were giuen thou shouldest chuse to suffer for Christ rather than to be refreshed with much consolation for so shalt thou become the more like to Christ and al his holie seruantes Neither doth our comming forward consist in the store of pleasures and comfort but rather in bearing great euils and aduersitie And if any thing had bin better or more expedient for man than to suffer miserie doubtles Christ would haue showen y e same both by wordes and deedes But now in plaine words he doth counsaile both his owne disciples and as manie as are desirous to folow him to beare the crosse in these wordes If anie man wil folow me let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and folow me Therfore al things being read ouer and ouer and put in practise let this be the end of our speech By manie afflictions we must enter into the kingdome of God Thus endeth the second Booke The thirde Booke of the Jmitation of Christ. Chapter 1. Of the spiritual communication betweene Christ and the faithful soule I Wil haâ—keÌ„ what the Lord within me wil saie Blessed is y â— soule which heareth the Lord speaking within her and from his mouth receaueth the word of comfort Blessed are the eares which can heare when God whispereth and do naught regard the noise of y â— world Yea blessed are the eares which listen not to the outward sound but to the truth speaking to the hart Blessed are the eies which are close from seeing outward but open to behold inward things Blessed are they who pierce vnto spiritual things and prepare themselues more and more by dailie meditations to come vnto the knowledge of Gods heauenlie mysteries Blessed are they who reioice in seruing God cast of al those things as maie withdraw them froÌ„ so dooing O my soule consider these things banish froÌ„ thy mind carnal affections so shalt thou vnderstand what thy Lord God wil saie within thee Thus saith thy freende I am thy Saluation thy peace and thy life sticke vnto me and thou shalt find quietnes Leaue al worldlie things and seeke after heauenlie For what are al things in this world but vaine or what good can they doo if God forsake thee Wherefore al things renounced seeke vnfeinedlie to please God that thou maist attaine vnto the true felicitie Chap. 2. That the truth speaketh inwardlie without noise of wordes SERVANT SPeake Lord for thy seruant heareth I am thy seruant O giue me vnderstanding that I maie learne thy statutes Incline my soule vnto the wordes of thy mouth euen vnto thy wordes which stil downe like the dewe The Israelites saide vnto Moses in old time Talke thou with vs and we wil heare but let not God talke with vs least we die But I praie not so Lord I praie not so but with the Prophet Samuel rather I beseech thee saieng Speake Lord for thy seruant heareth And let not Moses nor anie other prophet speake to me but thou Lord which inspirest and lightenest al the Prophets speake thou to me For thou canst instruct me without their helpe but they can profite nought without thee They maie sounde outwordes in mine eare but they bring not the Spirit They can speake trimlie but if thou hold thy peace they inflame not the mind They teach the letter but thou openest the meaning They talke of deepe things but thou vnlockest the sense of that which was sealed vp They pronounce the commandements but thou helpest to fulfil them They showe the way but thou giuest strength to walke in the same They deale outwardlie with the senses but thou teachest and lightenest the mindes They water but thou giuest the increase They crie with open mouthes but thou giuest wisedome vnto the hearer So then let not Moses talke with me but speake thou my Lord God which art the euerlasting truth least I die and proue vnfruteful and least being outwardlie admonished and not inwardlie inflamed the worde heard not done knowen not loued beleeued not obserued make vnto my condemnation Wherfore speake Lord for thy seruant heareth For thou hast the wordes of eternal life Speake to me euen that which maie be to the comfort of my soule to the ameÌ„dment of my life and to the aduancement of thine euerlasting glorie Amen Chap. 3. That the wordes of God with al reuerence should be heard and that they are not vnderstood of most men LORD SOnne heare my words for they are most comfortable and excel the knowledge of Philosophers and wise men of this world My words are spirit and life and are not to be waied by the sense of man nor drawen to serue for vaine pleasure but must be heard with silence and receaued with humilitie and greedines SERVANT Blessed is the man whome thou chastisest O Lord and teachest in thy Lawe that thou maist giue him rest from the daies of euil whiles the pit is digged for y e wicked LORD I both inspired the Prophets in old time and ceasse not in these daies to speake vnto al but manie are deafe and wil not heare my wordes Most harken vnto the world rather than to God and more gladlie obeie the desire of the flesh than his heauenlie wil. The world promiseth but temporal and smal things and they serue it euen with greedines I promise most excellent and eternal things and men care not for them Who with such a desire serueth obeieth me in al things as they serue the world and the Prince thereof Be ashamed hereof if thou wouldest know why hearken For smal wages manie run a great waie but for eternal life fewe wil once step their foote out of doores Filthie gaine is earnestlie sought for for one pennie sometime they shamefullie contende for a vaine thing and smal reward men feare not euen to wearie themselues night and daie but for goodes immutable for a rewarde vnestimable for honor endles immortal glorie they wil take no pains Wherefore blush I saie thou slothful and whining seruant that they shal be more readie to fal into the pit of hel than thou to come vnto heauen that they shal take more pleasure in vanity than thou in the truth Againe they manie-times misse of their purpose but what I promise I fulfil he that trusteth in me speedeth wel That which I promise in wordes I performe in deede to him which continueth constant vnto the end in louing me I reward al good things and I am a diligent examiner of al religious men Write my wordes in thine hart and meditate earnestlie thereupon For in the time of tentation they wil doo thee good That with reading now thou doest not conceaue in the time of curing thou shalt vnderstande
place hide vnles thou be present and helpe strengthen comfort instruct and keepe For whatsoeuer seemes to belong to the attainement of peace and felicitie without thee is nothing and brings in deede no felicitie at al So that thou art the cheefest end the perfection of life and the profoundnes of speech in thee to trust aboue al things is the chiefest comfort of thy seruants On thee doo I looke in thee doo I trust O my God and Father of mercie Blesse make my soule holie with celestial happines that it may be thy sacred habitation and seate of eternal glorie a temple pure from al filthines which maie offend the eies of thy Maiestie O Lord according to the greatnes of thy mercie and according to the multitude of thy compassions looke vpon me and heare the supplication of thy poore seruant liuing far off a banished man in a sauadge contrie Protect and keepe the soule of thy poore seruant among so manie dangers of this mortal life and bring me by the conduction of thy fauor into the contrie of eternal glorie through the waie of peace Amen 1. Tim. 1 17. Now vnto the King euerlasting immortal inuisible vnto God onlie wise be honor and glorie for euer and euer Amen Faultes escaped in the Printing Pag. Line Fault Correction 59 23 laie laied 189 23 gaine it is gaue it was 262 24 coute couet 264  Chap. 92. Chap. 62. Certaine special praiers contained in this Booke Vse if thou wilt 1. Praise God for his benefits in the third booke chap. 6 page 121. chap. 10 page 133. chap. 12 page 137. chap. 40 page 198. chap. 47 page 213. 2. Confesse thine owne wickednes Gods righteousnes in y e third booke ch 16. p. 147. ch 23 p. 160. 3. Praie vnto God For a quiet conscience p. 178. grace to cal the benefits of God into mind in the third booke chap. 25 pag. 167. grace to contemne the world pag. 209. grace to doe the wil of God in y e 1. booke cha 19 p. 37. booke 3. chap. 18 pag. 151 154. grace to hope in God to loue him aboue al things booke 3 ch 24 pag. 163. Gods heauenlie comfort page 153 247. deliuerance out of troble in the third booke cha 35 pag. 185. ch 51 pag. 220. happines euerlasting ch 54 pag. 230. instruction spirituall pa. 111. true knowledge zeale pag. 116. the mercie of God cha 65. page 276. patience in trobles pag. 159 226 240 263. a pure mind pag. 183. a quiet conscience p. 178. spiritual instruction pag. 111. to haue thine vnderstanding opened pa. 173. zeale pag. 116. to auoid euil thoughts pag. 172. sinne pag. 155. vaine glorie pag. 210. tentation pag. 258. This discourse is diuided into three parts or Bookes the first whereof hath 25. Chapters whose contents be these Chap. 1 THat al worldly things are vain and to be contemned Page 1. Chap. 2 Against vaine glorie in spiritual things Page 3. Chap. 3 Of true knowledge or knowledge of the truth Page 6. Chap. 4 Wisedome must be vsed in al our dealings Page 10. Chap. 5 How to read and studie the holie Scriptures with profit Page 11. Chap. 6 That inordinate and carnal affections must be mortified Page 12. Chap. 7 Against vaine hope and vaine glorie Page 13. Chap. 8 What companie is to be refrained or folowed Page 15. Chap. 9 For obedience subiection Page 16. Chap. 10 Against idle meetings and vaine talke Page 18 Chap. 11 How to come vnto quietnes in mind and to a godlie life Page 19. Chap. 12 Of the profit gotten by aduersitie Page 22. Chap. 13 That no man either is or hath bin without tentation and how to suffer and resist the same Page 23. Chap. 14 Against rash iudgment Page 27. Chap. 15 Of the workes of charitie how to doo good workes Page 29. Chap. 16 That men which offend must be borne withal sometime Page 30. Chap. 17 The waie vnto quietnes both tēporal and eternal Page 32. Chap. 18 The virtuous life of the holie Fathers Page 33. Chap. 19 The exercise of a true Christiā Page 36 Chap. 20 Of solitarines and silence Page 40. Chap. 21 Preparatiues vnto godlines Page 45. Chap. 22 A viewe of the miserie of mankind Page 49. Chap. 23 That man ought to thinke vpon his end Page 52. Chap. 24 Of the last iudgement and of the punishment of sinne Page 58. Chap. 25 That we must earnestlie endeuor to amend our liues Page 63. The Chapters of the second Booke haue these contents Chap. 1 OF the inward life of man Page 70. Chap. 2 Of patience and humilitie two virtues necessarie to be in a Christian Page 75. Chap. 3 That wee ought to be at peace both with our selues and with al men Page 76. Chap. 4 Of purenes in mind and plaines in meaning Page 79. Chap. 5 Of the consideration of a mans selfe Page 80. Chap. 6 The ioie of a good conscience Page 82. Chap. 7 That our sauior Christ is to be loued aboue al things Page 85. Chap. 8 Of the familiaritie with Iesus Page 87. Chap. 9 Of the want of comfort Page 90. Chap. 10 Of thankfulnes vnto God for his benefits Page 95. Chap. 11 The smal nōber that loue Christ vnfeinedlie Page 98. Chap. 12 Of patient bearing the crosse of Christ. Page 101. The Chapters of the last booke haue these contents Chap. 1 OF the spiritual communication betweene Christ the faithful soule Page 110. Chap. 2 That the truth speaketh inwardlie without noise of words Page 111. Chap. 3 That the wordes of God with al reuerence should be heard and that they are not vnderstood of most men Page 113. Chap. 4 A praier for the attaining of the true knowledge of Gods heauenlie wil for zeale in religion Page 116. Chap. 5 That we must walke syncerelie and humblie before God Page 118. Chap. 6 A praier and thankes-giuing vnto God for his benefits Page 121. Chap. 7 The praise and force of godlie loue Page 122. Chap. 8 How to trie a friend also how to resist the enimie Page 125. Chap. 9 Of modest concealing the benefits of God Page 129. Chap. 10 That man must debase himselfe in the sight of God Page 133. Chap. 11 That al things are to be directed vnto God as to the principal end Page 135. Chap. 12 That it is a sweete thing to serue God to despise the world Page 137. Chap. 13 That the desire of the mind must be examined and bridled Page 140. Chap. 14 The waie vnto patience and to fight against fleshlie desires Page 142. Chap. 15 Of obedience to our betters after the example of Christ. Page 145. Chap. 16 That we are to consider the secret iudgements of God least we waxe proud in his gifts Page 147. Chap. 17 What wordes and manner wee should vse in desiring anie thing at the hands of God Page 149. Chap. 18 A praier for grace to do
and experience prooueth it sufficientlie that there was neuer anie age wherein Christians haue bin more out of order nor haue had lesse regard of godlines than they haue at this daie yet notwithstanding this ought not to bar vs from hoping that God wil drawe some continualie to himselfe On the other side like as among a great sort that are striken with extreame sicknesses and diseases some doe alwaies scape as it pleaseth God so is it to be hoped that among an infinite number of false Christians God wil touch some to bring them backe from the filthines and corruptions of the world and to leade them to the fearing of himselfe Moreouer it is not to be doubted but that God hath alwaies some seruants of his as it were couered vnder the great number which by the power of his holie spirit doe liue continualie in al purenes vndefilednes without cleaning or consenting to the vngodlines disorderednes of the wicked And this is it which confirmeth me in my hope that this little booke shal not be vnprofitable nor fruteles Neuertheles this booke is not ful of great cūning nor beautified with flowers of humane wisedome neither doth it discourse or treate of high or darke things neither is it stuffed with subtil questions and arguments nor indited with eloquent style as those commonlie be which are propounded and set foorth to the world rather for boasting and vainglories sake than for anie desire to doe other men good This booke is plaine and without anie great gainesse but yet so ful of good and wholsome instructions that I dare wel auow that whosoeuer readeth it with a right disposed mind without respect to anie other thing than God and the saluation of his owne soule which is the onelie marke that we must leuel at he shal reape singular profit thereby As for my part I can witnes of my selfe that God hath oftentimes made it to serue me for a spurre to quicken and waken me vp from my slothfulnes and dulnes and to kindle in me a desirousnes of his seruice and I hope that the like shal befal to al such as shoote at none other mark but to knowe feare and loue him with a pure right meaning and single minde and to leade a holie conuersation before him And in good sooth it may wel be said that vnto true Christians good and holie bookes are as ladders to climbe vp to heauen as sparks to kindle the heate of the spirit when it is quenched or waxed colde in them and as props to staie vp their faith that it may take increase I speake of true Christians For as for them that are Christians but in words and ceremonies some of them be so bereft of al true feeling of God and of their owne conscience that they neuer enter into the considering of the thing that might be auailable and necessarie to the wel instructing of them in the truth and to the training of them to some godlie behauior but are wholie giuen to the things of this life as though there were none other after it And othersome haue their mindes so tied to the letter that they can make none account of anie other bookes but such as may make them skilful eloquent sharpe-witted and subtile and consequentlie woonderful among men despising al such works as may make them better by moouing them to the exercises of their profession And of this sort the number is verie grear nowadaies of whom nothing can be said sauing that as the Apostle speaketh of them they can welynough say with their mouth that they knowe God but in their deedes and workes they renounce him And trulie we be come to a time wherin we be more giuen and more hastie to reason and dispute of our religion than to be religious in deede more giuen to make great and large discourses of it than to put it in practise and to shew the truth and purenes of it by our holie conuersation at a word more giuen to talke than to doe insomuch that we may wel perceiue that the Christian profession is nothing else nowadaies but a lipwisedome and a skil to hold talke among such as make their vaunts of it But what doe I terme it a lipwisdome Nay would God it were not rather turned into a fleshlie and licentious loosenes as we may partlie see alreadie by too manie effects thereof But so doth it alwaies befal to such as hauing receiued Christs doctrine applie not themselues foorthwith to the forsaking of themselues without the which it is not possible for vs to be Christs true disciples For as the light cannot match with darknes so cannot Christs Spirit match with sin and the lusts of the flesh insomuch that if the practise thereof be omitted there is none other thing to be looked for but a kind of libertie whereby men shaking off al yoke shal giue them selues ouer to al euil sooth themselues in their sinnes Not that they keepe not stil some outward shew and countenance of godlines for vnles it be some Epicures and godles men they neuer proceede so far as to doe awaie and to giue ouer al seruice of God But yet are al such shewes and outward countenances in vaine of none account before him which requireth mens harts and contenteth not himselfe with the onelie outward deedes wherewith notwithstanding they thinke to quiet their owne consciences and to auoide the feeling of Gods wrath for their sinnes which thing may wel serue for a time in the behalfe of the ignorant and of such as haue no better skil but as for those which knowe wherein the seruing of God consisteth they cannot but be maruelouslie abashed if they fal to examining of their owne wicked conuersation For then there is no ceremonie howe faire a shew so euer it beare no not euen though it be of the number of those which God hath inioined for the keeping of order in his Church that can satisfie the conscience which is trobled with the feeling of it owne sinne and make it sure before the iudgement of God who wil not iudge vs according to ceremonies but according to our works We reade what Iesus Christ wil saie to such as shal haue cast out Diuels in his name prophesied in his name and wrought manie other great things in his name Away from me wil he saie to them yee workers of wickednes How much more then wil he saie so to such as occupieng themselues alonelie in some ceremonies not in the true godlines which the Apostle saith is profitable to al things shal haue giuen themselues to folowe their flesh and the world To be short we must come to this point that forasmuch as Christianitie is not an outward profession ne a thing that consisteth in outward ceremonies so as it may suffice to busie our selues about it or in words as who would saie it were ynough to haue the skil to talke and
bend our wits vnto curious and hurtful things neglecting profitable and necessarie matters to haue a thorow insight in prophane affaires and to haue no sight at al in Gods wil and worde What should we passe for termes and questions For he is rid from sundrie opinions whom the euerlasting word doth speake vnto For by one worde al things were made and one word al speake one worde which was in the beginning speaketh vnto al without whom no man can either iudge or vnderstand the truth Now he to whom al things are but one thing which draweth vnto one thing al things and seeth al things in one thing doubtles abideth both constant in minde and continualie in God O God which art the truth make me one with thee in perpetual charitie Many times to reade much and to heare much it irketh me whatsoeuer I can either wish or desire it is in thee Al teachers be ye silent al creatures hold your peace but speake Lord speake thou onlie vnto me For the nigher one is to himselfe and the lesse he wandereth abrode the more easilie he conceaueth and the more excellent things because he taketh the light of his vnderstanding from aboue A pure mind and a constant is not distracted diuers waies because it doth al things vnto the glory of God laboreth earnestlie to be free from selfe-loue For what doth more hinder and hurt a man than the vnrulie affections of the minde A good and godlie man before he goeth about any matter consulteth first with himselfe and is neuer drawen awaie by wicked affections but maketh them to serue at the commandement of reason Of al combats the sorest is to conquer our selues and of al cares the cheefest should be to waxe strong against vice and continualie to profit more more in virtue and holines The greatest perfection of this life is not without imperfection when we are best learned we are ignorant in many things To conceaue modestlie of our selues is a readier waie vnto happines than earnestlie to studie to be deepelie learned And yet is not science or knowledge to be contemned because being rightly considered it is good and alowed of God But for al that the goodnes of a man is better than his knowledge and a good life is to be preferred afore learning But because many desire to know rather than to please God it falleth out commonlie that they er reape either no frute or verie litle by al their studie Now would they be as earnest in rooting out vices and in planting virtues as they are diligent in proposing questions certainlie both the rude multitude woulde be more virtuous and the learned sort more sage than they are Assuredlie at the daie of iudgement we must tel not what we haue read but what we haue done and how religiouslie we haue liued not how rhetoricalie we haue persuaded Go to then where be now those masters so famous and so pointed at in their life time whose places such haue as perhaps neuer think on thē In their life time who but they now where are they So quicklie vanisheth the glorie of this worlde Now if they had liued according to their knowledge and knowen rightlie the word of God then had they studied to their euerlasting praise profit Alas how many euen of the learned sort perish in this world for lack of the feare of God And because they couet to be rather famous than virtuous they are caried awaie with vaine imaginations So that in truth he which loueth much is famous he which despiseth glorie is glorious he which humbleth himselfe is honorable hee which counteth al things but dung to win Christ is prudent he is learned in deede which abandoneth his owne wil to doe the wil of God Chap. 4. Wisedome must be vsed in al our dealings BEleeue not euerie saieng or spirit but examine the matter wiselie by the word of God For alas naturalie we are giuen both to thinke and speake rather il than wel of others But good men beleeue not euerie mans words because they know how that we are prone alwaies vnto euil and that the best offendeth with his tong It is a point of great wisedome to be neither heddy in our actions nor obstinate in opinion As great wisedome is it neither to beleeue euerie mans wordes nor by and by to rehearse that which hath bin told Take counsel of a godlie man whom thou knowest to keepe the commandements of God and folow the counsel of the wise before thine owne fancies A good life maketh a godlie wise man The more a man humbleth himselfe afore God the more wise he is and quiet in al his affaires Chap. 5. How to reade and studie the holie Scriptures with profit LOoke in the holie scriptures for truth not for eloquence reade them with that minde wherewith they were written for thine euerlasting profit not for a polished phrase Studie as wel godly bookes though they be rude as workes both eloquent for stile and profound for method Respect not in the autor either learning or ignorance but let y ◠pure loue of the simple truth allure thee to reade and neuer mark who speaketh but what is said Men die but the worde of God shal stand for euer and God sundrie waies speaketh vnto vs not respecting our persons Many times through our owne curiositie we profit litle in the reading of good bookes whilest we stande to discusse those thinges which ought simplie to be ouerpast If thou desirest to reape commoditie reade with al humilitie simplicitie and zeale and neuer couet to be counted learned Be questioning alwaies with godlie men and harken with silence vnto their saiengs be not offended with the darke speech of thine elders for they neuer speake without cause why Chap. 6. That inordinate and carnal affections must be mortified WHensoeuer a man doth couet a thing immoderatelie straight waie his minde is out of quiet The proude the couetous be euer vexed but he which is poore and meeke in spirit liueth at great ease He which doth not mortifie the inordinate affections of his mind may easilie be caried awaie to wickednes and with trifling things be ouercom He that is weake worldlie and carnal can no waies withdraw himselfe from earthlie desires and therefore when he resisteth them it greeueth him when he is contraried he fretteth and if he fulfil his mind he sinneth and by and by doth wounde his cons ience because he foloweth his desires which in steede of that peace which he looked for bring continual disquietnes Wherefore the true quietnes of mind is attained not by folowing but by resisting wicked affections remaineth
And two waies I am wont to cure mine elect to wit by tentation and by comfort and two waies I instruct them dailie first by reprehending their wickednes then by exhorting to proceede in virtue and godlines He that heareth my wordes and despiseth them hath that whereby he shal be condemned in the daie of iudgement Chap. 4. A praier for the attaining of the true knowledge of Gods heauenlie wil aâ—d for zeale in religion SERVANT O Lorde my GOD which art al my goodes and riches what am I that I dare speake to thee I am thy poore seruant a vile worme yea much more vile and poore than I either know or dare showe forth And yet Lord remember euen this one thing that I am nothing that I haue nothing that I am nothing worth Thou alone art good thou alone art righteous thou alone art holie thou canst al thou doest al thou fillest al onelie the wicked thou sendest emptie awaie Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and fil me with thy fauor thou wilt that none of thy workes should serue in vaine For how can I stand vpright in this wretched worlde vnles thy mercie and fauor do hold me vp Turne not thy cheereful countenance from thy seruant defer not to heale me from daie to daie withdraw not thy comfort that my soule be not as the thirstie land O Lord teach me to do thy wil teach me to walke woorthilie and humblie in thy presence For thou art my wisedome and knowest me in deede Yea thou knewest me not onelie afore I was conceaued in my mothers wombe but also afore the verie world was made So be it Chap. 5. That we must walke syncerelie and humblie before God LORD SOnne walke thou vprightlie in my sight seeke me alwaies in singlenes of minde He that walketh vprightlie walketh salfelie for the truth deliuereth him from deceauers and slanders of the wicked And if the truth shal make you free you shal be free in deede and feare nought the vaine wordes of men SERVANT Truth Lord therefore I beseech thee deale so with me that is let thy truth instruct me defend me and bring me to a blessed ende Yea let the same thy truth deliuer me from al wicked lustes and inordinate affections so wil it come to passe that I shal enioie a wonderful freedome of the minde LORD And I wil teach thee what is right and acceptable in my sight Cal thy sinnes to remembrance continualie that with hartie sobs and sorow and neuer brag of anie good deede which thou hast done For in verie deede thou art a sinner and subiect to manie infirmities of the minde yea by nature alwaies thou tendest vnto vanitie and maist easilie fal easilie be ouercome and easilie troden downe and cast to the grounde Finalie thou hast nothing wherein to boast but manie things to make thee huÌ„ble being much more weake than thou canst perceaue So then looke that none of thy deedes seeme great in thy sight or excellent or pretious or wonderful yea count nothing excellent nothing glorious nothing commendable and to be sought for in deede but onelie that which is eternal Let the euerlasting truth like thee aboue al things thine extreeme vilenes mislike thee Feare nothing flie nothing mislike nothing so much as thy sinnes and wickednes they should more disquiet thee than the losse of the deerest thing in the world Some behaue themselues not syncerelie enough towardes me seeking out earnestlie through curiositie and pride my secretes and mysteries neglecting themselues and their saluation these fellowes by reason of their pride and curiositie fal manie-times into greeuous tentations through my displeasure But stand thou continualie in awe of the heauie sentence of the almightie God and search not out the workes of the most Hie but search out painefullie both how much euil thou hast committed and what good thou hast left vndone Somes religion is altogether in their bookes or in pictures or in some outward signes and ceremonies some haue it in their mouth but not in their hart And contrariewise some being cleere in minde and pure in hart do couet alwaies after heauenlie things hearken vnwillinglie vnto earthlie matters serue the necessities of nature with griefe and sorowe and these men perceaue what the Spirite of truth speaketh within them how it teacheth them to dispise earthlie and to desire celestial thinges to contemne the world and to wish for heauen night and daie Chap. 6. A praise and thankes-giuing to God for his benefits SERVANT OCelestial father father of my Lorde Iesu Christ I praise thee for vouchsafing to remember me a poore and sinful wretch O father of mercie and God of â—l comfort I yeelde thee humble â—hankes for refreshing me vnwoorâ—hie al comfort with thine heauenlie â—omfort Euermore wil I praise and magniâ—ie thee together with thine onelie â—egotten Sonne and the holie Ghost â—he comforter for euer and euer O Lord my God which louest me â—o holilie I wil reioice with mine â—hole hart when thou shalt come â—nto my minde Thou art my glorie and the ioie of â—ine hart thou art mine hope and â—efuge in the daie of my troble But forasmuch as yet I am weake of smal power I haue great neede of thine assistance and comforte wherfore visit me oftener schoole me with holie discipline Set me free from wicked affections of the minde and heale my soule of al vnbridled desires and sinnes that being inwardlie healed purged thoroughlie I maie be made fit to loue strong to suffer and constant to continue Amen Chap. 7. The praise and force of godlie loue LOue is a gret thing doubtles loue is an excellent thing it can make y â— which is heauie light and carrie that equalie which is vnequal It beareth a burden and feeleth it not and conuerteth al sower things into sweete and sauorie I saie that noble loue of Iesus driueth one to aduenture great things and forceth alwaies to come vnto perfection Loue wil be aboue and cannot be kept downe by anie abiect thing Loue wil be free and loose from al worldlie affection that neither hir inward sight be dimmed nor she be either entangled by worldlie prosperitie or subdued by aduersitie Loue is most sweet most strong most hie most large most comfortable most perfect nothing is better than loue either in heauen aboue or in earth beneath For it ariseth from God and resteth on God aboue al things He that loueth flieth runneth reioiceth is free and cannot be bound he giueth al for al and hath al in al as he which resteth in one aboue al which is most hie from whome euerie good thing doth spring and arise He respecteth not giftes but looketh on the
al worldlie things and contemne those vaine delightes For therein true felicitie and ample reward of comfort doth consist And the more thou withdrawest thy self from worldlie pleasure the sweeter consolations shalt thou finde in me But as I saide before thou shalt not attaine therevnto without sorow and labor For there is against thee old custome but that wilbe foiled by a better custome the flesh but that wilbe bridled by the heate of the spirit the old serpent Satan but he both at thy praier wil flie and by godlie exercise runne awaie Chap. 15. Of obedience to our betters after the example of Christ. LORD SOnne he that withdraweth himselfe from obediēce driueth himselfe out of Gods fauor and he that seeketh priuate forgoeth publike things He which gladlie and voluntarilie obeieth not his better showeth plainelie therebie that he hath not yet brought his flesh in subiection but that it wincheth backward and murmureth manie-times Wherefore learne with al speede to submit thy selfe to thy superior if thou desire to tame thy flesh For the outward enimie is the more easilie ouercome if the inner man be sure and strong Thou hast none so il and troblesome an enimie to thy soule as thy selfe if thou be out with the spirit For thou must vnfeinedlie contemne thy selfe if thou wilt be master ouer blood and flesh But forasmuch as thou louest thy selfe as yet immoderatelie thou abhorrest to commit thy selfe who lie to the wil of another But O earth ashes what great thing doest thou if for the Lordes sake thou obeie man when I the Almightie and most Hie who of nothing created al things submitted my self humblie to man for thy sake and was most vile contemptible that thou by mine humilitie mightest ouercome that pride of thine Learne to obeie O dust learne to bring downe thy selfe O earth slime and to throwe downe thy selfe vnder al mens feete Learne I saie to breake thy wil and humblie to submit thy selfe to al Waxe hot against thy selfe and suffer not pride to haue place within thee but showe thy selfe so lowlie and simple that al maie treade thee vnder feete like myre in the streetes What hast thou O vaine man to complaine How canst thou O wicked wretch speake againe to them which dispraise thee seeing so oftentimes by offending GOD thou hast deserued the paines of hel But I gratiouslie haue spared thee making no smal account of thy soule that thou perceiuing this my loue to thee wardes mightest alwaies showe thy selfe thankeful for my benefits and euermore being giuen to true obedience and modestie take it patientlie when thou art contemned Chap. 16. That we are to consider the secret iudgements of God least we waxe proude in his gifts SERVANT O Lorde when thou thunder est foorth thy iudgments against me thou makest al my mēbers to shake quake for feare terrifiest my mind aboue measure Astonished I consider that the verie heauens are not cleane in thy sight And if thou foundedst follie in thine Angels and therefore diddest not spare them what shal become of me If the verie starres did fal from heauen what shal I that am but ashes and dust hope for They whose works seemed commendable haue vtterlie bin confounded and such as were fed with the bread of Angels I haue seene to be delighted with the huskes that swine cate So that there is none holines if thou Lord draw back thine hand no wisedome helpeth if thou gouerne not no strength doth good if thou assist not no chastitie is sure if thou defend not no custodie can keepe safe if thou watch not For being forsaken alas we drowne and perish but if thou care for vs we liue and prosper We are of our selues fraile but strong through thee and of our selues neither hot nor cold but zelous through thee Doubtles it is my part to conceaue most humblie baselie of my selfe and though I seeme to haue some goodnes yet must I not waie the same I saie it is my part to submit my selfe to those bottomles iudgements of thine seing I find my selfe to be no better than nothing of nothing O waight without measure O sea vnpassable where I find my selfe to be nothing but altogether nothing Where is then the couert of glorie Where is the vaine concept of glorie Al vaine glorie is swalowed vp in the gulfe of thy iudgements ouer me What are al men in thy sight Euen as claie in respect of the potter Can he waxe proude with vaine praises whose minde is trulie obedient to the Lord No though al the world should extol him seeing he is in seruice to the truth he wil not be moued with their commendations whose trust is fixed vpon the Lord. For euen they al who vtter his praises are nothing and together with the sound of their words shal vanish awaie But the truth of the Lord endureth for euer Chap. 17. What wordes and manner we should vse in desiring anie thing at the hands of God LORD SOnne in thy praiers thou must vse these wordes Lord be it euen so if it please thee Lord if it be for the aduancement of thy glorie let it be done in thy Name Lord if thou seest it good and profitable for me grant that I maie vse it to thine honor and praise but if thou knowest it wilbe hurtful O Lord remooue awaie this desire fro me For euerie desire which seemeth right and good in the iudgement of man is not of the holie spirit and it is an hard matter to discerne rightlie whether a good or an euil spirit doth prouoke thee to couet this or that or whether thine owne spirit moue thee therevnto Manie in the end haue bin deceaued who seemed to be stirred vp by a good spirit And therefore alwaies thou must wish for y t which thou wouldest haue in the feare of God and with humblenes of minde and commit the whole matter to the Lord with a meere check to thy selfe saieng on this wise Lord what is better for me thou knowest doo thou whether of both thou wilt thy selfe Giue me what thou wilt as much as thou wilt and when thou wilt thy selfe Deale with me as thou thinkest good and as it shal please thee and be most for thy glorie Place me there where thou wilt thy selfe and in al things vse me at thy pleasure I am in thine hand turne me lose me euerie waie Behold I thy seruant am prepared to al things because my desire is to and would to God I could rightlie and perfectlie serue thee not my selfe Chap. 18. A praier for grace to do the wil of God SERVANT O Most bountiful Sauior extend thy fauor towards me let it be with me labor with me and
so much the more highlie doth he ascend vp to God as the more deepelie he descendeth into and despiseth himself But he who arrogates anie good thing to himselfe letteth the fauor of God from dwelling within him For the holie spirit doth alwaies seeke a meeke and humble minde Couldest thou once bring thy selfe vnto nothing renounce the loue of this world surelie I would come and powre vpon thee most singular benefits But while thou lookest vpon creatures thou loasest the sight of the Creator Learne in al things to maister thy selfe for thy Makers sake so shalt thou attaine vnto the knowledge â— God Euen the vilest thing loued anâ— looked vpon vndiscreetlie doth defile a man and hinder him from happines Chap. 49. Against vaine and worldlie knowledge LORD MY sonne be not thoâ— carried awaie with the fairâ— and subtile speech of maâ— For the kingdome of God is not iâ— worde but in power Listen to my wordes for they in flame the minde lighten the vnderstanding set men on fire anâ— bring the true comfort Reade nothing with a minde tâ— seeme the more learned onlie oâ— wise but to mortifie thy sinnes Foâ— this wil more profit thee than thâ— knowledge of manie obscure anâ— hard questions Though thou haue read much yeâ— at the last thou must be faine tâ— come vnto one principle I onelie teach men wisedome anâ— I not men giue vnderstanding to the simple so that they whome I speake vnto do easilie prooue wise profit much in the spirit Woe to them who seeke manie things of man and neglect the waie to serue me The time wil come when the master of masters the Lord of angels euen I shal appeare to take an accouÌ„t of al men and to examine the conscience of euerie one then wil I search Ierusalem with lights and discouer those things which laie hid â—n darkenes at what time tongues Thal ceasse and knowledge doo no good I euen I do so lift vp the humbled minde that in a moment it shal conâ—eaue more knowledge of the eternal truth than anie man by tenne yeeres studie can attaine vnto I teach neither ianglinglie to disquiet nor diuersitie of opinions to distract nor ambitiouslie to get fame â—or contentiouslie to obtaine victoâ—ie by force of argument I teach how to despise the world â—o loath things present to seeke â—auor eternal to flie vaine glorie â—o suffer iniuries to trust in me without me to couet nothing and to loue me highlie and zealouslie aboue al For by louing me some haue so profited in heauenlie things that to the admiration of men they haue spoken and haue gotten more by forsaking al than by anie studie But to some I speake common to other special things to some I comfortablie appeare in outward signes and figures to others my secrets appeare as cleerelie as the light The Scriptures in deede speake one and the same thing yet teach they not al men alike but I teach truth in the inward partes I search the hart and I know the thoughts I pricke forward to wel doing and giue to euerie man that which is needeful Chap. 50. That we should not couet after earthlie and outward things LORD MY sonne remember that thou be ignorant of manie things that thou esteeme thy selfe but for a dead man in this world euen for him to whome the whole world is crucified Thou must ouerpasse much as though thou heardest not and thinke alwaies on that which belongs to thy peace Better is it to turne from those things which mislike thee and to let euerie man haue his owne saieng than to contend with brauling wordes If thou be at a good point with God and haue his iudgement alwaies in thy minde thou shalt the more easilie beare it is thou be ouercome SERVANT O Lord to what passe are we come Behold if we loose a temporal thing we lament for a litle profit we run and labor yea though it be al the night long but the losse of our soule we vtterlie forget That which litle if anie thing at al profits we seeke after but that which is most necessarie we vtterlie neglect so gladlie doth man addict him wholie vnto outward things without speedie repentance welter in the same Chap. 51. That euerie man is not to be credited and that by wordes we easilie offend SERVANT O Lord help me now in this troble for vaine is the help of man How often haue I bin deceaued where I lookt for faith Againe there haue I found it where I lookt for none So vaine is the trust in men but in thee O God alone the saluation of the righteous doth consist We thanke thee O Lord our God for al whatsoeuer betideth vs miserable and weake ones which are easilie deceaued and changed with a litle What man is he that so wiselie and circumspectlie behaues himselfe in al things that he is neuer deceaued nor commeth into daunger Yea he who trusteth in the Lord and serueth him with a simple mind doth not so easilie and soone offend and though he fal sometime into trobles and perils yet either speedilie he escapeth or is strengthened so that he can endure them For thou Lord continuest with them vnto the ende who put their trust in thee Hard is it yea doubtles it is verie hard to find such faithful freendes as wil stick by vs in al extremities but thou Lord thou onelie art faithful in al things neither is anie like vnto thee Oh how wise was that good soule that saide My minde is rooted and built in Christ were I at that staie my mind so easilie would not be trobled with worldlie feare neither should the dartes of bitter wordes disquiet me But who can foresee al thinges Who can auoide miseries to come Now if things though fore-seene hurt manie-times how much more greeuouslie wil things nothing foreseene annoie But alas wretch that I am why haue I not better looked to my selfe Either why so lightlie haue I put confidence in others Hereby we declare our selues to be men and that fraile men too albeit manie vnrightlie account and flatteringlie do cal vs Angels Whom shal I credit Lord whom but onelie thee who art the verie truth and canst neither deceaue nor be deceaued For al men doubtles be liers and weake and vnconstant and fraile especialie in wordes that rashlie hande ouer head euerie thing maie not be credited whatsoeuer color of truth it beare Therfore not without great cause wisedome thou didest fore-warne to beware of men and fore-tel that a mans enimies should be those of his house-hold and saie that such are not to be beleeued who saie Lo here he is or there he is This haue I
lamenteth the case of the innocent more than of the mightie delighteth in the true not in the deceitful and alwaies exhorteth good men to folowe chieflie the most excellent giftes and to expresse the Sonne of God in their manners Nature quicklie complaineth of wante and pouertie Grace constantlie endureth neede Nature referreth al to hir selfe striueth and contendeth for hir selfe but Grace referreth al things vnto the glorie of GOD whence she sprang ascribeth no goodnes to hir selfe is not arrogant nor contentious neither yet preferreth hir owne opinion before others but in al studie and searching of the truth submitteth hir selfe to the wisdome and iudgement of God Nature coueteth greedilie to knowe and to heare newes and secrets loueth outwardlie to appeare and to trie much by the senses and finalie desireth to be knowen and to do such things as maie bring hir fame and glorie of the world But Grace seeketh not after newes and curious knowledge Both because it proceedeth altogether from the old corruption of man and also for that in deede there is no newe or durable thing vpon earth And therfore it teacheth men to absteine from foolish pleasure to shun vaine glorie modestlie to conceale such things as seeme praise-worthie and to be had in admiration for their excellencie and of euerie thing and knowledge to get profit and to seeke the glorie of God Finalie she desireth to haue neither hir selfe nor hirs to be praised but God who of meere goodwil imparteth al things vpon vs to be thanked for his benefits This Grace is a light set aboue Nature and a certaine singular gift of God a note proper to the elect and pledge of euerlasting life which lifteth a man from earthlie to the loue of heauenlie things and of a carnal makes a spiritual man And therfore the more Nature is pressed downe and tied vp the more Grace is inspired the innerman with newe gifts after the image of God is renewed euerie daie Chap. 61. Of the corruption of Nature and power of Gods heauenlie Grace SERVANT O Lord my GOD who hast created mee after thy owne image giue me such Grace which is most excellent and necessarie vnto saluation as thou hast showen that I maie subdue my wicked Nature drawing me alwaies vnto sinne and destruction For I see in my flesh the lawe of sinne rebelling against the lawe of my minde and leading me captiue to the satisfieng of my desire in many things so that without the assistance of thy most heauenlie Grace powred zelouslie into my minde I am vnable to resist the assaults thereof Yea Lord I lacke thy Grace and that much Grace of thine whereby my Nature proane vnto al impietie euen from my youth maie be subdued and ouercome For Nature being fallen through the offence of the first man and defiled through sinne the punishment therof hath redounded vnto al mankind So that nature which at the first thou didest make good and righteous is now counted for the sinne and infirmitie of the corrupt Nature inasmuch as the motion left vnto it tendeth alwaies vnto euil and inferior things For as touching that litle power which abideth in y e same that is like a certaine sparkle raked vp in the ashes This is that natural reason enclosed about with blacke darknes yet so that somewhat stil it can discerne iudge betweene good and euil betweene truth and falsehood although it haue no power to fulfil that which it alloweth neither enioieth a perfect light of the truth with soundnes of hir affections Hence O my God is it that as touching the inward man I am delighted with thy law knowing that thy statutes are good righteous holie and that they reprooue euil wickednes and teach what is to be auoided But in my flesh I serue the lawe of sinne whilest I obeie the appetite more than reason Hence it is that to wil is present with me but alas I finde no meanes to performe Hereof it is that oftentimes I purpose to doo manie things wel but because thine heauenlie fauor is wanting which maie helpe mine infirmitie by a litle resistance I slide back and tire Yea hereof it is that I knowe in deede the waie of righteousnes and see as in a glasse what my dutie is but through the waight of my sinne I haue no power to arise vnto perfection O Lord how greatlie doo I lacke thy Grace both to begin what good is also to proceede thorouglie in goodnes For without it can I doo nothing through the help thereof I can doo al things in thee O heauenlie grace in deede without which neither the merites of man nor the gifts of Nature are of price O Lord without thy Grace neither learning neither riches neither beautie nor strength nor wit neither eloquence is of anie waight before thee For the gifts of Nature are cōmon to the wicked as wel as to the good but Grace is a gift peculiar onlie to the elect which who so hath are counted meete and woorthie eternal life Finalie it is so excellent that without it neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles neither the profound knowledge of secret things is anie thing worth yea neither faith nor hope nor anie other virtues are accepted in thy sight without loue and Grace O blessed Grace which makest him rich with virtues who is poore in spirit and him humble of minde who is rich for goodes Come come downe to me fil me earlie with thy comfort that my minde for wearines and hunger doo not faint O Lord I beseech thee impart thy Grace vpon me that is sufficient for me though I haue nought els that Nature would require Yea I protest if that be with me I wil dread no tentation nor troble whatsoeuer that is my strength that bringeth counsel and helpe yea it is both mightier than al enimies and wiser than the prudent It is the mistres of truth y e teacher of discipline the light of the minde the comfort in affliction the expeller of sadnes the remoouer awaie of care the nourisher of religion the mother of teares at a worde without it what am I but withered wood a roote most vnprofitable and to be cast awaie Wherefore O Lord let this thy Grace both go afore and also folow me whereby I maie continualie applie my self vnto wel-doing through Iesus Christ thy Sonne Amen Chap. 62. That we ought to denie our selues and to imitate Christ by the crosse LORD THe more thou leauest thy selfe my sonne the nigher thou commest vnto me As outwardlie to coute nothing causeth inward peace so inwardlie to forsake ones selfe ioineth man to God My minde is that