hath perfect simplicitie hath but one loue âhich is for God and in this loue she hath but one ânely pretence vvhich is to repose vpon the breast âf her celestiall Father and as a child of loue to make her aboade there leauing intirelie all the care âf her selfe to her good Father neuer more trouâling her selfe for any thing but still retayning this âoly confidence so that neither the desires of verâues and graces themselues doe disquiet her and inâeed vvherefore serue the importune and vnquiet âesires of vertues the practice whereof is not neâessarie to vs gratiousnesse mildnesse loue of our âvvne abiection Humilitie Sweete Charitie cordiall freindshipe tovvards our neighbour and Obedience are the vertues which wee ought to practice most commonlie because they are necessarie for vs and the encounter of such occasions is frequent with vs but for Constancie Magnificence and such other vertues that it may bee vvee shall neueâ haue occasion to practice lett vs not trouble ouâ selues wee shall not bee for this the lesse Magnânimous or generous § 7. You aske of mee how the soules vvho iâ prayer are dravvne to this holy simplicitie and thâ perfect forsaking all in God ought to guide them selues in all their actions I aunswere that not onelâ in prayer but in the conduct of their vvhole lifâ they ought inuariably to vvalke in the spiritt ãâã simplicitie and abnegation remitting their vvhoââ soule their actions and successes to the good pleâsure of God by a loue of perfect and most absoluââ confidence leauing themselues to the mercie anâ care of the eternall loue which the diuine prouâdence hath of them and therefore they must houâ themselues constant in this course not permittiâ any alteration or reflection about themselues to ãâã vvhat they doe or vvhether they bee satisfied Alaâ Our satisfactions and consolations doe not satisâ the eyes of God but they onely content this misârable care and loue that wee haue of our selues oâ of God and his consideration Certaynely the chââdren vvhich our Lord noteth vnto vs to bee tââ modle of our perfection haue not ordinarilie aââ care aboue all in the presence of their Fathers aâ Mothers they keepe themselues neere to them nââther regarding their satisfactions nor consolatioÌ which they take in good part and enioy in simpââcitye vvithout any curiositie of considering tâ causes or the effects loue so much imploying thâ that they can doe no other thing Hee vvho is veâ attentiue to please louingly the celestiall louer hââ neither hart nor leasure to reflect vppon himselâ his spiritt continually tending thether where âoâ carrieth it § 8. This exercise of the continuall abandâning of himselfe into the hands of God doth exceâlently comprehend all the perfection of other exeâcises its most perfect puritye and simplicitie anâ whiles God permitteth vs to vse it vvee ought nâ to change it The spirituall louers spouses of the ââlestiall king truely doe viewe theÌselues from timâ to time as Doues who are neere the most pure wâters to see if they bee well accommodated to tâ liking of their Louer and this is performed in tââ examens of their Conscience whereby they cleanââ purifie and adorne themselues the best they maâ not for to bee perfect nor to satisfye theÌselues nâ for the desire of their progress in wel-doing but â obey the spouse for the reuerence they beare vnâ him and for the exceeding desire they haue to gâue him contentemeÌt Is not this a verie pure Loââ vnspotted and verie simple since they doe not pârifie themselues to bee pure they adorne not theâ selues to bee fayre but onelie to please their Louâ to whom if deformitie were as acceptable thâ would loue it as much as beautie And so theâ simple Doues doe not imploye care or time nâ any eagernes to wash and trimme themselues Fââ the confideÌce that their Loue giueth them of beiââ much beloued although vnworthy I say the Coâfidence that their Loue giueth them in the Loââ and bountie of their Louer taketh from them solicitude and diffidence of not being sufficient fayre and the desire to Loue rather then to adorâ and prepare themselues to Loue cutteth of froâ them all curious care and maketh them conteâ with à sweete and faythfull preparation maâ Louinglye and Cordiallye 8. And to conclude this point St. Francis senâing his Religious into the world in a iourney gaâ them this aduise in steed of monye and for all theâ prouision Cast your care on our Lord and hee wâ feede you I say the same to you my most deare âaughters cast all your pretensions your solicitudes ând affections within the fatherlie breast of God ând hee vvill guide you nay hee vvill carrye you wheere his loue vvill haue you Lett vs heare and âmitate our blessed Sauiour vvho as a most perfect âsalmist singing the soueraigne sonnets of his loue âppon the tree of the crosse concludeth them thus My Father I commend and committ my spiritt into ây hands hauing sayed this my deare daughters âvhat remayneth but to expire and to dye the death âf loue not liuing any more to our selues but âESVS CHRISTE liuing in vs TheÌ shall cease all the ânquietnesse of our hart vvhich proceedeth froÌ the âesire that selfe loue suggesteth and from the tenâernesse that wee haue in and for our selues which âauseth vs secretly to bee verie busie in the search âf the satisfactions and perfections of our selues ând being imbarqued vvithin the exercise of our âocation vnder the vvinde of this simple and loueâng confideÌce vvhithout perceauing our progresse âee shall doe verie much not goeing vvee shall âett forvvard and not mouing from our place wee âhall dravve neere our country as those doe vvho âayle on a full sea vnder a prosperous vvinde Then âre all the euents and varietie of accidents vvhich âappeÌ receaued svveetly and mildlye For hee who âs in the hands of God and reposeth vvithin his âreast vvho is abandoned to his loue and commited to his good pleasure vvhat is it that may bee âble to shake and moue him Certaynelie in all ocâurrances vvithout studying like a Philosopher âppon the causes reasons and motiues of euents âee pronounceth from his hart this holy acceptatioÌând consent of our Lord yeas my father for so it hath bene pleasing in thy sight Then vvee shal be âall imbrued in svveetnesse and mildnesse towardes our sisters and neighbours for vvee shall see thesâ soules vvithin the breasts of our Sauiour Alas Heâ that regardeth his neighbour out of it runneth hazard to loue him neither purelie constantlie noâ equallie But therein vvho vvould not loue him vvho vvould not support him vvho vvould not suffer his imperfections vvho vvould find any defecâ in him vvho vvould find him distastfull or burdenâ some Novv this neighbour my most deare daughters as hee is vvithin the breast of our sauiour iâ there so welbeloued and so amiable that the loueâ dyed for loue of him Furthermore the naturaâ loue of consanguinitie good countenances vvelbeâ seemings correspondences
of the soule attendig till God sende them consolation in their way and make them to see as another Iacob when he was wearie and tired in his voiage that the Rules and method of Life which they haue embraced are the true âadder by which they ought in guise of the Angell to mount vnto God by Charitie and to descend into themselues by humilitie But if with out auersion it happen vnto âhem to violate the Rules through infirmity âhen they are instantly to humble themselues before God demaund pardon of him and reâewing their resolution of obseruing the same Rule they shall take care and wach âboue all that they enter not into discouragement of spirit and vnquietnesse but with new confidence in God haue recourse to his holie Loue. 6. And in regard of violating of the Rule which is not done but by pure disobedience or by contempt if they doe it by carelessnes infirmity tentation or negligence then they may ought to confesse it as a veniall sinne or otherwise as a thing wherin there might haue bene a veniall sinne for although there be not any kind of sinne there in in vertu of obligation to the Rule there may be neuertheless in respect of their negligeÌce carelessnes sodaynesse or other such defects since it rarelie arriueth that seeing some good proper for our aduance-ment and especiallie if we be called and inuited to doe the same we voluntarilie giue it ouer omitt it with out offence in so much as such an omission proceedeth no otherwise theÌ of neglicence and depraued affectioÌ or want of fernonâ And if we must render an account of those wordes which are trulie idle how much more for hauing rendred vnfruitfull and vnprofitable the call which out Rule giueth vs for the practice there of I haue sayed It hapneth rarely not to offend god WheÌ wiââ Leaue vndone a good fitt for our adduancement because it may so fall out that we omitt it not willingly or deliberatly but by obliuion vnwarinesse and subreption and theÌ there is no sinne therein neither little nor great vnlesse the thing which we forget weare of so great importance that we weare obliged to hould our selues so attentiue that we doe not fall into obliuion and vnwarinesse as for exemple if a sister break silence because she is not attentiue that it is time of silence therefore she remembreth not heâselfe for somuch as she thinkelth of other things or else she is suprised with some motion to speake in the wich occasioÌ she shall haue sayeâ some thing before she hath well thought to repress it with out doubt she sinneth not for the âbseruance of silence is not of so great imporâance that they be obliged to haue such an atâention that they forgett it not rather contraâiewise it is a very good thing in the time of ââlence to imploy themselues in other pious and âoly thoughts and if being attentiue to them âne forgett her selfe to be in time of silence âhis obliuion proceding from so good a cause âan neuer be euill nor consequently the wante âf silence which proceedeth there of But if she should forgett to serue a sicke perâon which weare in danger for want of seruice ând that this office had bene enioyned her for ââe wich all reposed on her care it should be no âood excuse for her to say I thought not of it I ââid not remember my selfe no for the thing âas of so great importaÌce that she ought to bee âttentiue there vnto not to faile there in and he want of this attention may not be excused in ââgard of the quallitie of the thing which doeth âeserue and require due attention 7. It ought to be beleeued that according ãâã the measure which diuine Loue shall make ârogresse in the soules of the daughters of the âongregation it will alwaies render them more ââact and carefull in the obseruance of their âonstitutions although they of them âlues oblige not vnder payne of sinne neiââer mortall nor veniall for if they did obliââe vnder payne of death how much more âraitly should they obserue them Now âoue is strong as death then the attraââions of Loue are also as powerfull to execute resolution as the threatnings of death zeale sayeth the sacred Canticle is hard and strong as hell the Soules then which haue zeale will doâ as much and more in vertu of the same theÌ they would doe for feare of hell So likwise by the sweet violence of Loue the daughters of the CongregatioÌ wil obserue so much more exactly their Rules God affisting theÌ then if they weare obliged vnder payne of eternall damnation It summe they shall haue perpetuall memorie oâ that which Salomon sayeth in the Prouerbs 19. he which keepeth the commaundement gardeth his soule and he who neglecteth his way shall die now your way is that manner of Life in the which God hath placed you I speake nothing heere of the obligatioÌ which we haue to the obseruance of vowes for it is most euident thaâ whoseuer absolutely traÌsgresseth the Rule in thâ essentiall vowes of Pouertie Chastitie and obedience sinneth mortally and he shoulde doe aâ much breaking inclosure 8. Lett the sisters make a particuler Professioâ to nourish in their hartes an interiour stroÌg anâ generous deuotioÌ I say interiour that they hauâ their wills coÌforme to the good exteriour actioÌ they shall doe whether they be little or greatâ Lett nothing be done out of custome but by electioÌ and applicatioÌ of the will if somtimes the exteriour action preuent the interiour affectioâ because of the coÌtinuall vse there of at least let affection immediatlie follow if before that I incline my selfe to my Superiour I haue not thâ interiour inclination by an humble electioÌ to bâ subiect vnto her at least lett this electioÌ accoÌpanie or follow neere the exteriour inclinatioÌ The fisters of the CongregatioÌ haue very few Rules for the exteriour few a usterities few ceâemonies short seruice let theÌ therefore willingâie and louinglie accommodate their hartes âo them making the exteriour to proceede from âhe interiour and nourishing the interiour by âhe exteriour euen so as fire produceth ashes ând ashes nourish the fire More ouer this deuotion must be strong First to support tentations which are neuer âanting to them wich will with an entire hart âerue God SecoÌdly stroÌg to support the varietie of spirits âhich they shall find in the congregatioÌ which âs so great a triall for weake spirits that they shall âarcely encounter any thing more difficult Thirdry strong to support each one her owne âmperfections and not to be disquieted to see âer selfe subiect to them for euen as she must âaue a stroÌg humilitie not to loose courage but âo lift vp her confidence in God in the midst of âer imbecillities so must she haue a powerfull âourage to entreprise the correction and ameÌdment of them Fourthly stroÌg to fight again h cr imperfectioÌs Fiftly strong to conteÌne the worlde and iudgeâeÌts of the
for your sex is âot permitted it although S. Marie Magdalene ând S. Martha her Sister hath done it but you âmitt not therefore to exercise the Apostolicall âffice in the communicatioÌ of your manner of life âuen so as I say Goe then with courage to accomâlish that to which you are called but goe in simâlicitye if you haue apprehensions saye to your âoules Our Lord will prouide for vs if the consideâation of your weaknes disharten you cast your âelues into the armes of God and confide in him The Apostles for the most part weere sinners and âgnorant God made them learned according as âas necessarie for the charge that he would giue ââem doe you therefore confide in him depend âppon his prouidence and feare nothing doe not âây I haue not the taleÌt to discourse well it importeth not goe with out making discourse for goâ will giue you that which you shall haue to saye anâ to doe when it shal be time if you haue indeed ââ vertue or at least perceaue none in you lett it nâ trouble you for if you enterprise for the Glorie ãâã God and the fulfilling of obedience the gouermeâ of soules or any other exercise whatsoeuer it be God vvill haue care of you and shal be obliged ãâã prouide for you all that shal be necessarie asweâ for you as for those God hath giuen you in chargâ it is true that this which you vndertake is a mattââ of great consequence and importance but hoâ soeuer you should doe amisse if you would nââ expect good successe since you doe not inteâprise it by your owne choise but for your obligâtion to Obedience VVithout doubt we haue greââ cause to feare when vve seeke after offices and chaâges be it in Religion or other where and thââ they be granted vs through our importune suiââ but vvhen it is not so Lett vs bovve humbly oâ necke vnder the yoke of holy Obedience and Leââ vs accept of the burthen with a good hart humbling our selues for this ought allwaies to be practiced but lett vs allvvaies remember to establisâ Generositie vppon the acts of humilitye foâ vvith out it these acts of humilitie are vvorth noâthing § 3. I haue an extreeme desire to graue iâ your harts one maxime vvhich is of incomparable profitt not to aske any thing nor to refuââ any thing no my Deare Children demaund nothing nor refuse nothing receaue that which theâ vvill giue you and doe not demaund vvhat theâ shall not present or that they vvill not giue you in this practice you shall find great peace to youâ soules yea my Deare Sisters hould your harts tâ this holy indifferencie to receaue all they vvill âiue you and not to desire that vvhich they vvill âot giue you I say in a vvorde desire nothing âut leaue your selues and all your affayres totally ând perfectlie to the care of the Diuine Prouidence âermitt him to doe with you euen as Children âaue themselues to be gouerned by their Nourses ãâã it carrye you on the right arme or on the âeft lett it all be as it shall please him for a child âould not bee discontented thereat vvhether â bring you to bed or raise you from bed lett it âone for it is a good mother that knovveth better âvhat you vvant then you your selues I advise âou if the Diuine prouidence permitt that affliâtion or mortifications happen to you not to âefuse them rather accept them with a louing ând peacefull hart and if they be not sent you ây it or that it be not permitted that they happen ânto you desire them not nor aske for them âkevvise if consolations or comfortes be giuen âou receaue them vvith the spiritt of gratituâe and thankesgiuing to the Diuine bountie ând if you haue them not doe not desire them âut endeauour to haue your hart prepared to âeceaue the diuersitye of euents from the Diuiâe Prouidence vvith an equall hart as much as âay bee If in Religion they appoint obediences âo you vvhich seeme dangerous for you as âre those of superioritye refuse them not if they âre not appointed you desire them not and âuen so of all thinges I meane of things of this âvorld for so farr as concerneth vertues we may ând ought to aske theÌ of God and the loue of God âomprehendeth them all You cannot beleeue vntill âou haue experienced it hovv much profitt the âractice of this will bring to your soules for in plaâe of musing to desire now these meanes and after others to perfect your selues you will apply yoâ selues more simply and fayt fullie to those thâ will encounter you in your way § 4. Casting my eyes vppon the subiect â your departure and vppon the ineuitable feelinâ that euerie one of you shall haue in being sâparatâ one from an other I thought my selfe bound ãâã mâke some little speache to you to lessen yoâ greife although I will not say that it is not lawâfull to weepe â little for it must be done for â much as ye shall not be able to restraine it hauiââ remayned so sweetly and louinglie together a loââ time in the practice of one and the same exerciseâ the which hath so vnited your hartes tâat with oâ doubt they cannot suffer any diuision or separatioÌ My Deare Sisters you shall not be deuided nâ separated for all goe and all remayne those thââ goe remayne and those that remayne goe not iâ their person but in the person of those that goâ and likewise those that shall goe shall remayne â the person of those that remayne this is one of thâ principall fruites of Religion to witt this holy vnioÌ that is made by charitie which is such an vniâ that of many harts there is but one hart and oâ many members there is made but one bodye all aââ so made one in Religion that all the Religious â one order as it seemeth are but one onely Relâgious The laye Sisters sing the Diuine Office in thâ person of those that are dedicated to the Quire anâ the quire NuÌnes serue in domesticall offices in thâ person of those who doe them and euen so thâ reason is most euident For so much as if those thaâ are in the quire to sing the office weare not therâ the others should be there in their place and and â they had not domesticall Sisters to dresse theâ dinner the Sisters of the Quire should be imployeâ therin and if such a Sister weare not superiour thâ there should be another euen so those who doe âe doe remayne those who remayne goe for ââose that be named to goe could not performe those that remayne should goe in their place but ât which ought cause you either to goe or reââyne willingly my deare daugâters is the almost âallible assurance which wee ought to haue that âs separation is made no otherwise then touching ãâã bodye for touching the spiritt you remayne ââst perfectly vnited this corporall separation is â a small matter the which wil be done
but they allwaies pause vpon their but which is much as to say that they knovve vvell it should bâ better othervvise None can doubt my deare daâghters but that this is verie contrarie to perfectioâ for it produceth ordinarilie vnquietnesse of spiriâ variances murmurations and in fine it nourisheâ the loue of proper estimation And therefore prâper-opinion and selfe-iudgment ought neither â bee esteemed nor loued But I must tell you thâ there are persons vvho ought to forme their opânions as Bishops and Superiours are to doe vvâ haue charge of others and all such as haue goueâment Others ought not to trouble themselues vâlesse obedience so ordayne For otherwise thâ should loose their time vvhich they ought to iâploy faythfully in retayning themselues with Goâ and as the inferiours should be esteemed little atteâtiue to their perfection if they would settle theâ selues to consider their selfe opinions so likevviâ the Superioures should bee held incapable of thâ charges if they did not forme their opinions aâ would not take sinall resolutions although thâ ought not to content themselues therein nor to tâ themselues therevnto for this should bee contraââ to their perfection The great Saint Thomas wâ had one of the greatest spiritts that a man coâ haue vvhen hee formed any opinions hâ did ground them vpon the most pregnant reâsons that hee could and neuerthelesse if hee fourâ any one who did not approue that which hee hâ iudged good or contradicted him therein hâ would not dispute nor bee offended in himselfâ but suffered it willglye VVherein bee manifestâ verie well that hee did not loue his ovvne opinioâ yât so that hee did not disapproue it neither leauing so as others should find it good or no after hee âd performed his part hee troubled himselfe no ârther The Apostles were not addicted to their âne opinions no not euen in things appertaynââg to the gouerment of the Holy church vvhich âas an affayre of so great importance so that after âcy had determined the cause by the resolution âhich they had takeÌ they were not offended if any âd censure the same and if any did refuse to agree their opinions although they were verie well âounded they did not seeke to make them to bee ââceaued by contesting nor by disputes If then the ââperiours would change opinions at all encounâs they vvould bee esteemed light and imprudeÌt their gouernments so also if those vvho haue no ârges would tye themselues to their opinioÌs deâcing to mayntaine them and cause them to bee âceaued should they not be held for obstinate yes âelie For it is a most assured thing that the loue selfe-opinion degenerateth into obstinacie if it âe not faytfully mortified and cut off VVe see an âmple of it euen amongst the Apostles It is an âmirable thing that our Lord hath permitted âny things that the Apostles haue done vvorthy âelye to haue bene written to lye hidden vnder ârofound silence and that the imperfectioÌ which âgee at Sainct Paul and Sainct Barnaby commitâ together hath bene vvritten It is vvithout âubt a spetiall prouideÌce of our Lord who would ââe it so for our particular instruction they went âth together to preach the holy Gospell and tooke âth them a young man called Iohn Marke vvho âs kinsman to Sainct Barnabee These two great âostles fell into dispute whether they should take ãâã with them or leaue him and finding themselâ of a contrarie opinion vpon this fact and not being able to agree they separated themselues oâ from the other Now therefore tell mee ougâ we to bee troubled when wee see some defect amongst our selues since the Apostles did also coâmitt them § 2. There are certayne great spiritts that aâ verie good but who are so subiect to their opinioÌ and esteeme them to bee so good that they wâ neuer forgoe them and good heed must bee takâ not to aske it of them incircumspectlie and vnâwares For after wards it is almost impossible â make them acknowledg and confess that they haâ fayled for so much as they thrust theÌselues so faâ into the search of reasons to mayntane that whiâ they haue once sayed to bee good that there is â meanes vnlesse they giue themselues to an excelâ perfection to make them vnsay vvhat they haâ sayed There are also found great spiritts and veâ capable that are not subiect to this imperfectioâ but verie vvillinglye dismisse their opinions â though that they bee verie good they arme â themselues to the defence of them vvhen any coâtrarietie or contrarie opinion is opposed to tâ which they haue iudged for good and well assuâ euen as vvee haue sayd of the great Saint Thomâ vvhereby you see it is a naturall thing to bee subiâ to opinions ordinarilie melancholie persons â more giuen therevnto then those that are of a âuiall and pleasant humour for these are easâ tourned at euerie hand and facile to beleeueâ which is sayed to them The great Saint Paula â obstinat in mayntaining the opinion that she â formed to her selfe of exercising great austeritâ rather then she vvould submitt herselfe to the âuise of many that did councell her to abstaine aâ likevvise many other Saints vvho thought thâ must macerate their bodies verie much to plâ God in such sort that they therefore refuseâ obey the phisition and to performe that which was requisite to the conseruation of their perishing and mortall bodies and although this was an imperfection they leaue not for this to bee great Saints and âerie acceptable to God the vvhich teacheth vs âhat vvee ought not to trouble our selues vvhen wee perceaue in our selues imperfections or incliâations contrarie to true vertue prouided that wee âecome not obstinate to perseuere willinglie in âhem For Saint Paula and others rendring themâelues stifneckt although it was in a small matter âaue bene reprehensible in the same Concerning our selues wee must neuer omitt so to forme our opinions but that wee will vvillinglie depose them âvhen it is needfull vvhether vvee bee obliged or not obliged to forme them Therefore to bee subâect to esteeme of our ovvne iudgment and to âeeke out reasons to mayntaine that vvhich vvee âaue apprehended and found to bee good is a verie âaturall thing but to permitt our selues to goe âhereafter and to bee fastned thervnto vvould be a notable imperfection Tell mee is it not time vnprofitably lost espetiallie in those that haue not âharge to muse on this § 3. You say vvhat must vvee doe then to morâifie this inclination we must cutt of that vvhich âourisheth it it commeth into your mind that âour Superiour erreth in commaunding this or that âo bee done in such manner and that it vvould bee âetter done so as you haue conceaued turne from âou this thought saying to your selfe Alas â what âaue I to doe vvith it since it is not committed to mee It is allwaies much better to vvithdravve our âhought simply then to search reasons in our mind âo make vs beleeue that vvee haue done vvrong âor
the saluation of their soules Lett vs bee verie carefull to conserue the spirit of the Visitation but not in such sort that the care hinder vs from the communicating of it charitably and vvith simplicitie to our neighbour and to euerie one according to their capacitie and doe not feare that it vvilbe dissipated by this communication for Charitie neuer ruinateth any thing but perfecteth all things THE SEAVENTEENTH ENTERTAINEMENT VVHERE-IN IS DEMAVNDED HOVV and vppon vvhat motiue the Religious ought to giue their voice to those that they vvould admitt to Profession as also to those they receaue into the Nouitiat § 1. TVVo things are requisite for to giue their voice so as is befitting such persons The first that they admitt such persons who haue a good call from God The second that they haue requisite conditions for our manner of life Touching the first point that she must haue a good vocation from God to bee receaued into Religion you must knovv that when I speake of this call and vocation I intend not to speake of the generall vocation such as that is by the vvhich our Lord calleth all men to Christianitie nor yet of that vvhereof it is sayed in the Ghospell that many are called but fevv elect For God vvho desireth to giue eternall life to all giueth to them all the meanes to attayne thervnto and therefore he calleth theÌ to Christianitie and hath elected them correspondent to this vocation follovving the attracts of God and yet the number of those vvho are found therein is verie little in comparison of those vvho are called But speaking more particulerlie of a Religious vocation I say that manie are vvell called of God into ReligioÌ but there are fevv vvho maintayne and conserue their vocation for they begin vvell but are not faythfull to correspond to the diuine grace nor perseuerant in the practice of that vvich may conserue their vocation and make it good assured There are others vvho are not vvell called neuertheless being entred their vocatioÌ hath been ratifyed and made good of God euen as vve see in those vvho come through spleene discontent into Religion and although it seemeth that these vocations are not good neuertheless vve haue seene that these being entred on such tearmes haue succeeded verie vvell in the seruice of God Others are incited to entrer into Religion for some disaster and misfortune vvhiâh they haue in thâ vvorld others for vvant of health or corporall beautie and altâough that these persons haue motiues vvhich of themselues are not good notvvithstanding God serueth himselfe of them for to call such persons In fine the vvaies of God are incomprehensible and his iudgments inscrutable and admirable in the varietie of vocations and meanes vvhich hee vseth to call his creatures to his seruice to vvhich all honour and reuerence is due § 2. Novv of this great varietie of vocationâ it follovveth that it is a thing verie difficult to knovv true vocations and yet this is the first thing vvich is requisite to giue their voice vvell to vvitt if the partye proposed bee vvell called and if her vocation bee good hovv then amongst so great a varietie of vocations and of so different motiues shall vvee bee able to knovv the good from the bad and not bee deceaued This truely is a matter of great importance and is verie difficult notvvithstanding it is not so that wee are altogether destitute of meanes for to knovv the goodnes of a vocation Novv amongst manie that I could alleage I vvill speake of one onelie as the best of all A good vocation is no other thing then a firme and constant vvill that the person called hath to serue God in the manner and in the place to vvhich his diuine Maiestie calleth her aÌd this is the best marke that vvee can haue to knovv vvhen a vocation iâ good but note vvell that vvhen I say a firme and constant will to serue God I doe not say that she must from the beginning doe all that is to be done in her vocation vvith so great a stabilitie and constancye that she bee exempt from all repugnance difficultie or disgust in that vvhich dependeth thereon no I doe not say so much lesse that this stabilitie and constancie bee such that it exempteth heâ from committing faults nor that therefore she beâ so firme that she neuer happen to stagger or variâ in the entreprise that she hath made to practice the meanes vvhich may conduct her to perfection Oâ no truely this is not that I vvould say for euerie man is subiect to such a passion alteration and vicissitude that hee vvho this day doth loue such aâ thing to morrovv vvill loue another in such sorâ that one day neuer resembleth another Then it is not by the diuers motioÌs feelings that vvee oughâ to iudg the stabilitie and constancie of the vvill although vvee haue once embraced it but if amongsâ this varietie of diuers motions the vvill remayne firme and quitteth not the good it hath embraced allthough it feele some disgust or coldnesse in the loue of some vertue and that she doe not therefore omitt to serue her selfe of the meanes that arâ appointed her so that to haue a marke of a good vocation a sensible constancie is not necessarie buâ that vvhich is in the superiour part of the spiritt vvhich is effectiue is sufficient Therefore to know if God vvill haue vs Religious wee must not expect that hee speake sensibly vnto vs or that he send some Angell from heauen to signifie his will much lesse is it needfull to haue reuelations vpon âhis subiect or to make an examine of ten or âwelue Doctors to see if the inspiration bee good âr badd if it must bee follovved or not But vvee ought to correspond vvell and cultiuate the first motion and then not to bee afflicted if disgusts and âuke-warmnes therein come vpon vs for if vvee âllvvaies endeuour to keepe our vvill verie constaÌt âo desire and search the good which is manifested ânto vs God vvill not bee wanting to cause all to âedound to his Glorie § 3. And vvhen I say this I doe not speake onelie for you but more ouer for all woemen that âre in the vvorld of whom truelie care ought to be âad in assisting them in their good designes VVheÌâhey haue the first motions a little strong nothing âs difficult vnto them it seemeth vnto them that âhey can breake through all obstacles But vvhen âhey feele these changes and that the former gusts âre no more so sensible in the inferiour part they âhinke that all is lost and that all must bee left they vvill and they vvill not that which they then feele âs not sufficient to make them leaue the world I would willinglie sayeth one of these virgins but I know not if it bee the vvill of God that I bee Religious for so much as the inspiration that I feele at this time is not strong enough me thinkes It is
yet find that there are any great difficulties notvvithstanding vvee ought to haue more consideration then in their first receauing for vvee haue had also more meanes to note their humours actions and habitudes vvee see vvell the passions that they haue but for all this vvee ought not to hinder them from being admitted to the Nouitiat prouided that they haue a good vvill to amend and submitt themselues and to serue themselues of the medicines proper for to heale them And although they haue repugnance against these remedies and take them vvith great difficultie their is nothing to bee sayed to this prouided that they giue not ouer the practice of them for medicines are allvvaies bitter to the tast and it is not possible that they receâue them vvith the svveetnes they vvould doe if they were pleasing to the appetite but for all this omitt not to haue their operation and vvhen they haue it it is better then that they haue the more paine and labour euen iust as a sister that hath her passions strong she is cholericke she committeth manie defects if she wil be cured of this and desire that wee correct mortifie it and that wee giue her remedies proper for her cuâe although the taking of them trouble and vex her vvee must not therefore refuse her our voice for she hath not onelie a will to bee healed but furthermore she taketh the remedies which are giuen her for this purpose although vvith payne and difficultie VVe shall find those who haue been ill bredd and not trained vp in ciuillitie vvho vvill haue a rude and lumpish nature novv there is no doubt but these haue more payne and difficultie then those who haue a more sweet and tractable disposition and that they wil be more subiect to committ faults then others vvho haue been better bredd but neuertheless if they desire to bee vvell cured and by their indeauours vvitnesse a firme vvill to seeke and desire to receaue the remedies although it bee to their cost to such as these I vvould giue my voice notvvithstanding these relapses For these after much labour produce great fruit in Religion becomming great seruants of God and gayning strong and solide vertue for the graces of God supplyeth the defect and there is no doubt that often vvhere there is lesse of nature there is more of grace Therefore vvee ought not to refuse to receaue such into the Nouitiat although they haue many euill habitts prouided such persons vvil be cured In summe to receaue one into the Nouitiat there is nothing to bee knovvne but if she haue a good vvill and if she bee deliberatelie resolued to receaue the vsage shal be giuen her for her cure and to liue in gteat submission hauing this I vvould giue her my voice Behould I thinke this is all that can bee sayed concerning this second reception § 10. For the third it is a thing of great importance to receaue any to professioÌ and in this it seemeth to mee wee ought to obserue three things the first that those vvee receaue to profession bee sound not of bodie as I haue alreadie sayed but of hart and spiritt I vvould say vvho haue their hart vvell disposed to liue in an entire flexiblenesse and submission Secondlie that they haue à good spiritt novv vvhen I say a good spiritt I entend not to speake of those great spiritts vvho are ordinarilie vaine and full of selfe-iudgments of imaginarie sufficiencie and vvho in the vvorld vvere shopps of vanitie vvho come into Religion not to humble themselues but as if they vvould read there lessons of Philosophy and Theologie haueing a vvill to guid and gouerne all Of such as these you must take great heede I say there must bee good care taken of them not that they must not bee receaued if vvee see that they vvil bee chaÌged and humble themselues for they vvil be able in time vvith the grace of God to make this chang vvhich will arriue without doubt if they vse faythfullie the remedies which shal be giuen them for their amendment Therefore when I speake of a good spiritt I intend iudicious and well made spiritts and more-ouer of a moderate temper who are not very great nor verie little for such spiritts allwaies doe much vvithout knovving it themselues They applie theÌselues to worke and giue theÌselues to solide vertues they are tractable and vvee haue not much trouble to guid them for they easilie coÌpreheÌd how good a thing it is to leaue themselues to bee gouerned by others The third thing that is to bee obserued is this if she haue laboured vvell in the yeare of her Nouitiat if she haue suffered vvell and profited vvith the medecines that haue been giuen her if she haue made much of those resolutions that she promised entring into the Nouitiat of changing her euill humours and inclinations for the yeare of Nouitiat hath bene giuen her for this If vvee see she hath perseuered faythfully in her resolution and that her vill remayneth firme and constant and that she applyes her selfe to reforme her selfe and behaue her selfe according to the Rule and constitutions and that this vvill endure yea allvvaies desireth to doe better this is a good signe and a good conditioÌ for to giue her your voice although notvvithstanding she leaue not to commit faultes and also great enough for although in the yeare of her Nouitiat she ought to labour for the reformation of her manners and habitts it is not therefore to be sayed that she must not make any relapse nor that at the end of her Nouitiat she ought to bee perfect For behold the Colledg of our Lord the Glorious Apostles although they were called well and had laboured much in the reformation of their liues how often did they committ faultes not onelie in the first yeare but also in the second and third all did speake and promise maruelles yea euen to follow our Lord into prison and death but in the night of his passion vvhen Iudas came to take their good Maister all forsooke him Therefore I will say that falles ought not to bee a cause that wee reiect one vvhen among all this she remayneth vvith a verie strong will to redresse her selfe and vvith a vvill to helpe her selfe by the meanes vvhich are giuen her for this purpose This is that I had to say touching the conditions which those ought to haue vvhom wee would receaue to profession and vvhat the sisters ought to obserue to giue theÌ their voices herevpon I will finish my discourse if you demaund not any further question § 11. VVee demaund first if any one be found who was subiect to bee troubled for small matters and that her spirit was often full of melencholie and vnquietness and that she did witness by this little loue of her vocation and yet notwithstanding this being past she promiseth to doe marualles what should bee done to her it is most certayne that such a person being so changeable is
exalted how excelleÌtlie hee was replenished with all sortes of vertues On the other side you see neuertâelesse how much hee was brought lowe and humbled more then an bee declared or imagined This one example sufficeth for the better vnderstanding of it hee tooke his iourney tovvards his ovvne country and vnto his tovvne of Bethlem and none is refused of all lodging but himselfe at least that vvee knovve of so that hee was constrayned to retire himselfe and to lead his chast spouse into a stable among the oxen and asses O into vvhat extremitie vvas his humilitie and abiection reduced his humilitie vvas the cause euen as S. Bernard explicateth it that hee thought vpon leauing our Bl. Ladie vvhen hee savve her great vvith child For Sainct Bernard sayeth that hee made this discourse within himselfe VVhat meaneth this I knovv that she is a virgin for vvee haue made a vovv together to keepe our virginitie and puritie vvherein she vvould in no sorte bee wanting notwithstanding I see that she is great vvith child and that she is a Mother how can it bee that maternitie is found in virginitie and puritie and that virginitie doth nott hinder Maternitie O God sayed hee to himselfe it may bee this is that Glorious virgin of whom the Prophets doe assure vs that she shall conceaue and bee the mother of the Messias O? If this bee of God forbidd that I should remayne with her I that am so vnworthy of it it wil be much better that I secreetlie forsake her because of my indignitie and dwell not any longer in her companie this was a feeling of an admirable humilitie and the which did make S Peter to cry out in the vessell where hee vvas vvith our Lord vvheÌ hee did see his Almigthie power manifested in the great draught of fishes that hee tooke at his onlie commaundement willing them to cast their netts into the sea O Lord sayed hee being wholie traÌsported with the like feeling of humilitie as Sainct Ioseph with drawe they selfe from mee for I am a sinfull man and therefore I am not worthy to bee with thee I knovv well vvould hee say that If I cast my selfe into the sea I shall perish but thou who art Allmighty canst walke vppon the waters without danger for this âause I beseeth thee to retyre from mee and not âhat I withdrawe my selfe from thee If Sainct Ioâeph were so carefull to shutt vp all his vertues vnder the shadowe of most holie humilitie hee had â most particular care to hide the pretious pearle of âis virginitie this was the cause hee consented to âee maried to the end that none might know it and because that vnder the holie vaile of mariage âee could liue vnknowne whereby virgins and âhose who will liue chastlie are taught that it is not sufficient for them to bee virgins vnless they bee humble and shut vp their puritie within the preâious box of humilitie for othervvise it wlll happeÌ vnto them as it did to the foolish virgins vvho for vvaÌt of humilitie and mercifull Charitie were repelled from the Mariage of the spouse and therefore were constrained to goe to the wedding of the world wher the councell of the Celestiall spouse is not obserued who sayeth that hee who will enter to the Mariage feast must bee humble I would say that hee must practice humilitie for sayeth hee going to a wedding or being inuited to a Mariage take the last place wher-in wee see how necessarie humilitie is for the conseruation of virginitie since vndoubtedlie not any one shal bee at the celestiall banquet and Nuptiall feast which God hath prepraed for virgins in the eelestiall habitation vnlesse that hee shal be accompained with this vertue VVee doe not keepe pretious things â especially odoriferous oyntments in the ayre for not onelie these sweete sauours would euaporate themselues but moreouer the flyes would corrupt them and make them loose their price and worth in like manner the soules of the Iuste fearing to loose the price and valour of their good workes shut or locke them vp ordinarilie in a box but not in a coÌmon box no more then precious oyntments but in a box of Allabaster such as S. Marie Magdaleine powred forth or emptied vpon the sacred head of our Sauiour when that hee reestablished her in virginitie not essentiall but repared the which is somtimes more excellent being acquired and re-established by penance then that which haueing not receaued blemish is accompained with lesse humilitie This Allabaster Box then is humilitie within the which vvee ought in imitation of our Bl. Ladie and Sainct Ioseph to locke vp our vertues and all that which may make vs to bee esteemed of men contenting our selues to please God and to remayne vnder the sacred vaile of the abiection of our selues expecting the time as wee haue sayed vvhen God comeing to dravve vs into the place of securitie which is his Glorie himselfe cause our workes to appeare for his honour and glorie But vvhat more perfect humilitie can bee imagined theÌ that of Sainct Ioseph I except that of our Bl. Ladie for wee haue alreadie sayed that Sainct Ioseph did receaue a great increase in all vertues by vvay of reflection of those that the most holie virgin did imprint in him hee had a verie great part in that diuine treasure that hee had neere him which vvas our Lord and Maister yet for all that hee so huÌbled and abased himselfe that it seemed not that hee had any part in him yet notvvithstaÌding hee did appertayne to him more then to any other next to the most holie Virgin and none may doubt there of finde hee vvas of his familie and the sonne of his spouse who did appertayne vnto him I am accustomed to say that if a doue to make the comparison more conforme to the puritie of the Sainct of whoÌ I speake should carrie a date in his becke and lett it fall into a garden would wee not say that the Palme which should come of it did appertayne âo him vvho did ovve the garden novv if this bee so vvho can doubt that the holie Ghost haueing lett âall this diuine Date as a diuine Doue into the inclosed and locked garden of the most holy virgin a garden sealed and inuironed on euerie side with the hedges of the holie vovve of virginitie and all immaculate chastitie who did appertayne to the glorious Sainct Ioseph as to her husband who shall doubt I say or vvho can say that this diuine Palme-tree which beareth the fruit that nourisheth to immortalitie doth not appertayne wholie to this great Sainct Ioseph who notvvithstanding is not therefore the more puffed vpp nor become âeth the more proude but rather becometh allwaies the more humble O God! what a goodlie fight vvas it to behould the reuerence and respect wherevvith hee did conuerse asvvell with the mother as vvith the sonne If hee had a desire to leaue the mother not knowing at that time the greatnesse of