memory a continuation of Eternity For then God shall be All in All when from reason all errour from will all griefe from Memory all feare shall depart and that shall succeed which we hoped for wonderfull serenity divine pleasure eternall security This Treatise my Conscience instigating me I have compiled for the more ignorant in plaine Phrases out of the works of holy men in forme of a certaine Dialogue wherein the Devout soule a Disciple of the Eternall truth by Meditation asketh Questions and the Inner man mentally speaking answereth But that we may the better attaine to the inestimable Contemplation of this mental exercise First let us begin and humbly by Invocation approach unto the Father of lights Let Vs devoutly bow the knees of our heart before the Throne of the Eternall Majesty and with teares and groans before the Royall seate of the Judiciall Trinity let Vs incessantly pray that God the Father by his blessed Sonne would grant us the grace of mentall Exercise in the Holy Ghost that we may know what is the breadth and length and depth and height that by this we may attaine to that which is the end and complement of of all our desires AMEN The first Exercise How the Soul by mentall Exercise ought to reflect the Beams of Contemplation to those things that are within her that she may see 1. How she is formed by Nature 2. Deformed by Sin 3. Reformed by Grace CHAP. I. How the Soul is formed by Nature TEll me I pray thee after devout invocation of the divine magnificence and after an humble imploring of the Eternall wisdome and last of all after a meek supplication of the supernal piety and clemency if I might obtain the grace of mental exercise concerning the fourfold matter to wit longitude latitude sublimity and profundity tell me I pray thee O man in what order I should begin lest I should lose the worth of this Exercise if I should ignorantly proceed with an unbefitting course for according to S. Ambr. ignorance or want of Order perturbs the form of merits nor is it accounted according to the same Author that there is in us no perfect knowledge of the thing when we know what is to be done and are ignorant in what order to proceed Man O My Soul according to S. Bernard let thy consideration begin with thy selfe lest in vaine thou search into other things thy selfe being neglected Idem Many men knew many things and know not themselves they look into others and forsake themselves seeking God by those things that are externall leaving their internall in whom God is interior Wherefore I will return from the externall to the internal and from the internall I will ascend to the supernall that I may know from whence I came or whither I go from whence I am or what I am and so by the knowledge of my selfe I may ascend to the knowledge of God In like manner S. Chrysostom upon S. Mathew saith That the knowledge of a mans self is not the least part of Philosophy * Item Ambrosius in Hexameron Know thy self O man what thou art look that thou consider what enters into thee in thy thought what passeth from thee in thy discourse Examine thy life therefore O my Soul by a daily discussion consider diligently how much thou profitest how much thou art deficient what thou art in manners what thou art in affection how like or dislike how near or far off thou art to God Ever acknowledge this that it is much more commendable and better for thee if thou knowest thy self then if thy self being neglected thou knowest the course of the Stars the vertues of Hearbs the complexions of Men the natures of living creatures hadst the knowledge of all heavenly earthly things Render therfore thy selfe to thy selfe and if not alwaies yet at least sometimes Govern thy affections direct thy actions correct thy waies Therefore O my Soul keep the Councels of holy men and first of all convert the raies of contemplation to the East region that is to say to the consideration of thy own condition Diligently therefore consider how nobly thou art made of God by nature how vitiously by thy own will thou art deformed through sin how gratiously by the divine goodness thou art often reformed by Grace First therfore consider how nobly thou art formed by nature Thy naturall nobility as I conceive consists in this because that there is imprinted in thee naturally to beautifie thee the image of the most blessed Trinity whereupon S. Anselm in his Prosologie saith I confess O Lord and give thee thanks because thou hast created me according to thy own image that I might be mindfull of thee think of thee and love thee S. Bernard According to the interior man three things I find in me by which I call to mind behold and desire God These three are Memory Understanding and Will For when I am mindfull of God in him also I am delighted for the memory of him is upon one when with my understanding I behold him how much in himselfe he is incomprehensible because he is the beginning and end of all things In Angels desirable because they desire to behold him In all his Saints delectable forasmuch as continually they being happy do rejoice in him In all his Creatures admirable because he powerfully createth wisely governeth bountifully dispenseth all things When I look into these things him also I desire When I love God by my will I transform my selfe into him For this is the power or vertue of love that it maketh thee to be like unto that which thou lovest These S. Bernard Re-acknowledge therefore O my soule how wonderfull and inestimable a dignity it is not only to be a mark of the Creator which is common to all creatures but to be the very Image of him which is only proper to a reasonable creature Praise therfore O my soule our Lord praise thy God O Sion Awake and praise rejoice and be glad because thou art adorned with the image of God made comely with his similitude partaker or reason capable of eternall happiness But because these things perhaps not unworthily may be judged meane if they should end with death exult and praise because beside the aforesaid he hath bestowed on thee an immortall nature an incorruptible substance an interminable durance a perpetual life For thou shouldst not be the Image of the eternall Trinity if thou couldst be shut up within the bounds of death S. Aug. of the city of God O my soule consider that thy Creator after this being hath geven thee a perpetuall being after this he hath given thee power to live to perceive to discern he hath adorned thee with senses he hath enlightened thee with wisdom Attend therefore thy comliness that thou maist understand what beautie thou oughtest to love in thy selfe which if thou be not sufficient to contemplate thy selfe as it befits thee why then at least dost thou not
thou condemnest me in the time of judgment True it is These St. Anselme in his meditations that my Conscience hath deserved damnation my repentance sufficeth not for satisfaction yet certain it is that thy mercy is above every offence Do not O Lord St Aug. in his meditations so look into my evil that thou mayst forget thy owne goodness O good Lord if I have committed that wherby thou mayst condemn me thou hast not lost that wherwith thou mayst save me St. Gregory in Hom. O if man could but understand how admirable that is Behold the Spouse cometh How pletsant Those that were prepared entred with him to the marriage How bitter And the Gate was shut O my Soule what is more Consider how great an evil it is to be separated from the face of Christ to be excluded from that joy of divine Contemplation to be deprived of the most blessed Society of all the Saints to dye an everlasting life and to live an eternall death to be plunged in the bottom of a restless Gulph for ever to be torne in peeces with consuming worms and yet the torments not to end to suffer the noise of raging flames to be blinded with the bitter myst of the sulphurous smoaking Pit not to perceive that which enlightneth but to perceive that which tormenteth St. Aug. Such shall be the power of grief in the infernal deep that it admitteth no other intention of thought within it self SOVLE NOw I tremble with fear now I faint with the horrour therof Tell me I pray thee O man to what purpose is so lamentable a Meditation MAN O My Soul I think that the continuall and devout meditation of the prescribed is the sinners medicine and wholsom encourager and provoker to do all good things and to sustain all evil Thou fearest watching and the labour of thy hands St. Bern. inquadam Epistola but these are but easie to any one meditating on perpetuall flames The remembrance of that darkness maketh a man not to abhor Solitude yet if thou leasurely thinkest on a future discussion of thy words silence shall not displease thee that weeping and gnashing of teeth being often brought before the eyes of thy understanding do render unto thee equall rest and peace St. Aug. inquodam sermone A mans understanding being overcome with the inticements and concupiscences of this world flyeth all labour desireth pleasures can scarce be brought to this that hee can refrain the customes of his former life But when hee shall begin to think on the necessity of future judgment he induceth a voluntary war on his passions moved either by hope of reward or for fear of punishment hee doth violence to his former desires and earnestly contendeth to overcome himselfe Whence cometh these Verses O foelix mortale Genus si semper haberet Aeternum prae mente bonum finemque timeret Right happy is that man that ever hath The eternall good in 's mind and fears his death The fourth Exercise How the Soul by mentall Exercise ought to convert the light of Contemplation to those things that are above her that shee may know and understand 1. The inestimable value of Celestiall Joy 2. The unspeakable Delight and 3. The interminable Eternity CHAP. I. Of the Inestimable value of Celestiall Joy SOVLE EVen now O man thou hast sufficiently affrighted me miserable soule being prostrated in this vale of teares although thou hast taught me not unprofitably have mercy also now on mee most miserable and do what thou long since hast promised Speak a little of the perpetuall felicity if happily I may be able to receive thereby some comfort of mind for that it is delightfull to use change because according to Saint Aug. It is alwayes well done whether it be by punishing or pardoning or by terrifying or comforting so that there by the life of man may be amended Consider O man how noble the mind of man is often times it is more easily perswaded with easie and pleasant things then by terrible and adverse oftentimes it is more allured by promisses and things comforting then it is enforced by threats and terrours Wherefore our Sister the Spouse desired to be drawn with the odour of Celestiall Unguents with the savour of divine graces and so to runne with the Spouse and now not out of feare but love delightfully to walk in the way of his Commandements MAN O My Soule it is true I confesse which thou sayest but alas there are many which will not imitate God in Prosperity Wherefore it is convenient that they be terrified in Adversity For there are many which either for blindnesse understand not the divine Graces or for negligence loose them in vaine Employments Wherefore as I beleeve God out of the abundance of his Infinite goodness would alwayes be ready rather to favour them with Consolations then to affright them with austerities if men were rightly disposed that they might receive his divine consolation which is so pretious and delicate that by no means it is fitting or expedient that it should be indifferently bestowed on all Thou therefore if thou aspirest after all these things proposed unto thee see that thou have a pure understanding and a well disposed affection because the chiefest good is not discerned according to Saint Aug. but by the clearest understandings and I think it is much lesse tasted but by very well disposed affections For it is of many men in this life clearly discerned of whom neverthelesse it is in no wise tasted Wherefore Saint Aug. saith O Lord mak me I desire thee to taste that by affection which by my intellect J understand make me to perceive that by love which J perceive by knowledge SOVLE TEll me J pray thee O man what dispositions ought to proceed in affection and understanding that at least to a little Excess of mind J may be able to tast in contemplation the Celestiall sweetnesse For J have long agoe exercised my mind in speculation and alas as yet my feare is that J have never felt the least drop of that Heavenly sweetnesse J have read many things of the lives and conversation of Saints many things of Nature of the operations and orders of Angels also I have read some things of the inestimable unity of the Divinity of the Incomprehensible Trinity of the Godhead more of the inestimable happinesse of all the blessed and when with all my endeavours I have employed my mind to the former studies alass I have remained yet Hunger-starven and empty and have alwaies cryed out with blessed Saint Aug. Make me O most mercifull Father to tast by affection what I perceive by my understanding and yet I have not profited Also oftentimes being wearied with long study and angry at my self I have cryed out with the Prophet expecting the Crummes which fall from the Table of their Lord in that Heavenly Court How long O Lord wilt thou forget me for ever How long dost thou
that thou mayest begin to cry out with St. Peter in great Jubilation of heart O Lord it is good that we remaine here here is our Father here our Sister here our Brother here our Country O Lord permit us to be here and never to depart from hence St. Amb. Let us fly O my soule into our most true Country because there is our Countrey for that which we were created there our Father by whom we were created there is that Hierusalem that Heavenly City which is our Mother O my soule thy love here in this mortall life ought to be so great Saint Ansel and desire to come to that for which we were created and so great thy griefe because as yet thou art not there and so great thy feare least perchance thou never comest there that thou oughtst to feel no Joy but from these things which do either bring thee aid or hope to come thither CHAP. III. Of the Interminable Eternity SOVLE O Man whilst that sometimes I think of these things whilst that silently I consider with my selfe what is that which then shineth in me and woundeth my heart without hurting me and I am afraid yet am inflam'd I admit sometimes mentally into my affection something which is unusuall St. Aug. but I know not what sweetness it is which if it were perfected in me I know not what it shall be that this life shall not be But I fall into a relapse with ponderous burthens and am swallowed up with my wonted cares Here I am able to be but not willing there I am willing to be but am not able miserable in both Haec August MAN O My Soul consider that these celestiall things can not so much as be thought upon of those that are worthily disposed without foretasting of the sweetnesse But I am ignorant what that shall then be when they can be perfectly without intricacy tasted or perceived in thee wherfore it is not to be marvled at if the foretasting of such things cause in thee a wearinesse of this Exile because nothing is more bitter then after that the Soul hath been accustomed to be comforted with the joy of such delights if again it shall begin to be intangled with worldly and transitory things From hence it is that the Soul laboureth struggles and is vexed there she alwaies desires to be and yet it sufficeth not here she is compelled to be yet after this she endeavoureth to ascend to that which she hath already tasted for now having tasted of the Spirit all flesh is distastfull Thou hast seen the joy of the blessed from these that are below thee and from these which are neer thee now behold if thou canst what joy is to come from these which are within thee For man shal be rewarded in body and in mind and with the eternall and inseperable union of these two for our body is composed of four Elements wherfore it shall be remunerated with four gifts of Nature the Earth then shall have eternall immortality the water all manner of impassibility the Air exceeding great agility and the fire most transparent and bright shining clearness then shall the Just shine like the Sun and shall run like sparkles among the reeds for God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of his Saints and then there shall not be any more either lamentation or roaring or greif but everlasting peace and gladness In this sempiternall Kingdome the hearts of the blessed shall shine in clearnes one against another and shalâ— in purity be transparent there every ones Countenance is beheld and conscience penetrated there the bodily substance of any one hideth not his intent from the eyes of another Also at an instant wheresoever the mind would be there the body shal be also presently St. Aug. For as then the mind most perfectly obeyeth its Creator so also the body shal most readily obey its Moover God will make the Soule then so powerfull that from the most full beatitude thereof it shall returne into the body from the superabundance whereof it shall receive the vigor of impassability the splendor of clearness the aptitude of subtilty the promptitude of agility there all the senses shall be imployed in their proper actions for there the eye shall see a most beautifull comliness the tast shall feele a most most sweet Savour the sence of smelling shall be perfumed with a most pleasant odour the touch shall imbrace a most delicious object the Hearing shall be changed by a most delicate Sound for there when the mind is ravished by exultation the Tongue is elevated into a Song of praise SOVLE O Man I have heard these wonderfull things long ago and seeing that these are all true what other thing is this present life but a certain shadow of death MAN O My Soul thou hast sayd well because temporall life compared to the eternall is rather be called death then life for what other thing is this defect of our daily corruption then a certain prolongation of death therfore holy men because they incessantly look into the shortness of this life live as though they were dayly dying and therefore more carefully prepare themselves not minding an abode be cause they alway consider that all these things are nothing in the end But men carnally minded therefore love things present frr that they never weigh how fleeting mans life is for if they should looke into the swiftnes of their passege yea they would in no wise love this prosperity Haec Gregorius Let therefore O my Soule the love of this present life passe from thee and let the fervency of the life to come take place where no adversity disturbeth noe necessity distresseth no trouble disquieteth but ever lasting gladness raigneth and consider how great the future felicity is to be where there shal be no evill thing nor good thing shall be hidden all being imploeyd to the praises of God who shall be All in All for there shall be no end of rest nor shall any want pinch there our being shall have no Death our knowledge shall have no Errour our Love shall have no offence There all slowness all corruption all deformity all infirmity shall be absent There is a new Heaven and a new Earth there we shall be like unto the Angells of God and although not in age yet truly in happines St. Aug. O my Soul Thou shouldest imbrace that Life where there is Life wthout Death Youth without old Age Joy without Sadnesse Peace without Discord Will without Injury Light without Darknesse a Kingdom without Change Consider how much the spirit may rejoyce when it shall resume such a body as now thou hast heard not such a one as thou hast sustained with great griefe and hast overcome with great strife of whom oftentimes thou patiently impatient and meekly angry hast said to thy self Who will free from the body of this death Not surely such a one but now perfectly obeying and spirituall such a
Trinity and Unity blessed for ever Amen The end of the last part The humble and Contrite sinners thankfulness to Almighty God for his mercy and goodnesse towards him O Eternall God my Creator behold me wretched sinner thy poore Creature prostrate at the seet of thy mercy craving pardon most humbly of thy Divine Majesty for my horrible ingratitude towards thee in that being made by thee of nothing to thy owne Image and ordained to enjoy thee eternally I have made no account of thee but preferred every trifle before thee and heaped sinne upon sinne with extreame contempt of thy Justice and abuse of thy mercy longanimity and patience Therefore how admirable hath thy clemency been towards me in that thou hast forborne to poure downe thy vengeance upon me to strike me with suddaine death and to cast me headlong to Hell as thou hast done many others not so greivous sinners as I whiles neverthelesse thou hast spared me But seeing it hath pleased thee out of thy infinite goodnesse now to open my eyes and to discover unto me both the horrour of my own Conscience and the bottomless pit whereinto I was ready to fall vouchsafe I beseech thee to consummate and perfect thy owne good work in me giving me an humble and contrite heart that my eyes may be conduites and fountaines of Water to bewaile my sinnes that my teares may be my Bread day and night and that I may bring forth fruits worthy of repentance that thy Justice being satisfied by the merits of thy Son and my Saviour the inevitable and dreadfull houre of my death may serve me for a happy and sure passage to those everlasting and incomprehensible joyes whereto out of thy infinite mercy thou hast ordained me Amen F. Fits-Herbert A BUNDLE OF MYRRHE Concerning the Passion of Christ made by St. BONAVENTURE that famous Dr. of the Church This Tractate is devout and full of all piety wherein a Bundle of Myrrhe is put between the breasts of the spouse that the study of vertues and the desire of compassion to the sufferings of Christ may be increased The first Bundle Of our Lords Praying in the Garden and of his taking MY beloved is to me a Bundle of Myrrhe he shal rest betwixt my breasts The devout soule speaketh thus signifying the bitternesse of the passion of Christ that shee moreover continually beareth about this gathered to gether in her breast And as thou also whosoever thou art that desirest to reforme thy memory by the meditation of Christs passion mayest have these bundles in readinesse which may rest in thy memory The passion of Christ here handled we have compendiously compiled only in order of the Evangelists that from these few the work the manner and the Cause thou mayst have matter copiously to meditate and maist from these few collect many more Think therefore and consider how in that Sollemne Supper Above spoken of whereof it is spoken of before being celebrated and a hymn said Christ God and man seeing his time to approach rise up that hee might go to the Mount this is the work which he did Consider the manner how he carried himselfe within and without going he foretold the flight of his Disciples He affirmed that Peter should thrice deny him and other things he spoke and again consider this work Consider also how he declared those words with exteâ—iour love and with how great interiour affection he disclosed them Thus thou maist do every where neither is it needfull alwayes to repeat them Taking with him Peter James and John he saith my Soule is sorrowfull even unto death leaving them he prayeth alone on the Mount The third time of his prayer being ended through the imagination of death and internall griefe and feare his sweat is made like unto blood demonstrating his unspeakable pain thereby for we read no such thing of any other Then one Angell comforteth his Lord. Consider how Christ mett his Enemies and of his owne accord offered himselfe and with his word prostrated them upon the earth Afterward he is kissed of Judas apprehended by the Iews drawnbound and lead unto Annas house and all his Disciples fled And let this be one bundle for thee to keep in memorie And here if it pleaseth thee thou mayest look upon Christ what hee was that suffered these things and thou maist commit thy self unto him by assent of reason Beleeve there fore and think that he is truly the Sonne of God the Beginning of all things the Saviour of all People and the rewarder of all The Second Bundle Of the mocking of him before Annas and Caiphas and Peter denying him BEfore Annas speaking the truth he is smitten of a wicked Servant Think here of the work the manner and the cause or at least some of them as it liketh thee After this in Caiphas house where the Scribes and Pharisees expected him he is led scorned and strucken as if he were a blasphemer A false witnesse is sought for and is not found he is adjured of the high Priest thrice denyed of Peter But Christ looking back on Peter constrained him to go forth and to weep most bitterly morning being come he is brought bound unto Pilate Think on the manner how they brought him because it was in the worst kind as though he were a theef and a malefactor c. Judas perceiving that they intended to put Christ to death repented so much in himselfe that he had betrayed so good a man hanged and himselfe brought back the money wherewith a field was bought as the Prophet Hieremie foretold Before Pilate he is many wayes falsly accused he is sent unto Herod of him he is scorned at as a fool Here most diligently consider what he is that suffered and make thy selfe like unto him that thou mayest partake in sufferance with the most innocent most meek most loving and most noble And let this be the second bundle The third Bundle Of his Crowning and Crucifying AFter this at the Jews request Pilate dismisseth Barabbas and delivereth Jesus to be crucified being overcome by the importunity of the Iews and the feare of Caesar Then Iesus after the manner and form of a King is diversly scorned is roabed with a mantle crowned with Thornes strucken with a Reed and as a King is adored in scorne Here O man think on the manner consider the cause to wit how Christ carried himselfe and how the Jewes behaved themselves the cause why he suffered so great torments going that he might be crucified carrying his own cross the peopl following the women weeping to whoÌ„ he said weep not for me but weep for your selves He is crucified on Mount Calvarie And here diligently consider the manner of his Crucifying For they either first raised up the Crosse and Christ ascended thereon or surely they put the Cross on the earth and there fastened him thereon with nailes For there appeareth no other manner And here in the third place it is convenient more