole spirit my whole harte my whole body yea my whole life liue to thee my sweete life because thou hast wholy deliuered me that thou mightst wholy possesse me thou hast
wholy saued me that thou mightst wholy haue me â—et me therfore loue thee o Lord my strength let me loue thee my vnspeakeable ioy and solace and let my whole life which was deade through my miserie and is raised againe through thy mercy be esteemed from hence for the not mine but thine who art a milde and mercifull God and of much mercy towardes all those that loue thy holy name Wherfore o Lord my God who dost sanctifie me thou in thy lawe hast commaunded that I shoulde loue thee with all my harte with all my soule with all my minde with all the strength and forces of my body and with all the internall affections of my minde ech hower moment in which I enioy the benefit of thy mercy because I shoulde continuallie perishe if thou didst not continuallie gouerne me I shoulde continuallie dye if thou didst not continuallie receiue me soe that euery moment thou dost oblige me vnto thee by bestowing euery moment many benefits vpon me As therfore there is noe hower or minute in which I doe not receiue some benefitt or other from thee soe there ought to be not moment in which I haue not thee before mine eies and in my memorie and in which I doe not with all my strength loue thee But this is a thing that surpasseth my abilitie vnlesse thou of thy liberalitie bestowe it vpon me From whom euerye good and perfect guift hath his beginning descending from the Father of lightes with whom there is noe mutation or shadowe of alteration Verily this prerogatiue of louing thee proceedeth not from the desire or endeuoure of any mortall man but is giuen to him on whom it pleaseth thee to take compassion This guift is thine o Lord who art the giuer of all good Thou commaundest that we shoulde loue thee graunt vs grace to doe that which thou dost commaunde and commaunde whatsoeuer it shall please thee Of the vehemencie of loue or charitie CHAPT XIX O My God I doe loue thee desiring to loue thee more and more continuallie because thou art indeede more sweete then any honie more nourishing then any milke more bright then any light Wherefore thou art to me more deare then golde or siluer or any pretious stone whatsoeuer For whatsoeuer I did whilst I liued in the worlde did but displease me inrespect of thy sweetnes and the beauty of thy beloued house O fire that dost alwaies burne and art neuer extinguished O loue that art alwaies hoate and neuer growest colde inflame me with the fire of thy loue Let me I say be sett on fire by thee to the end I may wholy loue thee For he that loueth any thing besides thee or which he loueth not for thee loueth thee by that meanes with lesse vehemencie I wil loue thee o Lord because thou hast loued me first But how shall I be able to expresse the tokens of thy surpassing great loue towardes me by reason of thy innumerable benefits with which thou hast nourished me from my very infancy For in the benefit of creation when in the beginning thou didst create me of nothing by making me according to thine owne image thou hast honoured and exalted me aboue other creatures which thou hast made ennobling me with the light of thy counteâ—ance with which thou hast signed and sealed the entrance of my hart by which likewise thou hast made me different from senslesse creatures and bruite beastes and in dignity almost equall to the Angells All this seemed little to thy diuiâ—â—e Maiestie for that thou hast not ceased to chearishe me dayly euer since with many singular and surpassing greate presents of thy magnificence yea thou hast fedd and fostered me as if I were thy little childe and onely darling giuing me sucke from the breastes of thy diuine consolation Verily thou hast caused all creatures to serue and obey me to the end I might wholy employ my selfe in the seruice of thee Howe God hath made all thinges subiect to the seruice of man CHAPT XX THou o Lord hast made all thinges subiect to man that man shoulde be wholie subiect to thee alone And to the end thou mighest oblige man to be wholy thine thou hast made him ruler ouer euery thing All exteriour thinges thou hast created for the body the body for the soule and the soule for thee to the end that the soule might haue nothing els to doe but to loue and delight in thee hauinge thee as her solace and inferiour thinges at her seruice For whatsoeuer is contained within the compasse of heauen is inferiour to the soule of man which was created to enioy the most soueraigne and supreame good by whose possession it might become blessed To whom if it shall adhere by forsakiuge the familiarity and freindshipp of all thinges heere beneath being all subiect to mutabilitie it shall without doubte heereafter beholde most cearely the face of that supreame Maiestie and eternall immortalitie whose sight it now desireth soe earn stly It shall then I say enioy those most excellent guiftes graces in heauen in comparison of whome whatsoeuer is heere seene is to be esteemed as nothing Those are the thinges which neither â—ie hath seene not eare hath hearde neither haue they euer entred into the harte of man which God hath prepared for those that loue him These thou wilt bestowe o Lord vpon the soule of man Yea euen in this life thou dost daily make glad the soules of thy seruants being the louer of soules But why doe I wonder at this o Lord my God seing by doing this thou dost honoure thine owne image and similitude accordinge to which our soules are created For which our body likewise although it be subiect to corruption and of noe reputation yet that it might see thou hast giuen it the light of the firmament by meanes of thy seruants the sonne and moone who without being euer weary doe continuallie day and night by vertue of thy commaundment serue and obey thy children Moreouer thou hast bestowed vpon the body the purity of the ayrâ— that it might breathe varietie of soundes that it might heare sondry sweete sauoures that it might smell diuersitie of meates that it might taste grosse and corpulent bodies that it might feele Thou hast ordained labouring beastes in his necessities to serue and aide him the foules of the aire the fishes of the sea and the fruites of the earth to feede and refreshe him Thou hast caused the earth to bring for the medicines for â—ache seuerall maladie Finallie thou hast prepared seuerall salues for seuerall sores varietie of remedies for diuersitie of infirmities because thou art mercifull and milde and being the potter by whom we were framed thou knowest the brickle stuffe whereof we are formed because we all are as a peece of potters clay in thy hande How by the consideration of benefits temporall we may gather the greatnes of those that are celestiall CHAPT XXI GIue me grace o Lord to see the greatnes of thy
comforte during the time of this my banishment Let my minde flie vnder the shadow of thy winges from the heate of worldly cogitations Let my harte pause and repose in thee my harte I say which is like vnto a spatious and tempestuous sea O God the most riche and bountifull giuer of the diuine daintie dishes of heauenlie plentie refreshe it being wearie recall it being gone astray deliuer it being in captiuitie and being by sinne as it were broken in peeces restore it to the estate of its former innocencie Beholde it standeth at thy dore knocking and calling vnto thee I beseech thee o Lord by the bowells of thy mercy in which thou hast visited vs comminge downe from heauen commaund thy gate to be opened vnto my poore wretched soule knocking at the same to the end it may freelie enter in and repose in thee and be fed by thee the breade of heauen for thou art the breade and fountaine of life thou art the light of euerlasting felicitie thou art all thinges by which the righteous doe liue that loue thee Of the desire of the soule CHAPT V. O God the light of those harts that see thee the life of those soules that loue thee the strength of those thoughtes that seeke thee graunt me grace that by loue I may alwaies adhere vnto thee Come I beseech thee into my harte and make it drunke with the plentie of thy pleasure to the end I may forget all temporall thinges whatsoeuer Verilie I am ashamed and grieued to endure such thinges as are donne in the worlde Whatsoeuer I see in this vale of miserie is displeasing vnto me whatsoeuer I heare of thinges transitorie is burdensome vnto me Helpe me o Lord my God and make my harte glad come vnto me that I may see thee But alas the house of my soule is ouer little to entertaine thee vntill thou enter into it and enlarge it It is ruinous and ready to fall wherfore I beseech thee to repaire it It hath many thinges I confesse and knowe contained in it which are displeasing in thy sight but who will cleanse it or to whom besides thee shall I crie to doe it Cleanse me o Lord from my secret sinnes and be mercifull vnto thy seruaunt in respect of other mens sinnes committed by my meanes Graunt me grace o sweete Christ o good Iesu graunt me grace I beseech thee to lay aside the burden of all carnall loue and worldly desires through the loue and desire of thee Let my soule haue dominion ouer my body reason ouer my soule thy grace ouer reason and make me in all thinges subiect to thy most holy will both without and within Afforde me this fauoure I beseech thee that my harte and tongue and all my bones may praise and magnifie thee Dilate my mind and lift vp the eies of my harte that albeit for neuer soe shorte a time my soule may attaine vnto thee the eternall wisedome abiding aboue all thinges Free me I beseech thee from the bandes with which I am bounde that forsaking all thinges transitorie I may adhere and attende vnto thee onely Of the soules felicitie being deliuered out of the prison of this earthly body CHAPT VI. HAppy is that soule which beinge freed from this earthlie prison doth freely mounte vp into heauen which beholdeth thee o sweete Lord apparantlie face to face being now noe more affraied of deathe or of any worldlie miserie but reioycinge throughe the immortalitie of euerlasting glory It liueth in repose and securitie fearing now neither deathe noâ— ennimie It enioyeth thee being a mercifull Lord whom it hath long sought and alwaies loued and being ioyned in felowship with the quires of Angells it singeth for euer mellifluous sonnets of perpetuall gladnes in praise and commendation of thy glory o Christ our King o good Iesu Verilie it becommeth as it were drunke throughe the aboundance of thy heauenlie habitation because thou dost cause it to drinke of the riuer of thy vnspeakeable delectation O howe happy is the heauenlie company of celestiall cittizens how glorious is the solemniâ—ie of all those that returne vnto thee o Lord from the toiles and trauailes of this our pilgrimage to the pleasantnes of all beauty to the beauty of all brightnes and to the dignitie of all excellencie where thy cittizens o Lord doe continuallie see thee Nothing at all is there hearde that may molest the minde What sacred Canticles what diuersitie of instruments what delightfull ditties what sweete sounds of heauenlie harmonie are there hearde incessantlie There the mellifluous organ there the most sweete melodie of Angels doe sounde forth Hymnes and admirable Canticles of Canticles euelastingly which are songe by the celestiall cittizens to thy praise and glory Noe spitefulnes or bitternes of affection is founde in that heauenly region for that neither malice nor malitious men haue there any abiding Noe aduersarie is there to impugne vs nor occasion of sinne to entice vs. There is noe want or pouertie in that place noe shame or disgrace noe brawling noe vp braiding noe blaming noe fearefullnes noe disquietnes noe paine noe doubtfullnes noe violence noe variance but contrariwise surpassing greate peace perfect charitie singing and praising of God euerlastinglie perpetuall repose ioined with securitie and ioy in the holy Ghost during all eternitie O how fortunate shall I be if after this life I shal be admitted to heare the most pleasant and sweete songes of those heauenlie cittizens if I shal be admitted I say to heare those mellifluous meeters of poetrie made to expresse the praises and honoure due to the most sacred Trinitie O how much more happy shall I be then I can imagine if I my selfe likewise shal be thought worthy to sing a songe to our Lord Iesus Christ euen one of the sweete songes of Syon Of the ioy of Paradise CHAPT VII O Liuing life o euerlasting life and euerlastinglie happie Where there is ioy without griefe rest without laboure dignitie without feare riches without sicknes plentie without want life without deathe eternitie without corruption felicitie without affliction where all good thinges are comprehended in perfect charitie where the Sainctes see God and one an other apparantlie where where there is perfect knowledge in all thinges and of all thinges where the supreame goodnes of God is behelde and the light that enlightneth all thinges is by the Saincts glorified where Gods maiestie is seene present and with this foode of life the minde of the beholders doth remaine satisfied and content They alwaies see God and by seeing long to see him they desire it without loathsomnes where the true sunne of iustice doth refreshe them all by the wonderfull light of his vnspeakeable beautie and doth in that manner enlighten all the câ—ttizens of that celestiall countrie as that they beinge but a light enlightned by God who is the light that enlightneth them doe shine more bright then the sunne and all the stars of heauen Who adhering vnto God who is
testimony against it as against the author of them All its sinnes and iniquitie are laied as it were in heapes before its eies and those which it is vnwilling to see it is forced to beholde whither it will or noe Moreouer on the one side of it it beholdeth a terrible troupe of dreadfull diuells on the other side a multitude of heauenly Angells The soule that lieth in the middest quickly perceiueth to which of these companies it appertaineth For if there be seene in it the signes and tokens of goodnes it is conforted by the comfortable speeches of the Angells and by the sweetnes of their harmonious mellody it is allured to come forthe of the body Contrariwise if the darknes of its desâ—rts and the dâ— formity of its filthine doe adiudge it to the left hande it 〈◊〉 forthwith strooken with intolerable feare it is troubled through the force of the sodaine violence that is vsed it is throwne downe beadlonge and assaulted and poore soule is forciblie pluckt out of the prison of the flesh that it may be dâ— awne to eternall torments with vnspeakeable bitternes Now after it is departed out of the body who is able to eâ— presse how many armed troupes of wicked spirits doe ly in waiâ—e to entrappe it how many bandes of frouning fieÌ„des being ready with cruell tormeÌ„ts to afflict it doe beset the way to hinder its passage And to the end it may not be able to escape and passe through them whole legions of them being gathered together after the manner of souldiers doe assault the same Wherfore to consider these and such like thinges by frequent meditation is a soueraigne meane to contemne the enticing allurements of sinne to abandon the worlde and to subdue the vnlawfull motions of the flesh and finally doth cause and conserue in vs a continuall desire of attaining to perfection which God of his mercy grauâ—t vs. Amen A Table of the Manuel of S. Augustin Bishop of Hyppon OF the wonderfull essence of God Chapt. I. Of the vnspâ— akeable knowledge of God Chapt II. Of the desire of the soule thinking on God Chapt. III. Of the miserable estate of that soule that doth neither loue nor seeke our Lord Iesus Christ Chapt. IV. Of the desiâ—e of the soule Chapt. V. Of the soules fâ—licity being deliueâ—ed out of the prison of this earthly body Chapt. VI Of the ioy of Paradise Chapt. VII Of the kingdome of heauen Chapt. VIII How God visiteth and comforteth that soule which with sighes and teare lamenteth his absence Chapt IX Of the sweetnes of diuine loue Chapt. X. Of the preparation of our Redemption Chapt. XI Of the ioy which the soule receiueth by receiuing Christ Chapt. XII That the Worde incarnate is the cause of our hope Chapt. XIII How the more we are addicted to diuine contemplation the greater delight we take therein Chapt. XIV How for Christs sake we ought to wishe for tribulations in this life Chapt. XV. By what meanes the kingdome of heauen may be purchased and gotten Ch XVI What heauen is and what happines is contained therein Chapt XVII How man can make noe other requitall vnto God for the benefits receiued from him but onely by louing him Chapt. XVIII How he requireth something in vs like vnto himselfe Chapt. XIX Of the greaâ—e confidence which the soule hath that loueth God Chapt XX. What God hath donne for man Chapt XXI Of the remembrance of the woundes of our Lord and Sauiour lesus Christ Chapt. XXII How the remembrance of Christs woundes is an approued remedy against all afflictions Chapt. XXIII A deuoute Meditation of the soule stirring vs vp to the loue of Christ Chapt. XXIV How nothing can satisfie the soule besides God the supreame good Chapt XXV What the knowledge of verity is Chapt. XXVI What the sending of the holy Ghost doth effect in vs. Chapt XXVII After what manner he that loueth God carieth himselfe Chapt. XXVIII Of true quietnes of harte Chapt. XXIX How euery thing that hindereth the soule from the sight of God ought to be auoided and detested Chapt XXX How the sight of God hath been lost by meanes of our sinne and miserie hath succeeded in place of the same Chapt. XXXI Of the goodnes of God Chapt XXXII Of the pleasant fruition of almighty God Chapt. XXXIII That the chiefe good is to be desired Chapt XXXIV Of the mutuall charity of the Saints in heauen Chapt. XXXV Of the full and perfect ioy of life euerlasting Chapt. XXXVI FINIS
whereof a iust man may vaunt or which can bringe him to glorie vnlesse thou preuent him afore hande being of him selfe vniust with thy mercy and pittie I therfore o my Saujour belieue what I haue hearde that it is thy goodnes that doth drawe me to repentance thy hony-sweete lipps haue toulde it me Noeman can come to me vnlesse my Father who hath sent me drawe him Seeinge therefore it hath pleased thee to instruct me and by instruction hast vouchsafed mercifully to enforme me I beseech thee with all the forces of my harte and minde o almightie father togeather with thy most beloued sonne I beseeche thee likewise o most sweete sonne together with the most gratious hohe Ghost vouchsafe to draw me that I may runne after thee by vertue of the sweete smel of thy preâ—ious ointmeÌ„ts The helpe of God the father is desired by the merits of God the sonne CHAPT V. VNto thee I crie o my God vnto thee I call for that thou art nighe to all those that crie and call vpon thee in the truth Thou art the truth reach me I beseech thee for thy mercies sake teache me o sacred truthe to call vpon thee in the truthe and for that I knowe not how this ought to be donne I humbly desire thee o blessed truth that thou wilt vouchsafe to teache me because wisedome without thee is meere ignorance but the knowledge of thee is an absolute science Instruct me o diuine wisedome teache me thy lawe because I assure my selfe that man shal be happie whome thou shalt vouchsafe to instruct and â—each in thy law I desire to implore thy assistance which I beseeche thee let be donne in the truth What is it to implore the assistance of the truthe in the truthe sauinge onely the assistance of the father in the sonne Thy worde therfore o holy Father is the truthe the truthe being likewise the beginninge of thy wordes For this is the beginninge of thy wordes that in the beginninge was the Worde In that beginning I adore thee whoe art the best beginninge In that worde of truthe I craue thy ayde o most absolute truthe In which worde of truthe may it please thee whoe art the selfe same truthe to direct and instruct me in the truthe for what is more sweete then to call vppon the father in the name of his onely begotten sonne to moue the father to mercie by remembrance of his childe to appease the kings sury by naminge his dearest progenie By these meanes are fellons deliuered out of prison thus they that lie fettered are freed from theire irons thus they that are condemned obtaine not onely to be quit and absolued but likewise with unexpected fauoures to he rewarded to wit by making knowen to the Princes thus incensed the loue of theire childe soe muche beloued in this manner likewise doe seruants escape the punishment of theire maisters when they haue offended whilst the sweetnes of theire children doth make intercession for them that they may be pardonned After the same manner I beseeche thee o father omnipotent by the loue of thy omnipotent sonne deliuer my soule out of prison to the end it may more freely confesse thy name I beseeche thee by thy coeternall and onely sonne deliuer me from the irons and fetters of sinne and by the intercession of thy most deare childe sittinge at thy right hande vouchsafe to restore me to life beinge by him appeased albeit my meritts doe adiudge me to be condemned Certainely I knowe noe other mediatour whome I may sende vnto thee but him onely whoe is the sacrifice offered for the reconciliation of our sinnes whoe sitteth at thy right hande makinge intercession for vs. Loe this is my aduocate with thee o God the father Loe this is that high Priest whoe needeth not to be purged with an others bloude for that he shineth beinge sprinkled with his owne Loe this is that sacred hoste soe pleasinge and ful of perfection offered and accepted so aâ—sauoure of sweetnes Loe this is that lambe without blemish who before those that sheared him heaâ—d his peace for that beinge buffeted spit vpon and reuiled he did not soe muche as open his mouth Thus he that was free from sinne tooke vpon him the burden of our sinnes and by his owne woundes cured out soares Heere man doth represent to God the Father the passion of his sonne CHAPT VI BEholde o pittifull father thy most pittifull sonne suffring such pittifull thinges for me See o most mercifull kinge whoe it is that suffereth Is not this o my Lord thy most innocent sonne whom thou dâ—dstgiue therby to deliuer thy seruant Is not this he o author of life whoe was led as a sheepe to the slaughter and being made obedient vnto thee even unto deathe feared not to vndergo that kinde of deathe which of all others is most cruell and painefull May it please thee who art the only dispenser and disposer of our safety and saluation to remember that this is he whome albe â—it thou hast begotten by thine owne vertue and diuinitie thou wouldest have notwithstandinge to be pertaker of mine infumitie This verily is thy diuiniâ—e whoe tooke vppon it my humaniâ—ie ascended the tree of the crosse and in the fleshe which it had assumed sustained greate torments O my Lord God vouch safe to ast the eies of thy maiestie vppon the worke of thine unspeakeable mercie Beholde thy sweete sonne stretched forth at lenght on the crosse Looke vppon his innocent handes gushing for the streames of innocent bloude and being pacified remit the misdeedes which my handeâ— haue committed Consider his naked side pierced throughe with a cruell lance and cleanse me in that sacred fontaine which I do belieue to haue flowed from thence See his vndefiled feete whoe neuer stoode in the way of sinners but alwaies walked in thy lawe fastned with longe and boysterous nayles and gratiously make perfect my paces in thy paths makinge me to hate and abhor all the waies of iniquitie Remoue from me the way of iniquitte and mercifullie make me to chose the way of veritie I beseeche thee o kinge of Sainctes by thy faincte of Sainctes by this my redeemer make me to runne the way of thy commaÌ„dements that I may be vnited to him in spirit who disdained not to be cloathed with my fleshe Dost thou not marke o merciful father the heade of this thy younge and dearest sonne being bowed downe on his snowe-white shoulder resolued into a deathe of vnestimable value Looke vppon the humanitie of thy beloued child most meeke creator and take compassion of the weakenes of thy weake creature His naked breast groweth white his bloudie side loketh redde his out-stretched bowells become drie his comely eies growe dimme his kingly countenance waxeth pale his longe armes growe colde and stiffe his thighes in whitenes like vnto Alablaster hange downe the water of his blessed bloude doth bathe his pierced feete Beholde o glorious father the mangled members of thy most gratious
obtaine pardon I haue directed thy Worde with my wordes whom I haue affirmed to haue beene sent for my misdeedes and haue recounted vnto thee the passion of thy most sacred sonne which I doe beleeue to haue beene suffred for my redemption I doe beleeue that his deitie sent by thee hath vouchsafed to be cloathed with my humanitie in which he thought it not strange to endure buffets bondes spittinges derision and mockinge yea to take patiently the crosse the nayles and the lances percinge This humanitie whilome subiect to the cryinge of infancy wrapped in the swadlinge cloathes of childhoode troubled with the trauailles of youthe made leane with tastinge wearied with watchinge tired with trauailinge after that cruelly treated with whipps torne with tormeÌ„ts reputed as dead endowed with the glory of his resurrection he hath caried with him vnto the heauenly felicitie and placed the same at the râ—ght hande of thy Maiestie This is that which doth implore thy mercy to pardon mine iniquitie Heere behâ—ulde o holy Faâ—her the sonne whom thou hast begotten and the seruant whom thou hast redeemed See heere the Creator and despise not his creature Gâ—atiously embrace the shepheard mercifully looke vpon the sheepe which vppon his owne shoulders he hath brought backe vnto the folde This is that most faithfull shepheard who heresofore with much and manie laboures sought the sheepe that was loste wanderinge ouer the craggie hilles and dangerous dales Who liauing at length found this one sheepe that had beene lost beinge now almost dead and fainting for want of foode with iov he laied it on his owne shouâ—ders and bindinge it fast vnto him with cordiall cordes of affection he drewe it out of the pitt of perdition and lastly holding it fast with the embracements of his mercy that it might not againe get away he brought it backe to the ninety nine that had neuer gone astray Beholde o Lord thou who aâ—t my king and God of all power beholde the good sheepheard doth yeeld thee an accompt of that which thou hast committed to his charge he hath by thy ordinance vndertaken to saue man whom he hath repaired and rendred vnto thee free from all spott of sinne Beholde thy most deerely beloued sonne hath reconciled vnto thee the creature which thou didst create of clay which had departed farr from thee Beholde the milde sheapphearde doth bringe againe to thy flocke the sheepe which the violent theife had driuen a way He representeth the seruant before thy face that did runne away through the guilt of his owne conscience to the end that he who by his owne merits deserued punishment may by the satisfaction of this soe good a Lord obtaine pardon and that he to whom hell was due for his sinnes and iniquitie may hope in shorte time by meanes of soe good a guide to be recalled to the countrie of hauenly felicitie I haue beene able of my selfe to offende thee but of my selfe I caÌ„not appease thee My God is become mine ayde to witt thy beloued sonne makinge himselfe partaker of my humanitie that he might cure mine infirmitie to the end that by the same thinge from whence arose the cause of offence he might offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise and by this might make me acceptable to thy mercie that sittinge at thy right hande he might alwaies shewe himselfe to be of the same nature and substance with me Beholde this is my hope this is my confidence If thou doest as worthily thou maiest contemne me in respect of my sinne at least looke mercifully vpon me for the loue of thy beloued sonne For thy sonnes sake pardon me his seruant Looke vpon the Sacrament of his fleshe and remit my fleshes guiltines Lett my sinnes I beseeche thee be blotted out of thy sight be they neuer soe vilde as often as thou doest see those wide open woundes of thy blessed childe Washe a way I beseeche thee the spotts of pollution and filthines where with I am defiled as often as thou doost behold the pretious bloud flowing from his sacred side And for that flesh hath caused thee to be angry leâ—t flesh 〈◊〉 wise I most humbl requâ—st thee moue thee vnto mercy that as flesh hath seâ—uced me to sin soe flesh may reduce me to pâ—rdon True it is that much is due to my impietie but much more to his pitty Great certainly is my wickednes but farr greater is his worthines For by how much higher God is then man in greatnes and exceliencie by soe much lower is mans malice to his goodnes in quality and quatitie For what hath man done and committed which the sonne of God being made man hath not redeemed What pride could swell to be soe great which so great humiâ—iâ—y did not abate and defeaâ—e What power of death coulde grow to haue soe supereminent power and dominion as that Christ had not power to destroy and pâ—ll it downe by the paine of his passion Verily o my God if the demerits of man sinning and the meritts of his crâ—ator redeeming him were weighed togeather in a ballance that is iust and euen farr greater distance and difference would be founde betweene them then is betweene the East and West or betweene the lowest hell and the highest hâ—auen Now therfore o most excellent creator of light now mercifully pardo me my sinnes for the vnspeakable labours of thy beloued sonne Lett my wickednes I beseeche thee be now forgiuen by meanes of his pitty my peruersnes through his modesty my fiercenes through his meekenes and mercie Lett his humilitie now winne my hautines his sufferance mine impatieÌ„ce his benignity mine vncourteousnes his obedience my disobedience his tranquillitie mine vnquietne his sweetnes my bitternes his mildnes my hastines his charitie mine vngentlenes A prayer to desire the assistance of the Holy-Ghost CHAPT IX VOuchsafe now o true loue of the diuinity o sacred communication of the almighty Father and his most blessed sonne O Holy Ghost the almighti aduocate the most meeke and mercifull comforter of those that mourne and are in misery vouchsafe now to flow and descende into the secret roomes of my harte by the powerfull vertue and dwellinge and abidinge in me make ioyfull by the shininge of thy bright illumination all the darksome dennes of my neglected mansion fruitfull likewise I beseeche thee by visitting me with the aboundance of the heauenly dewe of thy grace infused whatsoeuer thou shalt finde in me through longe neglect to be growne corrupt or withered Wounde with the darte of thy loue the secret places of mine inwarde man and entringe in set on fire with thy wholsome flames the internall partes of my dull affection consume likewise whatsoeuer is amisse in all the partes and powers of my body and soule within by enlightninge me with the fire of sacred deuotion Giue me to drinke of the fountaine of thy pleasure that I may not desire to taste of the poysoned sweetnes of any worldly creature Iudge me o Lord and discerne
O Lord our God who art a mercifull and good God a God of all power a God of vnspeakable and incomprehensible nature God the instructor of all thinges and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who for our common good hast sent from thy bosome our most sweet Lord thy beloued sonne to take vpon him our life that he might giue vs his and might be perfecte God of thee his Father and perfect man by reason of his mother whole God and whole man one and the same Christ eternal and temporall immortall and mortal creator and created strong and enfeebled conquerour and conquered nourisher nourished sheepe and shepheard dying temporallie and liuing with thee eternallie who promising the liberties of euerlasting life to those that loued him vsed these wordes vnto his disciples Whatsoeuer you shall aske my Father in my name he will giue it you By this high Preist true Bishoppe and good shepheard who hath offered himselfe as a sacrifice vnto thee laying down his life for his flocke I beseech thee by him who sitteth at thy right hand and maketh intercession for vs being our Redeemer and aduocate yea by thine owne mercifulnesse and goodnesse I humblye craue of thee o God most merciful milde and benigne louer of mankind that thou together with thy same sonne and holie Ghost for that you all three beinge but of one the same nature are to be esteemed but one and the same giuer wilt giue me grace to praise and glorifie thee in all thinges with great contritioÌ„ of hart and manie teares with much feare and trembling But for that our corrupt body is as a clogg or burden to the soule prick forward I beseeche thee my lasines with thy spurres and make me promptly to perseuere day and night in fulfillinge thy commaundements and in soundinge forth thy praises Graunt that my hart may waxe hoate within my bosome and that I may be as it were sett on fire by meanes of my meditation And because thine onely begotten son God hath saied Noe man commeth to me vnlesse my Father who hath sent me drawe him and noe man commeth to the Father but by me I humbly pray and beseeche thee draw me vnto him continually that he at length may bring me thither to thee where he sittethe at thy right hand where there is euerlasting life enduring hapy for euer where there is perfect loue voide of all feare where there is one eternall day and one desire of all where there is most soueraigne and certaine assurednes and assured quietnes and quiet ioyfullnes and ioyfull happines and happy euerlastingnes and euerlasting blessednes and blessed seeing and praising of thee being likewise endlesse where thou with him and he with thee in communion of the holy Ghost liuest and raignest God eternally and euerlastingely throughout all ages times and generations Amen A most deuoute prayer to our Sauiour Iesus Christ. CHAPT XVIII O Christ my God and hope thou loue of mankind The light way life and praise of those to life assign'd Behould thy bondes and woundes thy crosse death and thy graue All which thou didst eudure vs sinners for to saue Three daies being past from death thou didst arise againe And thy sadd freindes mad'st gladd who doubtfull did remaine The fourth day to heauen thou ascendedst where before Thou did'st do'st shalt liue and raigne for euermore Thou art my liuing and true God my reuerend Father my louing Lord my great king my good shepheard my most holie helper my most faire beloued my bread of life my Preist for eternitie my guide to the heauenlie country my true light my most sacred sweetnes my direct way my cheife knowledge my pure simplicitie my peaceable amity my sure guatdian my best portion my perpetuall safetie my immense mercy my most strong patience my immaculate sacrifice my sacred redemption my firme hope my perfect charitie my true resurrection my life euerlasting my most happie vision and reioycing which shall neuer haue ending I humbly desire begge and beseech thee that I may walke by thee attaine to thee and repose in thee who art the way the truth and the life without which noe maÌ„ can come to the Father Thou truly art my desire my most sweete and gratious Lord. O brightnes of the heaueÌ„ly Fathers glory who sittest aboue the Cherubins and beholdest the bottomles pits being the true light the enlightning light the neuer failing light on whom the Angells desire to looke Behold my hart is in thy presence dissolue the darkenes thereof that it may be wholy replenished with the light of thy loue Bestow thy selfe vpon me o my God giue me thy selte Behold o Lord I doe loue thee and if it be to little make me to loue thee more I cannot guesse how much loue is sufficieÌ„t to loue thee withall that my life may runne forewarde in desire of being embraced of thee neuer staying vntill it attaine to remaine hidden in the secret fauour of thy diuine maiestie yet this I know o Lord that it goeth not well with me both within and without me as often as I am without thee for that I esteeme all manner of riches and aboundance besides thee to be meere want and pouertie Because thou onely art that good which cannot be changed into better or worse thou art he alone who simplie art alone to whom it is not one thing to liue and an other thing to liue happily for that thou art thine owne happines Howebeit we that are thy creatures to whom it is one thinge to liue another thing to liue happily ought to attribute both our whole life and liuing happily to thy onely grace and bountie We therfore haue alwaies neede of thee but thou neuer of vs for albeit we were not at all yet nothing woulde be wanting to that good which thou art We therfore haue neede o Lord our God at all times to adhere to thee that by thy countinuall ayde we may be able to liue soberly iustly and religiously True it is we are drawen downwarde by the burden of our humaine fâ—ailtie but by the guift of thy grace we are inflamed and are caried vpward we burne goe foward we mounte vpward and making ascents in our hartes we sing a graduall song we are sett on fire through the good fire of thy loue and goe foreward But what maketh me now to soare vpp to the peace of Hierusalem Because I reioyce at those thinges which are toulde me We shall goe into the house of our Lord. Our good desire getteth vs a place there to the end we affect nothing els but to remaine there for euer Seeing therfore we haue noe permaneÌ„t citty during the time of this life but expect one heere after because as long as we liue in this world we are as strangers and pilgrimes in a forraine countrie in respect of thee o Lord for that our citty and habitation is in heauen for this cause I am accustomed being guided by thy grace to
enter into the secrett closett of my hait where I sing sonnetts of chaste loue vnto thee my king and my God groaning forth most greuious sighes in the place of this my pilgrimage where the dittie of my soÌ„ges are thy iustifications And calling Hierusalem to minde I doe dilate the senses and affections of my hart in thinking thereof in thinking I say of Hierusalem my countrie of Hierusalem my mother and of thee the ruler the beautifier the father the defender the patroÌ„ the gouernour the pastor the chaste and durable delightes the constant ioy and all the good thereof yea farr more then can either be spoken or imagined because thou art the onely soueraigne and true good neither will I attende to any other thing vntill it shall please thee my God and my mercy to sett me at liberty from the deformitie of this my corrupt body being brought by thee in to the peace of this my most deare mother whither the first fruites of my souâ—e are sent already I may be conformed and confirmed in the same for all eternity The distinction and difference betweene that wisedome which is Gods house and that which is diuine CHAPT XIX THis o God is that house of thine which is not built of any earthly or heauenly substance that is corporall but is altogether spirituall and by participation eternall for that it shall neuer growe to ruine or decay in respect that thou hast erected it for all eternitie thou hast giuen a commaundement and it shall not passe away howbeit it is not coeternall to thee o God seing that by creation it hath taken â—s beginning The first thing therefore created is wisedome yett not that wisedome which is altogether coeternal and coequall to God the Father by which at first all thinges were made and in whom at the beginning heauen and earth were made but that wisedome which was created spirituall to witt Nature by contemplation of the light is become light For that wisedome likewise albeit created is termed wisedome Neuertheles there is as great difference betweene that supreme wisedome which is the creator and that which is created as is betweene the light which doth enlighten and that which is enlightned or as is betweene iustice iustifying which thou o God art and iustice which ariseth from our iustification For we likewise accordinge to the testimonie of the Apostle are termed the iustice of God the Father in thee his sonne our Lord. Sithence therefore a certaine kinde of wisedome was created before all other thinges to witt that of thy chaste cittie HierusaleÌ„ our mother which is aboue and is free and to endure for euer in the heauens for this reason it hath beene created a reasonable and vnderstandinge soule But in what heauens cuen in those which doe prayse thee which are the heauens of heauens because this is the heauen of heauen prepared for our Lord And albeit we doe not find any time before this wisedome which was before the creation of time being indeede the first of al other creatures yett thou o eternall God the creator of all thinges art before it from whom it hath taken its beginning though not beginning of time because as yet time was not begun yett of his condition and being whereupon it hath its being and beginning in that sorte froÌ„ thee o Lord our God as that it is plainely an other thinge and altogether different from thee albert we finde not any time either in it or before it Verilye it is able at all times to see and contemplate thy face neither doth it at anye time looke aside from the same Whence it proceedeth that it remaineth stedfast without either chaunce or change Neuerthelesse it is of it selfe subiect to mutabilitie by which it woulde become darke and colde were it not that beinge by greate loue vnited to thee it did shine and growe hote by thee as it were by the sunne at midde-day Finally it is conioyned to thee the true truly eternal God with that chaste loue as that albeit it be not coeternall with thee yett it cannot be seuered and seperated from thee by anie variation and mutation of time but doth rest in the most true contemplation of thee alone For that thou o Lord dost shew thy selfe to this thy house louing thee like as thou hast commaunded neither doth it neede any thing els Hence it is that it doth not swarue or goe aside either from thee or from it self but remaineth alwaies stable in the same state by perpetually seinge thee the true light by continually louing thee the chaste loue thereof O high and happy creature most happy of all others by being allwaies adherent to thy happines O happy and excessiuely happy house who hath thee for her euerlasting Lord and light Neither doe I finde any thing which I thinke I may more fitly call caelum caeli Domino the heauen of heauen prepared for our Lord then this thy coÌ„templatiue house being thy delight without defect and without affection of departing vnto any other thing being a pure minde most concordantly one the established peace of the blessed Spiritts But these celestiall thinges are aboue in heauen hence lett that soule whose pilgrimage seemeth ouer long in this life try and see if now it thirsteth or noe to come to thee if now her teares are her foode if now or noe shee demande and desire this one onely thing that shee may dwell in thine house all the daies of her life And who but thou o Lord art her life And what are her daies but thine eternitie Like as thy yeares which shall neuer haue end Heere therefore lett that soule which is able consider and comprehende how much thine eternitie doth exceede all times seeing thy house which hath neuer been estranged and seperated from thee albeit it be not coeternall to thee yett by adhering perpetuallie and continuallie to thee it is free from all mutation of time and being from time to time absorpt with the most chaste delight of thy loue it hath neuer made shew of mutabilitie by reasoÌ„ of thee whose presence it hath enioyed perpetuallie to whom it is conioyned in all affection and amity To conclude it is free from all variation and ampliation of time hauing neither time to come which it may expect nor time past which it can remember Heere man desireth that this house of God will pray for him CHAPT XX. O Bright and beautifull house of God I haue loued thy beauty and the place of the habitatioâ— of the glory of my Lord God the possessor and builder of thee Lett my pilgrimage day and night sigh after thee lett my hart long after thee lett my minde thinke of thee lett my soule desire to attaine to the blessed felowshipp of thy felicity I say to him that hath made thee that he vouchsafe to possesse me in thee because he hath made both me and thee Nay rather doe thou speake to him doe thou entreate him to make me worthy to
be pertaker of thy glory For albeit I doe not presume to demaunde by mine owne meritt to be admitted into thy woÌ„derfull beauty yett I doe not despaire to obtaine the same by the meritt of his sacred bloud who hath redeemed me Onely lett thy meritts helpe me lett thy most holy and pure prayers which cannot but be effectuall in the sight of God succoure my sinfulnes I haue gone astray I confesse as a lost sheep my aboad here hath ben too too long being cast farr from the face of my Lord God into the darknes of this exile Where remaining expelled from the ioyes of heauen I doe dayly bewaile with my selfe the calamities of this my captiuitie making great lementation and in mournefull manner sounding forth a dolefull ditty when I remember thee o mother Hierusalem whilst the feet of mine affections stand at the entrance of thy gates o holie and comely Syon not being yet admitted to behold thine inner partes wide open but I hope one day to be brought vnto thee on the shoulders of my shepheard who hath built thee that I may dance with thee through that vnspeakable pleasure wherewith they reioyce who are with thee in the presence of God and our Sauiour who in his flesh through the effusion of his bloud hath made peace and pacified all thinges in heauen and in earth For he is our peace vinting both in one who ioyning together two opposite walles hath promised to bestow vpon vs in the same manner and measure the fullnes of thy felicitie which consisteth in the fruition of himselfe for all eternitie saying They shal be equall to the Angells of God in heauen O Hierusalem the euer happy house of God next after the loue of Christ be thou my ioy and comforte lett the sweete remembrance of thy blessed name be a solace to the sorrowes and heauines of minde Of the manifolde mâ—series with which mans life is replenished CHAP. XXI VErilâ—e o Lord I am wonderfull werie of this life and paine full pilgrimage This life is a miserable life a fraile life an vncertaine life a laborious life an vncleane life a life mystres of miscreants queene of such 〈◊〉 are proude full of miserie and 〈◊〉 not worthy to be termed a life yea rather a death in which we dy by sondry soâ—â—es of death almost ech moment of time by the diuers defects of change and alteration The time therefore which we liue in this world how can we truly call it a life whom humoreâ— puffe vp whom paines pull downe whom heaâ—es doe parch whoÌ„ the aire maketh sick whom resting maketh fat and fasting maketh leane whom delightes make dissolute whom sorrowes doâ— consume whom pensiuenesse doth oppresse whom securitie maketh dull whom riches lift vp and make stately whoÌ„ pouerty doth abase and make lowly whoÌ„ youth maketh to be magnified old age to be crooked whom sicknes weakeneth sadnes afflicteth And close as it were at the heeles of all these euills doth furious death come after closing vp the end of all the delightes of this miserable life in that fashion as that being ended it is as if it had neuer been begun And albeit this liuing death and dying life be replenished with these and many more miseries â—et alas it entrappeth very many by her flattering alluâ—ements and noe lesse nomber by her false promises of preferments And although it be soe apparently false and bitter as that the blind louers thereof cannot but see and perceiue it yet by reason of the golden cup which it holdeth in her hand it causeth an infinite nomber of fooles to drinke and to be wholy drunke therwith They therefore are happy although not many who refuse her familiaritie who contemne her delightes transitorie who abandon her companie least at length they runne to ruine and perdition together with her that deceiued them Of the happines of that life which God hath prepared for those that loue him CHAPT XXII O Thou thrise happie life which God hath prepared for those that loue him a liuing life a blessed life a secure life a peaceable life a beautifull life a cleane life a chaste life a holy life a life voide of death free from sorrow a life without blemish without heauines without vexation without corruption without perturbation without variation and mutation a life full of all beautie and dignitie where there is noe aduersarie to impugne vs noe occasion of sinne to allure vs where charitie raigneth in perfection hauing noe feare of anie euil approaching where there is one onely day which is eternall and one onely minde and meaning of al where God face to face is seene apparently and with this bread of life the soule is satisfied aboundantlie O blessed life it pleaseth me much to thinke of thy brightnes and excellencie my hart is not a little delighted when I minde those good thinges which are in thee The more I thinke of thee the more I loue thee for that I am wonderfullie recreated through the vehement desire and sweete remembrance of thee It pleaseth me therefore to lift vp to thee the eyes of my hart to direct to thee the state of my mind to frame towardes thee the affectioÌ„ of a freinde Verilye it delighteth me to speake of thee to heare of thee to write of thee to conferre of thee to reade something daily of thy glorie and beatitude and often in my hart to thinke vpon what I haue reade that soe vnder the sweete shadowe of thy vitall ayre I may in some sorte be free from the heaâ—es dangers and sweates of this sraile and bricke life and being free may a little rest my weary head falling as it weare a sleepe in thy blessed bosome For this cause I am accustomed to enter into the pleasant feildes of the holie scriptures where I gather the most greene and wholsome hearbes of sacred sentences by writing them I eate them by reading I chewe them by frequent meditation and at lenght I doe swallowe them downe into the stomach of my memorie by recollection thaâ— by this meanes hauinge tasted of thy sweetnesse I may the lesse feele this most miserable lifes bitternes O life most happy o kingedome truly blessed voide of death neuer to haue ending where time without succession of ages is still the same where one continual day without interchange of night knoweth neither time past nor to come where the victorious souldier being vnited to those harmonious quires of Angels doth singe to God without intermission a Canticle of the Canticles of Syon Hauing his head adorn'd with an eternall croune By Christ th' eternall kinge in token of renoune O would to God my sinnes being pardonned and the burden of my fraile flesh being forth with laied aside I might enter into thy ioyes there to finde euerlastinge repose and might be admitted within the walles of thy Citty there from the handes of our Lord to receiue a crowne of glory to the end I might be placed to singe as one of that
vnder wheeling globes The Sunne the Moone and all the heaueÌ„s In starre bespangled robes O Christ the Palme of Warriers Vouchsafe me of thy pitty To make me when I end my warre A free man of this citty Graunt me among these cittizens Thy bounties to partake Meane while assist me with thy ayde A happy fight to make That warring ouâ— my time the rest In quiett I may spend And for my guerdon thee enioy For euer without end Amen The continuall praise of the soule through the contemplation of God CHAPT XXVII MY soule blesse thou our Lord and all thinges that are within me his holie name My soule blesse thou our Lord and forgett not all his benefittâ— Blesse yee our Lord all his workes in euerie place of his dominion my soule blesse thou our Lord Lett vs praise God whom the Angells extoll the Dominations adore in whosâ— presence the powers doe tremble to whom the Cherubins and Seraphins with a loude voice doe incessantlie sing Holy holy holy Let vs ioyne our voyces to the voyces of the holie Angells and with them to the vttermost of our poore powâ—r praise this our common Lord and maker It is they indeede that praiâ—e ouâ— Lord purely and incessantlye who are wholy giuen to the contemplation of his Diuinitie not beholding him as it were in a mirrour or in obscuritie but face to face and apparently But who is able to imagin or expresse in what manner that innumerable multitude of blessed Angells and Saints doe carrie themselues in almightie Gods presence What euerlasting content they receiue by seeinge God what ioy without defect What delightful heate of burning affection without anie affliction What a desire they haue of the sight of God ioyned with fulnes and a fulnes ioyned with desire in whom neither desire causeth paine not fulnes loathinge How by adheringe to the cheife beatitude they are become blessed How by being vnited to the true â—ight they are become light How by continuall contemplation of the immutable Trinitie they are now noe more subiect to muâ—abilitie But when shall we be able to comprehend the greatnes of the dignitie of Angells sitâ—ence we cannot finde out the nature euen of ouâ— owne soule What kind of creature iâ— this who hauing power to giue life to the body cannot as it woulde containe it selte in thinking of such things onely as are holy What kind of creature is this that iâ— soe strong soe weake of soe little soe great that searcheth into the secretts of God that are hidden and soareth vp to the comtemplation of those things that are in heauen and by subtilitie of vnderstanding is kdowen to haue founde out the knowledge of soe many artes and sâ—â—ences for the commoditie of man What kind of creature is this that knoweth soe much of all other thinges and yett is altogether ignorant of the manner of its owne beginning For albeit certaine doubtfull thinges haue been written by some coÌ„cerning the originall thereof yetâ— we finde that it is a certane intellectuall spirit made by the power of God the creator liuing euerlastinglie if it be considered in its owne manner giuing life to the mortall bodie which it doth sustaine subiect to mutation subiect to obliuion somtimes fearefull at other times ioyfull Loe here a thing most worthy of admiratioÌ„ O God the creator of al thinges who is incomprehensible and vnspeakable we reade speake and write without any ambiguity thinges surpassing high and woÌ„derfull but those thinges which we say of the Anglls and souleâ— of men we cannot soe manistly proue and confirme But lett my minde omitt to think on these thinges and passe beyonde what soeuer is created lett it runne and ascende and flâ—e and soare aboue them all lookinge stedfastlie with the eies of faith as much as is possible on him that hath created all thinges For this cause I will make as it were steppes or stayres in my hart and by them I will ascende vnto my soule and from my soule vnto my vnderstanding and from thence vnto God who remaineth aboue ouer my head What soeuer likewise is seene visiblie whatsoeuer likewise is imagined spiritually lett be remoued fare off with a strong hand from the sight of my hart and minde that my sole vnderstanding walking in all puritie and simplicitie may speedily come to the Creator himselfe of Angells soules all other thinges Happie is that soule that leaueth these thinges that are heere beneath loueth those aboue who placing the seate of her habitation in thinges hard and difficile doth from the high rockes contemplate the sunne of iustice with the eies of an Eagle Because there is nothing soe faire and pleasing as with the view of the vnderstanding and harts affection to looke vppon Iesus alone and after a manner vnspeakable inuisible to see him that is muisible and by this meanes to taste a more sweete delight then that of this life to behold a brightnes more cleare then that which we see heere for that the light of this present life which is enclosed in a ceâ—taine place and by the intâ—rruption of the night is changed ended after a certaine space being common to vs with wormes and beastes in comparison of that high and heauenly light is rather to be teaâ—med night then light What it is after a certaine manner to see and comprehend God and what opinion we ought to haue of him CHAPT XXVIII ALthough God the most supreame vnchangeable essence the true and neuer failinge light the light of Angells cannot be scene by any mortall man during the time of this life this beinge the onely rewarde and guâ—rdon reserued by God for the Saints in heaven yett neuerthelesse to beleiue and vndeâ—stand to feele and feruently to affect the same is after a câ—râ—aine manner to see and comprehend him Lett our voice therefore be heard aboue the Angâ—lls and let man contemplate God with all attention and with the best wordes he can singe praises vnto him Because it is a thing very meete which iustice it selfe doth seeme to require that the creature doo praise his creator yea the motiue that moued him to create vs was noe other but that we should praise him albeit he needeth not our praise or commendation And â—nd ede God is a vertue that cannot be comprehended needing nothing of himselfe sufficient Our Lord God is great and grâ—at is his power and of his wisedomehere iâ— noe nâ—mber Our Lord God is great and exceeding worthy to be praised Let our soule therfore loue him our tongue talke of him our hand write of him in these sacred exercises let the minde of euerie faithfull Christian wholy employ it selfe That man certainely that is full of good desires whose delight is in heauenly meditation may daily be refreshed with the most sweete daintie dishes of this â—elestiall contemplation to the end that being filled with this supernal foode he may crie with a loude voice and with the whole force and affection
essence one vertuâ— one goodnes one onely happines From whom by whom and in whom all thinges are happie what thinges soâ—uer are happie That God is the true and soueraigne life CHAPT XXXII O God the true and soueraigne lâ—fe from whome by whome and in whome all thinges doe liue what thinges soeuer doe truly and happilie liue O God the true and soueraigne bountiâ— and beautie from whom by whom and in whome all thinges are good and beautifull what thinges soeuer are good and beautifull O God whose faiâ—he dâ—th raise vsâ— whose hope doth releiue vs whose charitie doth vnite vs. O God who commaundest that we shoulde aske thee and openest to him that doth knock and call vnto thee O God from whome to be auerted is to fall to whome to be conuâ—â—ed is to rise in whome to remaine is to be immoueable O God whom noe man looseth vnlesse he be deceaued whioÌ„ noe man seeketh vnlesse he bâ— admonished whom noe man findeth vnlesse he be vndefiled O God to knowe whom is to liue to serue whom is to raigne to praife whom is the â—oules ioy and saluation I praise blâ—sse and adore thee with my lippes and harte and with all the force I haue rendring thankes to thy mercie and bountie for all the benefitts which I haue receiuâ—d from thee and singing vnto thee the hymne of thy glorie holy holy holy To thee I cry o blessed Trinity beseeching thee that thou wilt vouchsafe to come into me and make men temple fitt to receaue thy maiestie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beseech the Sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that all my sinnes and imperfections may be remoued farr from me and all holy vertues may be planted in me O God of infinite power and might of whom by whom and in whom all thinges visible and inuisible were created who dost enuiron thy workes without and replenishe them within who dost couer them aboue and sustaine them beneath protect me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and hauing my whole coÌ„fidence in thy onely mercy Preserue me I beseeche thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behinde aboue and beneathe and on euery side that noe place in me may be founde open to the assaultes and snares of mine enimies Thou art God almightie the keeper and defender of all those that trust in thee without whom no man is secure no man is free from danger Thou art God and there is noe other God but thee either in heauen aboue or on the earthe beneathe who dost great and maruailous thinges vnknowen and inscrutable in nomber infinite and innumerable To thee therefore doth truly belong all glory power and praise To thee all the holy Angells the heauens and vniuâ—rsall powers doe singe songes of thanksgiuing sounding forth thy prayses without ceasinge as creatures to theire creator as seruants to theire maister as souldiers to theme Prince and gouuernoure Finallie euery creature and eueric spiritt doth magnifie and extoll thee o sacred and inseparable Trinitie The praises of Angells and men CHAPT XXXIII TO thee all holy and humblâ— men of hartie to thee the spiritts and soules of the iust to thee all the celestiall citâ—izeÌ„s and euerie order of the heauenlie hierarchie doe singe and sounde forth praise and honoure euâ—rlastinglie in most humble manner fallinge downe adoring thee Those celestiall cittizens o Lord doe praise thee with much honoure and magnificencie Man likewise doth extâ—ll thy power containinge in himselfe a greate parte of ech other creature I my selfe alsoe albeit a poore and miserable sinner doe desire to praise thee with greate deuotion and doe withe thaâ— I coulde loue thee with most ardent affection O my God my life my strength and my praise giue me graâ—e to praise thee Giue light vnto my harte and worde vnto my mouth that my harte may thinke of thy glorie and my tongue may all the day longe singe and sounde forth thy praises But because thy praise is not seemely in my mouthe that am a sinner and a man of vncleane lipps cleanse my harte I beseâ— che thee from all vncleanlineffe of iniqnitie sanctifie me within and without o sanctifier omnipotent and make me worthy to praise thee Receiue gratiouslie and take in good parte this sacrifice of my lipps which I offer thee with my whole harte and affection and graunt that it may be acceptable in thy sight and ascende vnto thee as an odore of sweetnes Lett thy holie remembrance and thy most blessed sweetnes possesse my whole soule drawinge it vp to the loue of thinges inuisible Lett my soule passe from thinges visible to inuisible from earthly to celestiall from thinges temporall to eternall lett it mount vp by contemplation and beholde thee whose sight is soe full of admiration O eternal truthe true charitie and charitable eternitie thou art my God to thee I sigh day and night thou art my whole studie my desire is how I may come to thee because he that knoweth the truth knoweth eternity Thou o truth art ruler ouer al thinges whom we shal apparantly see after that this blinde and mortal life is ended in which we are demauÌ„ded Wher is thy God yea I my selfe doe demaunde My God where art thou Me thinke I finde my selfe somewhat comforted in thee when with wordes of exultation and confession I doe power forthe my soule vppon thee as one reioyceth at some banquet or vppon a holie day Neuerthelesse my soule is yet pensiue for that it falleth downe and becommeth as an infinite deepe pitt or rather perceiueth it selfe to be such a one as yett To whome my faith which in the night season thou hast kindled before my feete making answere saieth Why art thou sadd o my soule and why doost thou trouble me Put thy trust in God whose worde is a light vnto my feete hope and perseuere in him vntill the night be past the mother of such as sinne vntill Gods anger be past whose children in times past we haue been because we were heeretofore darknes vntill this violent inundation of waters be past vntill the day appeare and the shadowes are departed till then the residue of sinne remaineth in our bodie growen deade through iniquitie Wherefore o my soule put thy trust in our Lord in the morninge I will preisent my selfe before him and meditate vppon him and for euermore will confesse vnto him In the morninge I will present my selfe before him and by contemplation will beholde him who is the health of my countenance and my God who will reuiue our deade bodies by meanes of the holie Ghost dwellinge in vs to the end that from hence forth we may become light and the children of the light and of the day not of the night neither of darknes being as yett saued by hope True it is that heeretofore we were darknesse but now we are become light in thee our God neuertheles as yet by
be wanting if the wife be conioyned to her husband with that feruoure of minde as that through the greatnes of her loue shee can take noe repose being not able without greate greife to sustaine the absence of her beloued husbande with what affection desire and feruoure of minde ought that soule whoÌ„ thou hast espoused and linked vnto thee by faith and thy manifold mercies to loue thee the true God the most beautifull spouse who hast after that wonderfull manner loued and saued vs who hast donne soe many soe greate and such vnspeakeable thinges for vs. But althoughe the transitorie thinges of this worldâ— haue theire particular loues and delightes yet is the delight and content which they yeilde farre inferiour to that which proceedeth from thee o Lord our God In thee the iust man is dâ—lighted because thy loue is sweete and peaceable thou being accustomed to replenishe those hartes which thou dost possesse with vnspeakeable delight sweetnesse and quietnes Contrariwise the loue of the worlde and of the fleshe causeth a thousande woes not permittinge the soules into which it entreth to be at any repose but continually vexeth them with suspitions with diuers doubtes and perturbations Thou therfore o Lord art the delight of good and iust men and truly not without reason for that in thee is true repose and a life free from molestation He that entreth into thee o good God entreth into the ioy of his Lord and shall not be any more afraied but shall finde himselfe happily placed in a most happie habitation saying This is my rest for euermore heere I will dwell because I haue chosen the same And Againe Our Lord guideth me and I shall want nothinge he hath placed me in a place of pasture O sweete Christ o good lesu fill my harte perpetually with thy vnquenchable charitie with the continuall remembrance of thee soe that beinge become as a fierie flame I may wholy burne through the sweetnes of thy loue which loue in me let be soe greate as that whole fountaines flouddes of water may neuer be able to quenche it Make me most sweete Lord to loue thee and for thy loue to lay a side the heauie and vnsuportable burden of all earthly and carnall conscupiscences which doe molest and presse downe my wretched soule to the end that being freed from them and runninge after thee in the sweete smell of thy odoriferous ointments I may at length hauinge thee for my guide be able to attaine to the vision and fruition of thy beauâ—ie and by the same to remaine truly satisfied eternally For two seuerall loues the one good the other â—uill the one sweete the other bitter cannot in one harte possibly dwell together And therefore if any one doth loue any thinge besides thee thy charitie in him o God is not the loue of sweetnes and the sweetnes of loue for thou art that loue that afflicteth not but delighteth that loue that for euer remaineth chast and sincere that loue alwaies burneth and neuer consumeth O sweete Christ o good Iesu my loue my loue and my God inflme me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes and delectaâ—ion with thy mirth and exultation with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and good chast cleane quiet and secure to the end that being wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy inflamed with the fire of thy charity I may loue thee my God with all my harte force and strength hauinge thee at all times and in al places in my harte in my mouth and before mine cees soe that noe receptacle may be founde in me to receiue the counterfayted loue of thinges transitorie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee to the end thou maiest heare me O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the intercession prayer and request of the glorious virgin Marie thy mother and my Ladie and of all the Saintes of thy heauenly Cittie Amen A most deuoute Prayer demaunding Grace of God to praise him as wee ought CHAPT XXXVI O Christ our Lord the diuine worde of the Father whose comming into the worlde was to saue sinners I beseech thee by the bowels of thine infinite mercie amende my life make better mine actions compose my manners take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to me displeasinge to thee and giue me that which thou knowest is pleasinge to thee and profitable for me Who is there that can cleanse man from sinne conceiued in the same sauinge thou alone Thou arâ— God almighty of infinite mercy who iustifiest the wicked and raysest to life those that through sinne were deade who changest sinners from that which they were before vpholdinge them that they fall not any more Remoue from me therfore I beseeche thee whatsoeuer in me is displeasinge vnto thee Thy eies I knowe doe plainely see mine imperfections to be very manie Wherefore may it please thee to stretche forth towards me the hande of thy mercie and with the same remoue from me whatsoeuer is offensiue in me to the eies of thy diuine Maiestie My health o Lord and my sicknesse doe depende of thy power preserue I beseech thee the one and cure the other Cure me o Lord and I shal be cured saue me and I shal be saued thou art he that dost cure those thinges that are diseased keepinge them in health after they are healed thou art he that with the very becke and nod of thy heade dost repaire those thinges that are ruined and decayed For if it be thy pleasure to sowe in my hart the good seedâ— of vertues it is necessarie that first with the hande of thy pittie thou pluck vp the thornes of mine iniquities Most sweete benigne louinge deare desired beloued and most beautifull Lord powre into my harte I most hartlie beseeche thee the aboundance of thy sweetnes and charitie that I may neither desire nor as much as thinke vppon any worldly or carnall delectation but may loue thee alone hauinge thee onely in my mouthe and in my affection Write in my breaste with thy finger the sweete remeÌ„brance of thy hony sweete name by noe forgetfulnes euer to be blotted out of the same Write in the tables of my harte thy most holy will and thy iustifications that alwaies and in all places I may haue thee and thy preceptes before mine eieâ— who art a Lord of infinite sweetnes Inflame my minde with that sacred fire of thine which thou haâ—t sent into the world and dost greatlye desire that it should be kindled to the end that with teares I may daylie offer vnto thee the sacrifice of a humble and contrite harte O sweete Christ and louinge Iesu giue me as I desire as I desire with my whole hart giue
me teares proceeding from my whole affection which may be able to dissolue the bandes of my sinnes Heare me o my Lord and my God Heare me o light of mine eies Heare what I demaunde and graunt that thou mayest heare what I demaunde If thou despise me I shall perishe and be consumed if thou respect me I shal be receiued If thou examine my righteousnes I shal be founde to be as a deade man stinking throughe rottennes but if thou beholde me with the eie of thy mercie thou wilt therby raise me being through sinne like a corrupt carkase from the sepulcher of mine iniquitie Whatsoeuer o Lord thou hatest in me expell and â—oote out of me and plante in me the spirit of chastitie and continencie to the end that whatsoeuer I shall demaunde of thee in my demaunde I may not offende thee Take from me that which is hurtfull and giue me that which is profitable Giue me a medicine o Lord by which the soares of my soule may be healed Bellowe vppon me o Lord thy feare compunction of hart humilitie of minde and a conscience free from all sinne Graunt me grace o Lord that I may alwares be able to liue in charitie with my brethren not forgetting mine owne sinnes not prying into those of other men Pardon my soule Pardon my sinnes Pardon mine offences Pardon mine abominations Visit me being weakened cure me being diseased refresh me being weaâ—ied raise me being deade Giue me o Lord a harte that may feare thee a minde that may loue thee a sense that may conceiue thee eares that may heare thee eies that may see thee Take pittie o God take pittie of me and beholde me from the sacred seatâ— of thy sacred maiestie and illuminate the darkenes of my harre with the bright beames of thy light Giue me o Lord discretion to be able to discerne betweene good and cuill and endue me with an vnderstanding that is alwaies watchfull I humbly craue pardon of all my sinnes I humbly craue it o Lord of thee from whom and by whom I hope to findefauoure in time of necessitie O Marie mother of God mother of Iesus Christ our Lord thou sacred and vnspotted virgin vouchsafe to make intercession for me vnto him who made thee a worthy temple for himselfe to dwell in O S. Michael S. Gabriel S. Raphael o holy quires of Angells and Archangells of Patriarches and prophetes of Apostles and Euangelists of Martyrs and Confessors of Priests and Leuites of Monkes and Virgins and of all such as haue liued righteously I presume to beleeche you euen for his sake by whome you haue been elected and by whose contemplation you are she much delighted that you will be pleased to pray for me a poore sinner vnto him our God that I may be deliuered from the furious â—awes of the infernall feinde and from that death which shall neuer haue end Vouchsafe o Lord according to thy meekenes and vnspeakeable mercie to make me partaker of eternall felicitie Graunt o Lord Iesu that Priestes may liue in concorde and amitie and that Kinges and Princes ruling as they ought to doe may be vnited in peace and tranquillitie I humbly craue grace o Lord for the whole Catholique Church for men women for Religious persons and for secular people for all Christian magistrates and for all that beleiue in thee and laboure for thy holy loue that they may perseuer in doing well all the dayes of their liues Graunt o Lord and king eternall to Virgins chastitie to Religious persons that haue dedicated themselues vnto thee the guift of continencie to maried folkes holinesse to suche as are truly sorrowfull for theire sinnes forgiuenesse to widowes and orphans succour protection to those that are poore to pilgrims a safe returne comforte to such as mourne to the faithfull departed the repose of heauen to marriners and such as sayle on the sea theire desired porte or hauen to those that haue attained to perfection grace to perseuere to beginners and proficients in vertue grace to doe better to sinners and to suche as offende as to me poore wretche that they may speedily amende O most milde and mercifull Lord and Sauiour the sonne of the liuinge God the worldes redeemer amongst all men and in all thinges I confesse my selfe to be a miserable sinner neuerthelesse I beseeche thee most sweete and soueraigne father that thou wilt not cast me as an abiect out of thy fauour Yea rather o Lord thou King of Kinges who hast determined and decreede the length of each mans life graunt me a deuoute desire to amend mine Stirre vp my sluggishe soule to the end that att all times and in all thinges it may seeke desire loue and feare thee who in al places art three and one and putt in practice that which is pleasing vnto thee Especiallie I beseech thee o holy father who art blessed and glorious â—or euer that thou wilt mercifullie preserue all those that in theire prayers are mindfull of me haue commended themselues to mine albeit little worthe and of noe valewe those likewise that haue shewed towards me any deede of charitie or pittie or are ioyned to me in blood and affinitie aswell those that are deade as those that yet liue in this mortall bodie to the end that thou guiding and assisting them they may not perishe euerlastingly In generall I beseeche thee o Lord to aide and succoure all Christians that are yet liuinge and on those that are deade to bestowe absolution and life euerlasting Finallie o Lord I most humbly and hartely beseeche thee who art 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning and the ending that when the time is come that I must die thou wilt be a milde and mercifull iudge and a perpetuall protector to me against the accusations and snares of the diuell my ancient aduersary admitting me for euer into the societâ—e of the holy Angells and of all thy Saints in thy heauenly cittie where thou art blessed and praysed during all eternitie Amen A deuoute Prayer in memorie of Christs passion CHAPT XLI O Lord Iesu Christ my redemption mercie and saluation I praise thee and giue thee thankes albeit farre inferiour to thy benefits albeit wholy voide of deuotion and feruour albeit leane and without the desired fatnes of that most sweete affection which thou dost require neuerthelesse my soule doth render thee thankes such as they are which althoughe they are not suche as I knowe I am bouÌ„de to offer yet they are according to my best endeuour O hope of my harte o strength of my soule may it please thy omnipotent worthines to accomplishe what my woÌ„derfull greate weakenes doth attempt to performe because thou art my life and the scope of mine intention And albeit I haue not hitherto deserued to loue thee soe muche as I knowe is due yet at least I desire to loue thee soe muche as I ought to doe Thou seest my conscience o my light for that my
of me a poore distressed orphant I am as a poore fatherlesse childe and my soule is as a woman bereaued of her husbande Vouchsafe gratiouslie to behold the teares of my distressed orphancie and widowhoode which I offer vnto thee vntill thou returne o my God May it please thee therfore may it please thee o Lord to manifest thy selfe to me and I shall be comforted Graunt that I may see thee and I shall obtaine what I desire Make manifest thy glorie and my ioy wil be accomplished My soule hath thirsted after thee soe hath likewise my fleshe exceedingly My soule hath thirsted after God the liuinge fountaine when shall I come and be presented before the face of my Lord When wilt thou come o my comforter for whome I will wishe and earnestly waite for O that I might once behold my delight which I doe soe muche desire O howe truly shall I be satisfied when thy glorie shall appeare which I doe greatlie hunger to beholde When shall I become drunke through the plentie of thy heauenlie habitation for which I sighe soe often When wilt thou make me to drinke of the riuer of thy pleasure which I soe greâ—tely thirst and desire In the interim o Lord let my teares be my continual foode vntill it be saied vnto me Beholde thy God vntill it be saied vnto my soule Beholde thy bridegroome In the interim feede me with my sobbs and weepinges nourishe me with my sorrowes and lamentations Peraduenture my redeemer will come and visit me because he is full of mercie yea he will not be long in comminge because he is full of pittie To him be glorie during all eternitie Amen The end of the Meditations of S. Augustin A TABLE OF THE Meditations of S. Augustin Bishop of Hyppon A Prayer vnto almighty God for the amendment of our life and manners Chapt. I. Mans acknowledging his miserie his commendation likewise of Gods mercie Chapt. II. Mans complainte who for his disobedience is not hearde of God Chapt. III. The dreade of the iudge comming to iudgment Chapt. IV. The healpe of God the Father is desired by the mentts of God the soÌ„ne Chapt. V. Hâ—ere man doth represent to God the Father the passion of his sonne Chapt. VI. Heere man doth acknowledge himselfe to haue beene the cause of Christs passion Chapt. VII Heere man for his reconciliation doth propose to God the Father the passion of his sonne Chapt. VIII A Prayer to desire the assistance of the holie Ghost Chapt. IX A Prayer for one seruing God and thinking humblie of himselfe Chapt X. A Prayer to the holie Trinitie Chapt. XI The acknowledging of God almighty and of his Maiestie Chapt. XII After what manner it pleased God the Father to succoure mankinde of the incarnation of the diuine Worde and thanks for the same Chapt. XIII Of the confidence which a Christian soule ought to haue in lesus Christ and in his Passion Chapt. XIV Of the surpassing greate charitie of the eternall Father towardes mankinde Chapt. XV. Of the two-folde nature of Christ who pittieth vs and prayeth for vs Chapt. XVI Of the greate thanks giuing which maÌ„ ought to render to God for the benefit of his redemption Chapt. XVII A deuoute Prayer to our Sauiour Iesus Christ Chapt. XVIII The distinction and difference betwene that wisedome which is Gods house and that which is diuine Chapt. XIX Heere man desireth that this house of God will likewise prâ—y for him Chap. XX. Of the manifolde miseries with which mans life is replenished Chapt. XXI Of the happines of that life which God hath prepared for those that loue him Chapt. XXII Of the happines of a holie soule departing out of this worlde Chapt. XXIII A Prayer to the Saincts to succoure vs in our necessities Chapt. XXIV The soules desire to attaine to the heauenlie Cittie Hierusalem Chapt. XXV A hymne of the glorie of Paradice composed by the blessed S. Peter Damian Cardinall of Ostia monke of the holy order of S. Benneâ— taken out of the sayings of S. Augustine Chapt XXVI The continuall prayse of the soule through the contemplation of God Chapt XXVII What it is after a certaine manner to see and comprehend God and what opinion we ought to haue of him Chapt. XXVIII A Prayer shewing the manifold properties and attributes of God Chapt. XXIX Of the vnitie and pluralitie of personnes in God Chapt XXX A Prayer to the sacred Trinitie Chapt. XXXI That God is the true and soueraigne life Chapt. XXXII The prayses of Angells and men Chapt. XXXIII Heere man doth lament for that when he thinketh of God he is not moued to compunction seing the verie Angells tremble and quake when they beholde him Chapt. XXXIV A Prayer greately mouing the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God Chapt. XXXV A most deuoute prayer demaunding grace of God to prayse him as we ought Chapt XXXVI A Prayer greately stirring vp the minde to compunction if it be saied in silence with attention Chapt. XXXVII A Prayer to be saied in time of tribulation Chapt. XXXVIII A verie deuoute prayer to God the sonne Chapt XXXIX A profitable Prayer Chapt. XL. A deuoute Prayer in memorie of Christs passion Chapt. XLI FINIS THE BOOKE OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON Commonlye called his Soliloquies that is the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God AT S. OMERS For IOHN HEIGHAM Anno 1624. THE BOOKE OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON Commonlye called his Soliloquies that is the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God Of the vnspeakeable sweetnes of God CHAPT I. O Lord the strength of my soule graunt me grace I beseech thee that like as thou knowest me I may knowe thee O my comforter manifest thy selfe vnto me O light of mine eies graunt that I may see thee Come o ioy of my spirit Let me see thee o delight of my harte O life of my soule giue me grace to loue thee O Lord my God my cheife delight and sweetest solace vouchsafe to appeare vnto me for thou art my life and all the glorie of my soule O desire of my harte lett me finde thee O loue of my soule let me touche thee O heauenly bridegroome my cheife delight both without and within me let me embrace thee Let me possesse thee o euerlasting blisse lett me possesse thee in the middst of my hatte blessed life and soueraigne sweetnes of my soule Let me loue thee o Lord my fortitude my force my refuge and my deliuerer Let me loue thee o my God my helper my stronge fortresse and my swâ—ete hope in all time of distresse Let me embrace thee the onely true good let me â—nioy thee the onely best thinge Open mine eares by vertue of thy worde more peircing theÌ„ a two edged sworde to the end I may heare thy voyce Let the greatnes of thy voyce be hearde as a thunder from aboue Let the sea roare and the fulnes thereof let the earth be moued and all thinges
boasting minde but possesse my harte that it may alwaies thinke of thee Enlighten the eies of mine vnderstanding that they may see thee not be exalted in thy presence o glorie euerlasting but let them thinke humbly not looking ouer curiously on those wonderfull thinges that are aboue them Let them looke vppon those thinges that are on the right hande and not vpon those on the left that are displeasing vnto thee Let thy eie-lidds likewise guide my footestepps for that thy eie-lidds looke into the actions and thoughtes of the sonnes of men Breake and bruise my vnlawefull luste with thy sweetenes which thou hast reserued for those that feare thee to the end I may with an eternall desire couet thee least my internall taste being through vanities entseed and deceaued esteeme bitter to be sweete and sweete to be bitter darkenes to be light and light to be darkenes that I may escape free from such a multitude of snares wherewith all the worlde is replenished which our ghostly ennimic hath placed in the way of this life that we are to walke in therby to ensnare the soules of such as sinne Which he that saw it omitted not to tell vs of saying Whatsoeuer is in the worlde is either the concupiscence of the eies concupiscence of the flesh or pride of life Beholde o Lord my God the whole worlde is full of the snares of concupiscences which my ghostly ennimies haue prepared to intrappe me in and who shall be able to auoide them Verily he from whom thou shalt take away the concupiscence of the eies least the concupiscence of the eies doe entrappe him from whom thou shalt take away the concupiscence of the flesh least the concupiscence of the fleshe entice him and from whom thou shalt take away a bolde and boasting minde least pride of life doe craftely deceaue him O how happie is he to whoÌ„ thou shalt afforde this â—auoure because such a one shall passe without danger Wherfore I beseeche thee for thine owne sake o my Redeemer that thou wilt helpe me that I may not fall in the sight of mine aduersaries being taken in the snares which they haue prepared to entrap my feete therby to ouerthrowe my soule but deliuer me o strength of my saluation least thine ennimies which hate thee haue me in derision Arise o Lord my God thou that art my fortitude and let thine ennimies be dispersed let those that hate thee fly before thee yea like as waxe melteth away before the face of the fire euen soe let sinners consume in thy sight But let me remaine safe being hidden in the secret place of thy presence where abounding with all good thinges I may reioyce in the companie of thy children Listen o Lord God vnto the crie of thy children who art a father to the fatherlesse and a mother to such as are in distresse and stretch for the thy winges that we may flie vnder them from the face of our aduersarie O tower of the fortresse of Israel who wilt neither slumber nor sleepe garding and defending Israel for that the ennimie doth neither slumber not sleepe that opposeth Israel Of the miseries of man and the manifolde benefits of almighty God CHAPT XIII O Light not seene by any other light o brightnes not behelde by any other brightnes That light that darkneth all other light that brightnes that maketh dimme all externall brightnes O light from which all light is deriued o brightnes from which all brightnes doth proceede that brightnes in comparison of which all brightnes is but dimnes all light but darknes That light in whose presence all dimnes is turned into brightnes all darknes into light O supreme light by noe cloude enclouded by noe mist diminished by noe darknes darkned by noe obstacle enclosed by noe shadowe seuered and deuided O light which enlightnest all thinges wholy together seuerally and for euer let me be absorpt by thee into the bottoÌ„lesse depth of thy brightnes that on euerie side I may see thee in thee and me in thee and all thinges vnder thee Forsake me not o Lord I beseeche thee least the darknes of my ignorance and sinne increase Verilie without thee all thinges are darknes and sinne vnto me because nothing is good without thee the true sole and soueraigne good I confesse and acknowledge o Lord my God that wheresoeuer I am without thee it fareth not well with me neither without nor within me because without thee o my God I esteeme plentie to be pouertie I shall then be content and not before to wit when thy glorie shall appeare Giue me grace likewise o Lord who art my onely felicitie that I may confesse my miserie vnto thee I confesse therefore that as longe as the multiplicitie of temporall affaires did disperse and deuide me following my sensualitie from one thinge into many to wit from the supreame and onely good that is froÌ„ the vnitie of thy goodnes soe longe I had painefull plentie and plentifull pouertie poursuing many thinges and finding content in none for that I founde not thee with in me the assured singular inseparable and sole good which hauing now gotten I am noe more subiect to neede which hauing obtained I am now no more payned and greiued which hauing now in possession my whole desire is satisfied This is a miserie me thinke aboue other miseries to be lamented to see how my miserable soule doth forsake and abandon thee in whose company shee is alwaies riche and gladde and adhereth to the worlde with whom shee is alwaies poore and fadde The worlde crieth vnto vs saying I fade and thou o Lord callest vnto vs saying I feede and yet notwithstanding such is my peruerse miserie that it maketh choice rather to followe him that fadeth then him that feedeth me This is my infirmitie and disease Cure the same o Phisition of our soules to the end I may with my whole harte acknowledge vnto thee o Sauiour of my soule the manifold benefits with which thou hast nourished me from my tender youth vntill these my ould and last decrepit yeares For thine owne sake o Lord I beseeche thee not to forsake me when I was nothing thou hast created me when I was consumed through sinne thou hast redeemed me when I was past recouerie and deade through mine iniquitie thou hast come downe from heauen vnto me taking vpon thee my mortalitie thou I say being a king and Lord soe puissant hast descended from heauen vnto thy slaue and seruant rendring thy selfe captiue to reserue him a liue yea thou thy selfe hast died and by dying hast ouercome deathe to the end thou mightest restore me to life exalting me to my former dignitie by debasing thy selfe to soe greate pouerty When I was vtterly vndonne being gone astray and solde to sinne thou hast come into the worlde for my redemption and hast loued me soe dearely as that thou hast giuen thine owne blood for a ransome for me thou hast loued me o Lord more then
mercy giue me yet greater light and vnderstanding I beseech thee that I may perceiue it more plainely For by the lesser benefits o holy Lord God our good Creator we growe to vnderstande thy greater and by those which we visibly see heer we come to the knowledg of those that are inuisible in heauen For if thou o God dost bestowe vpon our base and corruptible body soe greate and innumerable benefits from the firmament and ayre from the earthe sea from the light and darknes from heate and shadowe from dewe and raine from windes and shewers from foules fishes from beastes and trees from variety of hearbes and plantes and of al other of thy earthely creatures seruing vs successiuely in their turnes that by them thoâ— maiest solace the sorowes of this our wearisome life what manner of benefits are those I pray thee how greate I say and innumerable shall those comfortes and commodities be which thou hast prepared for those that loue thee in that heauenly country where apparantly face to face we shall see and beholde thee If thou dost soe much for vs now in this earthly prison what wilt thou doe for vs heerafter in the palace of thy heauenly habitation Greate certainely and innumerable are these thy workes o Lord and kinge of heauen For seing all these thinges are exceeding good and delightfull which thou hast imparted to good and bad men in common what manner of thinges wil those be which thou hast reserued for the good alone If the guifts which thou dost now giue vnto thy freindes and foes together be soe innumerable and many how greate innumerable how sweete and delightfull will those be which thou wilt bestowe heereafter vpon thy freinds onely If thou dost giue vs soe greate comfortes on this sorrowfull day of weepings how greate wilt thou giue vs on the festiuall day of the wedding If soe greate delightes are contained in this earthly prison how greate are contayned in the countrie of heauen There was neuer yet any eye o God without thee that hath seene the pleasures which thou hast prepared for those that loue thee Because the immensitie of thy sweetnes which thou hast reseruâ—â— for those that feare thee is answerable vnto the immensitie of thy magnificence Wherfore o Lord my God like as thou art greate and immense there being neither end of thy greatnes or number of thy wisedome or measure of thy bounteousnes soe likewise there is neither end or number nor measure of thy recompence but like as thou art greate soe is likewise thy rewarde and recompence because thou thy selfe art their rewarde and recompence that fight for thee according to thy holy ordinance That the sweetnes of God doth take away the present bitternes of the Worlde CHAPT XXII THâ—se o Lord God the sanctifier of thy Saincts are those greate benefits of thine with which thou hast aboundantly supplied and replenished the wantes of thy children because thou are the hope of those that are in desperation their comforte that are in affliction thou art a crowne of confidence adorned with glory prepared for those that ouercome Thou art the eternall foode and fullnes of thy hungry seruants to be distributed to those that hunger after righteousnes Thou art the euerlasting comforte who bestowest thy selfe on them only that despise all worldly comforte in hope of that endlesse comforte which they shall haue of thee Because those that are comforted eere are vnworthy to be comforted by thee heereafter But they are by thee comforted who are heere for thee afflicted and they that are partakers of thy passions are likewise partakers of thy consolations Certainely noe man can be comforted in both worldes or reioyce heere in this life and in the next likewise but of necessitie he must loose the one that will get the other When I consider these thinges o Lord my comforter my soule refuseth to be comforted in this life to the end it may be thought worthy of thy eternall comfortes because according to reason it seemeth that he is worthy to loose thee that taketh more delight in any other thing then in thee Wherfore o souueraigne truth by thine owne selfe I beseeche thee permitt me not to take pleasure in any vanitie But let all transitorie thinges seeme bitter vnto me that thou alone maiest seeme sweete vnto my soule who art that inestimable sweetnes that maketh bitter thinges to be sweete Thy sweetnes made the stones of the streame seeme sweete vnto Saint Stephan with which he was stoned Thy sweetnes made the burning gridiron seeme sweete vnto Saint Laurence on which he was broyled By meanes of thy sweetnes the Apostles went ioyfullie froÌ„ the sight of the councell for that they were thought worthy to suffer reproache for thy name Saint Andrewe went with ioy and alacritie towardes the Crosse because he went with hast towardes thy sweetnes The Princes of the Apostles likewise Saint Peter Saint Paule with this thy sweetnes were replenished so that to obtaine it the one of them made choice to be crucified the other without feare to loose his heade Saint Bartholomewe to buy it gaue his owne skinne and Sainte Iohn to taste of it without feare drunke vp a cuppe of poison Noe sooner had Saint Peter tasted of this sweetnes but forthwith forgetting all inferiour thinges he cried out as one inebriated and ouercome with ioy saying Lord it is good for vs to be heere let vs make heere three tabernacles let vs remaine heere in diuine contemplation because we want noe other thing It is sufficieÌ„t for vs saide he to see thee it is sufficient to be satisfied with soe greate sweetnes He had noe sooner tasted one onely droppe of that heauenly sweetenes but he immediatelye forgott all other sweetenes What woulde he haue saied thinke you if he had tasted of the immense sweetenes of thy diuinitie which thou hast kept in store for those that loue thee That Virgin likewise had tasted of this thy vnspeakeable sweetenes of whom we reade that shee went to the prison in that pleasant and merrie manner as if shee had been inuited to some banquet or supper He likewise I suppose had tasted of this sweetnes who saied How greate o Lord is the multitude of thy sweetnesse which thou hast laied vp in store for those that feare thee Who likewise did put vs in minde of it saying Taste and see because our Lord is sweete This o Lord God is that happines which we doe hope thou wilt bestowe vpon vs for which we fight for thee continuallie for which we mortifie our selues for theâ— dailie to the end we may liue with thee in that happy life of thine which shall last euerlastingly That our whole hope and the desire of our harte ought to be in God CHAPT XXIII Bvt thou o Lord the expectation of Israel the desire after which our hartâ— doth sighe euery day make hast and doe not stay Arise make hast and come and deliuer vs out
them Certainely the Trinitie is wholy knoweÌ„ to thee onely o holy Trinitie o Trinitie most admirable most vnspeakeable most vnsearcheable most inaccessible most incomprehensible superintelligible and superessentiall superessentiallie surmounting all humaine sense all reason al vnderstanding all wisdome all essence or being euen of the very Saintes in heauen soe that it is impossible euen with Angells eies to expresse imagine vnderstande or knowe the same How then haue I knowen thee o Lord God most highe aboue all the earth and heauens who art not perfectlie knowen of the Cherubins and Seraphins theÌ„selues soe that theire face is couered with the winges of their coÌ„teÌ„platâ—oÌ„s whilst in praise of him that sitteth vpon the high and loftie throne they cry out with a loude voice saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of hostes All the earth is full of thy glory The Prophet was afraied and saied Woe be to me for that I haue beene silent because I am a man of vncleane lipps My harte likewise hath beene affrayed and saied Woe be to me for that I haue not beene silent because I am a man of vncleane lipps I cannot denie but that I haue affirmed that I haue knowen thee Neuerthelesse woe be to those who speak not of thee because without thy ayde and assistance those that speake much would become speechelesse Wherfore o Lord my God I will not be silent because thou hast made me and enlightned me by which meanes I haue founde my selfe and knowen thee But how haue I knowen thee I haue knowen thee in thy selfe I haue knowen thee not as thou art to thy selfe but as thou art to me not without thee but in thee because thou art the light which hast enlightned me For euen as thou art onely knowen to thy selfe as thou art to thy selfe soe thou art knowen to me according as by thy grace thou art to me But what art thou to me Tell me o mercifull Lord thy poore and wretched seruant tell me for thy mercies sake I beseech thee what art thou to me Say vnto my soule I am thy saluation hide not away thy face from me least I dye Suffer me albeit I am but earthe ashes to speake vnto thy mercy suffer me I say to speake vnto thy mercy because thy mercy is greate towardes me I will therfore presume to speake vnto my Lord albeit I am but dust and ashes Tell me o mercifull Lord thy poore and wretched seruaunt tell me for thy mercies sake I beseeche thee what art thou to me Whervpon thou hast thundered with a greate voyce from aboue into the internall eare of my harte and hast cured my deafnes soe that I haue hearde thy voyce thou hast likewise enlightned my blindnes and I haue seene thy light and knowen thee to be my God For this cause I affirmed that I haue knowen thee I haue knowen thee to be my God I haue knowen thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent There was a time when I did not know thee Woe be to that time when I did not knowe thee woe be to that blindnes when I did not see thee woe be to that deafnes when I did not heare thee when I became blinde deae and deformed by ouermuch affectinge those faire things which thou hast framed Thou o Lord wert with me and I was not with thee because those thinges did keepe me away from thee which had noe being but in thee Thou hast enlightned me o light of the worlde and I haue seene thee and loued thee Because noe man loueth thee but he that seethe thee and noe man seethe thee but he that loueth thee Too late haue I loued thee o beautie most old and new to to late haue I loued thee Woe be to that time when I haue not loued thee A profession of the true faith CHAPT XXXII I Giue thee thankes o my light who hast enlightned me I haue knowen thee But how haue I knowen thee I haue knowen thee to be the onely liuing and true God and my creator I haue knowen thee to be the maker of heauen and earthe of all thinges visible and inuisible to be true God omnipotent immortall and inuisible hauing neither boundes nor limits eternall inaccessible incomprehensible vnsearcheable immutable vnspeakeably greate yea infinite the beginning of all visible and inuisible creatures by whom all thinges are made by whom all the elements are preserued and maintained Whose maiestie like as it had neuer beginning soe it shall neuer haue ending I haue knowen thee to be one onely true God the euerlasting Father Sonne and holy Ghost three personnes indeede yet but one onely simple essence and indiuisible nature the Father from none the Sonne from the Father alone the holy Ghost proceeding equallie from the Father and the Sonne being alwaies without beginning or ending one onely God in three personnes true God almighty the sole beginning of all thinges the creator of all thinges visible and inuisible spirituall and temporall Who by thy omnipotent power in the beginninge when time first beganne didst create of nothing both creatures at once the spirituall and corporall to wit Angells and creatures of the worlde and after that man consisting of a bodie and soule as one common to both of them I haue knowen thee and confesse thee to be true God the Father vnbegotten the sonne begotten of the Father the holie Ghost the comforter neither begotten neither vnbegotten the sacred and vnseparable Trinitie in three personnes coequall consubstantiall and coeternall Trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in Trinitie which I belieue in my harte for my iustification and confesse with my mouthe for the attaining of saluation I haue knowen thee Iesus Christ our Lord the onely begotten sonne of God to be true God the creator sauiour and redeemer of me and all mankinde whom I confesse to haue beene borne of the father before all worldes God of God light of light verie God of verie God not made but begotten consubstantiall and coeternall to the father the holy Ghost by whom all thinges were made from the beginning firmely belieuing and vnfainedly confessing thee Iesus Christ the only begotten sonne of the father to be true God by the coÌ„mon consent of the whole Trinitie taking fleshe vppon thee for the saluation of man and by the cooperation of the holy Ghost conceiued of thy blessed mother Marie euer a Virgin being made true man of a reasonnable soule and humaine fleshe subsisting Who al be it thou art the onely begotten sonne of God and consequently impassible and immortall according to thy diuinitie yet by reason of the vnspeakeable loue wherewith thou hast loued vs thou the same sonne of God hast become passible and mortall according to thy humanitie Thou I say o onely Sonne of God for mans saluation hast vouchsafed to endure a most bitter death passion to the end thou mightest deliuer vs from death euerlasting Thou likewise o author of light hast descended into hell
where our forefathers did sit in darknes and hast returned from thence on the third day as a glorious conquerour resuming againe thy sacred bodie which for our sinnes had remained deade in the sepulcher and reuiuing it the third day accordinge to the scripture that thou mightest place it in glorie at the right hande of God the father For hauinge deliuered those from captiuitie whom the ancient foe and ennimie of mankind hath detained as prisoners in â—imbo Patrum thou the true sonne of God hast ascended aboue all the heauens with the substance of our flesh that is with a soule and humaine flesh taken of the glorious Virgin mounting aboue all the orders of Angells where thou sittest at the right hande of God the Father where there is the fountaine of life and that light vnto which noe creature can attaine where there is the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding We adore thee Iesus Christ belieuing thee to be there confessinge God to be thy Father from whence we expect thee to come at the end of the worlde to iudge both the quicke and the deade and to render to all men whether good or euill a rewarde or punishment accordinge to theire actions donne in this life like as euery one shal be deemed worthy either of perpetuall peace or paine For all men that haue receiued a humaine soule shall arise at that day in the same fleshe which they had heere being by the voice of thy diuine power summoned to appeare to the end that euerie man his soule and body being reunited in one may according to his meritts receiue ether glorie or damnation Thou o Lord Iesus Christ art our life and our resurrection whom we expect as our Sauiour to come and saue vs who wilt reforme the bodie of our basenes making it conformable to the bodie of thy brightnes I haue knowen thee true God and one holy Spirit of the Father and the Sonne proceeding equallie from both of them consubstantiall and coeternall to the Father and the Sonne being our comforter and aduocate who in likenes of a doue hast descended vppon the same God our Lord Iesus Christ appearing likewise in tongues of fire vppon the Apostles Who alsoe by the guift of thy grace hast taught all the Saints and elect of God from the beginning openning in like manner the mouthes of the Prophetes to the end they might declare the wonderfull thinges of thy heauenly kingdome who together with the Father and the Sonne art adored and glorified of all the Saints of God Amongst whome I likewise the sonne of thy hande-maide doe with my whole hart glorify thy name because thou hast enlightned me For thou art the true light the light that telleth the truth the truth the fire of God and the maister and directour of our soules who by thy sacred vnction dost teache vs all truth Thou art the Spirit of truth without whose ayde it is impossible to please God because thou thy selfe art God of God light of light proceeding after an vnspeakable manner from the Father of lightes and from his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord with whom thou art glorified and dost raigne together with them superessentiallie being consubstantiall coequall and coeternal with them in the essence of one Trinitie I haue knowen thee one liuing and true God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost three indeede in personnes but one in essence whom I confesse adore and glorifie with my whole harte as the tâ—ue and onely God holy immortall inuisible immutable inaccessible vnsearcheable one light one sunne one breade one life one good one beginning and one end one creator of heauen and earthe by whom all thinges doe liue are preserued guided gouerned and reuiued in heauen in earthe and vnder the earth besides whom there is noe God either is heauen or earthe Thus o Lord God I haue knowen thee who knowest me thus I haue knowen thee I haue knowen thee o my light by thy faithe which thou hast inspired into me o Lord my God the light of â—â—ineeies the hope of the vniuersall worlde the ioy that maketh glad my young and tender yeares and the good that sustaineth my old age All my bones reioyce in thee o Lord saying O Lord who is like vnto thee Who is like vnto thee o Lord amongst the Gods For that the handes of men haue not made thee but contrariwise it is thou that hast made the handes of men The idolls of the Gentills are siluer and golde the workemanship of the handes of men but the maker of men is not such an one All the Gods of the Gentiles are diuells but our Lord hath made the heauens he therefore is the true God Let those Gods which haue not made heauen and earthe perishe and be cast forth of heauen and earthe and let heauen and earthe prayse that God which hath created heauen and earthe The acknowledging of our owne basenes CHAPT XXXIII WHo is like vnto thee o Lord euen amonge the Gods Who I say is like vnto thee Thou art greate in sanctiâ—ie terrible and worthy to be praised doing things that deserue to be admired Too too late haue I knowen thee o true light too too late haue I knowen thee And the cause was for that there was a great and darke cloude before mine eies that delighted in vanitie which hindred me from beholding the sunne of iustice and the light of all veritie I was wrapt in darknes being the child of darknes because I knewe not the light I was blindâ— and loued blindnes and walked through one darknes into an other Who hath deliuered me from thence where I remained as a blinde man sitting in darknes and in the shadowe of death Who hath taken me by the hande and lead me forthe of the same Who is he that hath thus enlightned me I sought him not and he sought me I called him not and he called me But who is he Thou art he o Lord my God being most mercifull and pittifull yea the Father of mercies and God of all comforte Thou o Lord my God most holy art he that hast donne the same whom I confesse with my whole harte rendring thanks to thy holy name I did not seeke thee thou hast sought me I did not call vpon thee thou hast called me yea thou hast called me by thine owne name Thou hast thundered from heauen with a greate voice into the internall eare of my harte saying Let light be made and light was made whereupon that greate and darke cloude which had couered mine eies departed and was dissolued whereby I haue seene thy light and knowen thy voice And I saied Trulieo Lord thou art my God who hast deliuered me out of darknes and from the shadowe of deathe calling me into thy admirable light soe that now I see Thanks be to thee o Lord who hast enlightned me And I looked backe and beheld the darknes wherein I had liued and the deepe darke dongeon wherein I had remained
which made me with feare and trembling to crie out saying Woe is me woe is me in respect of the darknes in which I haue remained woe is me in respect of my former blindnes in which I could not see the light of heauen Woe is me woe is me in respect of my former ignorance when I did not knowe thee o Lord. Thanks therfore be to thee o my enlightner and deliuerer for that thou hast enlightned me and I haue knowen thee Too too late haue I knowen thee o ancient veritie too too late haue I knowen thee o eternall truth Thou remainedâ—s t in light and I in darknes and I knewe thee not because I coulde not be enlightned without thee for that there is noe light besides thee A consideration of Gods diuine Maiestie CHAPT XXXIV O God the holy of holies the God of Gods and Lord of Lords of inestimable Maiestie whose wonderfull greatnes cannot be vttered or imagined before whom the Angelicall Powers doe shake for feate whom all the Dominations and Thrones doe adore in whose presence all the Vertues doe tremble whose power and wisedome is infinite who hast layed the foundation of the worlde vpon nothing and gathered together the sea in the aire as it were in a bottle O most mighty most holy and most powerfull God the God of the Spirits of soules of all mortal creatures from whose sight heauen and earthe doe flie away for feare to whom all the elements doe obey at a becke lett all thy creatures adore and glorifie thee Amongst whom I vnworthy wretch the sonne of thy hand maide doe bowe downe the necke of my harte vnder the feete of thy supreame Maiestie being taught soe to doe by the faithe which thou hast giueÌ„ me rendring thanks vnto thee for that thou hast vouchsafed by thy mercy to enlighten me O light most true sacred and delightfull most worthy of praise and most admirable which enlightneth euery man comming into this worlde yet the eies of the Angells themselues Beholde now I see for which I thanke thee Beholde now I see thee light of heauen a heauenly bright beame proceeding from the face of thy brightnes doth shine vpoÌ„ the eies of my minde which maketh all my bones to reioyce O that this light were perfect in me encrease it in me o author of light I beseech thee Encrease I say I beseech thee that light that shineth in me Let it be augmented I beseeche thee let it be augmented by thee What is this that I feele What fire is this that maketh hoâ—te my harte What light is this that enlightneth my harte O fire which dost alwaies burne and arâ— neuer extinguished enflamme me O light which dost alwaiâ—s shine and art neuer darkned enlighten me O that I were made hoâ—te by thee O sacred fire how sweetlie dost thou heate how secretlie dost thou shine how desiredlie dost thou burne Woe be to those that are not made hoate by thee woe be to those that are not enlightned by thee O true light enlightning al the world whose brightnes doth replenishe all the worlde Woe be to those blind eies which doe not see thee who art the sunne that giuest light both to heauen and earth Woe be to those dimme eies which cannot see thee Woe be to those eies that are turned away from seeing veritie Woe be to those eies that are not turned away from seeing vanitie Verily those eies that are accustomed to darknes cannot beholde the bright beames of thy supreame righteousnes neither doe they knowe what to thinke of the light whose dwelling is in darknes They see loue and approoue the darknes soe that walking from one darknes into an other they stumble and tumble they knowe not whither Doubtles they are wretched that knowe not what they loose but they are more wretched that knowe what they loose who fall with theire eies open and descend aliue into perdition O light most blessed who canst not be sene of those eies that are neuer soe little defiled Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Cleanse me o cleansing vertue cure mine eies to the end that with sounde and cleare eies I may be able to beholde thee whom sore and sickly eies cannot possibly see Remoue from mine eies I beseech thee o inaccessible beauty the scales of my former blindnes by the beames of thy brightnes that I may be able stedfastly to beholde thee and in thy light may see light Beholde o my light now I see for which I thanke thee Let this my light o Lord I beseech thee be encreased by thee Open mine eies that I may see the wonderfull thinges of thy lawe who art wonderfull in thy Saints I giue thee thanks o my light for that I now see albeit obscurely as it were in a mirrour or looking glasse but when shall I see thee apparantlie face to face O when will that day of ioy and mirthe arriue in which I shall enter into the place of thy tabernacle soe much to be admired euen into the house of God to the end I may see him face to face that seethe me that soe my desire may be accomplished Of the desire and thirst of the soule after God CHAPT XXXV LIke as the harte or stagge desireth the fountaines of water when he is poursued euen soe my soule longeth after thee o God My soule hath thirsted after thee my God the liuing fountaine when shall I come and appeare before thy face O fountaine of life o veine of liuing waters when shall I come to the waters of thy sweetnes from this deserte craggie and dry countrie that I may see thy vertue and glory quenche my thirst with the waters of thy mercy I thirst o Lord thou that art the fountaine of life giue me to drinke I thirst o Lord I thirst after thee the liuing God O when shall I come good Lord and appeare before thy face And shall I then at length indeed see that day that day I say of ioy and gladnes that day which our Lord himselfe hath made that we might reioyce and be glad in it O famous and faire day hauing neither euening nor Sunsetting in which I shall heare the voyce of praise mirthe and thanks-giuinge in which I shall heare saied Enter into the ioy of thy Lord. Enter into the euerlasting ioy into the house of thy Lord God where there are greate and vnsearchable and wonderfull thinges which cannot be numbred Enter into that ioy which is free from heauines which containeth euerlasting gladâ—â—â— where all goodnes doth abounde and no â—euill can be found Where ther shal be whatsoeuer thou louest and nothing that thou loathest There is that vitall life which is sweete and louely which likewise shall endure euerlastingly Where there shal be noe foe to impugne vs not allurement to entice vs but soueraigne and certaine assurednes assured quietnes and quiet ioyfullnes ioyfull happines happie euerlastingnes euerlasting blessendes where there is the blessed
Trinitie and vnitie of Trinitie and deitie of vnity and the blessed sight of the deitie which is the ioy of thy Lord God O ioy surmounting all ioy o ioy exceeding all ioy besides which there is noe true ioy when shall I enter into thee that I may see my God that dwelleth in thee I will goe thither and see that greate sight What is it that doth detaine me Woe is me for that my abode in this life hath been ouer longe How long alas shall I heare it saied wher is thy God how longe shall I heare it saied stay a while expect yet a while Now therfore what doe I expect doe we not o Lord my God expect our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who will reforme the body of our humilitie makinge it like to his bright and glorious body We expect our Lord when he will returne from the mariages that he may vouchsafe to admitt vs to his mariage Come o Lord and doe not stay Come o Lord Iesus Christ and â—â—sit vs in peace come and deliuer vs that lye fettered and bounde in the prison of this mortall body that with a perfect hart we may reioyce before thee Come o sweete Sauiour Thoâ— that of the Gentils art soe much desired come and shewe vs thy face and we shal be saued Come o my light my Redeemer deliuer my soule forthe of prison to praise and magnifie thy holy name How longe shall I poore wretched man be tossed to and fro in the floudes of this my mortalitie crying vnto thee o Lord and yet thou dost not heare me Heare me o Lord crying vnto thee out of this greate sea of miserie and bring me to the hauen of heauenlie felicitie happie are they who being deliuered from the danger of this tempestuous sea haue deserued to attaine vnto thee o God the porte of peace and securitie Those trulie are trulie happie who haue arriued from this sorrowfull sea to the shore of saftie from this place of banishment to the heauenly countrie from the prison of this mortalitie to the pallace of perpetuall felicitie who hauing obtained the rewarde of euerlasting glory by meanes of the manifolde miseries which heere they sustained doe now for euermore reioyce with must happy mirth being nowe blessed by enioyeing that rest which they soe much desired Without doubt they are blessed yea more then a thousand times blessed who being now fre froÌ„ al misery haue deserued to attaine to the kingdome of all brightnes and beauty being likewse secure of this theire neuer fading and neuer failing glory O eternall kingdome o kingdome as long to continue as eternitie it selfe where there is light euerlasting and the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding in which kingdome the soules of the Sainâ—s doe repose theire heades being ouershadowed with perpetuall gladnes who shal be euelastinglie replenished with such excessiue ioy and mitth of minde as that neither griefe nor groanes shall eueâ— be hearde in those theire confines O how glorious is that kingdome in which all thy Saints raigne with thee o Lord being cloathed with light as with a garment eache one of them hauing on his heade a crowne adorned with pretious stones O kingdome of euerlasting blisse where thou o Lord being the hope of the Saints and the crowne of theire glory art apparantlie face to face seene of them making them on all parts to reioyce in thy peace which surpasseth all vnderstanding There there is infinite ioy mirthe without sadnes healthe without sicknes way without wearines light without darknes life without deathe all maÌ„ner of goodnes free from all maÌ„ner of wickednes Where youthe neuer groweth old where life knoweth noe end where beauty neuer fadeth where charity neuer faileth where healthe neuer decayeth where ioy neuer decreaseth where griefe is neuer felt where groaning is neuer hearde where sorrowe is neuer seene or perceiued where all manner of mirth is alwaies enioyed where noe euill is feared because the soueraigne supreame good is there possessed which is to contemplate the face of the Lord of all vertues world without end Happy therfore are they who being escaped from the shipwrack of this present life haue deserued to attaine to soe greate gladnes But vnhappie alas vnfortunate we who saile through the teÌ„pestuous stormes and dangerous gulfes of this greate sea being ignorant whether we shall euer be able to arriue at the happie hauen of heauenly felicitie Vnhappie I say are we whose life is in exile whose life is in peril and whose end is doubtfull not knowing what our end will be for that all thinges are helde in suspeÌ„ce vntill our last day We remaine as yet tossed to fro in â—he troublesome floudes of this tempestuous sea sighing and seeking to attaine to thee o Lord the hauen of this sea O our countrie o secure countrie albeit a farre of yet we see thee from this sorrowfull sea we salute thee from this vale of miserie we sighe after thee endeauouring euen with teares that by one meanes or an other we may attaine vnto thee O Christ the hope of all mankinde God of God our defence and safetie whose light like a beame of the starre of the sea doth enlighten our eies amidst the foggie mists of this tempestuous sea that therby we may be guided to thee the hauen of securitie Guide o Lord this our shipp with thy right hande with the sterne of thy crosse that we perish not in the floudes that the tempest of water doe not drowne vs that the deepe gulfes doe not deuour vs but with the crooke of thy crosse drawe vs out of this sea vnto thee our onely comfort and solace whom we beholde a farre off standing on the shore of that heauenly country with teares of tender loue ready to receiue vs shining as the morning starre and as the sunne of iustice Beholde o Christ we call and cry vnto thee from this place of exile as poore captiues by thee redeemed whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloude Heare vs o God our Sauiour the hope of all those that dwell in the vttermost partes of the worlde or farre distant in in the sea where soeuer Beholde we saile in a troublesome and tempestuous sea thou o Lord who standest on the shore seest the manifold dangers in which we are for thy names sake saue vs we beseeche thee Graunt vs grace o Lord soe to saile and in sailing soe to keepe the mid-way betweene Scilla and Charybdis that both those perillous gulfes being auoided we may with safe ship and marchandise securely arriue at the hauen of heauenly happines A further discourse of the country and kingdome of heauen CHAPT XXXVI WHen therfore we shall attaine vnto thee the fountaine of heauenly wisedome to thee the light euerlasting to thee the brightnes which shall euer shine not seeing thee then as we doe now obscurely as it were in a mirroure or looking glasse but apparantly face to face then will our desire in thinges
immortall are by this meanes made immortal and incorruptible accordinge as our Lord and Sauiour hath promised saying O Father my will and desire is that those which thou hast giuen me may be present with me where I am to the end they may see my glorie that all may be one that as thou o Father art in me and I in thee euen soe they may be one in vs. Of the kingdome of heauen CHAPT VIII THe kingedome of heauen is a most happy kingdome free from death voide of end where time without succession of ages is still the same where one continuall day without interchaunge of night knoweth neither time past nor to come where the valiant souldier after many trauailes sustained and victorie obtained is with vnspeakeable guifts rewarded a crowne of endles blisse being set vpon his heade O would to God the multitude of my sinnes being forgiuen me it might please his diuine bounty to bidd me of al Christs seruants the most vnworthie to lay aside the burden of this my incorruptible body to the end I might enter into the endles ioyes of his heauenly citty there to finde rest for all eternitie that I might be placed to singe amongst the most sacred quires of those celestiall citizens that with those most blessed spirits I might helpe to sound forthe the praises of my maker and might in presence beholde the face of my God and Sauiour that I might be exemp◠from all feare of deathe and worldly miserie and might securelie reioyce through the incorruption of perpetuall immortalitie that I might be free from all blindnes of ignorance being vnited vnto him that knoweth all thinges I should little esteeme all thinges transitorie and shoulde scarce vouchsafe to cast mine eie or to thinke vpon this vale of teares any more where our life is subiect to affliction subiect to corruption where our life is replenished with al manner of bitternes being the mistres of miscreants and handmaide vnto hell it selfe whom humors puffe vp whom paines pull downe whom heates doe pearche whom the ayre maketh sicke whom feasting maketh fatt and fastinge maketh leane whom delightes make dissolute whom sorrowes doe consume whom pensiuenes doth oppresse whom security maketh dull whom riches lift vp and make stately whom pouertie doth abase and make lowly whom youth maketh to be magnified olde age to be crooked whom sicknes weakeneth and sadnes afflicteth Where the diuell lieth in waite to deceiue vs the worlde flattereth vs where the fleshe is delighted the soule is blinded and man on euery side is troubled and disquieted And close as it were at the heeles of all these euills doth furious deathe come after closinge vp the end of the delightes of this miserable life in that fashion as that being ended they are as if they had neuer beene begunne How God visiteth and comforteth that soule which with sighes and teares lamenteth his absence CHAP. IX Bvt what praises or thanks-giuing are we able o God to rendre vnto thee who ceasest not to comfort vs with the wonderfull visitation of thy grace euen amidst the manifold miseries of this our mortalitie For beholde whiles I feare what my end will be whiles I enter into consideration of my sinnes and iniquities whiles I am affrayed of thy iudgements whiles I thinke of the hower of my death whiles I shiuer and shake throughe the horrour of hell being ignorant how strictlie and seuerely my actions wil be examined by thee as alsoe not knowing what the end of them wil be Whiles with my selfe I say I consider secretly in my harte these and many other such like thinges thou o Lord my God accordinge to thy wonted goodnes dost come and comforte me poore wretche beinge wholy ouerwhelmed with heauines lifting vp my sad and sorrowfull soule amidst my manifolde wailinges and weepinges and profound sighes and lamentations aboue the highe toppes of the hilles euen vnto the bedds of sweete and fiagrant spices placing me in a place of pasture neere vnto the little brookes of sweete and pleasant waters preparing there in my presence a sumptuous banquet abounding with all varieties which may refresh my wearied spirit and make glad my sorrowfull harte At length being made stronge againe by these dainties and delicacies I growe to forget my manifold miseries for that I repose in thee the true peace being eleuated aboue all earthlie highnes Of the sweetnes of diuine loue CHAPT X. I Doe loue thee o my God I doe loue thee and doe desire to loue thee more and more Graunt me grace o Lord my God who in beauty dost surpasse the children of men that I may desire and loue thee according to the greatnes of mine affection and according to the greatnes of mine obligatiō Thou art infinite o Lord and therfore art infinitely to be loued especiallie of vs whom thou hast soe wonderfullie respected and saued for whom thou hast donne soe great thinges and such as are worthie to be admired O loue which dost alwaies burne and art neuer extinguished o sweete Christ o good Iesu my charitie and my God enflame me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes with the delight and desire of thee with thy charitie with thy mirthe and gladnes with thy mercy and gentlenes with thy pleasure and affection which is holy good chast and cleane to the end that beinge wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy made hotte with the flame of thy charitie I may loue the◠my Lord of surpassing great sweetnes and beauty with all my harte with all my soule with all my strength and with all mine intention with much cordiall contrition with many teares of deuotion with much reuerence and trembling hauing thee in my harte and in my mouth and before mine eies alwaies and euery where soe that noe place may be founde in me for the false loue of any creature Of the preparation of our Redemption CHAPT XI I Beseech thee most faire Iesu by that most sacred sheddinge of thy pretious bloude with which we are redeemed giue me contrition of harte and a fountaine of teares especiallie whiles I offer vnto thee praiers and petitions whiles I sing Psalmes of praise and thanks-giuing as often as I call to minde or speake of the mistery of our redemption being an euident token of thy infinite mercy and compassion As often as I stande at thy holie altar albeit vnworthy of soe greate an honoure desiring to offer vnto thee that wonderfull and celestiall sacrifice and oblation worthy of all reuerence and deuotion which thou o Lord my God the immaculate Priest hast instituted and appointed to be offered in remembrance of thy charitie that is of the deathe and passion which thou hast suffered for our deliuerie and for the dayly reparation of ou◠fragilitie Confirme my minde with the sweetnes of thy presence during the time of soe greate mysteries let it feele thy assistance and be filled with gladnes O fire which dost alwaies
shine o loue which dost alwaies burne o sweete Christ o good Iesu the eternall and neuer failing light the breade of life who dost feede vs with thy selfe without hurte to thy selfe who art daylie eaten and yet art alwaies whole without being broken I beseeche thee o Lord to shine vppon me and to enflame me Enlighten and sanctifie me thy vessell cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that to the good of my soule I may eate the foode of thy fleshe to the end that by eating thee I may liue of thee I may liue by thee I may come to thee and repose in thee Of the ioy which the soule receiuâ—th by receiuing Christ CHAPT XII O Lord the sweetnes of loue and the loue of sweetnes Be thou my foode and let all my bowelles be filled with the delitious drinke of thy loue to the end that all my wordes and cogitations may be good and tending to edification Make me o Lord and my loue to encrease in thee that thou mayest be eaten by me worthily who art more sweete then honie more white then snowe the foode of suche as growe greate in vertue Thou art my life by which I liue my hope to which I adhere my glory which I desire to obtaine Possesse thou my hart gouerne mine intention direct mine vnderstanding lift vp my loue eleuate my minde and draw the mouthe of my soule thirsting after thee to the waters of life euerlasting Let all tumultuous thoughtes and carnall cogitations I beseeche thee holde theire peace Let all phantasies of the earth and waters of the ayre and heauens keepe silence Let all dreames and imaginarie reuelations all tongues and tokens keepe silence briefly let all thinges holde theire peace that are donne in this vale of miserie being all of them short and soone passing away Let my soule in like sorte be silent and not speake a worde let it leaue it selfe by not thinking of it selfe but of thee o my God for that thou art my true and onely hope and my whole confidence Because a parte of each one of vs as the blood and flesh is founde in thee o Lord our God in thee I say o most sweete most gratious and most milde Iesu Where therfore parte of me doth raigne there I belieue likewise to haue dominion and where my blood doth dominere there I trust to haue principalitie and power Where my fleshe is glorified there I knowe my selfe to be renowned Although I am a sinner yet I doe not despaire to be pertaker of this grace and fauoure although my sinnes doe hinder it yet my substance doth require it Although my faultes and defectes doe exclude me yet my humaine nature which is common to me with Christ doth not repell me That the Worde incarnate is the cause of our hope CHAPT XIII DOubtles God is not soe cruell as not to loue his owne fleshe members and bowells I should certainely despaire by reason of the manifolde sinnes and vices faultes and negligences which I haue committed and doe dailie and continuallie commit in thought worde and deede and by all manner of meanes by which humaine frailtie is able to offend were it not that thy diuine Worde o my God had beene made fleshe and dwelt in vs. But now I dare not despaire because he being obedient vnto thee vntil deathe euen the deathe of the Crosse hath taken our handewrittinge or obligation wherein we stoode bounde as slaues to the Diuell by sinne and fastning it to the Crosse hath crucified both sin and deathe In him I securely breathe who sitteth at thy right hande and maketh intercession for vs. Trusting therefore in his bountie I desire to come to thee in whom we are already risen againe from the deade and are reuiued with whom we haue alreadie ascended into heauen and sit with him in glorie in that happie region To thee therfore o heauenly Father be all praise glory honor and thanks-giuinge HOw the more we are addicted to diuine contemplation the greater delight we take therein CHAT XIV How sweete is the remembrance of thee vnto vs o most louing Lord who hast soe dearelie loued and saued vs who hast soe wonderfullie reuiued and exalted vs. The more I meditare of thee o most mercifull Lord the more sweete and amiable thou art vnto me And for that thy goodnes doth exceedinglie delight me I purpose as long as I liue in the place of this pilgrimage to desire and contemplate without ceasing thy wonderfull loue vnspeakeable beautie with apure intention and with a most sweete and louinge affection Because I am wounded with the darte of thy charitie I am wonderfullie enflamed with the desire of thee coueâ—ing to come to thee to see thee Wherfore I will stande vppon my guarde and will singe in spirit with watchfull eies yea I wil singe with my minde and with all my forces I will praise thee my creator and redeemer I will peâ—rce the heauens by deuotion and feruoure and will remaine with thee by a feruent desire that being detained in this present miserie with my bodie only I may in thought and affection be continuallie with thee to the end my hart may be there where thou art my desired incomparable and most beloued treasure But alas o Lord my hart is not sufficient to conteÌ„plate the glorie of thy great goodnes and pittie for that thou art a God of infinite meekenes and mercie verily thy praise thy beautie thy vertue thy glorie thy magnificence thy maiestie and thy charitie doth farre surpasse the capacitie of any mortall memorie For euen as the brightnes of thy glorie is inestimable soe likewise the largenes of thy charitie is vnspeakeable whereby thou dost adopt those to be thy children and vnite them vnto thee by loue and affection whom thou hast created of nothinge How for Christs sake we ought to wishe for tribulations in this life CHAT XV. O My soule if it were necessary daylie to suffer torments yea to endure hell it selfe for a longe time together that we might see Christ in 〈◊〉 glorie and be ioyned in felowship with the Saintes in his heauenly cittie were it not meete thinkest thou to sustaine all manner of miserie that we might be made pertakes of soe greate a good and of soe greate felicitie Let the diuells therfore endeuoure as much as they will to entrap me and by tentatious to deceiue me let longe fastinge weaken my bodie and course cloathing subdue my fleshe let trauaile trouble me and watching drie me vp to nothinge let others exclaime against me let this or that man disquiet and molest me let colde make me crooked let my conscience murmure against me let heate scorche me let my bodie be grieued my breast enflamed my stomacke puffed vp with winde my countenance wanne and withered let me be wholie afflicted with sicknes let my life consume away in sadnes and my yeares in sighes and sorrowfullnes let rottennes enter into my bones and
thinke of thee and loue thee But alas my soule is soe defaced throughe the corruption of vice it is soe darkned through the smoake of sinne as that it cannot accomplishe that for which it was created vnlesse thou renewe reforme the same Wherfore I beseeche thee o Lord seing thou hast giuen vnderstanding of faith graunt that I may likewise vnderstande as much as is expedient that thou art according as we belieue the selfe â—ame thinge that we belieue verilie we belieue thee to be of that surpassing perfection and feature that nothing can possibly be imagined eiâ—her greater or better What art thou then o Lord my God then whom nothing greater or better can be imagined but that soueraigne and supreame good which being of it selfe alone hath made all other thinges of nothinge What good therfore is wanting to the chiefest good from whom all good thinges doe proceede Thou therfore art iust true and blessed and all other thinges the more they are in these like vnto thee the greater is theire excellencie But sithence thou art soe exceeding iust how is it that thou art soe fauourable towardes those that offende Is it not for that thy mercie is incomprehensible This is a thinge kept secret in that vnaccessible light in which thou dost dwell There without doubt in the most profounde and secret depth of thy bounty is a hiddeÌ„ fountaine from whence floweth that floude of thy vnspeakeable mercy For albeit thou art wholie and perfectly iust yet neuerthelesse thou art likewise merciful towards the wicked for that thou art also wholy and perfectly good For if thou were mercifull towardes none that commit wickednes it were an argument that thy goodnes were the lesse because he that is good both to the good and bad is better then him that is good onely to the good he likewise is better who is good to the wicked by pardonning and punishing them then he that should punishe them onely Thou therfore art mercifull because thou art wholy and perfectly good Of the pleasant fruition of almighty God CHAPT XXXIII O Infinite goodnes who surpassest all humaine sense let thy mercy descende downe vpon me which proceedeth from thee in soe greate plenty Let that flowe into me which floweth from thee Pardon me by thy mildnes least thou punish me by thy iustice Stirre vp thy selfe now o my soule applie thy whole wit and imagination and conceiue as much as thou canst how great a good God is For if all good thinges in particular are delightfull and pleasinge consider with attention how delightful that good thing is which containeth in it the delight of al good thinges neither is it like to that delight which is founde in thinges created but as farre different as the creator doth differ from his creature If then the life created be soe pleasing how pleasing is the life that created the same If that healthe which is made be soe delightfull how delightfull is that from whence all healthe hath his originall If wisedome be amiable by the speculation or knowledge of thinges that are knowen how amiable is that wisedome which hath framed and formed all thinges of nothinge Finally if the pleasures proceeding from pleasant thinges be soe manifolde great how vnspeakable great pleasure is there in him who â—ath made all pleasant thinges He therefore that shall enioy this soe great a good what shall he haue yea what shall he not haue Verilie he shall haue whatsoeuer he is willing and what he is vnwillinge to haue shall be farre from him For there he shall enioy those delightes of soule and bodie which neither the eie hath seen nor the eare hath hearde neither hath it entred into the hearte of man That the chiefe good is to be desired CHAPT XXXIV WHy dost thou then wander vp and downe o vaine man in things transitorye seekinge pleasures and content for thy soule and body Loue that one good thing in whom are all good thinges and it is sufficient Desire that singular sole good which is all good and it is enoughe Tell me o my flesh what dost thou loue What dost thou desire o my soule In heauen thou shalt finde whatsoeuer thou dost loue there thou shalt finde whatsoeuer thou dost desire If thou desire beauty or comelines of personne there the righteous shall shine like vnto the sunne If nimblenes or strength or freedome of body such as nothing can hurte or hinder they shall be like the Angells of God because that which is sowen a naturall body shall arise a spirituall body to wit in power not in nature If a longe and healthfull life there shal be healthfull eternity and eternall health because the iust shall liue for euer and the healthe of the iust is from our Lord. If fulnes they shal be satisfied when the glorie of God shall appeare If drunkennes they shall be made drunke with the plentie of Gods house If musique doth delight thee there the Angels shall sing praises to God euerlastingly If pure chast pleasure doth please thee there our Lord shall make them to drinke of the riuer of his delight If thou wishe for wisedome the verie wisedome of God shall shew himselfe being the true wisedome vnto them If thou affect amitie or friendship they shall loue God more then themselues and one another euen as themselues and God shall loue them more then they themselues because they shall loue him themselues one an other by him and he shall loue himselfe and them by himselfe If thou loue peace and concorde they shal be all of one will because they shalt haue noe other will but the soueraigne will of God If thou desire rule and dignities they shall be omnipotent of their wil euen as God is of his For euen as God shal be able to doe whatsoeuer he will by himselfe soe shall they be able to doe whatsoeuer they will by him for like as they shal desire nothing but what he shal be willing to doe soe he shal be willing to doe whatsoeuer they wil haue him and what he wil haue to be donne must of necessitie be put in execution If thou aspire to honoure and riches God shall place his good and faithfull seruants ouer much riches Moreouer they shal be called the sonnes of God yea very Gods and shal be the heires of God and coheires with Christ If thou seeke securitie they shal be soe assured neuer to loose it of their owne accorde as they shal be assured that God who soe dearely loueth them will not forcibly take it froÌ„ them as they shal be assured that there is nothing of sufficieÌ„t power to separate God and them one from an other With what wordes then can soe great a ioy be expressed where soe great a good is possessed Of the mutuall charity of the Saintes in heauen CHAPT XXXV O Harte of man poore experienced in crosses and calamities yea ouerwhelmed with miseries how greatlie wouldest thou reioyce if thou didst
abounde with all these aforesaid felicities Demaunde of the most secret corners and closets of thy hart whether they could containe the gladnes which would proceede froÌ„ soe great happines Certainely if an other whom thou didst loue aswell as thy selfe shoulde enioy the same happines thy ioy woulde be twice more then before because thou wouldest reioyce noe lesse for him then for thy selfe But if two or three or manie more should obtaine the same felicitie thou wouldest reioyce as much for each one of them as for thy selfe if thou didst loue each one of them as thy selfe How vnspeakable great ioy wil there be then in that perfect charitie of innumerable blessed Angells and men where noe man shall loue an other lesse then himselfe For euery one of them shal reioyce as much for eache one of the rest as for himselfe If therfore the harte of man shal hardlie be able to containe the ioy which it shall conceiue at his owne proper good how will it be capable of soe infinite many and great ioyes Moreouer seeing by how much the more euerie one loueth an other by soe much the more he reioyceth at the others good therfore as in that blessed felicity euery one without comparison shall loue God more then himselfe and all others that are with him soe he shall beyond all estimation farre more reioyce at the felicitie of God then at his owne and all others that are with him And albeit they shall loue God with their whole harte minde and soule yet all these art not sufficient to declare the dignitie of that loue which God will shew towardes them Verilie although they shal reioyce with their whole hart minde and soule yet all these are not enough to containe the fullnes of ioy which he will imparte vnto them Of the full and perfect ioy of life euerlasting CHAPT XXXVI O My God and my Lord my hope and the ioy of my harte tell my soule I beseech thee if this be the ioy of which thou hast spoken vnto vs by thy Sonne saying Aske and you shall haue that your ioy may be full Because I haue founde a certaine ioy altogether full yea more then ful In soe much that the harte being full the minde being full the soule being full and euerie parte of man being full there shall remaine yet an other ioy much more excellent then the former All that whole ioy therfore shall not enter into those that reioyce but al they that wholie reioyce shall enter into the ioy of their Lord. Tell me o Lord tell me thy poore vnworthy seruant in wardly in my harte if this be the ioy into which thy seruants shall enter those I meane that shall enter into the ioy of their Lord. But certainely that ioy in which thy elect shall reioyce neither eie hath seene nor care hath hearde neither hath it entred into the harte of man I haue not therfore as yet conceiued or spoken how much thy elect shall reioyce Doubtles they shall reioyce as much as they shall loue thee and they shal loue thee o Lord as much as they shall know thee And how much shall they loue thee Verily neither eie hath seene nor eare hath hearde neither hath it entred into the harte of man in this life how much they shall knowe and loue thee in the next life Giue me grace o my God to knowe and loue thee to the end I may reioyce in thee And albeit during the time of this mortal life I cannot loue thee fully yet let me profit and goe forewarde by louinge thee more and more daylie that soe at length I may loue thee perfectly Let thy knowledge here encrease in me that there it may be accomplished that here my ioy may be greate in hope and there perfect in deede I beseech thee o good God let me at length receiue that which thou hast promised to wit that my ioy may be fully accomplished In the interim let my mind mediate of it let my tongue talke of it let my harte affect it let my mouth speake of it let my soule hunger for it let my body thirst after it let my whole substaÌ„xsce desire it vntill I enter into the ioy of my Lord there to remaine for all eternitie Amen The end of S. Augustin's Manuel A WONDERFVL AND worthy saying of blessed S. Peter Damian Monke of the holy order of S. Bennet Cardinal of Ostia concerning the day of death LEt vs imagin how the time being now come in which the sinfull soule is to be seperated from the bandes of the body with how grieuous feare it is terrified with how greate anguishe of an afflicted conscience it is tormented It remembreth the thinges forbidden which it hath committed it beholdeth the commaundments of God which through negligence and contempt it hath omitted It grieueth that the time which iâ— had to doe pennance hath bene soe vainely employed it groaneth that the immutable moment of seuere reuenge is soe neare at haÌ„de not possibly to be auoided It would faine stay it is forced to depart It would faine recouer that which it hath lost and cannot be hearde It looketh backward vpon the course of its whole life past and esteemeth it to be but as it were one onelie little peace it looketh forewarde and seeth infinite worldes of time which shall neuer haue end It lamenteth therfore for hauing lost the ioyes of all eternitie which it might haue gained soe quickly It weepeth likewise that for soe short pleasure of the alluring flesh it is bereaued of the vnspeakeable sweetnes of euerlasting happines It blusheth to see that for that substance sake which is to be mâ—ate for wormes it hath neglected that which should haue bin placed amongst the quires of Angells At length it lifteth vp the eies of its minde and considering the glory of the immortall riches of heauen it is ashamed that for the loue of the beggeâ—â—e of this present life it hath lost that glory Againe when it looketh downewarde vpon the vale of this worlde as vpon a miste and contrariwise seeing aboue it the brightnes of that eternall light it plainely perceiueth that which it loued was but darknes and night if it coulde obtaine the fauoure to haue some little â—ime allotted to doe pennance and satisfaction how austere would it be in life and conuersation how many and how greate maters would it promise to performe How strictly would it binde it selfe to piety and deuotion In the meane season whilst the eie-sight faileth whilst the harte panteth whilst the throate the voyce being lost doth drawe breath with difficulty whilst the teeth by little and little growe black and as it were rusty whilst the countenance groweth pale and all the members of the body become stiffe through colde whilst these thinges I say and other such like happen as certaine signes of deathe approaching all its workes and wordess present themselues before it yea its very thoughtes are not wanting and all these giue bitter