the elect but who so in this wise sinneth not that is knowledgeth not himselfe to be a sinner or knowledging doth not as the Apostle bids Rom. 12.1 By the mercies of God thus present his bodie a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God the same hath no part in Christs intercession Now to conclude necessitie with the nature most conueniently Nasâ—imur in lachrymis lachrymis quoque vita madescit vitam rursus linquimus in lachrymis The Lord of nature and God the giuer yea and rewarder of religious teares hath himselfe ordained that we in teares should come and liue and depart this world Necessitie indeed doth greatly of it selfe commend the subiect The vsefulnes of teares yet profit and pleasure are the things whereby we are most perswaded The pleasure or delight of teares De hac adhuc si placet vide Aug. Confess l. 4. c. 5. I haue in fit place before declared as I could the healthfull and manifold vse thereof shall therfore now succeed For whether we respect our ghostly aduersaries Col. 2. euen those that make the hand-writing of Gods or dinances to be against vs in figure of the floud of Egypt Exod. 14. they are ouerwhelmed Amos 9.5 For thus the Lord in Esay speakes Esa 44.22 I haue blotted out as a thicke cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sinnes Or if we regard our frieÌ„ds or brethren in distresse S. Basil con tra calumniaÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affert solatiuÌ„ lugentibus suspiriorum societas Fellows in tribulation are the afflicteds coÌ„solatioÌ„ This doth the purpose of Iobs friends shew how euer the effect answered not Iob 2 11. For they had made an appointment together to come to mourne with him and to comfort him that is to mourne with him that by others partaking the burden of his griefe his shoulders might be a little eased thereof Next adde we the vse thereof in respect of vs. For first they are auailable for inward consolation insomuch as Ioy fitly cometh after sorow S. Bernard in Cam. serm 68 like as after labour rest the hauen after uracke by sea securenesse is acceptable vnto all but most to him that hath liued in feare to all the light is pleasant but more delightfull to him that is come out of darknesse to haue passed from death to life doubles the benefite thereof Finally as more moderately so more healthfully ioyfully after teares we dilate the spleene with diuinely applauded laughter whereof it is written When the Lord turned againe the captiuitie of Sion Psal 126.1.2 we were like them that dreame then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Another profit we haue by them is for testimonie yet to God I meane not to men for whose testimonie good men are not much solicitous For Teares as speakes that pathetick Doctor are witnesses of the spouse her loue S. Bernardon Caena Dem. ser 9. to whom her beloueds absence is a floud of teares while as she seekes but findes him not Cant. 5.6 she calls but he giues no answer nothing she delights to do but weepe And for this purpose Whatsoeuer is mournfull into her soule she heapes together Finally the allowance of this witnesse is testified by that differeÌ„ce put by the Lord himselfe Luk. 7. betwixt the Pharisees banquet and the distressed sinners teares Moreouer no lesse the flouds of teares lift vp the soule from the gulfes of worldly lusts Gen. 7.17 then the deluge of waters the Churches Arke For Hanna the religious mother of holy Samuel after weeping triumphantly being exalted makes her boast in God saying 1. Sam 2.1 My heart reioyceth in the Lord mine horne is exalted in the Lord. In whom also as easily though in figure may be seene that plentie of fruites follow the showers of teares for she before barren hath borne now seuen 1. Sam. 2 5. And yet this while in letter we heare but one vnlesse that one because of worth be equalled vnto seuen as by the heathen one Plato to a thousand Hereby that Theoreme of nature appeares also to hold in grace Aristot hist. animal 7. That the raine from heauen is more fruitfull then those that froÌ„ the lower wels are deuided vnto the lands that is The Churches teares are more abundant in good workes then all inferiour ordinances and motiues of earthly commonwealths After these is still our benefit but in respect of God a most conuenient way of seeking him For this by the Prophet himselfe doth promise shewing the Israelites of God Gal. 6. and Iewes in spirit Rom. 2. their accesse in the time of grace In those dayes Ier. 50.4 and at that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Iudah together going and weeping they shall go and seeke the Lord their God But what were it to seek if we should not find The next is therefore that by weeping in constant seeking Christ with his Angels is seene himself which by another example that serious penitent Marie Magdalen after all other both men and women persisting in seeking him whoÌ„ she found not where she saw him layed as the holy Euangelist Saint Iohn records in these words Then the Disciples went againe vnto their owne home Ioh. 10.10.11 but Marie namely she that first visited the sepulcher in the morning Ioh. 20.1 and after returned with the Apostles stood without at the sepulcher weeping and as she wept she stouped downe and looked into the sepulcher and seeth two Angels in white sitting the one at the head the other at the feete where Iesus had layen And after a little she turned her selfe backe and saw Iesus standing When her soule in mourning was no lesse then her body bowed downe vnto the dust Psal 44. then sees she him standing that is the conquerer of death whoÌ„ lately euen dead she had beheld laid in dust The last profit of mourning and if it be lawfull so to speake the first is Gods namely by deliuery of the distressed out of trouble for boldly yet not vntruly faith that Father once and often already named S. Bern. in Cant. serm 68. Thinke you our God shall haue his entire and glorious praise vntill they come who shall in presence of the Angels sing Psal 90.15 Make vs glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted vs and the yeares wherein we haue seene euill from whose praise if they be wanting who may say Psal 66.12 We went thorough fire and thorough water but thou broughtest vs into a wealthy place I will adde if they be wanting Apoc. 7. from whose eyes he may wipe all teares the tokens of their former sorrowes in signe of changing mourning into perpetuall but most gracious mirth when Esays words shall be fulfilled of them long expected long since vttered by him in this wise Esay 35.10 The ransomed
ô man thou hast already attained the eleuenth houre of thy lifes day Ephrem de còpunctione with what diligence thou hadst neede to bestirre thy selfe that at last thou mayest be found to haue wrought one houre in thy masters vineyard consider now what necessitie doth vrge to steere thy barke by Gods direction for time of sayling is at an end tormes arise and tempests come the winter is at hand and occasion calls Hither ô sluggard shew what thou hast gained thy Lord by trading all thy life Alas what feare distracts the vnprepared at the time of death what dread the slothfull when body and soule must part to receiue first asunder some part of that they haue earned together what torment then takes hold of him who while time serued neglected the care of life O my soule what then will be thy thoughts when nothing thou shalt be able to speake and most strict precept without reuersing delaying or appeale shall bid thee to go out When vertues Worthies beholding the sweate of their labours and fastings and watchings shall leape for ioy because the soule goes to her long desired and expected rest and the body to quiet sleepe in hope of resurrection Then must needes feare affright the carelesse seeing no good but their many euills meeting them and when they shall behold the terrible officers which in the bodies they haue obeyed ready to receiue their soules out of them then shall they fall and rise no more After this will much auaile often remembrance of the dreadfull day of iudgement wherein the thoughts of all hearts shall be disclosed Rom. 2. and whatsoeuer is hid shall be reuealed which now most part we do conceale not onely from others but euen from God if it were possible and from our owne hearts For as in the moneth of Aprill Macharius hom 12. both wholsome roots and poysonable discouer themselues which in the winter were not seene so then the priuate prayers and almes and fasts of all the elect before God and his Angels shall be published to their praise and the secret villantes of all impenitent offenders shall as in the Prophet be set on the top of a rocke Ezeck 24.8 and 26.4 lest they should bloud or waterlike sinke into the ground For which purpose I shall not be vnwilling to relate what vppon the same occasion sometime a religious man vttered in his owne person For comming out a certaine morning at the gates of Edessa in Syria Ephrem Tom. 1. serm 1. de compunctione beholding as he looked vp that cristalline heauen like some resplendent looking glasse with all the starres most glorious shining on the earth musing-wise thus spoke How shall the Saints shine in the glory of their Father whose beauty is but figured by these but I said he destitute of all commending vertues and adorning graces presenting to my mind the horrible appearance of that awfull iudge with thousands of his Saints the splender of whom one alone is able to dazell all sinfull eyes in body and mind affrighted and vtterly amazed thus admonishd my selfe How shall I vniust transgressor appeare in that terrible time and dreadfull day how shall I stand before the tribunall of the mighty iudge I puffed vp and proud what place shall I finde amongst the righteous I haue liued a goate how can I on the right hand be placed with the sheepe how shall a fruitelesse tree abide amongst the Saints whose boughes their fruite sway downeward or when in the court of heauen the Saints shall knowledge and take acquintance each of other who shall vonchsafe to speake to me vile wretch who with them heere haue entertained no fellowship of sutable conuersation The martyrs shall present their wounds and torments and practitioners of religion the ensignes of their vertues what can I present but spirituall pride and shame and sinne Good were it that each of vs spent many our thoughts that wander we know not whither in this kind of questioning for sure the heart that herewith is exercised while it is so implyed shall neuer be hardened Punge oculū mētis vt prodeat lachryma compunctionis S. August ad fratres ser 11 Ioh. 11.33 with 35. if such thornes oftē prickedour eyes we should doubtlesse sometime bring forth teares Hereto adde hearty sighes and groanes of spirit which in our Lords example are teares forerunners most agreeable to Iob Dauids practise who weeping most frequently witnesse of themselues the one Iob 3.24 My sighing commeth before I eate and the other Psal 102.5 By reason of the voyce of my groaning my bones cleane to my skinne And experience teacheth that teares by these are stirred euen as the waues of the sea by winds Dauids Psalmes also and such other dittyes with conuenient modulation S. Chrysost de dispensatione rerū c. are able to digge vp wells of such pleasant waters for no outward thing more powerfully moues the affection then harmonye because as the learned say man in all his parts is formed by exact proportion both heathen Histories of Hellene and Alexander and many other do witnesse the power of moods affecting and inclining the mind according to their temper And the Scripture often exemplifyes it for singing men and singing women prouoke the people to lamentation ouer King losias most renowned for religion 2. Chr. 35.25 And Elisha will be stirred vp to prophecye by a minstrill 2. Kin. 3.15 So Saint Athanasius Conses l. 10. c. 33. l. 9. c. 67. Basil Aug. Chrysost alij in Psalmum 1. in proamijs psal morum and especially Saint Augustine witnesse in their owne example and the learned Fathers haue obserued The whole body of diuinity is therefore by the Spirit of God written in verse Here is not to be omitted the reading of the Scriptures For if as the Lord speaketh Ier. 23.17.29 his word he a hammer that breaketh the rocke in peeces Then doubtlesse the waters shall gush out as by the rod of Moses Exo. 17.6 and as a fire so much more effectually it shall distill them as the power of God excels all chymicall art of man so onely reading be with attention Finally meditation of the workes of God especially of his mercyes that endure for euer 2. Chro. 5.13 which makes oftentimes the Saints with great admiration to exclame Iob 7.17.18 Psal 8 4. Psal 144.3 what is man that thou art mindfull of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him Comparing his glory and grace and goodnesse with their own vile estate and vnthankfulnesse this is it that which Dauid sings Psal 92.4 Thou Lord hast made me glad thorough thy worke I will triumph in the workes of thy hands For right vse of all these very helpfull is Iohn Chrysostomes aduice De compunctione l. 1. paulò ab initio To draw backe and keepe backe from outward things euen the outward senses as
measure Like may this be to that that Iob b Iob 3.24 affirmes My sighing cometh before I eate and againe c Iob 23.12 I haue laid vp the words of his mouth before my necessarie food so Hanna d 1. Sam. 1.7 the mother of that sonne of vowes she wept and did not eate that is weeping to her was in stead of eating For that other meate the Saints especially in times of trouble they loath I ate saith one c Dan. 10.3 no pleasant bread neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth neither did I annoint my selfe at all till three whole weekes were fulfilled And of another f 2. Sam. 12.17 vpon lesse occasion it is said that he did eate no bread AmplificatioÌ„ For spirituall graces are their cates and iunckets and most desired meates which when they faile with this though courser bread they do more freely fill themselues And yet besides Bread strengtheneth the heart of man g Psal 104.15 So do saith one h S. Ambr. Mat. 5.5 the promises that are made to teares For those that are patient in tribulation according to Saint Paul i Rom. 12.12 Reioyce in hope so much the more as they are more clearly called thereunto by example of his preceeding teares and succeeding ioyes of whom it is written k Heb. 5.7 Who in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was heard in that he feared Application Saint Bernard hath obserued seauen sorts of bread whereon they of the Kings house do feed Domiâ—ica 6. Pentecostes 1. serm in fine One is of hearing the words of God another is of obedience or doing the workes of God athird is Meditation on them both a fourth is Repentance in case of negligence in either of those or both The fifth is of sociable vnanimity A sixt the holy Eucharist the formers pledge and seale of the couenant betwixt our Lord and his elect The last is this we are yet a kneading of praying teares or weeping prayers The condition of which is such not that he who feeds on one or more should therefore loath the rest but contrariwise the eating of any one or some whets the stomacke for the rest whereby we gather how few are satisfied with this how many perish in spirituall famine vnawares Who is he that will giue to me this bread to eate whom if I haue it in these dayes shall I call to such repast which of them that daily feast will vouchsafe to be my guest But to vse our bread in a larger that is the Scriptures sence for all manner of victuals the most filling theÌ„selues with sundry sorts of leauened cakes poore wretches wretchedly refuse these bitter hearbes m Exo. 12.8 which neuerthelesse as cates were to be ioyned with the vnleauened bread of a sincere and Christian conuersation if so be we desired without hypocrisie to be partakers of our Lords feast But this diet what vse it hath for health or strength the world knoweth not therefore neither doth desire it Who bewailes the want of an vnknowne good n Gregor Niss de Beatitudinibus Eccles 1. Cast a blind-borne and one accustomed to the light together into the darknesse of a dungeon the ones experience makes him to lament the other without losse laughs in ignorance so right so here it is The country swaine will disdaine to stoope to ground for that which is precious in his Lords esteeme bruit beasts deuoyd of reason and therefore vncapable of miserie bred by nature to exhale their breath in pleasure of their senses soone as they see the ayre the originall of their life expresse each of them some kind of wantonnesse the horse pranceth the oxe casts dust into the ayre the sowe delighteth in digging turfes out of the earth the whelpes do play the calues leap and briefly all the rest each one by a certain signe shewes that his mindlesse nature propends to pleasure but man that 's borne to knowledge beginnes to weepe before he hath leaue to eate that he may so learne that which was the first should be the frequentsts action of his life so mirth is theirs and mourning ours Now of those beasts very few and seldome times in seeming sorrow are seene a straying from their kind and if any yet those for men as we haue heard of horses and dogges that with their teares haue celebrated their maisters funerals but of men how many to brutish lusts haue quite giuen euer themselues ignorant or vnmindfull of their owne condition or their end for where is the end of their pleasant springs but in saltnesse of the seas for the riuers haue sweet waters and the sea bitter as pleasure also ends in loathsomenesse and to say with Salomon o Pro. 14.13 The end of mirth is heauinesse Howeuer p Richard de sancto Victo de statu intericâ—is homini cap. 10. vncessantly the appetite comes and goes increaseth and decreaseth and riuerlike followes the trace of her inclination vntill her desire be satisfied and in her crooked courses following each first declining path of pleasure passeth as by a certaine race from place to place after steepe downe fall into the vallyes scarce euer reasceÌ„ds vnto the lofty mountaines which neither the water can nor appetite is wont yet still it runnes and ouer-runnes and againe returnes vnto the first whence the Preacher saith g Eccl. 2.7 Vnto the place from whence the riuers come thither they returne againe For from fleshly appetite so many flouds proceed so many and so endlesse lusts arise The place froÌ„ whence these streames gush out is the well of naturall necessitie in which they end the ditch of vnnaturall satietie the way by which they passe is the quagmire of voluptuousnesse by which it returnes and runnes amaine the parching path of concupiscence And as all decursion of waters is by visible channels on this furface of the earth but returnes by vnderground and inuisible so lust by visible action and satisfying the desire eft soone is expelled but by secret operatioÌ„ of the vegetable faculty reflects so repaires her restlesse motion How miserable I pray and how lamentable euer to whirle about neuer to get out this eddie now sinking then fleeting but neuer intermitting how to be desired rather to be detested are those oblectations of our desires which both are gendred of defect and turned into loathing Wherefore as we can let vs gainestand and rid vs as we are able be we not so carried of the sweete streames as to end our voyage in the saltest waues Here rather let vs admixe yea preferre some bitternesse admixe because when God bestowed all good without any composition of euill to be vsed and forbad to taste of the bitter fruite yet we ingorged our selues with euill strict iustice required that euill alone our portion after should haue bene yet hath
Dauid at that time almost stoned as the cause thereof at another time constrained to leaue Ierusalem for a season yet with hope of safe returne couering his head vncouering his feete though guarded with an armie of valiant men b 2. Sam. 15.30 Weeping as he went vp by the ascent of the mount of Oliues 2. Sam. 15.30 And grieue that I neuer enough reproue mine own stupiditie and sloth and dulnesse O let vs all set before our selues as one of the Ancients c S. Ambros well aduiseth that Adam thrust out the garden d Gen. 2.23.24 kept out by Cherubim and edge of flaming sword which turneth euery way to keepe the tree of life Obserue our wretched father with Eue the mother of her husbands miserie sent out looking backe desiring but not daring to returne somewhile comming trembling wise soone by the lookes of the awfull Angell terrified departing then accusing his wife imputing to her alone the losse of all the plenty pleasure and ease of Paradise her in silence that had abused her tongue with teares and sorrow alone her selfe condemning and him againe looking home reflecting rebukes vpon himselfe at lenght but late acknowledging his follie in too much facilitie to a woman Finally both at length farre remoued that now they may not breathe into that ayre wherein erewhile they had all hearts desire yet in sight confined within some territorie frō whence they may as from afarre looking be moued to thinke what land what Lord what libertie what honours what friends and riches by their owne vnrighteousnes they had lost And this esteeme in present to be the case of each of vs. Thus farre now of the good things lost yet not of the euill ensued of the gifts whereof we are despoiled not of our punishments inflicted Which if I could as easily as I may truly and wofully expresse a day would not suffice briefly to relate them In the soule for knowledge hath ignorance taken place for wisedome follie for righteousnesse iniquitie impiety for holinesse And in the bodie for foundnesse rottennesse for health sicknesse for strength feeblenesse for swiftnesse stifnesse a liuing death for constant life a death beginning at our entry into the world passing along amidst the manifold changes of our few and euill dayes e Gen. 47. perfected at length when we go off the stage but neuer ended except to them that are in Christ So that we are at first loathsome seed in the middle brittle clay at last wormes meate Cherish the flash neuer so much flesh it is and if you consider diligently what issues by the mouth and nose and other passages of the bodie you will confesse as a deuout f S. Bern. me ditati cap. 3. man said A viler dunghill you neuer saw If you could relate in order all its miseries how with sinnes it is laded wrapt in vices itching with concupiscence possessed of passions polluted with illusions euer prone to euill inclined to all naughtinesse you should discerne it full of confusion and all shamefulnesse What is more worthy of teares if you consider the best condition of these present things and if you will foresee what after The grape g S Bern. ser san Cant. once pressed affords no further liquor but with perpetuall drinesse as salt vnsaunrie after is condemned Like so the flesh by deaths presse for euer is dried from all delight neither euer againe recouers strength or stomacke for former wantonnesse Heretruly me thinkes I may assume the Prophets words The precious sonnes of Sion comparable to fine gold Lam. 4.2 how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers the worke of the hands of the potter And a little after V. 7. Her Nazarites were purer then snow they were whiter then milke they were more ruddy in body then rubies their polishing was of saphir but ô what change their eir visage is blacker then a cole V. 8. they are not knowne in the streets their skinne cleaueth to their bones it is withered it is become like a sticke As for the Princes fauour which once we had now to the tyranny of hellish fiends our kind is subiect Can the mind of man with patience behold the seed of Adam miserably serue their lusts Ægyptian bondage is a shaddow compared with this for they in bricke and stone in clay chaffe and stubble but those materiall but earthly and therefore either measurable and so tollerable or as that Stoike l Seneca in Epistolus in libro Qua re bonis viris mala eueni ant said extreame and so in short cutting the thred of life ending paine and doing disgrace away yet God so soone as his people came into the promised land commanded they should be circumcised doing the shame away that still remained saying m Iosh 5.9 This day haue I rolled away the reproach of Æygpt from off you wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal rolling vnto this day Whereby may be coniectured what shame from Satan they haue got who are taken captiue by him at his will n 2. Tim. 2.26 Doth any of you with vnwatered cheekes behold his sonne or brother nephewe or neere friend caught out of your company fettered with chaines bound to the gallies wanting bread cruelly beaten by Turkish vngodlinesse detained abused But if we could looke about vs and behold much more basely slauishly cruelly our brethren at the pleasure of vncleane spirits now as it were with cudgels beaten driuen vp the dangerous hill of pride anon compelled ouer steepe rockes to cast themselues vpon sharpe pikes of many offences sometime them of high descent filling and emptying swine troughes with the prodigall in drunkennesse and gluttonie Others with Sampson in stead of horse or asses grinding in the mill of the fleshes vncleanenesse which all and thousands such slauish conditions this present age affords in filling of mens lusts then should we sure acknowledge necessity of teares What is here not base laborious bitter shamefull and lamentable yet these things daily without teares I wish without laughter without puffing vp 1. Cor. 5. as at the incestuous Corinthian without reioycing in such things of nought we daily see Amo. 6.30 certainely if nothing else yet this it selfe to extort some teares from the eyes of a reasonable minde were all-sufficient I will not here record what sorrowes are come in place of the ioyes of Paradise a cursed earth for the blessed garden thornes and brambles for the tree of life wearinesse for strength to labour poison in steed of foode rebellion of beasts against the obedience of all the creatures I will omit banishment in place of dwelling for plenty scarcity and torments present to come which already partly on other occasions we haue touched and partly shall in better season speake after on better occasion At this time this onely will I say nature hath excellently instructed vs necessity of weeping bringeth forth into the light all mankind with