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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	according_a	good_a	pleasure_n	1,473	5	6.8396	4	false

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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

so dealt withall we that are poore and weake ought not to despaire if we be somtimes feruent and sometimes cold for the spirit commeth and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will Ioh. 3. For which cause blessed Iob saith Thou visitest him early in the morning and suddenly thou prouest him Iob 7. 6 Whereupon therefore can I hope or wherin ought I to trust but in the great mercy of God alone and in the only hope of heauenly grace For whether I enioy the presence of good men or deuout brethren or faithfull friends or holy bookes or learned treatises or sweet songs and hymnes all these helpe little haue little sauour when grace forsaketh mee and I remaine left in my owne pouerty At such a time there is no better remedy then patience and the resigning of my selfe vnto the will of God Luk. 9. 7 I neuer found any so religious and deuout that hath not had sometimes a withdrawing of grace or felt not a decrease of feruour There was neuer Saint so highly wrapt and illuminated who first or last was not tempted For he is not worthy of the high contemplation of God who hath not bin exercised with some tribulation for God sake For temptation going before is wont to bee a signe of ensuing comfort And vnto those that are proued by temptations heauenly comfort is promised He that shal ouercome saith he I wil giue him to eate of the wood of life Apocal. 21. 8 But diuine comfort is giuen that a man may be stronger to beare aduersities There followeth also temptatiō lest we should wax proud of that good The diuel sleepeth not neither is our flesh as yet dead 1. Pet. 5. therefore cease not to prepare thy selfe to the battaile for on thy right hand and on thy left are enemies that neuer rest CHAP. X. Of thankefulnesse for the grace of God WHy seekest thou rest since thou art borne to labour Iob 3. Dispose thy selfe to patience rather then to comforts and to the bearing of the Crosse rather then to gladnes What secular person is there that would not willingly receiue spirituall joy and comfort if hee could alwayes haue it Luk. 14. Spirituall comforts exceed all the delights of the world all the pleasures of the flesh All worldly delights are either vaine or vncleane but spirituall delights are onely pleasant and honest produced by vertues and infused by God into pure hearts But no man can alwayes enioy these diuine comforts according to his desire for the time of temptation is not long away 2 False freedome of minde and great trust of our selues is very contrary to heauēly visitation God doth well in giuing grace but man doth euill in not returning it againe wholy vnto God with thankesgiuing And therefore the gifts of grace cannot flow in vs because wee are vngratefull to the giuer and returne them not wholly to the head-fountaine Eccles 1. For grace is euer due to him that is thankefull and from the proud shall be taken that which is wont to be giuen to the humble 3 I desire not that consolation that taketh from me compunction nor that contemplation which breedeth a haughtie minde For all that is high is not holy nor all that is sweet good nor euery desire pure nor euery thing that is deare vnto vs is gratefull to God I do willingly accept of that grace whereby I may euer become more humble and fearfull and be made more ready able to forsake my selfe He that is taught by the gift of grace by the scourge of the withdrawing thereof wil not dare to attribute any good to himselfe but will rather acknowledge himselfe poore and naked Giue vnto God that which is Gods Mat. 22. and ascribe vnto thy selfe that which is thine owne that is giue thankes vnto God for his grace and acknowledge that nothing is to be attributed to thee but only sinne and the punishment due thereunto 4 Content thy selfe and desire alwaies the meanest lowest things and the highest shall be giuen thee for the highest stand not without the lowest The highest Saints before God are the least in their own iudgments Luk. 14. And how much the more glorious so much the humbler within themselues Those that are ful of truth and heauenly glory are not desirous of the vaine-glory of this world Those that are firmely setled and grounded in God can no way be proud And they that ascribe all vnto God what good soeuer they haue receiued seeke not glory one of another Ioh. 5. but would haue that glory which is from God alone and desire aboue all things to praise God in himselfe and in all the Saints and alwaies tend vnto the same 5 Bee therefore gratefull for the least gift and thou shalt bee made worthy to receiue greater Let the least bee vnto thee also as the greatest and the most contemptible as an especiall gift If thou consider the worth of the giuer no gift wil seeme little or of meane esteeme For it is not little that is giuen by the soueraigne Maiesty of God Yea if hee should giue punishment and stripes it ought to be gratefull for that hee doth it alwayes for our saluation whatsoeuer he permitteth to happen vnto vs. He that desireth to keep the grace of God let him be thankefull for the grace giuen and patient for the taking away thereof Let him pray that it may returne Let him be wary and humble lest he leese it CHAP. XI How few the louers of the Crosse of Christ are IEsus hath now many louers of his heauenly kingdome but few bearers of his Crosse He hath many desirous of comfort but few of tribulation He findeth many companions of his Table but few of his abstinence Al desire to rejoyce with him few will suffer any thing for him or with him Many follow Iesus vnto the breaking of bread but few to the drinking of the Chalice of his Passion Many reuerence his miracles few follow the ignominy of his Crosse Luk. 9.22 Many loue Iesus as long as aduersities happen not Many praise and blesse him as long as they receiue any comfort from him But if Iesus hide himselfe and leaue them but a while they fal either into complaint or into too much deiection of minde 2 But they that loue Iesus for Iesus and not for some comfort of their own blesse him in al tribulation and anguish of hart as wel as in the greatest comfort And although he should neuer giue them comfort they notwithstanding would euer praise him and alwayes giue him thankes 3 O how powerfull is the pure loue of Iesus which is mixed with no selfe-loue nor proper interest Phil. 2. Are they not all to be called hirelings that euer seeke comforts Doe they not shew themselues to be rather louers of themselues then of Christ that alwaies think of their cōmoditie and gaine Where may one be found that will serue God without looking for reward 4 It is hard to finde

to seeke many comforts of men When a good vertuous man is afflicted tempted or troubled with euill thoughts then hee vnderstandeth better the great neede hee hath of Gods assistance without whose helpe he perceiueth hee can doe nothing that is good Then also he sorroweth lamenteth and prayeth for the miseries he suffereth Then is he weary of liuing longer and wisheth that death would come that hee might be dissolued and bee with Christ Then also hee well perceiueth that complete security and perfect peace cannot be had in this world CHAP. XIII Of Resisting Temptations SO long as wee liue in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation for as it is written in Iob Temptation is the life of man vpon earth Euery one therefore ought to be carefull and diligently to arme himselfe with prayer against his temptations lest the Diuell finde time and place to deceiue him who neuer sleepeth but goeth about seeking whom he may deuour No man is so perfect and holy but hath sometimes temptations and we cannot be altogether free from them 2 Temptations are often profitable vnto men though they be troublesome and grieuous for in them man is humbled purged and instructed All the Saints haue passed and profited through many tribulations and temptations and they that could not beare temptations became reprobate and fell from God There is no order so holy nor place so secret where there be not temptations or aduersities 3 There is no man that is altogether free from temptations whilest he liueth on earth for in our selues is the cause thereof being borne with inclination to euill When one temptation or tribulation goeth away another commeth and we shal euer haue something to suffer because wee haue lost that innocencie with which we were created Many seeke to flie temptations and do fall more grieuously into them By flight alone we cannot ouercome but by patience and true humility wee become stronger then all our enemies 4 Hee that onely auoideth them outwardly and doth not pluck them vp by the root shall profit little yea temptation will the sooner returne vnto him and he shall feele himselfe in worse case then before By little and little and by patience with longanimitie through Gods help thou shalt more easily ouercome then with violence and thine owne importunity Often take counsell in temptation and deale not roughly with him that is tempted but giue him comfort as thou wouldest wish to be done to thy selfe 5 The beginning of al euil temptations is inconstancie of minde and little confidence in God for as a shippe without a sterne is tosted to and fro with the waues so the man that is negligent and leaueth his purpose is many wayes tempted Fire trieth iron and temptation a just man We know not oftentimes what we are able to doe but temptations doe shew vs what wee are We must be watchfull especially in the beginning of the temptation for the enemie is then more easily ouercome if hee bee not suffered to enter the dore of our hearts but bee resisted without the gate at his first knocke Wherefore one said Ouid. libr. 1. de remed amoris Withstand the beginnings for an after-remedie comes often too late First there commeth to the minde an euill thought then a strong imagination thereof afterwards delight and an euill motion and then consent and so by little and little our wicked enemie getteth full entrance whilest he is not resisted in the beginning And how much the longer one is negligent in resisting so much weaker doth he become daily and the enemy stronger against him 6 Some suffer greatest temptations in the beginning of their conuersion others in the later end others againe are much troubled almost through the whole time of their life Some are but easily tempted according to the wisdome and equity of the diuine appointment which weigheth the state and deserts of men and ordaineth al things for the sauing of his elect and chosen seruants 7 We ought not therefore to despaire when we are tempted but so much the more feruently to pray vnto God that hee will vouchsafe to helpe vs in all tribulation who surely according to the saying of S. Paul Will make with temptation such issue that we may be able to sustaine it Let vs therefore humble our selues vnder the hand of God in all temptation and tribulation for he wil saue and exalt the humble in spirit 8 In temptations and afflictions man is proued how much he hath profited and his merit is thereby the greater before God and his vertues doe more openly appeare Neither is it any great matter if a man bee deuout and feruent when he feeleth no heauines but if in time of aduersitie he beare himselfe patiently there is hope of great good Some are kept from great temptations and are often ouercome in smal ones which do daily occurre to the end that being humbled they may neuer presume on themselues in great matters who in so small things doe see themselues so weake CHAP. XIV Of auoiding rash Iudgement TVrne thine eyes vnto thy selfe and beware thou judge not rashly the deeds of other men Mat. 7. Rom. 25. Eccls. 3. In judging of others a man alwaies laboureth in vaine often erreth and quickely sinneth but in judging and discussing of himselfe he alwaies laboureth fruitfully We often judge of things according to our owne desire for priuate affection bereaues vs easily of true judgement If God were alwaies the pure intention of our desire wee should not be so much troubled with the repugnance of our sensualitie 2 But oftentimes some inward secret inclination or outward affection occurreth which draweth vs after it Many secretly seeke themselues in their actions and know it not They seeme also to liue in good peace of minde when things are done according to their will and opinion but if it succeed otherwise then they desire they are straight waies troubled and much afflicted The diuersities of judgements and opinions cause often dissentions betweene friends and neighbours betweene religious and deuout persons Matth. 12. Luk. 12. 3 An old custome is hardly broken and no man is willingly led further then himselfe liketh If thou dost more rely vpon thine own reason or industry then vpon the vertue of obedience to Iesus Christ Hier. 13. it will be long before thou be illuminated with grace for almighty God will haue vs perfectly subiect vnto him and that we transcend the narrow limits of humane reason enflamed with his loue CHAP. XV. Of Workes done of Charity FOr no worldly thing nor for the loue of any man is any euill to be done Matth. 18. but yet for the profit of one that standeth in need a good worke is sometimes to be left off or changed also for a better For by doing this a good worke is not lost but changed into another of greater merit The exteriour worke without charity profiteth nothing 1. Cor. 13. but whatsoeuer is done of charitie be it neuer so little

things more which thou hast not yet well learned SER. What are those Lord LORD That thou frame thy desire wholy according to my pleasure and be not a louer of thy selfe but a diligent follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes doe stirre thee vp and driue thee forwards with violence but consider whether thou art mooued rather for my honour then for thine owne profit If I bee the cause thou wilt bee well content with whatsoeuer I shal ordaine but if there lurke in thee any selfe inclination behold this is it that hindreth thee and weigheth thee downe Phil. 2. 2 Beware therefore thou incline not too much vpon any desire that commeth to thy minde before thou aske my counsaile lest perhaps afterwards it repent thee and that thou beginne now to dislike that which before did please thee and vvhich thou earnestly desiredst as the best For euery affection that seemeth good is not presently to be-followed nor euery contrary affection at the first to be fled It is expedient sometimes to vse a restraint euen in good desires and endeauours lest by importunitie thou incurre distraction of minde and by euill example become a scandall vnto others or being gaine-said by others thou bee suddenly troubled and fall 3 Yet sometimes thou oughtest to vse violence and resist manfully thy sensuall appetites Philip. 2. and respect not what thy bodie vvould or vvould not but rather to labour that euen perforce it bee subiect to the spirit Rom. 8. and 2. Cor. 4. And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced vnder seruitude 2. Cor. 10. vntill it readily obey in all things and learne to bee content with a little and to be pleased with ordinary things and not to murmure against any inconuenience 1. Cor. 9. CHAP. XII Of the effect of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence THE SERVANT LOrd God I perceiue patience is very necessary vnto me for that many aduersities doe happen in this life Heb. 10. Howsoeuer I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without warre and affliction Iob 7. LORD So it is Son And my wil is not that thou seek after that peace which is void of temptation or that feeleth no contrarieties but then thinke that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations and tried in many aduersities Iam. 1. 2 If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the fire of Purgatory Of two euils the lesse is alwayes to be chosen That thou maist therefore auoid euerlasting punishments in the next world endeauour to suffer patiently for God the present euils of this Doest thou thinke that men of this world suffer little or nothing Thou art deceiued Looke into the life euen of them that liue in greatest delicacies and thou shalt finde it otherwise But thou wilt say they haue many delights and follow their own wills and therefore they make small account of their tribulations Be it so that they haue whatsoeuer they will but how long dost thou thinke it will last 3 Behold the vvealthy of this world vanish away like smoke and there shall bee no memory of their joyes past Psal 67. Yea euen while they liue also they rest not in them without griefe irksomnes and feare For the selfe-same thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes the cause of sorrow vnto them and much affliction They haue their desert who for that they immoderately seeke and follow delights they do not obtaine them but with shame and sorrow 4 O how short and deceitfull how inordinate and filthy are those pleasures Yea so senselesse and blind are men that they vnderstand it not but like dumbe beasts for a little pleasure of a corruptible life they incur the eternall death of their soule Doe not thou therefore my Sonne follow the disordinate inclinations of thy corrupt nature but forsake thine owne will Delight in our Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thy heart Eccls. 28. Psal 36. 5 If thou desire true light and to be more plentifully comforted by me behold in the contempt of all worldly things and in the cutting off of all base delights shall be thy blessing aboundant comfort shall be giuen thee And how much the more thou withdrawest thy selfe from all comfort of creatures so much the sweeter and more forcible consolations shalt thou finde in me But at first thou canst not attaine vnto them without a certaine griefe labour and strife The old custome wil make resistance and thou must ouercome it with another custome that is better Thy flesh will murmure but thou must bridle it with feruour of spirit The olde Serpent will sting and trouble thee but by prayer hee shall be put to flight and with profitable labour thou shalt shut the dore against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ OVR LORD SOnne hee that endeauoureth to withdraw himself from obedience withdraweth himselfe from grace And hee that seeketh to haue things in priuate shall lose the common Mat. 16. He that doth not willingly and freely submit himselfe to his Superiour it is a signe that his flesh is not yet perfectly obedient vnto him but oftentimes rebelleth and murmureth against him Learne therfore readily to submit thy selfe 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 selfe if thou wilt preuaile against flesh and bloud 2 Because thou louest thy selfe as yet too inordinatly therfore thou art afraid to resigne thy selfe wholly to the will of others But what great matter is it if thou that art dust and nothing submittest thy self 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 Luk. 2. Ioh. 12. 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 self vnder th● feet of all men Learne to breake thine owne will and to yeeld 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 treade thee as dirt of the streets vnder their feet Vaine man what canst thou complaine of what canst thou answere foule sinner to them that reproue thee who hast so often offended God and so many times deserued hell But mine eye hath spared thee because thy soule was precious 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

created mee to thy Image and likenesse Genes 1. graunt mee this grace which thou hast shewed to bee so great and so necessary to saluation that I may ouercome my wicked nature which draweth me to sinne and to the losse of my soule For I feele in my flesh the law of sinne contradicting the law of my minde and leading mee captiue to obey sensuality in many things neither can I resist the passions thereof vnlesse thy holy grace feruently infused into my heart doe assist me Rom. 7. 2 Thy grace O Lord and great grace is needfull that nature may be ouercome which is euer prone to euil from her youth For by Adam the first man in falling and being corrupted by sinne the penalty of this staine hath descended vpon all mankind in such sort that Nature it self which by thee was created good and without defect is now accounted for vice and for the infirmitie of a corrupted nature for that the motion thereof left vnto it selfe draweth to euill and abiect things For the little force which remaineth is like a certaine sparke lying hidden in ashes This is naturall reason it self compassed about with great darknesse still retaining power to discerne good and euill and the distance betweene true and false although it be vnable to fulfill all that it approueth and enioyeth not now the full light of truth nor the former integrity of her affections 3 Hence it is my God that according to my inward man I delight in thy law knowing thy Commandements to bee good just and holy reprouing also all euill and sin and doe know that it is to be fled Rom. 7. But in my flesh I serue the law of sin whilest I rather obey sensualitie then reason Hence it is that I haue a will to doe good but know not how to performe it For this cause I often purpose many good things but for that I want grace to helpe my infirmity for a light resistance I go backe and faint I know the way of perfection see clearely enough what I ought to do but pressed with the waight of mine owne corruption I rise not vnto it 4 O Lord how needfull is thy grace for me to beginne any good worke to go forward and to accomplish it Ioh. 13. For without it I can do nothing but in thee I can doe all things when thy grace doth comfort me O heauenly grace without which our owne merits are nothing and no gifts of nature are to bee esteemed Arts riches beautie and strength wit or eloquence are of no worth with thee O Lord without thy grace For gifts of nature are common to good and euill but the peculiar gift of the elect is grace and loue wherewith being marked they are esteemed worthy of euerlasting life This grace so much excelleth that neither the gift of prophesie nor the working of miracles nor any speculation how high soeuer is of any esteeme without it Neyther faith nor hope nor other vertues are acceptable vnto thee without charitie and grace 1. Cor. 13. 5 O most blessed grace that makest the poore in spirit rich with vertues and the rich in many blessings humble in heart come downe vnto me replenish mee in the morning with thy comfort lest my soule should faint with wearines and wither away with drines of mind I beseech the Lord that I may find grace in thy sight for thy grace sufficeth though other things that nature desireth be wanting Psal 22. If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations I will not feare euils whilest thy grace is with me shee is my strength she giueth aduice and help she is stronger then all enemies and wiser then all the wise 6 Thy grace is the mistresse of truth the teacher of discipline the light of the heart the solace in affliction she driueth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of deuotion the bringer foorth of teares What am I without it but a rotten peece of wood and an vnprofitable stalke only meet for the fire Let thy grace therefore Lord alwaies preuent me and follow mee and make mee euer diligent in good workes through Iesus Christ thy Son Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse OVR LORD SOnne looke how much thou canst goe out of thy selfe so much mayest thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of externall things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selues joyneth vs internally to God I will haue thee learne the perfect leauing of thy selfe vnto my will without contradiction and complaint Follow me I am the way the truth and the life Ioh. 14. Without the way there is no going without truth there is no knowledge without life there is no liuing I am the way which thou oughtest to follow the truth which thou oughtest to trust the life for which thou oughtest to hope I am the way which cannot lead amisse the truth which cannot erre the life which cannot end I am a most strait way a supreme truth a true life a blessed life an increated life if thou remaine in mee thou shalt know the truth and truth shall deliuer thee and thou shalt apprehend euerlasting life 2 If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandements if thou wilt know the truth beleeue me Mat. 19. If thou wilt be perfect sell al. If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe Luk. 9. If thou wilt possesse a blessed life deny this present life Ioh. 12. If thou wilt be exalted in heauen humble thy selfe vpon earth Luk. 14. If thou wilt raigne with me beare the Crosse with mee For onely the seruants of the Crosse finde the way of blisse and true light SER. 3 Lord Iesus for as much as thy way is narrow strait and contemptible vnto the world grant me grace to imitate thee in suffring willingly all worldly contempt For the seruant is not greater then his Lord nor the Disciple aboue his Master Mat. 7. Let thy seruant be exercised in thy holy life for there is the health and the true sanctitie of my soule whatsoeuer I reade or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully Luk. 6. LORD 4 Sonne now that thou knowest and hast read these things happie shalt thou be if thou fulfill them Hee that hath my Commandements and keepeth them hee it is that loueth me and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him and wil make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father SER. Lord Iesus as thou hast said and promised so giue mee grace to deserue that it be fulfilled I haue receiued the Crosse I haue receiued it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it vpon me Truely the life of a good religious person is the Crosse and it is a sure guide to heauen It is now begunne it is not lawfull to go backe neither is it fit to leaue that which I haue vndertaken 5 Let vs then