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

Iohn Baptist thou wert not worthy to receiue nor handle this Sacrament Mat. 11. For it is not within the compasse of the deserts of men that man should consecrate and handle the sacrament of Christ receiue for food the bread of Angels A great mystery great is the dignity of Priests to whom is granted that which is not permitted to the Angels Psal 77. For Priests only instituted in the Church haue power to celebrate and consecrate the Body of Christ The Priest is the Minister of God vsing the words of God by Gods commandement and appointment but God is there the principall Actor and inuisible worker to whome is subiect all that he pleaseth and all that hee commandeth doth obey Gen. 1. Psal 148. Rom. 9. 2 Thou oughtest therfore to giue more credit to God Almightie in this most excellent Sacrament then to thine owne sense or to any visible signe And therefore thou art to come vnto this Mysterie with feare and reuerence Consider attentiuely with thy selfe what that is whereof the Ministrie is deliuered vnto thee by the imposition of hands of the Bishop Behold thou art made a Priest and consecrated to say Masse see now that in due time thou offer Sacrifice vnto God faithfully and deuoutly and carry thy selfe so as thou maist be without reproofe 1. Tim. 4. Thou hast not lightned thy burthen but art now bound with a straiter band of discipline and art obliged to a more perfect degree of sanctitie A Priest ought to be adorned with al kind of vertues and to giue example of good life to others His conuersation should not bee according to the ordinary and common proceedings of men but like to the Angels in heauen or to perfect men on earth Philip. 3. 3 A Priest clothed in sacred garments is the Vicegerent of Christ to pray humbly and with a prostrate mind vnto God for himselfe and the whole people Heb. 5. He hath before and behind the signe of the Crosse of our Lord to the end he may euer remember the Passion of Christ hee beareth the Crosse before him in the Vestement that hee may diligently behold the foote-steps of Christ and feruently endeauour to follow them Hee is behinde marked with the Crosse that he may patiently suffer for God whatsoeuer aduersities shall bee laid vpon him for others He beareth the crosse before that he may lament his owne sinnes and the same hee hath also behind that hee may with a compassionate heart bewaile the offences of others know that he is placed as a mediatour betweene God and the sinner Neither ought he to cease from prayer holy oblation till he deserue to obtaine grace mercy When a Priest doth celebrate he honoreth God reioyceth the Angels edifieth the Church helpeth the liuing giueth rest to the dead and maketh himselfe partaker of all good deeds CHAP. VI. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion The voice of the Disciple WHen I weigh thy greatnesse O Lord and my vnworthinesse I tremble and am confounded in my selfe For if I come not vnto thee I fly from life and if I vnworthily intrude my selfe I incurre thy displeasure What therefore shall I do my God my helper and my counseller in necessitie 2 Teach mee the right way appoint me some briefe exercise sutable to this holy mystery of sacred Communion For it is good for me to know how I should reuerently and deuoutly prepare my heart vnto thee for the profitable receiuing 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 ABoue al things the Priest of God ought to come to celebrate handle and receiue 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 cōscience 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 burdēsome 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 heart all the miseries 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 outward things so negligent in the interiour so prone to laughter and immodesty so hard to teares and compunction so prompt to ease and pleasures of the flesh so dul to austerity and feruour so curious to heare newes and see vaine sights so slacke to imbrace that which tends to thine owne humiliation and contempt so couetous of abundance so niggardly giuing so fast in keeping so inconsiderate in speech so vnbridled to silence so loose in manners so outragious in deedes so greedie to meate so deafe to the word of God so hasty to rest so slow to labour so watchfull to tales so drowsie 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 receiuing so quickely distracted so seldome wholy recollected so sodainly moued to anger so apt to take displeasure against another so prone to judge so seuere to reprehend so joyful in prosperity so weak in aduersitie 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 alwayes to amend thy selfe and to goe forwards in vertue Then with full resignation and with thy whole will offer thy selfe vp to the honor of my name a perpetuall sacrifice in the altar of thy heart faithfully committing thy body and soule vnto mee that thou mayest so also deserue to come worthily to offer sacrifice vnto God and to receiue profitably the Sacrament of my body 4 For there is no oblation more worthy nor satisfaction greater for the washing away of sins 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 shall haue done what lieth in him shall be truly penitent As I liue 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 Ezec. 18. 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

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

plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen doe minister vnto vs matter of most just sorrow and hartie contrition 5 If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long thou wouldest without doubt be more careful in the amendment of thy life Eccles 7. And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of Purgatory Mat. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to feare any kinde of austerity But because these things enter not to the heart and wee still loue that which delighteth vs therefore we remaine cold and void of spirituall vigour 6 Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly complaine Pray therefore 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 with the bread of tears giue me to drink with teares in measure Ps 79. CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MIserable thou art wheresoeuer 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 wil 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 then is in best case Truely he that willingly suffereth something for God 2 Many weake and feeble men say Behold how well such a one liues hovv rich hovv povverfull hovv beautifull how great a man he is but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heauen Luk. 12. and thou shalt see that al temporal prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had vvithout solicitude and feare The felicitie of man consisteth not in hauing abundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth Prou. 19. Iob. 14. It is truely misery enough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to bee spirituall so much the more distasteful is this present life vnto him for hee better perceiueth and seeth more clearely the defects of humane corruption Eccls. 2. To eat to drink to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to bee subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout minde that would gladly be free and deliuered from all sinne 3 The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilest he is in this world And therefore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer mee O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo bee to them that know not their misery and much more to them that loue this miserable and corruptible life For some there bee so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labor and begging they scarce get bread to eate yet if they might liue heere alwaies they would care but little for the kingdom of heauē 4 O senselesse creatures and infidels in hart who lie buried so deep in earth that they haue no taste nor feeling but of sensuall things Rom. 8. But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued 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 and intentions they sought after the riches of heauen 1. Pet. 51. Heb. 11. Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible lest they might haue bin drawne to base affections by the loue of visible things Lose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past Rom. 13. 5 Why wilt thou defer thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and beginne and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight novv is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Thou must passe thorovv fire and vvater before thou come to rest Psalm 65. Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as vvee carrie about vvith vs this fraile bodie of ours vvee can neuer bee vvithout sinne nor liue vvithout tediousnes and griefe We vvould gladly enjoy quietnesse and bee deliuered from all miserie but for that vvee haue by sinne lost our innocencie wee haue together with it lost also our happinesse Rom. 7. Gen. 3. and therefore it behoueth vs to haue patience and to expect the mercie of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 2. Cor. 5. 6 O how great is the frailety of man alwaies inclined to euil Gen. 6 To day thou confessest thy sins and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou proposest to take heed and within an houre thou doest as if thou haddest made no purpose at al. We may therefore with great reason humble our selues and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change 2. Mach. 9. 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 doe so timely beginne to wax cold Woe be vnto vs if wee 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 therefore looke how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of minde Iob. 9. 14. Luk. 12. O dulnes and hardnes of mans heart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Hebr. 9. Thou shouldest alwayes so order thy thoughts and actions as if this very day thou wert to depart this life If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death Luk. 12. It is better to auoid sin then to flie death Sap. 4. If thou be not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow Mat. 24. 25. 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 sins O

that wee had spent one day well in this world Many doe reckon the yeares of their conuersion but full slender oftentimes is the fruit of amendment If it be a dreadfull thing to die perhaps it will be more dangerous for thee to liue long Blessed is hee that hath alwayes before his eyes the houre of hia death and disposeth himselfe daily therunto Eccl. 7. If thou hast at any time seen a man die thinke with thy selfe that thou must one day passe the same way 3 When it t s morning think that perhaps thou shalt not liue vntill night and when euening comes do not dare to promise vnto thy selfe the next morning Heb. 9. Be alwaies ready so order thy selfe that death may neuer take thee vnprepared Many die suddenly for the Sonne of Man will come when we least think of it Luk. 21. When that last houre shal come thou wilt begin to thinke far otherwise of thy life and much lament that thou hast beene so slack and negligent Matth. 24. Luk. 12. 4 O how wise and happy is hee 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 penance the readines 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 mayest doe much good whilest thou art wel but when thou art sick what thou wilt be able to doe I know not Few doe grow better and amend themselues with sicknesse as also they that wander much abroad seldome become holy 5 Trust not vpon thy friends or neighbours neither do thou put off to future time the care of thy soules health for thou shalt sooner be forgotten then thou doest imagine Esay 30. 31. Hier. 17. 48. It is better now to prouide in time and doe some good before thou goest then to trust in the helpe of others when thou art gone Mat. 6. If thou hast no care of thy selfe now when thou hast time who will be carefull for thee hereafter 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 mayest thou deliuer thy selfe From how great feare maeyst thou bee freed if thou doest now liue fearefull 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 die to the world that thou maist then begin to liue with Christ Learne now to contemne all earthly things that thou mayest then freely go to Christ Chastise now thy body with pennance that thou mayst then haue assured confidence 1. Cor. 9. 7 Ah foole why dost thou thinke thou shalt liue long being not certaine of so much as one day Luk. 12. How many haue been deceiued and taken out of this world on a sudden when they least expected it How often hast thou heard how such a one was suddenly slaine another was drowned another falling from some high place brake his necke another died at his meate another when hee was playing one came to his end by fire another by sword another by plague another died by the hands of theeues So as death is the end of al and the life of man passeth away like a shadow 8 Who will remember thee and vvho vvill pray for thee after thy death Iob 14 Do now beloued brother doe novv vvhat thou canst for thou knowest not how soone thou shalt die nor what shall befall thee after thy death Now whilest thou hast time heape together eternall riches Matth. 1. Luk. 11. Thinke on nothing but on the health of thy soule Gal. 6. Haue care only on that which belongeth to God Luk. 16. Make the Saints of God thy friends by honouring them and imitating their vertues that when thou departest this life they may receiue thee into their euerlasting dwellings Hebr. 11. 9 Esteeme thy selfe as a pilgrime and stranger vpon earth and as one to whom the affaires of this world doe nothing appertaine 1. Pet. 2. Keepe thy heart free and lifted vp to God for thou hast not heere any permanent Citie Heb. 13. Send thither thy prayers daily with sighes and teares that thy soule may deserue to passe with much happinesse to our Lord after death CHAP. XXIV Of Iudgement and the punishment of sinne IN all things consider the end and how thou wilt be able to stand before that seuere Iudge from whom nothing can be hidden and is not appeased with gifts nor admitteth excuses but judgeth according to justice Heb. 10. O most wretched and foolish sinner that fearest sometimes the countenance of an angry man what answer wilt thou make to God to whō al thy wickednes is known Iob 9. Why prouidest thou not for thy selfe against that rigorous day of Iudgement in which no man can be excused or defended by another but euery one will be burden enough to himselfe Luk. 16. Now thy paines are profitable thy teares acceptable thy cries are heard thy sorrow satisfieth for thy sinnes and purgeth thy soule 2. Cor. 6. 2 The patient man hath a great and healthfull purgatory Iam. 1. who receiuing iniuries grieueth more for the others malice then for his owne wrongs Luk. 23. prayeth willingly for his aduersaries and from his hart forgiueth their offences Act. 7. delayeth not to aske forgiuenesse of whomsoeuer hee 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 sinnes and vices now then to reserue them for Purgatory Verily the inordinate loue we beare to our selues deceiueth vs. 3 What other thing shal 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 hereafter and so much the more matter dost thou keep for that purging fire In the selfe-same wherin a man hath sinned shall he be more grieuously punished There shall the slouthfull be pricked forwards 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 vvith 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 sharp then an hundred yeares of most hard pennance heere There is no rest there nor comfort for the damned Iob. 40. Heere yet sometimes our labours cease and we enioy the comfort of our friends Be now solicitous and sorrowfull for thy sinnes that in the day of judgement thou mayest bee secure in the company of the blessed soules For then shal the just stand in great constancy against those that afflicted and oppressed them Wisd 5. Then shall hee stand to judge who now doth humbly submit himselfe to the judgement of men Then shall the poore and humble haue great confidence and the proud shall be compassed about on all sides with feare 5 Then will it appeare that hee vvas vvise in this vvorld vvho had heere learned to be as a foole and dispised for Christ Then shall affliction patiently suffered delight vs and iniquity shall stoppe her mouth Then shall the deuout reioyce and the irreligious mourne Then shall the chastised flesh more flourish then if it had bin alwaies nourished in delights Psal 106. Then shall the poore garment shine and the precious robes appeare contemptiple 2. Cor. 4. Then shall the meane cottage be more commended then the sumptuous Palace Then will constant patience more auaile vs then all earthly power Then will simple obedience bee more esteemed then all worldly wisdome Esay 29. 6. Then shall a good and pure conscience yeeld vs more comfort then the profound learning of Philosophy Then shall the contempt of riches weigh more then al the worldlings treasures Then wilt thou bee more comforted that thou hast prayed 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 workes appeare of much more esteem then faire words Then a strict life and hard pennance will be more pleasing then all earthly delights Accustome thy selfe now to suffer a little that thou mayst then bee deliuered from more grieuous paines Proue heere first what thou canst endure hereafter 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 doe hereafter Assure thy selfe thou canst not haue two Paradises It is impossible for thee to enioy delights heere in this world and raigne hereafter with Christ in heauen 7 If thou haddest hitherto liued alwaies in honors and delights what would it auaile thee if thou shouldest presently die Luk. 12. All is vanity but to loue God and onely to serue him Eccles 1. And he that loueth God with his whole heart needeth to feare neither death punishment judgement nor hell for perfect loue giues secure accesse to God Rom. 8. But hee that delighteth alwaies in sinne what wonder though he alwaies feare death and be terrified with the thought of judgement Yet it is good that if loue be not of force to withhold thee from sinne that at least the feare of hell may restraine 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 feruent amendment of our whole life BE watchfull and diligent in the seruice of God and often thinke with thy selfe wherfore thou camest and why thou didst leaue the world 2. Tim. 4. Was it not that thou mightest liue to God and become a spirituall man Goe on therefore with courage thou shalt shortly receiue the reward of thy labours and there shall be no more feare nor sorrow in the confines of thy habitation Mat. 5. Apoc. 21. Thou must labour heere a while thou shalt afterwards haue great rest yea euerlasting ioy Eccles 51. If thou continuest faithfull and diligent in seruing of God doe not doubt but God will be faithfull and liberall in giuing thee reward Apoc. 21. 22. Matth. 25. Thou oughtest to haue a good hope of getting the victory but thou must not make thy selfe assured thereof lest thou waxe negligent or bee puffed vp with pride Rom. 5. 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 praier before an Altar and said 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 wouldest thou doe Doe now what thou wouldest doe then and thou shalt bee secure And being herewith comforted and strengthened in minde he committed himselfe wholly to the will of God that noysom anxiety ceased neither had hee any minde 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 for the beginning and accomplishing of euery good worke Rom. 12. 3 Hope in our Lord and doe good saith the Prophet and inhabit the land and thou shalt be fed in the riches thereof Psa 36. One thing there is that draweth many backe from that spirituall good the diligent amendment of their liues the horror of the difficulty and the labor of the combat But they aboue others profite 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 hee more ouercommeth and mortifieth himselfe in spirit 4 But all men haue not alike to ouercome and mortifie yet he that is zealous and diligent though hee haue more passions shall profit more in vertue then another that is of a more temperate disposition if he be lesse feruent in the pursuit of vertue Two things chiefely helpe to our amendment to wit to withdraw our selues violently from that to which nature is viciously inclined and to labor earnestly for that vertue which we most want Be carefull also to auoide vvith great diligence those things in thy selfe which doe most displease thee in others 5 Gather some profit to thy soule out of euery occasion and wheresoeuer thou bee so as if thou seest or hearest any good stir vp thy selfe to the imitation therof But if thou seest any thing vvorthy of reproofe beware thou doest 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 how sweet and comfortable a thing it is to see the seruants of Christ feruent and deuout endued with vertuous and decent manners And on the contrary how pitifull and grieuous a thing it is to see them that liue in a dissolute and disordered sort not applying themselues to that for which they were called O how great domage and great danger it is to neglect the good purposes of their vocation and to busie themselues in that which appertaineth not vnto them nor is committed to their care 6 Bee mindefull of the purpose thou hast made and haue

within and without be accomplished according to thy will and pleasure How secure is it for the keeping of heauenly grace to fly the sight of men And not to seek those things that seeme to cause admiration abroad but to follow that with al diligence which bringeth amendment of life and encrease of feruour 6 To how many hath vertue knowne and ouer hastily commended bin hurtful how profitable hath grace beene kept with silence in this mortall life which is nothing but a perpetual temptation and a warfare CHAP. XLVI Of putting our trust in God when euil words arise OVR LORD SOn be constant and put thy trust in mee For what are words but words They passe through the aire but hurt not Psa 36. If thou be guiltie determine willingly to amend thy selfe if thou be innocent resolue to suffer this willingly at least for God It is a small matter to suffer sometimes a fevv vvords if thou hast not yet the courage to endure stripes And why doe small matters go to thy heart but for that thou art yet carnall and regardest men more then thou oughtest Because thou art afraid to bee despised therefore wilt not bee reprehended for thy faults and therefore seekest shaddowes of excuses 2 But look better into thy self and thou shalt see that the world yet liueth in thee a vain desire to please men For when thou refusest to be humbled reproued for thy faults it is surely euident that thou art neither truely humble nor dead to the world nor the world perfectly crucified to thee But giue diligent eare to my words thou shalt little respect ten thousand words spoken by men Behold if al should be spokē against thee that could be maliciously inuented what would it hurt thee if thou suffredst it to passe madest no reckoning at all of it Could all those words pluck as much as one haire from thy head Mat. 10. Luk. 11. 3 But he that hath not his heart within him nor God before his eies is easily moued with euery little dispraise whē as he that trusteth in me and confideth not in his own judgement shal be free from human fears For I am the Iudge and the discerner of all secrets I know how the matter passed I know him that offereth the iniury and him that suffereth it Psal 7. From me hath this word proceeded this hath happened by my permission that out of many hearts thoughts may bee reuealed I shall judge the guilty and the innocent but by a secret judgement I would beforehand try them both Luk. 2. 4 The testimony of men oftentimes deceiueth my judgement is alwaies true it shall stand and not be ouerthrown It is commonly hidden and secret and not knowne in euery thing but to few notwithstanding it neuer erreth neither can it erre although to the eyes of the foolish it seemes not right Men ought therefore to returne to me in euery judgement and not to stand in their owne opinions For the just man will not be troubled whatsoeuer happeneth vnto him for God Pro. 12. and if any thing be wrongfully brought forth against him hee will not much care neither will he vainly be glad if by others hee be with reason excused For he considereth that I am he that searcheth the heart and reines do judge not according to the outward face nor humane apparence For that is oftentimes found culpable in my sight that in the judgement of men is commendable SER. 5 O Lord my God the just Iudge strong patient thou knowest the frailty and peruersity of man be thou my strength all my trust for mine owne conscience sufficeth me not Thou knowest that which I cannot reach vnto and therefore in euery reprehension I ought to haue submitted my selfe to haue borne it patiently vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I haue failed herein and giue me againe grace of greater sufferance For thy bountiful mercy is more auaileable to me for the obtaining of pardon then my conceiued justice for the defence of my hidden conscience Although my conscience accuse me not yet I cannot hereby justifie my selfe 1. Cor. 4. for if thy mercy be away no man liuing shall bee justified in thy sight Psal 142. CHAP. XLVII That all grieuous things are to be endured for life euerlasting OVR LORD SOn let not the paines dismay thee which thou hast vndertaken for me neither be thou discomforted for the tribulatiōs which do befal thee but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in all euents I am able to reward thee aboue all measure Thou shalt not long toile heere nor alwaies be oppressed with griefe Attend a while and thou shalt see a speedy end of thy euils There will come an houre when all labour and trouble shall cease Little and short is all that passeth away with time 2 Do as thou doest labour faithfully in my Vineyard I will be thy reward Write reade sing mourne obserue silence pray suffer crosses manfully Matth. 20. life euerlasting is worthy of all these and greater combates Peace shall come in the day which is known vnto our Lord and it shall not be day nor night to wit of this time but euerlasting light infinite brightnesse stedfast peace and secure rest Then thou shalt not say Who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death Rom. 7. nor crie Woe be vnto mee for that my dwelling in a strange Countrey is prolonged Psal 119. For death shall be throwne downe and health shall be without decay no anxietie blessed joy sweete and glorious company 3 O if thou hadst seene the euerlasting crownes of the Saints in heauen and with how great glory they now reioice who in times past were contemptible to this world esteemed vnworthy of life it selfe Sap. 3. and 5. truly thou wouldest presently humble thy self euen vnto the earth and wouldest rather seeke to be vnder the feete of al then to haue command so much as ouer one neither wouldest thou desire pleasant dayes of this life but rather reioyce to be afflicted for God and esteeme it thy greatest gaine to bee reputed as nothing amongst men 4 O if thou haddest a feeling of these things and didst suffer them to enter into the depth of thy hart how durst thou so much as once to complaine Are not all painfull labours to be endured for euerlasting life It is no small matter to leese or to gain the Kingdome of heauen Lift vp thine eyes therfore vnto heauen behold I and all my Saints with mee who in this world had great conflicts do now rejoyce now are comforted now are secure now do rest and shall remaine with mee euerlastingly in the kingdom of my Father CHAP. XLVIII Of the euerlasting day and shortnes of this life THE SERVANT O Most blessed mansion of the heauenly City O most cleare day of eternity which night obscureth not but the highest truth euer enlightneth day euer pleasant euer secure and neuer changing into contrary