at the right hand of the Father with Saint Steven we discourse with Almighty God in his glory with Holy Moses with the Great Saint Paul ravisht into the heavenly Paradice we heare see what we are loath to leave cannot utter Lastly holy Solitude is the securest Remedy against wordly desires it is the pastime of Saints the ladder of heaven the best means to perfect a good Christiā soule without which it cannot experience true joy rest during her aboad in this smoaky Cottage of her Mortality Although all vertuous Exercises which occurr in the course of our tedious lives doe aime at the profit of our soules in order to the purchasing of life eternall yet none comes neerer to this happy purpose then the diligent use of holy Solitude whereby our spirit is strōgly weaned from the love of perishing transitory things soareth up to the contemplatiō love of her Almighty Creatour before whom in silence hope she humbly discovers her wants earnest desires embraceth him with the arms of an innocent reverentiall love in a manner entreth into the possession of the sweets of a never ending felicity amidst the heavy presse of worldy trialls If therefore my Philothea thou doest earnestly thirst after the delights of a spirituall Retreat thou must seriously apply thy selfe to the use of it For howsoever strong thou findest thy selfe in resisting temptations in the practise of vertues without a retyrement of thy spirit yet will the greatest fervour soon slacken become faint without the supply of Recollection by reason that our enemies are many powerful restlesse vertue how ever pleasant in the possession is hard in the purchase our strongest resolutions not supported both by frequent reflection upon our soules those impediments that doe often occurre in our pursuit of Pietie by renovation of purposes unto that our happy end will by insensible degrees become weak tepid But before thou undertakest this work of ten dayes Solitude unto which I advise study to direct Thee read attentively these few Rules which I here insert collected out of several great Contemplatives whose experience in the schole of holy Solitude may give them authority for thy instruction And indeed without them a soule may miscarry which would be great pitty even in this holy excelling work suffer illusions where it endeavours to shun decline them §. 2. Preparation for Solitude WHerefore in the first place be sure that entring into this holy Exercise Gods honour be thy cheife Ayme the next a reformation of thy owne life by a serious deliberate reflection on thy past present state what may happen for the future that thou maist thereby prepare thy selfe to live well dye happily that Death when it comes may not find Thee unprovided Nor doe thou much heed what the world may think of thy retyrement Thou undertakest the employment of an Angell desirest to have a foretast of that blessednesse which JESUS CHRIST hath purchased for us by the effusion of his precious bloud Blush not then that thou beginnest now to be what thou shouldst be alwayes but rather that thou hast hitherto neglected a work wherein much of thy life ought to be employed And because this Mountaine of Solitude ought not to be climed with a profane ungodly foote but as in the delivery of the Law so here no beast may touch Gods Hill least he dyes the sight of God being only promised to the pure of heart the soule must therefore be well cleansed by hūble Confession from the dreggs of sin before shee may profitably approach to this exercise which beholds only objects that are pure spirituall Thus the Royall Prophet would first wash his hands in innocency then compasse the Altar Make then a strickt examine of thy conscience what sin may have been cōmitted by thee what grace forfeited what punishment deserved after this in the evening before thou entrest thy Solitude make an hūble cordiall Confession of what thou findest thy selfe faulty since thy last examine For since thy understanding is not yet enough cleered nor thy affections sufficiently enflamed for a Generall Confession I should advise Thee to deferr it till the Fourth Day where I shall say more of the profit thereof how it is to be performed This done trouble not thy selfe if thou finds't in thy soule some ill inclinations yet liveing there this exercise requireth not absolute perfection but is a means to attaine to it Were wee all Saints there would be no need to use the Solitude I speak of Content thy selfe that thou art not conscious of any mortall offense which thou hast not disclosed with an humble repentance for what is past a firme purpose to amēd endeavouring still an honest sinceritie uprightnes of heart towards God Who finds him selfe in this dispositiō let him not think that either weakness to Vertue or pronesse to vice may be a lawfull barr to Recollection whereby our viciousnesse is weakned Vertue revived in us no man will starve him selfe with hunger because he eates not with a strong appetite §. 3. Abstraction from usuall cares IN the next place Philothea thou must disintangle thy selfe from worldly affaires If thou wilt approach to Gods flaming bush upon the Mountain of Visions thou must putt of thy shoes where our thoughts are glued to the world the soule will be unable to soare up with wings so limed intangled unto a contemplation of heavenly things For this Elizeus left his oxen S. Peter his boat netts freinds too The hill of Divine Meditation is high steepe not to be ascended with a heart loaden with worldly cares sollicitudes Nor yet needest thou what ever thy charge be publick or private secular or religious cast it wholly off lay it by a while during thy spirituall retreat in some other hand whilst thou drawest there more force strength for the mannagement thereof If thou lettest those cares enter in with thee they will become troublesome companions ever anon distracting thy mind from her cheife buisnesse And in this point solitude admitts no smalnesse of matter if thou givest place to one thought which is not to thy purpose hundreds will throng in with it each will prove an impediment to the other all of them will trouble divert the soule which entertaines them in this her Divine work Wherefore be scrupulous in the observance of this advice Experience will teach Thee that distractions goe not single admit one in a moment thou wilt forget where thou art what thou art about And as thou must discharge thy selfe of thy ordinary employmēts whē thou attemptest this great work withdrawing not thy hands only but even thy thoughts from them so also must thou observe a more strickt profound silence not entring into a conference more then the Rules of obedience well groūded charity will
live in Heaven by contemplating loveing delighting in God what appertains to his their own blessed Life Although our soul confined now to this corruptible body depends theron for action motion in this our sinfull state has ever a naturall inclination to abide with it therefor with pain departs from it yet being she receives not her own life from the body but is Life its selfe gives life action to the body she may live within her selfe having no regard to the inclinations motions of the body This she may soon perceive in her selfe if she treads not the paths of sensuality which lead to earthly contents but those of the spirit which tend to holy divine actions in Imitation of the Angelicall spirits whose workings are to be ever fix't in the Contemplation of God the execution of his commands Imagin therefor That thou kneelest upon some high Mountain before thy Crucifix thence dost behold all earthly Creatures in their severall degrees employments each one busied in the search of happinesse in that they love most that all these thinges suddenly fade away thy selfe fallest also into a trance dyest so dost abide till JESUS descending from his Crosse enters into thee now againe thou livest yet not thou but JESUS CHRIST in Thee Being thus dead to the World only living by the spirit of JESUS how spirituall divine should thy life actions bee AFFECTION How happy woulds't thou be My soul if wholly dead to flesh bloud independent on all earthly creatures thou couldst live the life of an Angell wholly drowned in God relying upon the lights Graces comforts which proceed from him Oh what ioy what happinesse to be dead to this World all the Vanities thereof to live worke only by the enlivening Spirit of JESUS How holy would thy thoughts how heavenly thy desires how enflamed would thy affections then be towards spirituall divine things RESOLUTION I will hence forth lead a spirituall life having my mind still bent upon God his holy Will even in all my ordinary duties endeavouring to lead an Angellical life as if already seperated from this heavy burthen of Mortality without need of earthly supportations And I will be so watchfull over my actions as if I only lived by the Spirit of JESUS had no life or motion but what proceeded from him Then freed from the law of death which abounded in Me through my sinfull passions I shall serve God in the newnesse of my spirit heare what Gods Spirit speaketh to the Church SECOND POINT Mentall Recollection CONSIDERATION COnsider That to improve the soul in her inward Tranquillity she must endeavour to be Recollected within her selfe in all places at all times with all persons amidst whatsoever employments we are by our present state of Life obleiged unto This inward Recollection of the Spirit is easie very delightfull for although the soul be now lodged in the body as her prison the varieties of occasions which run through the cours of this mortall life much solicite her abroad to seek means how to make her prison more tolerable thereby hinders her in the free use of her spirituall faculties distract her thoughts from God heavenly things yet is she not a slave to any passion of the body especially being now healed repaired by JESUS CHRIST therefore she may by means of a mentall retreat into her selfe purchase a continuall Recollection amidst the greatest tumults distractions which may befall her Build up therefor Philothea an Hermitage within thy heart erect an Altar place thereon JESUS CHRIST in the most amiable posture Imaginable whatsoever employment distraction or spirituall distresse presses it selfe upon Thee depart not thence but there lay open thy wants weaknesse confer with him of thy progresse impediments to Perfection harkening carefully what he sayes to Thee if some violent disquiet compells thy thoughts abroad endeavour to re-enter speedily into this thy Hermitage bewaile thy inconstancy renew thy purposes of Mentall Recollection AFFECTION Ah my soul upon how slight occasions has thy thoughts been distracted thy mind lost its frequently resolved Tranquillity in the performance of thy usuall duties How O my God am I so suddenly carryed away with these outward objects employments Surely were I truly Spirituall I should without pain or distraction even in the midst of the Varieties of this life convers with God Oh that thou wouldest build up the ruins of Israël sanctify my heart a tabernacle to thy name then may I seek my beloved within Me receive from him A Kisse of peace RESOLUTION I will not only love the solitude of the body but of the Mind also will build up in my heart a holy Hermitage befitting the presence of my JESUS thither will I stil retyre my selfe ever conferring with him of his loves to me my slownesse of returning love to him discovering all my wants his helps to become perfect in a spirituall Way that I may thereby enjoy the tranquillity of my spirit what ever occasions of Obedience Charity or complyance with my own necessities call me forth this corporall Retirement O Who will give me that I may ever sett by this fountain of living waters in the solitude of my own heart there will I sigh mourn while I think of the heavenly Sion THIRD POINT Union of the Spirit with God CONSIDERATION COnsider That as God only is the supream Good happinesse of the Immortall soul so cannot she experience any true compleat Tranquillity within herselfe unlesse being inwardly united to him she becomes One spirit with him be as it were transformed into a supernaturall Divine BEEING by a reciprocation of Love conformity of Will communication in all those guifts graces spirituall blessings whereby in this her Pilgrimage she may be cloathed with a likenesse to God enjoy that cleerenesse of Understanding alacrity of Will calmnesse of passions universall purity sweetnesse ioy in the whole spirit which God usually imparts only to his most speciall favorites This Deifying Union Philothea of the soul with God will wonderfully work in Thee a cleer knowledge of the emptinesse vanity nakednesse of all Creatures breed in Thee a Loathing towards the best of them cause in thy heart a restlesse Desire to see possesse embrace God in the simplicity purity of his own Essence without mixture of any thing beneath himselfe for his sake thou wilt Stripp thy selfe willingly of all Creatures in ward inclinations of Will Passions welcome whatever calamities miseries may befall Thee For what is there in the whole World which that soul will not readily want doe or suffer to whom God is All-in-all surely in this delicious Union Espousall Transformation by Love the soul must needs experience God a rich
glorious how pleasant how delightfull is the Kingdom of the Saints where Thou O God happy in thy selfe art the happinesse of thy glorifyed servants No greife all content is there where thou dost abide through a fulnes of their Love ever flowing towards thee Oh that thou would'st transport me forth of this kingdō of darknesse misery that I may with a fixed Eie ever behold Thee the Light which no darknesse comprehends possesse Thee the Peace that surpasses all Imagination then will the rowlings longings of my faynting heart have an End it will appear in me that I have been in a Region of Light Peace am full of both I in Iustice shall appear in thy sight shall be satiated when thy Glory appears Amen NINTH DAYES VOYAGE Repose of the soul in God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT The soul hidden in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That Beginners in the Contemplative life goe frō Creatures to God admiring loving Him by the beauty lovelynesse discoverd in them Proficients look on God as he is revealed by divine faith by that dimme light make pleasant sallies towards him by acts of admiration love restlesse desires to live move in by to God But they who are now happily arrived to the state of Perfection which thou aymest at Philothea in this thy solitary Pilgrimage doe contemplate Gods Majesty Beauty Glory as if cleerly revealed seen in Himselfe by an Illapse of God into the sanctifyed soul of the soul into God in whom she hides herselfe reposeth without disturbance enjoyes a fulnesse of content without wandring abroad Thus S. Paul even in this life could say that his life was hidden with CHRIST in God that his conversation was even then in heaven having placed his happinesse in spirituall divine actions wherby his soul ever moved towards God emptyed its selfe into him concealing himselfe from the World by bearing with ioy the Miseries mortifications therof contrary to the custome of those who living in the World live wordly And thus the lives of the Saints have been ever accounted folly their deaths dishonourable whereas they live with in God a divine life contented to know love move in him according to the lights helps received from him It is in our power Philothea through divine helps to lead this hidden life in God have our conversation in heavē even abiding or Earth in our mortall flesh but thou must then be very pure holy having thy Soul cleansed from all sin sinfull inclinations pressing towards earthly satisfactions for no spot or stain enters that beautifull cleer region of the Saints Thou must also be cloathed with the garment of Charity towards all cōply with divine Inspirations putting on JESUS Christ by imitatiō of his mortifications prōptnesse in obeying his counsells Thus abiding in the world thou wilt not be of the World or be known by it having not its livery on nor performing its actions But God will acknowledge thee to be his in whom thou now livest hast a Divine Being in Him therefor maist say I live now not in my selfe but in God my life my sweet repose my finall happinesse AFFECTION O admirable sweetnesse of this Divine Being of the Soul hidden from the World in God! even in this life thou maist ascend thither my Soul quitting earthly conversation comforts passing the Starrs transported above the Quires of glorious Angels drowning thy selfe in the Abysse of Gods infinite Essence O who will give me the wings of a Dove I will fly repose in God My heart hath desired his face my Soul covets his presence O beautifull Face O delicious presence O rich aboad in God in the fulness of the Saints only the clean of heart may abide there RESOLUTION I will hide my selfe from the world casting off its livery which are worldly vain actions abandoning all earthly conversation which may soyle my heart And I will henceforth live in God by contēplating his Glory performing heavenly actions ordring my whole life according to his holy Will not regarding what passeth here on earth as if not att all belonging to Me or the life of One hidden living in God Oh that my Soul were swallowed up in that Divine Sea God in Me I in God besides Nothing As I began from Thee so will I end in Thee O End without End SECOND POINT Search of God in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That being now entred into God there as Moses on Gods Holy Mountain hidden in a Divine Mist we must search into him endeavour to discover plainly what he is how amiable is his hidden beauty we so thirst to behold enjoy This must be performed by an act of pure Contemplation without depending on created Images or discourse of reason but as if the Eie of the Soul were dazled with the beams of Gods Divine unaccessible Light diffused through that Mist She must simply consider God to be so full of Majesty so Good so Glorious that he can never be seen loved or admired as he is or we ought so that what ever we conceive of him is far beneath the Excellencies of his Being what ever we admire in him he is incomparably more admirable how ever we love him he is infinitely more amiable lovely desirable although each one should love him as much as all the Saints Angels together can for a whole Eternity love him Wherefor the amorous soul will be ever busied in searching into God discovering his hidden perfections in that divine Mist being unable to discern cleerly even what she there already sees therefor cryes out to God Shew me thy face And although she therein feeles a most excessive sweetnesse ioy yet she is ignorant both what it is whence it comes therfor acknowledges him to be infinitely more excellent delightfull then she is able to expresse or imagine as it hapned to S. Paul in his divine rapture If thou wert extrem hungry Philothea didst stand betwixt two tables loathing the meat of the one not permitted to tast of the other what conflicts would'st thou then feele Thus it will be if the soul be hidden in this divine Mist for being wearied with the search of her beloved in created Likenesse not permitted to contemplate the naked Essence of God in its selfe cleerly though present with her she still inquires after him loaths the obscurity wherein she is through her own weaknesse thirsts to be filled with a cleer Vision full Fruition of God in himselfe oft looks forth to make a better discovery of him entertains all his inspirations as so many Whisperings of her Espous sighs amorously for his delaying the comfortable Revelation of himselfe to her as one drunk with love sends messages to him by all she meets that She lanquishes with Love AFFECTION
the practise of holy Meditation In this Experience will be every ones best Counseller If place permits no other Isaacs posture to meditate walking is very good But kneeling with hands crossed on the breast the eyes shutt face towards heaven sometimes prostrate on the ground is a posture more genuine naturall How ever it be be sure the frame of thy body testifie profound reverence towards God help to raise thy thoughts affections thitherward Our devotions will be most kindly whē the composure of the body which is the souls instrument is most humble respectfull this also must needs be sometimes varied according to the subject of thy Contemplation §. 7. Subject of Solitary thoughts Now for the subject matter wheron thou art to feed during this holy Solitude thou must use great circumspectiō I doubt not Philothea there be many Contemplatiues but not all good ones One meditates how to doe his Neighbour a mischeife another how to sin unseene these are those who as David sayes Doe meditate Iniquity in their beds Others are buisy in the search of the hidden causes of visible effects so seeking to be acquainted with the whole world become strangers to their owne home whilst they seek to know others are quite unknowne to them selves Doe you therefore choose to meditate on that may doe thee good The God that made us the vilenesse of our body by Nature the wretchednesse of our soule by sin the aboundance of temptations the danger of sudden death the beauty of Vertue JESUS CHRIST who bought us the joyes of Heaven he purchased for us the mysteries of his life Death Resurrection the benefitt of the Sacraments our vocation to Christianity the payns of Hell the glorious estate of the Blessed such like are fitt objects I should think to entertayne thy felfe there in Earthly things proffer themselves on their own accord with importunity but if they were any thing worth they would not be so forward Heavenly things must be sued unto with eagernesse their hardnesse to be obtayned argues their worth the necessity of serious meditation thereby to sollicite them The harder they are to prosecute the more precious they are being obtayned therefore the more worthy our Endeavour While the soule is takē up with the thought of God Godlinesse it cannot miscarry Yet I advise thee to be cautious in matters of faith where more of beleife admiration is to be used then of reason discourse And that matter without exception is best herein which workes compunctiō in the heart most stirrs up to devotion incites strongly to the love of God as the End to Vertue as the means to him wherein experience will be a great mistresse §. 8. A Methode of Meditation IT remains now that I say something of the forme Methode which thou art to observe in dividing thy Meditatiō in handling the parts points thereof But this hath much variety amongst Contemplatives each way is usefull laudable as it is fitted to persons that use it For since there be different mansions in Gods glory no wonder there should be different means to purchase them according to the variety of each ones disposition All are not equally either worldly or Contemplative so neither equally disposed for the like Illuminations nor capable of pursueing the same heads or points of Meditation S. Bonaventures Methode usually practised amongst us liked of by the best is breife easy well ordred much helps the Memory a faculty which hath great influēce in this blessed work According to this Meditation or mentall prayer is divided into three parts which are Preparation Meditation which being the cheife part retains the generall name Conclusion Preparation maketh way for Meditation Meditation ruminates upon the matter giveth strength life to our Recollection Conclusion closeth up the whole Exercise Preparation first places us in the presence of God with whom wee are to make our speciall conference to our advancement comfort with all feare reverence Then secondly it chooseth the Mystery or subject whereon wee intend as present to settle our thoughts Thirdly it implores helpe from Heaven whereby our weaknesse may be sustained in this heavenly work enabled resolutely to goe through with it And truly sith the ancient Heathens never attempted any notable businesse without a solemne apprecation of good successe a Christian or Religious soule should not presume to undertake a spirituall work of such importance as this is without first craving aide from heaven wherein we are unable to doe well without Gods assistāce We must therefore beg earnestly that the progresse of our Meditation may be guided blessed by him that he would banish all distractions enlighten our understanding quicken our judgment rectify our will whett our affections to heavenly things kindle our devotion so enlarge our hearts towards himselfe that wee may find our Imperfections abated vertue strengthned our soule every way bettered by our Solitude Meditation hath also three parts Consideration ponders seriously the subject wee have chosen thereby to stirr up our Affectiōs to God goodnesse thereon to ground our ensueing Resolutiōs But care must be taken that the mind be not wracked by a too vehement inquiry for this will tire out the phansy interrupt the cheife work It will suffice to take the most pregnant obvious Lett these Considerations be but three at the most And if thy soule finds sufficient satisfaction light fruit in the first of them dwell there without going further give way to the Holy Ghost to work his will in thee But if thou findest not there the expected successe passe quietly on to another but besure to goe on sweetly easily in thy search without tiring thy selfe too much thou wilt find little pleasure in the Kernell if thou breakest thy teeth with the shell Affection succeedeth where to if our Consideratiōs reach not they wil prove vain or to little purpose For this is the soule of Meditation to which the former parts serve only as instruments As we are reasonable Creatures by our reason discourse so are we Christians Religious by our good will affections towards heavenly things Wherefore the former labour of the mind being undertakē to move the Affective part of the soule after the understāding hath traverst the point proposed the will must endeavour by applying herselfe therto with all earnestnesse to find some feeling relish in it which fruit through Gods blessing will follow a deliberate Consideration of some moveing object And in these Affections we must permit our soule to spread dilate as much as possible if thou findest thy heart to pant swell with aboundant sweetnesse ease it by some gentle Aspirations amorous sighs as God shall then inspire Thee The last is Resolution wherein the soule bewayling her poverty dulnesse imperfections which may happily appear then in
Exercise reflecting seriously on every Instructiō how thou mayest reduce thē to practice The other houres till Seven admit of no sett rules for distribution of them by reason of the different times of evening prayers refection according to the customes of severall families However one houre is to be spent in praying vocally making Aspirations review of that dayes task for confirmatiō of good purposes another in saying Evensong the last in taking thy evening repast thanksgiving for benefits praying for benefactours living dead From Seven take some easy divertisement whereby to release thy thoughts by walking or using some moderate corporall Exercice for the space of halfe an houre then seriously examine thy Conscience how thou hast employed that day beg pardon for defects make thy Crosses read over the First point of thy next dayes Exercise going to bed say with the Royall Prophet In peace I will sleep rest because thou O Lord hast singularly setled me in hope This is all Philothea I have to advise thee Complayn not of my over-longnesse The labour is mine my ayme thy benefit I have according to my ability prescribed thee a Method of practising holy Solitude according to the knowledge gaind from skilfull Masters in that Art what use experience hath taught me to be most profitable when custome experience shall shew thee a better forme feare not to use it in Gods name for divers paths lead to the same place though the spirit of God be but One yet ther is diversitie of graces Use this way till thou meet with a better and pray for thy well willer Farwell Philothea's Pilgrimage to Perfection Described in a Practise of Ten dayes Solitude FIRST DAYES VOYAGE Inducements to Solitude THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Dignitie of Solitude CONSIDERATION COnsider That no other earthlie condition can equall the happinesse which may be attained by means of retyrement T is a Heaven upon earth seperating us from the rest of the world contented with it's own tranquillitie delights such it will be to us if we can alienate our hearts from worldly cares creatures walk innocently with our blessed God in the observance of his commandements the performance of solitarie duties T is the Schole of all Christian knowledg vertues wherein we may learn that our body is composed of disagreeing elements ever tending to a dissolution that our dearest friends may be taken frō us by untimely death therefor no lasting hopes to be placed in them That our nature is easly ledd away with the allurements of visible objects whereas God only can fill the longings of our soul In a word that all those things wherein poore man is so miserably turmoild are a meere Vexation Vanitie hinder us from listning to those delicious whispers which our Beloved desires to impart to our affectionate souls It is also a Sanctuarie of the ever blessed Deitie for although our Immense God fils all places by an infinite diffusion of his Essence yet he is specially in those which are segregated to his contemplation worship where he opens the rich treasuries of his love bountie reveals his will to his servants in silent secret conferences with them Since therfore Philothea thy Beloved hath drawn Thee hither here to parlie with thy heart to disclose the hidden pathes of his ayding comforting graces to take up his lodging in thy soul see that nothing remain therein offensive to his will which may blūt the edg of thy conceived affections to pietie or darken thy spirituall Eie from beholding his all-sufficing beauty For onlie the clean of heart may see God rejoyce in the plentie of his holy house AFFECTION Oh how beloved are the Tabernacles of my God! better is one day there then thousands in the Courts of Sinners who love not to think on their Creatour O Hierusalem O sweet vision of Peace O happy desart O sacred Mansion of heaven aspiring Souls be thou ever the begining of my joyes I know acknowledg O my God My onlie refuge comfort that there is no pleasant peace no saving knowledg no true Repose but in Thee that all things are Vanity beneath Thee but even that Vanity cannot I despise without Thee therfore Thou O God how long RESOLUTION Hence forth My Solitude shall be my Beatitude My Eden my Heaven the world shall keep what ever it calls its own with all the perills discontents miseries that belong to it if my soul be at any time in distresse I will stay my sorrows with the hopes of those true consolations which my Divine Lord hath promised to those whom he leads thither And since I may there understand all divine truth obtain all helping Vertues Graces I will turne my heart from creatures that I may under the conduct of Gods divine Spirit learn the wayes of Perfection And I will carefully cleanse my soul from all sinns affections to forbidden contents whereby it hath hitherto been hindred to walk to with God to discover the depth of his greatness goodness to me Nor will I loos the precious time which God hath alowed me wherein to work my Salvation converse with him in holy Solitude To Thee O Lord will I reveale the secrets of my heart in Thee will I trust I shall not be ashamed because Thou art A strong helper SECOND POINT Innocencie of Solitude CONSIDERATION COnsider That Solitude is more Innocent Holie then that course of life that spends it's selfe in conversing with creatures Being exempt from manyfold occasiōs of offending or being offended by others from snares scandals irksome turmoiles which are apt to shake our strongest Resolutions to pietie destroy the evennesse of our hearts in the performance of our usuall Christian duties Again our conversation with worldly persons oft engages our hearts in irregular affections solicitudes we being naturally over-prone to adheare to sensible satisfactions too feeble weake in resisting their flattering alurements therfor are therby putt in hazard of loosing our best hopes whereas Solitude withdrawing our thoughts from such occasiōs of sin give us means of purchasing that blessednesse here which abroad we endanger wherfor the now glorious Saints whose lives should be our paterns arrived to the joys they are possest of by withdrawing from worldly conversation confining themselves to Innocent Solitude And hence it is that abandoning superfluous conversation with earthlie Creatures we begin to be conversant with God in some degree approach to imitate the Innocent peacefull life of the already glorifyed Angells in heaven Their life conversation must needs be heavenlie who disdayning earthlie blessings thirst after those of the Saints by knowing loving enjoying him who alone can make them happy What greater happiness My Philothea then being sequestred from vaine tyresome Creatures even amidst the toyls of our unhappy Mortality to enjoy
Origin thou art but a little matter of corruption The Greatest the Wisest the Beautifullest amongst us is of no better mould In our birth we enter the world with many greivous gripings groans of our Parents naked blind poore unable to help our-selves ignorant how we come hither how whither to depart In our lives we are exposed to innumerable calamities of sicknesse povertie wars calumnies with much pain must conserve our lives health with fruits of the Earth flesh of beasts And at last in our Deaths dissolved into lāguors sighs teares are hurried forth from the eies thoughts of our dearest friends layd under groūd there to rott into our Originall dust ashes This is the pedigree of the best of us as to our out-ward Man so that we may justly cry out What is Man O God that thou art mindfull of him If God be mindfull of our Nothing surely we should have a continuall remembrance of it least the sweetnesse of Divine Solitude the pleasing Entertainments we may therin experience between our Souls God puff us up with affections of Vain Glory AFFECTION Unhappy Man that I am who will deliver me from this body of Death I am born poore miserable live amidst crosses sorrows must dye with groans gasps shall rott into my mother Earth Ah my Soul since the one halfe of Man is so vile be thou still humble Lucifers pride had some plea if he were proud he was immortall also but Man can find nothing in himselfe but filth weaknesse corruption Shall I then presume to speak to God who am but dust ashes Alas should I say I am better the graves carcasses of the Monarchs beauties of the World would beare witnesse against me RESOLUTION In what ever degree of comtemplation or condition of life I am I will ever be mindfull of my Originall Nothing the miserable progresse I must make through wants diseases tribulations of all sorts from the Womb to the Tōb I will with holie Job say to Rottennesse thou art my Father my Mother Sister to the Wormes This is my kindred my Companions are a multitude of too well known Infirmities Therefor Gods Greatnesse my own Vilenesse shall be the ballances of my thoughts I will hope that the Mercy of God will one day raise the needy from the dust of the Earth lift the poore from the dung place them amongst the Princes of his people SECOND POINT Wretchnesse of the Soul by Sin CONSIDERATION COnsider That if thou beest nothing but corruption rottennesse in thy body thy Soul defiled by Sin renders thee worse then nothing for by sin we become the unhappy vessells of Gods heavy wrath he spared not the Angels in their sins but deprived them of all their originall endowments of nature grace banishes them for ever from his blissfull presence confines them to the dreadfull prison tormēts of Hell nor will he spare us but if we be partners in their crimes he will also make us Companions in their bitter suffrings Evident in our first Parents whom for one sin he deprives of the innocent state of their originall Creation expells them the Earthly Paradice condemns them us to mourn out this wretched life amidst labours sweats innumerable miseries as chastisers of our guilt We also through Sin incurr an insufferable servitude under the Tyranny of Satan He covets not either honours wealth or pleasures but as to our Lord JESUS in the wildernesse so to us still offers all these if we will doe homage adore him which we no sooner doe but we become Slaves to him he continually assaulting us with manifold greivous temptations using all Creatures even our own flesh bloud passions of sensuality to work our overthrow still plying us with seducing suggestiōs giving no respit from his snares deceipts filling our hearts with distrust of Mercy for past sins despaire of delayd helps from heaven doubts of a finall perseverance in our duties under so heavy a weight of tribulations he raiseth against us Likewise thereby we loose Gods gracious presence fatherly providence over us our right part in the merits of CHRISTS bitter saving Passion the friēdship familiarity of Gods comforting spirit All graces guifts fruits blessings of the holie Ghost the peace security of our Consciences our Communion in the Sacrifices prayers good deeds of the faithfull our claym to our heavenly inheritance And more over we defile in our Souls the beautifull Image of God are razed forth the book of life are deprived of the protection safeguard of the blessed Angels contract greivous remorses of conscience pronesse to greater sins a guilt of hell fire unlesse with a repentant heart we by Confession confusibly discover our sins known to God our Souls only by corporall afflictiōs endeavour to appease Gods just indignation against us for them This is enough to humble the best of us if we have any feeling of our sinfull State AFFECTION Ah my God who can hide from thy all-seeing Eie the abysse of wretchednesse wherein my Sins have already sunck me Alas I am become the unhappy object of thy just wrath the woefull servant of rebellious Satan deprived of thy healing graces exposed to innumerable Miseries Hold thy hand O my Almighty Lord rebuke me not in thy fury for shouldst thou observe iniquities who could sustain the heavinesse of thy displeasure I will therefor confesse unto Thee my unworthinesse to appear before thee to enjoy even the cōmon blessings of heaven earth which I have so oft vainly abused to satisfy my sinfull passions that I ought not to hope for any part in thy blessings of glorie But thou O God hast mercy on thousands wilt comfort the weak afflicted if thou doest humble us it is that we may thereby learn that from thee are our Justifications RESOLUTION I purpose henceforth to have ever before my Eies my sinfull condition whereby I have rendred my selfe thus vile abominable in the sight of God his holy Angels subject to the insolencies of Satan my disorderly passions branded with the infamous mark of one banisht from the face of God I will also acknowledg my selfe guilty of the innocent death of my Saviour JESUS not to deserve from him the least favour either of his justifying grace or all-comforting Glory but that I have rather incurd a just debt of everlasting ignominy confusion And therefor however it shall please God to reveale himselfe to me in this my Solitude I will accept of it as his most gracious guift And the more he exalts me the more will I humble my selfe through the consideratiō of my sinfull State whereby I have provoked his wrath against Mee THIRD POINT Ignorance of our future State CONSIDERATION COnsider That although perhaps thou oft
feelest in thy Soul during thy holy Retyrement or at other time some delicious whispers of thy beloved Espouse yet art thou wholly ignorant what will befall thee the next moment how long or short thy life will be whē where by what disease or misfortune Death will seize upon Thee in what condition of grace or sin it will summon Thee before Gods barr therto heare the sentence then to passe over Thee consequently that as long as thou art in this life thou art never certainly assured of thy Eternall Salvation This ought to be a strong motive of humiliation vnto Thee Almighty God hath from all Eternity chosen some to be heires of his glory permitting others yet doth not any one know to what ranck he belongs when or by what means he shall come thither till it pleaseth God to cite us forth this world assume us to his heavenly Paradice which evidently layeth open our great Ignorance proves our unchangable dependance on the hidden disposition of the Divine Will Is not this enough to humble the haughtiest spirit in the world Wherefor in whatsoever degree of contemplation vertue or spirituall greatnesse thou art thou must hūbly acknowledg thy universall dependance on Gods gracious inspirations help And that therefor thou oughtest not to judge any one whom through Gods permission thou maist see fall into some abominable sin being thou art not thy selfe assured how long thou shalt stand in thy duty to God or how soon that person may arise again through Gods Grace aiding to a timely profitable Repentance Have a care therefor Philothea thou standest fast in the waies of God working thy Salvation with a filiall humble feare reflecting continually on thy own Nothing the streight dependance thou hast on the grace Mercies of JESUS CHRIST who having redeemed Thee from the tyranny of Satā made Thee capable of life everlasting with himselfe will not be wanting to the compleating that great work of thy Eternall Salvation if thou dost humbly trust in him say then with a lively faith In Thee O Lord have I hoped I am not confounded I have put my trust in Thee have found help AFFECTION Ah my Soul wherein canst thou now glorie Art thou placed in the family of Gods servāts Hast many good Notions Divine Motions in thy breast Dost thou through some strong helps of heavenly Grace delightfully performe hard painfull duties All this is very good but alas thou knowst not how long this will endure whether for a yeer or a day or even the next Moment Whether thou beest confirmed in grace listed amongst the number of the Elect or worthy of Love or hatred Thou knowest nothing of all this Even so it is for thou O my God art a most glorious pure Father of spirits wilt still be worshipped in feare trembling However although thou shouldest persecute me till Death I will trust in Thee even at the gates of Hell I will not abandon my hopes in thy Mercy RESOLUTION I will cast my selfe into the sea of Gods aboundant Mercies therein fix the Auchor of my hopes relying firmely on his undeceiving promises saving helps of Grace therefor I will annihilate my selfe in the consideration of his holy decrees living in perpetuall feare of his judgments concerning me Nor will I onely become humble in the sight of God who knows the vilenesse of my body wretchednesse of my Soul with whatever shal befall either for time Eternity but I will also willingly become contemptible in the Eies of all Creatures contenting my selfe with the lowest place meanest fare vilest Employments accounting my self the unworthyest of all will ever say with the Holy Prophet I am a worme not a Man the Outcast of Men the Offcast of the Vulgar THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Our Weaknesse to good IF thou desirest Philothea to enter the depth of thy own Nothing thou must make yet a further search into the motives of humbling thy selfe before God Wherefor having now waded through the vast Seas of thy vilenesse in body wretchednesse in Soul wonderfull ignorance of thy future state of life happinesse discourse further on thy Naturall weaknesse to performe good vpright actions Ever since through our disobedience to Gods holy Commandements we departed from his Temple sanctifyed Citty of Hierusalē fell into the hands of spirituall murderers we have had many deep wounds and deadly soares in our Souls whereof though some have beē oft cured by CHRISTS healing Sacraments yet doe they often break out fester through the disorders of our Sinfull lives others remaining for ever uncurable during this mortall life whereby we are wholly unable without the perpetuall help of our charitable Samaritan JESUS CHRIST either to discerne the way that leads back to God or securely to walk towards him in this our Pilgrimage to heavenly Perfection Our manifold doubts mistakes errours in the knowledge of Divine even Morall truths Actions our passionate affections to present sensible delights the variety distractions of our fading slippery life the Excellēcy of Gods waies those thoughts works whereby we walk in them purchase a blessednesse which he alone can bestow on us shew evidently that God liveth in an Unaccessible Light not to be viewed with an Eie not yet cleansed by divine Faith nor to be aspired unto without that Hope which He only can inspire into us nor in the least degree to be purchased or pretended to without the speciall guifts of inherent sanctity other supernaturall helps of cleering Lights cooperating Graces bestowed bountifully on us so that we can neither doe any thing worthy his acceptation or think on him according to his Majesty or even say one word of him as we ought in order to our Everlasting happinesse without his speciall inspirations conduct assistance Wherefore as thou art by Nature a meer Nothing by sin worse then Nothing so without the liberall guift of Gods aiding Grace thou canst doe nothing If then thou perhaps art sometimes raised up in the Contemplation of God his glory those allureing traces whereby he leads his servants to the love of eternall good things yet maist thou not take complacence therein without an humble submission to Gods vnknown will towards thee or esteeme thy selfe by them to be in a setled condition of Holinesse for if thou wer't as easily thou maist be deprived of those Lights of Graces thou now hast thy Soul would become as dark thy actions as imperfect as any others These Divine helps so necessary to us and so much above our reach ought profoundly to humble us in the presence of God whom we must ever worship as a liberall free Giver as oft as we receive any favour from him still remembring that the Apostate Angels our First Parents lost themselves by a Complacence in their own naturall
God as a sheep that is lost seek thou thy servant I will not be unmindfull of thy commandements RESOLUTION I will not only henceforth mortify the senses of my body but the passions of my mind also that with my heart as well as lips I may honour glorifie my Saviour And I will stricktly examine every motion of my sensuall appetite that I may discover its maladies order its affections prevent those disquiets which my Passions have hitherto raised in Me That My beloved may say to Me Thou art a Garden of delights inclosed a spring shut up a fountain sealed THIRD POINT Mortification the property of a Christian CONSIDERATION COnsider That by means of this Mortification of our senses passions we are placed in a degree of perfection above beasts who being voyd of reason seek their content happinesse in sensuall delights therefor those carnall hearts which still wallow in the puddle of earthly pleasures following the allurements of sensible objects the disorders of their own passions degenerate into beasts Wheras Mortification is the speciall badg property of a true Christian Man who living according to reason grace crucifies the flesh with its concupiscences thereby belongeth to Christ But especially this perfect mortification of our sensuall appetites is the proper Companion true signet of the solitarie soul who retyring from worldly conversation obliges her selfe to imitate JESUS CHRIST in his sufferings to follow the stepps of the most zealous Christians of all Ages by resisting the irregular desires of sensualitie that the flesh may obey the spirit our spirit the Will of God for the Sanctification of the whole Man If therefor Philothea Thy senses passions have hitherto been loosly kept strayed after inordinate satisfactions now thou must have a watchfull care over them fasten them to the Crosse of Mortification promptly joyfully frequently perseverently universally that as all have been Ministers of vncleanesse they may also be promoters of pyety thy Eies in contemplating thy Crucifyed Redeemer reading holy bookes thy Eares in harkning to devout sermōs thy Tongue in prayer pious discourses thy Hands in performing good works thy Feet in visiting holy places thy whole body in bearing patiētly the miseries of this mortall Life undergoing acts of pennance for satisfaction of past prevention of new sins so contrary to thy Christian profession the great design now in hand AFFECTION I acknowledg my Dearest Lord that through thy precious bloud I am regenerated from my sinfull state sanctifyed to Christian holy duties strongly fortifyed agaynst the corrupted inclinations of my own sensualitie outward charms of earthly delights yet Alas how oft how vilely have I transgressed thy commands my own promises to be one of thy flock to become a mortified Christian to abandon all worldly contents suffer whatever austerities tribulations rather then to loose any part in Thee thy blessed Kingdome prepared for Me But thou O Lord art sweet mild aboundest with Mercies Have Mercy upon me O God have mercy upon me for my soul hath trusted in Thee RESOLUTION I will take a speciall View of all abuses committed through immortification of my senses passions consider all my evill Inclinations where at what time towards what Objects I am aptest to comply with them I will waryly watch over all my waies prevent dangers undertake such Mortifications as may keep my heart closse to my God stedfast in the observance of his Holy Commandements strengthen me O Lord with thy grace My Appetite shall be subject to Me I shall have power over it THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Dammages incurrd by Immortification AS the Love of God ioyned with selfe Contempt builds up the Citty of God in us so selfe Love reaching to the contempt of Gods holy Commandements that of Satan This Selfe-love is the First Mover in the sphear of the unmortifyed soul of all the passions of our sensualitie whence proceed all those calamities of sinfull desires the following disorders which restlesly warr agaynst Gods spirit in Us heavyly presse Us down even agaynst our Wills to those Miseries we now groan under long to be freed from Our first Parents complying with an Immoderate Appetite of the fruit of one forbiddē Tree amongst so many thousand excellent Ones allowed by Almighty God for their Use pleasure notwithstanding Gods severe prohibition under payn of his high dispeasure a tedious life forrowfull death all those penalties which daily draw so many teares from our Eies sighs from our hearts has brought Gods heavy wrath upon themselves us all those Rebellions of sensualitie Errours in understanding difficulties in obeying that torrent of cares sorrows which continually afflict our spirits yet We still add to our Miseries by an over-ready sideing with these our unruly passions Appetites What grater mishapp can befal a Soveraign Prince then to be deposed his Throne spoyled of his royall Prerogatives dignity to be banisht forth his own Dominiōs Thus it is with us now Each one of us had a peacefull kingdom within himselfe was Supream Lord therein in his Originall state No sooner did selfe Love creep in to our hearts seduce the powers of the soul to prefer sensualitie to reason Justice but God permits our Passions to overrun us tyrannize within us whence arise those varieties of Concupiscences boylings roulings of our affections Love Hatred Hopes Feares those numberlesse disquiets which torture our unmortifyed spirits He takes from us the safeguard of Justice Innocency whereby we are become unable to governe our hearts in the flight of evill pursuance of approved Good And we are banisht forth that Paradice which was the seat of our Earthly happinesse the Image of the heavenly are here condemn'd through sweats sighs Innumerable sorrows to weare out an anxious painfull Life These be the Miseries we have incurr'd Philothea through Immortification of our senses passions are still increased in us by giving reynes to our heady disorderly sēsualitie as we dayly experience in the misgovernment of our lives actions which certainly none can seriously consider without an extream horrour confusion Thou must therefor earnestly endeavour to suppresse all inordinate suggestions desires of flesh bloud through consideration of the great humiliation bitter sorrows the eating one forbidden Aple cost the Son of God The severe prohibitions God has made against unlawfall concupiscences his cōmands that we mortify our carnall appetites crucify our flesh chastise our bodies hate deny our selves The Examples of all the Saints Lovers of solitude the great dammages we have already still may incurr by consenting to our vicious affections Then by examining what passions abound most in Thee how thou maist timely prevent dangers of raising
Man so must my contemplation Union be with Thee a Glorious God a suffring Man by partaking the joys of One sorrows of the other I will therefor ever aspire to be with Thee in the glory of thy Father yet will joyfully cast my self into the Sea of Love thy bleeding heart that through it I may swim to the haven of thy hidden Divinity Come then all torments of heaven Earth presse heavy upon Me I shall never sink as long as supported by the saving Grace of my Victorious Redeemer Oh that I were grown'd by the teeth of wild beasts torn by racks scorched with burning flames so I may enjoy CHRIST Rather here O Lord rather here then where thy wrath never ceases for thou wilt lead me forth this prison shew me all thy Glory I shall confess unto thy Name RESOLUTION I will for ever make my habitation in the wounded heart of my Crucified Lord therein read over the vast book of Love Suffring that by it I may govern my life actions not contenting my selfe with an empty Name void of the substance perfection of a Christian Therefor I will joyfully welcome all tribulations as speciall Guifts of God tokens of his love given to cure the soares of my sinfull Soul exercise Vertue preserve to life everlasting for who ever lives holyly shall suffer persecution nor may the Crown of endless Glory be purchased at an easy rate I will therefor cheerfully take up my Cross rank my selfe amongst thy zealous servants follow thee my suffring Lord for Blessed is he who suffers for thee because when he is tryed he shall receive a Crown of life Immortality SECOND POINT Expropriation of Friends CONSIDERATION COnsider that to attain to this high state of Christian Perfection Union with CHRIST suffring we must willingly abandon all earthlie contents embrace all tribulations with joy in Imitation of JESUS CHRIST it being much harder consequently a greater perfection to beare great crosses with patience then perform heroick acts of Vertue without difficultie for our Vertue is not then firm when not shaken but when not shaken though most assayled by adversity therefor our perfection grows with proportion to our suffrings in the society of our suffring Saviour whose Pilgrimage from the cribb to the Cross began in tears ended in bloud since therefor Philothea thou art by profession à Christian by speciall Resolution a seeker of highest Perfection CHRISTS sorrows suffrings cross must be unto thee a Rule of life the Center of all thy motions the more conformable thou art to him in these the greater will thy perfectiō now be happiness hereafter Behold then with a stedfast Eie the Saviour of the World hanging on the Cross as in his Passiō so in his death abandoned by his Apostles Disciples al his usuall train of applauding attendāts He who in his glory was guarded with millions of Angels to whom all knees bowe who is the Image Splendour of the glory of his eternal Father is now forsaken by All. Love made him our Brother by assuming our Nature compassion our Physitian by his healing doctrine sacraments Mercy our Ransom by his own bitter death discharging our debts now alas he is abandon'd of all He descended from the noblest Princes Preists Prophets of Israël by his temporall birth he healed lame blind dumb lepers all diseases by his Divine power All men Angels for ever glorious with God are happy through the Efficacy of his peace-speaking bloud they have now alas all deserted him This is the paterne which we must Imitate Philothea e're we can attain the perfection we aime at We must be entirely resigned to abandon be abandoned by all even our dearest most obliged friends This may seem hard indeed it is so For Friendship is a Vertue Charity is yet a greater it is hard therefor to perswade from actiōs arising from so sublime a cause yet is it mainly necessary if we will become perfect when the pruning time is come superfluous shoots must be cutt off else few small fruit All earthlie friendships are superfluous in order to inward perfection therefor should be lopt off that the sap of grace may quietly fructify in us to life everlasting under the conduct of our Divine Guide Example Tell me Philothea canst thou like well a treason in thy bosom friend Surely thou canst not If David had been cursed by his enemies he could have borne it but to be hurt by a friend by one that had prayd with him in Gods holy House that was an unsupportable Cross And what 's more frequent even with those who abandoning the world should abandon its weakness mutability yet through variety of opiniōs dispositions oft break betray a friends confidence If then for the love of thy heavenly Espous thou hast forsaken parents kindred all worldly friends for the same love enter not now or at least break off any singularity of affectiō even towards thy companions in the study of perfection not onely because singularity is ever prejudiciall in professours of a Cōmon Life whence propriety of affections as well as of temporall goods must be banisht as nurses of suspitions jealousies many private feudes but especially because they hazard the loss of our inward tranquillity in case our friend to whom we have imprudently disclosed the secrets of our heart betrays his trust using our freedom to our confusion Wherefor be cautious in trusting thy heart strings to any but as the Wise Heathen sayd Ever converse with thy friend as one who may prove thy Enemy For as it is the nature of fire to burne so of sinners to be weak selfe interested take a View of they past life experience will teach Thee most friendships of thy bosom-friends to have been grounded on self-profit therefor have ended in discontents enmities Besides the superfluity treachery of friendships they are great impediments of Vertue while many thoughts are spent in them to the breach of in ward peace loss of precious time neglect of heavenly conferences with our Divine Espous I doubt not Philothea but thou hast had many speciall deare friends much delighted to abide conferr with them what profit thence Alas much Vanity time lost languishings of heart or sin Even now then knock off these troublesome slackles whereby thou art fettred to Creatures however deare to Thee least thou present God with a broken divided heart whereas he gave demands A whole sound that thou owest to him hadst thou many thousands AFFECTION Ah! how hard is it to be abandon'd by all friends who may comfort us in our desolations But I know will adore the power that works this happy separation perhaps thou hadst for ever perished O my Soul hadst not not thus lost thy friend or abandond him for God Alas
how superfluous how treacherous how dangerous has singularity of frienships hitherto proved unto Me Adieu all friends henceforth my only trust shall be in God who hath loved me with a perpetuall charity hath engraven me in his hands that he may be ever mindfull of me forsake me not O Lord I will be always with Thee become as a Pilgrim to the children of my Mother RESOLUTION I will couragiously quitt all ties even to my dearest friends when my spirituall concernment requires it whither they love me therefor or hate me wish me well or persecute me I will equally prepare my heart to be loved or persecuted praised or condemned by them behaving my selfe as a Pilgrime to all earthlie Creatures a Cittizen of Heaven I have chosen my solitude with my abādoned Lord Master nor shall any false allurements or harsh dealings change my Resolutions He hath given me a glorious example as he hath done I will endeavour to doe also THIRD POINT Selfe-Denyall CONSIDERATION COnsider That JESUS CHRIST hanging on the Cross is the true patern of selfe-Denyall this was his Doctrin while he lived this his practise in his Passion Death therefor his prayer to his eternall Father was Not mine but thy will be done Behold then how he looseth his bloud in his Agony his Esteem by revilings blasphemies his strength by whipps thorns his comeliness by stripes wounds the joy of the lower Region of his Soul by excess of sorrows his life by a most bitter ignominious Death Thus the most beautifull amongst the children of Men is become as One stricken of God covered with leprosy a man of sorrows If thou desirest Philothea to become perfect thou must also endeavour this selfe-Denyall seperation of thy selfe from thy selfe by abandoning thy own will a readinesse to sacrifize unto God thy tears bloud body soul all the calamities afflictions Gods providence may inflict on thee willingly suffring what ever crosses may befall Thee in conformity to his holy Will the coūsells practise of thy suffring Lord Master There is none of what condition soever but must more or less take up CHRISTS Cross follow him by self-Denyall bearing some tribulation for his sake their own profit Through sin the flesh spirit are at odds sensuality rebells against God no wonder then if wee feele contradictions within our own heart suffrings from the inordinate passions desires or malice of others neither Saint nor Sinner nor any mortall creature is exempt from the Law of the Cross of what Majesty Wisdom Power or Holiness soever he be nor is any of these happy unless resigned to beare all Thou sufferest not alone Philothea All must willingly or against their will suffer with thee which should encourage Thee to an unbroken patience amidst the heaviest press of tribulations which may happen to Thee especially since thy JESUS thy Espous the Giver of all good suffreth so many so long so grievous torments with Thee Nor may we hope to enjoy the consolations of this the other Life we must forgoe one or the other either suffer here or else where which wilt thou choose Is it not much better to undergoe a momentany tribulatiō then an eternall Only worldly pleasures can destroy thee therefor fly frō Them The Cross only whereby the whole world was saved can save Thee Seek it then with it thou shalt find life salvation thy crown of thorns shall be changed into a Crown of never fading Glory if thou hast drunk of the torrent of tribulation with thy crucified Redeemer thou shalt also tast the delicacies of his heavenly Happiness in his Glorious Kingdom AFFECTION If JESUS must suffer ere he enters his glory canst thou O my Soul hope to purchase heaven at an easyer rate No my Dearest Lord since love moved Thee to transfigure thy selfe into a Man of sorrows for my sake love also shall compell me to be conformable to Thee my Holy Espous Let me but enjoy Thee then let what ever tribulations thou pleasest fall upon Me Here cutt here burn so thou sparest me for eternity O Eternity who can live with thy everlasting torments Come therfor O delicious crosses O amiable tribulations by which I may purchase an Eternity of joys RESOLUTION I will prepare my selfe to this spirituall Combat not only endure the tribulations which my sensuality disorderly passions may raise against Me but what ever Crosses the malice of Satan or the sweet providence of my heavenly Father shall inflict upon Me hūbly casting my selfe at the foot of the Cross I will say Behold here O Divine Lord behold here My whole self my Body my Soul my All ready to abandon all contents to suffer all sorrows for Thee Thy will be done Pleasures or pains thorns or diadems life or death all shall be indifferently welcome Only be thou with Me O strong helper none shall prevaile against Me. EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Spirituall Desolation ALthough our Lord JESUS wer the Beloved of the Eternall Father equall to him in Essence Wisedom Power yet for Us he would become an Outcast deserted by Him Harken Philothea to that lamentable Complaint he makes to his Father upon the Cross My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken Me Though his humane Nature lost not its Union with the Godhead nor the Grace or friendship of God yet the Influence of his Divinity on the inferiour Portion of his Soul was then suspended he left to struggle with the bitterest torments pangs of a most cruel ignominious Death Our Solitary Pilgrim to Perfection must be prepared to welcome this sublime state of Spirituall Desolation if she aspires to an Union Conformity with her heavenly Espous she must not only contentedly abandon all friends beare what ever Crosses but must also willingly be deprived of all those delights which usually accompany a devout Life undergoe Aridities of the spirit loose the savory influences of Gods gracious favours instead of pleasant Illustrations of the Understanding Enflamings of the will flowings of Joy in the heart to have the spirit loaden with dulness barrenness insensibility to heavenly thoughts actions If God thus tryes thy Constancy assure thy selfe Philothea he is even then present with Thee watching in the Center of thy heart over Thee causing aversions from Sin desires to perform the duties of thy state longings to be with God though in that distress a darkness be spredd over thy Soul thou beest deprived of thy usuall cheerfulness alacrity The cause of this our desolation oft is in our selves either a too eager desire of or delight in spirituall consolations or a neglect of timely entertainīg offred inspirations or else too much proneness to seek accept of sensuall satisfactions But the cheife Cause thereof is God only whose property it is to create Light Darkness