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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13694	The follovving of Christ Diuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man, Thomas a Kempis, canon-regular of the order of S. Augustine. Whereunto also is added the golden Epistle of S. Bernard. And also certaine rules of a Christian life, made by Iohn Picus the elder, Earle of Mirandula. Translated into English by B.F.; Imitatio Christi. English.	Hoskins, Anthony, 1568-1615.; Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153. Epistola de perfectione vitae. English.; Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494, Regulae duodecim portim excitantes portim dirigentes hominem in pugna spirituali. English. aut; Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name.; Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555?	1615 (1615)	STC 23988; ESTC S111535	135,170	483

hart They deliuer the letters but thou openest the sense They bring foorth mysteries but thou disclosest the vnderstanding of sealed things They declare thy Commandements but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou giuest strēgth to walke it They worke only exteriourly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hearts They water outwardly but thou giuest fruitfulnes They sound foorth words but thou giuest vnderstanding to the hearing 3 Let not therefore Moyses speak vnto me but thou my Lord God the euerlasting truth lest perhaps I shold die and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly onely and not inflamed within lest the word heard and not fulfilled knowen not loued belieued not obserued should increase my judgement Speak therfore Lord for thy seruant heareth for thou hast the words of euerlasting life 1. King 3. Speak vnto me to the comfort of my soule to the amēdmēt of my whole life to thy praise glory euerlasting honor Ioh. 6. CHAP. III. That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not OVR LORD SOnne heare my words words of great comfort excelling all the knowledge of the Philosophers and wise men of this world My words are spirit and life not to be weighed by the vnderstanding of man Ioh. 6. They are not to be drawne to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be receiued with all humility and great affection SER. And I said Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy Law that thou mayest giue him quietnes from euill daies and that hee bee not destroyed vpon earth Psal 93. LORD 2 I saith our 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 speech Heb. 1. The greater number do more willingly listen to the world then to God and follow sooner the desires of their flesh then the will of God The world promiseth temporall and small things and is serued with great diligence I promise most high and eternal things and the hearts of men are nothing moued with it Who is he that serueth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world and the Lords thereof are serued Blush Sidon saith the sea Esa 23. And if thou aske the cause heare vvhereof For a little prebend a long jorney is vndertaken for euerlasting life many will scarce once lift a foot from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a peny sometimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleight promise men doubt not to toile day and night 3 But alas for an vnchangeable good for an inestimable revvard for the highest honour and glorie without end they are loath to take the least paines Blush therefore slouthfull and complaining Seruant that they are found more ready to destruction then thou to life They reioyce more at vanity then thou at truth And yet they are sometimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceiueth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me Rom. 1. Matth. 24. I will giue that which I haue promised I will fulfill that which I haue said but to him that remaines faithfull in my loue to the end Apoc. 2. I am the reward of all good and do try my deuout seruants in forcible proofes Mat. 5.15 4 Write my words in thy heart and thinke diligently of them for they will bee necessary in time of temptation What thou vnderstandest not whē thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visite my elect two seuerall wayes to wit with temptation and comfort And I daily reade two lessons vnto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the encrease of vertues Hee that hath my words and despiseth them hath within him that shal judge him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of deuotion SER. 5 Lord my God thou art all that I can desire Who am I that dare speake vnto thee I am thy poorest seruant and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I can or dare expresse Gen. 18. Remember Lord that I am nothing haue nothing and can doe nothing Thou alone art good just and holy thou canst doe all things performest all things leauing only a sinner void of al good Call to mind thy mercies and fill my hart with thy grace who wilt not that thy workes be void 6 How can I support my selfe in this miserable life vnlesse thy mercy and grace comfort me Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort lest my soule become as earth without water vnto thee Psal 68. Lord teach me to fulfill thy will teach me to liue worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou doest perfectly know me and didst know me before the world was made and before I was borne in the world Psal 142. CHAP. IV. That we ought to liue in truth and humility in the sight of God OVR LORD SOnne walke in my sight in sincerity and truth and euer seeke me in plainenesse of heart He that walketh in my sight in truth shal be defended from euill incursions and truth shall deliuer him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked Gen. 17. Wisd 1. If truth shall haue deliuered thee thou shalt be truely free and shalt not care for vaine speeches of men 1. Ioh. 8. SER. Lord it is true According as thou sayest so I beseech thee let it be done with me and keepe me and bring mee to a happy end Let thy truth teach me and let it deliuer me from all euill affection and inordinat loue and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of heart LORD 2 I wil teach thee saith the Truth those things that are right and pleasing in my sight Thinke of thy sins with great sorrow griefe and neuer esteem thy selfe any thing for thy good workes Thou art in very deed a sinner and subiect to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwayes tendest to nothing and art quickly cast downe and ouercome quickly troubled quickly dissolued Thou hast nothing wherin thou canst glory 2. Cor. 4. But many things for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou art able to comprehend 3 And therfore let nothing seeme much vnto thee whatsoeuer thou dost Let nothing seem great nothing precious wonderful nothing worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is euerlasting Let the eternall truth aboue al things please thee Let thy owne great vnworthinesse alwayes displease thee Feare nothing blame flie nothing so much as thy sins and vices which ought to displease more then the losse of any thing whatsoeuer Some walke not sincerely in my sight but led by a certain curiosity pride wil know

THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST Diuided into foure Bookes Written in Latin by the Learned and deuout Man THOMAS A KEMPIS Canon-Regular of the Order of S. AVGVSTINE Whereunto also is added the golden EPISTLE of S. BERNARD And Also certaine rules of a Christian life made by IOHN PICVS the elder Earle of MIRANDVLA· Translated into English by B. F. Printed with licence 1615. TO THE HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the Lord HARRODOVVNE HOnorable Right Worthy the publike demonstration 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 minde hath moued mee 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 practise thereof wil be profitable to others it being so diuine and excellent a worke as in the opinion of such as can best judge of this matter of all the Bookes which are written that treate of Spirit Christian Perfection the holy Scripture excepted it is inferiour to none if it excelleth not all No book hath bin more approued by generall consent none more often printed translated into diuers languages none more esteemed commended yea commanded also by the chiefe Masters of Spirit of some religious Orders to be often read by euery one in priuate and once a week publikely to al. So full of sweet sense is this diuine Flower that the most spirituall Bees may daily draw from thence great plentie of celestiall hony It is a dish of so diuine meat that it neuer satiates the deuout mind but as the Wisdome of God doth promise to all such as sit at that heauenly banquent so shal they find in this spiritual food The more they eat it the more they shall hunger after it Eccles 4. And the reason hereof is for that it containeth 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 affordeth to euery one that delightfull taste which best agreeth with the palate of his soule and none can loath it but they whose lustes doe carry them to Aegyptian slauery A true Israelite may feed vpon it forty yeares together and euer finde such pleasing taste and encreasing strength by vse therof as wil sustaine him in the desert of this world and 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 pearls of Euangelical perfection which maketh vs more pleasing in the sight of God then can the deckings of all earthly jewels make the fairest Lady in the Kingdome where you are appeare beautifull to the eyes of men It returneth abundant gaine for sustained losses and enlargeth the liberty which is now restrained It raiseth vp to cheerefull confidence the debased head placeth in a Throne of endlesse honour those who in this world doe seeme imprisoned in the blacke cloud of disgrace To you therefore who haue so willingly endured the losse of your earthly substance I haue thought good to present this Euangelicall Pearle and incomparable Treasure contained in a little roome Here you shall find the most perfect manner of conforming our selues to Christ our heauenly paterne see the vertues set forth in their colours which did most shine in the life of our Lord himselfe and reade in plaine and vulgar phrase those Lessons of high perfection which are commended vnto vs by the highest Wisdome which haue made as many Saints as they haue had diligent and obseruant followers Accept therefore I beseech you this little Present presented by him who wisheth you much more temporall happines then your present state affordeth and that endlesse glory whereof your present suffering is no vncertaine pledge This first of Nouember 1612. Yours in all dutie 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 pag. 1 Of the humble conceit of our selues pag. 4 Of the doctrine of truth pag. 7 Of prudence and foresight in our actions pag. 13 Of the reading of holy Scriptures pag. 14 Of inordinate desires and affections pag. 16 Of flying vaine hope and pride pag. 17 That too much familiarity is to be shunned pag. 19 Of obedience and subiection pag. 21 Of auoiding superfluitie of words pag. 23 Of the obtaining of peace and zeale of spirituall profit pag. 25 Of the profit of aduersitie pag. 29 Of resisting temptations pag. 30 Of auoiding rash iudgement pag. 36 Of workes done of charitie pag. 38 Of bearing with the defects of others pag. 40 Of religious life pag. 42 Of the examples of the holy Fathers pag. 44 Of the exercise of a good and religious person pag. 48 Of the loue of solitude and silence pag. 54 Of compunction of heart pag. 60 Of the consideration of humane misery pag. 64 Of the consideration of death pag. 70 Of iudgement and the punishment of sin pag. 77 Of the feruent amendment of our whole life pag. 83 THE SECOND BOOKE OF spirituall conuersation pag. 93 Of humble submission pag. 99 Of a good and peaceable man pag. 101 Of a pure minde and vpright intention pag. 104 Of the consideration of ones selfe pag. 106 Of the comfort of a good conscience pag. 108 Of the loue of Iesus aboue all things pag. 111 Of familiar conuersation with Iesus pag. 114 Of the want of all comfort pag. 118 Of thankefulnes for the grace of God pag. 124 How few the the louers of the Crosse of Christ are pag. 128 Of the high way of the holy Crosse pag. 131 THE THIRD BOOKE OF the inward speech of Christ vnto a faithfull-soule pag. 143 That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words pag. 145 That the words of God are to bee heard with humilitie and that many weigh them not pag. 147 That we ought to liue in truth and humilitie in the sight of God pag. 152 Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace pag. 156 Of the proofe of a true Louer pag. 161 That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humilitie pag. 165 Of a meane conceit of our selues in the sight of God pag. 170 That all things are to bee referred vnto God as vnto the last end pag. 173 That despising the world it is sweet to serue God pag. 175 That the desires of our heart are to be examined and moderated pag. 179 Of the effects of patience and of strife against concupiscence pag. 182 Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ pag. 185 Of the secret Iudgements of God to bee considered lest

abhorreth and flieth that by feruour of spirit it taketh hould on and loueth 9 It is not according to mans inclination to beare the crosse to loue the crosse to chastise and subdue the body to fly honors to suffer contumelies with a ioyfull hart to despise himselfe and to wish to be despised to beare al aduersities and domages and to desire no prosperity in this world If thou considerest thy selfe thou shalt bee able to performe no such matter of thy selfe 2. Cor. 3. But if thou trustest in our Lord strength shall be giuen thee from heauen and the world and flesh shall bee made subiect to thy command Neither shalt thou feare thy enemy the Diuell if thou be armed with faith and signed with the Crosse of Christ 10 Resolue therfore with thy selfe like a good and faithfull seruant of Christ to beare manfully the Crosse of thy Lord who was crucified for thy loue Prepare thy selfe to beare many aduersities and diuers kinds of troubles in this miserable life for so it will be with thee whersoeuer thou be and so surely thou wilt finde it whersoeuer thou hide thy selfe So it must be and there is no remedy or means to auoid tribulation sorow but to beare them Drink of the chalice of our Lord willingly if thou wilt be his friend desirest to haue part with him Mat. 20. Leaue the desire of comforts to God let him do therin as shal best please him Io. 28. Set thou thy heart vpon the suffering of tribulations account them the greatest comforts for that the passions of this life are not according to future glory although thou alone couldest suffer them all Rom. 8. 11 When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation shall seeme sweet and pleasant vnto thee for Christ then thou mayest thinke it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise vpon earth Galath 6. As long as it is grieuous vnto thee to suffer and that thou desirest to flie it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou fliest will follow thee euery where 12 If thou setlest thy selfe to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to die to thy selfe it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt find peace Although thou shouldest haue beene rapt euen vnto the third heauen with Paul 1. Cor. 12. thou art not for this assured that thou shalt suffer no contradiction I saith Iesus will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name Act. 9. It resteth therefore that thou suffer if thou wilt loue Iesus and perpetually serue him 13 O would to God thou wert worthy to suffer somthing for Iesus How great glory would it be vnto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbour For al do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ since many suffer far greater things for the loue of the world Psal 43. 14 Know for certaine that thou oughtest to leade a dying life And how much the more euery one dyeth to himselfe so much the more doth hee begin to liue to God No man is fit to attaine vnto heauenly things vnlesse hee submit himselfe to the bearing of aduersities for Christ Nothing is more gratefull vnto God nothing more vvholesome to thee in this vvorld then to suffer vvillingly for Christ And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer aduersities for Christ then to enjoy the delight of many comforts because by these meanes thou shouldest be more like vnto Christ and more conformable to all the Saints For our merit and the perfection of our estate consisteth not in much sweetnesse and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulations 15 If there had beene any better thing and more profitable to the health of man then suffering surely Christ would haue shewed it by word and example But hee plainly exhorted al the disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Crosse and saith If any man wil come after me let him deny himselfe take vp his Crosse and follow me Luk. 9. So as when we haue read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdome of God Act. 14. The end of the second Booke OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE THIRD BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the inward speech of Christ vnto a faithfull soule I Will heare what our Lord God will speake in me Psal 84. Blessed is the soule that heareth our Lord speaking in her and receiueth from his mouth the word of comfort 1. King 3. Blessed are those ears that receiue the sound of the diuine voice and listen not to the whispering of the world Blessed indeed are those eares that harken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but vnto truth which teaceth inwardly Matth. 13. Blessed are the eyes that being shut vp to outward things are attentiue to those things that are internall Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeauour to prepare themselues more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of heauenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to attend to the seruice of God and cast from them all impediments of this world 2 Consider these things my soule and shut vp the dores of thy sensuall desires that thou mayest heare what thy Lord God speaketh in thee Psal 84. Thus saith thy beloued I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keepe thy selfe with me and thou shalt find peace Forsake all transitory things and seeke those that be euerlasting Psal 34. What are temporall things but deceiuing snares And what do all creatures auaile thee if thou bee forsaken by the Creator Forsake therefore all earthly things and labour to please thy Creator and bee faithfull vnto him that thou mayest attaine vnto true happinesse CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of Words THE SERVANT SPeake Lord for thy Seruant heareth I am thy Seruant grant mee vnderstanding that I may knovv thy testimonies Stirre vp my heart to heare the words of thy mouth 1. King 3. Psalm 118. Let thy speech descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and wee shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs lest perhaps wee die Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreate speak Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. Let not Moyses speake vnto mee nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and inlightner 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 meruailous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the

and humilitie and mightest beare patiently the contempt of thy selfe CHAP. XIV Of the secret Iudgements of God to be considered lest we be extolled in our good deeds THE SERVANT THou thundrest thy judgements ouer me Lord and shakest all my bones with feare and trembling and my soule is sore afraid I stand astonished and consider for that heauens are not pure in thy sight Iob 15. If thou hast found wickednesse in Angels and hast not pardoned them what shal become of me Iob 4. Starres fell from heauen and what doe I presume that am dust Apoc. 8. 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 swine 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 dost not protect it No custodie of our owne profitable if thy sacred watchfulnes be not present For if thou leauest vs we sinke and perish but if thou vouchsafest to visit vs we are raised vp and doe enioy life We are inconstant but by thee we are strengthned we wax could but by thee we receiue heate 3 O how meanely and basely ought I to thinke 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 self vnder thy vnsearchable judgements where I finde my selfe to be nothing else but nothing nothing O vnmeasurable waight O sea that can neuer be passed ouer where I finde my selfe onely and wholly nothing Where then is the lurking hole of glory Whrre is the confidence conceiued of vertue All vaine-glory is swallowed vp in the depth of thy iudgmēts which hang ouer my head 4 What is all flesh in thy sight Shall clay glory against him that frameth it Eccls. 23. Esay 29. How can he be lifted vp with vain words whose heart is truly subiect to God All the world cannot mooue him to any elation of minde whome truth hath subiected vnto it neither shall hee be mooued with the tongues of all his praisers that hath setled his whole hope in God For they also that speake behold are nothing they shall passe away with the sound of the words but the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer Psal 116. CHAP. XV. What we ought to doe and say in euery thing which we desire OVR LORD SOn say thus in euery thing Lord if it be pleasing vnto thee let this be done in this sort Lord if it be to thy honour let this bee done in thy name Iam. 3. Lord if thou seest it expedient for me and allowest it to be profitable then grant vnto me that I may vse this vnto thine honor But if thou knowest it wil be hurtfull vnto me not profitable to the health of my soule take from me al such desire For euery desire proceeds not from the holy Ghost though it seeme vnto man right and good It is hard to judge 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 deceiued in the end who at the first seemed to be led by a good spirit 2 Alwaies therefore whatsoeuer occurreth vnto thy minde to be desired let it be desired with the feare of God and with humility of heart and aboue al 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 and when thou wilt Doe with me as thou knowest as best pleaseth thee and is most for thy honor Set me where thou wilt and deale with mee in all things according to thy will I am in thy hand turne me and turne me againe which way soeuer thou please Behold 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 fulfilling of the will of God SER. 3 Grant mee 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 best pleaseth thee Sap. 9. 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 else but what thou wilt or reiectest 4 Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world and to loue for thy sake to bee contemned and not to be knowne in this world Grant 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 heart thou art the only rest out of thee all things are troublesome and vnquiet In peace in the selfe-same that is in thee one chiefest eternall good I will sleepe and rest Amen Psal 4. CHAP. XVI That true comfort is to be sought in God alone THE SERVANT WHatsoeuer I can desire or imagine for my cōfort I look not for it in this life but hereafter For if I should alone haue all the comforts of the world might enioy al the delights thereof it is certaine that they could not long endure Mat. 16. Wherfore my soule thou canst not bee fully comforted nor haue perfect delight but in God the cōforter of the poor the receiuer of the humble Ps 76. Expect a while my soule expect the diuine promise and thou shalt haue abundance of al good things in heauen If thou desire inordinately the things that are present thou shalt lose the celestiall and eternall Haue temporall things in vse and the eternal in desire Thou canst not be filled with any temporall goods because thou art not created to enioy them 2 Although thou enioyest al that is created yet canst thou not be happy thereby nor blessed but in God that hath created all things thy whole beatitude and happinesse consisteth Sap. 2. not such as is seene and commended by the foolish louers of the world but such as the good faithful seruants of Christ expect the spirituall cleane of heart whose conuersation is in heauen sometimes take a taste of Phil. 3. Vaine short is al humane comfort Blessed true is the comfort which is receiued inwardly from truth A deuout man euery where carrieth with him Iesus his comforter and saith vnto him Be present with me Lord Iesus in euery place and time Let this be my comfort to bee alwayes willing to want all humane comfort And if thy comfort be wanting let thy will and just proofe be vnto me as the greatest comfort for

vaine and secular knowledge OVR LORD SOn let not the faire speeches and subtill sayings of men moue thee For the Kingdom of God consisteth not in words but in vertue 1. Cor. 4. Obserue well the words which I speake for they inflame the hart and enlighten the mind induce compunction and bring sundry comforts Do thou neuer reade to shew thy self learned or wise but labour to mortifie thy vices for that wil profit thee more then the knowledge of many hard and difficult questions 2 When thou shalt haue read and knowne many things thou oughtest euer to returne to one beginning I am he that teacheth man all knowledge and doe giue to little ones a more cleare vnderstanding then can be taught by man He therefore to whom I speake shall quickely bee wise and shall profit much in spirit Woe be to them that inquire many curious things of men and doe little desire to know the way how to serue me The time will come when the Master of Masters shall appeare Christ the Lord of Angels to heare the lessons of all that is to examine the consciences of euery one and then he will search Hierusalem with a candle and the hidden things of darknesse shall be laid open and the inuention of tongues shall be silent 1. Cor. 4. 3 I am hee that in an instant doe raise vp the humble mind to vnderstand more reasons of the euerlasting truth then can bee gotten by ten years study in schooles I teach without noise of words without confusion of opinions without ambition of honor 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 eternall to fly honors to suffer scandals 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 profited 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 bookes is one but it teacheth not all men alike For I am the internal Teacher I am the Truth the Searcher of the heart the Vnderstander of thoughts the Setter forwards of good workes distributing to euery one according to my will CHAP. XLIV Of not drawing outward things to our selues OVR LORD SOn in many things thou oughtest to be ignorant and to esteeme thy selfe as dead vpon earth and 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 eies from the sight of vnpleasing things and to leaue vnto euery one his owne opinion then to striue with contentious words If thou standest well with God considerest his judgments thou shalt the more easily yeeld to the wil of others SER. 2 O Lord to what an estate are we come Behold we bewaile a temporall losse and for a little gaine we toile and spare no labour and the spirituall domage of our soule is forgotten and hardly at length called to mind That which little or nothing profiteth is alwaies remembred and that which is chiefely necessary is negligently passed ouer because mans nature carrieth him to external things and vnlesse he quickly returne vnto himselfe he lieth 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 THE SERVANT HElpe me Lord in my tribulation for vaine is the defence of man How often haue I bin deceiued finding wāt of faith where I thought it sure Psal 59. And how often haue I found faith where I least expected it It is vaine therefore to trust in men but the safetie of the just O Lord is in thee Blessed be thou my God in all things that befall vs. We are weake and inconstant quickely deceiued and soone changed 2 Who is he that is able so warily to keep himselfe that he neuer fal into any deceit or doubt But he that trusteth in thee O Lord and seeketh thee with a pure heart doth not easily fal if he fal into any tribulation be he neuer so much inthralled yet he shal quickly be deliuered or comforted by thee Pro. 10. For thou wilt not forsake him for euer that trusteth in thee The friend is rare to bee found that continueth faithful in his friends 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 minde is firmely setled and grounded in Christ If it were so with me then would not humane feare so easily trouble me nor words mooue mee Who can foresee all things Who is able to beware beforehand of future euils If things euen foreseene do oftentimes hurt vs how can things vnlooked for choose but wound vs grieuously But why did I not prouide better for my self miserable wretch Why also haue I so easily giuen credit to others But alas we are men and God knoweth weake and fraile men although by many we are reputed and called Angels To whom shall I giue credit Lord To whom but to thee Thou art the truth that neither doest deceiue nor canst be deceiued And on the otherside euery man is a lyar weak vnconstant and subiect to fal 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 wisdom hast thou warned vs to take heed of mē and because the enemies of man are his familiar and domesticall acquaintance not to trust if one should say Behold heere or behold there Mat. 7. I am tought to my cost and I would to God I might thereby encrease my care and not my folly Be wary saith one be wary keepe vnto thy selfe what I tell thee and whilst I hold my peace and thinke it is secret he cānot keep that secret which he desired should bee secret but presently discloseth me and himself 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 constancie in my words and remoue far from me a deceitful tongue What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all meanes to auoid 5. O how good and quiet a thing it is to be silent and not to talke of others nor to beleeue all that is said nor easily to report what we haue heard Prou. 25. to lay ones selfe open to few Esa 24. alwaies to seeke after thee the beholder of the heart not to be carried away with euery winde of words but to desire that all things both

teach thee or admonish thee of those things which are done on earth Thou knowest what is expedient for my good and how much tribulation is fit for purging the rust of my sins Do with me according to thy desired pleasure and despise not my sinfull life better and more clearely knowne to none then to thee alone 7 Grant me Lord to know that which is to be knowne to loue that which is to be beloued to praise that which pleaseth thee most to esteem that which is precious vnto thee to despise that which is contemptible in thy sight suffer me not to judge according to the sight of the exteriour eyes nor to giue sentence according to the hearing of the eares of ignorant men but to determine of visible spiritual things with a true judgement aboue all things euer to search after thy will and pleasure 8 The senses of men are often deceiued in their judgements the louers of the world are also deceiued in louing only visible things What is a man the better for that he is esteemed great by man The deceitfull man deceiueth the deceitfull the vaine the vaine the blinde deceiueth the blinde and one feeble likewise another whilest he exalteth and praiseth him For how much euery one is in thy sight so much hee is and no more saith humble Saint Francis CHAP. LI. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in the works of humilitie when force is wanting for higher exercises OVR LORD SOnne thou art not able alwaies to continue in the feruent desire of vertue nor to persist in the high pitch of contemplation but thou must sometimes of necessitie by reason of originall corruption descend to inferiour things and beare the burthen of this corruptible life euen against thy will and with irkesomenes As long as thou carriest a mortall body thou shalt feele trouble and heauines of hart Thou oughtest therefore in flesh oftentimes to bewaile the burthen of flesh for that thou canst not alwaies perseuere in spirituall exercises and diuine contemplation 2 It is then expedient for thee to fly to humble and exteriour workes and to refresh thy selfe with good and vertuous actions to expect with a firme confidence my comming and heauenly visitation to beare patiently thy banishment and the drinesse of thy minde till thou bee visited againe by mee and deliuered from all anxietie For I will make thee forget thy former paines and enioy inward quietnesse I will lay open before thee the pleasant fields of holy Scripture that with an enlarged heart thou mayest beginne to runne the way of my Commandements And thou shalt say that the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glorie to come that shall be reuealed in vs. Rom. 8. CHAP. LII That a man ought to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes THE SERVANT LOrd I am not worthy of thy comfort nor of any spiritual visitation and therfore thou dealest justly with me when thou leauest me poore and desolate For if I could shee l teares like a sea yet I were not worthy of thy comfort For alas I deserue nothing but to be scourged punished in that I haue grieuously and often offended thee and sinned in many things All things therefore duely considered I am not worthy euen of the least comfort But thou milde and merciful God who wilt not that thy workes do perish to shew the riches of thy goodnes in the vessels of mercy euen beyond his desert vouchsafest to comfort thy seruāt aboue humane measure For thy comforts are not like to the vaine words of men 2 What haue I done O Lord that thou shouldest impart any heauenly comfort vnto me I remember not that I haue euer done any good but haue beene alwaies prone to sin and slouthfull in my amendment It is true and I cannot deny it If I should say otherwise thou wouldest stand against me and there would be none to defend mee Iob 9. What haue I deserued for my sinnes but hell and euerlasting fire I confesse in the truth of my heart that I am worthy of all scorne and contempt and it is vnfit that I should be remembred amongst thy deuout seruants And although I be vnwilling to heare this yet notwithstanding for the loue of truth I will lay open my sins against my selfe that I may the better deserue to obtaine thy mercy 3 What shall I say being guilty and ful of confusion I can vtter out of my mouth no other word but this I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned haue mercy on me Psa 50. Pardon me suffer me a little that I may bewaile my griefe before I go vnto the land of darknes and be couered with the shaddow of death Iob 20. What dost thou require of a guiltie and miserable sinner but that hee be contrite and sorowful do humble himself for his offences In true contrition and humblenesse of heart is bred a ●ope of forgiuenesse a troubled conscience is reconciled againe grace lost is restored man is defended from future wrath and God and the penitent soule meet together in the holy kisse of peace 4 Humble contrition for sins is an acceptable sacrifice to thee O Lord sauouring much sweeter in thy sight then burning frankincense Psal 50. This is also the pleasant oyntment which thou wouldest haue powred vpon thy sacred feet Luk. 7. for thou neuer despisest a contrite humble heart Psal 50. There is a place of refuge from the face of the wrath of our enemy there is amended and washed away whatsoeuer vncleannes hath beene elsewhere gathered and whatsoeuer is defiled CHAP. LIII That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things OVR LORD SOn my grace is precious it suffereth not itself to be mingled with externall things nor earthly comforts Thou oughtest therfore to cast away al hinderances of grace if thou desire to receiue the infusion thereof Choose therfore a secret place to thy selfe loue to liue alone with thy self desire the conuersation of none but rather powre out deuout praiers vnto God that thou mayest keepe thy minde compunct and thy conscience pure Esteeme the whole world as nothing prefer my seruice before al outward things for thou canst not attend vnto me and be delighted also in trāsitory vanities Mat. 19. Thou oughtest to sequester thy selfe from thy acquaintāce friends to keep thy minde depriued of all temporall comfort So the blessed Apostle Peter required that the faithfull of Christ should keep themselues as strangers and pilgrimes in this world 1. Pet. 2. 2 O how great a confidence shal he haue at the houre of death whom 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 freedom of a recollected minde Notwithstanding if he wil be truly spiritual he ought to renounce as well that which is far off as that which is nearest vnto

that many doe so little consider this comfortable mystery which rejoyceth heauen preserueth the whole world O blindnes and hardnesse of mans hart that doth not more deeply weigh the greatnes of so vnspeakable a gift but rather comes by the daily vse thereof to regard it little or nothing 12 For if this most holy Sacrament should be celebrated in one place only consecrated by one only Priest in the world with how great desire dost thou think would men be affected to that place and what esteeme would they haue of such a Priest of almighty God by whom they might enioy the consolation of these diuine mysteries But now there are many Priests Christ is offred vp in many places that so the grace and loue of God to man may appeare so much the greater how much the more this sacred Cōmunion is cōmon through the world Thāks be vnto thee good Iesu euerlasting Pastor of our soules that hast vouchsafed to refresh vs poore banished men with thy precious Body Bloud to inuite vs to that receiuing of these mysteries with the words of thy owne mouth saying Come vnto me all ye that labour are burdened and I will refresh you Mat. 11. CHAP. II. That great goodnes and charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple PResuming of thy goodnesse and great mercy O Lord being sick I approach vnto my Sauiour hungry and thirstie to the Fountaine of life needy to the King of heauen a seruant vnto my Lord a creature to my Creator desolate to my mercifull Comforter But whence is this to me that thou vouchsafest to come vnto mee Who am I that thou shouldest giue thy selfe vnto mee Luk. 1. How dare a sinner presume to appeare before thee And thou how doest thou vouchsafe to come vnto a sinner Thou knowest thy seruant and seest that hee hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this benefit vpon him I confesse therefore my vnworthinesse I acknowledge thy goodnes I praise thy mercy and giue thee thanks for this thy vnspeakable charity For thou dost this for thine own goodnes not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodnes may be better knowne vnto me thy charity more abundantly shewed and thy humility more highly commended Since therefore it is thy pleasure and hast commanded that it should bee so this thy bounty is also pleasing to me and do wish that my offences may be no hinderance 2 O most sweet and bountiful Iesu how great reuerence and thankes with perpetuall prayse is due vnto thee for the receiuing of thy sacred Bodie whose worth and dignitie no man is able to expresse But what shall I thinke of at this time now that I am to receiue this diuine Sacrament and to approach vnto my Lord to whome I am not able to giue due reuerence and yet I desire to receiue him deuoutly What can I thinke better and more profitable then to humble my selfe wholy before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodnes aboue me I praise thee my God and wil exalt thee for euer and I do despise and submit my selfe vnto thee euen into the depth of my vnworthinesse 3 Behold thou art the Holy of Holies and I the skumme of sinners Behold thou bowest thy self downe vnto mee who am not worthy so much as to looke vp vnto thee Behold thou commest vnto me it is thy will to be with me thou inuitest me to thy banket Ps 77. Thou wilt giue me the food of heauen and bread of Angels to eat which is no other truly then thy self the liuely bread that descendest from heauen and giuest life vnto the world Ioh. 6. 4 Behold from whence this loue proceedth What kind of fauour and benignity is this which shineth vpon vs What thanks 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 banket when thou gauest thy selfe to be our food How wonderfull thy work O Lord how powerfull thy vertue how vnspeakable thy truth For thou saidst the word and all things were made and this was done which thou commandest Gen. 1. Psal 148. 5 A thing of great admiration and worthy of faith and surpassing the vnderstanding of man that thou my Lord God true God and Man shouldest be wholy contained vnder a small forme of bread and wine and shouldest bee eaten by the receiuer without being consumed 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 cheerefull and pure conscience I may often celebrate thy mysteries and receiue them to my euerlasting health which thou hast chiefely ordained and instituted for thy honor perpetuall memory 6 Reioyce my soule 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 mystery and receiuest 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 greatnes of his mercy is neuer lessened Therefore thou oughtest alwaies to dispose thy selfe hereunto by a fresh renuing of thy mind and to weigh with attentiue consideration this great mystery of thy saluation So great new and joyfull it ought to seem 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 die for the saluation of mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to Communicate often BEhold O Lord I come vnto thee 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 Psal 67. Behold in thee is all whatsoeuer I can or ought to desire thou art my health and my redemption my hope and my strength my honor and my glory Make joyfull therefore this day the soule of thy seruant for that I haue lifted it vp to thee my sweete Iesus Psalm 85. I desire to receiue 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 receiue 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 therfore I must often come vnto thee and receiue thee as the only remedy of my health lest 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