stand below and the contemplatiue aboue And for that the arke is also said to haue beene triple vauted that is to haue had three loftes one aboue an other this doth insinuate that in the holy Church there are three orders to wit married folkes bachelours and virgins Of this contemplatiue life our Lord saith in the Gospel * If thou wilt be perfect goe sell the things that thou hast and giue to the poore and thou shalt haue a treasure in heauen and come follow me Mat. 19. And of Marie Magdalen he saith Marie hath chosen the best part which shall not be taken away from her Luc. 10. The contemplatiue life shall not be taken away in this world neither in the next But the actiue life shall be taken away from a man in the world to come The actiue life hath an end in this world but not the contemplatiue because it continueth for euer The actiue life shall faile in this world but the conteÌ„platiue beginneth heere and shall be perfected in heauen Honesâ— virgin I councell you that for the loue of God you despise this present world for the loue of God withdraw your selfe from the cares of the world Endeauour to serue God without the hinderance of the world let no worldly solicitude withdraw you from the feare of God Let no worldly busines withdraw you from Gods seruice cast away from you whatsoeuer may hinder your good purposes Whatsoeuer the world doth loue and coÌ„mend do you hate and condemne with your whole mind Be you dead to the world and the world to you As one dead separate your selfe from the loue of this present life As one dead despise the glorie of the world My most louing sister in Christ as one alreadie dead and buried haue no care of the world As one lying dead in your sepulcher sequester your selfe from all earthly affaires My amiable sister in Christ contemne that liuing which you cannot haue being dead and gone If you shall doe this then doubtles after death you shall obtaine euerlasting blisse Amen Of curiositie CHAPT LIIII MOst deare sister I aduise you that from day to day you studie to goe fâ—reward in vertue and that you consider not the euills which others doe but the good workes which you are bound to doe Wherevpon a certaine wise man saith * In superfluous things search not many wayes Eccli 3. It is not needfull that you know those things that are remote from humane senses It is verie meet that he omit to censure other mens mindes who cannot perfectly know their hearts and cogitations Why Because our iudgement is vncertaine * vntill our Lord do come who also will lighten the hidden things of darknes and will manifest the counsells of the hearts 1. Cor. 4. It is also verie meet that he cease to sinne that meaneth to reprehend the life of an other man Foolish men whiles they seeke to carpe at other mens faultes shew their owne So long a man knoweth not his owne sinnes which he ought to know and lament with teares as he curiously considereth the faultes of others But when a man returneth to himselfe and considereth himselfe well he searcheth no more what to reprehend in others because he findeth many things in himselfe for which he ought to be sorrowfull He that considereth himselfe well findeth many things in himselfe which he may bewayle Wherevpon S. Gregorie saith We ought by so much the lesse to consider other mens hearts by how much we know that we are vnable to bring to light the darknes of their thoughts Also S. Isidorus saith We more easily carpe at other mens vices then consider their vertues neither are we curious to know any mans good but enquire onely what euill he hath committed Wherefore my beloued sister in Christ I giue you this admonition that you be alwayes more readie to reprehend your owne faultes then those of other men Rather looke vpon your owne imperfections then those of others Be carefull of your owne correction be solicitous of your owne saluation be prouident of your owne amendement be not inquisitiue into other mens affaires neuer desire to know what men say amoÌ„g themselues Seeke not to know what other men say or doe Beware of curiositie Trouble not your selfe about the life of others let no curiositie deceiue your mind let no desire of this detestable vice ouertake you vnawares least forgetting your owne manners you curiously consider those of others O spouse of Christ correct your owne fault with as great circumspection as you are carâ—full to carpe at those of other men be not desirous to know those things that are hidden Be not enquisitiue about those things whereof you ought not to enquire let passe as a secret what you haue learned by the authoritie of the holy scripture Seeke no more then what is written search after no more then what the holy Scriptures do set downe neuer desire to know more then is sitting Venerable siâ—eâ— know for certaine that curiositie is a dangerous presumption Curiositie is a damnable science it prouoketh to heresie it casteth downe the mind headlong into sacrilegious fables it maketh men hold in obscure causes it maketh theÌ„ hastie in vnknowne matters Most louing sister amend your life with all diligence that after this life you may merit to attaine to eternal happines Amen Of VVatchfulnes CHAPT LV. LOuing sister listen to our Lord Iesus Chriâ—â— speaking in the Gospel saying * Watch ye for you know not when the Lord of the house coÌ„meâ—h Marc. 13. And againe That which I say to you I say to all watch mat 13. The Apoâ—â—le S. Peter likewise writeth thus * Be wise and watch in prayers 1. Pet. 4. S. Paul also to enduce vs to watchfulnes giueth vs this fore-warning * When men shall say peace and securitie then shall sodaine destructioÌ„ come vpon them 1. Thes. 5. And Salomon saith * There are iust men and wise and their workes are in the hand of God and yet maÌ„ knoweth not whether he be worthy of loue or hatred Ecc. 9. Why what is the reason Because all things saith he are reserued vncertaine for the time to come Deare sister in Christ for this cause our Lord hath concealed from vs the time of his comming that we through long expectation being vncertaine should at all times beleeue the true iudge to be approaching for that we know not when he will come Wherevpon S. Gregorie gâ—ueth vs this good admonition The mirth saith he of this present life ought to be passed ouer in that sort that the bitternes of the iudgement following neuer depart from our thought Oftentimes the diuel deceiueth a man to sinne and when he seeth him sorrowfull for the same he deceiueth him againe by securitie of mind And therefore deare sister in Christ it is verie expedient that at all times when we doe any thing that is good we call to mind the euill which we haue committed that whiles we assuredly know ouâ— faultes we neuer
brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or laÌ„ds for my sake shall receiue an hundred fold and shall possesse life euerlasting Matth. 19. Wherefore it is good for vs to forsake for our Lords sake all things temporal that from him we may receiue things eternal * Whosoeuer will be a friend of this world is made an enemie of God Iam 2. Therefore deare sister in Christ let vs not loue the world least we become the enemies of God He easily coÌ„temneth all things heere on earth that daily thinketh oâ— his death If we daily call our death to remembrance we shall willingly despise all earthly things If we haue the day of our death in our mind we shall quickly contemne whatsoeuer is in the world Question O deare brother I would willingly leaue for the name of our Lord all things that are in the world if I had any thing but because I haue neither gold nor siluer nor the riches of this world I know not what I shall leaue for the name of my Lord. The answere O spouse of Christ You leaue much if you leaue the desire of hauing you leaue much if you desire to haue nothing You leaue much if you forsake all carnal desires you leaue much if for the loue of God you despise all worldly pleasures You leaue much if you renounce all earthly desires and God doth much more loue mens soules then earthly riches God doth much more loue a mind that is holy and free from vice then any earthly substance Venerable sister the kingdome of God is asmuch worth as you haue God asketh nothing of you which he hath not giuen you Giue him therefore that which he hath giuen you to wit a mind that is holy chast poore and modest deuout and religious and adorned with good manners Therefore honest sister the kingdome of God is as much worâ—h as you are Bestow your selfe vpon Christ your bridegroome and buy his kingdome of him Be not troubled at the pâ—ice Let not the price cause in you any disturbance Let it not seeme vnto you to be a hard and difficult matter sithence Iesus Christ the king of heauen gaue himselfe that he might deliuer you from the power of the diuel and purchase you to God the Father Wherefore giue your selfe to him willingly who hath redeemed you out of the hand of your enemie Giue your selfe to him entirely because he that he might saue you gaue himselfe entirely My beloued sister in Christ despise all riches temporal that you may obtaine those that are eternal Riches leade a man to the danger of bodie and soule riches draw a man downe to hell Many haue beene in danger by reason of their riches many haue endured many miseries and sorrowes by meane of their temporal substance Richeâ— haue beene the cause of many meÌ„s death many haue beene made away by meanes of their wealth They haue neuer true repose that entangle themselues in worldly cares For the cares of the world disturbe the mâ—d A mind busied in earthly affaires is alwayes full oâ— aÌ„guish Venerable spouse of Christ if you desire to liue quiet seeke none of those things that are in the world You shall alwayes haue quietnes of mind if you separate your selfe from tâ—e cares of the world You shall alwayes enioy inward peace if you sequester your selfe from the hurly-burly of earthly actions because riches are seldome or neuer gotten without offence It is rarely seene that they that possesse riches attaine to true rest of mind They that entangle themselues with the cares of the world do separate themselues from the loue of God He that fixeth his affection on things transitorie cannot be delighted in God almightie The cares of things temporal do auert the mind from things eternal No man can at once truly couet the glorie of God and the glorie of the world It is hard at once to applie our selues to heauenly cares and earthly affaires it is hard at once to loue God and worldly pleasures No man can at once loue God and the world perfectly both of them at once cannot be loued equally Honest virgin heare what I say albeit a man glister with the glorie of the world albeit he be clothed in purple and gold albeit he be clad in rich array and appeare neuer so glorious and gay albeit he shine adorned with pearles and pretious stones albeit he be vested in rich and costly robes albeit he be attended vpon by a multitude of seruants albeit he be defended with swords and halberts albeit he be compassed about with innumerable troupes of attendaÌ„ts and saued from danger by whole squadrons of souldiers yet he is still in anguish and paine he is still in perill and perplexitie of mind Albeit he lie in a soft silke bed yet he is disquieted and troubled and albeit his bed be adorned with gold and siluer and framed of the softest douâ—ie feathers yet he is still fraile and subiect to sicknes and death it selfe My most louing sister in Christ I haue for this cause said this that you may know how vaine the gloriâ— of this world is Wherefore venerable sister that you may be able to purchase those riches that are celestial contemne those that are terrestial willingly despise all earthly preferments that you may attaine to celestial contentments Refuse things temporal that you may haue those that are eternal giue those that are small that you may obtaine from God those that are most ample Shunne heere on earth the companie of men that you may enioy the societie of Angells in heauen to which he vouchsafe to bring you who hath redeemed you with his pretious blood Amen Of the habit or attire CHAP. IX OVR Lord Iesuâ— Chriâ—◠〈◊〉 in the Gospel * Behold th◠〈◊〉 are clothed in soft garments ar◠〈◊〉 king houses Matt. 11. They are termed soft garments for that they soften and â—â—feminate the minde The court of an earthly king is delighted in clothing that it soft and gentle but the Church of Christ is delighted in that which is rough and humble The garments of Gods seruants and handmaids ought to be such as that they make no shew of noueltie no shew of superfluitie no shew of vanitie no shew of pride or vaine glorie Wherevpon S. Hierome doth say It is not gay clothing that maketh à gay cleark or Church-man but cleannes of mind Let vs therefore deare sister adorne our selues with spiritual ornaments that is to say with charitie humilitie meekenes obedience and patience These are the garments with which we may please our celestial bridegroome Christ Iesus Christ the inuisible bridegroome doth not exact beautie without but within like as it is written in the Psalme * All the glorie of the daughter of the king is within Psal 44. Wherefore deare sister in Christ let your riches be good manners let your beautie and comelines be a life adorned with vertues Most louing sister I wish that that may be said of
flamed vp in theit sinagogue the flame burnt the sinners ibidem also king Ozias when through pride disobedience and stubbornes he had taken the censar in his hand to burne incense and ment contrarie to the law of God to offer sacrifice was stroken with a leaprosie by almightie God and receiued the print of his pride in his fore-head Paral. 26. King Saule in like sort for that he was disobedient loâ—â— his kingdome and fell into the hands of his enimies Likewise the Prophet Ionas through disobedience fled froÌ„ the face of God amighty being sent to preach in Niniuè And for this his fact a fish swallowed him and carried him into the bottome of the sea Ion. 1. Wherefore we ouht to beware least through â—isobedieÌ„ce we presume to arise against our Prelates so our Lord punish vs for resisting those that are his vice gerents Venerable sister almightie Goâ— for our good hath placed Prelates in his Church that they may prouide for vs that they may render an accompt to God for vs and may keepe vs from doing amisse Whereupon the Apostle S. Paul saieth * Obey your Prelates and be subiect to them for they watch as being to render an accompt for your soules Heb. 13. Prelates ought to keepe and gouerne our Lords flock with great sollicitude and watchfulnes of wâ—ome it is written in the Canticles * Behold thâ—ee-score valiants oâ— the most valiant of Israel compasse the little bed of Salomon all holding swordes and most cunning to battles euerie mans sworde vpon his thigh for feares by night Cant. 3. Our Sauiour Christ is the true Salomon for that he is truly peaceable because he hath made peace betweene God and man The little bed of Salomon is the congregation of the faithfull in which God doth dwell and repose Three-score valiants compasse the little bed of Salomon to wit Prelates or superiours who by defending chastising rebuking correcting and admonishing do enuiron and keepe the Church of God from enimies visible and inuisible Who in this respect are called valiant for that the Prelates of the Church ought to be perfect in the obseruance of Gods commaundements all holding swordes that is the spiritual worde for that by their preaching they ought to represse the vices of their subiects They are most cunning to battles because it is necessarie that they know how to fight against their ghostly aduersarie Euerie mans sworde vpon his thigh The Prelates of our holy mother the Church hold their swordes vpon their thigh for that they ought first to cut off vice in themselues and then in their subiects And all this they doe in respect of feares by night that is in respect of the secret snares of the wicked spirits who during the night of this world do especially lie in waite to entrap holy Prelates that they being deceiued they may foule and defile King Salomons bed that is the congregation of the seruants of God Most deare sister I haue told you this for this cause that you may know how humbly and deuoutly we ought to obey our Prelates or Superiours Obedience alone is the vertue which doth engraffe other vertues into our mind and doth keepe them being engraffed whereof Salomon saith Obedience is better then victimes because by victimes the flesh of an other is killed but by obedience our owne will is bound and sacrificed Wherevpon it is truly said that * an obedient man speaketh victories Prou. 21. because he that for the loue of God humbly obeyeth an other mans voyce doth in his heart conquer himselfe Adam fell into hell for that he was disobedient but Christ ascended into heauen because he obeyed God the Father euen vnto death Like as by the disobedience of Adam many became sinners so by the obedience of Christ many became righteous And as by the sinne of Adam all men are condemned to death so by the iustice of Christ all men are iustified vnto life And againe As the disobedience of our first parents begot death so the obedience of Christ begot life Therefore deare sister if for the loue of Christ you will be obedient to your Prelates and superiours you shall raigne with Christ in eternal happines Haue a care at no time to speake amisse of your mother that is of your Abbesse or Prioresse Neuer shew yourselfe rebellious to your Prelates contradict your superiours in no case Contrariwise comport your selfe with reuerence towards all that are of better knowledge and better life then your selfe Reuerence euerie man according to the merit of his sanctitie Giue greater reuerence to those of greater degree Honour euerie man according to his dignitie Behaue not your selfe towards your superiours as if you were their equal obey your Seniors and humbly accomplish their will Yeild to the authoritie of your elders and be readie to serue your seniours Be obedient to all in things that are good and laudable O spouse of Christ obey men in that manner as that you offend not your Creatour Neuer be obedient in things that are euill Obey not him that euilly commaundeth any thing being bid to commit sinne consent not to the same Obey not in euill to any power or superiour although neuer so many paines punishments or torments be inflicted vpon you for your labour It is better to suffer death then to coÌ„mit deadly sinne It is better to be strangled then eternally damned Neither is he free from fault who consented that euill might be committed Wherefore venerable sister be obedient euen vnto death and God will giue you a crowne of life Amen Of perseuerance CHAPT XX. MOst deare sister listen to S. Hierome saying We do not so much consider the entrance or first beginnings of Christians as the end and perseuerance The Apo le S. Paul began amisse but ended well contrariwise Iudas Ischarioth began well but ended ill The beginning of Iudas was commendable but his end was damnable Wherevpon S. Gregorie saith The vertue or perfection of a good worke is perseuerance Our good workes are to litle purpose if they be left before the end of our liues S. Isidorus likewise saith to the same effect God doth not iudge a man according to his life past but according to his end For euerie one at the day of his death shall be iustified or condemned Whereupon it is written * If the tree shall fall to the south or to the North in what place soeuer it shall fall there shall it be Eccl. 11. S. Marie Magdalen deserued before all others to see our Sauiour first after his resurrection for that shee perseuered constant in seeking hâ—m For which cause it is likewise said in the Canticles * In my little bed in the nights I haue sought him whome my soule loueth Cant. 3. Wherefore I admonish you honest virgin that you seeke the same Iesus Christ you bridegroome in your bed I meane in rest of mind and quietnes of contemplation In the nights seeke him that is in this life sigh after him and desire
great a sacrament For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh iudgement to himselfe to wit the cause of his damnation Wherevpon blessed Isidorus likewise saith They that liue lewdly in the Church and cease not to communicate thinking that by this communion they may be cleansed from their sinnes let such men know tâ—at this doth nothing helpe to their cleaÌ„sing according as the Prophet testifieth saying * What is it that my beloued hath in my house done much wickednes shall the holy flesh take away froÌ„ thee thy malices Ier. 11. He therefore that will receiue â—he bodie of Christ must first endeauour to remaine in the faith and loue of Christ Hence it is that our Lord saith in the Gospell * He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me and I in him Io. 6. As if he should say He remaineth in me who fullfilleth my will by liuing vertuously For otherwise vnlesse he first remaine in me by faith and good works and I in him he cannot eate my flesh nor drinke my blood What is it then which men eate Behold all do often receiue the sacrament of the altar yet one doth spiritually eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his blood and an other not but onely the sacrament that is Christs bodie vnder the sacrament and not the substance of the sacrament This Sacrament is called the proper bodie of Câ—rist borne of the Virgâ—n but the spiritual substance is the flesh of Christ A good man therefore receiueth the sacrament and the substance of the sacrament but a bad man for that he eareth vnworthily eateth and drinketh as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 11. iudgement to himselfe not prouing himselfe first nor discerning the bodie of our Lord What then doth the sinner eate and what doth he drinke Certaynely not the flesh and blood spiritually to his saluation but iudgement to his damnation although hâ— seeme with the reâ— to receiue the sacrament of the altar One therfore receiueth the bodie of our Lord to hiâ— saluation an other to his damnation He that with Iudas the traytor receiueth the bodie of our Lord with Iudas is condeÌ„ned he that with Peter and the rest of the faithfull receiueth the same deuoutly faithfully is doubtles with Peter and thâ— rest of the Apostles sanctified in Christs bodie Liâ—â—en therefore ô spouâ—e of Crhist to the wordes of S. Augustine He that with a câ— ast bodie and cleane heart with a pure conscience and deuout mind doth approach to this communion of the altar shall arriue to that altar which is Christ in heauen before the eies of God by a happie transmigration Amiable sister in Christ hearken I pray you to the wisdome of the serpent The serpent when he meaneth to goe to drinke before he commeth to the fountaine vomitteth vp all his poyson Do you therefore most deare sister imitate the serpent in this point that before you come to the fountaine that is to the communion of the bodie and blood of our Lord Iesus Christ you vomit vp out of your heart all poyson to wit hatred anger malice enuie euill will and peruerse cogitations Forgiue also all your fellowes and all your neighbours in whatsoeuer they haue offended that your offences may be â—â—kewise forgiuen you by God euen as our Lord himselfe saith * Forgiue and you shall be forgiuen Luc. 6. If therefore you shall doe all these things as I haue said you may approach to the liuing fountaine that is to Christ who is the fountaine of all good things Furthermore he saith of himselfe * I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen Io. 6. Of this bread Dauid saith in the Psalmes * Man did eate the bread of Angells Psal 77. for otherwise that bread albeit it came from heauen and drinke for that it was corporal was not food fit for Angells but that bread and drinke which was prefigured by this Howbeit Christ is the bread of Angells and this sacrament is his true flesh and true blood which sacrament man doth spiritually eate and drinke And by this whereby the Angells liue in heauen by the same man liueth heere on earth because all is spiritual and diuine in that which a maÌ„ receiueth â—ut as the Apostle saith Some haue eaten the same spiritual food and yet are dead so likewise now in the Church the bodie of our Lord is life to some but to others it is a paine and the punishment of sinne The bodie of our Lord without all doubt is life to those to whome Christ is life but to those it is death who through sinne and ignorance and negligence are the members of the diuel Wherefore most louing sister in Christ I admonish you that when you receiue the bodie of our Lord you vnderstand an other thing by your taste then you feele by your smell Heare likewise ô honest virgin what the Priest saith at the consecration of the bodie of Christ We entreat saith he that this oblation may be made blessed by which we may be blessed Inrolled by which we all may be inrolled in heauen Ratified by which we may be nuÌ„bered in the bowells of Christ Reasonable by which we may be freed from a bestial vnderstanding And that thou wilt vouchsafe to make it acceptable that we likewise sithence we are displeasing to our selues may become acceptable in his onely begotteÌ„ oÌ„ne Christ Iesus Wherefore most vertuous Virgin as we haue said alreadie Christ in himselfe feedeth the holy Angells in heauen Christ also in hâ—mselfe refresheth the faithfull heere on earth Christ by hope satiateth the holy Angells in the heaueÌ„ly countrie Christ by faith feedeth vs heere on earth least we faint in the way Christ refresheth Angells and men of himselfe and yet remaineth whole in himselfe O how good is that bread and how full of admiration of which the Angells are satiated in heaueÌ„ men are refreshed heere on earth He on whome the Angells feede to the full in the heauenly countrie is mans foode heere on earth according to the measure of his imbecillitie and this as I haue said alreadie leaâ—t he faint in the way Christ t e liuing bread who is the Angells refection is himselfe likewise mans redemption medicine Now therefore most deare sister desire our Lord with all instancie that he will cleanse your conscience from all malice and enuie that so you may be able worthily to receiue the mysterie of the bodie and blood of Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen Of our thoughts or cogitations CHAPT XXIX MOst deare sister listen what our Lord doth say by the mouâ—h of the Prophet Isay * Take away the euill of your cogitations from mine eies Isai 1. Although a man cease from doing amisse yet if he haue euill cogitations in his heart he is not altogither guiltlesse Wherevpon blessed Indorus saith We do not onely offend in our actions but also in our cogitatioÌ„s if we take delight when they vnlawfully occurre to our remeÌ„brance For as a
vnaduisedly reioyce at our good workes For this cause our Lord would haue vs ignorant of the end of our life that we might alwayes stand in feare thereof that sithence we are vnable to see it we might daily prepare our selues for it S. Isidorus likewise least we should thinke our selues secure in this life doth admonish vs saying Neither let a iust man trust in his iustice nor a sinner despaire any thing of Gods mercie and fauour but let him haue in his heart hope and feare ioyntly together let him hope of Gods mercie in that wise that he alwayes feare his iustice Although the conuersation of holy men be neuer so praise-worthy yet it is vnknowne to mortall men what there end will be And therefore a man ought neuer to be without eare for that the satisfaction of penance is poised in the ballance of Gods diuine iuâ—gâ—ment not according â—o humane censure Wherevpon Cesarius giueth vs this caution By how much we are â—eâ—â—â—e oâ— thâ—ngs past anâ— gone by so much we ought â—o be carefull of thing to come Venerable siâ—eâ— hold this as an infallible truth that the whole lâ—fe of a wise man is the meditation of death And therefore my deare siâ—ter in Chriâ—â— if you be at all times watchfull in Gods seruice you shall by so doing shew your selfe truly wise If you daily eleuate your mind to God and haue in remembrance the day of your death you shall be blessed according to that which a certaâ—ne wise man saith * Blessed is the man that is alwayeâ— fearefull Prou. 28. For this cause I admonish you honest Virgin that you be alwayes fearefull and suspitious of your end Be alwayes craftie and carefull against the tentatâ—ons of the diuel Watch continually and fight incessantly against your ancient aduersarie Pray day and night with all watâ—hfulne and combat with courage against the diuells treacherieâ— During your whole life be at all times heedfull and warie and striue with all dil gence against the wily shifts of your ghoâ—tly enemie Hâ—aâ—e likewise honest virgin what Iesus Christ your beloued bridegroome sayeth in the Gospel Blessed is the seruant whome when his Lord commeth he shall find watching mat 24. If therefore you shall watch to the same our Lord Iesus Christ with your whole mind you shall be numbered among the blessed in eternal beatitude You shall be blessed if with all deuotion you lift vp the eies of your mind to that true light which is God You shall be blessed doubtlesse if you watch to God with all diligence because God hath promised a crowne to such as are watchfull in hâ—s seâ—uice Wherevpon it is said of the eies of the bridegroome in the Canticles * His eies as doues vpon the little riuers of waters which are washed with milke aÌ„d sit beside the most full streames CaÌ„t. 5. The eies of thâ— bride groome are holy men who liue simply like doues and shew the way of saluation to others by their preaching and examples They are said to sit vpon the riuers of waters because they alwayes conuerse in the refection of the holy scriptures who are washed with milke for that by Gods grace they are cleansed in baptisme froÌ„ their sinnes Now what can we better vnderstand by those most full streames beside which they sit then the profound and hidden sayings of the holy scriptures with which we refresh our selues whiles we drinke theÌ„ by reading them of hearing them read by otherâ— For like as doues are wont to sit neere vnto the streames of waters that in the water they may see the shadow of such birdes aâ— flie ouer them and by the same may shunne the talents of the greedie falcoÌ„ so holy men do see the snares of the diuells in the holy scriptures as it were in the waters and by the description which they see they do as it were by the shadow know their enemie and so escape his subtiltie Do you most honest sister comport your selfe after the same manner be diligent in meditating daily on the holy scripture for by thiâ— meanes you will be maâ—e skilfull how you may he able to auoid the deceipts of your aduersarie the diuel Honest virgin I admonish you further that you wholy â— commit your selfe to the direction of the holy Scripture that is to say that you doe nothing els but what you heare from â—he oracle of the holy Scriptures because there you shall finâ— how you may shune the diuells snares I admonish you likewise tâ—aâ— for feare of rauenous birdes that s the diuells you sit vpon the riuers oâ— the holy Scriptures leaâ—t you vnaware which God forbid become a prey to your enemies I entreat you also that you continually watch vpon the riuers of the holy Scriptures and that with all care and diligence yo seâ—ke to shunne the snares of your enemâ—â—s Aâ—as fooles that we are whence is it that we do not know nor vnderstand that our cogitations are apparant and knowne in the sight of ouâ— Lord before they are put in execution For the Psalmist saâ—â—h * God searcheth the heart anâ— raines Psalm 7. Therefore most louing sister let vs coÌ„sider at all t mâ—s that we aÌ„d in Gods presence and wâ—â—h all acknowledge that we are â—aâ—th and ashes Behold our God most terrible to behold rendring to â—uâ—â—â—e one accordâ—ng to his woâ—kes is at hand and will not delay he himselfe will come and wil saue vâ— Isay 55. Let vs therefore wa ch with all perseuerance and deuotion that when he shall come and knock he may not find vs sleeping but watching in this prayses and in his loue and in his holy seruice * Let vs walke whiles we haue the light that the darknes ouertake vs not Io. 12 For so the wisdome of God saith in the Prouerbs * Blessed is the man that heareth me and that watcheth at my dores daily and waiteth at the postes of my dores He that shall find me shall find life and shall draw saluation of our Lord. Prou. 8. Wherefore ô Virgin of Christ I admoniâ—h you that you behaue your selfe watchfull towards God with all care and diligence to the end you may find him your friend in the day of distresse Honest Virgin let no hâ—ppe find you vnprouided let there be no euent which your meditation doth not preuent make this supposition that there is nothing which may not happen Thâ—â—ke alwayes vpon future miserie in time of felicitie consider that there come a time of aduersitie Ponder alwayes in your mind that some michance or other may happen ere it be long It is the part of a wise man to fore-see such dangers as are like to ensue All things that are thought vpon before hand are by so much the better endured euills that are expected are the more patiently sustained a thing that is fore seene is the more welcome when it doth come Premeditation doth represse sodaine inuasions premeditation doth attenuat future troubles fore-sight doth asswage the comming of euills and gaineth the