the practise of holy Meditation In this Experience will be every ones best Counseller If place permits no other Isaacs posture to meditate walking is very good But kneeling with hands crossed on the breast the eyes shutt face towards heaven sometimes prostrate on the ground is a posture more genuine naturall How ever it be be sure the frame of thy body testifie profound reverence towards God help to raise thy thoughts affections thitherward Our devotions will be most kindly whē the composure of the body which is the souls instrument is most humble respectfull this also must needs be sometimes varied according to the subject of thy Contemplation §. 7. Subject of Solitary thoughts Now for the subject matter wheron thou art to feed during this holy Solitude thou must use great circumspectiō I doubt not Philothea there be many Contemplatiues but not all good ones One meditates how to doe his Neighbour a mischeife another how to sin unseene these are those who as David sayes Doe meditate Iniquity in their beds Others are buisy in the search of the hidden causes of visible effects so seeking to be acquainted with the whole world become strangers to their owne home whilst they seek to know others are quite unknowne to them selves Doe you therefore choose to meditate on that may doe thee good The God that made us the vilenesse of our body by Nature the wretchednesse of our soule by sin the aboundance of temptations the danger of sudden death the beauty of Vertue JESUS CHRIST who bought us the joyes of Heaven he purchased for us the mysteries of his life Death Resurrection the benefitt of the Sacraments our vocation to Christianity the payns of Hell the glorious estate of the Blessed such like are fitt objects I should think to entertayne thy felfe there in Earthly things proffer themselves on their own accord with importunity but if they were any thing worth they would not be so forward Heavenly things must be sued unto with eagernesse their hardnesse to be obtayned argues their worth the necessity of serious meditation thereby to sollicite them The harder they are to prosecute the more precious they are being obtayned therefore the more worthy our Endeavour While the soule is takē up with the thought of God Godlinesse it cannot miscarry Yet I advise thee to be cautious in matters of faith where more of beleife admiration is to be used then of reason discourse And that matter without exception is best herein which workes compunctiō in the heart most stirrs up to devotion incites strongly to the love of God as the End to Vertue as the means to him wherein experience will be a great mistresse §. 8. A Methode of Meditation IT remains now that I say something of the forme Methode which thou art to observe in dividing thy Meditatiō in handling the parts points thereof But this hath much variety amongst Contemplatives each way is usefull laudable as it is fitted to persons that use it For since there be different mansions in Gods glory no wonder there should be different means to purchase them according to the variety of each ones disposition All are not equally either worldly or Contemplative so neither equally disposed for the like Illuminations nor capable of pursueing the same heads or points of Meditation S. Bonaventures Methode usually practised amongst us liked of by the best is breife easy well ordred much helps the Memory a faculty which hath great influēce in this blessed work According to this Meditation or mentall prayer is divided into three parts which are Preparation Meditation which being the cheife part retains the generall name Conclusion Preparation maketh way for Meditation Meditation ruminates upon the matter giveth strength life to our Recollection Conclusion closeth up the whole Exercise Preparation first places us in the presence of God with whom wee are to make our speciall conference to our advancement comfort with all feare reverence Then secondly it chooseth the Mystery or subject whereon wee intend as present to settle our thoughts Thirdly it implores helpe from Heaven whereby our weaknesse may be sustained in this heavenly work enabled resolutely to goe through with it And truly sith the ancient Heathens never attempted any notable businesse without a solemne apprecation of good successe a Christian or Religious soule should not presume to undertake a spirituall work of such importance as this is without first craving aide from heaven wherein we are unable to doe well without Gods assistāce We must therefore beg earnestly that the progresse of our Meditation may be guided blessed by him that he would banish all distractions enlighten our understanding quicken our judgment rectify our will whett our affections to heavenly things kindle our devotion so enlarge our hearts towards himselfe that wee may find our Imperfections abated vertue strengthned our soule every way bettered by our Solitude Meditation hath also three parts Consideration ponders seriously the subject wee have chosen thereby to stirr up our Affectiōs to God goodnesse thereon to ground our ensueing Resolutiōs But care must be taken that the mind be not wracked by a too vehement inquiry for this will tire out the phansy interrupt the cheife work It will suffice to take the most pregnant obvious Lett these Considerations be but three at the most And if thy soule finds sufficient satisfaction light fruit in the first of them dwell there without going further give way to the Holy Ghost to work his will in thee But if thou findest not there the expected successe passe quietly on to another but besure to goe on sweetly easily in thy search without tiring thy selfe too much thou wilt find little pleasure in the Kernell if thou breakest thy teeth with the shell Affection succeedeth where to if our Consideratiōs reach not they wil prove vain or to little purpose For this is the soule of Meditation to which the former parts serve only as instruments As we are reasonable Creatures by our reason discourse so are we Christians Religious by our good will affections towards heavenly things Wherefore the former labour of the mind being undertakē to move the Affective part of the soule after the understāding hath traverst the point proposed the will must endeavour by applying herselfe therto with all earnestnesse to find some feeling relish in it which fruit through Gods blessing will follow a deliberate Consideration of some moveing object And in these Affections we must permit our soule to spread dilate as much as possible if thou findest thy heart to pant swell with aboundant sweetnesse ease it by some gentle Aspirations amorous sighs as God shall then inspire Thee The last is Resolution wherein the soule bewayling her poverty dulnesse imperfections which may happily appear then in
perfections Gods Guifts without due reference to him COLLOQUIE I know acknowledg My Dearest Lord that of our selves we cannot either think or say or doe any thing worthy of thee therfore I will confesse to Thee the only Light strength of my Soul that without Thee I am nothing but Vanity blindnesse Misery unlesse thou do'st prevent me with thy blessings moisten my heart with the dew of thy heavenly Graces I shall be unto Thee like a barren Earth which is without water produce nothing but sin death confusion Alas my Soul flatter not thy selfe for even so it is yet how often hast thou relyed on thy own judgment force abilities for which God hath permitted thee to fall It were much better to acknowledg thy inward weaknesse to Vertue extoll Gods power Mercies in thy poverty that his greatnesse may be exalted in the vilenesse of thy Nothing Grant me O ever blessed Redeemer thy holy Grace but give me also true humility of heart that I may ever think on my own Nothing without Thee so shall the poore needy praise thy Name SECOND DICOURSSE Our Pronenesse to Evill SInce by help only of Gods grace we doe good 't is by our own bad Nature we incline to Evill Had man stood in his originall Innocency his Soul had ever been breathing forth the delicious odours of Morall Divine Vertues wherewith he was then full no sooner doth he withdraw himselfe frō his due Obedience to God but all those Vertues forsake him his Soul all her powers are smutted with sin We loose our right to our heavenly inheritance as a raging Sea having broken its banks we swell with evill inclinations break down all letts of Gods precepts prohibitions run over to all sorts of evill actions however contrary to our Allegiance vnto God Our Reason adorned with Prudence could discerne the Excellency of Vertue dictate all due circumstances of good laudable actions but now by sin it is become dull blind nor can it without new helps above our reach perswade from evill or direct in good Our Will formerly hedgd in with holy Lawes beautifyed with inclinations to Iustice strēgthned by heavenly lights graces was prompt to hearken to obey Gods Call but having lost the safeguard of Justice is weak in resisting sensual allurements ready to comply with every disorderly suggestion of lawlesse passions Our Concupiscence which guarded with Temperance stirrd up our inward Man to follow the prescripts of Reason seeke sweetnesse in laudable vertuous actions rebells against the spirit drawes towards earthly delights leads us captive in the bonds of unlawfull desires And the Irascible power of our Soul which armed with Fortitude helpt us to trample down all obstacles of piety runs now stiffe-neckt against God casts of the yoke of Obedience contemns all threts of his Justice against Violaters of their Divine Covenant These be those heavy shackles Philothea which keep us in the servitude of sin still presse our hearts down to the crimes we loath yet shun not Ah! How oft hast thou felt in thy selfe the weight of thy corrupted Nature How oft plunged in some greivous sin How dull thy spiritt then How black thy thoughts What remorses in thy mind and as one hanging at a small string over a deep lake full of toads serpents how full of terrours feares and yet not in the least sort able to help thy selfe How oft thus through pronenesse to sin Alas neither Rich by their treasures nor the Mighty by their power not the Beautifull by their loving charms can free themselves from this load of sin sinfull desires Nay even all Creatures are become so many snares whereby to entrapp enthrall our hearts whilst Satan by inward temptatiōs presseth us forward to covet them outwardly masketh them with apparent sweenesse to seduce us work our ruine plunging us in sin after sin till we forget there 's a God that sees all That marks all our stepps who will one day call us to an account for all COLLOQUIE O bitter servitude of sin which tyrannizeth in my fleshly members resisting the laws of the immortall Mind holding me captive in the fetters of my concupiscences Ah who will free me from the woefull slavery of my corrupted passions which heavely press me down to sensuall sinfull Desires Only Thou My bountifull Saviour shouldst Thou leave me to my selfe there 's not any sin so enormous into which I might not fall It is thy Mercy O Abysse of Mercies which prevents my stubborn will quells the rage of temptations graciously diverts those occasions which might intice me to offend Thee Oh that thou wouldst break the chaynes which fetter my spirit wouldst fasten my footsteps that I slip not in the way of thy holy Commandements Then will I sacrifize to thee a Sacrifice of praise and rejoyce exult in God my Saviour because he who is powerfull hath done great things for me Amen FOVRTH DAYES VOYAGE Man Repayred by Iesus Christ MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Institution of the Holy Sacrement CONSIDERATION COnsider That having descended into thy selfe there discovered What thou art in thy sinfull state thy Body how Vile thy soul how wretched thy ignorance how great how weake thou art to good how prone to Evill and that now Thou findest thy selfe Philothea faln into the deep lake mentiōed last night full of filth Venom where thou neither seest the light of heavē nor enjoyest comfort frō any freind or quiet in thy mind nor canst hope for releife from any Creature that therein thou art like to sink deeper stick faster abide for ever if Almighty God harkens not clemently to thy woefull cryes and take pitty on thy weaknesse pouerty miserable state God could send an Angel to free thee thence or by his only word set thee at liberty but his love bounty is so great to thee that he sends his own only Son equall to himselfe in Majesty Wisedom Power cloathed in thy Mortality to release thee frō that loathsome Dungeō to wash Thee in his precious bloud to give thee an easy gracious Law to walk by to encourage thee to piety by doctrine Examples to establish Sacramēts for healing thy spirituall soares ulcers at lēgth that he may bestow his whole selfe on Thee in the Holy Eucharist as a Pledg of love whereby to sanctify bind thy heart to him as a Light to guid thee as a Staffe to support thee as a Viaticum to strengthen comfort thee in thy holie Pilgrimage to Perfection In this divine Sacrament is really substantially contained IESUS CHRIST God Man his Divinity which is the fountain of grace good workes glory his Soul full of Wisedome Holinesse his Body conceived of the Holie Ghost in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin his Bloud shed
25. § 8. A Method of Meditation p. 28. § 9. Choyce of a Guide p. 34. § 10. Exercises in Solitude p. 39. § 11. Distribution of time p. 42. A Practise of ten Daies Solitude J. Daies Voyage Inducements to Solitude The Morning Exercise 1. Point Dignitie of Solitude p. 49. 2. point Innocency of Solitude p. 53. 3. point Necessitie of Solitude p. 56. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Gods Favours to us p. 60. 2. Discourse Our Returns to God p. 64. II. Daies Voyage Entertaynments in Solitude The Morning Exercise 1. Point Humility Austerity p. 68. 2. point Patience Obedience p. 72. 3. point Charity Perfection p. 76. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Love of Solitary places p. 80. 2. Discourse Exercises in Solitude p. 84. III. Daies Voyage Man in his sinfull State The Morning Exercise 1. Point Vileness of the body by Nature p. 90. 2. point Wretchedness of the Soul by sin p. 94. 3. point Ignorance of our future state p. 98. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Our weakness to Good p. 102. 2. Discourse Our proneness to Evill p. 106. IV. Daies Voyage Man repaired by Iesus Christ The Morning Exercise 1. Point Institution of the Holy Sacrament p. 111. 2. point Fruits of the H. Sacrament p. 116. 3. point Intention in Communion p. 119. An Oblation before Cōmunion p. 122. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Preparation to the Holy Sacrament p. 122. Advises for a generall Confession p. 124. Philotheas Covenant with God p. 125. 2. Discourse Behaviour in receiving the Holy Sacrament p. 126. V. Daies Voyage Mortification of Sensuality The Morning Exercise 1. Point Mortification of the Senses p. 130. 2. point Mortificatiō of the Passions p. 134. 3. point Mortification the property of a Christian p. 136. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Dammages incur'd by Immortification p. 140. 2. Discourse Necessity Use of Mortification p. 144. VI. Daies Voyage Flight of the Soul to God The Morning Exercise 1. Point Flight from Creatures p. 150. 2. point Flight from our selves p. 153. 3. point Flight from spirituall Comforts p. 156. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Vanity of Creatures p. 158. 2. Discourse Spirituall Indifferency p. 161. VII Daies Voyage Tranquillity of Spirit The Morning Exercise 1. Point Life of the Spirit p. 165. 2. point Mentall Recollection p. 168. 3. point Union of the Spirit with God p. 172 The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Loves Tryall p. 176. 2. Discourse Loves Entertainments p. 179. VIII Daies Voyage God Speaking to the Soul The Morning Exercise 1. Point Harken to God p. 184. 2. point God speaks by Visible Creatures p. 188. 3. point God speaks by Man p. 192. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse God speaks by his Son Incarnate p. 197. 2. Discourse God reveals himselfe p. 201. IX Daies Voyage Repose of the Soul in God The Morning Exercise 1. Point The Soul hidden in God p. 204. 2. point Search of God in God p. 208. 3. point The Souls repose in God p. 212. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Loves Ascents p. 216. 2. Discourse Loves Descents p. 219. X. Daies Voyage Highest Christian Perfection The Morning Exercise 1. Point Union with Christ suffring p. 226. 2. point Expropriation of Friends p. 233. 3. point Selfe-Denyall p. 239. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Spirituall Desolation p. 244. 2. Discourse Philotheas Choyce p. 248. Meditations upō the Passion for every day of the weeke p. 252. PHILOTHEA INVITED TO BEGIN HER PILGRIMAGE TAke Leave Philothea bid thy Friends depart Let nothing earthly now come neer thy heart Whilst thou retyrest sighing all alone Recounting all the ills which thou hast done This is Gods way to heare his Voyce in Thee And search thy heart in inward privacie Which fil'd with thoughts of heav'n-aspiring joyes And lodg'd in shades exempt from vulgar noise Winged with chast desires sacred vows Upwards doth mount to meet her heav'nly Spous And heare Loves whispers charming up above To fix her self i th' center of her Love From whose Embraces may she not depart But grasp that heav'nly armefull neer her heart No Gemme no hidden treasure like to this 'T is Heav'ns delight alone Mans Crown Bliss O blessed dayes O purely sweet content Whil'st thus in Paradise thy time is spent Oh may such thoughts thy spirit alway move Thus mayst thou ever live to be in love 'T is Heav'n on Earth thus sweetly to discover Heavn'ns joyes on Earth have thy God thy Lover RICH BVLSTRODE Interior Templ Lond Armig. PHILOTHEA'S PILGRIMAGE TO PERFECTION The Preface to PHILOTHEA Contayning Instructions for Solitude §. 1. Excellency of Holy Solitude SInce thou art in good earnest resolved MY PHILOTHEA to begin thy Pilgrimage to Perfection by entring holy Solitude therein for a while to conferr with the beloved of thy soul touching the present future state thereof how thou standest affected to Piety how thou maist better thy selfe in thy progresse towards heaven by cleansing thy heart intirely from those stains blemishes which are incident to corrupt fraile Nature by strengthning it with pious considerations enflamed affections efficacious resolutions to the redeeming of lost time reforming such errours evill inclinations as are insensibly crept into thy soule I cannot more fittly addresse my selfe to thee then with the hearty well-wishes of holy Tobie to his Sonne Walke well God be in thy way his holy Angell accompany Thee Nor may we doubt but that the same Divine Clemency which hath inspired Thee with a will to undertake this Holy Voyage will inable Thee with his blessings make Thee so to prosper profitt thy selfe in the pursuance of this blessed designe that it will be unto the eternall honour of the Divine Majestie an ample increase of Piety spirituall comfort in thy own soule If any employment be heavenly upō Earth doth consequently belong to the duty of a good upright Christian it is the serious practise of retired solitude by which the soule doth unspeakably promote her selfe towards the end of her creation which is to know God to love him above all things created In Solitude we ransack our hearts we discover our secret enemies there lurking in our breasts strongly armed grapple with them expel them prevent their reentrance into our soules By it we dissable ill customes settle our selves to an eager use of means to doe well fitt our minds to all good duties against all crosse events By it we descry our naturall weaknes to vertue obtain redresse prevent temptations cheere up our hearts feeble tyred out with temptatiōs adversities temper our use of creatures gaine more light to our knowledge more heate to our affections more life to our devotions more vigour courage in our callings therby wee become strangers to the earth by a just estimate of earthly things which are transitory vaine enter into a sweet fruition of invisible comforts Wee therein contemplate JESUS CHRIST
we abandon them even for true joys that abide for ever Wellcome then dearest Solitude earthlie Paradice Temple of God haven of Eternall Bliss I have propounded Thee in the begin̄ing of my Joys thither will I retreat there will I take up my rest offer up the desires of my heart a morning evening Sacrifice in the odour of divine sweetness SECOND DISCOURSE Exercises in Solitude IDleness is the mother of sin our spirituall enimies taking that time to suggest evill desires Therfore we must at all times be well employd but especially in our Solitude whither it be permanent or for some selected daies This employment consists not only in Meditation wherby the Soul is elevated to the bosome of the Divinitie by the workings of Love but in a due performance also of such Exercises as shall be enjoyned for our profit especially for the Exaltation of our Unitive life with God Mentall Contemplations being awhile intermitted by corporall labours return upon the spirit with a greater force feeling of delight One great Exercise in our Solitude is Masse Divine Office The work of the Angels of God who cease not night or daie to sing forth the praises of the Almightie O heavenlie divine Exercise wherin the glorious Angels accompanie us offer up for us our prayers to our great God! How much better is it to be employed in the praises of our Creatour then with the wicked of the world to be buisyed in dācing diceing riotting perhaps blaspheming our Redeemer Here examine thy readiness to frequēt the Church at due times whether thou abidest there as present in mind as body resolve henceforth to assist with more attention greater diligence in this heavenlie Worke. Another Exercise of the solitarie Soul is Mentall Prayer wherby the heart raised above earthlie things confers with God is as it were transformed into a Divine Beeing To this Thou must Philothea apply thy selfe with speciall diligence according to the Rules prescribed Thee in Thy Preface For it is the Dew of Heavē wherby the spirit is cherished in the knowledg love of heavenlie things It is the celestiall Man̄a to sustayn us during our earthlie aboad in the wilderness of this world It is the holie Mountain of divine Visions where we enter into familiar conference with God Who there shews us all good A third Dutie is Reading spirituall Bookes by which I understand holie Ghospells such other devout books as treat of Vertue the Reformation of our Manners This is to be performed duely thrice a daie at our uprising down-laying once between both that not at rādom or hap-hazard sometimes in one another time in another book for that is an effect of curiositie rather breeds confusion then devotion Let thy daily Lecture therfore be constantlie in one good book recōmended to Thee by thy own Experience or some Judicious person therin read till thou hast not left one line unpractised for till then thou canst not say thou hast been a Reader but rather an Overseer of the points therin handled Truely of all bookes I have read I know none more universally profitable for all persons of whatsoever condition then the divine work called An Introduction to a Devout Life composed by that Illuminated Man great servāt of God Saint Francis of Sales One who even from his Cradle was singularly devoted to Seraphicall Saint Francis as being born in a Chamber dedicated to his name devotion And that thou maist see I recommend not this Book to Thee upon slight grounds take the advice of Alexander the seventh the late Pape Soveraign Head of the Catholique Church on Earth in a letter dated 1642. to his Nephew where He sayes That he had already used that work for the space of twenty years read it over a hundred times that he could never read it without discovering some excellent document not before marked which thy own Experience will assuredly confirm Vocall Prayer Aspirations being also joyned with spirituall reading much conduce to a greater thirst benefit therin for our reading must be ever intermixed with Consideration Jaculatorie Prayers Application to use therefore it matters not how much we read but how well in order to our spirituall advancement The last is Manuall labour which cōmōly should be only such as may divertise rather then weaken our spirit of devotion Care being taken with all heed that the Soul tyres not herselfe by too Intense permanent Applying its selfe unto Contemplation And these works are to be persorm'd with as great prōptitude eagernesse as any other Christian or Solitarie Observance being strong Fortifyers against Idleness the bane of the spirituall devout life which are cheifly aimed at in our Retreat from worldly cares COLLOQUIE Thou O My God supream Lord of my life strength hast bestowd many gracious talents on me wherwith to traffique for the Kingdom of heaven till Thou comest to take the generall Accounts of the world to render each one according to their deserts Alas I have vainly employed the powers of my Soul the senses members of my body contrarie to thy holie Decrees idelly lavishing away thy guifts of Grace the precious time allowed me for thy service my own everlasting profitt not reflecting on the shortness of my life thy severity that daie the length of happiness that crowns good works It greives me for my neglects henceforth I will employ all my forces in loving serving Thee doing good things whilst time is Give Thou O God what Thou commandest command what Thou wilt Perfect my steps in the paths of thy Commandements they shall not be moved for ever Amen THIRD DAYES VOYAGE Man in his Sinfull State THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Vilenesse of the body by Nature CONSIDERATION COnsider that now being entred holy Solitude there fitted with due Entertainmēts for thy happy Advance in thy designed Pilgrimage to Perfection Thou must Philothea descend into thy selfe discover What thou art that pretendest to so high happy a state That laying a strong foundation in the acknowledgment of thy own Nothing thy spirituall Edifice may the more prosperously goe forward with the blessings of peace mercy JESUS CHRIST is the true Modell of all Sanctity therefor we must in this our Retyrement especially study his Imitation If he for our sake hides the glory of his God-head under the weaknesse of our Mortalitie our highest contemplations of God aimes to perfection should begin from the consideration of our own Vilenesse that re-ascending to God with the greater eagernesse we may drown our Weaknesse in the Vastnesse of his Divine Being What then art Thou Philothea according to the Body from the Womb to the Tomb From all Eternity Thou wert a meer Nothing so hadst for ever remained had not Gods Wisedome Power drawn Thee thēce giving Thee that Beeing thou now hast In thy
feelest in thy Soul during thy holy Retyrement or at other time some delicious whispers of thy beloved Espouse yet art thou wholly ignorant what will befall thee the next moment how long or short thy life will be whē where by what disease or misfortune Death will seize upon Thee in what condition of grace or sin it will summon Thee before Gods barr therto heare the sentence then to passe over Thee consequently that as long as thou art in this life thou art never certainly assured of thy Eternall Salvation This ought to be a strong motive of humiliation vnto Thee Almighty God hath from all Eternity chosen some to be heires of his glory permitting others yet doth not any one know to what ranck he belongs when or by what means he shall come thither till it pleaseth God to cite us forth this world assume us to his heavenly Paradice which evidently layeth open our great Ignorance proves our unchangable dependance on the hidden disposition of the Divine Will Is not this enough to humble the haughtiest spirit in the world Wherefor in whatsoever degree of contemplation vertue or spirituall greatnesse thou art thou must hūbly acknowledg thy universall dependance on Gods gracious inspirations help And that therefor thou oughtest not to judge any one whom through Gods permission thou maist see fall into some abominable sin being thou art not thy selfe assured how long thou shalt stand in thy duty to God or how soon that person may arise again through Gods Grace aiding to a timely profitable Repentance Have a care therefor Philothea thou standest fast in the waies of God working thy Salvation with a filiall humble feare reflecting continually on thy own Nothing the streight dependance thou hast on the grace Mercies of JESUS CHRIST who having redeemed Thee from the tyranny of Satā made Thee capable of life everlasting with himselfe will not be wanting to the compleating that great work of thy Eternall Salvation if thou dost humbly trust in him say then with a lively faith In Thee O Lord have I hoped I am not confounded I have put my trust in Thee have found help AFFECTION Ah my Soul wherein canst thou now glorie Art thou placed in the family of Gods servāts Hast many good Notions Divine Motions in thy breast Dost thou through some strong helps of heavenly Grace delightfully performe hard painfull duties All this is very good but alas thou knowst not how long this will endure whether for a yeer or a day or even the next Moment Whether thou beest confirmed in grace listed amongst the number of the Elect or worthy of Love or hatred Thou knowest nothing of all this Even so it is for thou O my God art a most glorious pure Father of spirits wilt still be worshipped in feare trembling However although thou shouldest persecute me till Death I will trust in Thee even at the gates of Hell I will not abandon my hopes in thy Mercy RESOLUTION I will cast my selfe into the sea of Gods aboundant Mercies therein fix the Auchor of my hopes relying firmely on his undeceiving promises saving helps of Grace therefor I will annihilate my selfe in the consideration of his holy decrees living in perpetuall feare of his judgments concerning me Nor will I onely become humble in the sight of God who knows the vilenesse of my body wretchednesse of my Soul with whatever shal befall either for time Eternity but I will also willingly become contemptible in the Eies of all Creatures contenting my selfe with the lowest place meanest fare vilest Employments accounting my self the unworthyest of all will ever say with the Holy Prophet I am a worme not a Man the Outcast of Men the Offcast of the Vulgar THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Our Weaknesse to good IF thou desirest Philothea to enter the depth of thy own Nothing thou must make yet a further search into the motives of humbling thy selfe before God Wherefor having now waded through the vast Seas of thy vilenesse in body wretchednesse in Soul wonderfull ignorance of thy future state of life happinesse discourse further on thy Naturall weaknesse to performe good vpright actions Ever since through our disobedience to Gods holy Commandements we departed from his Temple sanctifyed Citty of Hierusalē fell into the hands of spirituall murderers we have had many deep wounds and deadly soares in our Souls whereof though some have beē oft cured by CHRISTS healing Sacraments yet doe they often break out fester through the disorders of our Sinfull lives others remaining for ever uncurable during this mortall life whereby we are wholly unable without the perpetuall help of our charitable Samaritan JESUS CHRIST either to discerne the way that leads back to God or securely to walk towards him in this our Pilgrimage to heavenly Perfection Our manifold doubts mistakes errours in the knowledge of Divine even Morall truths Actions our passionate affections to present sensible delights the variety distractions of our fading slippery life the Excellēcy of Gods waies those thoughts works whereby we walk in them purchase a blessednesse which he alone can bestow on us shew evidently that God liveth in an Unaccessible Light not to be viewed with an Eie not yet cleansed by divine Faith nor to be aspired unto without that Hope which He only can inspire into us nor in the least degree to be purchased or pretended to without the speciall guifts of inherent sanctity other supernaturall helps of cleering Lights cooperating Graces bestowed bountifully on us so that we can neither doe any thing worthy his acceptation or think on him according to his Majesty or even say one word of him as we ought in order to our Everlasting happinesse without his speciall inspirations conduct assistance Wherefore as thou art by Nature a meer Nothing by sin worse then Nothing so without the liberall guift of Gods aiding Grace thou canst doe nothing If then thou perhaps art sometimes raised up in the Contemplation of God his glory those allureing traces whereby he leads his servants to the love of eternall good things yet maist thou not take complacence therein without an humble submission to Gods vnknown will towards thee or esteeme thy selfe by them to be in a setled condition of Holinesse for if thou wer't as easily thou maist be deprived of those Lights of Graces thou now hast thy Soul would become as dark thy actions as imperfect as any others These Divine helps so necessary to us and so much above our reach ought profoundly to humble us in the presence of God whom we must ever worship as a liberall free Giver as oft as we receive any favour from him still remembring that the Apostate Angels our First Parents lost themselves by a Complacence in their own naturall
in his Passion to redeeme Man from the tyranny of sin satan What greater argument of Love could God give to Miserable Man then this then when the Jews sought to destroy him all mankind had abandond him even then to bestow on us not fading honours riches or pleasures but himselfe who is the Maker of the whole world that as a Ransom to discharge us from our Captivity as a Physitian to cure our Spirituall diseases as a Father to protect us as an Espouse to comfort us as the Earnest of his eternall glory what greater bounty then this If the Jews with so great Reverence assisted at offred up their Sacrifices of beasts surely We should with far greater Veneration piety approach to our Altars whereon the living God in our Nature is offred up a Propitiatiō for the sins of the World a Reconciliation between God Man a Source of all blessings of grace glory No sooner does the Priest pronounce those words whereby that Mystery is wrought but the substance of the bread wine is changed into the body bloud of JESUS CHRIST the sensible elements thereof only remaining there he is whole in every part in all places where he is consecrated without division or multiplication in him selfe or departing from the right hand of the Father Certainly Philothea This guift that bounty these wonders wrought for our reparation from our sinfull state should strongly engage our hearts in Loue Duty to God AFFECTION I adore Thee my soveraign Lord hidden in this Divine Mystery acknowledge Thee to be there really present God Man my Redeemer Sanctifyer Glorifyer Alas My God all my Good how little have I hitherto thought on this thy inestimable love bounty to me whereby to releiue me from the slavery of sensuality satan to heale the deep wounds of my sinfull soul fill it with enlivning sanctifying graces what have I returned to God for all these favours bestowed upon me I will approach to Gods Altar with a repentant heart eate there the bread of salvation will call on the Name of God RESOLUTION I will ever have a lively faith towards this Mystery of the Holy Eucharist confirmed to me by CHRISTS own words the authority of Apostles Fathers the consent of all ancient modern Christians united under one supream head CHRISTS Vicar on Earth I will lay open all my wants weaknessesse before my Soveraign Lord here really present confiding in his comforting helps for the freeing my Mind from distractions Will from sinfull affections that I may profitably approach to him eate of that living bread sacrifize my soul to him by abnegation of my will my body by Obedience to Christian Duties SECOND POINT Fruits of the Holie Sacrament CONSIDERATION COnsider That approaching to Gods holy Altar there eating of that repayring fruit of the Tree of life We become like the Sacred Virgin conceiving him in her womb therefor should study to imitate her Humilitie Obedience Faith Charity whereby she was fitted to that great work raised to familiar conferences with JESUS CHRIST which we specially aime at in our holy Retyrement We become also Temples of God therefor our hearts should be Altars whereon to offer up our enflamed thoughts desires admitting no negotiation there but what may tend to the cleansing our souls from evill affections adorning them with divine vertues whereby it may be fitted to entertayn this heavenly Guest Had JESUS CHRIST when on Earth vouchsafed to make his aboade with us as in Bethania with Mary Martha with what solicitude would we have prepared all things befitting his sacred presence that nothing might appear in us undecent or wanting where with to give him a ioyfull welcome The like care should now be had My Philothea especially since he comes here to us in his glorifyed body environed with Angels invisibly present with hands full of blessings to bestow upon us In JESUS CHRIST abides the fulnesse of the Divinity therefor He giving him selfe to us in this heavenlie Manna containing all sweetnesse he gives withall the whole treasury of his heavenly guifts graces whereby the soul is cleansed from veniall sins mortall inculpably forgotten in confession Reason receives cleerer lights of spirituall truths the Will is enflamed to Christiā Duties the Conscience eased Inclinations to evil are weakned our Love to heavenly things strengthned encreased O living food of Angels be thou my Dayly bread fill my soul with thy divine sweetnesse that my conversation may be in heaven by the Imitation of the life of those blessed spirits by hopes of feeding for ever on that bread in the kingdom of thy Father AFFECTION Oh that I might conceive JESUS in my heart by Love bring him forth by performance of his Will then should I truly feed on this bread of Angels But alas too often have I approached Gods Altar with a Spirit full of earthly desires too frequently have I entertaind the great Lord of the world in a soul defiled with sinfull affections tepid in divine Exercises distracted with worldly sollicitudes therefor I still remain dry barren to good actions insensible to the comforting presence of JESUS within me Oh that Gods holy Spirit would overshadow my soul cleanse it from all imperfections enflame it with heavenly loue replenish it with his gracious blessings that it may be a fitt Sanctuary for the Saviour of Men Angels RESOLUTION I will banish forth of my heart whatever may displease my Divine Espouse adorning it with Vertues holy desires whereby it may be prepared to entertain him experiēce the sweetnesse of his comforting presence And I will endeavour that my outward decency in behaviour conversation may testify the inward tranquillity alacrity of my spirit an earnest longing to be One with him Live Thou O JESUS in my soul that I may live by the heat of thy divine flames walk by the light of thy inspirations from Vertue to Vertue till I see Thee my God in thy holy Sion THE THIRD POINT Intention in Communion CONSIDERATION COnsider That if in all actions of this life we study to have a due upright intention this ought then especially to be when we approach to the Holy Sacrament that great proofe of Gods Love to mankind that efficacious means of confirming us in our spirituall life a most assured pledg of our future blessed life above We may not then venture hither of meer custome or for companie sake nor to purchase a vain esteem of holinesse or an encrease of temporall blessings or some spirituall gust or sweetnesse in that great Act of Christian worship No Philothea we must goe to God for God himselfe that our loue to him may be greater our devotions quicker our Spirits stronger in performing the will of our Soveraign Lord and
bountifull most comfortable Giver If therefor either the delighfull or profitable things of this life has yet any power over thy affections or the tribulations thereof doe still presse down thy spirit to any greife or disquiet Thou art not as yet strongly united to God enamour'd on his ravishing Beauty or arrived to the delicious harbour of spirituall peace Tranquillity Wherefor Thou maist imagin thy self to be a Reed floating to fro in the Sea of the Divinity now tossed above now under water hither and thither as thou art driven by the force of those Divine Waves so that in what ever condition thou art whatsoever happens to Thee thou maist attribute all to Gods Spirit moving upon these divine Waters in by which thou now livest movest Thus no comforts will puff up or humiliation beat down thy spirit but thou wilt ever have a generous courage pleasant evennesse of thy whole selfe amidst all the chances of this thy mortall state how ever violent they be AFFECTION Ah my soul why hast thou not hitherto aspired after this Divine BEEING to live love move to God only in the fullnesse of his own Essence O Abysse of all comfont swallow up my heart in thy delicious depths let me perish to all things but Thee never repine at any thing being so nigh to Thee O my JESU O fathomlesse fountain of Love Oh who will give Thee unto me My Brother sucking the breasts of my Mother that I may find Thee embrace Thee then none shall despise me RESOLUTION I will for ever fix my heart earnest desires only on my God thirsting to be united wholly to him for his sake I will abandon whatsoever is not consistent with him or may separate my heart from him therefor My whole study henceforth shall be to discover the poverty of Creatures to loath all earthly comforts to empty my heart of all affections to them amidst all accidents of this life to carry an even calme heart Then shall I tast see how sweet God is to those who love the Peace of his holy Citty THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Loves Tryall GOds Spirit settles not but upon an humble meek heart which having had a relish how sweet God is earnestly sues to be admitted into the ioyes of her heavenly Lord enjoy a perfect Tranquillity peace in her whole selfe yet willingly resignes her selfe to his Will for the manner thereof contentedly expecting the happy time of his delicious Visitation and the fruits theirof To this Visitation she must prepare her selfe by an Inward Retirement of her selfe within her selfe whereby weaned wholly from all love towards creatures she feels such a passionate languishing desire to be One with God that she has an extream pain irksomnesse when forced to use outward helps of meat sleep divertisements such like necessary supports of decaying nature desirous rather if so it may please God to be ever employed in mentall Elevations to entertain her selfe in contemplating conferring caressing her beloved Espous then to enjoy any earthly satisfaction however necessary to her Neither may this heaven-thirsting foul only content her selfe with this inward Retreat of the spirit into its selfe by loathing all Creatures abroad but she must also aspire to a Nakednesse of her selfe in her selfe whereby raised even to the highest degree of Contemplation Love Union with God she is willing to be deprived of all sweetnesse which usually flowes thence And although in this state she looks on God as her only treasure haveing right to Him grounded on his own promises To spouse himselfe to her in Justice kindnesse mercies for ever yet is she contented still to lay at the Gate of happinesse there patiently humbly begging some few crumms from Gods heavenly table to be admitted to tast of his delicious Wines neverthelesse resigning her selfe to be denyed that favour as long as it so pleases him ever esteeming either her selfe unworthy thereof or Gods time not to be as yet come COLLOQUIE How happy wert thou My soul hadst thou no other employment on Earth then to contemplate the beauty of God love him glorify his Name O my God that I were wholly exempt from the use of perishing Creatures needing no other food then Thee the only true Life of my Spirit but yet far happier should I be if loathing all Creatures drown'd in the Sea of the Divinity I could be resigned to the losse of all sweetnesse which may arise from the greatest Illuminations Extasies of Love in Thee patiently expecting my gracious admittance unto thy comfortable presence Then shall I be my Beloveds he will turne his face towards Me. SECOND DISCOURSE Loves Entertainments THe soul being thus resigned to the want of all Eartly comforts sweetnesse of divine Love Gods delicious presence with her may humby soare up to heaven endeavour an Union with God a fruition of him in Himselfe by such helps as he shall graciously inspire which we must readily entertain carefully comply with for our spirituall advance towards Perfection Wherefor Philothea thou must accustome thy selfe to spirituall Introversions of the Mind into its selfe therin quietly contemplating God in thy own Beeing often sallying forth by Jaculatory Aspirations amorous sighs towards heavenly things as What art thou O my God what am I My God my All Oh that I could love Thee as I ought which must be leisurely made attentively consider'd that they may work a feeling love in thy heart whereby it may by degrees be enflamed melt into affections of hope desire joy or such like whence thou wilt find an admirable sweetnesse calme to arise in thy spirit Thou must also endeavour to have a strong apprehension of Gods presence with Thee which may be had either by an efficacious beleife that God is substatially present in all places of the World as our soul is in all parts of the body without any separation from its selfe or by Imagining him to be especially in the Center of thy heart as the soul heart life thereof animating quickning it by his presence Whence we shall find our spirits stird up to a cordiall reverence towards the Majesty of God so nigh unto us a readinesse to referr all our thoughts words actions to God seated in the Center of the heart as the Judge of their Worth last happy End of all its Motions And by this means without recourse to Creatures only by a simple apprehension of Gods presence in Thee a reference of thy whole life to Him as thy Mysticall life thou wilt have an easinesse in abandoning creatures a great quietnesse in thy whole soul Having gained these Lights wherby to discern Gods greatnesse in himselfe presence to thee Cast thy selfe into the immense Sea of his Essence admitting no other motion in Thee but of Admiration
comforting them in their desolations for by these things we doe homage to our Lord JESUS in his distressed Little Ones deserve our selves to be releived in the like case according to the promises of our Lord that What ever we doe to One of his Little ones we doe to him nor shall a cup of cold water be unrewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven COLLOQUIE Alas My God! how barren has my Soul hitherto been in complying with the precepts of true solid Vertue How many precious houres of my life have idly passed without care of advancing my selfe as well in humble charitable deeds as in searching into thy hidden Excellencies Whereas thy Law is That each one shall reap according as he sowes My solitude shall not be henceforth idle but sometimes I will soare up as an Eagle by the wings of Contemplation love sometimes will I with the laborious Bee exercise my self in outward works of charity humility as well to please God the supream End crown of all good works as to releive my distressed neighbour to edify all by my outward Conversation for That which is momentany in this life worketh exceedingly in us an eternall weight of Glory Amen TENTH DAYES VOYAGE Highest Christian Perfection THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Union with Christ suffring CONSIDERATION COnsider that how ever high happy we be in our Divine Contemplation Unitive Life with God or Low by a prompt performance of the humble charitable Duties of our present State wee cannot hope succesfully to finish our holy Pilgrimage to the sublime State of Perfection we aime at in our Retyrement unlesse we be united to JESUS CHRIST in his fuffrings As each one by cordiall friendshipp is transformed into his Friend by an excess of heavenly Love into our glorious God so by our joy alacrity amidst the tribulations crosses of this life we are transformed into become One with our Crucified Saviour whom we then put on when his Spirit Counsells Grace Mortifications shine in our Soul actions The title of a good Christian Philothea should besides the name import a conformity in Life with CHRIST that Character of the Crosse whereby in the laver of our Spirituall Regeneration we are registred souldiers under the conduct of our Crucified Captain should ever mind us of our profession then made oft since renewed now so eagerly pursued that as our Divine Lord Master with joy marched up towards Hierusalem the place of his Passion encounters his raging persecutours voluntarily offers his body to be beaten on as an anvill his bloud to be powred forth himselfe to become a saving Sacrifice on the Altar of the Crosse so also we should with joy entertain patiently beare all losses crosses desolations which may befall us in our Christian Warfar This was S. Pauls Glory the Perfect joy of S. Francis the Delight of the renowned Martyrs who kissing their chains scourges embracing their Racks singing amidst swords whips flames purchased a coheritance with their glorified JESUS whose partners they were in his bitter sorrows suffrings It is the dignity of a Christian to be thus United to CHRIST nor doth any condition of this life render us more unhappy then want of tribulation Much Felicity makes us forget we are pilgrims to an endless endangers our falling into presumption while relying on present comforts we arm not our selves for ensuing combats by long peace leave our hearts unguarded against assaults of watchfull Enemies whereas the bloud of Martyrs has ever been the encrease of the Church Crosses the preservation strength of Christian Vertues though Summer be the sweetest season yet without cold winters earth would become unhabitable nor can our Souls long savour the sweetnes of piety unless seasoned with contradictiōs which wee neither may nor can escape only can sweeten while with joy courage wee welcom them when sent by Heaven to try our Vertues unite us unto CHRIST Though Expectation diverts not yet it diminishes the sharpness of tribulation which when sudden finds the mind unprovided unable to beare its weight for want of Resolution Lenitive Medicines What if a disease should bereave thee of health rest What if Poverty as an armed Enimie should rush upon Thee What if calumnies should defame degrade or cast thee into prison or banishmēt thou shouldst Philothea now prepare to welcome encounter these crosses with joy that their violence may not overwhelme Thee make thee loose thy Vertue in what thou maist not avoyd As Gods wise providence in governing us leads us to fastens us unto the Crosse so his fatherly Love will ever temper its severity render it easy delightfull Savage beasts will be smitten by their keepers 't is God that strikes thee it were rebellion to murmur or fly he has appointed their weight to the last dram for ends known to himfelfe none cā add or take thence onely our constancy love can make them light pleasant Although God be in himselfe immutable yet for our tryall he doth not always visit us after the same manner if He comes as a Iudge condemns us to suffer 't is much less then our sins deserve that a moments sorrow may expiate the enormous sins of an Age that thou maist become like him upon his Cross nigh him in his glory if as a tender Father t is to chastise us now that we perish not for ever if as an Espous of Bloud with a Cross in one hand the other pointing to his wounded heart 't is to show thy heart must be peirced too with the sword of tribulation if as a Friend suspending the influences of his comforting graces t is to try if thy heart be sound not loveing his crowns more then his crosses or his comforts more then himselfe Tribulations too are the cures of our sick minds though the body be sound the Soul may be distempred with pride incontinency envy idleness or the like 't is a rare spirit that has no disease no physick like an adversity If thy heavenly Physitian sends this to humble thy heart to make the continent meek or diligent in thy duty make him welcome be cheerfull in that sad state having thy Eie fixt on thy Exemplar the great weight of merit glory which it will work in the patient resigned heart Every bird can sing in a cleer heavē but that is most cōmendable which is merryest in a shower to stand silent before Herod or be joyfull in desolation is the property of a true Christian Study therefor Philothea ever to have a cleare spirit amidst tribulations thy righteousness will comfort Thee Gods glory will attend thee after this minute of pain an eternity of joy will crown thee AFFECTION O God how high yet how low is the State of Christian Perfection as Thou My Crucified Lord art God
how superfluous how treacherous how dangerous has singularity of frienships hitherto proved unto Me Adieu all friends henceforth my only trust shall be in God who hath loved me with a perpetuall charity hath engraven me in his hands that he may be ever mindfull of me forsake me not O Lord I will be always with Thee become as a Pilgrim to the children of my Mother RESOLUTION I will couragiously quitt all ties even to my dearest friends when my spirituall concernment requires it whither they love me therefor or hate me wish me well or persecute me I will equally prepare my heart to be loved or persecuted praised or condemned by them behaving my selfe as a Pilgrime to all earthlie Creatures a Cittizen of Heaven I have chosen my solitude with my abādoned Lord Master nor shall any false allurements or harsh dealings change my Resolutions He hath given me a glorious example as he hath done I will endeavour to doe also THIRD POINT Selfe-Denyall CONSIDERATION COnsider That JESUS CHRIST hanging on the Cross is the true patern of selfe-Denyall this was his Doctrin while he lived this his practise in his Passion Death therefor his prayer to his eternall Father was Not mine but thy will be done Behold then how he looseth his bloud in his Agony his Esteem by revilings blasphemies his strength by whipps thorns his comeliness by stripes wounds the joy of the lower Region of his Soul by excess of sorrows his life by a most bitter ignominious Death Thus the most beautifull amongst the children of Men is become as One stricken of God covered with leprosy a man of sorrows If thou desirest Philothea to become perfect thou must also endeavour this selfe-Denyall seperation of thy selfe from thy selfe by abandoning thy own will a readinesse to sacrifize unto God thy tears bloud body soul all the calamities afflictions Gods providence may inflict on thee willingly suffring what ever crosses may befall Thee in conformity to his holy Will the coūsells practise of thy suffring Lord Master There is none of what condition soever but must more or less take up CHRISTS Cross follow him by self-Denyall bearing some tribulation for his sake their own profit Through sin the flesh spirit are at odds sensuality rebells against God no wonder then if wee feele contradictions within our own heart suffrings from the inordinate passions desires or malice of others neither Saint nor Sinner nor any mortall creature is exempt from the Law of the Cross of what Majesty Wisdom Power or Holiness soever he be nor is any of these happy unless resigned to beare all Thou sufferest not alone Philothea All must willingly or against their will suffer with thee which should encourage Thee to an unbroken patience amidst the heaviest press of tribulations which may happen to Thee especially since thy JESUS thy Espous the Giver of all good suffreth so many so long so grievous torments with Thee Nor may we hope to enjoy the consolations of this the other Life we must forgoe one or the other either suffer here or else where which wilt thou choose Is it not much better to undergoe a momentany tribulatiō then an eternall Only worldly pleasures can destroy thee therefor fly frō Them The Cross only whereby the whole world was saved can save Thee Seek it then with it thou shalt find life salvation thy crown of thorns shall be changed into a Crown of never fading Glory if thou hast drunk of the torrent of tribulation with thy crucified Redeemer thou shalt also tast the delicacies of his heavenly Happiness in his Glorious Kingdom AFFECTION If JESUS must suffer ere he enters his glory canst thou O my Soul hope to purchase heaven at an easyer rate No my Dearest Lord since love moved Thee to transfigure thy selfe into a Man of sorrows for my sake love also shall compell me to be conformable to Thee my Holy Espous Let me but enjoy Thee then let what ever tribulations thou pleasest fall upon Me Here cutt here burn so thou sparest me for eternity O Eternity who can live with thy everlasting torments Come therfor O delicious crosses O amiable tribulations by which I may purchase an Eternity of joys RESOLUTION I will prepare my selfe to this spirituall Combat not only endure the tribulations which my sensuality disorderly passions may raise against Me but what ever Crosses the malice of Satan or the sweet providence of my heavenly Father shall inflict upon Me hūbly casting my selfe at the foot of the Cross I will say Behold here O Divine Lord behold here My whole self my Body my Soul my All ready to abandon all contents to suffer all sorrows for Thee Thy will be done Pleasures or pains thorns or diadems life or death all shall be indifferently welcome Only be thou with Me O strong helper none shall prevaile against Me. EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Spirituall Desolation ALthough our Lord JESUS wer the Beloved of the Eternall Father equall to him in Essence Wisedom Power yet for Us he would become an Outcast deserted by Him Harken Philothea to that lamentable Complaint he makes to his Father upon the Cross My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken Me Though his humane Nature lost not its Union with the Godhead nor the Grace or friendship of God yet the Influence of his Divinity on the inferiour Portion of his Soul was then suspended he left to struggle with the bitterest torments pangs of a most cruel ignominious Death Our Solitary Pilgrim to Perfection must be prepared to welcome this sublime state of Spirituall Desolation if she aspires to an Union Conformity with her heavenly Espous she must not only contentedly abandon all friends beare what ever Crosses but must also willingly be deprived of all those delights which usually accompany a devout Life undergoe Aridities of the spirit loose the savory influences of Gods gracious favours instead of pleasant Illustrations of the Understanding Enflamings of the will flowings of Joy in the heart to have the spirit loaden with dulness barrenness insensibility to heavenly thoughts actions If God thus tryes thy Constancy assure thy selfe Philothea he is even then present with Thee watching in the Center of thy heart over Thee causing aversions from Sin desires to perform the duties of thy state longings to be with God though in that distress a darkness be spredd over thy Soul thou beest deprived of thy usuall cheerfulness alacrity The cause of this our desolation oft is in our selves either a too eager desire of or delight in spirituall consolations or a neglect of timely entertainīg offred inspirations or else too much proneness to seek accept of sensuall satisfactions But the cheife Cause thereof is God only whose property it is to create Light Darkness
PHILOTHEAS PILGRIMAGE TO PERFECTION DESCRIBED IN A PRACTISE OF TEN DAYES SOLITUDE By Brother John of the Holy Crosse Frier Minour IHS BRUGES Printed by Luke Kerchove 1668. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST VERTVOVS LADY The Countesse Dowager of Sussex MADAM Divine things become Generous Noble Spirits who being the more refined Images of God above the Vulgar have by their noble descent à larger Capacity to great Matters by their most carefull Education à cleerer Aptness to sublime thoughts actions Your Honour hath by the Excellent Conduct of your Life givē the world so ample à proofe of your Eminent Perfections befitting the Greatness of your Name that None may reflect thereon but must admire both the fortunate disposition of your originall Inclinations to piety the free blessings of a Gracious Providence religiously managed by your own Vertuous care Industry For besides the Rare guifts of Nature Fortune which welcomed you into this Light wherein few of our Nation exceed your Excelling Happiness Your Honours laborious discovery of truth in our Holy Church from which your first yeeres growing Honour were extremely averse your zealous Love towards comfortable Solitude complyance with Christian Duties since your being engrafted on the sacred stock of our ever-flourishing Christianity wherein You are become Imitable by few of your Noble Birth Qualities discovers that swift penetration of your Judgment that solidness of Vertue in your heart which truly speak you Noble Religious Although this small handfull of advises helps to solitary Perfection gleaned up by many yeeres serious Meditation in sweet Retirement may already find a plenteous harvest in your own bosom yet will I presume through your Honours Encouragement to lay thē at the feet of your Excellent Vertues that under the protection of your Honours Favorable acceptance strengthned by the greatness of your Name perfections My Philothea may become conspicuous to he world doe that great work abroad which is therein designed by MADAM YOUR HONOURS Most devoted Servant BRO. JOHN CROSSE TO THE READER CHRISTIAN READER It is no new thing to measure a friends Kindness by our own profits value that most by which we reap greatest fruit I could wish this principle as well observed in the ordring our Spirits towards God Vertue as in using the good things of this Life in order to worldly conversation I might then hope this small Treatise would find as kind à welcom from all well-willers to piety as the worth of the subject may deserve That whereof it treats is Divine my whole aymes are to render the lover of solitude Divine bringing her home to God whence she strayed by sin that moderating passiōs planting Vertues she may be cordially United to her Divine Espous The Author of all perfectiō finisher of our best hopes by obedience to his will now after by an endless communion with him in Heaven As the state of Holy Religion so its design is to render its Professours Lovers of Solitude therefor all duties there by reason of those Divine thoughts first conceived still conserved in those Divine Souls aime to fix on God by conferring with him of Heaven their home Vertue the way thither Spirituall Retreats therefor are not intended for them whose whole life is à solitude But for such whose conversation with creatures exposes to manifold distractions apt to slacken Christian Zeale since nature is too prone to cleave to the perishing things of this life These therefor should oft renew their Vows of Christianity endeavour to repaire their tyred out spirits by stronger purposes of piety which are best made in a retreat from their Usuall Employments How ever even Religious persons particularly whose Obedience partakes more of the Solicitudes of Martha then Maries Solitude should sometimes observe a more then ordinary Retirement that reflecting on the Holyness of their Vocation the duties thereof they may repaire what 's decayed of their first fervour secure their claym to heaven aimed at by their Divine Choyce And indeed this great work is to all of that high concernment that what ever account some loose spirits may make of it it will one day extremely justify the Children of Light crown their Hopes In My Preface to PHILOTHEA an heaven-aspiring Soul whose conduct in her Pilgrimage to God is here intended I have at large discoursed on the Dignitie Profit Aimes Use of spirituall Retreats wherefor I need not further dilate my selfe on that subject My Wishes are it 's practise may make Thee all truly happy Farwell APPROBATIONS LIbrum hunc Anglicè conscriptū à V. Adm. P. Fr. Joanne à S. Cruce S. Th. Lect. ac Conventus Fr Minor Anglo-Duacen Vicario cui titulus Philothea's Pilgrimage to Perfection c. diligenter perlegi nihilque in eo deprehendi fidei vel bonis moribus contrarium sed omnia devotionem spirantia quae perigrinantes ad Beatitudinem Animas in Itinere promovere poterunt In cujus rei fidem subscripsi Kalend Septembr Anno 1664. GEORGIUS LEYBURNUS Sacr. Theol. Doct. Coll. Anglo-Duacen Praeses MANDATUM ORDINIS COmmendetur praelo Tractatus V. Adm. F. Ioannis à S. Cruce Confessarii Monialium nostrarum Brugensium c. De Recessu Spirituali Actum Londini in Congregatione Intermedia 15. Nov. 1666. Erat subscriptum Fr. THOMAS à S. ANNA Secret Prov. Notar. Ap. Locus ✚ Sigilli I Underwritten have diligently read over Philothea's Pilgrimage to Perfection c. composed by the Rev. Father Bro Iohn of the Holy Crosse Reader of Divinity c. wherein holy Solitude is highly cōmended the prerogatives motives effects thereof are declared Instructions means for attaining it with the duties of a solitary Soul are prescribed by which at lēgth he cōducts her to the highest Pitch of Solitude contemplation Union with God possible in this life in whom he leaves her firmly fixed by a perfect Resignation Humility Abnegation consequently perfect in a Solitary way Seeing therefor that this Treatise tends to the instruction consolation of such Souls to the advancement of that happy End more over containeth nothing cōtrary to the Canons of the Church I judge that it may happily see light Given in our English Convent of Frier Minours in Doway this 3. of May 1668. BRO. BERNARD ELSTON Ord. FF Min. S. Th. Doctor APPROBATIO ORDINARII LIber hic Anglicè conscriptus à Patribus Ordinis examinatus de licentiâ ordinarii poterit imprimi Actum hâc 8. Maii 1668. N. GERSEKEN Archid. Brug Libr. Censor THE TABLE of CONTENTS THe Preface to Philothea containing Instructions for Solitude § 1. Excellency of Holy Solitude Pag. 1. § 2. Preparation for Solitude p. 6. § 3. Abstraction from usuall Cares p. 9. § 4. Choyce of Place p. 12. § 5. Due time of Solitude p. 14. § 6. Posture of body p. 24. § 7 Subject of Solitary thoughts p.
disapoint thee if thou faile not in thy pursuance persist then thou wilt prevaile that which was begun with lāguishing remisseness difficulty shall end in joy comfort One dayes meale however large liberall strengthens not for to morrow The body languisheth if there be not a supply of food Thou must therefore feed thy soule by daily Meditation The most serious affections are extinguisht by intermission by disuse doe perish Lett not therefore any one day passe without a competent time spent therein break through all letts except those of obedience Charity when these shall have hindred thee repay thy selfe afterwards the time borrowed recompence thy losse with a doubled labour for be assured that too much neglect breeds unaptnesse to good Thus much for thy daily Recollection for the time chosen or appointed thee of which hereafter I shall prescribe á fitt Methode But as for the Ten dayes exercise which I intend specially to recommend unto Thee I advise the use of it only once a yeere no lesse no more Our Nature is so feeble to good so propense to evill that unlesse we once a yeere sett a speciall time a part wherein to looke into our selves after a more serious manner prune ill Customes inclinations budding in us these will grow so strong that they will in time choake kill our little plants of piety The best clock will be out of order unlesse taken in peices cleansed once a yeer There is not any so good a Nature but may be corrupted by irregular affections insensibly creeping upon us which if not timely rectifyed by a carefull industry will gaine the upper hand become a second Nature Yet however necessary a yeerly more serious inspection survay of our lives conversations may be to doe it too oft in one yeere would render a Mind perplext anxiously scrupulous which are distempers incopatible with comfortable Solitude that requires a generous freedome of the soule Wherefore let thy dayly Meditation suffice the rest of the yeere for the correction of errours misdemeanours that creep upon us in this fraile course of mortall life As for the time of the yeere when this speciall Exercice is to be performed 't is hard to prescribe one generall Rule for all Neither can a whole family or community together lay aside at any one prescribed season all their other duties but while Mary meditates Martha must look to household affaires Could it be had there is no time fitter then Lent and Easter whē the weather is temperate the body refreshed anew by the Suns approach Mysteries then represented doe strongly call upon us for amendment of life if we doe intend thē to partake in the benefitts of Christs Passion Resurrection It is a signe of a dead frozen soule not to have an impulse to Vertue a horrour of sin when God him selfe becomes à Propitiation for us by shedding his most precious Bloud upō the Altar of the Crosse for our Redemption That is generally speaking the best time when we desire to be best disposed to piety for thus have all Christians ever had some particular devotiō on one or other particular solemnity which suited best with their mind And some are very devout on the day of their Patron another on that day which had been blest with some speciall good accidēt to themselves or others as their Regeneration to Christ by holy Baptisme their Initiation in Orders their Professiō in Religion or Delivery by Gods providence from some great evill The memory of former good sentiments are apt at the recours of the season to renew them reiteration breeds stronger Inclinatiōs to the like again Choose then Ten dayes before that select time therein to entertain thy selfe in thy happy solitude so behave thy selse therein that that day may be a day of peace Jubily of spirit to thee that thou maist issue thence as a sun forth a Cloud with a cheerfull alacrity livelynesse witnessing the inward harmony of thy soule It will then appear that thy retreat was through a religious zeal of Perfection not of a pensive scruple or dull custome such a good Day will be a forceing motive to thy selfe to blesse thy soveraigne Creatour for that foretast of the joyes of Paradise amidst the cumbersome cares which are incident to Mortality to which every one more or lesse stands subject edify others also to the like felicity Yet neither are these Ten Dayes of speciall solitude so to be spent that the spirit should unchangably be bent upon Contemplation even for that space Our soule must be refreshed with some variety it wil otherwise grow weary our thoughts remisse affections feeble the time thereby seeming long to us the object tedious but these divertisements must be short tending at least a far of to the great designe of piety in hand One time of the day cannot be prescribed to all no more then one time of the yeere for neither is Gods grace showred down at particular times nor doe the various contrary dispositions of all persons agree in the choyce of opportunities The Royall Prophet sayes that In the evening morning midday he spoake to God to redeem his soule in peace in my judgment six ten five would be fitt hours for secular persons Religious who rise at midnight must observe an other Distribution whereof in its due place so David sayes that He meditated upon God at the time of Mattins all things being then still the soule by the obscurity of night being recollected from the fancy of other objects the body some what released from the wearinesse of the past dayes cares the mind will then easilyer grow into a likeing love of heavenly things Neither is the morning lesse fit for this heavenly service for then the body newly raised is fully calmed with its late rest nor has the soule as yet had any motiues of distractiōs frō outward Creatures wherefore the holy Prophet sayd that his soule thirsted after God from the morning watch Neither is Isaacs time unfitt for this work in the Evening he went forth to meditate in the feild when the fumes of the middayes refection being dispersed the soule might easily fasten upon divine objects if thou intendest to reape a grounded permanent benefitt from thy holy retreat be sure that first thou make choyce of the fittest hours for that purpose then carefully sett those hours a part from all other employments for change breeds unsetlednesse this an unreasonable doubt what time should be aptest whē thy thoughts should be fixed on higher objects § 6. Posture of Body THou must also Philothea observe a due Gesture of thy body for although God be a spirit therefore needs not so much the posture of the body as of the soule so it be reverent respectfull yet doth the due composition of the body much advantage the mind in
her humbles her selfe in regard of her wants backwardnesse to Vertue descēds to particular good purposes for her correction amendment according to the speciall defects which she hath discovered in her selfe By this means Philothea thou wilt soon correct errours evill customes which by generall Affections barren desires are seldome or very slowly reformed Conclusion must be performed leisurely with profound humility least by an over-much complacence in our good feelings motions which it pleased God to work in our soules we loose the benefit continuatiō of them by too sudden breaking off we may shew our selves carelesse of the fruit which wee have sought with so great labour First then wee must give thankes for those Illuminations Affections Resolutions which God has through his goodnesse bestowed upon us during our Meditation For since a Man naturally cannot be miserable in povertie but he must complayne crave succour so neither can a good heart gratefull soule find it selfe in a happy peacefull conditiō without thankfullnesse for it And this thankfullnesse gayns an encrease of tranquillity Next follows Oblation wherein the soule recommends her selfe all her Affections Resolutions to the Protection of Gods holy grace cheerefully giving up her selfe to him submitting to him wholly reposing upon the goodnesse mercyes of JESUS CHRIST desiring in all things to glorify him to walk worthy of his gracious calling The last is Petition by which wee earnestly begg that Almighty God would furnish us with his grace heavenly blessings whereby we may be enabled faithfully to put in execution the good purposes made by us And here we must take heed we cōpliment not with God begging help without an efficacious will to make use of it For God knoweth our hearts will not be mocked with fashionable suits but requireth holy feeling requests which will appeare in the execution of what we have resolved This forme of Meditatiō being heartyly used will prove I hope uery beneficiall so that the soule which at the entrance of her Solitude did but creep upon the Earth will in the end soare aloft in Heaven find herselfe neer that glorious God before almost out of sight transforming her into him selfe §. 9. Choyce of a Guide BUt because every one is apt to flatter him selfe judge partially in what concerns his own state condition consequently is unfitt to judge of his own advancement faylings in his Pilgrimage to Perfection it is uery expedient Philothea that besides the Instructions already given Thee thou doest make choyce of a Directour or Spirituall Guide who may safely lead thee through thy Solitude For although the way be plain easy yet is it not voyd of by-paths which without the advice of a sufficient Guide thou wilt not be able to discerne consequently thou art in great danger to goe astray fall into ambushes of temptations perplexities of mind which may expose thee to danger One reason why many even good persons make not that progresse in Vertue which their calling aymes at or which themselves have proposed is an over-much confidence in their owne judgment whereby their Eyes employed in others imperfections are dim-sighted in their own by this conceit they make themselves as unfitt to be guided by others as unsufficiēt to guide themselves Wherefore my Philothea if thou desirest in earnest to enter holy Solitude learne to tread the paths of perfection thou must have some kind of suspition of thy own Wisdome which hath so frequently mis-ledd Thee with a prompt humble Obedience submit thy selfe to be governed directed by an other For A faithfull freind is a strong protection sayes the Wise man He is a Medecine of life Immortality if thou fearest God thou shall find him This hath beē the generall practise of all the Saints who had never so happyly discovered their own Errours or the will of God for the reforming them had they not attended to a spirituall Guide Woe be to him that is alone sayes Salomon because when he falleth he hath none to rayse him up True it is such a faith full Guide is hard to be found Wherefor choose one sayth Avila amongst a thousād nay one amongst ten thousand sayth S. Francis of Sales for few are capable of this sublime charge Such an one must be full of Knowledge who is to discerne the hiddē paths through which the Holy Ghost leads a Child of God from the wiles Paths of Satan transform'd sometimes into an Angell of Light He must be also full of Charity that he may beare with the imperfections of the Soule whome he undertakes to guide And lastly he must be full of Discretion that according to the various tempers of his spirituall Children he may know when what remedies to apply whereby to provoke thē to a more eager pursuite of Perfectiō to a flight from the many Impedimēts which disable in a solitary vertuous life which is above all he must not so much desire to gayn upon their good esteeme as to make a faithfull use of good Counsells whereby he may advantage them in the feare love of their Soveraign Creatour If any of these three Qualities be wanting his cōduct may be unsafe Wherefore earnestly beg him of God doubt not but he will rather send thee an Angell from Heaven to direct thee then lett thee fayle Having now obtayned such a Guide blesse God for his mercies towards thee remayne constant seek no other But goe forward with him humbly innocently with confidence esteeming him as if he were an Angell of God indeed during thy holy retreate have conference with him at least once a day disclose to him those lights those affections resolutions which God hath raysed in Thee with the spirituall feelings thou hast either of thy own infirmities or Gods presence Let him have a full insight of thy inclinations passions conceale not any notable motion of thy soule from him but lay thy whole heart open before him as freely cheerfully as if thou wert thē to give an account to God at the great day So doing be assured that he who hath promised to resist the proud give his graces to the meeke humble of heart will by his means more aboundantly enlighten thy understanding enflame thy will securely lead thee through all difficulties to rest peace If wee doe not become as little ones by a sincere simplicity humility obedience to him who is to give an account for our soules where can these vertues appeare §. 10. Exercises in Solitude HAving spoken of the duty of a Solitary soule to her spirituall Guid of her dependance on his lips for such counsells directions as may be expedient during her retreat I need not add much concerning the use of Vocall Prayer Reading of spirituall bookes corporall Mortifications manuall Labours of all which
the Prudence so the Directour can best judge according to the different qualities humours of the Persons he deales with wherein one generall rule cannot be fitted for all However thus in breife Since variety facilitates the use of that which would otherwise prove irksome it were not amisse every day besides thy Usual Recollection to recite such Vocall Prayers as besides the Office of obligation we are accustomed to say But let them be few sayd atteÌ„tively at such times as thou findest thy spirit unfitt to work on thy prescribed Considerations Aspirations are as flames darted forth the furnace of a burning soule If thou findest thy heart forcibly inclined to them keep them not in If these offer not themselves let thy spirit speak with God silently by heaving its selfe up towards heavenly things And if these fayle too be contented to say such Vocall prayers as the Church useth till it pleaseth God that the Mist falls thy Understanding receiveth new strength cleerenesse Reading helps invention administers matter to the affective part it matters not how little it be so it be wel digested rightly applyed to rayse up affections I should advise thee to be sparing herein least diversity of matters distract thee from attending to the points of that dayes Exercise which thou must carefully peruse before the time of RecollectioÌ„ that the mind may not want a fitt subject to discourse on Thou mayest before or after dinner read the life of the Saint of that Day or any other as thy Directour shall judge expedient but if thou wilt follow my advice content thy selfe with reading thy daylie Meditations frequently over Experience will teach that to be more profitable to thy designe in hand As for corporall Austeritiâ—s if moderate they strengtheÌ„ the spirit by weakning the flesh are a means to rayse the soule to the thought of heavenly things One meale a day is aboundantly enough If thou beest Religious eat in Gods name what is set before thee without scruple blesse God that for thy humiliation he makes thee descend from Contemplation of his Glory to the use of corporall sustenaÌ„ce The more sparing thy evening meale is thy sleep will be the sweeter thyselfe apter for thy night watch Yet herein stand scrupulously to the advice of thy Superiours spirituall Guid as also for the use of Haire-cloath Disciplines sueh like humiliations Manuall labours must not be assumed indifferently but with advice direction By all means fly such as require conference with others or tyre out the body distract the mind Moderate walking after meales helpes to a more intense recollection yet let it be as much out of sight of others as may be that the soule may have her full freedome to launch herselfe forth by holy aspirations upon occurring objects as God shall inspire thee §. 11. Distribution of Time I Will conclude with a distribution of time which ought carefully to be observed during our spirituall retyrement after the manner here prescribed unlesse thy Directour appoint another more conformable to thy calling abilities or as he shall find thee disposed for this great work Wherefor Philothea the happy evening being now come when thou inteÌ„dest to bid adieu to worldly thoughts confine thy selfe for the following TeÌ„ dayes to thy private Cell or Closett to ruminate upon the dayes of Eternity in a holy peaceable Solitude quitt thy selfe of thy ordinary Employments that thou mayst the more freely attend to this thy great affaire purge thy soule by an entyre confession of what thou findest offensive in thee having attentively read over the first point of the next dayes Meditation take thy selfe to thy rest At the first signe of the Caller to Midnight Office signing thy selfe arise in thy cloathing say Miserere or De profundis for living or dead freinds Then goe silently to the quire prepare thy heart cheerfully to say or heare the Divine Office That ended keep thy Meditation upon the first point of that mornings Exercise according to the rules above prescribed For Preparation Conclusion may serve for Meditation upoÌ„ any subject whatsoever Then having ended thy Meditations say thy Crosses stay some what longer then ordinary For during this time of thy Solitude thou must endeavour to be the first last in the quire After Crosses thou mayst take a Discipline for some space of time if thy Directour thinkes it expedient Otherwise it is upon no terms to be done Then returne to thy bed Those who rise not to Mattins may rise after their first sleep performe that point of Meditation Crosses Discipline as aforesayd otherwise let them not fayle to rise at Five in the morning The fourteen houres distribution begins with the morning watch Endeavour to rise some what before Six in the morning that thou may stread the Second point of thy morning exercise before thou goest to Prime unto which as also unto other houres assist devoutly After this heare Masse attentively joyning thy intention good desires with the Priest then spend a good halfe houre either in the quire or thy Cell in discussioÌ„ of the secôd point Observe alwayes the usuall time of CoÌ„munion according to the place where thou art But this must be performed the dayes thou entrest comest forth thy Solitude the better to enable confirme thee in this great work of thy spirituall Retreat the effects thereof Between Eight Nine confer with thy Directour touching either the imperfections or graces thou hast felt in thy soule If thou canst not then have his presence read a Saints Life the rest of that houre give some release to thy thoughts by some Vocall Aspirations towards Eternity for time lost thy drowsinesse to Vertue pronesse to vice From Nine to Ten meditate upon the third point of that dayes Exercise But alwayes endeavour to be moderate towards the end of thy Recollection least too much intensenesse breed faintnes and render Thee unfitt to persever in this holie work From Ten say the Penitentiall Psalmes Littanies Then make a reveiw of thy infirmities discovered means propounded for amendment of Life At Eleven take thy Noons repast rather to satisfy Nature them to please thy sense And use such temperance therein that neither by Excesse thou burthen nor by overmuch nicenesse weaken thy frayle body which is to serve the soule in her Contemplations After dinner some time being employed in giving thankes to God for the benefit of thy conservation praying for benefactours living dead take some easy divertisement for one houre At One read over the First point of thy Evening Exercise raise as many good thoughts affections as thou canst whereby efficaciously to move thee to a constant practise of what thou shalt then resolve SpeÌ„d the houre twixt Two Three as between Eight Nine in the morning At Three read over attentively the Second part of thy Evening
aboad being there with God our employmeÌ„ts in what beloÌ„gs to him Although nothing be more ours then we our selus titles of honour most coÌ„forting delights our dearest friends as leaves blossoms from the tree being easily blown off from us yet having our Being with what ever appertains to it from God whatsoever we are in our selus can doe or may have belongs to God as the Soveraign Lord Master of all so that to him we owe all we should be guiltie of a most greivous disloyaltie should we venture to dispose of our selus according to our own liking Gods inward Excellencie wherby he contains in himselfe all perfections disperst amongst Creatures those sacred influences wherby he preserus us from falling into our Originall Ashes his precept of loving him above all things which includes the actions of all other morall divine Vertues the price of Christs precious Bloud wherewith he bought us those unspeakable rewards of holiness of life prepared above with his Angells for us are strong tyes of Dutie to him challeng all homage fidelitie from us Wherfore Philothea should we spend our whole liues every thought all our actions on him we pay but the least part of what we owe to him Now therfore at least show thy readiness to follow love obey him sith he specially invites Thee to a more familiar conference freedom with him during thy Solitude COLLOQUIE Even so it is My Dearest Lord I am thine O that I might for ever abide with thee The world is a sea full of tempests confusion holie Solitude is a safe harbour where there are great calms securitie O that thou wouldest fill the sayles of my heart with a gracious gale which may sweetly carry me forth of these turbulent depths free me from the dangers of a spirituall shipwrack give me a sure shelter under thy comforting protection then should my spirit have liberty to pant after the escaped dangers sâ—e the perills wherin she hath been hitherto tossed pay those dutiâ—s which on so many titles are due unto Thee Save me thou O Lord I shall be saved thou shalt be my praise for ever SECOND DISCOURSE Our Returnes to God HAving now perswaded thy selfe to embrace Solitude through reflection on the Dignitie Innocencie Necessitie therof in order to thy freedom from worldly cares solicitudes as also that thou maist therby pay to God part of that great Dutie which on so many titles thou owest to him fitt thy selfe for the due practise therof by Acknowledgment of Gods speciall favours to thee in inspiring thee with so holie just a design The same God that sanctifyed thee a Member of his holie Church has by hidden means drawn thee now nigher to himselfe will that thou break in pieces those fetters of sensualitie which have hitherto kept thee tyed to Creatures without which thou hadst still wallowed in thy old vices never look't into thy corrupted manners or thought on begining this thy holie Pilgrimage Wherfor acknowledge thy nakedness povertie weakness to walk these sublime wayes of perfection that this divine Call all other favours thou shalt ther by reape are pure effects of Gods mercies bountie to thee O Philothea could we duely value the greatness of this favour of being thus cald to walk converse with God whereas many others who perhaps would make better use therof are passed by left to work out their salvation amidst the tumults of worldly cares we would esteem no labours no sufferings enough to express our Gratitude to him Resolve therefor to employ thy Memorie in thinking on God on the generall speciall means best known to thy own spirit wherby he hath drawn thee thus far from Creatures towards himselfe thy Understanding in searching forth means wherby readily to execute his coÌ„mandements inspired counsells thy Will other inferiour powers of thy soul in loving him refrayning from what he hath forbidden performing whatsoever he hath or shall require of thee And because the aime of Solitude is to lead thee to a private conference with God wherin the Immortall Angells now glorifyed Saints will be spectatours before whom none may appeare without his wedding GarmeÌ„t or with feet sullied by sinfull affections Thou must Philothea endeavour to Rectifie thy intentions in undertaking this Retyrement for if thy motives be but customarie the fruicts therof will soon fade Then Purge thy mind of worldly vaine affections by a deep act of repentance least they ever anon call upon thee disturb the repose of the spirit And lastly Offer up thy heart to God united with that of thy crucified Saviour for whose sake thou art resolved to walk the hard ways of thy Pilgrimage to Perfection so that henceforth whether JESUS feasts thee with his disciples in Cana or fasteth in the wilderness be glorious on Mount Thabor or prayeth in the Garden or hangeth on the Crosse thou must never forsake him Thus wilt thou happyly walk through the varieties dangers of this unconstant life make a fruitfull progress in this thy holy Retyrement COLLOQUIE Wellcome then O most delicious paradice of my God O Sacred Solitude wherein is again revived the decayed Image of our Originall Innocency by conformity of will to God Obedience of sensualitie to the precepts of reason sweet traÌ„quillitie of all passions powers in the Kingdome of the soul I acknowledg O my God thy great bounty in inviting me hither will endeavour to prun my spirit of all irregular MotioÌ„s that Imay be Afitt Offring to my heavenly Lord Master Sanctify O God these my earnest desires from thy holie Temple of Hierusalem confirme the good things thou hast wrought in me Amen SECOND DAYES VOYAGE Entertainments in Solitude THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Humilitie Austeritie CONSIDERATION COnsider that there 's a great difference between Solitude Idleness A wise holie Soul will choose therefor to be alone that shee may be better employed whither it be that the Retyrement be for the whole life under some Religious Vows or for some certain dayes wherfor entring into Solitude thou must Philothea make use of such Entertainments of spirit body as may consist with retyredness advance thee in the practise of Vertue Wherfore we must be well grouÌ„ded in the use of Humilitie which is the foundation of all other Vertues a fair disposition both to acknowledg ameÌ„d what 's amisse For Solitude is a state wherin the soul is raised to a private conference with God unlesse we have a perfect Humilitie we are in danger of a precipice Nay what ever other progresse we make in our Pilgrimage to Perfection without a profound humilitie we are never secure as appears in Lucifer our first Parents Therfor Our Lord JESUS by doctrine exemple exhorts to the practise therof as the cheife work of Christianitie the prefervative of
Origin thou art but a little matter of corruption The Greatest the Wisest the Beautifullest amongst us is of no better mould In our birth we enter the world with many greivous gripings groans of our Parents naked blind poore unable to help our-selves ignorant how we come hither how whither to depart In our lives we are exposed to innumerable calamities of sicknesse povertie wars calumnies with much pain must conserve our lives health with fruits of the Earth flesh of beasts And at last in our Deaths dissolved into lāguors sighs teares are hurried forth from the eies thoughts of our dearest friends layd under groūd there to rott into our Originall dust ashes This is the pedigree of the best of us as to our out-ward Man so that we may justly cry out What is Man O God that thou art mindfull of him If God be mindfull of our Nothing surely we should have a continuall remembrance of it least the sweetnesse of Divine Solitude the pleasing Entertainments we may therin experience between our Souls God puff us up with affections of Vain Glory AFFECTION Unhappy Man that I am who will deliver me from this body of Death I am born poore miserable live amidst crosses sorrows must dye with groans gasps shall rott into my mother Earth Ah my Soul since the one halfe of Man is so vile be thou still humble Lucifers pride had some plea if he were proud he was immortall also but Man can find nothing in himselfe but filth weaknesse corruption Shall I then presume to speak to God who am but dust ashes Alas should I say I am better the graves carcasses of the Monarchs beauties of the World would beare witnesse against me RESOLUTION In what ever degree of comtemplation or condition of life I am I will ever be mindfull of my Originall Nothing the miserable progresse I must make through wants diseases tribulations of all sorts from the Womb to the Tōb I will with holie Job say to Rottennesse thou art my Father my Mother Sister to the Wormes This is my kindred my Companions are a multitude of too well known Infirmities Therefor Gods Greatnesse my own Vilenesse shall be the ballances of my thoughts I will hope that the Mercy of God will one day raise the needy from the dust of the Earth lift the poore from the dung place them amongst the Princes of his people SECOND POINT Wretchnesse of the Soul by Sin CONSIDERATION COnsider That if thou beest nothing but corruption rottennesse in thy body thy Soul defiled by Sin renders thee worse then nothing for by sin we become the unhappy vessells of Gods heavy wrath he spared not the Angels in their sins but deprived them of all their originall endowments of nature grace banishes them for ever from his blissfull presence confines them to the dreadfull prison tormēts of Hell nor will he spare us but if we be partners in their crimes he will also make us Companions in their bitter suffrings Evident in our first Parents whom for one sin he deprives of the innocent state of their originall Creation expells them the Earthly Paradice condemns them us to mourn out this wretched life amidst labours sweats innumerable miseries as chastisers of our guilt We also through Sin incurr an insufferable servitude under the Tyranny of Satan He covets not either honours wealth or pleasures but as to our Lord JESUS in the wildernesse so to us still offers all these if we will doe homage adore him which we no sooner doe but we become Slaves to him he continually assaulting us with manifold greivous temptations using all Creatures even our own flesh bloud passions of sensuality to work our overthrow still plying us with seducing suggestiōs giving no respit from his snares deceipts filling our hearts with distrust of Mercy for past sins despaire of delayd helps from heaven doubts of a finall perseverance in our duties under so heavy a weight of tribulations he raiseth against us Likewise thereby we loose Gods gracious presence fatherly providence over us our right part in the merits of CHRISTS bitter saving Passion the friēdship familiarity of Gods comforting spirit All graces guifts fruits blessings of the holie Ghost the peace security of our Consciences our Communion in the Sacrifices prayers good deeds of the faithfull our claym to our heavenly inheritance And more over we defile in our Souls the beautifull Image of God are razed forth the book of life are deprived of the protection safeguard of the blessed Angels contract greivous remorses of conscience pronesse to greater sins a guilt of hell fire unlesse with a repentant heart we by Confession confusibly discover our sins known to God our Souls only by corporall afflictiōs endeavour to appease Gods just indignation against us for them This is enough to humble the best of us if we have any feeling of our sinfull State AFFECTION Ah my God who can hide from thy all-seeing Eie the abysse of wretchednesse wherein my Sins have already sunck me Alas I am become the unhappy object of thy just wrath the woefull servant of rebellious Satan deprived of thy healing graces exposed to innumerable Miseries Hold thy hand O my Almighty Lord rebuke me not in thy fury for shouldst thou observe iniquities who could sustain the heavinesse of thy displeasure I will therefor confesse unto Thee my unworthinesse to appear before thee to enjoy even the cōmon blessings of heaven earth which I have so oft vainly abused to satisfy my sinfull passions that I ought not to hope for any part in thy blessings of glorie But thou O God hast mercy on thousands wilt comfort the weak afflicted if thou doest humble us it is that we may thereby learn that from thee are our Justifications RESOLUTION I purpose henceforth to have ever before my Eies my sinfull condition whereby I have rendred my selfe thus vile abominable in the sight of God his holy Angels subject to the insolencies of Satan my disorderly passions branded with the infamous mark of one banisht from the face of God I will also acknowledg my selfe guilty of the innocent death of my Saviour JESUS not to deserve from him the least favour either of his justifying grace or all-comforting Glory but that I have rather incurd a just debt of everlasting ignominy confusion And therefor however it shall please God to reveale himselfe to me in this my Solitude I will accept of it as his most gracious guift And the more he exalts me the more will I humble my selfe through the consideratiō of my sinfull State whereby I have provoked his wrath against Mee THIRD POINT Ignorance of our future State CONSIDERATION COnsider That although perhaps thou oft
Master JESUS CHRIST offers him selfe on the Altar of his Crosse to his heavenly Father a Sacrifice of Prayse Impetration Suffrage with the same intention ought we to entertain JESUS in our hearts by thankfulnesse for his manifold favours imploring grace mercy for our selves Spirituall releife for all distressed souls ever mindfull of his bitter Passion that the fruits thereof may be liberally applyed to us we may become suffring members with our Divine Head encreasing in all perfection freedom with God in our Contemplations being entirely transformed into Him on whom our Spirits here feed that we may have no life knowledge affection or motion in us but what proceeds from ends in him AFFECTION Alas my Deerest Lord I have been too carelesse in my adresses to Thee How often have I frequented thy holy Altars with vain weak desires not loving Thee there for Thy selfe but receiving Thee of dull custome or for some present gust in Thee Not solicitous to cherish the good desires conceived by thee or a willingnesse to beare Crosses for thee thus am I become unworthy that thou entrest the house of my soul live there but if thou Say'st the word my Spirit shall be healed RESOLUTION I will hence forth set some speciall time a part wherein to discusse rectifye my intention before I approach to eate of this living bread that God may be glorifyed all Christian souls may reap spirituall profit by the use of this great Mystery will say AN OBLATION BEFORE COMMVNION O Blessed JESUS in union of that love wherewith thou did'st offer thy selfe a Sacrifice to thy Father on the Altar of the Crosse and in conformity to that intention thou then hadst I this day offer up to thee my Communion as a Sacrifice of Praise Impetration Suffrage for my selfe all others to whom I am obleiged by Obedience Iustice or Charitie in that degree I am obleiged which I beseech thee through the merits of thy bitter Passion may be acceptable to Thee Amen THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Preparation to the Holie Sacrament NOne will undertake any great work without carefull preparation of all things necessary for its due performance If we use a cautious providence in all our humane actions ordinary conversation this should rather be observed when we intend to enter the Holie of Holies there feed on the Bread of Angels our powerfull Creator mercifull Redeemer Just Judge The Paschall Lamb was but a dark barren figure of this gracious Sacrifice yet the Jews eat not thereof without much cleanesse circumspection alacrity of Spirit Saint John Baptist esteems not himselfe worthy to unloose CHRISTS shoes Saint Peter to fayle in the same Boat with him the devout Centurion to entertain him under his roofe nor should we presume to appear before him in the Holy Eucharist or there receive him within our breast without great feeling of Love Veneration If JESUS CHRIST be a Mirrour without spot no stain of sin should then be seen in our soul within or undecency in the outward habit of our body if he be there a God of Love Peace to us we may not touch or feed on him unlesse reconciled to Heaven Earth in Imitation of the Primitive Christians who meeting at this great Mystery were of one heart one spirit ADVISES FOR A GENERALL CONFESSION Now therefore My Philothea thy heavenly Espouse having led thee some steps down towards his Cellar of rich Gracious wines there disclosed to Thee part of his spirituall treasures hidden pathes of divine Love to the end thou maist duly prepare thy selfe to eate also of this Bread of life find no impediment in thy progresse to perfection I advise thee to dispose thy selfe towards a Generall Confession in case Thy spirituall Guid iudg that expedient profitable for Thee Although perhaps thou art not conscious of any grevious sin not formerly discovered yet since even of a forgiven sin we may not be without feare we cannot be too solicitous in cleansing our hearts removing all obstacles of divine Lights Graces Wherefor Philothea doe this now once for ever but doe it simply plainly without feare or anxiousness unto a person chosen amongst a thousand by whose advice thou maist be wholly directed for the manner of it how thou art afterwards to behave thy selfe should scruples arise Which ended blesse God for his mercies towards Thee prostrate in spirit before thy Crucifix pronounce the following Covenant PHILOTHEA'S COVENANT WITH GOD. I N. Placed in the presence of Almighty God the whole Court of heaven having considered the aboundant Love wherewith God hath created me sanctifyed me in holy Baptisme sustained me in my manifold sins transgressions at length called me to this state of life wherein I now am preserving me there from many dangers of offending him inspiring sorrow for my failings a desire to love obey him Doe with my whole soul abhor all the sins of my life past renew my promises to be his loyall obedient servant doe firmely purpose all the dayes of my life to shun all dangers of sin to apply my selfe to the observance of his holie Commandments my own Resolutions And if at any time I break this my Covenant I will as soon as I perceive my errour returne again to God by a hearty repentance confession of all my sins ingratitude Accept O my God this my Protestation made before Thee grant me grace to observe it to the end of my life that I may alwaies abide in thy holy feare die in thy sweet peace with ioy at the last day arise to a blessed Communion of the Saints in thy never ending glory Amen SECOND DISCOURSE Behaviour in receiving the Holie Sacrament BEing thus prepared to entertain JESVS CHRIST in thy heart our endeavours must be by amorous sighs aspirations full of ioy for the approach of our blessed Lord to expresse the longing desire we have of his coming into us The happy Issue of an Important affaire or purchase of some speciall temporall blessings usually takes up the best thoughts most serious wishes of earthlie minds But if our minds be heavenly we will ever think on thirst after this delicious visit of our Divine Espouse Anciently Christians frequented often this heavenlie banquet thence gayned that Sanctity fervour we admire in the Martyrs Hermits holie Virgins of that Age Though worldly ties the manifold distractions whereto our mortality is subject permits not daily Cōmunion yet could we dayly eate this divine Bread our hearts would be accustomed to pious affections strengthned against occurring temptations weaned from those sensuall liberties we now so unwillingly abandon That morning thou intendest Philothea to receive the holie Eucharist think how earnestlie JESUS CHRIST longeth to take up his lodging within thee therefor he sends his
Heralds to proclaime the coming of the Espouse to invite thee to this gracious Supper being thē decently prepared accompanied with thy choicest freinds of heaven approach humbly devoutly to Gods Altar saying in thy spirit Whence is it that my Dearest Lord vouchsafeth to come to me abide within me O Philothea if thy soul be not quite frozen thou wilt here feele the heat of this heavenly fire returne hence full of enflamed affections panting swelling through an aboundance of divine Love If ever there be hopes of a spirituall advancement any zeale of Christian duties or constant resignation amidst temptations it will now appeare while this great Giver of all good things lodges in thy bosome as the soul of thy spirit Manifest then to him thy wants wishes say Thou thalt not depart hence unlesse thou doest blesse me with the blessings of Peace Mercy COLLOQUIE Ah my soul canst thou be hungry hauing eaten of the bread of Angels Or a thirst hauing tasted of the fountain of living water Or cold having been at this divine fire Alas my Soveraign Lord my carelesness in attending to thy presence in this sacred banquet my frequent relapses into my old vices ungratitude for thy many wonderfull favours has even deaded my heart rendred it insensible to the gracious influences of this heavenly food Enliven my spirit O my God with thy grace fortify it with this bread of Angels in the strength thereof I will walk to thy holie Mountain the Mountain where God delights to abide where he liveth for ever Amen FIFTH DAYES VOYAGE Mortification of Sensualitie THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Mortification of the Senses CONSIDERATION COnsider that the soul being now cleansed from all stayns of sin by Repentance strengthned in its Spirituall life by that divine bread which is JESSUS CHRIST we must use all endeavours to reforme such evill habits inclinations as may slacken our pious resolutions purchase those helps of Vertue which may most efficaciouslie advance us in our Pilgrimage to perfection We must therefor Philothea withdraw our outward senses frō all those objects which are apt to seduce our hearts from Gods Law engage them in sinfull affections so contrary to the perfectiō of our designe This is done both by a carefull custody of our senses from viewing feeding on such sensible objects as may allure us to take complacence in them by a moderate castigation of the body by acts of pennance that it rebells not against the dictates of reason grace All Christians have a strickt obligation to endeavour this custody castigation of the senses For being Children of the earthly Adam through whose sin all are borne enemies to God Rebells against his holy Law we all find both body soul alienated from their due Obedience to reason Gospell which cannot be repayred but by withdrawing our senses even from lawfull objects undergoing hard painfull duties Being also in holy Baptisme happily spoused to JESUS CHRIST by a solemn Vow then made in our Name to renounce Satan all his works to apply our selves to the observance of all CHRISTS Precepts we ought seriously to study the imitation of the life of Our Soveraign Lord fullfill our promises made to him by mortifying our concupiscences performance of his Will But this must be especially done during our spirituall retreat that crucifying our sensualitie by prayer fasts watchings such like austerities we may the more freely harkē to the whisperings of the Spirit thereby become wholly spirituall according to our designe And therefor those great Examples of solitary perfection whose lives fill us with admiration no sooner withdrew themselves from the noyse of worldly solicitudes but they applyed themselves to corporall austerities therby to quell the inordinate suggestions of corrupted sensualitie raise up their hearts in the contemplation of heavenly permanent comforts AFFECTION O painfull pilgrimage of this mortall Life how miserable how fraile how bitter art thou And yet have I thus long loved thee feeding my senses on perishing objects filling my heart with vain emptie desires of sensuall pleasures thereby forgetting that great ransom my Saviour payd to redeem me from the tyranny of Satan which the disorders of sensuality brought upon me neglecting that glorious inheritance he by his bitter Passion purchased for me Oh I will rather suffer a thousand deaths then abandon my selfe to these unclean deceitfull delights I renounce you for ever O Impure suggestions doe defie any concupiscence which may bring the wrath of God upon the children of distrust RESOLUTION I will make a covenant with my senses not to admitt of any unlawfull or vain object will place a guard over them that they seek not after what may be pleasing to flesh bloud I will mortify them by a prudent descreet use of corporall austerities denying to my selfe all superfluities which may delight my sensuall inclinations in conformitie to the counsells of holy Gospell by assuming particular acts of Mortification sutable to my calling as far as Obedience will permit And I will say with the Royall Prophet For thy love O Lord I have mortifyed my selfe all the day long SECOND POINT Mortification of the Passions CONSIDERATION COnsider That it sufficeth not to mortify the outward senses unlesse we reforme also the inward Man by ordering and deading our inward passiōs What availes it to weare a haire cloath on the back in the bosome to beare a rancorous proud heart or what profit will it be to our spirit to fast much to pray often to watch long speak seldome if Envie Impatience Pride or some other hidden affections poyson the soul within destroy that delicious harmony which should be between the Will of God our own It is a great mistake Philothea of some souls otherwise wel-willing devout that heeding the mortification of the outward man they neglect to prune their hearts of vicious affections so contrary to the spirit of JESUS CHRIST thereby misse of that tranquillitie perfection they seek after in their Retyrement Wherefor My Philothoa make a carefull survay of all thy sensuall inclinations what passions lay lurking in thy heart how ready thou art to beare Crosses forbeare carnall satisfactions sett a watch over every one that they stirr not but by the order of Reason direction of Grace AFFECTION Alas my Soul it is the Way but not the end of perfection to mortify thy poore body if thou beest thy selfe the cause of all disorders there Be thou humble thy body will not be proud be thou chast thy body will not be lascivious be thou temperate thy body will not be gluttonous Oh that the powerfull hand of my God would quell the tumults of my inordinate passions putt bounds to the rowlings of my affections I have strayed from Thee O my
up to this Great glorious God speaking to Thee by simple or unmixt bodyes such as are the Elements heavens behold how the Earth hangs ballanced in the midst of the World by its own weight enriched within with mines of Gold precious stones seeds of all sorts without garnished with flowers fruits many kinds of living creatures how the Water cleaves sphearally to the Earth runs through about it in Seas Rivers Springs of different Vertues How the Aire is perspicuous dissolves into showres to moisten the Earth abounds with all sorts of birds for our profit pleasure How Fire has its light heat flames how Heaven is adorned with stars moves without cease by its influences conserves things beneath in their Being due temper Then ascend to Mixt Bodyes voyd of life contemplate the Variety Vertues of sulphurs mettals stones gummes consider then the perfection multitude of Vegitable creatures as seeds plants herbs leaves blossoms flowers fruits Lastly take a View of Sensible Creatures voyd of Reason such as be the severall sorts of Beasts of the Earth fish in the sea fowles of the Aire God speaks to us Philothea by all these Visible creatures their Being growth properties declare his Power whereby they are created their Order Varietie number discovers his Wisdom their usefulnesse both to preserve our bodyes raise up our souls speaks his admirable Love Bounty to us AFFECTION How full is the World of the Majesty Glory of God! how carelesse hast thou been my soul in these Visible things to admire the Invisible Power Wisdom Bounty of the Maker Governour Lord of All Thy own kingdom above O God where all obey thy Will is surely very glorious since Thou hast furnished this our earthly habitation for sinners those who rebell agaynst thy holy Commandements with such Excellent admirable Creatures Who would not in all these love adore the God of all Let the Heavens speak forth thy Glory the firmament thy wonders for thou art Great Wonderfull thy Wisdom is without End RESOLUTION I will attentively read over the Book of Creatures that I may therein learn how full of Majesty Wisdom Goodnesse God is who has communicated such Perfection Order profitablenesse to Visible Creatures I will admire Him in All using them as steps wherby to clime up to him therefor I will be carefull not to abuse them contrary to the End God has ordained placing my felicity in his helps to it least hereafter they become my chastisers whē all Creatures shall fight Gods war agaynst Sinners How wonderfull are thy works O Lord Thou hast created all things in Wisdom Thou hast rejoyced me in them I will delight in the works of thy hands THIRD POINT God speaks by Man CONSIDERATION COnsider That all Creatures beneath Man are only the Footsteps of God representing some one or other perfection of that infinite Abysse but Man himselfe is the true Image Likenesse of God As a Little world he contayneth within himselfe the Excellencies dispersed through the Greater expresseth in some degree those in God the Fountain Authour of both therefor in the beginning of the Creatiō he is establish't Soveraign Lord of all the earth with its ornaments is his pavement meadows and garden Waters his baths fishponds Vallies his cellars storehouses Hills his Walls pillars Heaven the roofe that covers all the stars are the windowes wherby he has a glimpse of Gods glory which shines upon him enlightens the world discovers the beauty of this our earthly habitation Looke over the whole fabrik of Man behold Philothea how the Immortall mind is linked to mortall flesh In the body what comelinesse of limmes proportion of Members variety order use of senses without Entrails within what aptnesse of organs for life action motion what capacity of the spiritualizing Endowments of Agility Clarity Impassibility Subtility wherby it putts on the very likenesse of the glorifyed Angells In the Soul how Excellent the prerogatives of being an Immortall Invisible spirit The memory how vast for objects time circumstances of both the Understanding how active boundlesse reaching as high as God above diving into the Abysse of Nothing The Will how free to good evill What variety of subordinate powers passions operations What capacity of sciences Arts Vertues Morall Divine also of the Sight eternall Possession of God in himselfe All which with a loud voice speak how glorious God is in his own Being happinesse how wonderfull his providence is in our creation conduct to our supreme End should stirr us up to a serious attention admiration love of him strongly engage us to apply all these outward inward Guifts according to the intent of our Wise Creatour And although Mans disobedience to God wrought sin darknesse in his soul wherby she became unable to contemplate or move towards him yet being repayred by the Mercies of JESUS CHRIST the Light of our spirituall World we are agayn establisht in a spirituall Life capacity to supernaturall gracious actions By divine Faith we see heare what God reveales of himselfe the way that leads towards him by Hope we Savour the sweetnesse of Heaven Vertue by Charity we have a foretast of the ioyes of the Saints already touch embrace God with the armes of an Extaticall love begin to sing Salomons Song of Songs which by the sensible pleasantnesse of creatures abroad leads the now Purged Illuminated Perfect soul to an intellectuall Light Harmony Odour Savour Embracement of her heavenly Espous Who seated in the midst of the heart as on an Imperiall Throne environed with a Mysticall Quire of Angelicall Spirits Seraphins by Love Cherubins by knowledge Throns by Justice Mercy Dominations by Majesty Principalities by Government Powers by Salvatiō Vertues by helping Graces Archangels by speciall revelations Angels by continuall presence to us by himselfe inspires a divine life directs the powers passions of the soul inclines to heavenly thoughts actions by his Holy Spirit sent into all parts of this our lesser World produces those wonderfull workings of Love feelings of Gods Intimacy to us tranquillity of the whole Man We experience in our Pilgrimage to perfection performance of the duties thereof wherby we become Images of the heavenly Hierusalem where God lives eternally in his glorious Saints AFFECTION Thou wert within Mee O most amiable God I have sought Thee abroad defiled my heart by Cleaving to these outward Beauties whilst Thou O Soveraign Beauty of all Creatures abidest in the sanctifyed soul as in thy proper kingdom What hopes may I have to contemplate thy glorious face who livest in an unaccessible light or to approach unto thy presence who art an ever flaming
glorious how pleasant how delightfull is the Kingdom of the Saints where Thou O God happy in thy selfe art the happinesse of thy glorifyed servants No greife all content is there where thou dost abide through a fulnes of their Love ever flowing towards thee Oh that thou would'st transport me forth of this kingdō of darknesse misery that I may with a fixed Eie ever behold Thee the Light which no darknesse comprehends possesse Thee the Peace that surpasses all Imagination then will the rowlings longings of my faynting heart have an End it will appear in me that I have been in a Region of Light Peace am full of both I in Iustice shall appear in thy sight shall be satiated when thy Glory appears Amen NINTH DAYES VOYAGE Repose of the soul in God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT The soul hidden in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That Beginners in the Contemplative life goe frō Creatures to God admiring loving Him by the beauty lovelynesse discoverd in them Proficients look on God as he is revealed by divine faith by that dimme light make pleasant sallies towards him by acts of admiration love restlesse desires to live move in by to God But they who are now happily arrived to the state of Perfection which thou aymest at Philothea in this thy solitary Pilgrimage doe contemplate Gods Majesty Beauty Glory as if cleerly revealed seen in Himselfe by an Illapse of God into the sanctifyed soul of the soul into God in whom she hides herselfe reposeth without disturbance enjoyes a fulnesse of content without wandring abroad Thus S. Paul even in this life could say that his life was hidden with CHRIST in God that his conversation was even then in heaven having placed his happinesse in spirituall divine actions wherby his soul ever moved towards God emptyed its selfe into him concealing himselfe from the World by bearing with ioy the Miseries mortifications therof contrary to the custome of those who living in the World live wordly And thus the lives of the Saints have been ever accounted folly their deaths dishonourable whereas they live with in God a divine life contented to know love move in him according to the lights helps received from him It is in our power Philothea through divine helps to lead this hidden life in God have our conversation in heavē even abiding or Earth in our mortall flesh but thou must then be very pure holy having thy Soul cleansed from all sin sinfull inclinations pressing towards earthly satisfactions for no spot or stain enters that beautifull cleer region of the Saints Thou must also be cloathed with the garment of Charity towards all cōply with divine Inspirations putting on JESUS Christ by imitatiō of his mortifications prōptnesse in obeying his counsells Thus abiding in the world thou wilt not be of the World or be known by it having not its livery on nor performing its actions But God will acknowledge thee to be his in whom thou now livest hast a Divine Being in Him therefor maist say I live now not in my selfe but in God my life my sweet repose my finall happinesse AFFECTION O admirable sweetnesse of this Divine Being of the Soul hidden from the World in God! even in this life thou maist ascend thither my Soul quitting earthly conversation comforts passing the Starrs transported above the Quires of glorious Angels drowning thy selfe in the Abysse of Gods infinite Essence O who will give me the wings of a Dove I will fly repose in God My heart hath desired his face my Soul covets his presence O beautifull Face O delicious presence O rich aboad in God in the fulness of the Saints only the clean of heart may abide there RESOLUTION I will hide my selfe from the world casting off its livery which are worldly vain actions abandoning all earthly conversation which may soyle my heart And I will henceforth live in God by contēplating his Glory performing heavenly actions ordring my whole life according to his holy Will not regarding what passeth here on earth as if not att all belonging to Me or the life of One hidden living in God Oh that my Soul were swallowed up in that Divine Sea God in Me I in God besides Nothing As I began from Thee so will I end in Thee O End without End SECOND POINT Search of God in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That being now entred into God there as Moses on Gods Holy Mountain hidden in a Divine Mist we must search into him endeavour to discover plainly what he is how amiable is his hidden beauty we so thirst to behold enjoy This must be performed by an act of pure Contemplation without depending on created Images or discourse of reason but as if the Eie of the Soul were dazled with the beams of Gods Divine unaccessible Light diffused through that Mist She must simply consider God to be so full of Majesty so Good so Glorious that he can never be seen loved or admired as he is or we ought so that what ever we conceive of him is far beneath the Excellencies of his Being what ever we admire in him he is incomparably more admirable how ever we love him he is infinitely more amiable lovely desirable although each one should love him as much as all the Saints Angels together can for a whole Eternity love him Wherefor the amorous soul will be ever busied in searching into God discovering his hidden perfections in that divine Mist being unable to discern cleerly even what she there already sees therefor cryes out to God Shew me thy face And although she therein feeles a most excessive sweetnesse ioy yet she is ignorant both what it is whence it comes therfor acknowledges him to be infinitely more excellent delightfull then she is able to expresse or imagine as it hapned to S. Paul in his divine rapture If thou wert extrem hungry Philothea didst stand betwixt two tables loathing the meat of the one not permitted to tast of the other what conflicts would'st thou then feele Thus it will be if the soul be hidden in this divine Mist for being wearied with the search of her beloved in created Likenesse not permitted to contemplate the naked Essence of God in its selfe cleerly though present with her she still inquires after him loaths the obscurity wherein she is through her own weaknesse thirsts to be filled with a cleer Vision full Fruition of God in himselfe oft looks forth to make a better discovery of him entertains all his inspirations as so many Whisperings of her Espous sighs amorously for his delaying the comfortable Revelation of himselfe to her as one drunk with love sends messages to him by all she meets that She lanquishes with Love AFFECTION
separate the One from the Other As God caused the brightness of Christs tranfigur'd body on Mount Thabor which signifies the cleerness cheerfulness of our Spirit in holy actions so also he caused that darkness which o'respred the earth whilst CHRISTS body was disfigur'd on Mount Calvarie whereby is represented the droughts of a Soul in this state of spirituall desolation Wherefor behave thy felfe very cautiously in the pursuance of Christian perfection so that whither thou hast a feeling of piety or whither God for reasons known to himselfe deprives Thee thereof keep the same Evenness of heart constancy in thy duties during both States still multiplying acts of Love renewing thy purposes resigning thy selfe to Gods decrees concerning Thee following the direction of his Holy Spirit under whose conduct thou art now become conformable to thy sufferring Espous Imagine therefor that JESUS CHRIST has nayled Thee to this Cross through the great Love he has towards Thee to the end thou flyest not from him abandon the charge he has taken of thee or quitt thy customary duties that he may behold thy conflicts harken to thy mournfull sights supplications may more readily infuse spirituall helps wherefor humbly open thy heart to him disclosing all thy wants weakness advise also with some prudent person whom thou hast chosen for thy Guid follow his counsells punctually ever closeing with an entire Resignation to his sacred Will who thus Visits Thee COLLOQUIE What hast thou done My Innocent Lord that thou art thus severely treated Thy body is covered with wounds thy bloud streams forth from every part thy hands feet are nailed to the Cross thy head is crowned with thorns thy heart is peirced with a speare thy Soul fild to the brim with desolation when thou cryedst My God My God why hast thou forsaken Me Oh what Love what Mercy is here I have sinned the Son of God is smitten Oh rather let me fuffer who have provoked thy wrath Whither I feel the sweetness of thy comfortable presence or thou dost permit Anxieties to oppresse my spirit I will equally love Thee obey thy will And I will blesse God at all times his prayses shall ever be in my lips because he will be my Salvation in the day of sorrow SECOND DISCOURSE Phìlotheas Choyce HAving thus prosperously Philothea though with much difficulty in thy ten daies Voyage to Perfection passed through thy holy Solitude arrived to Mount Calvarie there found thy Crucifyed Lord the Author Exemplar Finisher of all Perfection repose thy selfe with joy under the shade of the Crosse offring up thy heart to him to be united with his by Love made conformable to his Will in all thy affections actions saying Behold I have gone far flying from the World its Vanities made my habitation in the Wilderness Under his shadow whom my Soul desireth will I sett This is my Resting place for ever ever here will I dwell because I have chosen it O blessed Flight O pleasant Repose O Divine Choyce whereby thy Soul will become a stranger to the Earth where she lives freely converse with God whom she loves Then make a breife review of thy ten daies Retirement See whither thou hast that value of Solitude its Entertainments which the perfectiō thereof deserveth And what inclinations thou hast to persever therein whither thou hast a cordiall apprehension of thy Sinfull State the Means God has established for thy salvation Whither thy Passions be any thing abated thy heart unchayned from Creatures that it may joyfully Fly to God Whither thou hast a perfect Calme in thy Soul canst Give eare to the whisperings of thy heavenly Espous beest every way fitted to take thy Repose in God And lastly whither thou hast a hearty resentement of the suffrings of thy Crucifyed Lord a willingness to Imitate him in his bitter seperations a desire to be wholly united to him in that sad ignominious state for unless thy heart be now united ūto that of JESUS suffring thou maist not hope hereafter to be united unto thy JESUS triumphing Fix thy Eie therefor steadily upon thy soveraign Lord bleeding dying upon the Cross thereby draw a Coppy in thy own heart by his wounded feet order thy affections by his peirced hands rectify thy actions by his crowned head purify thy thoughts by his opened side regulate thy Love by his sorrowfull Soul draw in thine the picture of Compassion imitation That for ever after the life of JESUS may be made manifest in Thee COLLOQUIE Behold here O Victorious Saviour of Men Angels my languishing sighing heart earnestly sueing to become One with Thee transformed into the likeness of thy love-wounded heart dying to all things but Thee that henceforth Thou onely maist live in me I for ever in Thee without being seperated from Thee O Amiable Union O delicious Transformation O Divine Life Oh that thou wouldest deep engrave in my heart the Image of thy Cross all thy suffrings thereon that as a bundle of myrrhe they may ever lay in my bosom by a perpetuall Memory of thy Love therein towards Me. To Thee therefor doe I now for ever sacrifize my whole heart to be wounded with the darts of thy ever flaming love that all my Affections Actions Thoughts Desires Ioyes may be ordred by Thee begin from Thee end in Thee O Endless End and Abysse of all Happiness Amen FINIS MEDITATIONS UPON THE PASSION For every day of the week SVNDAY Washing of the Feet CONS 1. Who washeth God thy Creatour Redeemer giver of all good things 2. Whose feet he washeth of ignoble persōs great sinners his own betrayer 3. Why he washeth to give example of meekness teach us to cleanse our Soul ere we approach his Altar Affect Oh my JESU that I could love thee all creatures as I ought thou desirest Resolve To practise the Vertue of Charitie shun Envie in occasions best known to thy self MVNDAY Prayer in the garden CONS 1. How CHRIST prayeth kneeling prostrate with instancy thou how tipid 2. What 's his prayer That his Chalice may passe yet with resignation to obey his Fathers will doe thou pray thus 3. How he sweats bloud in great drops in great sorrows wilt thou rely on thy own strength Affect Oh my JESU that I could hūble my self to Thee all creatures for thee Resolve To practise Humilitie shun Pride c. TWESDAY Mocking before Herod CONS 1. How JESUS betrayed apprehended manicled is led to Annas Caiphas Pilate Herod Follow him in this sorrowfull Pilgrimage 2. How He is every where falsly accused yet is silent be silent too when injur'd 3. How before Herod he is cloathed mocked as a Foole if thou beest a Christian imitate CHRISTS self-denyall Affect Oh my JESU that I could contemn my own will for thy sake Resolve To practise Self-denyall shun self-love c. WEDNESDAY Whipping at the Pillar CONS 1. How JESUS led back to Pilate is there accused as a Blasphemer Seducer Traitor Barabbas though a Murderer is perfer'd before him canst repine when vilifyed 2. How that Innocent Body unclothed bound to the Pillar is whipt for thy sins I sin Thow suffrest 3. How barbarously those Soldiers treat thy JESUS Oh cruelly this he suffers for the Bath thy heart in his saving bloud Affect Oh my JESU that I could bear all Crosses from all persons for the love of Thee Resolve To practise Patience shun Anger c. THVRSDAY Crowning with Thorns CONS 1. How JESUS thus bleeding is crownd with sharp Thorns this Crown is instead of a Crown of Glory 2. How they cloath him in scarlet put a reed in his hand for a Scepter then kneeling deride Him Thou art a King indeed reign for ever in my heart 3. How JESUS thus adorned is led forth by Pilate shown to the Jewes with Behold á Man O sad Spectacle Yet still they cry Crucify Him Oh the heavy weight of my sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could obey Thee even to loss of life Resolve To practise Obedience shun Sloath c. FRYDAY Carrying the Cross CONS 1. How JESUS thus derided whipped crowned goes forth carrying the Cross whereon he is to be sacrifized for thy Sins 2. What shouts of joy the Jewes make after Him through the streets of Jerusalem thus is Innocency despised 3. How the devout woemen meet bewaile Him thy hard heart sheds not one Teare amidst these sorrows or for thy sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could abandon all sensuall satisfactions for the Love of Thee Resolve To practise Temperance shū Gluttony c. SATVRDAY Crucifying of Iesus CONS 1. How JESUS with much pain shame arrived to Mount Calvary is again uncloath'd thus all his soares are renewed My Sins not blotted out by Repentance shall one day be disclosed to the whole World 2. How they streatch thy JESUS upon the Cross fastnīg him with nayles therunto thē raise him up where he hangs betweē two theeves Oh what ignominy 3. How He there hangs for the space of three houres reviled by Jews Gentiles forsaken by his Disciples drenched with gall vineger peirced to the heart with a speare yet He prays for his Enemies Enter make thy aboade in that love-wounded-Heart Affect Oh my JESU that I could imitate Thee in the purity of thy Life Doctrine Resolve To practise Modesty shun All contrary Therunto c. FINIS