thy Creatour and be faithfull vnto him that thou maist attaine vnto true happines CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardely without noyse of VVordes SPEAKE Lord The Seruant for thy seruant heareth I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies 1. Reg. 3. Ps 118. Stir vp my hart to heare the wordes of thy mouth Let thy speach descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and we shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs least perhaps we dye Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 3. I humbly and earnestly intreat speak Lord for thy seruant heareth Let not Moyses speake vnto me nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and enlightener of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2. They can pronounce words but they giue not spirit They speake maruelous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the hart They deliuer the letters but thou openest the sense They bring forth mysteries but thou disclosest the vnderstanding of sealed thinges They declare thy commaundemēts but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou giuest strength to walke it They worke only exterioutly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hartes They water outwardly but thou giuest fruitfulnes They sound forth wordes but thou giuest vnderstanding to the hearing 3. Let not therfore Moyses speak vnto me but thou my Lord God the euerlasting truth least perhaps I should dye and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly only and not inflamed within least the word heard and not fulfilled knowen and not loued belieued not obserued should increase my iudgment Speake therefore Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. for thou hast the words of euerlasting life Speake vnto me to the comfort of my soule and to the amendment of my whole life Ioan. 6. and to thy prayse and glory and euerlasting honor CHAP. III. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not SONNE †Our Lord. heare my words wordes of great comfort excelling al the knowledg of the Philosophers and wise men of this world My wordes are spirit and life not to be waighed by the vnderstanding of man Ioan. 6. They are not to be drawne to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be receaued with al humility and great affection And I said * The Seruant Psal 93. Blessed is the man whō thou shall instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy law that thou maist giue him quietnes from euill daies and that he be not destroyed vpon earth 2. I saith our †Our Lord. Heb. 1. Lord haue taught the Prophets from the beginning and cease not continually to speake to euery one but many are deafe and giue no eare to my speach The greater number doe more willingly listen to the world then to God follow sooner the desires of their fleshe then the will of God The world promiseth temporall small things and is serued with great diligence I promise most high and eternall thinges and the hartes of men are nothing moued with it Who is he that serueth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world the Lords therof are serued Esa 23. Blush Sidon saith the sea And if thou aske the cause heare wherefore For a little prebend a long iorney is vndertaken for euerlasting life many will scarce once lift a foote from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny somtimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleight ptomise men doubt not to toile day and night 3. But alas for an vnchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honour and glory without end they are loath to take the least paines Blush therefore flouthfull and complayning seruant that they are found more ready to distruction then thou to life They reioyce more at vanity then thou at truth Rom. 1. Matt. 24. And yet they are somtimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceaueth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will giue that which I haue promised I will fulfill that which I haue said Apoc. 2 but to him that remaines faithfull in my loue to the end I am the reward of all good Matt. 5.15 and do try my deuout seruants in forcible proofes 4. Write my words in thy hart and thinke diligently of them for they will be necessary in time of tēptation What thou vnderstandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visite my elect two seuerall waies to wit with temptation and comfort And I dayly read two lessons vnto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of vertues He that hath my words despiseth them hath within himselfe that shall iudg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of denotion 5. Lord * The Seruant my God thou art all that I can desire Who am I that dare speak vnto thee I am thy poorest seruant Gen. 18. and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I can or dare expresse Remember Lord that I am nothing haue nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good iust and holy thou canst do all things performest all things leauing only a sinner voide of all good Call to mind thy mercies and fill my hart with thy grace who wilt not that thy workes be voyd 6. How can I support my selfe in this miserable life vnlesse thy mercy and grace comfort me Psal 68. Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort least my soule become as earth without water vnto thee Lord teach me to fulfill thy will Ps 142. teach me to line worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou dost perfectly know me and didest know me before the world was made and before I was borne in the world CHAP. IIII. That we ought to line in truth and humility in the sight of God SONNE * Our Lord. walke in my sight in sincerity and truth and euer seeke me in playnes of hart Gen. 17. Sap. 1. He that walketh in my sight in truth shall be defended from euill incursions and truth shall deliuer him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked 1. Ioan 8. If truth shall haue deliuered thee thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for vaine speaches of men Lord * The Seruant it is true According as thou saist so I beseech thee let it be done with me and keepe me bring me to a happy end Let thy truth teach
THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST Deuided into foure Bookes Written in Latin by the Learned and Deuout man THOMAS à KEMPIS Chanon-Regular of the Order of S. Augustine AND Translated into English by B. F. I H S Permissu Superiorum M.DC.XIII TO THE HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the LORD Harrodowne HONOVRABLE AND RIGHT WORTHY THE publike demonstratiō which you haue lately giuen of your true desire to follow the footsteps of our Lord vndergoing so heauy a Crosse for his sake with so ready and resolued a mind hath moued me to dedicate this little Booke of the Imitation of Christ vnto You assuring my selfe that it will be no lesse gratefull to You to see it appeare in light purged from many mistaken sentences which were in the former Translation then the reading and practice therof will be profitable to others it being so diuine and excellent a worke as in the opinion of such as can best iudge of this matter of all the Bookes which are written that treate of spirit and Christian Perfection the holy Scripture excepted it is inferiour to none if it excelleth not all No ' booke hath byn more approued by generall consent none more often printed and translated into diuers languages none more esteemed commended yea commaunded also by the chiefe Maisters of Spirit of some Religious Orders to be often read by euery one in priuate and once a weeke publikely to all So full of sweet sense is this diuine Flower that the most spirituall bees may dayly draw from thence great plenty of celestiall hony It is a dish of so diuine meate that it neuer satiates the deuout mind but as the Wisdome of God doth promise to all such as fit at that heauenly banquet so shall they find in this spirituall food The more they eate it Eccl. 4. the more they shall hunger after it And the reason heerof is for that it contayneth so great depth of spirit and so great store and variety of heauenly documents that it seemeth euer new to the Reader and like another Manna affoardeth to euery one that delightfull tast which best agreeth with the palate of his soule and none can loath it but they whose lustes do carry them to Aegyptian slauery A true Israelite may feed vpon it fourty yeares togeather and euer find such pleasing tast and increasing strength by vse therof as will sustaine him in the desert of this world enable him to goe on without fainting till he arriue at his promised inheritance of eternall rest The practise of that which this Booke doth teach couereth the soule with the rich garment of grace and adorneth it with the splendent pearles of Euangelicall Perfection which maketh vs more pleasing in the sight of God then can the deckings of all earthly iewells make the fayrest Lady in the Kingdome where you are appeare beautifull to the eyes of men It returneth aboundant Gayne for sustained Losses and enlargeth the Liberty which is now restrayned It raiseth vp to cheerefull confidence the debased head and placeth in a Throno of endles Honour those who in this world doe seeme imprisoned in the blacke cloud of disgrace To Yov therfore who haue so willingly endured the losse of your earthly substance I haue thought good to present this Euangelicall Pearle and incomparable Treasure contayned in a little roome Heere you shall find the most perfect manner of conforming our selues to Christ our heauenly Patterne and see the vertues set forth in their colours which did most shine in the life of our Lord himselfe and read in plaine and vulgar phrase those Lessons of high Perfection which are commended vnto vs by the highest Wisdome and which haue made as many Saints as they haue had diligent and obseruant followers ACCEPT therfore I beseech you this little Present presented by him who wisheth you much more temporall happinesse then your present state affoardeth and that endles glory wherof your present suffering is no vncertaine pledge This first of Nouember 1612. Yours in all duty B. F. A TABLE Of the Chapters of this ensuing Booke THE FIRST BOOKE OF the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world CHAP. 1. pag. 1. Of the hūble conceipt of our selues p. 4. Of the doctrine of truth pag. 7. Of prudence and foresight in our actions pag. 11. Of the reading of holy Scriptures pag. 13. Of inordinate desires affections pag. 14. Of flying vaine Hope Pride pag. 15. That too much familiarity is to be shunned pag. 17. Of Obedience Subiection pag. 18. Of auoiding superfluity of words pag. 20. Of the obtayning of peace and zeale of spirituall profit pag. 22. Of the profit of Aduersity pag. 25. Of resisting Temptations pag. 26. Of auoyding rash iudgment pag. 31 Of VVorkes done of Charity pag. 33. Of bearing with the defects of others pag. 34. Of Religious life pag. 36. Of the examples of the holy Fathers pag. 38. Of the Excercise of a good and Religious person pag. 42. Of the loue of Solitude Silence pag. 46. Of Compunction of hart pag. 52. Of the cōsideratiō of humane misery pag. 56. Of the consideration of Death pag. 60. Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne pag. 66. Of the feruent amendment of our whole life pag. 71. THE SECOND BOOKE OF spirituall cōuersation pag. 80. Of humble submission pag. 86. Of a good and peaceable man pag. 87. Of a pure mind vpright intentiō pag. 90. Of the consideration of ones self pag. 92. Of the cōfort of a good Conscience pag. 94. Of the loue of Iesus aboue all things pag. 97. Of familiar cōuersation with Iesus pag. 99. Of the want of all comfort pag. 102. Of thankfulnes for the Grace of God pag. 107. How few the louers of the Crosse of Christ are pag. 111. Of the high way of the holy Crosse pag. 114. THE THIRD BOOKE OF the in ward speach of Christ vnto a faithfull soule pag. 129. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of words pag. 127. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not pag. 129. That we ought to liue in truth and humility in the sight of God pag. 133. Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace pag. 136. Of the proofe of a true Louer pag. 141. That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility pag. 145. Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God pag. 149. That all things are to be referred vnto God as vnto the last end pag. 151. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God pag. 153. That the desires of our hart are to be examined moderated pag. 156. Of the effects of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence pag. 158. Of the hūble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ pag. 162. Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered least we be extolled in our good deeds pag. 164. VVhat we ought to do and say in euery
oftentimes rebelleth and murmureth against him Learne therfore readily to submit thy self to thy Superiour if thou desirest to subdue thine owne passions For the outward enemy is sooner ouercome if the inward man be in good estate There is no worse enemy nor more troublesome to the soule then thou vnto thy selfe not agreeing well with the spirit Thou must of necessity haue a true contempt of thy self if thou wilt preauaile against flesh and bloud 2. Because thou louest thy selfe as yet too inordinatly therfore thou art afraid to resigne thy selfe wholy to the will of others But what great matter is it if thou that art dust Luc. 2. Ioan. 12. and nothing submittest thy selfe to a man for God when I the Almighty and highest soueraigne who created all things of nothing humbly submitted my selfe vnto man for thee I became the most humble and abiect of all men that thou mightest ouercome thy pride with my humility Learne to obey thou that art dust Learne to humble thy selfe thou earth and clay and put thy selfe vnder the feet of all men Learne to breake thine owne will and to yeild thy selfe to all subiection 3. Take courage against thy selfe and suffer not pride to liue in thee but humble and submit thy selfe to all that euery one may go ouer thee and tread thee as dirt of the streets vnder their feete Vaine man what canst thou complaine of what canst thou answere foule sinner to them that reprooue thee who hast so often offended God and so many times deserued hell But mine eye hath spared thee because thy soule was pretious in my sight that thou mightest know my loue and alwaies remaine gratefull for my benefits that thou mightest continually giue thy selfe to true subiection and humility and mightest beare patiently the contempt of thy selfe CHAP. XIIII Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered least we be extolled in our good deeds THOV * The Seruant thundrest thy iudgements ouer me Lord and shakest all my bones with feare trembling and my soule is sore afraid I stand astonished Iob. 15. and consider for that heauens are not pure in thy sight Iob. 4 If thou hast foūd wickednes in Angels and hast not pardoned them what shall become of me Apoc. 8. Stars fell from heauen what do I presume that am dust They whose workes seemed laudable fell into the lowest and I haue seene them that did eate bread of Angels to be delighted with the huskes of swyne 2. There is no sanctity if thou o Lord withdrawest thy hand No wisdome auaileth if thou ceasest to gouerne No strength helpeth if thou leauest to defend No chastity secure if thou doest not protect it No custody of our owne profitable if thy sacred watchfullnes be not present For if thou leauest vs we sinke and perish but if thou vouchsafest to visit vs we are raised vp do enioy life We are inconstant but by thee we are strengthned we wax could but by thee we receaue heate 3. O how meanely and basely ought I to think of my selfe how little yea nothing ought I to esteem it if I seeme to haue any good O Lord how ought I to submit my selfe vnder thy vnsearchable Iudgments where I find my selfe to be nothing els but nothing and nothing O vnmeasurable waight O sea that can neuer be passed ouer where I find my selfe only and wholy nothing Where then is the lurking hole of glory Where is the confidence conceaued of vertue All vayne glory is swallowed vp in the depth of thy Iudgments which hang ouer my head 4. What is all flesh in thy sight Eccls. 23. Esa 29. Shall clay glory against him that frameth it How can he be lifted vp with vaine words whose hart is truly subiect to God All the world cannot mooue him to any elation of mind whome truth hath subiected vnto it neither shall he be mooued with the tongues of all his praisers that hath setled his whole hope in God For they also that speake behould are nothing they shall passe away with the sound of the words Ps 116. but the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer CHAP. XV. VVhat we ought to do and say in euery thing which we desire SONNE †Our Lord. say thus in euery thing Lord if it be pleasing vnto thee let this be donne in this sort Lord if it be to thy honour Iac. 3. let this be don in thy name Lord if thou seest it expedient for me and allowest it to be profitable then graunt vnto me that I may vse this vnto thine honour But if thou knowest it will be hurtfull vnto me and not profitable to the health of my soule take from me all such desire For euery desire proceedeth not from the holy Ghost though it seeme vnto man right and good It is hard to iudge whether a good spirit or the contrary driue thee to desire this or that or whether also by thine owne spirit thou be moued therunto Many are deceaued in the end who at the first seemed to be lead by a good spirit 2. Alwaies therefore whatsoeuer occurreth vnto thy mind to be desired let it be desired with the feare of God and with humility of hart and aboue all thou oughtest to commit it vnto me with full resignation of thy selfe and thou oughtest to say Lord thou knowest what is best do this or that as thou pleasest Giue what thou wilt and how much thou wilt when thou wilt Do with me as thou knowest and as best pleaseth thee and is most for thy honour Set me where thou wilt and deale with me in all things according to thy will I am in thy hand turne me and turne me againe which way soeuer thou please Behould I am thy seruant ready to obey thee in all things for I desire not to liue vnto my selfe but vnto thee and would to God it might be in some worthy and perfect manner A prayer for the fullfilling of the will of God 3. Graunt * The Seruant me thy grace sweet Iesus that it may be with me and labour with me and perseuere with me vntill the end Grant me alwaies to desire and will that which is most acceptable vnto thee Sap. 9. and best pleaseth thee Let thy will be mine and let my will euer follow thine and agree perfectly with it Let my will and nill be all one with thine and not to be able to will or refuse any thing els but what thou wilt or reiectest 4. Graunt that I may dye to all things that are in the world and to loue for thy sake to be contemned and not to be knowne in this world Graunt that aboue all things that can be desired I may rest in thee and make my hart to enioy peace in thee Thou art the true peace of the hart thou art the only rest out of thee all things are troublesome and vnquiet In peace in the selfe same that is
temporall honour all worldly highnesse compared to thy eternall glory is vanity and folly O my truth my mercy my God most Blessed Trinity to thee alone be all praise honour vertue and glory for all eternity CHAP. XLI Of the contempt of all temporall honours SONNE †Our Lord. trouble not thy selfe if thou seest others honoured and aduanced and thy self coÌ„temned and debased Lift vp thy hart vnto me in heauen and the contempt of men in earth will not grieue thee Lord * The Seruant we are blind and quickly seduced with vanity If I looke well into my selfe I cannot say that any creature hath done me wrong and therfore I cannot iustly complaine of thee 2. But because I haue often and grieuously sinned against thee all creaturs do iustly take armes against me for shame and contempt is due vnto me but vnto thee praise honour and glory And vnlesse I do so prepare my selfe that I be willing do reioice to be despised and forsaken of all creatures to be esteemed nothing at all I cannot obtaine internall strength and peace nor be spiritually enlightned nor wholy vnited vnto thee CHAP. XLII That our peace is not to be placed in men SONNE †Our Lord. if the peace thou hast with any be grounded on the opinion which thou hast of him or on the contentmeÌ„t thou receauest in his company thou shalt euer be vnconstant and subiect to disquiet but if thou haue recourse vnto the euerliuing and eternall Truth a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieue thee The loue of thy friend ought to rest in me and for me is he to be beloued whosoeuer he be whom thou thinkest well of and is verily deare vnto thee in this life No friendship can auaile or continue without me neither is the loue true and pure which they haue whose hartes are not ioyned togeather by me Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections of beloued friends that forasmuch as appertaineth vnto thee thou shouldest wish to be without all company of men Man approacheth so much the neerer vnto God how much the further off he departeth from all earthly comfort so much the higher also he ascendeth vnto God by how much lower he descendeth into himselfe and how much the baser he is in his owne coÌ„ceipt 2. But he that attributeth any good vnto himselfe hindreth the comming of Gods grace into him For the grace of the holy Ghost euer seeketh an humble hart If thou couldst perfectly annihilate thy self purge thy self of all created loue then should there flow into thee great abouÌ„dance of my grace When thou castest thy eyes on creatures the sight of thy Creatour is taken froÌ„ thee Learne to ouercome thy selfe in al things for the loue of thy Creatour and then shalt thou be able to attaine to heauenly knowledg How little soeuer it be if it be inordinately loued and regarded it defileth the soule and hindreth the enioying of the chiefest good CHAP. XLIII Against vaine and secular knowledge SONNE †Our Lord. let not the fair speaches and subtile sayings of men moue thee †1. Cor. 4. For the Kingdome of God consisteth not in words but in vertue Obserue well the wordes which I speake for they inflame the hart and enlighten the mind induce coÌ„punction and bring sundry comforts Do thou neuer read to shew thy selfe learned or wise but labour to mortifie thy vices for that will profit thee more then the knowledg of many hard and difficult questioÌ„s 2. When thou shalt haue read knowne many things thou oughtest euer to returne to one beginning I am he that teacheth man all knowledg and do giue to little ones a more cleare vnderstanding then can be taught by man He therfore to whome I speake shall quickly be wise and shall profit much in spirit Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men and do little desire to know the way how to serue me The time will come when the Maister of Maisters shal appeare Christ the Lord of Angells to heare the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of euery one and then he will search Hierusalem with a candle Soph. 1. 1. Cor. 4. and the hidden things of darkenesse shall be laid open and the inuentions of tongues shall be silent 3. I am he that in an instant do raise vp the humble mind to vnder stand more reasons of the euerlasting truth then can be gotten by ten yeares study in schools I teach without noise of words without confusion of opinions without ambition of honour without contention of arguments I am he that teacheth to despise earthly things to loath things present to seeke the euerlasting to delight in the things that are eternal to fly honours to suffer scandalls to place all hope in me to desire nothing out of me and aboue all things feruently to loue me 4. For one by louing me entirely learned diuine things and spake wonders he prosited more in forsaking all things then in studying subtilties To some I speake ordinary things to others things more especiall to some I appeare sweetly by signes and figures but to some I reueale mysteries with much light The voice of boâ—ks is one but it teacheth not all men alike For I am the internal teacher I am the Truth the searcher of the hart the vnderstander of thoughts the setter forwards of good works distributing to euery one according to my will CHAP. XLIIII Of not drawing outward things to our selues SONNE †Our Lord. in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and esteeme thy selfe as dead vpon earth as one to whom the whole world is crucified Thou must also passe ouer many things with a deafe eare and rather thinke of that which appertaineth to thy peace It is more profitable to turne thine eyes from the sight of vnpleasing things and to leaue vnto euery one his owne opinion then to striue with contentious wordes If thou standest well with God and considerest his iudgments thou shalt the more easily yield to the will of others 2. O * The Seruant Lord to what an estate are we come Behold we bewaile a temporall losse and for a little gaine we toyle and spare no labour the spirituall domage of our soule is forgotteÌ„ hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is alwaies remembred and that which is chiefty necessary is negligeÌ„tly passed ouer because mans nature carrieth him to externall things vnlesse he quickly returne vnto himselfe he lyeth drowned in them with delight CHAP. XLV That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words HELP me * The Seruant Lord in my tribulation for vaine is the defence of man How often haue I bene deceaued finding want of faith Psal 59. where I thought it sure And how often haue I found faith where I least expected it It is vaine therefore
to trust in men but the safety of the iust o Lord is in thee Blessed be thou my God in all thinges that befall vs. We are weake and inconstant quickly deceaued and soone changed 2. Who is he that is able so warily to keep himselfe that he neuer fall into any deceipt or doubt But he that trusteth in thee o Lord and seeketh thee with a pure hart Prou. 10. doth not easily fall and if he fall into any tribulation be he neuer so much inthralled yet he shal quickly be deliuered or cōforted by thee For thou wilt not forsake him for euer that trusteth in thee The friend is rare to be found that continueth faithfull in his freinds distresse but thou o Lord thou alone art faithfull at all times and there is none like vnto thee 3. O how wise was that holy soule that said My mind is firmly setled and grounded in Christ If it were so with me then would not humane feare so easily trouble me nor words moue me Who can foresee all things Who is able to beware beforehand of future euills If things euen foreseene do oftētimes hurt vs how can things vnlooked for choose but wound vs grieuously But why did I not prouide better for my selfe miserable wretch Why also haue I so easily giuen credit to others But alas we are men and God knoweth weake fraile men although by many we are reputed and called Angels To whome shall I giue credit Lord to whome but to thee Thou art the truth that neither dost deceaue nor canst be deceaued And on the other side euery man is a liar weake vnconstant and subiect to fall especially in words and therfore we must not easily giue credit euen to that which in outward shew seemeth at the first a certaine truth 4. O with how great wisdome hast thou warned vs to take heed of men and because the enemies of man are his familiar and domestical acquaintance not to trust Matt. 7. if one should say Behould heere or behould there I am taught to my cost and I would to God I might therby increase my care and not my folly Be wary faith one be wary keep vnto thy selfe what I tell thee and whilst I hould my peace and think it is secret he cannot keep that secret which he desired should be secret but presently discloseth me and himselfe and goeth his way From such tales and such improuident people protect me Lord that I fall not into their hands nor euer commit such errours Giue me grace my God to obserue truth and constancy in my words and remoue far from me a deceiptfull tongue What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all meanes to auoid 5. O how good quiet a thing it is to be silent and not to talke of others nor to belieue all that is said nor easily to report what we haue heard Prou. 25. to lay ones self open to few Esa 24. alwayes to seeke after thee the behoulder of the hart not to be carried about with euery wind of wordes but to desire that all thinges both within without be accomplished according to thy will and pleasure How secure is it for the keeping of heauenly grace to fly the sight of men And not to seeke those things that seeme to cause admiration abroad but to follow that with all diligence which bringeth amendment of life and increase of feruour 6. To how many hath vertue knowne and ouer hastily commended bene hurtfull How profitable hath grace bene kept with silence in this mortall life which is nothing but a perpetuall temptation and a warfare CHAP. XLVI Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise SONNE †Our Lord. be constant and put thy trust in me For what are wordes but wordes They passe through the ayre but hurt not Psal 36. If thou be guiltie determine willingly to amend thy selfe if thou be innocent resolue to suffer this willingly at least for God It is a small matter to suffer sometimes a few words if thou hast not yet the courage to endure stripes And why do small matters go to thy hart but for that thou art yet carnall and regardest men more then thou oughtest Because thou art afraid to be despised therfore thou wilt not be reprehended for thy faults and therfore seekest shaddowes of excuses 2. But looke better into thy self and thou shalt see that the world yet liueth in thee and a vaine desire to please men For when thou refusest to be humbled reproued for thy faults it is surely euident that thou art neither truly humble nor dead to the world nor the world perfectly crucified to thee But giue diligent eare to my words and thou shalt little respect ten thousand wordes spoken by men Behould if al should be spoken against thee that could be most maliciously inuented what would it hurt thee if thou sufferedst it to passe madest no reckoning at all of it Matt. 10. Luc. 11. Could al those words pluck as much as one haire from thy head 3. But he that hath not his heart within him nor God before his eyes is easily moued with euery little dispraise when as he that trusteth in me and confideth not in his owne iudgement shall be free from humane feares For I am the Iudge and the discerner of all secrets I know how the matter passed Psal 7. I know him that offereth the iniury and him that suffereth it From me hath this word proceeded this hath happened by my permissiō that out of many harts thoughts may be reuealed I shall iudge the guilty the innocent Luc. 2. but by a secret iudgmēt I would before-hand try them both 4. The testimony of men oftētimes deceaueth my iudgment is alwaies true it shall stand and not be ouerthrowne It is cōmonly hidden and secret and not known in euery thing but to few notwithstanding it neuer erreth neither can it erre although to the eyes of the foolish it seemes not right Men ought therfore to returne to me in euery iudgment and not to stand in their owne opinions For the iust man will not be troubled Prou. 12. whatsoeuer happeneth vnto him for God and if any thing be wrongfully brought forth against him he will not much care neither will he vainely be glad if by others he be with reasō excused Psal 7. For he considereth that I am he that searcheth the hart reines do iudg not according to the outward face nor humane apparēce For that is oftētimes found culpable in my sight that in the iudgment of men is commendable 5. O Lord * The Seruant my God the iust Iudge strong patient thou knowest the frailty and peruersity of man be thou my strength all my trust for mine owne conscience sufficeth me not Thou knowest that which I cannot reach vnto and therfore in euery reprehension I ought to haue submitted my selfe to haue borne it patiently
Lord that thou shouldest impart any heauenly comfort vnto me I remember not that I haue euer done any good but haue bene alwayes prone to sinne and slouthfull in my amēdment It is true and I cannot deny it If I should say otherwise thou wouldest stand against me Iob. 9. there would be none to defend me What haue I deserued for my sinnes but hell and euerlasting fire I confesse in the truth of my hart that I am worthy of all scorne and contempt and it is vnfit that I should be remēbred amongst thy deuout seruants And although I be vnwilling to heare this yet notwithstanding for the loue of truth I will lay open my sinnes against my selfe that I may the better deserue to obtaine thy mercy 3. What shall I say being guilty and full of confusion I can vtter out of my mouth no other word but this I haue sinned Psal 50. Lord I haue sinned Iob. 10. haue mercy on me pardon me suffer me a little that I may bewaile my griefe before I go vnto the land of darknesse and be couered with the shaddow of death What doest thou require of a guilty miserable sinner but that he be contrite and sorrowfull and do humble him selfe for his offences In true contrition and hūblenes of heart is bred a hope of forgiuenes a troubled cōscience is reconciled againe grace lost is restored man is defended frō future wrath and God and the penitent soule meet togeather in the holy kisse of peace 4. Humble contrition for sinns is an acceptable sacrifice vnto thee Psal 50. o Lord sauouring much sweeter in thy sight then burning frankincense This is also the pleasant oyntment Luc. 7. which thou wouldest haue powred vpon thy sacred feet Psal 50. for thou neuer despisest a contrite and humble hart There is a place of refuge from the face of the wrath of our enemie there is amended and washed away whatsoeuer vncleanes hath bene elswhere gathered and whatsoeuer is defiled CHAP. LIII That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things SONNE †Out Lord. my grace is precious it suffereth not it selfe to be mingled with externall things nor earthly comforts Thou oughtest therfore to cast away all hinderances of grace if thou desire to receaue the infusion therof Choose therfore a secret place to thy selfe loue to liue alone with thy selfe desire the conuersation of none but rather powre out deuout praiers vnto God that thou maist keep thy mind compunct and thy conscience pure Esteeme the whole world as nothing Matt. 19. preferre my seruice before all outward things for thou canst not attend vnto me and be delighted also in transitory vanities Thou oughtest to sequester thy selfe frō thy acquaintance friends to keep thy mind depriued of all temporall cōfort So the blessed Apostle Peter required 1. Pet. 2. that the faithfull of Christ should keep themselues as strangers Pilgrimes in this world 2. O how great a confidence shall he haue at the houre of death whome no affection to any earthly thing detaineth in the world But the weake mind is not yet capable of so retired a hart neither doth the fleshly person vnderstand the freedome of a recollected mind Notwithstanding if he will be truly spirituall he ought to renounce as wel that which is farre off as that which is neerest vnto him and to beware of no man more then of himselfe If thou perfectly ouercome thy selfe thou shalt with more ease subdue the rest It is a glorious victory to triumph ouer our selues For he that keepeth himselfe subiect in such sort that his sēsualitie be subdued to reason reason in al things be obedient to me he is truly a conquerour of himselfe Lord of the world 3. If thou desire to mount vnto this height of perfection thou must begin manfully and set the axe to the root that thou maist plucke vp and destroy thy hidden and inordinate inclination to thy selfe and vnto all priuate and earthly good Of this vice that man too inordinately loueth himselfe almost all dependeth whatsoeuer is wholy to be ouercome which being once ouercome subdued there will presently ensue great peace and tranquillity But for that few endeauour perfectly to die vnto themselues to forsake themselues wholy therfore they remaine intangled in themselues and cannot be lifted vp in spirit aboue themselues but he that desireth to walke freely with me it is necessary that he mortify all his inordinate affections and not adhere vnto any creature by priuate loue CHAP. LIV. Of the different motions of Nature and Grace SONNE †Our Lord. marke diligently the motions of thine owne nature and my grace for in very contrary and secret manner these are moued and can hardly be discerned but by him that is spirituall and inwardly enlightned All men desire that which is good and pretend some good in all their words and deeds therfore vnder pretence of good many are deceaued Nature is deceiptfull and seduceth intangleth deceaueth many and alwaies proposeth her selfe for her end but grace walketh with great sincerity and auoideth all shew of euill pretendeth not deceipts doth all things purely for God in whome also she finally resteth 2. Nature will not willingly dye nor be kept in nor ouercome nor be subiect to any nor be subdued but grace laboureth to mortifie her selfe resisteth sensuality seeketh to be subiect is willing to be ouercome and will not vse her owne liberty she loueth to be kept vnder discipline and desireth not to rule any but alwaies to liue and remaine wholy subiect vnto God and for God is ready humbly to bow vnto all men Nature striueth for her owne commodity and considereth what profit she may reape by another but grace considereth not what is profitable and commodious vnto herselfe but rather what is profitable to many Nature willingly receaueth honour reuerence but grace faithfully attributeth all honour and glory vnto God 3. Nature feareth shame and contempt but grace reioyceth to suffer reproach for the name of Iesus Nature loueth idlenes and bodily rest but grace cannot be idle but willingly imbraceth labour Nature seeketh to haue those things that be curious and precious abhorreth that which is meane and base but grace delighteth in plaine hūble things despiseth not course and meane nor refuseth to wear that which is old torne Nature respecteth the things of this world reioyceth at earthly gaine sorroweth for losse is moued with euery little iniurious word but grace thinketh on that which is euerlasting and cleaueth not to that which fadeth with time she is not troubled with losse nor exasperated with iniuries for that she hath placed her treasure and ioy in heauen where nothing perisheth 4. Nature is couetous and doth more willingly receaue then giue she loueth proper and priuate things but grace is pittifull liberall to all auoydeth singularity is content with a little
Behould thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skum of sinners behold thou bowest thy selfe downe vnto me who am not worthy so much as to looke vp vnto thee Behould thou commest vnto me it is thy will to be with me Psal 77. thou inuitest me to thy banquet Ioan. 6. Thou wilt giue me the food of heauen and bread of Angels to eate which is no other truely then thy selfe the liuely bread that descendest from heauen and giuest life vnto the world 4. Behould from whence this loue proceedeth what kind of fauour and benignity is this which shineth vpon vs What thankes and praises are due vnto thee for these benefits O how good and profitable was thy counsell when thou ordainedst it How sweet pleasant the banquet when thou gauest thy selfe to be our food How wonderfull thy worke o Lord how powerfull thy vertue how vnspeakable thy truth For thou saidst the word Gen. 1 Psal 148. and all things were made this was done which thou commanndest 5. A thing of grâ—at admiration and worthy of faith and surpassing the vnderstanding of man that thou my Lord God true God Man shouldest be wholy coÌ„teyned vnder a small forme of bread wine and shouldest be eaten by the receauer without being coÌ„sumed Thou who art the Lord of all things and standest in need of none hast pleased to dwell in vs by meanes of this thy Sacrament preserue my heart and body vnspotted that with a cheerfull and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receaue theÌ„ to my euerlasting health which thou hast chiefly ordained instituted for thy honour and perpetuall memory 6. Reioyce my soule and giue thanks vnto God for so noble a gift and singular comfort left vnto thee in this vale of teares For as often as thou callest to mind this mysterie and receauest the body of Christ so often dost thou worke the worke of thy redemption and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ For the charity of Christ is neuer diminished and the greatnesse of his mercy is neuer lessened Therefore thou oughtest alwaies to dispose thy selfe hereunto by a fresh renewing of thy mind and to weigh with attentiue consideration this great mystery of thy saluation So great new and ioyfull it ought to seeme vnto thee when thou sayest or hearest Masse as if the same day Christ first descending into the wombe of the Virgin were become man or hanging on the crosse did suffer and dye for the saluation of mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often BEHOLD o Lord I come vnto thee Ps 67. that I may be comforted in thy gift and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou o Lord hast prepared in thy sweetnesse for the poore Behold in thee is all whatsoeuer I can or ought to desire thou art my health and my redeÌ„ption my hope and my strength my honour and my glory Make ioyfull therefore this day the soule of thy seruant Psal 85. for that I haue lifted it vp to thee my sweet Iesus I desire to receaue thee now with deuotion and reuerence I do long to bring thee into my house that with Zachaeus I may deserue to be blessed by thee and numbred amongst the children of Abraham My soule thirsteth to receaue thy body my heart desireth to be vnited with thee 2. Giue thy selfe to me and it sufficeth For besides thee no comfort is auailable I cannot be without thee nor liue without thy visitation And therefore I must often come vnto thee and receaue thee as the only remedy of my health least perhaps I faint in the way if I be depriued of thy heauenly food For so most mercifull Iesus thou once didst say preaching to the people and curing sundry diseases Matt 15. I will not send them home fasting Matt. 8. least they faint in the way Deale thou therfore in like maÌ„ner now with me who hast vouchsafed to leaue thy selfe in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithfull For thou art the sweet refection of the soule and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heire of euerlasting glory It is necessary for me that do so often fall and sinne so quickly wax dull and faint that by often praiers confession and receauing of thy sacred body I renew clense and inflame my selfe least perhaps by long abstayning I fall from my holy purpose 3. For man is prone vnto euill from his youth Gen. 8. and vnlesse this diuine remedie help him he quickly slideth to worse This holy CoÌ„munion therfore draweth back from euill and comforteth in good For if I be now so often slack and negligent when I communicate or say Masse what would become of me if I receaued not this remedy and sought not after so great a help Though euery day I be not fit nor well prepared to say Masse I will endeauour notwithstanding at conuenient times to receaue the diuine mysteries and make my selfe partaker of so great a grace For this is the onely chiefe comfort of a faithfull soule whilst she wandreth froÌ„ thee in this mortall body that being mindfull of her God she often receaue her Beloued with a deuout mind 4. O wonderfull benignity of thy mercy towards vs that thou Lord God the Creatour and giuer of life to all spirits doest vouchsafe to come vnto a poore soule with thy whole Godhead and humanity to replenish her hunger O happy mind and blessed soule that deserueth to receaue thee her Lord God with deuout affection and in receauing of thee to be filled with spirituall ioy O how great a Lord doth she intertaine How beloued a ghest doth she harbour how pleasant a companion doth she receaue how faithful a friend doth she accept how beautifull and noble a spouse doth she imbrace she imbraceth him who is to be loued aboue all that is beloued and aboue all things that may be desired Let heauen and earth and all their beauty be sileÌ„t in thy presence For what beauty and praise soeuer they haue it is receaued from thy bounty and shall not equall the beauty of thy name of whose wisdome there is no end Psal 146. CHAP. IIII. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that communicate deuoutly The voice of the Disciple MY Lord God Psal 20. preuent thy seruant in the blessings of thy sweetnesse that I may deserue to approach worthily and deuoutly to thy holy Sacrament stirre vp my heart vnto thee and deliuer me froÌ„ all heauines and slouth Psal 105. visit me with thy comfort that I may tast in spirit thy sweetnesse which plentifully lyeth hid in this Sacrament as a fountaine Giue light also to mine eyes to behold lo great a mystery and strengthen me to belieue it with vndoubted faith For it is thy worke and not mans power thy sacred institution not mans inuention For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend vnderstand these things