GOOD THOUGHTS FOR EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH Translated out of French By M rs D. S. LONDON Printed for Thomas Dring at the George in Fleet-street neer Cliffords Inn 1656. DIRECTION for the READER THis short Collection includes the chief Heads of Christian life distributed into Weeks In the first the Motives that we have to go to God in the second and third the Vertues that lead us to him in the fourth the Exercise of those Vertues As for Method in using them I know that the two best and most certain Directours in prayer are the Holy Ghost and Practise That we cannot learn better how to pray then by praying That prayer is a good Method for it self Yet not to engage you without some direction let me advise you 1. To choose a convenient precise time the Morning before you enter into the trouble of businesse or at Night when your minde is at ease 2. In some retired place your spirit being setled and recollected First lift up your self by an act of faith to God who is present and attentive to the voice of your Heart My God I believe firmly that thou art here within my soul and that my soul is in thee c. Secondly adore him submisly humble your self to the utmost Lord I am but dust and ashes c. Thirdly ask pardon of him for any offence known or unknown that may render you unworthy to appear in his sight Lastly invoke the assistance and light of the Holy Spirit 3. Read the first thought of the day but stowly Though you should do nothing more then rest upon conceiving the truths therein yet will they work in you as it were without your help There is nothing in God that is not holy and sanctifying and his words are Spirit and Life Thoughts have the same operation upoÌ„ our Mind as a Seal upon Wax The Soul receives the impression even of simple notions if she stop there and concur with them But you shall do better if as soon as you have read the first thought you discourse a little to your self upon it and examine Is this true Is it reasonable Is it necessary Why How Did Jesus and the Saints practise it Doth God inspire me with it If I do it not What then c. This done proceed to the next thought and if your time be spent only reade the rest leasurely but above all pause upon the Conclusion and resolve on the performance of something conformable to your subject begging of God 〈◊〉 severance and Efficâ—â—â— 4. The little sentence at the end taken out of the Scripture or some Father is like a drop of Essence to be worn all that day it contains all the vertue of the good thoughts it concludes it is easie to cal to minde and to retain if you reflect often upon it it wil quicken and fortifie your light and instil it self into all occasions Thus we may with application and constancy raise our good thoughts to such a point of vigour that they may extirpate our ill or at least make them weak and ineffectual and exalt and magnifie them till they bring us to a pious immobility and some extraordinarie purity This S. August means Hom. 16. de 50. He cannot have ill deeds who hath good thoughts Good Thoughts FOR EVERY DAY of the MONETH The First Week The Frst Day of the Moneth Of the End of our Creation 1. WE are created for God God himself could create us for no other but himself and we should betray our selves if wee did not confesse this truth our heart tels it us and we cannot contradict it 2. It is fit that every one should have his own then let us be for God since we are his if not we bely our selves for if we are not his Children under the love of his Bounty we shall be his Slaves under the rigour of his Justice 3. As then Bread which is made to nourish the Sun to give light the fire to warm if they should refuse the office for which they were made would bee as if they were not or as Monsters in Nature because every thing must tend to that end for which it was made and cannot decline it without going to its own destruction So the Heart of Man which is only and essentially made for God if it stray from him or refuse to go to him belies its essence and becomes monstrous a scorn to the World and to all reason 4. Well then do I carry my self like a Creature that is for none but God Is my Heart and all my affections for him Ah how few things do I that I can say are truly and only doue for God! Ah how much time is lost how much reproach gotten in one day What do you do upon the Earth if you do not that for which you are there You must here renew your designe of seeking God onely and your resolution to rob him of nothing that appertaineth to him S. Aug. lib. 6. Confess cap. 6. Oh intricate wayes of the World Wo be to that audacious Soul which presumes to hope that by leaving Thee it may find any thing else which is better The II. Day Of Sin 1. O God what is it it to lose Thee To lose God an infinite good is it nothing Men that lose their goods by some accident as by Fire or by Law seeing themselves reduced to beggery are so troubled and afflicted therewith that they lose their sense and grow desperate Ah what then will a soul do that hath lost her God! 2. O Sin too familiar but unknown to Men in play and divertisement to make our selves the object of the infinite wrath of God! God so good an Ocean of goodness becometh to a sinner an infinite ill and cannot but hate him infinitely to hate â— little is to wish a little ill to a Man to hate to death is to wish death and there it ends but to hate to infinity O God what do we fear if wee do not fear the dreadful hate of God! 3. See the horror of Sin in the sufferings of JESUS What a spectacle is there Yet the state of a Soul in sin is much more horrible then that of a God dying on a Crosse since that JESUS died to destroy sin that he might no longer behold that which afflicts him more then Death But alas can I believe that God will spare mee who delivered his Son over to such horrid pains After this you must make an act of Contrition as well as you can upon al the sins of yhour life past We ought not to grieve for any thing else for nothing else can Grief remedy Jerem. 2.19 Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in Thee saith the Lord of Hosts The III. Day Of Death 1. HOw much must that soul apprehend Death which all its life time hath been an enemy to God! What regret for having for
thy Dog thy Iudge go to school to thy Dog he may be thy Master to instruct thy reason and inform thy heart 4. Finally there is not one hour nor one moment in which wee are not indebted to Iesus Christ for an eternity of good or for preserving us from falling and losing it and for giving us grace to obtain it were not hee worse then a bruit beast that would not esteem these things thank and love him Examine seriously if in your heart there is a true love to Iesus and what assurances you have of it If there is none what are you How hard S. Aug. Ep. 52. Of that Wisdom which alone is true what I have I have from God c. Not incredulous of that which he hath not given nor unthankful for that which he hath given The XII Day Of Conformity to the wil of God 1. THat which GOD wills or permits is willed permitted done out of a most particular designe of his glory and with resentments of infinite goodness towards us I beleeve this O my God most firmly And how can it bee otherwise that thou shouldst bee as thou art our most dear Father if thou didst use us otherwise 2. All things should be alike to us in God why should not wee loye even his Iudgements which are good and amiable why should we separate our selves from them by bitter thoughts which make us afraid and to them are injurious Let us put our selves on his side and his judgements will please us our disquiet comes from this that we will that God be and our selves also there must be but one God and wee in him To will this and will that as if it were ours and our business is to make something of our selvs besides God that will must perish there must bee none but that of God 3. I will then onely what God wils I have nothing to say or except against any thing in the world all is to my liking see am I more wise more clear of sight and better then God who governs all I am on his side I will never say O unhappy time it is too hot it is too cold all things praise God why should I find fault What is it to me My little Bark is not so difficult to steer and if it were God could well manage it she wil get to the Haven in spight of the tempest to conclude what ever happens though hee should take the sword to kill me I know his hand is guided by his heart and that heart loves me ought I not therefore to live content Put your self in the posture that is requisite to conform your self to the wil of God But give it not over til you finde your heart turned straight and even towards him and in quiet S. Aug. in Psal 122. He onely securely pleaseth who pleaseth God and who is it that pleaseth God He that is pleased with God The XIII Day Of Imitation of Christ. 1. NO Man that is predestinated but ought to wear the Livery of Iesus Christ and above all his Humility and Cross Our eternal Father hath set him before us as a Pattern Though I should have all other perfections that can be imagined if I have not this I cannot please him this is a necessity undispensable He that is not for him is against him 2. But what a misery is it and how deplorable that so many souls study the fashions of the world to conform themselves to them and so few cast their eyes upon the incomparable Model of al vertues Iesus Christ We should be Images of him Ah the Image if it were capable of sence would it not bee ashamed not to be like its Prototype 3. What wrong do we do the Son of God to his Wisdom as if he could not choose the best life to his Goodness as if he should counsel us to that which is the worst to his Power as if he had commanded us without fortifying our weakness what a reproach is it to have Iesus go before us and hardly one follow him 4. O what shal I say at the day of judgement when I shall come to bee conferred with my Law and my Pattern Iesus When my life shall be compared with his his Humility with my Pride his Wounds with my Delicacy his Sweetnesse with my Anger c. Ah what a Monster a Christian without Christianity the Slave of the Devil under the Character of the Cross Wel I must choose one of these to bee my rule either my own sancie or Iesus wee cannot live with both and we cannot live without both what choice shal we make See if there appear in you any resemblance of the Son of God if hee that looks on you would take you for a Disciple of Jesus Christ The same way that the Head hath gone the other parts of the Body must follow If the Head go in at the Gate the Arm goes not in at the Window Iohn 12.26 If any Man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be The XIV Day Of Love to our Neighbour 1. Who loves not his Neighbour cannot say truly that he loves God if we do all and not love our Brethren wee do nothing all the devotions in the World without that are but deceit 2. This is my commandment said Iesus our most amiable Saviour that you love one another as I have loved you Though there were nothing to be loved in all persons in the world but the cordial desire thou hast that I should love thē O Iesus I would love them with al my heart But besides this they are all thy Children all proceeding from thy bosom I were very nice if I did not love that which thou cherishest shest more then thy self or life 3. Do I love my Neighbours truly without exception of any as Iesus loves us that is to say to be ready to give my life for them and my own goods c. This devotion is very rare this is that which is proper to Iesus and his Gospel Endeavour to possesse your soul with such affections as Jesus Christ hath for all souls to love them with tendernesse and not to have an indifference for any S. Aug. Serm. 42. de Temp. If thou love all mankind as thy self there wil remain no gate for Sin to enter into thee The third Week The XV. Day Of Love towards Enemies 1. GOD did so love the world though it was his mortal Enemy that he gave his only Son in testimony of his Love even to the terrible death of the cross What a prodigious love was this do I truly believe it 2. Upon this JESUS commanded me that for love of him I should love my Enemies to this example command what can I answer 3. As I forgive God will forgive me not otherwise I must then either hate my self or pardon others thus I am obliged by all Motives that can be imagined to wish well to my
Enemies after all these reasons and allurements can our Enemies be so odious in our sight Shall wee renounce God our selves and all or shall we love them 4. Two Christians Enemies seem as if they were not of the same flock nor of the same Religion for what means is there to unite under the obedience of one Law two souls that are rent asunder And to joyn together in one belief at the same altar two hearts whose approach to one another is mortal their sight killing their remembrance execrable we are not allowed to hate any but the Devils and the damned who hate one another Examine well if you have no bitterness towards any never suffer that cursed passion to take root in you There is no greater signe of reprobation then not to forgive a soul that hath this mark is marked for Hell S. Aug. c. 74. Enchirid If you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Mat. 6. He whom this great thunder awakes not is not asleepâ— but dead The XVI Day Of Example 1. IL example hath damned an infinite number of Soules If we could search hel we should hardly finde any but say such a Man or such a Woman hath damned mee what an account wee are commanded to love our Enemies why then should we massacre souls that do us no hurt 2. They who have destroyed any had best look to their consciences we scarce ever see such come to a happy end what can we hope of Jesus Christ having ravished from his hands and his heart that which cost him so dear 3. O. Fathers and Mothers it were better that your Children had been stifled or that they had never been then to have had you for Parents and for Masters who instead of life have given them death eternal death by your example when they shall accuse you of their loss of Paradise at the day of Judgement what will you answer 4. Let us put on Jesus Christ saith S. Paul that we may be known by his Livery so as all that see us may remember him at present Jesus is dishonoured and as it were despizable in the impurity of his Images he is disfigured in his Members Christians show themselves no longer Christians to see them one would take them to be clean contrary to what they are O my God pardon mee the sins of others which I have been cause of and grant that henceforth none of my actions may contribute to the damnation of any Consider whether you do any thing the sight whereof may make an ill impression upon others Are not our own sins enough Let us not make our selves guilty of the sins of others Salvian lib. 4. de Provid He who by sinning causeth others to blaspheme is guilty of a crime above humane limits The XVII Day Of distrusting our selves 1. THE greatest Saints that defied Tyrants and persecutions have trembled onely at the thought of the estate of their heart before God whereof they saw not any thing They have been heard to sigh and sob at the hour of death in expectation of the dreadfull sentence of Gods justice upon the estate of their conscience not knowing what they were not what should become of them And I alas c. 2. But our frailty is much more extream then our ignorance there is no creature be it never so little that cannot encamp before our heart assail it make a breach in it and take it One sigh one tear one penny c. Man of himself without staying to be summoned or assaulted is very ready to run to his ruine becomes all eyes to deceive himself all hands to enslave himself is betrayed by those very actions which he doth to secure himself what is Man but a Man Lock up a Glass in a Trunk it will be there a thousand yeers without breaking but shut up a Man as long as you please you shall never hinder him from falling losing himself see if you have studied as much as is necessary to know you are your own Enemy 3. To adde to our weakness our selves raise engines against our selves all our sences and passions are continually employed in secret conspiracies And they whom persecutions and temptations could not overthrow have found in themselves an enemy that hath destroyed them So that we are more prevalent against our selves then Tyrants and Devils and we should in some sort fear our selves more then we fear God we should be more afraid of our own weaknesse then of the infinite power of God The Angels fell Adam sinned Judas betrayed and S. Peter renounced his Master Hostus fell into Sensuality Tertullian into Heresie Origen into Idolatry O be alwayes in fear of your self Here you must make provision against dangerous occasions Micah 6. 14. Thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee The XVIII Day Of care of our salvation 1. O What great fools were the Caesars the Pompeys the Alexanders the Princes the great ones of the world that destroyed so many lives spilt so much blood and those at present who spare none leave nothing unexecuted to acquire a little vain honour c. And have neither the wit nor courage to save themselves What doth it profit a Man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul 2. All Creatures â—re made to further our salvation So that as many drops as there are in the Sea c. as many crumbs of bread as I eat are so many obligations to my salvation all this being made for the good of my soul And from the very moment that a Man ceaseth to work for his salvation the Sun should bee eclipsed the Heavens should give over their motion c. All Creatures cease to be profitable to the World for us when wee make them unprofitable to this end 3. And for the most part we aim at nothing lesse wee will do all and do all very well and save all but our own souls this ground must be ploughed this money put out to interest we would have al thrive and do well and wee complain of all losses but this we find by our account great expences laid out upon our bodies and the world so much for a garment so much for a Feast and nothing for our salvation and if our soul were not ours as if it were the soul of one of our mortal enemies so ill we use it or rather as if it were the soul of some beast which hath onely sence and appetite not pretending to any thing further Nay some there are who are afraid one would imagine of being saved so unwilling they are to think of it to be touched by God to endeavour it what bruitishness 4. We must make accompt but of two things in the world to love God and our own salvation and who doth not is as mad as unhappy If I had two souls said Benedict the fourth I would give one for Philip a King who asked something of him against his conscience
fifty years of life which is now past away as nothing lost Eternity 2. If I stay so long can I be assured to bee delivered from the insinite evils that overwhelm a soul which appears before God without repentance 3. What then would I wish I had done O God the great folly of neglecting so long and providing so late for a businesse of the greatest importance in the world we dye as late as wee can but wee should rather think how to die well then how to shun Death 4. How shall I value then those things which now I love and esteem the mostin the world Let us at present advise with death he is faithful he will not deceive us What will become of this flesh this money this pleasure this honour How do we judg what do wee think at our death the living Man boasts the dying Man cries In life one esteems the world in death one despises it who saith truest which shall we believe life or death Whom shal we trust this living man or that dying O the Tapers at our death enlighten all unmask al but the misfortune is that it comes too late we have not time to undeceive our selvs Think what it is that you should fear most if you were to dye presently and take order about it from that moment without deferring it but above al things frequent the Sacrament and in it practise how to dye Tertul. l. de exhort cast c. 12. A Christian bath no morrow The IV. Day Of the last Judgment 1. OMy soveraign Judge I must then one day shew my self before thy Tribunal to receive according to the good or evil done in this life I beleeve this truth more firmly then if the Trumpet had already sounded for the general raising of the dead 2. What shal we say at the view of so many ill thoughts of so many evil words of so many years lost of so many graces neglected there where every thing shall be accounted for every moment of time even to the least sight and nothing abated 3. If wee did not know the judgement that shall bee in the other life upon al men wee might bee excusable who doth not know it Let us therefore govern our selves after the judgement of God and not after that of Man For if our present judgement agree not with that our judg what a trial must wee expect what a dreadful sentence Go ye cursed depart from me c. Alas whither Lord shall they go who depart from thee to what refuge to what Port shall they retire In what part of the world may we dwell far from God where can be that strange aboad Far from God cursed of God Alass Imagine that you were presented to God at the latter judgemnt of what would you have most fear touching your conscience Bethink your self S. Aug. Confess 9.13 Wo be to Men who lead a commendable and exemplary life if thou look upon it without mercy The V. Day Of Hell 1. IF we could hear by some vent lend an ear but a quarter of an hour to the groans and pitiful cries of the damned In that bottomless pit they confess their most secret sins they sigh they beat their breasts their fast is perpetual they do penance in flames but too late Penance in this World is hard but much more grievous in Hell 2. The wicked rich man curseth and complaineth that so many thousand years his fervent thirst cannot obtain one drop of water so small a matter so long a while and in so extream misery and in vain 3. They are tormen ted one with another and after judgement their bodies shall bee tumbled one upon another and thrown like coals into a furnace They shall transmit the heat one to another in such manner that by the common oppression every one shall burn in the flames of all 4. Tel me have you a breast-plate before your heart able to withstand Gods fury Tell me the secret that gives you this assurance we are most of us as it were returned from Hell which wee have merited at present where are we Make often this visit to the Damned see them speak to them and learn by their misery to fear God and the danger wherein you are Luke 12.5 Fear him who after he had killed hath power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you Fear him The VI. Day Of the Eternity of Hell 1. TO have no company but that of Devils darkness rage dispair and in a word never to see God never to have one drop of pleasure or release what is this Do I beleeve it rightly How do they who suffer it apprehend it alass I cannot endure the flame of a Candle one minute at my singer what then will this be 2. O Eternity The time will come that a damned person after the succession of many ages shall have shed more tears though he should shed but one a day more tears I say then would make all the Rivers and Seas in the world and when he hath done so hee shall begin again a Hundred Thousand times and shed as many more not once onely but as many times as there are sands in the Sea and at the end of all this it shall bee accounted nothing the pricking of a thorn though never so little if it should last to eternity would be intolerable Alas then c. 3. Eternity alwayes before their eyes chargeth every one of their evils with al its weight they count all the coals which shall burn them all the fiery stripes which shall tear them al the remorses of conscience which shall gnaw them c. Of all our tears say they might be made an Ocean in comparison of which all the Oceans in the world would be but a drop Of all our flames a Furnace c. Of all our poysons enough to destroy an infinity of lives An Eternity to burn an Eternity to weep an Eternity to howl an Eternity to rage and rage and rage and never never to behold the face of God See if you are in the condition of those who damn themselves and leap smiling into the midst of the flames if you have no fear you are very insensible if you have any yet provide not effectually against the future you are a great Fool. To perish once is to perish ever The VII Day Of Paradise 1. I Hope by the grace of GOD that a I shal see one day for ever him whom whom my heart loves My Lord that hath so tenderly loved me Ah we have but few dayes more of Exile and Pilgrimage and then we shall be eternally with Jesus 2. Paradise that great word the best of words the assembly of all good things to be wished for and that to Eternity O what is that What is the earth and all its weak allurements in comparison of such vast and solid delights 3. What matter is it that wee are here below so that we bee eternally with God Have I reason to