THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST Deuided into foure Bookes Written in Latin by the Learned and Deuout man THOMAS à KEMPIS Chanon-Regular of the Order of S. Augustine AND Translated into English by B. F. I H S Permissu Superiorum M.DC.XIII TO THE HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the LORD Harrodowne HONOVRABLE AND RIGHT WORTHY THE publike demonstratiō which you haue lately giuen of your true desire to follow the footsteps of our Lord vndergoing so heauy a Crosse for his sake with so ready and resolued a mind hath moued me to dedicate this little Booke of the Imitation of Christ vnto You assuring my selfe that it will be no lesse gratefull to You to see it appeare in light purged from many mistaken sentences which were in the former Translation then the reading and practice therof will be profitable to others it being so diuine and excellent a worke as in the opinion of such as can best iudge of this matter of all the Bookes which are written that treate of spirit and Christian Perfection the holy Scripture excepted it is inferiour to none if it excelleth not all No ' booke hath byn more approued by generall consent none more often printed and translated into diuers languages none more esteemed commended yea commaunded also by the chiefe Maisters of Spirit of some Religious Orders to be often read by euery one in priuate and once a weeke publikely to all So full of sweet sense is this diuine Flower that the most spirituall bees may dayly draw from thence great plenty of celestiall hony It is a dish of so diuine meate that it neuer satiates the deuout mind but as the Wisdome of God doth promise to all such as fit at that heauenly banquet so shall they find in this spirituall food The more they eate it Eccl. 4. the more they shall hunger after it And the reason heerof is for that it contayneth so great depth of spirit and so great store and variety of heauenly documents that it seemeth euer new to the Reader and like another Manna affoardeth to euery one that delightfull tast which best agreeth with the palate of his soule and none can loath it but they whose lustes do carry them to Aegyptian slauery A true Israelite may feed vpon it fourty yeares togeather and euer find such pleasing tast and increasing strength by vse therof as will sustaine him in the desert of this world enable him to goe on without fainting till he arriue at his promised inheritance of eternall rest The practise of that which this Booke doth teach couereth the soule with the rich garment of grace and adorneth it with the splendent pearles of Euangelicall Perfection which maketh vs more pleasing in the sight of God then can the deckings of all earthly iewells make the fayrest Lady in the Kingdome where you are appeare beautifull to the eyes of men It returneth aboundant Gayne for sustained Losses and enlargeth the Liberty which is now restrayned It raiseth vp to cheerefull confidence the debased head and placeth in a Throno of endles Honour those who in this world doe seeme imprisoned in the blacke cloud of disgrace To Yov therfore who haue so willingly endured the losse of your earthly substance I haue thought good to present this Euangelicall Pearle and incomparable Treasure contayned in a little roome Heere you shall find the most perfect manner of conforming our selues to Christ our heauenly Patterne and see the vertues set forth in their colours which did most shine in the life of our Lord himselfe and read in plaine and vulgar phrase those Lessons of high Perfection which are commended vnto vs by the highest Wisdome and which haue made as many Saints as they haue had diligent and obseruant followers ACCEPT therfore I beseech you this little Present presented by him who wisheth you much more temporall happinesse then your present state affoardeth and that endles glory wherof your present suffering is no vncertaine pledge This first of Nouember 1612. Yours in all duty B. F. A TABLE Of the Chapters of this ensuing Booke THE FIRST BOOKE OF the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world CHAP. 1. pag. 1. Of the hūble conceipt of our selues p. 4. Of the doctrine of truth pag. 7. Of prudence and foresight in our actions pag. 11. Of the reading of holy Scriptures pag. 13. Of inordinate desires affections pag. 14. Of flying vaine Hope Pride pag. 15. That too much familiarity is to be shunned pag. 17. Of Obedience Subiection pag. 18. Of auoiding superfluity of words pag. 20. Of the obtayning of peace and zeale of spirituall profit pag. 22. Of the profit of Aduersity pag. 25. Of resisting Temptations pag. 26. Of auoyding rash iudgment pag. 31 Of VVorkes done of Charity pag. 33. Of bearing with the defects of others pag. 34. Of Religious life pag. 36. Of the examples of the holy Fathers pag. 38. Of the Excercise of a good and Religious person pag. 42. Of the loue of Solitude Silence pag. 46. Of Compunction of hart pag. 52. Of the cōsideratiō of humane misery pag. 56. Of the consideration of Death pag. 60. Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne pag. 66. Of the feruent amendment of our whole life pag. 71. THE SECOND BOOKE OF spirituall cōuersation pag. 80. Of humble submission pag. 86. Of a good and peaceable man pag. 87. Of a pure mind vpright intentiō pag. 90. Of the consideration of ones self pag. 92. Of the cōfort of a good Conscience pag. 94. Of the loue of Iesus aboue all things pag. 97. Of familiar cōuersation with Iesus pag. 99. Of the want of all comfort pag. 102. Of thankfulnes for the Grace of God pag. 107. How few the louers of the Crosse of Christ are pag. 111. Of the high way of the holy Crosse pag. 114. THE THIRD BOOKE OF the in ward speach of Christ vnto a faithfull soule pag. 129. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of words pag. 127. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not pag. 129. That we ought to liue in truth and humility in the sight of God pag. 133. Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace pag. 136. Of the proofe of a true Louer pag. 141. That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility pag. 145. Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God pag. 149. That all things are to be referred vnto God as vnto the last end pag. 151. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God pag. 153. That the desires of our hart are to be examined moderated pag. 156. Of the effects of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence pag. 158. Of the hūble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ pag. 162. Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered least we be extolled in our good deeds pag. 164. VVhat we ought to do and say in euery
alwaies sufficient cause of teares and sorrow for whether he consider himselfe or weigh the estate of his neighbour he knoweth that none liueth here without tribulation And how much the more throughly he considereth himselfe so much the more is his sorrow Our sinnes and vices in which we are so plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen do minister vnto vs matter of most iust sorrow and harty contrition 5. If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long Eccles 7. thou wouldest without doubt be more carefull in the ameÌ„dment of thy life And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of purgatory Matt. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to seare any kind of austerity But because these things enter not to the hart and we still loue that which delighteth vs therfore we remaine could and void of spirituall vigour 6. Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly coÌ„plaine Pray therfore with all humility to our Lord that he will vouchsafe to giue thee the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet Feed me o Lord Ps 79. with the bread of teares and giue me to drinke with teares in measure CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MISERABLE thou art wher soeuer thou be whithersoeuer thou turnest if thou turnest not thy selfe to God Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldest and desirest Who is there that hath all things as he will Eccls. 7. Neither I nor thou nor any man vpon earth There is not any man in this world without some tribulation or affliction though he be a King or a Pope Who thinkest thou theÌ„ is in best case I ruly he that willingly suffereth something for God 2. Many weak feeble men say Behould how well such a one liues how rich how powerful how beautifull how great a man he is Luc. 12. but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heaueÌ„ and thou shalt see that all temporall prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had without solicitude and feare Prou. 19. Iob. 14. The felicity of man consisteth not in hauing aboundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth It is truly misery inough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to be spirituall Eccls. 2. so much the more distastfull is this present life vnto him for he better perceaueth and seeth more cleerly the defects of human corruption To eate to drinke to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to be subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout mind that would gladly be free deliuered from all sinne 3. The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilst he is in this world And therfore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer me O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo be to them that know not their misery much more to theÌ„ that loue this miserable corruptible life For some there be so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labour and begging they scarce get bread to eat yet if they might liue heer alwaies they would care but little for the kingdome of heauen 4. O senslesse creatures and infidels in hart Rom. 3. whoâ—ly buried so deep in earth that they haue no tast nor feeling but of sensuall things But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued 1. Pet. â—1 Heb. 11. The Saints of God the deuout Seruants and friends of Christ respected little what pleased their naturall inclinations or what flourished in this life but with their whole hopes intentioÌ„s they sought after the riches of heauen Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible least they might haue byn drawne to base affectioÌ„s by the loue of visible things Rom. 13. Loose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past 5. Why wilt thou deferre thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and begin and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight now is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Psal 65. Thou must passe through fire and water before thou come to rest Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as we carry about with vs this frayle body of ours we can neuer be without sinne nor liue without tediousnes and griefe Rom. 7. Gen. 3. We would gladly enioy quietnes and be deliuered from al misery but for that we haue by sinne lost our innocency we haue togeather with it lost also our happines And therfore it behoueth vs to haue patience 2. Cor. 5. to expect the mercy of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 6. O how great is the frailty of man alwaies inclined to euill Gen. 6. To day thou confessest thy sinnes and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou purposest to take heed and within an houre thou dost as if thou hadst made no purpose at all We may therfore with great reason humble our selues 2. Mach. 9. and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change Full soone God knowes is that lost by negligence which with much labour was hardly gotten by grace 7. What will become of vs in the end that do so timely begin to wax could Wo be vnto vs if we will now giue our selues to ease as if all were already in peace and security when as yet there scarce appeareth so much as any signe of true sanctity in our conuersation It were needfull that we were taught good manners againe like Children if so perhaps there might be some more hope of our amendment and profit in spirit CHAP. XXIII Of the consideration of death THE houre of death will quickly ouertake thee and therfore look how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare Iob. 9. 14 Luc. 12. Heb. 9. and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of mind O dulnesse and hardnesse of mans hart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Thou shouldest alwaies so order thy thoughts and actions Matt. 25. as if this very day thou wert to depart this life Luc. 12. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death It is better to auoyd sin then to fly death
Sap. 4. If thou be not prepared to day Matt. 24. 25. how wilt thou be prepared to morrow To morrow-day is vncertaine and whether thou shalt see it or no thou knowest not 2. What doth it auaile vs to liue long when we do so little amend A long life doth not alwaies make vs better nay rather it oftentimes heapeth vpon vs a greater load of sinnes O that we had spent one day well in this world Many do reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to dye perhaps it will be more dāgerous for thee to liue long Blessed is he that hath alwaies before his eyes the houre of his death Eccles 7. and disposeth himselfe dayly therunto If thou hast at any time seene a man dye thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3. When it is morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night Heb. 9. and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy self the next morning Be alwaies ready and so order thy life that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Luc. 21. Many dye suddainly for the Sōne of man will come when we least thinke of it Matt. 24. Luc. 12. When that last houre shall come thou wilt begin to think farre otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast bene so slack and negligent 4. O how wise and happy is he that now laboureth to be such in his life as he wisheth to be found at the houre of his death For the perfect contempt of the world the feruent desire to profit in vertue the loue of discipline the labour of pennance the readinesse of obedience the forsaking of our selues and the bearing patiently of all aduersitie for the loue of Christ will giue great confidence of a happy end Thou maist do much good whilest thou art well but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to do I know not Few do grow better and amend thē selues with sicknes as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5. Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours Esa 30. 31. Herem 17. 48. neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou dost imagine It is better now to prouide in time Matt. 6. and do some good before thou goest then to trust in the help of others when thou art gone If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee herafter The time which now thou hast is very precious Now are the daies of health Now is the time acceptable But alas that thou spendest it so little to thy profit in which thou mightest gaine eternall life The time will come when thou wilt desire one day or one houre to amend and I cannot assure thee that thou shalt obtaine it 6. O my dearest brother from how great danger maist thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maist thou be freed if thou dost now liue fearfull and carefull of thy death Labour to liue in such sort that at the houre of death thou maist rather reioyce then feare Learne now to dye to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earth ly things that thou maist then freely go to Christ 1. Cor. 9. Chastice now thy body with pennance that thou maist then haue assured confidence 7. Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luc. 12. How many haue byn deceaued and taken out of this world on a suddaine when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddainely slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his neck another dyed at his meate another when he was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another dyed by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of all and the life of man passeth away like a shaddow 8. Who will remember thee and who will pray for thee after thy death Iob. 14. Do now beloued brother do now what thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt dye nor what shall befall thee after thy death Matt. 1. Luc. 11. Now whilst thou hast time heape togeather eternall riches Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Luc. 16. Heb. 11. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receaue thee into their euerlasting dwellings 9. Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime 1. Pet. 2. and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world do nothing appertaine Keep thy hart free Heb. 13. and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citty Send thither thy prayers dayly with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happines to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou willt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge frō whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with guifts Heb. 10. nor admitteth excuses but iudgeth according to instice O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest somtimes the countenance of an angry man what answere wilt thou make to God to whome all thy wickednes is knowne Iob. 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy self against that rigorous day of iudgment Luc. 16. in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden inough to himselfe Now thy pains are profitable 2. Cor. 6. thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iac. 1. who receauing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice Luc. 23. then for his owne wrongs prayeth willingly for his aduersaries Act. 7. and from his hart forgiueth their offences delayeth not to aske forgiuenes of whomsoeuer he hath offended is sooner moued to compassion then to anger vseth often violence to himselfe and laboureth with his whole force to subdue the flesh in all things to the spirit It is better to purge our sins and vices now then to reserue them for purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceaueth vs. 3. What other thing shall that fire feed on but thy sinnes How much the more thou sparest thy selfe now and followest the desires of thy corrupt nature so much the more grieuously shalt thou be punished heerafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe same wherin a man hath finned shall he be more
grieuoufly punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwardes with burning goads There shall the Gluttons be tormented with insatiable hunger and thirst There shall the lasciuious and the louers of pleasures be couered ouer with burning pitch and brimston The enuious like raging dogs shall there howle for griefe 4. There is no vice that shall not haue his proper torment The proud shall be full of all shame and confusion The couetous shall be in miserable want One houre of paine there shall be more sharpe then a hundred yeares of most hard pennance heer There is no rest there nor comfort for the damned Iob. 40. Heere yet sometimes our labours cease we enjoy the comfort of our friends Be now solicitous sorrowfull for thy sinnes that in the day of iudgment thou maist be secure in the copany of the blessed soules For then shall the iust stand in great constancy Sap. 5. against those that afflicted oppressed them Then shall he stand to iudge who now doth humbly submit himselfe to the iudgmēt of men Then shall the poore and humble haue great confidence the proud shall be compassed about on all sides with feare 5. Then will it appeare that he was wise in this world who had heere learned to be as a foole and dispised for Christ Then shall afflicti on patiently suffered delight vs and iniquity shall stop her mouth Then shall the deuout reioyce and the irreligious mourne Then shall the chasticed flesh more florish Ps 10◠then if it had byn alwaies nourished in delights Then shall the poore garment shine 2. Cor 4. the precious robes appeare contemptible Then shall the meane cottage be more commended then the sumptuous pallace Then will constant patience more auaile vs then all earthly power Then will simple obedience be more esteemed 〈◊〉 25. then all worldly wisdome 6. Then shall a good and pure conscience yield vs more comfort then the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more then all the worldlings treasures Then wilt thou be more comforted that thou hast praied deuoutly then that thou hast fared daintily Then wilt thou be more ioyful that thou hast obserued silēce then that thou hast talked much Then will good works appeare of much more esteeme thē faire words Then a strict life and hard pennance will be more pleasing then all earthly delights Accustome thy self now to suffer a little that thou maist then be deliuered from more grieuous paines Proue heere first what thou canst endure heerafter If now thou canst beare so little how wilt thou be able to endure euerlasting torments If now a little suffering make thee so impatient what will hell fire do heerafter Assure thy selfe thou canst not haue two Paradises It is impossible for thee to enioy delights heere in this world and raigne heerafter with Christ in heauen 7. If thou hadst hitherto liued alwaies in honors and delights Luc. 12. what would it auaile thee if thou shouldest presently dy All is vanity but to loue God Eccles 1. and only to serue him And he that loueth God with his whole hart needeth to feare neither death punishment iudgment nor hell Rom. 8. for perfect loue giues secure accesse to God But he that delighteth alwaies in sinne what wōder though he alwaies feare death and be terrified with the thought of Iudgment Yet it is good that if loue be not of force to withhould thee from sinne that at least the feare of hell may restrayne thee And he that layeth aside the feare of God can neuer continue long in good state but falleth quickly into the snares of the diuell CHAP. XXV Of the seruent amendment of our whole life BE watchfull and diligent in the seruice of God 2. Tim. 4. and often think with thy selfe wherefore thou camest and why thou didst leaue the world Was it not that thou mightest hue to God and become a spirituall man Go on therfore with courage Matt. 5. thou shalt shortly receaue the reward of thy labours Apoc. 21. and there shall be no more feare nor sorrow in the confines of thy habitation Thou must labour heer a while Eccles 51. thou shalt afterwards haue great rest yea euerlasting ioy Apoc 21. 22. If thou continuest faithfull and diligent in seruing of God Matt. 25. do not doubt but God will be faithfull and liberall in giuing thee reward Thou oughtest to haue a good hope of getting the victory Rom. 5. but thou must not make thy selfe assured therof least thou wax negligent or be puffed vp with pride 2. When one that was in great anxiety of mind often wauering betweene feare and hope did once being oppressed with griefe prostrate himselfe in a Church in prayer before an Altar and sayd within himselfe O if I knew that I should yet perseuer He presently heard as it were a voice from God which said What if thou diddest know it what wouldst thou do Do now what thou wouldest do then thou shalt be secure And being herewith comforted strengthened in mind he committed himselfe wholy to the will of God and that noysome anxiety ceased neither had he any mind to search curiously any further to know what should befall him but rather laboured to vnderstand what was the perfect and acceptable will of God Rom. 12. for the beginning accōplishing of euery good worke 3. Hope in our Lord Psal 36. and do good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches therof One thing there is that draweth many back from that spirituall good and the diligent amendment of their liues the horror of the difficulty and the labour of the combat But they aboue others profit most in vertue that endeauour most to ouercome those things which are grieuous and contrary vnto them For there a man profiteth more and deserueth greater grace where he more ouercometh mortifieth himselfe in spirit 4. But all men haue not alike to ouercome and mortify yet he that is zealous and diligent though he haue more passions shall profit more in vertue then another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be lesse feruent in the pursuite of vertue Two things chiefely help to our amendment to wit to withdraw our selues violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labour earnestly for that vertue which we most want Be careful also to auoid with great diligence those things in thy selfe which do most displease thee in others 5. Gather some profit to thy soule out of euery occasion and whersoeuer thou be so as if thou seest or hearest any good stir vp thy selfe to the imitation therof But if thou seest any thing worthy of reproofe beware thou do not the same And if at any time thou hast done it labour quickely to amend it As thine eye obserueth others so art thou also noted againe by others O
Ps 4. in thee one chiefest eternall good I will sleep and rest Amen CHAP. XVI That true comfort is to be sought in God alone VVHATSOEVER * The Seruant I can desire or imagine for my comfort I looke not for it in this life but hereafter For if I should alone haue all the comforts of the world and might enioy all the delights therof it is certaine that they could not long endure Wherfore my soule thou canst not be fully comforted nor haue perfect delight but in God Psal 76. the comforter of the poore and the receauer of the humble Expect a while my soule expect the diuine promise and thou shalt haue aboundance of all good things in heauen If thou desire inordinatly the things that are present thou shalt loose the celestiall and eternall Haue temporal things in vse and the eternall in desire Thou canst not be filled with any temporall goods because thou art not created to enioy them 2. Although thou enioyest all that is created yet canst thou not be happy therby nor blessed but in God that hath created all things Sap. 2. thy whole beatitude and happines consisteth not such as is seene and coÌ„mended by the foolish louers of the world but such as the good faithful seruants of Christ expect Phil. 3. and the spirituall and cleane of hart whose conuersation is in heauen somtimes take a tast of Vaine and short is all human comfort Blessed and true is the comfort which is receaued inwardly from truth A deuout man euery where carrieth with him Iesus his comforter and sayth vnto him Be present with me Lord Iesus in euery place and time Let this be my comfort to be alwaies willing to want all human comfort And if thy comfort be wanting let thy will iust proofe be vnto me as the greatest comfort Ps 102. for thou wilt not be angry alwaies neither wilt thou threaten for euer CHAP. XVII That all our care is to be placed in God SONNE †Our Lord. suffer me to do with thee what I please I know what is expedient for thee Thou thinkest as man thou iudgest in many things as humane affection perswadeth thee * The Seruant Matt. 6. Ioan. 6. Lord what thou saiest is true Thy solicitude for me is greater then all the care that I can take for my selfe For he standeth at too great a hazard that casteth not his whole care vpon thee Lord so that my will may remaine right and firme in thee do with me whatsoeuer it shall please thee For it cannot be but good whatsoeuer thou doest with me 2. If it be thy will I should be in darknes be thou blessed and if it be thy will I should be in light be thou againe blâ—ssed If thou vouchsafest to coÌ„fort me be thou blessed and if thou wilt afflict me be thou also euer blessed Sonne †Our Lord. so thou oughtest to be as ready to suffer as to receaue ioy Thou oughtest to be as willing to be poore and needy as plentifull and rich 3. Lord * The Seruant I wil willingly suffer for thee whatsoeuer thy pleasure is shall befall me I will receaue indifferently from thy hand Iob. 2. good and euill sweet and sower delightfull and sorrowfull and giue thee thanks for all that happeneth vnto me Keep me from all sinne Ps 22. and I will neither feare death nor hell so as thou dost not for euer cast me from thee and blot me out of the booke of life what tribulation soeuer befal me shall not hurt me CHAP. XVIII That temporall miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently SONNE †Our Lord. I descended from Heauen for thy health I tooke vpon me thy miseries Ioan. 8. my charity not any necessity drawing me therunto that thou mightest learne patience and not refuse to beare temporall miseries For from the houre of my birth Esa 53. vntill my death on the Crosse I was not without suffering of griefe Luc. 2. I suffered great want of temporall things I often heard many complaints against me I bare patienly shame and reproaches for benefits I receaued ingratitude for miracles blasphemies for heauenly doctrine reprehensions 2. Lord * The Seruant for that thou wert patient in thy life-time chiefly in fulfilling the commandment of thy Father it is reason that I miserable sinner should haue patience in all things according to thy will Ioan. 5. and for myne owne health beare the burthen of this corruptible life as long as thou wilt For although this present life be burdensome yet notwithstanding it is now by thy grace made very meritorious and by thy example and the footsteps of thy Saints more plaine and tollerable to the weake Yea much more comfortable also then it was in times past in the old law when the gate of heauen remained shut and the way also to heauen seemed darker when so few tooke care to seeke after thy Kingdome Neither they also that then were iust Matt. 7. and were ordained to be saued could enter into the heauenly glory before thy passion and the debt of thy sacred death was discharged 3. O how great thanks am I bouÌ„d to giue thee that thou hast vouchsafed to shew vnto me and to all faith ful soules a direct sure way to thy euerlasting kingdome For thy life is our way and by holy patience we go vnto thee that art our Crowne If thou hadst not gone before vs and taught vs who would haue taken care to follow Alas how many would stay behind and remaine far off if they beheld not thy excellent examples Behould we are yet could although we haue heard of so many of thy wonders Ioan. 12. and thy heauenly documents what would become of vs if we had not so great light to follow thee CHAP. XIX Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truly patient VVHAT is it †Our Lord. thou sayest Sonne Cease to complaine considering my passion and that of my other Saints Thou hast not yet made resistance to the sheeding of bloud Heb. 12. It is but little thou sufferest in comparison of them that haue suffered so much Heb. 11. so strongly tempted so grieuously afflicted so many waies tried exercised Thou oughtest therfore to call to mind the heauy sufferings of others that thou maist the easier beare the little aduersities which thou sufferest And if they seem not little beware least thy impatience because therof Yet whether they be little or great endeauour to beare all patiently 2. How much the better thou disposest thy selfe to suffering so much the more wisely thou doest and so much the more doest thou merit thou shalt more easily also endure it if thy mind be prepared thy selfe accustomed therunto Do not say I cannot suffer these things of such a one at the hands of such a person nor such things are not to be suffered by me
will not feare euils whilst thy grace is with me she is my strength she giueth aduise 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 hart the solace in affliction she driueth away sorrow she expelleth feare she is the nurse of deuotion the bringer forth 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 therfore Lord alwaies preuent me and follow me and make me euer diligent in good workes through Iesus Christ thy Sonne Amen CHAP. LVI That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse SONNE †Our Lord. looke how much thou canst go out of thy self so much maist thou enter into me As to be void of all desire of externall things maketh inward peace so the forsaking of our selues ioyneth vs internally to God I will haue thee learne the perfect leauing of thy selfe vnto my will without contradiction and complaint Ioan. 14. Follow me I am the way the truth and the life 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 foâ—low 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 caÌ„not end I am a most strait way a supreme truth a true life a blessed life an increated life If thou remaine in me thou shalt know the truth truth shall deliuer thee thou shalt apprehend euerlasting life 2. If thou wilt enter into life Matt. 19. keep the commaundements if thou wilt know the truth belieue me If thou wilt be perfect sell all Luc. 9. If thou wilt be my disciple deny thy selfe If thou wilt possesse a blessed life Ioan. 12. despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in heauen Luc. 14. humble thy selfe vpon earth If thou wilt raigne with me beare the crosse with me For only the seruants of the crosse find the way of blisse and true light 3. Lord Iesus * The Seruant forasmuch as thy way is narrow strait and contemptible vnto the world graunt me grace to imitate thee in suffering willingly all worldly contempt For the seruant is not greater then his Lord Matt. 7. nor the Disciple aboue his Maister Luc. 6. Let thy seruant be exercised in thy holy life for there is the health and the true sanctity of my soule whatsoeuer I read or heare besides doth not recreate or delight me fully 4. Sonne †Our Lord. now that thou knowest and hast read these things happy shalt thou be if thou fulfill them He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe vnto him and will make him sit with me in the Kingdome of my Father Lord * The Seruant Iesus as thou hast said and promised so giue me grace to deserue that it be fulfilled I haue receaued the Crosse I haue receaued it from thy hand and I will beare it and beare it till death as thou hast laid it vpon me Truly 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 back neither is it fit to leaue that which I haue vndertaken 5. Let vs then take courage my brethren go forwards togeather Iesus will be with vs for Iesus sake we haue vndertaken this crosse for the loue of Iesus let vs perseuere in the crosse He will be our helper who is our guide forerunner Behould our King goeth before vs who also will fight for vs let vs follow him cheerefully let vs not be dismaied but be ready to dye with courage in the battaile and let vs not blemish our glory by flying from the Crosse CHAP. LVII That a man be not too much deiected when he falleth into some defects SONNE †Our Lord. patience and humility in time of aduersitie are more pleasing to me then much coÌ„fort and deuotion in prosperitie Why art thou grieued for euery little trifle spoken done against thee Although it had bene much more thou oughtest not to haue bene moued But now let it passe it is not the first that hath happened nor any new thing neither shall it be the last if thou liue long Thou art cheerfull inough as long as no aduersitie occurreth Thou canst giue good couÌ„saile also and canst strengthen others with thy words but when any tribulation suddainly knocketh at thy doore thou art destitute of counsel and void of force See therefore thy great fraily which thou often prouest in very small occasions It is notwithstaÌ„ding permitted for thy good when these and such like occasions befall thee 2. Put it out of thy hart the best thou canst and if it touch thee yet let it not detect thee nor trouble thee long beare it at least patiently if thou canst not ioyfully Although thou be vnwilling to heare it and feelest in thy hart some motion of disdaine yet represse thy selfe and suffer no inordinate word to passe out of thy mouth which may be a scandall to the weake The storme which now is raised shall quickly be appeased and inward griefe shall be asswaged by the returne of grace I do yet liue Esa 49. saith our Lord and am ready to help thee and to giue thee greater comfort then before if thou put thy trust in me and callest deuoutly vpon me 3. Be more patient prepare thy selfe to greater suffering All is not lost if thou feele thy selfe often afflicted or grieuously tempted Thou art a man and not God thou art flesh not an Angell How canst thou looke to continue euer in the same state of vertue when an Angell in heauen hath fallen and the first man in Paradise lost his standing I am he that do giue healthfull comfort to them that mourne Gen. 3. and doe raise vp vnto my Godhead those that know their owne frailtie 4. Lord * The Seruant blessed be thy sacred word more sweet vnto my mouth then the hony the hony combe Ps 118. What should I do in these my so great tribulations and anguish vnlesse thou didst comfort me with thy holy sweet and heauenly speaches What matter is it how much and what I suffer so as I may at length attaine to the hauen of blisse Grant me a good end graunt me a happy passage out of this world Be mindfull of me my God and direct me the straight and ready way to the euerlasting Kingdome Amen CHAP. LVIII Of not searching into high matters into the secret iudgments of God SONNE †Our Lord. beware thou dispute not of high matters not of the secret iudgments of God why
my selfe I incurre thy displeasure What therfore shall I do my God my helper and my counsellour in necessity 2. Teach me the right way appoint me some brief exercise sutable to this holy mysterv of sacred Communion For it is good for me to know how I should reuerently deuoutly prepare my heart vnto thee for the profitable receauing of thy Sacrament or for the celebrating of so great and diuine a Sacrifice CHAP. VII Of the discussing of our owne conscience and purpose of amendment The voice of the Beloued ABOVE all things the Priest of God ought to come to celebrate handle and receaue this Sacrament with great humility of hart and lowly reuerence with a full faith and a Godly desire of the honour of the diuine Maiesty Examine diligently thy conscience and to thy power purge and clense it with true contrition and humble confession so as there may be nothing in thee that may be burdensome vnto thee or that may breed thee remorse of conscience and hinder thy free accesse to these heauenly mysteries Repent thee of all thy sinnes in generall and in particuler bewaile thy daily offences And if thou hast time confesse vnto God in the secret of thy hart all the myseries of thy disordered passions 2. Lament and grieue that thou art yet so subiect to sensuality and so addicted to the world so vnmortified in thy passions so full of the motions of concupiscence so vnwatchfull ouer thy outward senses so often intangled with many vaine fantasies so vehemently inclined to outwardthings so negligent in the interiour so prone to laughter and immodesty so hard to teares cōpunction so prompt to ease pleasures of the flesh so dull to austerity feruour so curious to heare newes and see vaine sights so slack to imbrace that which tends to thine owne humiliation and contempt so couetous of aboundance so niggardly in giuing so fast in keeping so inconsiderate in speach so vnbridled to silence so loose in manners so outragious in deedes so greedy to meate so deafe to the word of God so hasty to rest so slow to labour so watchful to tales so drowsy to watch in the seruice of God so hasty to the end therof so inconstant in attention so negligent in saying thy office so vndeuout in saying Masse so dry in receauing so quickly distracted so seldome wholy recollected so suddainly moued to anger so apt to take displeasure against another so prone to iudge so seuere to reprehend so ioyfull in prosperity so weake in aduersity so often purposing much good and performing little 3. These and other thy defects confessed bewailed with sorrow and great dislike of thine owne infirmity make a firme purpose alwaies to amend thy selfe and to go forwards in vertue Then with full resignation and with thy whole will offer thy selfe vp to the honour of my name a perpetuall sacrifice in the altar of thy hart faithfully committing thy body soule vnto me that thou maist so also deserue to come worthily to offer sacrifice vnto God and to receaue profitably the Sacrament of my body 4. For there is no oblatiō more worthy nor satisfaction greater for the washing away of sinnes then to offer vp our selues vnto God purely and wholy with the oblation of the Body of Christ in the Masse and in Communion And when a man shal haue done what lyeth in him and shall be truly penitent as I liue Ezec. 18. saith our Lord who will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted and liue I will not remember his sinnes any more but they shall be all forgiuen him and fully pardoned CHAP. VIII Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and resignation of our selues The voice of the Beloued AS I willingly offered vp my selfe vnto God my Father with my hands stretched forth on the Crosse and my body naked for thy sinnes so that nothing remained in me that was not turned into a sacrifice for the appeasing of the diuine wrath so oughtest thou also to offer vp thy selfe willingly vnto me daily in the Masse as a pure and holy oblation with thy whole force and desire in as harty a manner as thou canst What do I require of thee more Prou. 23. then that thou resigne thy selfe wholy vnto me Whatsoeuer thou giuest besides thy selfe is of little accompt in my sight for I seeke not thy gift but thee 2. As it would not suffice thee to haue all things whatsoeuer besides me so neither can it please me whatsoeuer thou giuest if thou offerest not vp thy selfe Offer thy selfe vnto me and giue thy selfe all that thou art for God and thy offering shall be gratefull Behould I offered vp my selfe wholy vnto my Father for thee and gaue my whole body bloud for thy food that I might be wholy thine and thou remaine mine But if thou abidest in thy self and doest not offer thy selfe vp freely vnto my will thy oblation is not entire neither shall the vnion betweene vs be perfect Therfore a free offering vp of thy selfe into the hands of God ought to go before all thy actions if thou wilt obtaine freedome and grace For this cause so few become in wardly illuminated and enioy true liberty of hart for that they do not resolue wholy to deny themselues My saying is vndoubtedly true Ioan. 14. Vnlesse one forsake all he cannot be my Disciple If thou therfore wish to be mine offer vp thy self vnto me with thy whole desires CHAP. IX That we ought to offer vp our selues all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all The voice of the Disciple THINE O Lord are all things that are in heauen and in earth Psal 23. I desire to offer vp my self vnto thee as a free oblation and to remaine alwaies thine O Lord in sincerity of my hart I offer my selfe vnto thee this day in sacrifice of perpetuall praise to be thy seruant for euer Receaue me with this holy oblation of thy precious body which in the presence of the Angells inuisibly attending heere vpon thee I offer vp this day vnto thee that it may be to the health of my soule and the saluation of all thy people 2. I offer vnto thee o Lord all my sinnes offences which I haue committed in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels frō the day wherin I first could sinne to this houre vpon thy holy altar that thou maist consume and burne them al with the fire of thy charity and wash out all the staines of my sinnes and cleanse my conscience from all offence and restore to me againe thy grace which I lost by sinne forgiuing me all my offences and receauing me mercifully in the kisse of peace 3. What can I do for my sinns but humbly confesse and bewaile them Psal 31. and intreat alwaies for mercy without intermission I beseech thee heare me in thy aboundant mercy when I stand before thee my God All my sinnes