and neuer turneth aside the eies of his heart from his Sauiour but continuallie seeketh the things which are pleasing in his eies For hee shall walke in peace and equitie and no stranger shall participate of his pleasure Hee shall well perceaue that his rest is good and taste how sweete his Lord God is in whome hee trusteth Hee shall set him far from outward tumults and with hartie desire expect his prosperous comming Lo thus worketh the Lord in his elected vessels Hee which commeth vnto him shall not returne emptie awaie for cheerefullie hee bestoweth vpon the thirstie drinke and bread vpon the hungrie O my God when thou enterest into the house of the soule which loueth thee wilt thou not feede her with thy milke yea and bring her sometime beside her selfe through thine abundant sweetnes to the taking of thee without anie corporall similitude O truth truth of what force and power is loue Then wilt thou speake thy word to her all secretlie and show the things that shall bee and haue bin in most happie charitie and fruition where the words of man shall no more bee heard From thenceforth thou wilt cause her no whit to doubt anie more of eternall rest and of the felowship of sancts but now by differring the token of speciall grace thou makest her the more able to hope for the things she seeth not and to despise present things which by sense shee comprehendeth O mercifull God bee mindfull of mee a poore begger euen of thy great mercie and send the true bread from heauen thy good word so full of comfort and grace CHAP. 11. 1. That all comfort and pleasures are in God 2. A praier that all people may glorifie the Lord. 3. The blessed state of good men 4. That wee are to be readie against the comming of our Sauiour Christ. ALl my bones shall saie Lord who is like vnto thee There is one and like to him there is none euen my GOD it is to whome whatsoeuer is compared is nothing My God is entirelie to be loued and a most faithfull frend which neâ—er forsaketh the soule that loueth â—im but continuallie abideth with â—er for companie And if sometime â—e hide himselfe and suffer her to be â—roobled it is not doon of him to deâ—troie but to trie her to purge her and to instruct her So that euen â—hen he forsaketh not but the more â—iselie instructeth that euerie one maie see what hee is of himselfe and how far hee is come forward in religion O my beloued thou art all faire and louelie but not to the flesh but to the minde not to the eie or sense but to the faithfull soule to him which hath a pure heart to him which is altogether addicted vnto things inuisible and spirituall So that who so desireth to be vnited to thee by a religious affection he must of necessitie mortifie in himselfe all fleshlie motions and aboue all reteine a pure conscience For thou art much displeased then when a man doth goe vnto fraile crreatures to seeke consolation And therefore thou callest me inwardlie to loue thee and thou commandest that I wait for thee for then I shall finde thee when I doo humble my selfe and wish that which thou wilt And this shall be all my felicitie euen freelie to serue thee neither dreading anie losse nor seeking anie gaine because thou allowest that soule which pure lie dooth loue Oah blessed is hee which both in life and death sticketh onlie to thee But as for mee I am far-awaie cast oftentimes from thy fauor by louing and that both inordinatelie and vndiscreetelie transitorie things But that I maie not perish with them I with all speede will returne and behold in them thy glorie and direct all my cogitations to thee wâ—rd O my Lord and God which of nothing hast made all things giue mee grace for all things to praise thy name For all power wisedome goodnes and mercie is thine thine also is euerlasting glorie and maiestie Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages Thou orderest all things both things aboue and things in earth Thou knowest all things and possessest all things nothing dooth resist or trouble thee but quietlie thou rulest the world and makest the rebellious to stoup and to serue Thou art priuie of all things which are doon in the world and before theie were doon thou knewest their endes Thou art the God both of heauen and earth the creator of things visible and inuisible the gouernor of the whole world and the disposer of the seasons O blesse thy seruants I beseech thee dispersed far and wide ouer the world yet seruing thee most religiouslie Make them constantlie to sound forth thy praise and in all places with one voice to glorifie thy name Stir vp their harts firmelie to loue thee and grante that all their enterprises maie take a good ende Oah how gratious and how good art thou to such as loue thee how sweete art thou to them which taste thee Theie which haue felt thy sweetnes knowe thereby the better how both to thinke and speake For thy sweetnes surpasseth all sweetnes and thy pleasures doo sweeten all bitternes O Lord my God holie men haue spoken and Prophets haue talked of thee All the godlie from the worlds beginning haue beleeued in thee haue serued thee haue glorified thee both with sacrifices and oblations theie haue praised and blessed thine holie name because theie haue both acknowledged thee to bee the creator and maker of the vniuersall world and also trusted in thee aboue all things Theie haue knowen thee in their visions for thou hast reuealed thy name to them and beside thee they knewe no God Theie obserued the lawe of thy commandements which thou gauest them Theie folowed not the foolish imaginations of false Gods but they worshipped thee which liuest for euer the creator of all things Theie lifted vp their voice to thee with thankesgeuing because from on high thou soundest in their eares saieng I am that I am Before mee there was no God formed neither shall there bee after mee I haue ordained the things which shall be and I forget not whatsoeuer is past This when theie heard and vnderstood theie cast the eies of their faith a far off beleeuing that God will saue vs and that he which shall come will come and will not tarie Knowing these things afore hand theie were not a litle comforted and maruelouslie astonished at the presence of the glorie to come theie fainted But afterward comming by litle and litle to themselues and with ioie beholding the power of God approching theie said Hee is euen hee is the Lord our God and wee haue none other Hee hath taken vs and hee will saue vs. Hee cannot denie himselfe
of carnall affections And this my request is to obteine for without thy speciall grace wee shall neither leade a good life in this world nor liue eternalie in the life to come And whereas I now liue in the bodie it is no ioie to mee for better it were for mee to die than to liue because through this life I am debarred the farder from eternall life which cannot come vnlesse that death doo destroie the life present yea and death also it selfe bee destroied Hence it is that my desire is to heauen-ward and mine heart seeking eternall rest fetcheth deepe sighes and crieth It is now enough Lord take awaie my soule which thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood Open to mee the gate of thy kingdome and let in a poore pilgrime returning vnto thee from exile Listen to mee Lord and loase me from the band of the bodie What should I longer doo heere I am good neither to my selfe nor to others Whie then doo I liue To my selfe I am burdensome to others troblesome What shall become of mee I wot not Lord whether thou hast foreseene anie better thing of me wherefore my longing should bee lingred I doo allow thine ordinance because it is good but in mee onlie I finde the euill whie it greeueth and troobleth mee to liue in the world For dailie I doo sinne I heape sinne vpon sinne and yet as I ought I repent not If therefore I were loased from this bodie of sinne and coopled to thee in heauen neither should I offend anie more nor thou bee offended but be praised continuallie Notwithstanding as yet thou bearest with mee and showest all patience I know my fault because through my sinnes I maie not enter into thy kingdome For none vncleane thing shall enter thereinto But when shall I be without sinne When shall I throughlie be cleansed that I maie not feare to bee prohibited but reioice rather to bee let in If I goe not forward more zealouslie nor bee more carefull than hetherto I haue bin I am affraide mine hope will be little enough But Lord thou which wilt that no man should perish but that all should bee saued grant mee more grace to the amendment of my life and to hope for celestiall blessings giue mee the spirit of inward fatnes Let not mine heart heere reioice after the flesh but in fearing let it expect for death Let no care or creature hold mee back but let thy desired presence drawe and comfort mee Blessed is the man which trusteth in thee ô Lord but more blessed is hee that is passed out of this wicked world for he shall no more either feele or feare anie trooble ⸪ CHAP. 7. 1. A godlie desire for a good death O Lord thou art mine hope euen fro my youth In this hope I flie vnto thee vntill the last houre and time of my resolution shall come Oah that I were so well prepared that I might euen now die vnder the hope of grace Oah that I had ended this life with an happie departure and laide off the loade of this bodie how manie dangers and feares had I then escaped Happie is the man whome thou hast chosen and taken vp who is now gone out of this world vnto the father from banishment vnto a kingdome from the prison vnto the palace from darkenes vnto light from death vnto life vnto securitie from dangers from labor vnto rest and from all manner miseries vnto euerlasting felicitie Happie is the soule that now enioieth her reward triumphing in thee her Lord But alas that my contrie is so long kept fro mee How gratiouslie and mercifullie shouldest thou deale with mee if quicklie I were called awaie and bidden to come vnto thee that where thou art I might be also Oah that I had bin taken out of this world before euer I had knowen the filthines of the same and before I was affraide to offend euen in small things how happie then had I bin But now the longer heere I liue the more I wander from thee and doo sinne in too too manie things Wo is mee what haue I doone Alas I haue folowed the desires of the flesh and haue drawen vanitie to my selfe with roapes but godlines I haue abandoned abhorred innocencie and added sinne vnto sinne so that now to my griefe I finde that true which I haue sometime read Woe be to the wicked it shall be euill with him Too too late almost I haue returned vnto my God yea verie late it was eare I began to amend and then too but slowlie went I on I was not zealous enough in my proceeding I did not encrease in zeale but which is woorser I waxed cooler and cooler Hence it was that manie times I was verie loath to die because my guiltie conscience still tolde mee I had not liued as I should haue doone Notwithstanding in consideration of the dangerous temptations wherevnto I am subiect and that my sinnes might not encrease manie a time haue I wished for death and into these woordes haue I burst sayeng Oah that now God in mercie would take mee out of this world that I might sinne no more vpon earth Oh that God speedelie would vouchsafe to take mee awaie and make an ende of my labors in what an happie state should I then bee But Lord all things must bee euen as thou wilt If thou minde to doo that which I require it shall forth-with bee accomplished but if otherwise thy will bee doon I maie vtter out my desire and the miserie which I endure not as to him which is ignorant thereof but that thereby I may finde some comfort to my soule I knowe I am not yet readie as I ought to bee for my conscience is greatlie out of quiet And what maruell though I a sinner doo stand in feare seeing manie euen of the holie fathers were affraide because thou iudgest not as man dooth But how shall I prepare my selfe It were good for mee to prepare my selfe against that time which may come this daie before to morow for anie thing I knowe Therefore I will more firmelie alter my purpose I will bewaile all my negligences passed I will sacrifice my selfe to thee and wholie and henceforth commend my selfe vnto thy mercie ô Lord. O Lord my God all my works doo stand at thy mercie and without thy mercie I haue no merits And this is mine hope this is all my trust But how fareth it with a good and pure conscience What saith the chaste and deuoute soule Come saith she Lord Iesus ô come and tarie not vntie my sinnes loase my fetters bring me out of prison out of the lake of miserie and mirie claie I haue waited patientlie for thee ô Lord incline to mee and heare my crie Leaue mee not anie longer in this wicked world Let it content thee that hetherto I haue striuen that so long I haue bin
in exile that I haue not deserued to enioie thee nor to see thee face to face Grant mee to enioie the long desired ioie which no time shall ende nor troubles ouershadowe Show mee thy countenance which the angels continuallie do behold Let thy voice bee heard in mine eares which they without cessing doo heare Come Lord Iesu and take mee out of this forreine contrie call mee wretch home vnto my contrie and restore mee a sinner vnto my former puritie Come gratious Redeemer make mee partaker of thine eternall glorie It is hie time that I returne vnto thee it is now time that I commend my bodie to the earth whereout it was taken The matter is not great where the bodie be laide or how it be handled if so be the soule be safe and come vnto thee Let my spirit doo well which I commend into thine hands and let my flesh rest in hope to be raised vp againe in the last daie For wheresoeuer it be buried it can neuer bee far or hid from thee Remooue mee from the companie of men and ioine mee to the societie of thy saincts For this temporall life is irkesome to mee but to thinke of the daie of eternall glorie reioiceth mine heart Oah let not the olde serpent withstand mee at my departure out of Aegypt let not the enimie barke against mee in the gate let neither Satan with his ouglie sight terrefie nor the horror of death trooble mee but let thine holie angels faithfullie assist stoutlie aide valiantlie protect louinglie receiue and ioiefullie bring mee vnto the euerlasting felicitie of thy celestiall paradise And mercifull louelie and blessed Iesu doo thou gratiouslie I beseech thee behold mee and cast mee not out of the number of thy seruants but remember ô Sonne of God how thou hast redeemed mee with thy pretious blood Receaue mee into glorie and that in thy mercie and goodnes because greatlie haue I wished to solemnize a passeouer with thee Oah happie daie of my desired reward Come blessed houre of blessed passage which long I haue desired and kept before mine eies What now haue the troobles and afflictions in the world hurt mee What am I the woorsse for the contempt labor and humiliation for thy name sake Thou hast bin my life and now death will be to me an aduantage and to be with thee in thy kingdome will be absolute felicitie Now praise and glorie be to thee who art the life of such as liue the hope of those which die the saluation and rest of all which trust in thee CHAP. 8. A meditation of one dead vnto the world yet aliue in Christ. TVrne awaie mine eies from regarding vanitie Oah Iesu which art the true life which neuer shall haue an ende geue mee grace that through loue of thee I may bee consumed through loue wounded through loue killed that the flesh preuaile not ouer mee I am not as yet thoroughlie dead to the world but the old man yet liueth in mee raising vp within me much contention and desires of manifold euils and making the nightes bitter and the daies tedious vnto mee Oah when will it fall out that boldlie I may saie I thought my selfe as a dead man For hee which dead is doth waie neither the praises of men nor the reproches of the malignant because he is dead Hee which touching the flesh is dead neither speaketh nor smelleth nor tasteth nor exerciseth anie worke yea he neither heareth also the vanitie of this world againe he regardeth not curious and bewtifull things enticing vnto the loue of some vile thing vpon earth And hee which is dead to the world is not in the world but in God to whome hee liueth euen as Paule to the beloued disciples doth saie yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God This man doth so speake so thinke so behold things without as though they were not For the things which are seene are temporall and vane but the things which are not seene are eternall Hether doth hee cast his eie hether doth hee hasten hether is his desire for these things doth hee labor to attaine these things is all his studie These things hee wisheth these things hee loueth these things hee seeketh these things hee sauoreth euen which are within and secret to wit great good things soueraigne and eternall things of which hee cannot thinke too often because theie are exceeding pretious and sweete and delectable and more than vtterable This man is far estranged from present things and breatheth altogether after things eternall hauing the dominion ouer the sensuall appetite For the flesh seeketh outward desireth pleasant loueth present loatheth absent flieth all sharp and bitter things which notwithstanding are good for the soule Whence it commeth that it will not suffer the spirit to be at rest but laieth before it sundrie phantasies which are scarse to be spoken and in truth not to be accompted of But hee which is endued with the grace of spirituall fortitude maie with more ease subdue the insolent motions of the flesh singing in the word of the diuine power The Lord is with mee therefore I will not feare what flesh can doo vnto mee Therefore albeit this sensualitie doth moue battell and the voice of the flesh doth secretlie murmur yet doth not the spirituall man easelie consent for greater is the force of the diuine loue which inwardlie doth comfort This man now and then so sweetlie so stronglie and so earnestlie is drawen rauished and in loue with God that scarselie hee doth see and perceaue the things about him and be heard in the world because he is not there but else-where not belowe but aloft euen with God and in God which moueth the spirit within him and erecteth and as it were carrieth it awaie in a firie chariot that at the length it maie enioie him in an happie and holie and long wished desire of his hart This man is sildome found idle abroade because his freende hath borne him awaie There quietlie and alone hee heareth his speech euen the speech of his beloued and greatlie doth reioice to heare the voice of his vnsuspected spouse Neither straight-waie doth he cas◠his phiall vpon the ground to draw◠vp vanitie but hideth the founde◠treasure and shutteth it vnder loc◠and keie that the foote of pride com◠not in and so all virtue doo perish◠For thus he saith to him Set mee a◠a seale on thine heart and so forth as i◠followeth in that place It is good to seale the heart and to keepe it least the beloued goe back and flie awaie because hee seeketh and visiteth aboue all a pure and an humble heart These things hee thinketh with himselfe and is astonished at that good thing which passeth all sense and gifts Yea still hee wandereth and enquireth diligētlie what thing is this and exceedinglie reioiceth for
that Manna is come downe from heauen And hee which ministreth true bread from heauen doth giue also a good vnderstanding to the taster that hee maie knowe how euerie good giuing and euerie gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of lightes This word now saith hee is from God Without him there is nothing I haue all things from him Furthermore this spirituall man hee woondereth and lamenteth that hee so lightlie esteemeth so excellent a good thing by the which hee is not a little blessed and whie also he dooth not oftener bend his heart to heare and to see that than the which nothing is more sweete and blessed to be desired And would to God hence-forth I might thus doo For this exceedinglie dooth delight mee and more will delight mee the more I giue my selfe vnto these meditations Oah that my beloued would come into mine heart that I might taste the sweetnes of his apples Oah that hee would decline vnto mee and showe himselfe to mee and mee to himselfe Hee is my felicitie and mine onlie delight Now begin I to couet and desire and greatlie to loue this good thing in whome all good things are this ioie in whome is all ioie this one thing in whome are all things small and great base and hie yet nothing created but without all conceipt of man the beginning and the ende of all the good things which hee hath formed Hence it is that now and then I would thoroughlie bee replenished with this good thing and filled with that so heauenlie ioie and I couet after a sort euen to be swallowed vp and consumed vtterlie of him that mine insatiable desire might once be satisfied in such sort that nothing in mee might bee mine but his onlie whose the fire and heate of loue is whose this woonderfull worke is also that so I might the more greedilie be carried to himâ—ward and be made one spirit together with him Notwithstanding all this doth not puffe vp the godlie man or make him to thinke himselfe some-what or to despise others or to iudge inferiors for hee knoweth that whatsoeuer hee hath commeth not of himselfe but it is the free gift of God that thereby hee is not to waxe proude when hee perceaueth himselfe to be so comforted of the Lord. For hee seeketh not the praise of man he careth not for foraine fauor but hee seeketh the beloued his praise and his fauor hee onlie desireth in whome hee hath all things and shall finde more than all these things because hee preferreth his loue his sweetenes and the ioiefull enioieng of him before all transitorie things and his honor hee seeketh and sigheth for aboue all things else And therefore he cannot be proude nor boast of anie thing God hee is his glorie his praise and his comfort God euen hee is his true and perfect ioie his soueraigne and sole happines all his desire and perfection And which more is hee would haue others also thus to reioice with him and to enioie such felicitie without ende both in this world and in heauen too For this is his desire and praier that God would reueale himselfe to all men and that hee would vouchsafe to conuert and drawe all vnto him that he alone might be praised and glorified for hee is both loue it selfe and such a fountaine of loue as neuer can be drawen drie For hee dooth more loue all men than all men set together can loue him Notwithstanding it liketh him well if anie man haue a desire to loue him from the botome although hee cannot sounde vnto the depth For hee in louing deuoureth vanquisheth and surpasseth all CHAP. 9. A desire of the Soule that no earthlie creature maie carrie her awaie vnto vanitie BEhold I would take my flight far off and lodge in the mountaines Oah how profitable how sweete and how ioiefull a thing is it to sit solitarilie in silence to talke with God and to enioie the onlie good thing in which are all good things Would to God I were so conioined to that all simple and onlie good thing that I might be moued with none affections and distractions of transitorie things nor curiouslie fasten mine eies vpon anie creature and visible thing O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer from the bodie of this death Alas how often dieth my soule for the creatures which she loueth oah manie times she forgetteth her creator and is carried awaie for their sakes Mine vnstable minde now willeth this thing now that thing now it is heere now there seeking but not finding rest in creatures because there is no creature which can yeeld full satietie to be enioied though it hath some delectation for vse The heart of man is vnsearchable and who can knowe it O Lord thou knowest the thoughts of men that they are vane O eternall God most hie and infinite the creator and gouernor of all things I am thy creature which thou hast made by thy power Thou hast made mee that I should loue thee and gladlie would I loue thee but I cannot as I would For I am fettered with vane loue and with clammie affections of transitorie things from which while I would rid my selfe hardlie or not at all can I so doo without great paine Oah how soone would theie flie and perish if thou Christ wert sweet and didest â—auor in my nostrels Notwithstanding sometime through the sight of the minde I doo behold thine inuisible things by the creation of the world and thee also the soueraigne felicitie the true and eternall God And gladlie would I continue in these meditations but forthwith I knowe not with what winde I am blowen awaie from them and helde downe like a miser by the loue and waight of visible things Behold I firmelie doo purpose in mine hart as it were making a couenant betweene mee and thee that for thy noble and pretious loue I will neither loue nor looke vpon anie creature but will contemne all things yea my selfe and all mine but straight-waie worldlie fleshlie and familiar cogitations doo ascend into mine heart as though in them were a certaine felicitie and as though if I contemned them I were to forgo some great good thing and these beare a good countenance but they hide the wofull ende showing what is present but hiding the inconuenience that will ensue as though euerie-where and in all creatures thou art to be sought and that nothing were to be neglected or despised which hath bin made of my God and thus they withdrawe mee oftentimes fro my purpose and at the length vtterlie seduce mee Oah how vane and deceiptfull and almost nothing are thinges which now stand and florish proued to bee which flieng awaie after their sudden ioies doo leaue mee among the thornes and briars of a guiltie conscience But woe is mee Lord yea woe againe to mee because so soone I haue beleeued and
ouer mine hart which forthwith driueth out the cloudes of all wicked cogitations whereby I doo enioie the long desired cleerenes of God his light Because no vncleane nor filthie thing can stand where he entereth in for hee loueth puritie and is the ingraffer of the same so that of necessitie all satanicall illusion together with the pomps of this world must be packing Therefore my passions and tentations which I did endure being supprised I began both the more euidentlie to knowe and the more earnestlie to loue and the more hartelie to praise him for vouchsafing at the length to beate back the damned crewe of the wicked from assailing mee For theie doo disturbe my peace and sin dooth so shut vp my mouth that I am ashamed to speake vnto my welbeloued But in vaine doo theie bend themselues against his power and wisedome because euen in a moment he can slide downe into mine hart and poure in secretlie good motions that I maie both contemne and vtterlie neglect all their priuie whisperings O my faithfull and all happie freend take mee so vnto thee whensoeuer thou shalt perceaue mine affections to be either pressed downe at anie time with the waight of sin or to be held with vnnecessarie busines that I maie not wander far astraie from thee after the swarme of wicked cogitations and so ouerhastelie be depriued of thy grace without which I shall not be able to enioie thy freendship For thou art my Lord and my God which by thy word doost both heale and sanctifie which holdest my soule in life and sufferest not my feete to slip but deliuerest mee from the euill daie and from the snares of death Oah how manie haue bin cast off and vtterlie perished that haue bin much more innocent than I am And therefore my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within mee blesse his holie Name My soule I saie praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits It is all too little and far vnsufficient whatsoeuer thou shalt either thinke or speake or promise to his praise For hee exceedeth all praise and is much sweeter than anie musick Wherefore my soule cleaueth to thee alone and loueth thee aboue all other gifts notwithstanding it be exceedinglie beutifull and sweete which of meere good will thou hast sent vnto mee For thou alone art the spouse as for all things else theie are gifts and arguments of loue In steed of thee I will not loue them neither will I beleeue that anie thing or all things in the world can suffice mee if I haue not thee for in so dooing I maie perchance forgoe thee with them too Thou giuest me leaue to vse manie things for thy sake but I maie not enioie so much as one thing in thy steed And therefore ô Christ my sweete spouse I haue preferred thee afore all other things and my care hath bin aboue all things to loue thee Wherefore grant that blessedlie I maie enioie thee and in that vnion euerlastinglie to triumph in happines together with thee But how far am I come I haue lengthened my speech more than perhaps you would But pardon me good freend For I haue bin carried aloft through the loue of mine especiall and onlie freend and would to God it would please him still to lift vp both mee and you too in contemplation Let him prouide an heauenlie ascension but let vs not keepe a base going downe M. Aske you mee whether I am forsaken at anie time of my beloued S. Yea I saie so M. But how doo you behaue your selfe in trooble S. I take all things as patientlie as I can expecting his comming Naturalie I am grieued but as touching my spirit I haue inward patience that my griefe prooue not incurable For I forget not how hee that loueth liueth in paine I liue by faith I beleeue the holie Scriptures I giue credit to the words of comfort And although I endure affliction yet I doubt not neither in deede ought I to doubt but that God when it pleaseth him can send mee ease For true and to be credited are those woordes which are declared Because the verie sancts themselues haue bin exercised in manie and proued in like things Nature continuallie dooth wish for quietnes and seeketh to be comforted in some thing but the spirit notwithstanding is readie to sustaine whatsoeuer the wil of God is I should endure If therefore I shall be lesse zelous and lesse willing to doo good my punishment shall be the more greuous Though he slaie me saith the wiseman yet will I trust in him If I loue virtues patience is a great virtue therefore let patience euermore bee retained For the more praise we purchase the more paines we take in bringing things to passe And that our virtue maie be proued and made the more glorious we are commonlie exercised by contrarie euents Therefore whensoeuer anie such triall shal happen be not out of hart neither fall downe but reteine thou patience and extoll the righteousnes of God The Lord is not so hard and pittilesse that he can suffer you to abide long vncomforted Onlie haue a care that you neither lament immoderatlie nor yet murmur against the righteous and iust God because you are forsaken least the wicked spirit doo send vnto you more greeuous tentations of your faith whereby being ouerfearefull you shall extreemelie bee afflicted Wherefore beare a little and suppresse your sorowe although the griefe both of your hart and bodie be neuer so great Abide constant in that good purpose which at the first you intended to keepe For it is good especiallie at such an extremitie to cast all confidence vpon the beloued Looke thou patientlie for God his heauenlie comfort so shall you speedelie perceaue a speciall fauor and sight of God Lo you haue a faithfull witnesse saieng I waited patientlie for the Lord and hee inclined vnto mee and heard my crie And that in your neede you maie finde the like fauor I doo wish you both earnestlie to praie your selfe and desire others to praie for you also and so commit your selfe wholie and is priuie vnto the things to come Euen I the Lord which haue doon all things in measure number and weight I am the creator both of heauen and earth the ruler of this world the knower of hidden things the reuealer of secrets the possessor of the whole world and the beholder of the causes of all particulars I am God and change not who haue continuallie with me the causes of all changes in the world I am God the almightie whose power is inuincible I am God the most high whose highnes can not bee attained I am God the most righteous whose beeing can not be conceaued I am for my presence euerie-where and yet no where to be seene I am the most spirituall and farthest from the senses of man I
zelous and the more carefull in saieng thou Christ art my Sauior both in mine hart and with my mouth in companie and in my chamber and in the garden and in the field and in all places wheresoeuer I shall bee And now what more shall I aske of thee ô Christ my Sauior What is better or more profitable or more necessarie especiallie for mee a great sinner than to finde fauor in thy sight ô Christ my Sauior And therefore it is that I haue desired and still do craue euen that by thine intercession and meanes I maie haue the grace of God thy Father who as both thy selfe hast said and the Apostle doth witnesse hast all power giuen thee both in heauen and earth There is no praier more welcome to thee than this is nor anie thing more necessarie for mee than the grace and fauor of God If I haue the grace of God whatsoeuer else I do wante I am rich enough For what is all mine endeuoring if I lâ—ck that Againe what can I not doo if I be assisted and holpen thereby I see that manie and diuers are my wicked affections but yet against all passions the grace of God is a most effectuall medicine and if once it come it will mitigate them all I doo also stand in neede of spirituall wisedome and knowledge but the grace of God is a most excellent teacher and instructor of heauenlie knowledge and is able euen suddenlie to instruct mee in whatsoeuer things are necessarie vnto saluacion For to require more than is necessarie or to desire to vnderstand more than is lawfull to be knowen is against the will of God whose pleasure is that wee should be humbled vnder his hand and contented with his grace Wherefore obteine this grace for mee ô Christ which is so noble and pretious that in deed I ought neither to desire or craue any other thing than grace for grace CHAP. 24. A Praier for comfort vnto Iesus Christ. GRace is poured into thy lips Oah my Lord I beseeche thee at the length now vouchsafe to speake vnto mee ô Christ. Open thy mouth in thine owne name who art full of all spirituall graces L. I am the fountaine of mercie full of loue and sweetnes I am the ladder for sinners the hope and pardon of the guiltie I am the comfort of the sorowfull and the speciall ioie of all sanctes Come vnto mee so manie as loue mee and fill your selues at the breasts of my comfort because I am good and mercifull to all which crie vnto mee Come vnto mee both righteous and sinners I will sue vnto the Father for you I will entreate him to bee good vnto you and to fill you with the holie Ghost I call euerie one I looke for all I desire to haue all to come vnto me I despise no sinner but with the angels in heauen I reioice exceedinglie ouer that sinner which repenteth and so commeth into the fauor of God for no one drop of my blood which I shed for the world is in vane Therefore come vnto mee yee sonnes of men consider and behold my zeale for you vnto God my Father Lo I haue taken his wrath vpon my selfe I haue borne his displesure yea and continuallie doo I make supplication for you vnto him whome you knowe right well you haue greeuouslie offended Turne then and approch repent and of my woord you shall haue pardon For lo I stand betweene heauen and earth betweene God and sinners and that this world perish not I obteine through my praiers Wherefore abuse not my goodnes and mercie but beware of offending least when you litle thinke thereof indignation be powred vpon you and intolerable vengeance I doo forewarne you as children I beseech you as freends be you perfect as your heauenlie Father is perfect Forget not mee who haue bin and am and will be mindfull of you For I do both pittie such as are in miserie and I do entreate for those which crie vnto mee S. O gratious speech and full of all comforte O heauenlie voice sweetelie dropping froÌ„ heauen to the comforting of sinners reioicing of the righteous O celestiall musick howe sweetelie doost thou resounde in a desperate conscience Whence is it that the Sauior of mankinde will thus talke with mee Blessed art thou ô Christe and blessed are the wordes of thy mouth For honie is vnder thy tongue and the sauor of thy speech excelleth all sweetenes My soule was mollefied so soone as thou spakest ô Christ. Behold no sooner did thy voice sounde in mine eares but my soule within did spring for ioie For my spirit reuiued within mee and all mine entralls were filled with newe comforte because good and ioiefull thinges are tolde mee this daie by you I was dolefull but now I am iocund because of your wordes For your voice is sweete in mine eares I was grieued and desolate but now I am reuiued and made merrie For thou hast sent thine hande from on hie and touched mee whereby of weake I am become strong Scarse could I speake but now I haue a good minde to sing and to praise thee highlie I was loth to liue and now I am willing to die because I haue thee Christ for mine aduocate with the Father to whose mercie I commend my selfe euen from this time for euer and euer For since first you began to speake vnto the harte of thy desolate orphane I haue bin changed into a better state and greatlie comforted in my minde I was almost at the doore of desperation but thy comfort came and lifted mee vp with these woordes L. What is the matter Sonne and who are they which would hurt thee Feare not I will see vnto thee my sonne I doo liue with God my Father and I sit at his right hand beeing a faithfull hie Priest and an intercessor for thy sinns In mee thou shouldest repose thy trust because I doo both giue life and destroie death I was incarnate of a virgine in time but of my Father begotten before all times and when the fulnes of time came I suffered for mans saluation Lo I am the hope and comfort of the godlie and by mee is faith and victorie attained And therefore let neither mee nor these things be out of thy minde and thou wilt not feare anie dartes of Satan S. Oah happie houre ô blessed state that my Lord and Sauior will vouchsafe to comfort on this wise my trubled hart Oah that I might still heare thy so comfortable words for greatlie doo theie inflame and moue mee and touch mee euen at the verie harte O blessed Christ thou neuer cessest to send forth the sweete milke of heauenlie consolation For by reason of the abundance of thy grace thou canst not denie fauor to such as craue the same at thine hands yet often thou showest much mercie euen to the verie sinner O Christ thou excellest in pittifulnes in
as to be accepted into thine holie warfare Thou canst ô almightie and all mercifull God who hast of nothing created mee and foreseest the fall and infirmitie of man thou art able I saie and that thou wilt I beseech thee forgiue the sins which I haue committed supplie what I haue omitted restore what I haue lost heale what is sick cleanse what is vncleane lighten what is darke assuage that which swelleth inflame what is quenched repaire that is broken recouer that is neglected amende what is awrie make plaine what is rouged restraine what is curious call home that which wandereth place what is out of order yea and alter the whole state of my minde that nothing be wanting to my former purpose and let all occasion of euill worke for the best vnto mee I moste humblie desire thee This change is made by the right hand of God this is God his visitation this is the manifolde conference of the diuine goodnes In steede of all thankes accept the deuoute seruice of thine holie Church where-so-euer with the sweete praises of the whole courte of heauen And let all the sanctes from the beginning of the world which thorough thy grace haue bin enlightened and called yea and all the faithfull and Christian people which either be in the world or haue bin afore vs or shall liue hereafter let them I saie together celebrate and praise thy all sweete and glorious name which is aboue all names to be blessed Let them repeate againe and againe with greate ioie repeate all praises dulie and deseruedlie to be saide of thy name and that so manie times as there be either in the heauen stars or in the sea fishes or in the earth cornes or in the Bible letters And all this being doon yet must I saie theie haue not praised thy name sufficientlie the which I desire to commende euen to the vttermost of my strength and by all meanes to extoll vntill I attaine vnto those praises which now cannot be expressed by the voice of mortall men So that thou seest now my Soule the greatenes and the excellencie of God thy creator and redeemer his benefits the which no creature nor all creatures may recompense whome hee hath made vnto the praise and glorie of his eternall and blessed name who needeth no glorie but is alone all sufficient for himselfe hee that is what he is is his owne glorie The number of his benefits was so greate that I could not place them all before thine eies and therefore of a greate manie I choase three pretious giftes euen as the Wisemen did which were about to offer to the Lord wherein I thought good to comprehend the rest For euerie benefit of God if you marke well is either of nature or of grace or of superexcellencie and whatsoeuer else is maie fullie bee referred vnto one of these three kindes In the Creation you haue the benefit of nature in the Redemption the benefit of superexcellencie in our Iustification note the benefit of grace For all which and for euerie of them glorie be to thee ô sacred Trinitie one equall deitie both before all worldes nowe and for euermore Amen The ende of the fourth Booke A Table of the contents of euery Chapter conteined in this Booke ALonging of the Soule after God The incomprehensible maiestie of the Lord. An exhortation to the loue of God Chapter 1. Page 1 Of God his distinct iudgement at the ende of this world The cursed state of the vngodlie Chapter 2. Page 14 An humble confession of sinns with a Praier for grace to repent Chap. 3. Pag. 19 A lamentation of the Soule for her weakenesse and vnstaiednes in the race of virtue Chap. 4. Pag. 25 Of the shortnes and miserie of this present life A praier for grace to renounce the world and the vanities of the same Chap. 5. Pag. 30 An ardent desire of the Soule to be loosed from 〈◊〉 and from the trouâ—â—◠〈…〉 this world Chapter 6. 〈◊〉 37 A godlie desire for a good death Chap. 7. Pag. 44 A meditation of one dead vnto the world yet aliue in Christ. Chapter 8. Pag. 51 A desire of the Soule that no earthlie creature may carrie her awaie vnto vanitie Chap 9. Pag. 59. A comparison betweene earthlie and heauenlie ioies with a praier for grace to contemne this transitorie world Chap. 10. Pag 63 That all comfort and pleasures are in God A praier that all people maie glorifie the Lord. The blessed state of good men That we are to be readie against the comming of our Sauiour Christ. Chap. 11. Pag. 71 The desire of the Soule after God The properties of God by the sundrie titles ascribed vnto him None commeth vnto God vnlesse God draweth him Chap. 12. Pag 80 How and when the Soule and God are vnited together The miserie where God is not present Chap. 13. Page 92 A lamentation of the Soule for the want of grace Chapter 14. Page 101 Touching the fruite of freendship The benefits of Christ vpon man The true felicitie and ioie of the Soule The affinitie betweene Christ and the Soule of man Chapter 15. Page 107 The more wee loue Christ the more we maie Tentation and when Happines of the life to come How to beare affliction Chapter 16. Page 118 The maiestie and omnipotencie of God How and whie the Lord afflicteth his children Chapter 17. Page 133 The confidence of a true Christian. God iustifieth the vngodlie Giueth whatsoeuer good is to man Will haue no man to despeire but that all sinners should flie vnto his mercie Chap. 18. Pag. 147 The desire of a Christian Soule is neuer satisfied till God bee enioied No comfort anie whit comparable to the spirituall ioie Chapter 19. Page 156 A complaint of the Soule for the want of her blessed state What weeping pleaseth God Who trulie blessed A description of God Chap. 20. Page 162 The delaieng of the happie is patientlie to be borne The felicitie of the life to come with a praier for the same Chap. 21. Pag. 171 A godlie meditation concerning the accesse vnto the holie of holies euen Iesus Christ the king of angels godlie petitions for the forgiuenes of sins Chap. 22. Pag. 180 A godlie praier and commendation of our Sauior Christ. Chapter 23. Page 187 A Praier for comfort vnto Iesus Christ. Chap. 24. Pag. 194 That for God his benefits we are to thanke him Chap. 25. Pag. 202 FINIS ⧠AT LONDON Printed by Richarde Yardley and Peter Short dwelling at the nether ende of Bredstreete at the Signe of the Star 1592 a Psal 73 verse 28. b Psal. 73 28 c Luk. 18 19 d Math. 6 21 Coloss. 3 1. 2 e Phil. 4 7 f 1. Iohn 2 16 g Rom 8 35 36 c. 1. Cor 13 4 5 c. h Psa. 73 25 MAN SOVLE MAN i Psal. 26 8. SOVLE k Psal. 94 8 9 10 Psal 119 12 l Psal. 94 12 m Iam. 4 6 n Mat. 11. 25 o 1. Cor.